"A Week Of Monsoon Rains"

      August 6, Monday. I woke up wondering why my mom did not wake me up earlier. I almost panicked! I found out that classes were suspended due to the heavy rains since the night before. "Yipee, no class!" was my first reaction. But the rain continued throughout the day and as we watched the news on TV and saw a lot of places were flooded, I began to worry and news of another class suspension made us sad already. They said there was no typhoon, only monsoon rains. But the effects were massive: people losing their homes, vehicles were stranded, evacuation centers were crowded, they needed food and clothing.


 I am glad that my school did their best to help the monsoon rain victims. Classes were called off the whole week for the relief operations where generous people donated goods for the flood. You would expect most students to be playing during that time, but instead, many students were very busy, busy with helping, some carrying, loading and unloading goods, others packing relief goods. The jam-packed multi-purpose center was filled with students, parents, teachers and staff. Even my younger brother had something to do, including picking up empty boxes which was also important or else, the place will be full of cartons lying around.


      Our teachers put up a Weebly site for reflection. Let me share what I posted in answer to the questions they posted:                

      "I feel very sad because I see a lot of children and families losing their houses, properties and even their lives. I also feel sympathy towards those in the evacuation centers because they are living in a hot, crowded and uncomfortable place. Some people are already getting sick, they feel cold, hungry and even bored. They worry when they will go home. I feel angry too, because some people don't really care and just throw their garbage in the different bodies of water, they litter carelessly so the drains clogged and the water can't flow freely. At the same time, I felt helpless because I can't give them shelter and I can't make the rains stop. I prayed for the flood victims. And God is good, he allowed me to help in my own small way."
     
"God allows these things to happen because he wants the Philippines to learn how to save nature, don't litter, plant trees, to be close to Him and remember Him. God is in these typhoons and monsoon rains because He created them. He wants us to know that without nature, we would not be able to live. But, if we don't take care of nature, it can be very harmful. I see God in all the people who are helping in the XS Call of Duty. When I was writing the donation of goods coming in on the first day, I saw that a lot of people were really generous and kind. I was even surprised that some people who donated are not from Xavier. They said they just heard and got texts that the school receives donations. I see God in the teachers, students, parents and volunteers who share their time and efforts. I see compassion and community of God in action. I see that with unity, we can help others more. As I help put the canned goods in the plastic and hear that thousands of bags have been packed, I know that God loves us and this is one way of showing we love Him by serving the flood victims. I pray that they will also see God in their hearts even when it is difficult."

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The following Sunday, our family joined Auntie Cheryl to help in a medical mission in Subic. That being my first time, I was surprised to see so many people who are in need, not only of  of basic needs, but medicines as well.  My brother and I shared our used clothing. My mom said it would be nice to see that they go directly to the children who needed them. There was a commotion as many kids and mothers tried to get as many clothes as they can before the clothes will run out. Many times they were asked to fall in line but they didn't until we finished distributing. Doctors were trying their best to give the best diagnosis while my brother, my good friend Gabe and I helped in cutting the tablets so the right number of medicines be given to them. The trip was long and it was raining, but we had a good and memorable experience.

If you have the opportunity to help others, no matter how simple, take it. Just as I did in our school and Olongapo City. When you help pack relief goods, you help a family.

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Picture from bta.bg

       I have yet to post this article above about the recent monsoon rains and how it affected so many people, now a new typhoon and monsoon rains brought another flooding incident. Typhoon Karen caused flooding again in some parts of Quezon City, reaching even chest high. In Manila, people were walking in the flood that were knee-high. Our Saturday make-up class was suspended again! How I pray that the Filipinos will seriously learn to throw trash properly, to reuse, reduce and  recycle. I wish that the government will immediately find solution to the flooding problem. In my own little way, I will dispose garbage properly and segregate.

"A Brainy Day At The Mind Museum"

"Be fascinated with the amazing facts and wonders of SCIENCE at THE MIND MUSEUM!"

The Fort houses the newly-opened science museum called THE MIND MUSEUM. It has five indoor galleries and one outdoor nature playground. When you enter, a remote controlled-human sized robot named Aedi will greet you. It can talk, move and do other actions. There is a tour guide for the first part of the museum only. After that, you can tour around by yourself. Though there are museum staff everywhere if you need their help.

The Galleries in The Mind Museum
I visited the Mind Museum with my friends and family as my last summer fun activity before school started. We had lots of fun there watching shows, doing different activities and exploring. We went to all galleries and we learned a lot of things.



The first gallery, the Universe Gallery showed us the space, the earth, sun and the universe. They also have a show or a mini-planetarium where you can watch different shows about space. One cool thing about the gallery was the rotating tunnel. It connects the Universe Gallery to the Earth Gallery. Step inside and you will feel as if you are spinning upside-down. I liked it a lot that I kept going back!
   



In the Earth Gallery, we witnessed how earth began, in the form of exhibits of dinosaurs, the early people and a 3D show. The 3D show was my best part in this gallery. We wore 3D glasses so when a dinosaur came running, it really looked very fierce and life-like, hence, we got so many surprises and laughing moments.

Visit the Technology Gallery and get modern today! I think kids are most familiar with this area. Different kinds of technology being used in different countries were on display. You can play old video games, such as Pac-Man, and new games such as racing, drum and other video games you normally see at the arcades.
 

To learn about atoms and energy, be sure to check out the one-of-a-kind Atom Gallery. Witness the effects of energy, different gears moving and much more.

Some of the activities I liked were the room where you can pose and the camera will print your shadow on the wall. My friends and I had a blast making different quirky poses.






Too bad we weren't able to go to the outdoor playground because it was raining. Nevertheless, we all had an enjoyable time. I just wished that the museum had more interactive exhibits, like those that allow you to move and feel things and see its effects. In a science museum in Kuala Lumpur, I got to adjust the force of the tornado and feel it. While in  Hong Kong Science Museum, I got to trace the source of electricity from the starting point - the electrical socket at home. I think kids will really have fun with live experiments where you can make your own discoveries. I hope the Mind Museum will continue to add more features and change the exhibits every now and then so I will go back again. 

"The Heart of the Philippines"

About The Resort and How to Get There

A short but bumpy trip can transport you to the "Heart of The Philippines". Do you know that right at the center of our archipelago lies Marinduque? I learned from my Social Studies that it is located in Luzon's Region IV-B, the MiMaRoPa group of provinces.  And an hour from its capital city, Boac, is the spectacular and luxurious beach resort called Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa. It literally means "beautiful rock". And what a beauty it really is!

Bellarocca is an island that was formerly called "Elephant Island". On the map, it is still labeled as Elefante Island. True enough, from afar and from above, the island looks like an elephant lying down. Zest Air is the only airline that flies you to Marinduque. A streamer at the airport read: Zest Air, the Refreshing Airline. Unfortunately, it was the 'Most UNrefreshing Airline' for me. The MA60 is powered by propellers only, not by jet engine so it can seat 56 people only. (Marinduque's Airport is just small, a big plane could not be able to land there.) The space was tight and its air-conditioning system was bad. The flight was warm and uncomfortable. Can you believe I was sweating inside the plane? Luckily, the flight only took 30 minutes….."Whew! What a relief!" We were neither refreshed at the start nor at the end of the flight. More luckily, we were welcomed by a staff of the resort with cold water and a cold towel. I thought to myself, "This feels soooo good!" The resort provided a 45 minute shuttle ride from the airport in Gasan to the dock using a van. When we got to the dock, a rubber boat ride took us to the resort in 5-10 minutes depending on the current. 

    

Where We Stayed at the Five Star Resort

The minute the boat docked at the Marina, I told my good friend, Joaquin, "Wow! This is so cool!" I didn't expect the view to be this beautiful. Its architecture is unique. The resort staff welcomed us with a necklace made with leaves and flowers. Then a driver fetched us with a golf cart and brought us to our "home" for 4 nights. The golf cart can bring you anywhere in the resort. It’s a bit hard to walk uphill, especially the trail from the beach and the marina to the rooms.

We stayed in a "terraza'.  It has three floors, two bedrooms and a dining room and mini-kitchen. The master bedroom is downstairs which has a king-sized bed, an LCD TV, a Skype-powered telephone and a huge bathroom with bathtub. While the bedroom upstairs has two double-sized beds, an LCD TV, a balcony that looks out to the sea and Mt. Malindig and a big bathroom and comfort room, too. The Resort Manager who met us at the docking area warmly welcomed us again with an orientation about the resort while we enjoyed a great tasting glass of pandan juice and munched on walnut and choco cookies. My friend and his family stayed just right next door, so I was very happy that my brother and I could easily play with him and his brother.

Exciting Activities We Did in Bellarocca

After looking around and checking out the terraza, we were all hungry so we went to the Clubhouse dining area. While waiting for the food, Joaquin, Miguel, Zander and I went to explore and we were so excited to find the game room which had a billiard table, a board game room and a foozball table. We started playing billiards first. It was so fun that we could not stop! We played billiards and foozball everyday at the resort.

We ordered lechon kawali (which I loved!), some noodles, maya-maya fish and adobo. Everyone was happy with the food and service. In the afternoon, we went swimming at the lap pool. We had a lot of fun - racing, talking, doing somersaults, etc. Another excitement we had that time was when we were playing 'catch', my brother threw the goggles too high that it went all the way up to the roof and over to the poolside hotel. We had to call a hotel staff to get it. We swam for a long time. By the time we went up, it was already getting dark and I was famished. Good thing there was instant noodles! So that was my appetizer before dinner. Hehe! The four of us kids went up to the Clubhouse earlier so we could play billiards again while waiting for our orders.

The next day, we wanted to go snorkeling. But too bad, it was high tide and the current was strong. So this time, we went to the infinity pool. It overlooked the sea that you can hear the waves crushing into the rocks. It was wonderful to swim there, feeling the sea breeze and the openness around me. It was cloudy, so at least it was not too hot nor raining.

After lunch, we watched TV and rested. We took a nap and enjoyed the comfortable bed and pillows. On the third day, my dad, Zander and I went to play golf at the resort's 9-hole course. We took a speedboat to the main island and then walked a short distance to the golf course. The golf course was big and really green. Guess what? We also saw some mushrooms growing! When we headed back to the resort, we saw Joaquin's uncle flying a kite. So we joined too.  At first I thought it was boring but when I tried it, I exclaimed "Gee! I am really flying a kite! This is great!" Later, we went around the resort to take some pictures - the meditation area, the Helipad which was located near the edge of the island, the nice lobby... until it began to drizzle. So we were not able to watch the sunset. Sigh! There's also a trail of 299 steps up the mountain to get the best view of the sunrise. But that was too early for me to get up.

On the last day, finally the weather was right for snorkeling. It was so cool! With a life vest, fins and a mask, I marveled at hundreds of different colored fishes. The guide brought me to an area that was so deep where schools of fish swam and the view was even greater. My brother just snorkeled and fed the fish in the shallow area with the kind manong diver. But my dad and mom did snorkeling twice. We also went kayaking. I rode with my aunt and, guess what? For the first few minutes, we were okay....until a giant wave came and pushed our boat to the shore and flipped us over! Both of us fell and we ended laughing! Then it was me and my mom's turn, as my aunt's leg was hurting already. This time, we kayaked left and right, more balanced and smooth. We panicked a bit when the wind pushed us quickly towards the rocks. I learned to maneuver the kayak with my paddle as we went along.

 

Our group also did a local tour of the province. Thanks to my aunt's friend! She took a break from her work in Manila to be there and offered to tour us around. We visited Boac, with all its old houses and quiet streets. We stopped first at the Capitol building. Then we went to the museum and I stood beside the Roman soldier (with its wooden mask, sword and shield). Do you know that Marinduque is famous for its Moriones Festival during the Holy Week? I read that Morion means mask and the festival is based on the Roman centurion whose blindness was miraculously healed by the blood of Jesus from His wound.

The Boac Cathedral, the oldest church in Marinduque built in the 1600s, was well-preserved. It was silence all around, nobody there except us. It was awesome to see the giant bell, the old walls and the the church itself . I can tell that my grandma was so happy that we were able to go there. We had lunch in Tita Nyds' house and it was a feast! The food was very tasty and abundant: big prawns, freshly caught fish, pako salad, lechon kawali (again! yummy..), pansit, the local version of adobong manok (with coconut), clam soup and fresh fruits. On our way out, we even had freshly picked buko juice.

I found Marinduque to be a quiet province that is rich in natural resources. I guess life there is simple yet there are many things to appreciate.
 

Now, Bellarocca is a one-of-a-kind resort to visit. Though it does not have a fine white sand beach and a wide shore to build sand castles, it is still a place I will want to go back to.  

So, what do you think? Isn't Marinduque a cool and relaxing place to visit? If you're ready and eager to go......just GO! Don't miss Bellarocca and the activities I mentioned!

 

A Memorable Summer Activity

Do you still have 2 weeks of summer to spare? And you feel bored, then California Summer Camp (CSC) is for you!

I attended the first session of CSC. It lasted for two weeks. On my way to Corinthian Gardens, where it is being held, I felt excited. I did not expect to see three of my friends there. Matthew, my former classmate in school was happy to see me too! Apparently, Joaquin and Jaime, my best friends, attend CSC every year!

When I got there, I didn't really know what they were doing. I guess they were really excited since they were all shouting and talking. The director of CSC, Bambam, calls what they regularly do "traditions". So at the start of the camp day, we had many starting "traditions" such as the opening circle, story time and morning warm-up.

Usually after the opening circle where they announce new things, we proceed to the new and exciting activities and games prepared for us. Councilors at CSC don't tell us the next activity to keep it "thrilling". After a lot of tiring but exciting activities, lunch is then served! Their lunch is fit for a king since the food is very tasty and we are usually given second servings. Friday is my favorite lunch day as we get to eat Sbarro's pizza and Clover chips.

At the end of each camp day, CSC will award a What's Up award to the best camper. While per week, they will award one camper per group the Camper of The Week Award! And my brother and I got it!

I met a lot of kids there who are very friendly. They like talking to a lot of people, while there are some kids who don't talk too much.

I really love the activities they make. We even had a field trip to Enchanted Kingdom. In addition, we had a circus day where we could get to do unlimited booth games!

I really like California Summer Camp. It allows me to get to know more people and HAVE A LOT OF FUN! I hope you will also get to experience this wonderful opportunity.

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