Applause (English Declamation Piece)

Written by Ma. Angelica M. Domingo

Performed by Chia Andrea T. Tumbagahan

From Jawili Integrated School

“No! Don’t go. I promise to do anything, anything! Just stay with me, please!” “Cut!” I can hear it already, my co-stars telling me how proud they are that they have experienced acting with me. I can hear how the director congratulates me for having single takes in all my scenes. I can hear the applause, applause. I live for the applause!

“Earth to Tekla!” of course, my older sister had to wake me up from my sweet daydream. “Let’s go! We need to sell all of our veggies if you want to be home by lunch time!” She pulled my hand. “Ouch! Be gentle on my skin. You know how I need to be flawless for my audition!” I reminded her. “Whatever, your majesty! I think you forgot your to wear your malunggay crown!” my sister said, mocking me. “Just wait until I wear my crown. It will be bedazzled with diamonds, shining, sitting perfectly on my head!” I said and went back to daydreaming as we walk.

When that time comes, I will walk no more. I will have a limousine which I will ride wherever I will go. I will have a handful of servants waiting for my orders. I will have thousands of admirers and suitors, all vying for my love and attention. Most of all, I will have millions of fans with resounding applause, applause for each of my performance. I live for the applause!

“Earth to Tekla!” of course, my mother had to wake me up from my sweet daydream. “Go and wash the laundry. I have to go and join the barangay’s free Zumba sessions. “Can I join, mother? I need to be a bit slimmer in preparation for my audition.” I answered. “Well, all you have to do is give up your dinner. At least, there will be more for Toto, for Totoy, for Nene, for Inday, and for Bebe.” My mother said before she turned to leave. I was speechless but I went back to my daydream nevertheless.

When that time comes, I will gorge on tender, juicy steaks. I will drink the finest wine. I will have the sweetest dessert. I will even endorse my favorite fast food chain as my fans watch my TV ad and give it an admiring applause, applause. I live for the applause.

On the day of the audition, I was wearing my friend’s cocktail dress. My neighbour showed his support by doing my hair and makeup for free. I borrowed my sister’s school shoes. I used the trial cologne in a nearby convenience store. I asked for fare from my mother and she was generous enough to add her laughter before I go. Well, at least she wished me luck.

I wasn’t nervous at all. I live for this. I live for the applause.

I saw the TV network’s gate. There must be hundreds of hopeful girls like me waiting in line. “Hi! Is this the line for the audition?” I asked a girl with skin as white as snow. I felt a bit insecure with my dark skin. She rolled her eyes and answered, “Duh!” Then, she turned her back. How mean! “What’s that smell?” An ultra-thin girl asked as she crinkled her nose. That’s when I remembered the ibis that I packed for the guard. I heard that when you give them something, they will let you in.

I left my spot in the line and went straight to the gate. I had to squeeze and push my way in but nothing can come in the way of a determined heart like mine.

“Manong! This is for you.” I said. “Wow! Ibis! I miss this. Where are you from?” He asked. “I am from Tangalan, Aklan.” I answered. That was when he winked at me and said “I’m from Aklan too!” She motioned for me to go to the side where there was a smaller, closed gate. He let me in and gave me a number.

I walked in with my head held high. I outsmarted them. I can imagine how many times I will be able to outsmart them all until I reach the top and hear all the applause, applause. I live for the applause.

“#113!” a woman shouted. That’s my number. I walked into a room where she pointed and added a little sway to my hips as I walked. Once inside, I saw three stern looking men and a woman who was smiling warmly at me.

“What’s your name?” the woman asked. “Teresita Templo, 16, from Tangalan Aklan.” I said, ending my introduction with my signature pose. “Dance.” They said. I did. No applause was heard. “Sing.” They said “I wanna go back to the island called Boracay…” but they did not let me finish. That was just one line. No applause. “Act.” They said. “Father, mother! Where are you! Why did you leave me.” No applause. “Thank you. We’ll call you.” They said.

My heart broke a bit. I know exactly what that meant. I went out, looking at the ground as I walk. My tears started to fall. “How was it?” asked the guard. I shook my head but to my surprise he smiled. “That’s OK. There will be another audition next week.” I felt myself smile. I cheered up a bit. Well, tomorrow is another day. Another possibility to get applause, applause. I live for the applause.

Toilet and Jobs –Cleanliness for Progress

                The toilet is perhaps one of the most neglected parts of the house. However, having a safe and clean toilet actually has a great effect in our daily performance of our duties and responsibilities. That is why on November 19, 2016, Jawili Integrated School took an active part in the celebration of World Toilet Day with the theme “Toilets and Jobs”. The event aimed to emphasize the importance of maintaining clean toilets and its relation to the each individual’s performance, the realization of a person’s goals and dreams, and looking at the greater picture, the economic progress of a country.

                Some of the contests during the celebration were toilet model-making, essay writing contest, poem writing contest, slogan-making contest, jingle writing contest, and poster-making contest. An educational drive was also conducted wherein SSG officers went to each classroom to disseminate information and to campaign for cleaner toilets both in home and in school.

Toilet Models

The Dr. Keshia Gaines Magazine - Shedding Light to Important Health and Lifestyle Issues

Straight from San Francisco, you can now get important information and fun, relatable topics that you can apply to your daily lives, no matter what side of the earth you’re from. The first issue (Summer 2016 Issue), which is a collector’s edition, is an issue of pure health, entertainment, and lifestyle wellness. This quarterly mini-magazine makes you realize that now is the perfect time to switch to a healthier lifestyle while having fun doing a mind-stimulating word search puzzle.

The Dr. Keshia Gaines Magazine motivates you to read, learn, and live your life to the fullest. It gives you numerous reasons to appreciate life and to make the most out of it. Likewise, there are numerous reasons why you should buy and read this mini-magazine. Below are a few things I enjoyed about the Summer 2016 Issue:

• Healthy Food Ideas: The Dr. Keshia Gaines Magazine proves that eating healthy does not mean that you have to deprive yourself of good food. The Summer 2016 Issue features a healthy recipe for grilled food, a quick-tips checklist for fruit bowls, and a delicious image idea for a summer salad.
• Fancy Freebies: Aside from the recipe, you also get the chance to win one of Dr. Gaines’s limited edition notepads. You can use these notepads for planning, organizing, and expressing your creative ideas.
• Business Bonanza: The Dr. Keshia Gaines Magazine also tells you about different money-making opportunities as a fun checklist. You can take advantage of these suggestions and achieve financial goals in no time. There are a few business advertisements throughout the magazine, but they do not overwhelm the pages like most other magazines do.
• Amazing Activities: This mini-magazine also gives a list of hobbies, leisure activities, or bonding opportunities to do during the summer with your family or friends. If you are bored, you can complete one of the following activities per week during the summer: fishing, camping, picnic parties, goofy golf, road trips, and more.
• Interesting Home Improvements: With creative yet feasible ideas, you can wow your family and friends with your landscaping improvement. Next to the landscaping tips is an advertisement to a professional lawn care company, in case you need assistance.
•  Beauty with a heart: As there is more to a person than beauty alone, the Dr. Keshia Gaines Magazine offers balanced content of how to enhance your natural beauty the safe and healthy way. Also, she encourages fans to stay inspired and motivated to reach their personal goals and touch other people’s lives in the process. Finally, a celebrity with a prestigious college education. Dr. Gaines is someone I want my kids to look up to.

In this day and age, it’s rather hard to find a tiny magazine that truly cares for your total well-being. Now, the Dr. Keshia Gaines Magazine makes sure you get the information you actually need in a super-short, beautiful, and eye-catching form. You have truly found your best friend in The Dr. Keshia Gaines Magazine!

The Farewell by Ivy Lorraine T. Calligdong

Everything happens for a reason. Losing one of my relatives is the hardest part of life. It’s so hard to accept it especially when we experienced being happy with that person before. He was very kind, thoughtful, and a very helpful person. He was a good son to his parents, a good brother to his siblings, and a good person to everyone. He was a strong and a healthy person, that is why we were so shocked after learning that the residents in our barangay are searching for him at the sea where they went fishing the night before he disappeared. After several hours of searching for him in the middle of the sea, a cold, frozen body was found and it was my relative, Manny. We cannot accept the fact that Hod already took him with Him. We lost one of our family members and we cannot do anything else but to accept it. We believe in God and we have to accept our fate. He left us sad but we learned that we have to value everything before it turns into memories. Now, we have a strong family who supports and loves each member of the family. In any problem that e encounter every day, we should stay strong and have faith. To my cousin Manny, may you rest in peace. We will never forget each second we spent together. You may be gone in this world but you will never be gone in our hearts.

The Best Eye Cream – Natural Solution for Wrinkles, Puffiness, and Dark Circles

The Mystery Eye Cream - what's the best eye cream for you?

·         This eye wrinkle cream is a result of comprehensive research from the most effective ingredients to help your eyes be at its best all the time.

·         Release your ageless beauty with this eye wrinkle cream which effectively gets rid of your under eye wrinkles including persistent crow’s feet with continued use.

·         This is the best undereye cream which keeps your eyes looking young as it gives the skin around your eyes protection and as it locks in moisture.

·         This eye cream for wrinkles will help your skin heal, stay moisturized, and will keep free radicals away from your skin.

·         This anti aging eye cream also works as an anti-inflammatory cream which helps your skin maintain its useful glow.

·         The best anti aging cream available in the market today, it gets rid of your eye skin worries through its gentle treatment.

Feel the luxurious softness and smoothness of your skin with continued use of the best eye cream for fine lines. It has numerous anti-aging benefits which if perfect for getting rid of the tell-tale signs of aging on the skin around your eyes. Likewise, it is a major aging prevention step towards a younger looking you.

This is also the best eye cream for puffy eyes because it acts as an anti-oxidant. It gets rid of the dirt, oil, and other impurities in your skin. A clean skin is a great foundation of beauty and that is precisely what you will get with this best anti ageing eye cream.

This is the best under eye cream for dark circles as it keeps your skin hydrated. Dry skin looks dull, lifeless, and unhealthy – in short, it makes you look old. Now, you do not have to worry about looking older than your actual age with this eye wrinkle cream.

Now, you have found the answer to your worries. With this eye cream for wrinkles, you can be radiant and young once again. You will instantly feel its effects upon initial application and witness how it changes your appearance through getting rid of your dark circles, wrinkles, and the puffiness of your eyes. Be ready to face the world and the challenges it brings as you feel confident knowing that you are younger-looking, thanks to the best eye wrinkle cream. It works for all skin types and you can use it any time of the day. Try the best under eye cream for dark circles and all other eye skin problems and step into the world with more confidence!

Clean Hands Raised: Global Handwashing Day 2015

                There was an air of cheer as Jawili Integrated School pupils and students started the day with the flag ceremony and raised their hands as they pledged to keep their hands clean and spread awareness on the importance of proper handwashing.

                Various contests were held for learners to showcase their talents and their knowledge and expertise on proper handwashing. There were slogan, essay writing, and poem writing contests in three languages – English, Filipino, and Akeanon. For the creative artists, there was a Hand Art Contest for kindergarten pupils, Drawing Contest for grades 1-3 pupils, and Poster Making for grades 4-6 and grades 7-10. Their arts were displayed on a wall for others to see and admire.

                Then, the learners formed their lines toward a clean and bright future as they look at their hands, washed their hands with soap and water, and smiled as they show off their clean hands. Members of the Philippine National Police also joined in the celebration and washed their hands with the learners and the teachers.

                Indeed, handwashing is for everybody and we, at Jawili Integrated School, raise our hands for hygiene!

Deck Doctor – Why it is important to keep your deck in good condition

Many people take their decks for granted. It may have been a lively place in the house once, where you have received guests, threw a party or a barbecue, or just a place where you spent quality time with the family. However, time passed and it rendered your deck unworthy of such occasions. You have other choices so you can easily ignore the deck. However, reports of accidents and sense of practicality prove that it is definitely better to have a safe deck, in its best condition.  

While life expectancy of a deck is up to twenty five years, there are extrinsic factors that can affect its early need for repairs. It can be exposure to extreme weather conditions, severe usage, and even accidents. This is why it is even expected that partial removal of the deck will be needed after a decade.

Deck Maintenance

There are different companies that offer deck maintenance and repair. They can help you preserve the life and beauty of your deck. They can even assist you with the basic deck maintenance.

• Keep it clean. Just like everything else, the first step to maintain your deck is to keep it clean. Set a schedule or a regular time for cleaning. First, you have to observe and plan. Choose the parts that easily get dirt. How should you clean your deck? Where should you start? What are the things that you will need? Then, wash the deck and rinse. You can do all these or you can let the professionals keep your deck clean for optimum results. As they clean, you can put your feet up and enjoy the sun or attend to other more important tasks.
• Keep it safe. You should always be on the lookout for parts of your deck that demands attention and taking care of. Decks look best when they are stained. However, you should check and make sure that it is ready before you have it stained. You need to make sure that there are no loose boards and that there are no loose nails for a hassle-free staining experience. In cases of loose boards, you can remove the loose board carefully. Then, you can go to the hardware or construction supply store and purchase a board with the exact measurement as the one that you removed. Then, put it on its place. It is best to choose a wooden board that is pressure-treated. Loose nails should be hammered immediately. It is also important to replace nails right when they start to rust. This is also a task that you can let the experts do for you.
• Keep it stained. Stain is skin care for decks. While you wash, tone, and moisturize, your deck should also stay clean, perfect, and beautiful. There are different shades of wood stain available in the market today so no matter what your preferences are, you can easily find the perfect wood stain. Just remember to choose one that does not only provide beauty, but also protection for your deck.

Deck as good as new

There are different ways on how you can make your deck look new again. However, it is best to consult a professional about what you want done to make sure that it is done right. Here are some of the options for your younger-looking deck:

• Clean and clear. You can opt for a clear, colorless sealant. This will enhance the natural beauty of your deck. This is like natural makeup for your deck. However, this kind of sealant does not give as much protection as a pigmented one so retouch in every year or so is needed.
• Shades and Sheers. If you cannot commit to annual sealant retouch, you can choose a pigmented sealant instead. This will give you two more years before the next touch up as it can last for up to three years.
• With flying colors. If aesthetics is on the top of your list and you do not mind deck touch ups in a matter of months, they you can also use colors on your deck. However, if you just want to add solid colors but you are not ready for such an obligation, then you can limit its application to your deck’s vertical elements. It is a great idea to use it on the balusters instead.

Taking care of your deck is taking care of the environment

Do you know that because of people who fail to perform deck maintenance promptly, about six million trees are cut and used for new decks? This is why deck maintenance and repair can help you save money and save the earth.

How do you know when it is time for a deck repair?

Never ignore what your deck says or what your deck shows. Here are some tell-tale signs that your deck is screaming for attention and repairs:

• Rot Wailer. When the edges of your deck’s wood are wailing as it is starting to rot, then it is time for a repair. It is unsightly and it is a sign that the woods are getting weak. Have the necessary repairs done to prevent accidents in the future. Protect your deck as you protect your loved ones from potential accidents.
• Foot loose. Cracked and loose woods also scream for change. In such cases, have your deck checked and repaired. As they say, prevention is better than cure. Do not wait for someone to get hurt before you take action. Bear in mind that it is your family who will most likely suffer from injuries in case of accidents because of lose or cracked woods on your deck.
• Losing it. Loose hand railings as well as loose and weak support are equally dangerous as cracked and loose wooden boards. There is no need to fret, though. Just keep calm and call the experts.

To find the best deck repairs and maintenance service provider, research, ask for recommendations, and read reviews.

Photo credits: Flicker's Creative Commons