Sunshine at My Soul

                As Christians, life in this world is full of challenges to overcome. Everyday as soon as you open your eyes from the deep slumber, you feel God’s presence through your morning prayers. It was s if God is saying “My dear one, today I have given you another chance to live. I have given you the chance to exercise your salvation and the chance to let your light shine among men that they may see your Father in Heaven. Don’t lose heart my precious, I am with at all times, never will I leave nor never will I forsake you. Be strong and courageous.” Surely, after we pray and as we prepare ourselves to welcome the day, we feel the peace that God has bestowed upon us. Challenge starts as soon as we step outside our house or for the case of the homeschoolers; it starts as soon your parents expect you to take charge of your homes. I am a regular student and as for me, I feel the challenge as soon as I walk outside our gate and wait for a tricycle to ride on. In my mind, I can not help but to think about the things that I am about to face. In my mind, I can imagine the ten subjects that I need to study which is consists of the difficult lessons on Calculus, the oral defense for our research, oral recitations on Physics and other various orals, and exams.  Being a student in a specialized science high school, I can feel the pressure and the tough competition. I am relieved to know that my God is in control in all of these instances.

At school, I have to deal with a lot of things. I have to be attentive to my teachers even though I do not have an enough amount of sleep and my eye lids wish to close for a while. I need to think about the welfare of my classmates and friends. I should set an example to them and take a stand on my beliefs. I need to pray fervently in my mind so that I could not conform to the worldly attitudes of the people around me. I need to be serene and in control whenever a classmate of mine gets into my nerves and really tests my patience. And lastly, I need to endure the tiring activities and mind boggling exams. In all of these circumstances, I always find my comfort every time I remember that Jesus Christ is with me. Of course, I had my own share of mistakes and I have a couple of regrets on some of the decisions that I have made. What soothes my troubled spirit is what the Lord has promised at 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” At the end of the day, I cannot help but to think how faithful and how great our God is. As human beings we are prone to sin and vulnerable at temptations. But remember, we are not just merely human beings; we are Christians, God’s chosen ones. We are God’s sons and daughters. Through Jesus Christ, we are adopted and we are treated as sons and daughters of God just like what Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 1:4-8. Whenever I am reminded of these truths, my heart rejoices for God loves us so much. I know I cannot fathom how deep his love for you and me is. All I know is that God made a way for you and me. He died so we may live and he went to this world so that we do not need to go up just to reach Him. Whenever I thought about these things, my heart wants to burst because of the overwhelming joy that I feel. These truths shine in my soul just like how a sun rises to shine in a dark valley right after the dawn. It lightens up the darkness that surrounds my heart and it let me experience the joy of salvation, Jesus Christ has given in each one of us.

Soli deo Gloria

One Quiet Day I realized..

               I could say that I have a quiet day. I got home early because we took our division office examination while my other classmates were still at their retreat. I wasn't allowed to go due to some financial reasons. I'm glad that they returned safely at school. My classmates arrived while we were taking the Mathematics exam. I got a bunch of big hugs. haha. :) I'm very happy to see my friends once again. My high school days is about to end and my stay at Marikina Science High School is quite numbered. I could say that I had the best four years of my life. I'm very happy and contented yet a part of me is aching for I am about to leave the institution that honed me to be the best that I could be. I know that I have to move on and face the new chapter of my life which is College.

         Marisci has a special place in my heart. In this school, God opened my eyes for the opportunities that my former school can not offer. Here, I realized that I am not the only one who is smart and there will always be someone who is better than I. I also realized that being brilliant is not about being the cream of the crop. It is all about offering your endeavors to God, acknowledging that without Jesus you cannot succeed,accepting your frailties as a human being and lastly, it is all about respecting and honoring your parents and teachers as your God-given mentors.

          Surely, my stay in Marisci is not always filled with laughs and happiness. In my four years of stay in this institution, I encountered a lot of school works, many sleepless nights of reviewing, and a great number of examinations. Being in a specialized school which runs through a science curriculum, I have a lot of subjects. During my freshman year, I have 10 subjects then I have 12,15,and 10 subjects in my sophomore,junior and senior year respectively. With my subject loads, I literally spent my whole day at school. My classes starts at 7 in the morning and it ends at 3:40 pm or as late as 5:40pm. From the moment the sun rises until it sets, I am at school. ahe. :)

        For me, high school is my training and battle ground. Here, I encountered a lot of temptations,hurtful words that sometimes degrade my dignity as a person, betrayal of your "so called" friends,a couple of persecution because of my beliefs, a lot of frustrations and worries, and failures that will sometimes made me fall. I was in my sophomore year in high school when I doubted my salvation and I tried to run away from God. Thank you Abba for your patience and for not letting me to go. Although I have some unpleasant memories , I do have a lot of good memories as well! I am able to build good relationships with my teachers, I found my true friends, I am able to share the gospel to my classmates and friends, and I am able to develop my skills and talents. I become a writer due to campus journalism and I become interested in digital arts because of my multimedia class. I also met people who helped me to strengthen my faith in God and helped me to stand on what I believe in.

       High school is a very remarkable phase in my life. I saw how God moved in my life and how God meet me during the times that I really want to give up and run away. My mentors taught me a lot of life lessons that I will bring as I welcome the brand new chapter of my life. Thank you so much Lord for letting me experience this season of my life.

Pictures of my school

our school canteen

computer laboratory 2

another shot of comp lab 2

computer laboratory 3. this also serves our multimedia room

a classroom at the ground floor. this room uses wooden arm chairs

another class room at the ground floor. this room uses mono bloc chairs

a classroom at the ground floor also.
it also uses wooden arm chairs. it is clean, isn't it? :)

this is our biology laboratory. it was destroyed by typhoon ondoy

this is our chemistry laboratory. it was also destroyed by typhoon ondoy.

front shot of our school

the school name and the statue of former mayor juan chanyungco, the founder of our school

A Woman's Question

Do you know you have asked for the costliest thing
Ever made by the Hand above?
A woman's heart, and a woman's life---
And a woman's wonderful love.

Do you know you have asked for this priceless thing
As a child might ask for a toy?
Demanding what others have died to win,
With a reckless dash of boy.

You have written my lesson of duty out,
Manlike, you have questioned me.
Now stand at the bars of my woman's soul
Until I shall question thee.

You require your mutton shall always be hot,
Your socks and your shirt be whole;
I require your heart be true as God's stars
And as pure as His heaven your soul.

You require a cook for your mutton and beef,
I require a far greater thing;
A seamstress you're wanting for socks and shirts---
I look for a man and a king.

A king for the beautiful realm called Home,
And a man that his Maker, God,
Shall look upon as He did on the first
And say: "It is very good."

I am fair and young, but the rose may fade
From this soft young cheek one day;
Will you love me then 'mid the falling leaves,
As you did 'mong the blossoms of May?

Is your heart an ocean so strong and true,
I may launch my all on its tide?
A loving woman finds heaven or hell
On the day she is made a bride.

I require all things that are grand and true,
All things that a man should be;
If you give this all, I would stake my life
To be all you demand of me.

If you cannot be this, a laundress and cook
You can hire and little to pay;
But a woman's heart and a woman's life
Are not to be won that way."
— Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye)