jericodungca

[jericodungca]

“The and That Moments”

Openness is the key to find one’s own greatness and happiness. Please keep on smiling for both of us! Hello… How have you been? It’s been a while since we talked. I know that you are just doing fine, better than the state I am currently in now. You were the type of person who was always carefree, happy, and always smiling with the little or big things/events that happened in your life. Like a feather, so light and so gentle, you would always care for others, especially for your friends and those you cared you in return. As all that had been said, I can say to you that you belong to the 49.1 % of people who were happy with their lives in 2011. Exactly ten years ago, I was contented and happy with you, my former and younger self.

But life does not only necessarily stay as it is. Like the seasons of the world, life changes into different themes with their own different meanings. Thus, making the words of Heraclitus that “Change is the only permanent thing in this world” true because all of us experience different things in life that changes us for the better or for the worse. Now, for me, the moment that drastically change me and will soon happen to you is during our Grade 9 Year. Wherein, you will feel the pressure and stress of not only coming from the academics, but also from your classmates as they desire to be Number 1 or to stay on the top of your class. They would do anything in order to achieve their goal just like a desperate child who will not stop until he/she achieves what he/she wants. Wherein, they would form alliances with others who share the same goal in order to support each other just like a pack of wolves and ridicule those who oppose them just like me. They would also fake kindness and easily create a “good image” in front of teachers and others but in reality, they like wolves in sheep’s clothing.

With the constant ridiculing, you will suddenly pop because you will breakdown and cry so many times that the tears are sometimes blood. As the wind stops blowing and dead air enters, you too shall feel a state of void wherein you fell down a bottomless and dark pit that is near impossible to climb back up again. From these, you had learned that you should change in the vision that others want you to be not by your desires or view just like a slave that diligently obeys his/her master’s commands. You will also learn to lock your emotions away as you shut your doors that once welcome everyone in your life. You will learn to be dependent on yourself because people are just like the government that gives promises of security, comfort, and friendship in times of our need, but their words are empty because there are no actions to be seen especially when you need them the most, they vanish like smoke in broad daylight.

But alas, as the saying goes “There is a rainbow after the rain”, you will learn to move on and open the doors once again. You will realize this during senior high wherein, you will try so hard to keep yourself close/to be alone and serious to others to the point that your cold and serious stares would pierce their hearts and implant fear/seriousness in them. But things were different then and are different now. You could relax and enjoy again your life wherein I realized that no matter how hard I try to keep myself to only care/depend on myself there will be always new people who would care for you with the same level of care you gave them, and they will keep their promises and will stay by your side to comfort you in your times of need. Which, leads you to the return to your former self like a phoenix that majestically rises from the ashes and that the negative way of living that you mastered has been cracked and faded away like an eggshell.

As you, my younger self, read this letter, I hope that you will realize that there will always be ups and downs in life. Our life is a cloud that is sometimes covered in darkness that withholds us to see the light. But we lived on even though it’s so hard to continue on because we see that there are good things in life for us in every step and obstacles present in our lives. So, don’t let yourself be lost in the journey. Remember to put God, good thoughts, people who truly care for you, and words of affirmation in your mind and heart that will serve as your map and compass in your journey instead of the hurtful words of people that only see your bad side. I want you to keep on living for and as yourself, a self that will not regret any change. Unlike me now, who wasted time believing in the thoughts of others and keeping himself forcefully fitted with the vision of other people. And lastly, remember to open yourself to other people even though it will hurt yourself sometimes because it will hurt even more when you carry the burden alone and also always smile so that the happiness you will feel is genuine and explicit.

[jericodungca]

“The Pleading Tears Behind The Screens”

           Did you know over 17 cases of student suicide that happened last year are caused by Online/Blended Learning? Will your child be next? Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, schools and other teaching institutes were forced to cease operating which means that the traditional way of learning was stopped as a safety precaution for students in order to stop the spreading of the virus. But, the Department of Education introduced and presented Online/Blended Learning as a new alternative way of learning while in the midst of this pandemic. This way of learning has started around August 24 for private schools and October 5 for public schools. It is normal for some countries while for the Philippines it is new. However, despite the efforts of the government to ready all students for this way of learning the students are still having problems when it comes to online classes which leads them to be left behind by other students and to be stress. That is why today, I will show you some of the reasons why there must be a change in the system of doing online/blended learning and a need for academic break for students in order for them to accept online learning and to be happy.

           First, the lack of material of students, teachers and schools in order to do online classes which causes the learning of a child to be delayed. According to Rappler News, only 7 regions of the Philippines are capable of keeping up in printing modules in order for students to learn while the rest are below average. While, according to ABS-CBN News, thousands of teachers and students lack/do not have any gadgets in order to do online classes. Lastly, Philstar News stated that: “…over 6.8 million noted lack of available gadgets and equipment suitable for distance learning (both teachers and students).” These reports serve as call for us that the government need to further improve our support and aid to all so that online/blended learning would be efficient for the students. If these kinds of reports continue, then students and teachers would really have a hard time in coping and learning with this way of learning. If students are not learning, it would cause more problems for our countries such as low literacy rate, mental problems brought by stress of not being able to participate in online classes.

           Second, the unstable Internet Connection of students are causing them to be left out of the online discussion. According to Philstar News, more than 6.9 million cited that they have unstable or no internet/mobile connection and 6.2 million citied that they do not have the money for load and data allowance to be use for online learning. There were also reports that people who are living in rural and high places have the lowest signal which causes them to have a hard time in getting their modules and learning online. The connection of gadgets is important because online discussions are not playable or repeatable. The student will not learn anything if he/she will hear only some parts of the discussion or will be present in the discussion to only hear the teacher for one second then will pause for seconds due to the signal.

           Lastly, the work coming from school combine with house-chores are causing students to became tired and stress which lead them to be depress. According to Philstar News, 1.7 million students are having conflict with other activities such as house chores. As online learning continues, People are also having a more difficult life since most of the people lost their jobs due to the pandemic. This forced some of the students to do work or to have small jobs in order to make money in order to feed themselves. Every student has a different set of chores to do in the home. That is why sometimes, the students are left so tired after online classes and are stress out with the requirements and deadlines that they are needed to be passed. This leads them to become depress which causes them to have a mental breakdown and/or commit suicide. As reported by Inquirer News, over 17 cases of student suicides are brought by online classes. This proves that students are in need of an academic break and that the schools should limit the school works that they give to the students.

           In conclusion, there are many problems that the students are now facing in online classes, problems with material, connection and responsibilities at home. I hope that I was able to open your hearts and minds to show that there’s a need to change the system and a need of rest for the students. Now, there are many ways to help the students. The government can further their support and help the people concerned with online/blended learning. The parents and teachers can help students by removing or limiting the things that they need to do at home and school. But, for all of these to happen it is up to us. So, will you make your stand to help all the students?

[jericodungca]

PK

                  It was around the 1st or 2nd Grading of my Grade 11 life. Wherein, the whole class watched a 2hrs and 33mins-long, Hindi movie entitled “PK” which means “drunk person”.  We needed to watch since the movie has something to do about Religion which our subject, Introduction to the World of Religion/INWOR, is all about. And, we were also tasked to do film analysis about the movie while answering some guide questions. The movie peaked my interest wherein I really gave my full attention to not miss any details because I am good with our  Theology/CLE subject since I focus on learning values and religious things because I am used to it because of my involvement in our Church in our community.

                The movie began with PK, the protagonist, revealed to be an innocent alien from outer space who came down to earth to observe it. As he was finished with his task, His communication device, that was used to contact his spaceship to pick him up and to return home, was stolen. Now, he has been searching for his device. While he was searching, he met Jaggu, a heartbroken reporter [but at the end of the movie, reunites with her loved one], who decided to help him.  

                As he was searching, he became curious about all religions about the world which he joined all in order to find “God” so that he would help him. But, he raised very sensible and thought-provoking questions about religions which led to him to debate with the main antagonist named “Tapasviji”, a religious head of religion which Jaggu belongs to and the holder of the communication device which PK needs,.  In the end, PK was able to win the debate, get back his communication device, he was able to go home but he let go of his love he had for Jaggu since it was the right thing to do and because she was able to reunite with her loved one, Sarfraz, and she did not have any romantic feelings towards PK. In short, the movie  is about a stranger in the city asks questions no one has asked before. Known only by his initials, the man's innocent questions and childlike curiosity take him on a journey of love, laughter and letting go.

               I really enjoyed the movie because it was a funny yet meaningful. The movie’s comedy is unique because most films never have done/thought of it and because of these reasons, I would highly recommend it to people to go watch it. Now going back to myself, before watching the movie I was having a problem with myself.  Wherein, I was losing the interest and the purpose on the things that I believe such as my religion, principles, and etc. because I observed that they sometimes cause conflicts and they also are being questioned sensibly by other people because of their way.

               But as I was watching the movie, I was stricken by the line of PK in his debate with Tapasviji [which is my favorite part of the movie] which is: “Yes, it is true that I am nothing but an ordinary person and that you worship your God for strength, guidance, and etc. in times of your need. But, you worship a God that you know nothing about him at all… You allow violence, dispute, and hate with one another to exist. Is this what your God wants? Your God is nothing like my God!”  because it made me realized the following: First, I am person who has involvement with the Church but sometimes fails to promote the good that is why I strive to promote the good more often. Second, I also realized that I should have the same level of thinking as PK because having his mindset allows me to be more logical, sensible and accurate in thinking about serious matters. Third, I realized also that I should not give up on the things that I believe in and to fighting for them in the right way because I realized that my beliefs fuel my essence and they are worth more if I fight for them in a proper way/manner. Finally, I realized that I should help others to keep on their beliefs and support them in fighting for their beliefs.