"Maybe the Greatest Love Of All Is Who The Eyes Can't See."

A day of love and appreciation, you know that's Valentine's Day. Flowers, gifts, and letters come to mind when you think of this day. Whether you spend this day with your lover, family, or friends, love always prevails. 💗

"Like water in the desert, impossible to find. You found me when I was broken, put me back together and gave me life. Like a flower in the concrete, so beautiful and rare. You gave me hope when I was empty and walked me through the fire, you were there." - LANY. The lyrics of the song You! is a reminder that love is not only measured by materialistic things. Love has many forms, whether it be quality time, words of affirmation, or more. But most importantly, love is shown through gestures and being there for a loved one through tough times. No matter the distance or circumstance and no matter the challenges you're facing, love is when you always choose to show up for a person and fight for the love you have. Love is unconditional and love is patient. And, wherever life takes you, you bring a piece of the person you love with you. 

 

Valentine's Day serves as a reminder for us to thank those who have stayed beside us and those who continue to stay beside us. Another lyric from the song You! by LANY says "You're the light in the dark, you're the arrow through my heart. You, I'm nothing without you!" which symbolizes a person's love and gratitude to someone who has been beside them, has helped them, and never left them despite the obstacles they had gone through. Not only that, Valentine's Day also serves as a day of forgiveness, it is a day of setting yourself free from the hurt you have endured and forgiving yourself and others. Valentine's Day should not only be celebrated on the 14th of February but should also be celebrated every day. Love is expressed in both actions and words, it gives you peace and hope to move forward. With each passing day of choosing yourself and your loved ones, you will always be reminded that maybe the greatest love of all is who the eyes can't see.  

  

Image Reference/s:

https://www.mycism.com/2023/02/sweeten-up-your-valentines-day-2023/

https://ph.pinterest.com/pin/803822233477099634/

https://ph.pinterest.com/pin/14355292555243637/

Community-Based Research Experience

This Community-Based Research Experience was a first for me. But, this experience was fun especially because I got to go to other places, spent time with classmates, and I learned a lot.

Our CBR focused on the Waste Management of Brgy. San Pedro. I actually had never heard of this place before until it was introduced to me by my groupmates and I visited the place.

Of course, we started planning for our CBR and our team leader assigned a role or task to each of us.

After planning, we visited Brgy. San Pedro to observe their waste management practices (specifically their Material Recovery Facilities) and this is what we documented.

We visited 2 more MRF's and this is an image of an unused/abandoned MRF in San Pedro.

We visited the last location of the MRF and we observed that the MRF was not used properly, the community's waste was just sitting on top of the MRF and not disposed of or thrown inside the bin.

After collecting information on the barangay and finalizing our CBR paper, we moved on to the making of the webpage. This was also my first time making a webpage and I was tasked with making the Team Profile section of the webpage. I encountered some challenges in the coding of my part but in the end, it turned out the way I wanted.

This was the final product on the webpage of the Team Profile section, it included a slider swiper and a previous and next button.

Overall, this experience was fun and eye-opening. I learned a lot from what I have experienced and I will surely be able to use the skills I have garnered. This was my first time making a Community-Based Research and Webpage, but it will definitely not be the last. This experience just made me realize even more how awesome technology can be and proved to me again and again how much I love learning about technology. 

Nearing the End: A 3rd Quarter Reflection

During the 3rd Quarter, I continued learning about the use of HTML Tags specifically about the HTML List wherein we used tags like <ol> for an ordered list, <li> for the content of the list, and <ul> for an unordered list. We also learned about the Description List which used the tags: <dl> to start the description list, <dt> for the main term/name, and <dd> for the description details. Furthermore, I have learned about Community-Based Research and conducted it with team members. 

With the HTML Lists, I had some difficulty making some of the files/content to work and show up correctly on my web browser. As for the Community-Based Research, I also had difficulty in the making the Team Profile Webpage, I encountered the same issue as the problem I had with making my HTML List.

Through trial and error, determination, and assistance from my classmates and teacher, I got through these challenges I have faced.

Moving on to the 4th Quarter, I will continue striving to be the best version of myself and learn from my experiences. I hope to be able to have fun while learning ICT during the last quarter of 10th grade.

Image Reference:

https://steemit.com/coding/@nolimit909/my-daily-learning-how-to-code-day-9-of-html-lists

新年快乐! Chinese New Year 2025

Filipinos observe the celebration of Chinese New Year due to the deep historical and cultural ties between the Chinese and Filipino communities because of various reasons.

First, strong Chinese Influence in the Philippines. 

The Chinese have been trading with Filipinos for centuries even before Spanish colonization. Many Chinese immigrants settled in the country, bringing their traditions including the celebration of the Lunar New Year. 

Second, the Large Chinese-Filipino Community. 

The Chinoy (Chinese-Filipino) community plays a significant role in Philippine society. Many Chinese traditions like feng shui, tikoy (sticky rice cake), and dragon dances have become part of Filipino culture. 

Third, Luck and Prosperity Beliefs.

Filipinos embrace traditions that are believed to bring good fortune, prosperity, and happiness. Many participate in the customs of wearing red, giving ang pao (red envelopes containing money), and preparing round fruits. 

Fourth, the Official Holiday and Public Celebrations. 

Since 2012, Chinese New Year has been a special non-working holiday in the Philippines. Cities like Binondo (Manila's Chinatown) host grand celebrations such as parades, fireworks, and lion dances. 

Fifth, Business and Economic Influence. 

Many Filipino businesses follow Chinese traditions for luck, such as displaying lucky charms, consulting feng shui experts, and offering Chinese New Year promotions.

In 2025, Chinese New Year falls on January 29, marking the Year of the Wood Snake. Festive celebrations across the country, especially in Chinese-Filipino communities are to be expected!

Image Reference/s:

https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/01/29/lunar-new-year-2025-celebrations-worldwide-photos/

https://rove.me/to/philippines/chinese-new-year

Vigan Cityhood - Vigan as a Municipality then and Vigan as a City now

Located in the province of Ilocos Sur, Vigan is one of the most historically significant and well-preserved heritage cities in the Philippines. It transitioned from a municipality to a city, marking a significant change in its governance, economy, and cultural preservation efforts.

Vigan as a Municipality

Before becoming a city, Vigan functioned as a regular municipality governed by a municipal mayor and council. It had limited fiscal autonomy and depended largely on national government support. The economy was primarily based on agriculture, handicrafts, and small-scale businesses. Infrastructure was less developed with fewer commercial establishments and modern facilities. Despite being a municipality, Vigan was already known for its rich Spanish colonial heritage, including Calle Crisologo and old houses. However, heritage conservation was not as prioritized as it is today.

Vigan as a City 

Vigan became a city on December 27, 2000 through Republic Act No. 8988, ratified via a plebiscite. With city status, Vigan gained greater financial and political autonomy, leading to better public services and local projects. Cityhood attracted more businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and tourism-related enterprises. The local government leveraged its UNESCO World Heritage status (1999) to boost tourism. Roads, public facilities, and utilities were improved to accommodate the growing population and tourist influx. The city balanced modernization while preserving its historical charm. The local government intensified heritage conservation efforts, maintaining Vigan’s identity in which Vigan won international awards such as being named one of the New7Wonders Cities in 2014.

All in all, Vigan’s transformation from a municipality to a city brought about economic progress, improved governance, and greater heritage conservation. While it embraced modernization, it remained committed to preserving its Spanish-era charm, making it a model for heritage conservation and sustainable urban growth in the Philippines.

Image Reference:

https://www.laidbacktrip.com/posts/what-to-do-vigan-ilocos-sur-philippines

Christmas Glee Under The Christmas Tree

 

Christmas season was a season full of glee! 

Christmas time of 2024 was a blast! I spent my Christmas here in Ilocos with my family and relatives. We went to different places during Christmas, eating food and having a good time. Our time together has strengthened our bond especially when we got the chance to catch up and share stories and updates of our lives after a long time of not seeing each other.  

While I was at home, I took the time to enjoy my Christmas vacation. I reconnected and played games with friends, I learned new things, and most importantly, I got to spend Christmas with the people I love. 

To be honest, I did not feel the Christmas breeze at first like it was just a normal day. But, I soon realized that it's not about the gifts or materialistic things that makes Christmas special, rather the Christmas joy we feel is within and around us. The people we spend our Christmas with is the epitome of the Christmas glee, seeing their faces light up when seeing each other makes Christmas complete and truly special. 

 

New Year, New Me

 

2024 has come to an end, this year was full of happiness, sadness, and lessons. I did not think that a single year of my life could change the way I am as a person. I have learned a lot from what has happened in a span of a year. I have lost and gained during this time of my life and I am thankful for each and every situation I have been in. 2024 was such a roller coaster of a year and a chapter of my life is officially over. 

With entering 2025, I hope to become a better person. I want to learn new things and experience what life has to offer. I hope that this year will be a better year for me, a year full of happiness and success. I hope to meet new people and strengthen my bond with family and friends.

This year will be a year of improvement and growth, because isn't life all about experiencing and growing from past situations? A New Year and a New Me, another chance to start over and become the best version of me!