My April 25 Experience

Yesterday, I was really up for a big Challenge. Well, I guess only a few people know that my real age is 17 and yesterday I was given an opportunity to host a very big event at SM CITY CEBU. The good thing was I had a co-host, Mr. Cerj Michael, my family’s support, Mr. Charlie’s support, the rest of the Salad Dressing Family and of course, I was gifted with God’s grace. It was my first time to host an event like that with hundreds of people watching. The title of the event is “Get up and Dance 2009 – Modern Dance Competition”. We have also invited top performers to do the intermission numbers. It was also my pleasure to host an event with the “Miss Mandaue 2009 Finalists” as our special guests. The first lady of Mandaue City, Mme. Sarah Walker Cortes was also there so I was pressured a little bit. Nobody would think that a 17-year old (I just turned 17 last March 31) would dare to come up on stage, face such a big crowd and present the 12 dance contestants, the performers, the Miss Mandaue 2009 Finalists and of course to endorse Salad Dressing.

At first, when the General Manager of Salad Dressing, Mr. Charlie Garces told me that I was going to host the event, I directly turned down the offer and told him that I will be a judge of the Dance Competition instead. Afterall, it was a battle of champions because the competing groups have already been champions of different other dance competitions.My excuse was, I lack experience and that I was too young for a big role. Later that day, I have decided that there’s no harm in trying. I said that I lack experience, but if I will never try, how could I GAIN EXPERIENCE? I remember the time when I decided to run for a position in the mass communicators organization in our school, I have learned from our mentor that I must grow where I am planted. Mr. Charlie Garces gave me that opportunity to host his event and I know how important this event was to him, and to trust it with a 17 year old? That is very flattering. Of course, I would like to thank my co-host, Mr. Cerj michael for guiding me all through out and for giving me tips before and after the show. I was even flattered because he gave me some more tips because he saw potential in me in hosting. For a very good host to say that to a beginner, I am very flattered. It was all because of God, believe me Guys, prayer works. I know that if I hadn’t prayed, I will be a total mess on stage.

I could say that it was a big challenge but I was able to make it through because of the people who are always there for me and the people who believe in my capabilities. I owe this to my family because they give me courage when I am afraid, the assure me when I am in doubt, and they inspire me when I am uncertain. That is a wonderful memory that I shall forever keep in my heart.

-Thank You-

MY LIFE’S GREATEST TREASURE

As a Catholic, I really believe that my dreams do have meanings. It doesn’t happen just because it happens. God wants to send me a message and this time, it was about my life’s greatest treasure – MY FAMILY.

I know that in a family of four (My mom, my dad, me, and my younger brother) and a pet dog, I am not an ideal sister or a daughter. Sometimes I talk back, I whine, I complain about nonsense, I get angry at them so much, but I tell you, none of these feelings is greater than the love I have for them. I know that my family isn’t aware of how great my love is for them; nobody in this world is and now I’m so proud to tell it. Our family is not a perfect family, but at least, we don’t leave each other behind.

My mom – LORETA P. ANDRADA
Even though sometimes I get irritated with how she nags at us, I still adore her and am very touched by how she cares for me and my younger brother. If she nags at me, I understand that I had made something wrong because if I hadn’t, then there’s no reason for me to get scolded.
I love my mom’s recipe. If only the world can taste it also. I love everything she cooks and prepares for us for meals. When I praise her ways in the kitchen, she says its love that makes her dishes so delicious.
My mom would do anything in this world to protect me and my brother. Believe me – anything.
She may be not a perfect mom but I tell you, she’s one of the greatest in the world.

My dad – ANTONIO S. ANDRADA JR.
My dad is where the family gets strength from. There was a time when he was really weak and downhearted, we really tried to encourage him and tell him that no matter how big a problem is, there is always a solution. We can’t afford to see him that way.
He is a corny joker. Haha. He can’t throw jokes well but I still laugh at them (the jokes) because of his funny expression. He appears very strict to other people but when he’s inside the house, he’s a whole lot different.
My dad is a hard worker. He does his best just to provide us with our needs – food, shelter, clothing, etc.
Sometimes, I really hate my dad when he nags at us because he had a bad day at work or there is something that had irritated him, but we know that he’s under a lot of pressure being the breadwinner of the family so we try to understand.
He may be not a perfect dad, but I tell you, he’s one of the greatest in the world.

These things may seem a small matter to another person, but the little efforts my parents exert shows how much they love us and what I am doing now, says how much I appreciate every little effort.

My brother – PAULO P. ANDRADA
My brother often gets on my nerves. Sometimes, I really hate the things he does. When we were younger, there was no day that we don’t fight. Well, I got tired of it, so I kind of tried to extend my patience a little bit for my dear younger brother.
I really want to spend so much time with him. Well, nobody in this world knows everything (oops! close to everything) other than my brother and my parents. I want to give my brother everything he wants as long as it will not give him misfortune.
Because of my brother, I am inspired to be a better sister. I so love my brother because even if there are times that I scold at him, he never keeps any grudge and he does the little things that I tell him to do. (Like to hand me something from afar)
He may not be a perfect brother, but he’s one of the greatest in the world.

My younger sister (a dog) – PAULA
haha. I have a pet dog in the house which we call Paula. Everything she does is just so utterly adorable.
How I wish she could learn language and talk to us if she wants to eat something else when she doesn’t like her food.
My family and I really adores her intelligence. She shows that she is also a part of the family because of her actions. (e.g. tail wags, licks our faces even we left her at home alone all day)
He may not be a perfect pet, but I tell you, she’s one of the greatest in the world.

This is my family. Well, sort of. If a calamity will arrive at our place, the first things that I would save are the pictures – Because none of these events will again happen in our lives. The expressions imprinted on the pictures, the memory it brings, and the infinite happiness that flows in my body every time I see them.

THE DREAM:
It was dawn, my family and I are all sleeping until I heard a wake up call from a band outside. When I opened the door, I see big fire from the neighborhood. I can hear crying voices, the sound of the fire truck approaching the place, and I can hear the wind. I really panicked. Even though I am a dean’s lister, nothing seems to process into my brain because I can do nothing to protect my family from a calamity like such. Without anymore thinking, I picked up a handful of leaves and tried to know where the direction of the wind was to alert me if it was to our house. The leaves followed the direction of the wind, it was in a circular motion, sort of a hurricane or more likely a tornado. I looked at the big fire that was in contrast with the dark color of the skies. True enough, the fire was like a tornado – circular in motion. After that I couldn’t think of anything else, I looked at something I can’t remember in the ground and after a few seconds, a familiar face started to call out my name and pointed to the fire. The tree near our house grabbed the fire, the good thing was, it wasn’t so bad. It had just affected the leaves form the top and some parts of the tree. I tried to stop the fire to spread by rubbing the area of the tree that has fire with anything I have in hand. When the fire in the tree was put off, I saw the fire so near to our roof. It even touched the roof already. At that moment, I was so blank and still. I said to myself that I am willing to give up anything in this world just to protect my family. I was so helpless so I prayed and I prayed really hard to keep my family safe. Believe me – it rained.

With this dream, it showed how much I believe that there is truly a God that hears prayers and a God that wants me to write inspiring stories such as this for other teens to realize how much their family is worth to them. This dream had also inspired me to write something about my family and the great love I have for them.

With this dream I realized that if there is a bucket of problems, fear and hesitations, there is a continuous and endless river flow of blessings.

ENDLESS SHOW OF LOVE:
In every occasion,like “Christmas”, “Valentines Day”, “Mother and Father’s Day”, “Birthdays”, my brother and I try to prepare little things for our parents like cards and presents to show that we value them and they’re always in our top list of the people we want to give gifts to.

MY BIRTHDAY WISH

I feel like crying and wanting to just stay being 16 but what can I do if God wants me to move on and be 17? (sigh) There have been so many ups and downs, successes and failures, achievements and disappointments in my life but I tell you, I’ve had one hell of a roller coaster ride. God had given me so many blessings. Every time I think about the groups I’m involved with and the activities I’ve had and will have, I think I’ll have a headache. These are just the few:
A.D. Models Homme Et Femme
ABSCBN
The Photo Society
Speakers Academy
Theresian Communicator’s Organization
Activities with Mr. Charlie Garces of Salad Dressing and Belvieu

Aside from those, I am also a Student, a daughter, a sister and a friend. See? It’s just a miracle how God juggles up all of these things. Sometimes I just wish I was superwoman so I could do everything I’m tasked to do.

Now that I’m already 17, I wish that God will make me a better person, someone who is more responsible and humble, someone who can make the right choices and can also learn from mistakes, someone who rejoices in success and graceful in every defeat and most of all, someone who trusts and fears God. I know I can’t be perfect, no one will ever be, what I wish for is just to become somebody better. I wish to help other people and punish those who are guilty. If only God asked me what my birthday wish would be, I would wish for a better world; a world where everyone is smiling and happy. But what I’ve learned from a movie I watched is, “We can’t change the world, sometimes, the world changes us”. However, I still wish to make a difference, I still wish to be THE difference.

The three wishes

There was one point in my life when I had been questioned about my 3 wildest dreams. Without any hesitation, I then answered,
1. I want to be an astronaut and see Earth from outer space
2. I want to be President Barack Obama’s personal Adviser (rank 1)
3. I want to be able to publish a world top seller book.
Ah. These dreams are quite amazing for some. I had always dreamt of fulfilling these dreams. As time passed by, my dreams changed. I have realized that there are more important things to consider, more important things to wish for and more important things to pray for. Maybe when I had wanted all of these things, I still wasn’t aware of what I truly wanted. If ever a genie would appear right before me and asks me what my three wishes are, I will tell him:
1. World Peace
2. I would wish for people to know what is right, and have the courage to do what is.
3. Happiness.

For me, I always include in my prayers world peace, though it may sound odd for some, so that the children in our future generation, our children, will not be able to see chaotic events. They will still find the beauty in living. Next thing I wish is for people to know what is right and do what is. People often know what is right and what is not, but they do not have the courage to choose to do what is right. If only people will choose to do what is right, we will live in peace. Lastly, I will wish for happiness. Happiness is just nine-letter word that can be easily said, but the question is, are you really happy? There are various ways where we can find happiness – love life, spirituality, friendship, and etcetera. I want everyone to know the things that make them happy and go for it. Some people would rather choose responsibility over happiness. But, it is important to remember that if you choose the thing that can make you happy, you will never regret about a single thing, but if you choose your responsibility, then you will always find yourself sitting in a corner thinking of the what-ifs.
Wishes, I believe, need not to benefit oneself, it is even better if wishes are to benefit everyone.

It would always be the talk of the town

My blog site is considered as my other world. Here, I am able to express whatever comes into my not-so-genius mind. Often, I receive comments of appreciation from people. Well, maybe because we are Filipinos and we tend to be fond of using euphemisms (laughs). Filipinos have been taught by the elders that if you don’t have something good to say, then you better keep quiet. There came a time, just 3 days ago I think, wherein I have received a comment from a friendster buddy saying that my new blog site is boring (I have another blog site in my friendster account). Well, that’s new. Nobody has ever said that before. (laughs) I sent him a message asking him why he said such. It is for the reason that I want to know what else to improve and what else to add for me to grow as a writer. I accept criticisms healthily. Unfortunately, he never replied back.
It got me thinking of what possible reasons could there be for him to arrive into that idea; maybe because I discuss about topics that doesn’t concern the majority. People always like to talk about one topic – Love. I am not writing about it simply because I can’t be a good writer about it. My teacher had once said that the best writer of love, is the one in love. Yes, I may consider myself in love in one way or another, to friends for example or to my family. But I think that this is not the kind of “love” people want to converse about. All of us are more interested in reading love stories and anything that has to do with it; failures, dating, conflicts, and etcetera. Here, in my blog site, I would want to write on things which I think I can be good at. (laughs) I may be not in love with a specific person, but I am actually contented with where I am now.

I may be alone, but I am not lonely. *wink*