The 2nd Division Win: Part 2

Hey! It's the second part.

Now, where was i?

Oh yeah, about me reading the Journalism book.

For how many days I was in so much thinking, and it was all about news writing. I had surfed the 'information superhighway' and found nothing but sheer blank in my head. I had distressed myself because of this.

The day of the contest had arrived and it was so wicked! I had received special colored papers and stuck them in my pocket. (Evil laugh!) It was our allowance for the whole week. (I won't tell you what had happened with those bills. They certainly are in good purposes. Lol! And i didn't tell my sister, for if she knew, she wouldn't give me my allowance anymore.)

There were seminars before the contest and i think i had learnt more. I took down notes and studied them carefully. Ate Cherry Lou (The 'Ang Daloy' news writer) and I looked for the assigned rooms where we'll have the test. Ah, right. We were also freaking out in finding where to pee. Unfortunately, we found the one with no lock (Haha! I painstakingly watched out for might-enter people. Imagine a door with no lock!...and no water! The school's students provided us with our needs. Such a hospitable place.)

Then with the contest. It was an ordinary one. I thought we would be going to gather information and make the news ourselves but thanks! We were already given facts and we just need them to organize. It isn't necessary to put all the facts on the paper, some of them would be irrelevant. Although, they all seem to be so connected with each other. I've made drafts and reorganized every possible thing to be reorganized.

Whilst i was writing, i can't resist looking and observing at other contestants inside the room. Criticizing? I can't remember if i was. (Woaah! I can't believe i'm so hypercritical!) But i was also praying that time.

• I'm so tired of typing. I couldn't recall what exactly had happened that time. Can i just proceed with the ending?


• Wait! I remember something. Okay, i'll continue with the story. But i'll shorten it so it won't be too boring reading.

I've made some friends there, really. Some of them are only short-time. I've also observed the childishness of the Fourth Year students. It had been fun being with them. Their classmates also went and cheered for us during Radio Broadcasting. If you were there, you would really laugh big time!

It was time to award the winners. In each field, there will be 4 to be chosen to compete at the Regionals: Camiguin. Of course, i hoped i would be in. Every spoken name makes my heart pound faster. I had hoped at full length and never to disappoint any of the people who expect something from me. I've got to prove i have learned. Flashbacks come inside my mind as i waited in the noisy auditorium for the expected outcome. I had remembered the mistakes that i''d committed. I may have given my coach a little discouragement by my errors but i didn't stop believing that somehow, i had become someone who is better; someone who has learned from the mistakes. Yes it is true really.

And as the 3rd place of the news writing contest was announced, to my nervousness, ICNHS won it. But wait! There are i guess 3 ICNHS papers who joined. Which/who would become the victor? As the speakers proclaimed with their loud sound waves, i was surprised that my name was clearly pronounced. I had won! I won. I really won. I couldn't believe i'd won.

• It so cold here. The rain is very heavy. I think it's flooding already. Wait, i'll check outside.


• To my relief, the water isn't high still.

To everyone's astonishment, the Iligan City National High School first shift emerged victorious among the many schools that competed. Over-all champion. A happy trip we made home was somehow a big medicine to our overwhelmed state. The fourth year students celebrated. They even had pictures with our principal, Mr. Abundio Saavedra, Jr. What a great trophy we had there.

I must have realized that failures aren't that so hard. For all of mistakes became an inspiration and had made me strive to the fullest mind strength i have.

The 2nd Division Win: Part 1

"Failure is the mother of success." I don't know who originally said this but I've heard this this morning during the 'They Kiss Again' program in Studio 23, this quote was spoken by Jeanie (if that ever is the correct spelling of her name).

They told me ma'am Coloma was looking for me. I wondered why. After the long, long time disregarding their calls, i went to the office (the schoolpaper's) and met with ma'am. I saw there many of the fourth year students who are also members of the paper. She talked to me and asked me if i was willing to join them and be the newswriter...asked me if i had experiences when i was elementary...compete in presscons... and i said "never". And i also don't have much talent in writing news. I dunno if i have much confidence, but since i already thickened my face a bit during the Science contests, then why not try the Press Conference?

"It may help you boost up your confidence more," i said to myself.

Although i'm not that good with news, although i am not gutsy enough to compete again, although i'm beginning to think pessimistically for another time, i tried to answer ma'am Coloma's question with a reluctant "Yes, I am willing to learn."

I remembered so far i thought to myself, "What have i done again?"

Uuugghh! Those words. I really get into my own nerves. I am not valorous enough to face a new challenge. (I speak like i'm obliged to.)

There is no turning back. I already said yes. I guess i'm being afraid of ma'am. You know, i become frightened when she's in the mood (the bad mood). And i hate to see dismay in people's eyes.

I just "impregnated" (i like using fancy words, if that ever is fancy) in my mind that this'll help me more in my academics, in my extra-curricular activities. I guess it's not too bad. I even think that i'm the only one who avoids opportunities (when i even know that much more talented people than i am, lose in competitions) when other people don't even mind if they win or lose. What do i think of myself? Maybe that time, or shall i say, maybe all the time, i am being "avoidant" of failures. (Wow! I thought of avoidant as a word, then i browsed the dictionary to see if it exists, and i've read 'avoidant personality disorder'... but no avoidant alone, but since it's used already in that phrase, maybe i could use it.)

• Now i am being more narrative than ever. My past blogs were just composed of little details (as far as i can think, i am always unsure...never mind that). I didn't even try to use some metaphors, personifications and et cetera.

I Proceed:

Ma'am Coloma, who was my English teacher during my freshman year, trained me to the highest level of her psychic powers. (Don't get me wrong with the words i use, i just like exaggerating when writing or whatever, i don't exaggerate true stories...grrr! Just don't mind me!) I have had a hard time learning. All i did were still 1 or 2 mistakes away from perfection!...or even more than 2.

My knowledge isn't deep enough as the Pacific Ocean, and i am starting to worry. I tried being optimistic as Betty La Fea was (if it had already been aired during that time). My coach gave me some tips...papers...books...encouragements also, i think...and some works to do.

Oh! I am so far still. I've been traveling for--like an hour, but i'm not still in the earth's core!!! (There i go again with those words...what figure of speech did i just use? Ooohh... I am so addicted to English) I studied hard and prepared myself for all the disasters that i will be facing, exaggeratingly speaking, and i had read the "all-about Journalism" book that was given to me for...many times.

• (Startled) Oh no! It's 30 minutes past 2 am. I need to sleep. I'll continue the story tomorrow. If i have time. But i know i will. I need to take some rest. And for the computer also. I pity it. Let's not make it work 24/7.


• Oh, and by the way, i'll tell you what the quote (the one i said above, at the first paragraph) means to me and how it is connected to my story.


• This post will be long enough that i need to divide it to how many parts. But i guess 2 will do. [I am surprised that i become loquacious during nights, or dark times (literally), ideas easily 'spore' in my head. What a nocturnal mind.]


• Wow! A thought just came into my brain. Writers usually work at night i suppose. LOL. Am i showing the signs and symptoms of "Writer's Syndrome"? Well, if true, then i'm glad i have them. (Laughing!) Perhaps, i need not to lengthen this post anymore, it'll be boring if it's too long. It's also tiring to read such long stories.

End of part 1.

My 1st Division Win

I am still so sleepy and they had to wake me up. I forgot what the time is but i hurried and went for the phone (they woke me up because someone's on the line). But it's not there already. He or she must've waited for hours. I expected that it was my classmate (i get excited when they call me, wishing it's another bonding activity). I went to the kitchen then and checked my cellphone. I found messages, one from Eulilah and i forgot how many texts ma'am Jean sent me. BUT, i was quite shocked. Ma'am Jean, our second year Biology teacher, asked me if i want to join the Essay-Writing Contest (Science). I thought for how many times and finally with a trace of reluctance, i decided to. She texted me that we will meet with the other contestants at Dunkin Donuts, coach us and others.

Oh no! Division Level. I've always been so pessimistic. I am kinda nervous at first but i wanted to join for the first time.

The day of the meeting had arrived and i saw there Abraham and kuya Herald, the enviroquizzers with ma'am Fuentes (the Science Teacher), their coach; ate Stephanie, another Essay-writing contestant and ma'am Jean, our coach.

I forgot to tell you ma'am Jean told me to write an essay. She gave me the theme and i dunno exactly what to do and where to start. I guess my effort wasn't enough.
"Now what am i going to do? I have nothing in my mind. It is so blank." I felt relief when ma'am Jean told me that it isn't necessary to make it right away, maybe the day we'll meet, there i have to write it 'on the spot'.

Now what?

I made such an ugly composition. I was shy enough to let the others read...I was not confident. Ma'am Fuentes also gave me some tips about it and i've had time to think. I guess the reason i don't have any idea in my mind is that i don't really have an idea what the theme is about.

Yet i was determined. The enviroquizzers studied and read all the encyclopedias given to them; i dunno if they also read other references. Their coach told them to do some things (i forgot what exactly it is that they were researching) on the internet...gave them money. And me. Ma'am Jean also gave me some money for me to research and get ideas that will help me with the essay. And i did. As those sites tranmitted their knowledge of the current issues and past informations on me, i remembered what ma'am Fuentes told me. I should not just focus on 'food security' (as far i can recall, the theme was all about how Science Technology and how it is connected with Food security). I was wrong with what i meant with security. That was just the one thing that i was looking for. Then plans bursted in my head! I'll write this, i'll write that...put this...put that. It was totally great that i did all those. At least i would not have the reason to lose just because of writing very extraneous materials.

After all the long wait (if i actually did wait for it), the contest had started. Division Level. Oh! That uniform looks so smart on her. I scrutinized the girl wearing ICEHS uniform. And she was reading some papers. Memorizing maybe. Alas! I did not just memorize the essay, i studied it, i understood it.

And aaawwww.. So touching. My classmates spake some encouragements to me. They even wrote on the backboard: Go Kevin Marc! (They were decorating the board and named what contest is being held in our classroom.)

I looked and looked at my competitors and never did underestimate them. (Although my mind was surely preoccupied with judgments based on everything i am seeing.) I really prayed to God with the 100/100 of my heart. That is a whole. And i really beseeched Him to give me the moment.

And with a suprise I said, "I won't be expecting that You will give me this...but i sure do hope."

"Do not expect...just hope," i repeated that sentence over and over again.

October 2, 2008. I was nervous but i was able to manage myself. I was a little excited also that time. And i really prayed that i'll win. Just for that contest. I really really asked God to give me the chance to be at the Regionals. I said to Him that it'll be okay if He wants me to stay in Iligan but i would be very glad if He sends me to Camiguin.

I went to my friends, the very supportive ones, and stayed with them. We sat at the ESEP building as i wait for the result. My cellphone rang. It was a message. A surely shocking message. I opened it and learned that it was ma'am Jean...

She said i won! 1st place! Do you believe that?

I don't. Yet i shouted, "Fetch!" And then the others knew about it. I cannot really believe this. i won. I won. Can you say it? I won!

My heart was jumping because of pure happiness. I was so speechless...speechless.

The 1st school week..

Oh my God!!
I could describe them in these three words.. I could never imagine that i am like a mouse surrounded by a myriad of cats..
I had met new friends in school and i am glad that almost 3/4 of the students in 3rd year Sci-curr are my friends already.. Yahoo!
But behind this happiness is a stage facing the hundreds of people (idiomatic).. You know that i have a stage-fright, right? And the teachers, i am somewhat uncomfortable with them.. Well, they are nice but still, i am not confident.. I hate being embarrassed..
I was happy that there are jolly teachers.. And i like them.. And also, almost all of them are talking about the increasing price of the rice here in the Philippines.. And the schedule which we are all trying to adjust with.. It's tiring.. I really do have to wake up at 4:30 am.. I am not the "early bird", because i am just the "trying-to-be-early-bird".. And in additional to the hectic schedule are the many subjects that Sci-curr has.. We have many subjects but i am proud to say that we are advanced.. I like some of the subjects because they are certainly interesting.. Especially chemistry, basic physics, english!, and etc. My classmates also like them..
My new classmates were nice also but some of them are not so friendly, and i don't have the courage to befriend them.. I am shy, you know.. I am trying to approach every living person in our classroom.. Only few of them respond, so maybe others are already zombies or whatever.. I don't care if they don't befriend me.. They'll miss the opportunity to become one of my treasured friends.. Ngee!!
Sometimes, i wish i could be transferred to the other section which is Dalton, because many of my close friends are there..
And one of the reason i don't like my section is that there are many intelligent people and i am losing hope of becoming "you-know-it-already".. I think i just have to do my best..

Just Luck...

Our periodical test is near.. Everyone was busy studying.. Everybody.. First, our exam in MAPEH.. We've photocopied every page in the book just to study and get a high score in MAPEH test.. Nobody dared not to study.. Not a single one.. Some were nervous and some were freaking out.. Then, our teacher just finally came.. Bringing the test papers.. And we quietly and nervously answered it.. I wasn't sure with my answers in Arts because i haven't studied that.. I forgot to photocopy it.. Before the test, i prayed to God that i hope i could get a high score or maybe i could get perfect.. But i thought i was asking too much.. So i told God that i pray i could just pass the test.. It will be okay for me if i could get the passing score.. "Just let me pass.."

After we answered the test papers, we checked it and i was shocked with my score.. There was 48 items and times 2 to get the equivalent grade for that.. But i got only 36 times 2 equals 72 which is my grade.. "Oh my gosh!!! I never expected to get such a low score.. I am a failure!" And i didn't even pass..

Then suddenly, one of my classmates told our teacher that the items is only 48.. It should be 50.. Then our teacher added two points on our original score and times 2.. I got 36, so add 2 equals 38 times 2 is 76!!

Oh.......my.....gosh!!! I passed!!! I thought God didn't answer my prayer.. I was so thankful.. I don't care if i got 76 but the important thing is that i got passed!!! God is so good.. And to that, my faith in Him became stronger..

I promise myself to study hard to get a little higher score.. But it was a funny experience.. I'm happy with my score.. Some were sad about there scores.. I admit that i was kinda nervous because i know it will affect my grade having a score of you-know..