GENDER EQUALITY: MGA TAO RIN KAMI

Photo courtesy: Rappler.com

Sabi ni Emma Watson, “Ang babae at lalaki ay may karapatan na maging sensitibo. Sila ay may karapatan na maging matapang. Oras na para tingnan natin ang kasarian ng mga tao bilang espektro hindi bilang dalawang magkaibang prinsipyo.” Ang tanong, sang-ayon ba ang lahat ng tao dito? 

Ang gender equality ay ang layunin ng pagkakapantay-pantay ng mga kasarian o ng mga seks, na nagmumula sa paniniwala sa kawalan ng katarungan na may iba’t ibang anyo ng hindi pagkapantay-pantay sa kasarian. Ngunit, hindi pa natin ito nakakamit.

Respeto ang kailangan natin para makamit natin ang gender equality. Wala tayong karapatan para dominahin ang mga lalaki, at gayun din naman para sa mga lalaki sa ating mga babae. Sabi sa Genesis 1:27, “At nilalang ng Diyos ang tao ayon sa kanyang sariling larawan, ayon sa larawan ng Diyos siya nilalang; nilalang niya sila na lalaki at babae.” Kaya lahat tayo ay pantay-pantay sa paningin niya.

DEAR PARENTS

MEET THE COTTONTAIL

Sparks is sick atm, so I chose another animal for this pet appreciation blog post :) 

Last month, right after school, I opened my phone with a text from my mom. She told me to check my FB account, and so I did. It was a photo, but I couldn't open it bc the 3G connection was just - ay nako. So I decided to open the photo as soon as I get home. 

When I arrived, I was surprised to see a hopping cotton ball in the patio, and that's when it hit me. 

Meet SNOWBALL. The name Snowball's pretty mainstream for a white rabbit but eh - *inserts lady hair flipping emoji* 

I guess animals too have their "better angles".

Close enough, Snowball. 

Au revoir! 

... AND A HAPPY HIGH CLEAR!

The day after Fr. Ron's tournament, Steve and I attended the Christmas party held at Citisports. At first, I didn't want to attend since it was my first time attending. Fortunately, Ivy Go was able to come. I also wanted to support my friends and my trainers as they perform their intermission number. Go, team Barbie! 

Bosom buddies! (L-R: Nang Apple, Nang Riezel, Nang Bimba, Steve, Nono, Ivy, Owen)

I also got the chance to take a selfie groufie with Nono #crush (+ Owen) ._.

(L-R: Nizza,Steve, Belle, Meee, Owen)

(L-R: Ivy, Nizza, Steve, Belle, Me, Owen)

Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind. 

BROUGHT HOME THE BACON

Last Wednesday, we got the chance to join Fr. Ron's priestly smash tournament. It was a tournament wherein we would get the chance to compete against adults. Ms. Annelyn Alba, my badminton trainer asked me to join along with my brother and my fellow teammates (Ivy Go, Nang Bimba Nualla, Nizza Piojo, MJ Gupiteo, Owen Alamo, Belle Gaitan, and the Tan siblings) 

It was a doubles tournament (men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles). My partner was Nizza Piojo, a regional badminton player from CPU. Also, it was my first time joining a tournament, so I got pretty nervous before the game started. 

During our first game, Nizza sensed my nervousness and told me that I shouldn't be nervous and that it's okay to make mistakes, but of course, we both wanted to win, so I tried to shake it off. Nizza and I won our first two games, which meant that we were up for semifinals. 

(1 AM GROUFIE!!)

When I found out that we were up against two adults that were really good based on my observations from their previous games, I got nervous again, so I started eating noodles. I also kept telling my mom that "Nakulbaan gid ko ya. Sagad sila, mom." But with the comforting advices from her, Nizza, and her mom, I was able to overcome it again. To my surprise, we won, and were up for championships. 

 (2 AM GROUFIE!!)

While waiting for our last game, I competed in mixed doubles with Steve as my partner. We lost the first game, won the second, and lost the 3rd one. We got the chance to compete against Fr. Ron himself. I had fun playing with him! 

I was shocked to find out that we were up against our fellow teammates (Ivy Go and Belle Gaitan). I knew that this was going to be a hard one since they were the only competitors that were the same age as me. We had the score of 28-29, until Nizza gave a high clear, and Belle wasn't able to get it. WE WON! Fun fact: the game started around 2AM. Yes, 2 AM! 

When I found out that we won, I couldn't believe it, so I kept on asking the people, "Ha? Daog kami?" Reality hit me, and I was on the verge of tears. I thanked God because that was an event worth staying up late for. 

LIFE HACKS 101: EXAMINATIONS

THE PLAYLIST

1. Beating Heart by Ellie Goulding - *tb Divergent feels* this song reminded me of my my almost-two-hour relationship with Tobias Eaton.

2. Chandelier by Sia - this song is just perfect. When Sia hits the high notes... goosebumps alert! 1, 2, 3, drink! From the CHANDELE-L-I-I-I-E-R! (Fact: Sia Furler is diagnosed with Graves' Disease and contemplated suicide) 

3. Drop In The Ocean by Ron Pope - this song gets me. It's like my life in 3 minutes. Bless  you, Ron Pope! 

4. Latch by Disclosure - this is my JAM. My bathroom jam, my school jam, my bedroom jam! I'd play it on loop for hours and not get tired. I even made my own dance moves (HA.)

5. Stay With Me by Sam Smith - this song HURTS. It's a song about a boy, who likes this girl and considers her as a "friends with benefits" type of girl, but he still wants her to stay with him. (I fell in love with this song not bc I can relate to it but bc it hit me emotionally, if you know what I mean)