avryn

When we are angry, we tend to say things that we don't mean, and regret it later when we are calm. We often unleash the rage inside our souls through the liquid streaming down from the eyes filled with sadness, asking unanswered questions, but nothing hurts more than asking yourself with a single "Why?"

"Why am I not enough?"

"Why are they not proud of me?"

"Why was someone like me even born?"

"Why..."

"Why."

The pain that strikes a heart that was deemed unworthy of love, deprived of appreciation and craving for company.

Loneliness stealing the joy that was supposed to happen in those times.

And the nights when all you could embrace was your soft and warm pillow flooded with tears of a stolen innocence.

I took a glance at the moments where I was left alone in a locked room, staring at the blank ceiling and delving into the depths of my mind... where I could sense an emotion.

A dark emotion. Swallowing slowly my body and killing dreams. Suddenly, I lost my breath. Fainted. Disappeared.

I found myself floating in the realm of a lost childhood. Seeing myself enjoying over the little things. Holding a pen. Putting nonsense words into the snow white paper. Speaking gibberish. Being actually "happy."

Nowadays, the genuineness of the world struck me. There was no genuiness to find. Only dark happenings. Only darkness.

The evening was pretty eerie. Darkness filled the entire hall and heavy rains rumbled the surroundings.

Mack, the prison guard assigned for the night, prepared the necessary things for 'survival'. A flashlight with extra batteries, a phone (despite the place having little to no signal), a small set of pocket books to pass by the time, and few bars of Kit-Kat.

Twelve hours isn't that long, he whispered to himself.

While sitting on an old rusty metal chair, he holds a logbook of information about the prisoners held in that particular cell. Mack felt terrified and excited for his new part-time job. A night shift in an old prison full of serial killers and psychopaths... what could possibly go wrong?

The heavy storms wouldn't stop. He locked all the doors leading to the main hall, where all who were incarcerated were locked up in unbreakable glass. It seems impossible for them to escape in this hell of a jail. Mack took one peek and heard groans of the madmen he had to spend the night with.

'Hmm,' he uttered. 'Wouldn't dare to gaze these creeps in this time.'

Mack closed the door. He felt sleepy. He looked at his analog watch and read the time: 23:39. He went back to his chair and closed the lights. He slept soundly to the pouring of the rain.

Tick, tock. Mack was awakened by the sound of the clock at the top of his head. The rain finally stopped. He grabbed his flashlight and checked the time: 02:48. He only slept three hours. Mack felt groggy. He still has nine hours to go. He figured he could just spend those left time with sleeping and get his paycheck, then leave this monstrosity.

He felt a sudden pound of his heart when he heard the main door shriek.

He tried to be calm, but the door slowly made a metallic sound, opening itself from the lock Mack tangled hours ago.

'No, God, please...' Mack felt nothing in those minutes but fear. Fearing he might face the end of his life in the hands of a random prisoner he doesn't even know the face of.

He quickly hid under a desk and dimmed the flashlight. He was panting heavily, sweat continuously falling down from the back of his neck. He can hear his own breathing in those moments of his life.

Mack heard heavy footsteps entering the room. He wondered who was this prisoner when he read that all of them were at least 5'5 tall.

He couldn't escape this. He doesn't have any weapon on him and his knuckles couldn't knock down this big guy.

Mack took a leap of faith and slowly crawled down to get himself outside of the guard's room. He closed his flashlight and took one step per minute to reach the end of the door. He took a quick look into the mysterious giant that just entered the room.

As he was about to scream, the lights suddenly open. Mack finally shouted and was extremely horrified by what he just saw. A bald man, with pinkish skin, no tops and just ripped jeans, with muscular body about 7'0 tall holding a butcher's knife appeared in front of a petite guard.

The man turned around and saw Mack lying on the ground. Mack didn't wait for any second and quickly ran and locked the door.

'Crap, crap, crap..' Mack had an intense adrenaline rush and could only think of leaving that place. He quickly opened the door to the hall and also locked it, to which he heard the heavy footsteps again.

He awakened the prisoners and started a riot within their cells, telling Mack to release them. The door started crumbling and scared the prisoners as well. Mack had nowhere to go. He was breathing heavily and prepared for the worst. He grabbed his phone and wished for a signal, contacting the chief.

The big man started to break the metal door. Mack remembered there was a secret fire exit at the side of one of the prisoners' cell. He got the keys and opened the cell door, which instantly opened every door there is. Mack released all the prisoners, but they were terrified to get out of their cells. The door finally breaks, and the giant wreaks havoc.

He grabs the first weak prisoner. A woman no younger than twenty. The giant chokes the woman and chopped her body. Other prisoners stared in horror, froze and went completely insane.

Mack opened the fire exit. As he was about to leave, his phone rings. The giant looks at Mack, and went for him. In the worst moments possible, a signal enters the infiltrated prison.

Mack tried to run but to no avail, he trips down while trying to save his life. He looks at his watch for a final time, it's 03:49. The lights close down one by one and the giant gets blind. He falls down with the butcher's knife stabbing himself, making him bleed.

All the prisoners cheered in unison, and quickly runs to get out. Mack went and observed the giant's body. He seems familiar. Oddly peculiar body yet something he has already seen before.

He looks at the dead woman's body. Her name was Betty. Mack disposed her body and went back to get his things before leaving. He texts the chief back.

'Something weird happened here. Gtg.' Mack put his phone in his pocket. Before closing the fire exit, he gets a call from the chief.

'You passed the night shift. Welcome to the team.' Mack smiled awkwardly, he wondered if the chief planned all these.

He looked at the dead giant's body once more.

Years have passed ever since I cremated what lies beneath this urn I was staring at. A lost feeling that tingled my once messy mind. A forgotten past where I left all these memories behind. Circles that once shaped my spherical view of the world. Colors that once painted a hue of a hopeful future.

I've mastered different kinds of art— up until the point I've murdered myself from the madness. I faced the face of mental block and fought this monstrosity until he stole what's left in these tiny cells of my cerebrum. He weakened me, touched every part of me inappropriately, killed the ambitions I had ever since I was young.

I, for once, was a part of the dreamers for this lonely and miserable planet. But as years went by, they never remembered us.

Mere photographs of people who fought for the arts...

yet nothing but mere photographs. Engraved names, inscribed in these stone tablets that will be erased by the passage of time.

Nothing but mere people who once coexisted within us, but still nothing.

I was deemed as the "mad scientist".

They disregarded my theories, crumpled papers of my researches and laughed at my hypothesis. I was a victim of clownery, for I was nothing compared to these huge men in lab gowns.

Little did they know that I developed a 'thing' that could prove everything I ever worked hard for. Every innocent smiles and faces will be denied because of how they bullied the genius in me. Every little people in this dark, idiotic planet will be included in my kill spree.

They don't trigger a mad scientist. The mad scientist will trigger everyone, and once he's done... all those who put him in the shame and mockery will be nothing, but floating molecules in the endless blackness of space. Nothing, and will go back to the first lesson of science.

They wouldn't occupy space, or wouldn't have any mass or volume. All will just be a fleck, and that is what happens when someone teases me...

Nothing. Nothing else. And they wouldn't matter anymore.

Against the armed men with heavy weapons, all they had were prayers and faith.

In a nation where freedom was sleeping, they awakened an entire population—leading to the beginning of the revolution.

That day, a garrote happened; heads were cut, but many heads grew too.

The unforgettable martyrdom of the three priests, namely Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora, is forever engraved in the history books as one of the stepping stones to the huge outbreak of Filipino heroes. Their remarkable deaths marked as one of the roads in a quest for freedom. And so, their heroism is still loved by the current generation.

Last 2023, a historical biographical movie was one of the entries to Metro Manila Film Festival. It was directed by award-winning director Pepe Diokno, following the lives of the three martyr friars and their journey in fighting against the Spaniards. Titled "GomBurZa," it retells the story of how the trio's deaths affected the Filipino people and how it opened eyes from the already almost 4 centuries of invasion.

GomBurZa's plot revolves around the triad of holy men, yet it also introduces key characters such as Paciano Rizal, and his younger brother, someone who would be executed as well in the distant future, Jose Rizal. GomBurZa were acted by Dante Rivero, Cedrick Juan, and Enchong Dee, respectively, while the Rizal brothers were played by rising stars Elijah Canlas and Khalil Ramos.

The movie surely captivated its target audiences — which was the youth of this timeline. The "pag-asa ng bayan". In a generation where history is almost rotten from the minds, the need for its revival has risen. GomBurZa was even almost unknown to many of the children today, as in a Pinoy Big Brother episode last 2022, teenagers 'mistakenly' recognized the three martyr priests as 'MaJoHa'. There are also numerous films that promote the rich history of the country, such as Heneral Luna (2016) and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral (2018). These motion pictures provide an insight for younger viewers into the historical background of the very ground they live in, and also inform the importance of knowing the roots of their culture, history, and tradition.

In the current situations happening in the Pearl of the Orient, GomBurZa has an inspiring message to every single Filipino in the nation: Up until the very end, God will never leave those who believe in Him. Despite the three martyrs' deaths, their passing provoked a change in the course of history which lead to the freedom Filipinos are enjoying now.

Before the Japanese occupation, there was once a mountainside town in Nueva Ecija called Iriga. Iriga was blessed with a fertile soil with plenty of flourishing crops. It was also located near a water fall, which allowed local people to obtain free access to potable water. It was a heavenly place for children to live, with all the playful animals that wander everywhere. Iriga was an ethereal place.

That was, until people learned to abuse their blessings. The townspeople of Iriga became selfish with their crops, and instead of selling it to the market, they went to enjoy it with themselves. They built a large wall of concrete and bricks to avoid tourists to visit the place. No more people were welcome to Iriga, and it became a sole thing for the people.

At first, the locals were overjoyed. They got to enjoy their flourishing crops, they got to bathe in the long water falls and they killed animals to feast with. Every night it was a party, and every morning people laughed about what happened the night before. Iriga was like a clubhouse where drunkards are scattered everywhere.

That was it when the gods in the heavens decided to intervene. They blessed Iriga with beautiful characteristics for the people to take care of, and not to harm. The gods put a decision to take lives of the hundreds of thousands of residents of the town. It was overheard by the Death, the mysterious "god" in a cloak with a scythe. He then decided to take this opportunity to take lives of the wasteful people of Iriga.

Then it happened. Death visited the town of Iriga and brutally murdered drunkards, farmers, fishermen and prostitutes. Death killed butchers and tax collectors. Nothing stopped Death.

Not until he saw a woman named El. El was the wife of an innocent farmer, and mother to three children.

With El's mesmerizing skin and ebony hair, she was someone men would climb mountains for. Her husband, Brin was one of the lives taken by Death. Brin was an innocent farmer who toiled soils all his life to feed his family. However, with the evilness of his neighbors, he was succumbed to the end of his life, too.

Ever since the mysterious and continuous increase in the number of deaths in Iriga, all the blessings that the gods gave to the town disappeared one by one. The dark soils lost its fertility. The water falls suddenly stopped flowing. The animals suddenly became endangered, some even went extinct. The once ethereal Iriga became a hell-like haven.

El was devastated with the loss of her husband. She wept everyday, walking around the mountains with her children, praying for her husband to be revived, as he was innocent unlike the others. Death began to stop taking lives continuously in Iriga, and watched the people suffer in despair. Some of which he enjoyed, but mercy struck Death as he watched El lose her sanity everyday.

Death left the town as it couldn't bear the pain in it. Death could not watch the people, especially El, cry in agony, wishing for their people to come back. The gods thanked Death, and they vowed to never bless another town again. As the wall of concrete and bricks begin to fall as it loses foundation, Japanese armies strike Iriga and begin to take lives. They started brutality to people. Without men conquering for them, Iriga begins to fall down.

El and her children runs away, and as Death watches them, he couldn't do anything to help. He couldn't take lives of Japanese armies as the gods didn't order him to. With the Japanese soldiers shooting and killing El's children, she runs for her life. She is all alone, without anyone with her. Her husband, her children, all gone—it's El and herself against the world.

She hides in a far away stone while crying nonstop, as she couldn't process the thought that she just lost her family within a time span of days. She was angry at the gods, angry at herself and angry at the people of Iriga. With nothing to lose, she grabs her bolo, and prepares to take her own life to be with her family once more. But she wouldn't want to, as this wasn't the dream that she had for her husband and for her children. She dreamt of a beautiful life, but with the fall of Iriga to the hands of Death and to the hands of the Japanese, it will now only remain a dream. She drops her bolo, but instead gets a pen and paper. She is struggling to write, but she still has a readable penmanship. She wrote this letter to death;

"Mahal na Kamatayan,

Hindi ko inasahan na sa isang iglap lamang ay kukuhanin mo ang buhay ng aking minamahal na pamilya. Noong nakaraang araw ay aking asawa, at kani-kanina lamang ay ang aking mga anak. Hindi lang ang pamilya ko, at pati rin ang bayan na aking kinalakhan. Ang mga taong nakikita ko araw-araw. Ang mga halamang malalago, ang talon kung saan kami'y naliligo noong araw. Ang mga hayop na kalaro ko na naging kalaro rin ng aking mga anak. Siguro nga'y kasalanan din namin, kung bakit mo kinuha ang Iriga sa amin. Kasalanan din namin kung bakit kami isa-isang nawala. Alam kong sa mga susunod na araw ay kukuhanin mo na rin ako, at mayroon lamang akong tatlong hiling, na sana ay mapagbigyan mo. Una, sa aking kamatayan ay isama mo ako sa asawa ko at anak. Pangalawa, patawarin nyo ang mga kasalanan na nagawa ng mga kabayan ko. Ikatlo, ay pagpalain mo ang bundok na ito kung anumang mangyari dito. Sinusulat ko ito sa iyo hindi upang magpaawa, ngunit nais ko lang ipagpasalamat na minsan ay pinagpala mo ako, sa isang pamilya na hindi ko ipagpapalit kahit kanino man, at pinagpala mo rin ako sa isang lugar kung saan naramdaman ko na ako ay ligtas. Marahil ay hanggang dito na lamang ang sulat na ito, maraming salamat sa lahat-lahat, Kamatayan. Maraming salamat.

Nagmamahal,

Pain and anger suffocating the mere imperfect human.

A scathed soul from the errors of the past.

Mistake, he called himself—

When the world showed that they don't care.

From the very beginning of his rough and tough childhood,

To a journey he planned but doesn't understand.

Unraveling the mysteries he didn't seem to comprehend.

A life that shattered him to pieces.

Words that killed his dreams.

Sentences that murdered his passion,

And phrases that took the shallow innocence.

All he has is a pen to calm his distressed mind,

From all the demons that entered inside.

And in a gateway to hell, he realized

He's not experiencing a writer's block, but a young man's demise.

Goodbye, to a life, that he will never miss.

Millions of problems that were covered by a fake bliss.

A face that gives a smile,

T'was 1 o'clock in the morning and everything was peaceful. A not-so-vivid place, with the stars in the sky serving as the only source of light among the darkness surrounding the plains. We held each other's hands, feeling the best emotions we only experience when we are with each other. I looked at her and smiled, hoping that this moment lasts forever. The silence had been going on for a long time now, and then she had to break it.

"I love you," she said, with the sweetest sleepy voice she has. I kissed her forehead, asking her, "Are you sleepy?"

"Kind of... I still want to talk to you."

We looked up, then lied down to a land full of grass, still holding each other's hands and gazed upon the thousands of constellations that appeared in the night sky.

"I love you." she said, with now a voice leaning to cry.

"I love you more." I answered, trying my best to hold my emotions as well. I love this girl with all my heart.

"I'm sorry..." I said. She then looked at me with one eyebrow above the other. "For what again?"

"I always unintentionally hurt you... but I know I love you."

"Shh..." she said. "Hurting is part of love."

A shooting star then appeared out of nowhere.

"Make a wish!" she said. I giggled, as her inner child and playful attitude came out again. My wish is always the same—that she never leaves me, because I don't know what I'm going to do if she does.

"What's your wish po bebe?" she asked me.

I kissed her hands and felt the same emotion I felt when we first held hands many, many years ago. My love for her... has never changed.

"That we always, always choose each other." I answered, and she finally cried, after trying hard not to. She hugged me tightly, and I never felt something... except true and unconditional love.

Long time ago, there was once a child. A child who was gifted; with plenty of talents and expertise in every skill. A jack of all trades; but instead of a master of none, he's a master of all. He was not a son of an emperor; thus a son of none, for all his life he never felt someone by his side.

.

He lives at the northern mountains of Enialle, with his mother who only favours his sister, uncles who always neglected him and grandparents who were never proud of his achievements. He only has himself; and was deprived of appreciation and love, so he felt anger towards the world. He had hatred in his heart, especially to the man who was supposed to be his father, but left all of them for jewellery and riches; so he called himself the unlucky child.

.

One day, the unlucky child was walking across the river; looking for fish to catch for his dinner. He prepared his wide net to capture different variety of fish; but suddenly he was surprised by what he saw. Around the rock-filled area, there was a beautiful girl, sobbing to her gown and a tiara on the ground. The unlucky child prepared his sword, as he might only encounter a trap; but this time it wasn't.

.

The beautiful girl is revealed to be the princess of the empire, but why is she here? What is she doing here in the suburbs, asked the unlucky child. He went to the princess, tried to comfort her from what might be her problem. The princess didn't trust the boy, she also grabbed her dagger and pointed it at the unlucky child. To his surprise, his net full of fish was released by his grip, and all the fish he caught hopped; returning to the waters, and his hardwork was once again ruined.

.

This angered the unlucky child and prepared to stab the princess; but his instinct stopped him. The princess startled, and was terrified of the unlucky child's misty eyes. She tried to run, but the boy stopped and let go of his sword. He looked at her, and tried to apologize. He introduced himself, and she began to trust him. They stayed there until the sky darkens, feeling happiness by each other's side.

.

The princess told the unlucky child that she ran away from home because she was always sad there; hoping to be accompanied by someone who will always make her feel happy. Little did she know that this boy; the unlucky child; is the one she's searching for. While they were both eating frogs; the boy began to tell his story as well. The first time in his life he will tell someone all the pain he's been keeping in his heart.

.

He told her that he wishes that someone out there to be proud of him; not for his skills, talents or anything; but is proud to have him. To love him and make him feel loved always in all ways; to feel inner peace everytime he's with that someone. And little did he know that this girl; the princess; is the one she's searching for.

.

As I walked around the busy corridors of Dr. Ramon, there was something unusual that somehow bugged me. The ground wasn't shaking. I stopped. A signage on the wall read "Duck your heads." Ahh, yes... the typical warnings on what you should do before an earthquake. Something that isn't new in my mind.

However, as I walk around more, I noticed a strange phenomenon. It disturbed my mind. I recapped on what I saw earlier. Duck your heads.

Duck. Heads.

There were literal ducks on people's heads!

No, it's not an earthquake drill, but it shook not just the school, but the entire country...even stronger!

Us Filipinos are known to be bandwagons of the current fads. Whatever may be trending, we will surely follow. Just like last year, the nonstop clucking sounds of the lato-lato were heard all over the neighborhood, and the prevalence of video games such as 8 Ball Pool and Call of Duty, skyrocketing downloads across phones all over the nation. And now, a new trend hovers around the pearl of the orient, the duck hair clips.

It's funny how a warning sign that should be taken seriously "Duck Your Heads" is now literal in the current time. Men and women, oldies and kids, students and teachers alike are seen to be clipping their hair with what seems like a floating yellow duck. The adorableness of this duck catches the eyes of the mass audience, causing a purchase haul in the markets just to follow the new trend.

I know, and many people know, that Filipinos will always love the things that could make them happy, and make other people happy as well. This includes these fun trends that blows the Internet and goes popular easily.

And one day, these duck hair clips might suddenly disappear. I would wake up, walk outside and see that everyone is back to their mundane lives.

So, what are you waiting for? Go, and clip these little cute, yellow plushies upon your hair. Walk around with floating animals. These may be just simple, but these can be what defines us as Filipinos. Happy with the little things.

And so on, I walked around the busy corridors of Dr. Ramon, watching the duck hair clips slowly fade, waiting for the next trend to come. What might it be?

It's only five years from now until the Terminator goes back in time.

Long ago, the futuristic humanoids used to be a fiction, in both the fields of film and science. Movies such as the Terminator, RoboCop, and Transformers, were loved by viewers, as it gave them a glimpse to the future of the world, especially in a time where scientific inventions are yet to improve. However, as the years pass, technology is rapidly innovating, and the once perceived as impossible to be built, is now a part of many people's daily lives... called robots.

In a world where technology is almost, if not, 100% of the population depends on machines, computers, and automated systems, scientists and engineers are quickly making ways to enhance robotics. They try to change people's beliefs on robots, as it was seen as dangerous in the big screens. They attempt to develop robots that are helpful, not only to the scientific scene, but to make personal lives of citizens easy as well. Robots are also developed to assist workers in highly dangerous jobs that humans are not capable of, such as the toxic laboratories and harmful environments.

The robotics industry is showing that robots are not a fiction, but an invention that will change the pace of our planet. And it's not just scientists and engineers that are encouraged to be involved in robotics, too. Numerous companies are also engraving technology in minds of young children.

Last December, in Dr. Ramon de Santos National High School, a robotics seminar was held to over 200 students from Grades 8-12 hailing from the sections of STEM, STE and ICT. In this event, it featured the simple construction of robot using LEGO pieces, and programming it using LEGO Mindstorms. It also taught students on developing solutions through coding for complicated problems, and in the end of the event, it included a bot battle from robots mechanized and designed by the students themselves. It was an interesting experience and a stepping stone for students aspiring to be in the field of engineering and robotics.

In an interview to one of the students from 10-STE who joined the robotics event, Ellaine Macamos stated, "Four hours wasn't enough. After joining the Robotics seminar, I was really happy. It was my first time and I was really amazed that I learned how robots function." She also added, "It was fun watching your robot win with your own mechanism and strategy."

The robotics seminar did not only gave students enjoyment, but also enhanced their knowledge regarding robots. It taught them that robots are more than Transformers, RoboCop, Terminators, and movies. It showed them the bright side and somehow complicated yet interesting side of robotics. Long ago, futuristic humanoids used to be fiction, but today, they are turning real. We are not too far from the time where we will cross the streets and wave to a robot, accepting them as a part of our society. That robots can finally engineer themselves, and help humans hand-in-hand. Robots were once known to be impossibly developed, but as technology emerges fast, robots may be quickly to arrive.

Today, many heads almost turned stiff necks due to the arrival of an extraordinary celebrity. A head turner. An unusual guest that stole the glances of the thousand students, including me.

As he "walks" through the ocean of people, he "waved" like a famous actor that passed by the town. I learned that his name was Jof Remoroza, but he was called "Isig", short for "makisig", which meant handsome. And indeed, he was the most good-looking guy in that day. It was the Moving Up ceremony, a very special day for all of us pupils, but for Isig, it was the day that he proved that he wasn't just there to get a diploma, but also to prove that he can do it like us.

Born with an extremely uncommon disease, Isig was a living proof that disabilities don't discourage you in doing your abilities. Isig was born with phocomelia, a condition wherein he was born lacking both arms and legs. Phocomelia is one of the rarest disabilities in the world, and reports indicate that true phocomelia happens in 0.62 births in every 100,000 patients. The sad fact though is it still doesn't have a cure. Patients diagnosed with phocomelia have to endure an entire life being a person with disability.

However, this didn't hinder Isig in staying positive. Despite being disabled, Isig remained hopeful for his future. Recently he finished junior high school, and he just started senior high school, entering the Information and Communication Technology strand, in alignment with his prospect program in college, which is Information Technology. He is even the president of his class. Additionally, like every other teenagers, Isig also had a talent in playing video games, such as Mobile Legends and Call of Duty Mobile. This just showed that his condition is not an obstacle in living a normal life. His disability didn't stop him in enjoying his teenage years like the other adolescents his age.

According to Sir Jason Neverio, one of the teachers in Isig's school, Dr. Ramon de Santos National High School, Isig was a determined student, and he firmly believed that Isig can, and will, achieve his ambitions in life. Isig's mother also was extremely overjoyed, and her sacrifices as an OFW were really paid off by the hardworking boy.

As for Isig, he didn't feel he was far from the others. He didn't feel the need to be fixed; instead, he accepted himself, and he was accepted by others for who he was. He became an inspiration for others, and he showed beyond doubt that he is also one of the hope of our nation.

The marching begins. The climax of the event finally occurs, teachers start to hand out medals, and students come with their parents to climb up to the stage to receive their medals. Earlier, it were students who turned their heads, in awe of the bizarre schoolmate. Now, Isig is the one turning his head, looking around—"Where is my brother?"

As his name was called, he immediately feels floating up from the wheelchair he was sitting in. His brother carries him and like the other pupils, Isig will also get the chance to be in the grandstand of the school.

There was a brief moment of silence as Isig and his brother reaches to the teachers handing out medals. Isig's brother shook hands with the teachers, then they wore the medal on Isig's neck. Not only a round of applause occurred that time, but also a stream of tears falling down from many of the students' faces. Isig was a true inspiration for all, and it was ironic that a boy with no hands touched more hearts than those of us who were complete.

I was one of forty-eight children.

As a child, it was a mess with a lot of brothers and sisters. This was probably because the fact that each one of us being distinct from the other, consisting of strange and unique features each.

Our mother, Asia, told me that we only have each other, and our different traits are a gift from her. To give you an idea, one of my siblings was yellow-skinned, had small eyes and was considered one of the most successful of us. She was named China. Another one is India, she had fairly dark tone, had a head-turner accent and deemed as the smartest of us. And I, Philippines, was the youngest of them—I had a talent in dialects, as I was the only multilingual among them, had a brown skin and a flat nose; and Mother often called me a "morena".

Us siblings weren't as perfect, as one of my brothers often squabble against each other; like Israel and Palestine, the twins North and South Korea, and me and China—however, the values taught to us by our mother is to treat each other with respect no matter what happens, because at the end of the day, we are still siblings.

However, things all began down south when China became a sickly woman four years ago, she often coughed, had high fevers and us siblings quickly inherited her so-called "virus". She became the talk of the town. She became a victim of widespread misinformation. Because of her, even some of us siblings were involved in the mass hate by most of our neighbors. It came to the point where even heinous and dangerous, brutal crimes were involved.

As I read the newspapers, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, hate crimes against Asians increased by 150% in 2020, and as I advance through the pages, it rose further to 339% the following year. This was unbelievable and extremely dangerous, especially for us and most especially for China. In another page, a mass shooting happened on the 16th of March in 2021, resulting in the deaths of six women with Asian descent, and the shootings also took place at businesses with a high percentage of staff members of Asian lineage.

As I close through the newspapers, I realized how far we've been through, from all the discriminatory words we've experienced for the past years. I saw how it decreased gradually from 746 to 499 hate incidents, according to the FBI. It was a slow slope, but at least, we're getting a little bit better.

I looked at my siblings. As I gaze upon the "distinct features" I first talked about, I realized that a lot of us weren't too far from the other. The facial features may be different, but our rights, our freedom, and equality, we are all fighting for it. In that way, we aren't so different after all.

"Boys at the back, quiet!"

It was a typical Monday afternoon in my dull, white walled classroom, in our boring Mathematics class. While our old and veteran teacher educates us about the fundamentals of Algebra, half of the people in the room were yawning to the sleepy lectures of our teacher, while some of the typical, noisy boys sitting at the last row are making noise. Almost every day is the same situation like this, but tomorrow, something starts new and things would be different.

"Madam Eyebrows" was our adviser who we call with that nickname because of her eyebrows always frowning, would finally retire. "In almost 30 years of teaching, I never handled a class like yours!" An excerpt of many of the speeches she would tell to the classes she teach every year, and finally, after 30 years, she would experience a long, everlasting vacation. It was a surreal moment, as we always hated this teacher, yet it feels unusual that she won't be here any longer.

Madam Eyebrows was the most memorable part of my school life. I was one of the boys at the back, and her throwing a blackboard eraser to my face was something I would never forget. But, there's another thing I wouldn't forget about her, and all the teachers I had.

As we all know, whenever we are asked about the profession we aspire, we often say we want to be engineers, doctors, nurses, lawyers and more. It's true, that these jobs are among the highest-paying jobs and the jobs that would secure your life and your future. This is why many children dream of it. However, the people who aspire to be "teachers" are rare, and while many dream to become one, only a few are actually passionate about it.

Talk about passion—as said before, I was one of the boys at the back—I almost had no dreams for my future. I slacked off my school years, obtaining grades that honors students would cry all day about. I cut classes, I failed my exams and quizzes, I fist fought with other students. I never felt the way of becoming a student. I never thought about becoming an engineer, a doctor, a nurse, or a lawyer. I felt like school was forever, until Madam Eyebrows came and talked to me.

She was like a candle, she gave light to my sleeping mind. She cured the wounds I got from fights. She helped me understand the idea of studying. She told me that I wasn't dumb, I was just lazy. She stated I had a chance. For me, Madam Eyebrows was not just a teacher. I had my highest respect for her profession. While a lot of jobs are gratified and celebrated well by the front, teachers are at the back, receiving none to little thanks for the efforts they made. Even in the government, they are treated like they're worth only a penny. According to the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), teachers in public or private schools in the Philippines are underpaid. On behalf of teachers in the public school system, the group advocates for an increase from P27,000 to more than P36,000 per month for the Teacher 1 category. These salaries aren't enough for all the sacrifices they make for their students.

That's when I realized that their jobs aren't easy. They're not just teachers— they're more than that. She pushes a lot of us to become better, and that's when I realized they were the real boys at the back. The candles that gives light to others while consuming themselves.

T'was a hot September 25 afternoon when they announced the suspension of classes. I was joyful, as I could go on and play with my friends all day long. After a tiresome morning of consecutive quizzes, I would finally get some "rest."

However, our teacher hit me like a train. She used just a plain sentence to devour me. "You will go home and celebrate the occasion with your family. Understood?" She advised us before dismissing the classes. Probably this was one of the hardest

At this time, many students are already home resting in their respective homes. Enjoying the food their mothers cook, the jokes their fathers tell, the quality time they spend with their siblings. Are Family days just for people with complete families? What about us? Where would we go? Where would I go?

It is not uncommon for Filipinos to be known as family-oriented. Unlike many other nations in the world, whenever you ask our kababayans why they work or study hard, the number one answer is always it's for their families. That's why to celebrate their industriousness and eagerness to make their family successful, the "Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day" was declared in 2012 by late former President Benigno Aquino III, wherein Filipinos are encouraged to spend time with their families in every last Monday of September. Work and classes are suspended for the afternoons so families could spend time together. This was an engaging occasion, because this time of the year would be an opportunity for the whole family to gather, even just for a day.

However, it isn't also uncommon that many Filipino families are broken. According to a survey by Philippine Statistics Authority, 1 in 3 Filipino youth grew up without parents. This is alarming, as this loses the essence of becoming "family-oriented." In a nation deemed as family-centered, why are there millions of illegitimate children? Why are there millions of broken families? What even is Family Day?

This must be one of the never-ending issues of our country. Despite the efforts of the Philippine departments to resolve this, and despite the promotion of the idea of a "perfect family" everywhere, there could never be no broken families. It seems like it was destined.

But let us not lose hope. Let us prove to the future generations that Family Days are deserved by everyone. Someday, I hope that in the last Mondays in the future Septembers to arrive, there would be mo more children asking themselves, "Where would I go?" No more poor, little souls would pity themselves because they don't have mothers cooking for them, fathers cheering up their homes, and siblings to squabble with. And I hope no more children would be like me. Someday, every last Monday of a September would be classified as a Family Day for everybody.

August is the new June. After many unfortunate circumstances, schools are now a hundred percent open. Children—students rather, are going back to school.

But sadly, like me, not every children are lucky enough to classify themselves as students. Not every children are going back to school this August. Not every students are sharpening their pencils this year. School is always open for everyone, but not everyone is always open for school. While everyone else from my age group waking up in the morning to walk their way to the world of education, I have to, too, but not to go to school—but to help my Mama sell school supplies such as pencils, sharpeners, and more—to help my little siblings enjoy the pleasure of learning. I am the oldest, Mama said, so I have to sacrifice my own studies for the sake of the future of my family.

What about me? When do I get the chance to prove myself that I'm worthy of education? When can I enjoy walking inside the campuses? "Education is the most powerful weapon you can help change the world," they say, but why isn't everyone given the ability to change the world?

After a month and a half of a so-called 'vacation', students are going back to school. With bookstores around the nation being crowded by shoppers, navy blue slacks and black shoes being tried out—sharpening leads of pencils, the school season is felt in the air. Amidst the rain, children will enter the campuses once again to let education back in their systems. Pupils from kindergarten to twelfth grades up to college students are returning to their institutions to yet face again another ten months of battling with quizzes, performance tasks, examinations. Ten months of another memories to be built around with classmates and teachers. Ten months of new experiences that you will forever cherish.

Yet, despite the exciting and glamorous events to unfold in school, many children, like me, are not privileged enough to be inside the classrooms. We are called the "out of school youths," where according to a data by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2017, there are 9 percent or 3.53 million of the estimated 39.2 Filipinos aged 6 to 24 years old were considered OSYs aged from 6-24, not lucky enough to go to school, due to various reasons. Some had to halt due to the low achievement in school, some had to drop out for a while to the lack of support from the family, and some had to take a break due to poverty. No matter what the reasons are, we are the children who didn't have the chance to sharpen their pencils, to raise their hands in recitations and to ace their quizzes. We are often looked down upon because we are considered to be good for nothing.

What many people doesn't know is that we aren't called out-of-school youths for nothing. The reason why we're "outside" of school is we are encountering a different kind of classroom outside, which is life. Some of us are raising our hands in a different kind of recitation, which is trying to look for opportunities that will help us survive in our every day life. Some of us are acing a different kind of quiz, which contains difficult questions of "will we ever be like other students who has a diploma to be proud to show off?" We may be out-of-school youths, but we aren't good for nothing. We are out-of-school youths because while many students are inside the classrooms stressing themselves out on how to survive for the next subject, we are here stressing ourselves out on when can we achieve our dreams in life. That's where I gain inspiration from, and someday, I will be given a chance to use a "weapon," a chance to sharpen my blade, to change my own world.

I am going to return.

"Para po!"

For the past twenty years of my Daddy's job as an ordinary "tsuper," he is already probably tired of hearing this remarks. "Para po..." As we all know, this is what we say to the driver when we already reached our destination. When we're finally where we want to be. Daddy is already in his sixties, but still looks fresh and young while driving our jeepney he nicknamed "Eleng." Ever since Mommy passed away years ago, Daddy was the only one to feed us and provide us our everyday needs. And through jeepneys, I, his eldest daughter, gained a degree. Everyone may look down at jeepney drivers but I can say and tell them that jeepney drivers are just as worthy of respect as doctors, engineers and other professions. Because of my jeepney driver Daddy, I am alive.

Why jeepneys?

Jeepneys have been a part of our Filipino life. They are often called as the "king of the road" because of its large size and noisy exhaust pipe. It is a homage to the Filipino culture, as no other countries in the world had a public utility transportation same as our jeepney. It originates from the American colonial period share taxis known as auto calesa, until it evolved to modified imported cars with attached carriages in the 1930s. From then on it served as a public, cheap transportation vehicle in the Philippines. "Jeepney" is a portmanteau of the words "jeep" and "jitney" which are popular slangs in the post-World War II era.

As years passed, the jeepneys were disassembled and locally modified, with metal roofs added for shade and the cars painted in vivid hues with chrome-plated ornamentation on the sides and hood. In order to fit more people, the back portion was redesigned with two long parallel benches facing each other. As it developed through time, its size, length, and passenger capacity all expanded.

The cheapest mode of transportation in the Philippines is the jeepney. Both drivers and passengers can easily be picked up and dropped off because of the open rear door design; unlike buses, they can stop wherever. Nevertheless, some jeepney drivers take advantage of this convenience by randomly loading and unloading passengers in the middle of the road, clogging up traffic and endangering the safety of some passengers.

Through jeepneys, over 600,000 drivers around the Philippines have something to feed their families. And now we are here to talk about the issue—the phasing out of jeepneys to support the PUV modernization. PUV modernization is a a program that is divided into several stages, starting with the phase-out of outdated vehicles that are no longer safe for the road and compliant with emissions regulations, followed by an examination and reorganization of the routes, franchises, and roles of the vehicles involved, and finally the introduction of new systems and standards for vehicles that will serve the general public.

This, which may be a good idea, will however cause massive impact to the jeepney operators and drivers. Have you ever thought about 600,000 families, who depend on the jeepney so they can have something to eat? What about the hungering children? What about the crying mothers whose husbands will lose jobs? What about the stressed operators who will lose money to pay their drivers?

This program will also cause more issues—such as the suffering of our economy, because the hundreds of thousands of drivers who will add to the millions of contract workers with no benefits and minimum wage. It will also burden the commuting people, it will cause many of them to switch to other forms of transportation, thus leading an increase in congestion and air pollution. And most importantly, only a few will profit from this program, particularly the lending banks, large and foreign corporations.