Friday, February 14, 2025

Valentines Day

What is exactly Valentines day?

https://x.com/Nana707academia/status/1493109056349040643?mx=2

Valentines day is a special day or so we called the day of love, and is celebrated on February 14 every year it is dedicated to express or show love, romance and deep emotional connections, by spending time with that person you love or giving them a gift. though this is usually the ethical way

Well where is it originatedly?

It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named , and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.

https://www.countryliving.com/life/inspirational-stories/g35343727/valentines-day-bible-verses/

Morally, which is my insight on Valentines day, I used to have a really religious teacher back then and I always loved hearing his preach and one time I heard him say that every day is a valentines day because we have to always spread or even just express our love to the person we hold dearly the most, whether family, friends, couples and of course our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Reflection (3RD QUARTER)

A Year of Adjustments

A Year of Surviving

https://ph.pinterest.com/AspaTK/

Thinking about it, this is the second-to-last reflection I have to make, and I don’t know if I should feel relieved or just indifferent. Looking back, this school year has been… weird. I can’t say it was great, but I can’t say it was completely pointless either.

meow

I met some new people, but it’s not the same as before. I used to be so motivated, even when school was ridiculously hard. Back then, I had friends, people I actually connected with. my ex-girlfriend played a big part in that, too. Having people who made things feel lighter, who made me feel like I wasn’t just dragging myself through the days was a huge difference. But now? It’s just been a year of adjusting, of trying to keep up, of just… existing.

Being Alone Isn’t the Same as Being Okay

I won’t pretend like I’ve been handling things perfectly. There were times I felt alone, times I wanted to just zone out from everything. But I guess the thing about loneliness is that after a while, you stop fighting it. You just let it sit there. And at some point, I accepted that this is just how things are now.

But even if it sucked, I still managed to do things on my own. I made a whole webpage from scratch something I honestly wouldn’t have thought I could pull off. I got to learn more about coding.

Would it have been easier if I had the same support as before? Definitely. But for what it’s worth, I made it through by myself.

feeling sosyal

Does It All Lead Somewhere?

If I had to weigh it, the bad still outweighs the good. No sugarcoating that. But maybe, just maybe, it’s leading to something. Something that, in the future, I can look back on and say, yeah, I’m glad I went through that.

Not today, not tomorrow, but someday.

For now, I’m just here, surviving. And maybe that’s enough.

PHOTOBLOG

THE MAKING OF THE HOMEPAGE

Although I wasn’t able to participate in the data collection due to being sick, I still played a crucial role in our Community-Based Research (CBR) by creating the webpage for our project. I’m really grateful to my leader, Rico, for covering my part in the research, and in return, I made sure to keep my promise by designing and coding the webpage from scratch. Despite not being present in most classes and struggling to remember lessons, I took it upon myself to self-study coding and complete our webpage.
Here’s how my journey went:

1. Structuring the Webpage

"Starting with the basics! My team and I worked together to create the 9 main links for our webpage, each corresponding to a section of our research."

🖥 Links Created:

✅ Community Profile

✅ Brief Research Description

✅ Profiles

✅ Focus Study

✅ Conclusion

✅ Methodology

✅ Recommendation

✅ Media Gallery

✅ Bibliography

We simply copied and pasted the research content onto the corresponding HTML files and uploaded them to Google Drive for safekeeping.

2. Designing the Homepage

"Creating a structured and functional homepage was a challenge, but I made sure it looked clean, professional, and easy to navigate."

🔹 Harriet helped by sending me past lessons on HTML/CSS and team photos for the profile section.

🔹 I used the Bantay Bell Tower as the background image to give the page a distinct local identity, complemented by a navy blue, gray, and white color scheme for a modern, minimalistic look.

To enhance functionality and user experience, I incorporated:

✅ Header – Included the ISNHS logo at the top to establish branding and identity.

✅ Middle Text: Added the title "Doon po sa amin, Pagiging Handa Ang Aming Sandata" with the subtitle "Facing Emergencies with Courage and Preparedness" in the center of the homepage to emphasize the theme of our research.

✅ Navigation Bar – Designed 9 interactive buttons, each linking to different sections of our research

✅ Footer – Placed a copyright notice at the bottom for a polished, professional finish

3. Learning and Applying CSS

"Making the webpage interactive! To improve the design, I started learning CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to add animations and hover effects for a smoother user experience."

🎨 Steps I Took:
1️⃣ Created a separate style.css file.
2️⃣ Linked it to the HTML using: <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">

3️⃣ Added effects like hover animations to make profiles expand when hovered.

💡 Helpful Resources: I used W3Schools for tutorials and installed Brackets (a coding software) to debug and preview my work easily.

4. The Struggles and Challenges

"Coding wasn’t as easy as I thought! What I expected to be a one-day task turned into a full week of trial and error."

⚠️ Challenges Faced:
❌ Debugging countless errors
❌ Revising code due to unexpected issues
❌ Managing stress from the workload

Despite the difficulties, I kept researching, troubleshooting, and improving the layout until I got it right.

5. Finalizing and Presenting

"After countless hours of work, it was finally done! I saved the webpage on my USB and presented it to the class, explaining how I built it."

✨ Key Features of the Webpage:
✔️ Hover effects for team profiles
✔️ Simple yet clean navigation
✔️ Well-organized sections

Although I couldn’t physically participate in fieldwork, I’m proud that I contributed through my skills in web development. This experience taught me patience, perseverance, and self-learning, and honestly, it felt amazing to build my first webpage from scratch. 💻

The Webpage Overview:

Vigan City: A Place That Feels Like Home

Vigan City, in Ilocos Sur, is a cool mix of history and charm. Also called Villa Fernandina, it was founded in the 16th century by Spanish explorers and was once a busy spot for Chinese traders from Fujian province. Now, it’s one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial towns in Asia, with a mix of European, Chinese, and Filipino influences.

Walking through Vigan’s cobblestone streets feels like going back in time. The city is filled with old houses, colonial buildings, and streets that have stayed the same for years. Because of how well it’s been preserved, Vigan was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New7Wonders Cities of the World.

Vigan is a must-visit for both locals and tourists. A lot of people love its rich culture and history. Exploring old houses, museums, and plazas makes you feel connected to the past while learning about the city’s traditions. The locals are really proud of their heritage, keeping the old Vigan vibe alive.

Even though modern life keeps moving forward, Vigan never loses its classic charm. The city's efforts to protect its history make it stand out from other places. With its welcoming feel and deep love for its past, Vigan City is a unique and amazing place to visit.

For me, Vigan feels even more personal. The last name "Parel" is something I see everywhere from Bantay Church Tower to different parts Ilocos Sur. It’s a strange but special feeling, like I’m connected in a deeper way. It makes me think about the history behind my name and how it ties me to this place. Maybe that’s what makes this even more than just a beautiful city it’s a home that holds stories, including my own.

References:

http://www.thechroniclesofmariane.com/2016/07/Vigan-Ilocos-Sur-Travel-Guide.html

https://www.facebook.com/ViganCityOfficial/?locale=es_LA

Why do Filipinos observed the celebration of Chinese New year?

Chinese New Year is one of the most widely celebrated events in the Philippines, even though it’s not originally part of Filipino culture. The strong influence of Chinese traditions in the country, especially in places with a long history of Chinese trade and migration, has made the celebration a significant part of Filipino life.

Many Filipinos observe Chinese New Year because of their belief in prosperity and good fortune. Traditions like lighting firecrackers, giving ang pao (red envelopes), and eating tikoy are widely practiced, even by non-Chinese families. Businesses also take part in the celebration, offering discounts and promos, making the occasion even more festive.

More than anything, Filipinos celebrate Chinese New Year as a way of embracing cultural diversity. The country has always been a mix of different influences, and this celebration reflects the deep connection between Filipino and Chinese heritage. It’s not just about luck or traditionl, it’s about honoring history, strengthening relationships, and welcoming a new year with hope

Referrences:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.phpfbid=603313102451249&id=100083176937835&set=a.174860131963217
https://www.facebook.com/photo.phpfbid=1005439344961823&id=100064872990663&set=a.1005447178294373
https://img.bomboradyo.com/davao/2025/01/CHINESE-NEW-YEAR-2025.webp

New Year, New Me? Maybe.

Another year has come and here I am again thinking about everything that happened, everything that didn’t, and everything I wish I could change. This past year wasn’t easy. I struggled with focus, felt miserable more times than I’d like to admit.

I’ve had moments where I just wanted to escape everything, where I felt stuck, drowning in distractions, and wasting time. There were good moments too, things I started, stories that inspired me, and projects I poured myself into. But somehow, the bad days always felt heavier.

The thing is, I don’t want to carry all of that into the new year. I don’t want to spend another year feeling

like I’m just going through the same thing again, letting time slip away. I know I can’t magically become a whole new person just because the calendar changed, but I can at least try to do something else. This year, I want to keep moving forward, even if it’s slow.

I want to learn to balance things like school, creativity, rest-without feeling like I’m being dragged down by expectations, whether they come from others or from myself. I want to stop letting regret take up space in my mind because, honestly, I’m tired of looking back and wishing I did things differently.

I don’t expect this year to be perfect. I don’t expect myself to suddenly have everything figured out. But if there’s one thing I want for myself in 2025, it’s to at least try to take more steps, to make things that matter to me, to go outside even when it feels pointless, and to remind myself that I’m still here, still moving, still growing. New year, new me? Maybe not. But a better me? I think I can make that happen.

lol

https://ph.pinterest.com/pin/663225482657442517/

My Holiday Experience 2024

https://ph.pinterest.com/pin/663225482650543916/

The Christmas season used to be my favorite time of the year when I was a kid. It was filled with lights, gifts, and the kind of excitement that made waiting for December 25th feel like an eternity. But as I grew older, that excitement faded, replaced by a quiet realization, Christmas wasn’t as special as it used to be.

This holiday, I spent most of my time in my room, doing nothing at all. And honestly, I got sick of it. The same four walls, the same routine, it felt like I was stuck. So, I tried something different. Even though I had no friends to go out with, I decided to step outside alone.

It wasn’t exactly fun, but at least it was something. I did this three times in a row, walking around with only my thoughts to keep me company. I didn’t even bother taking pictures because it didn’t feel memorable enough. But at least I can tell annoying self that I actually did something.

Somewhere along the way, I started thinking about why Christmas didn’t feel exciting anymore. Maybe it was because, year after year, the holiday seemed to bring nothing but bad experiences. Or maybe it was just part of growing up, understanding more about life, responsibilities, and how things aren’t as simple as they used to be. Christmas, once a season of joy, now felt more like a temporary escape from the weight of everyday life. A break, rather than a celebration.

Still, not everything about this holiday was dull. I spent Christmas at my grandparents’ house with my family. We ate together, played games, and for a moment, things felt lighter. I even earned a bit of money from my aunts and uncles, a small but welcome gift. It wasn’t a picture-perfect Christmas, but at least there was something to remember.

Maybe the magic of Christmas doesn’t disappear it just changes. It’s no longer about gifts and excitement but about finding small moments that remind us we’re still moving forward, even if we don’t always feel it.

Carlos

CARLOS