The Golden Seashell

     Once a upon a time, there is a little boy named David. His family is poor that they can't even buy some food for themselves. They live at the bank of a river. Many people says that the river is enchanted. People who drowned in the river never showed up again. They said that you will meet a soul underwater and if you are brave enough, the soul will bring you in its world. But David never knew any of that.
     One afternoon, David wants to play outside. His mother allowed him and said, "Just don't go far away and don't go near the river." "Yes, Mom." David replied. Then, he went off happily with his friends.
     David and his friends played "tumbang preso." They played near the river. When it's David's turn, his slipper missed the can and flew right at the middle of the river. David is really disappointed.
     "That was a gift from Mom last Christmas. Surely, my parents would be very angry," David said.
     "Ow, come on, David. You could swim through the river and get your slipper," Damian, one of David's friends, suggested.
     "But Mom said that we shouldn't be near he river," David replied back.
     "Mothers always say that just to scare us. We do not even know why they keep saying that to us. This river is not dangerous enough to eat us all," Damian said while the others laugh.
     "Oh, all right then," David said in curiosity with what Damian said.
     David swam through the river but can't see his slipper.
     "Maybe my slipper sank," David thought.
     He swims again but searched underwater and there he saw his slipper resting in a golden seashell. He grabbed his slipper together with the seashell and goes to his friends. His friends stared at the seashell with amazement.
     "I'll bring it at my home. See you guys tomorrow," David said while waving his hands goodbye.
     When David was already sleeping, the golden seashell is shining so brightly that it made David woke up. Out of curiosity, David opened the seashell and out came a beautiful soul.
     "Hi, I'm Dahlia. Thank you for freeing me from that seashell. It's awfully crowded in that place," the soul explained while pointing to the golden seashell which turned into an ordinary one.
     "That was weird," David thought.
     Dahlia is wearing clothes that doesn't even fit in the environment. It is summer but she is wearing jacket and a bonnet.
     "Why are you dressed like that?" David asked.
     "It's because I'm from another world," Dahlia replied.
     "What world are you from?"
     "From the future." Dahlia replied proudly.
     "Can you take me there?" David asked in curiosity.
     "Of course. But, first dressed up just as what I'm wearing. It's very cold in the future." Dahlia said.
     After dressing, David hurriedly go with Dahlia. When David held the hands of Dahlia, the surroundings began to change. Even Dahlia changed. She transformed from a soul into a real girl. When David looked around, he saw flying cars, robots, and skyscrapers. There's even a machine that can teleport you from one place to another.
     "What is this place?" David asked in awe.
     "This is the future from your time. You'll have machines, buildings, and skyscrapers. There are also robots and flying cars. We could go to my house if you want to. We'll use my car." Dahlia said while pointing to a yellow car across the lot.
     When they got to Dahlia's house, David watched her entire house. It's full of electronics, even the maids are robots.
     "Are you alone in this house?" David asked while walking around.
     "Of course not. I also have a family. They are just at work." Dahlia answered while pointing to a picture frame hanging in the wall.
     David and Dahlia played and played. They are having so much fun. But, David remembered that he is in a different world and have to go back to the present time to his family.
     "Uh-oh. I need to go back now to my time. Mom would be worried on my whereabouts at this moment." David said hesitantly.
     "Oh, alright," Dahlia said in disappointment.
     "But, I could still visit you whenever I have time," David said when he saw the sad face of the girl.
     Then, Dahlia's face lift up. "Thanks!"
     When they have came back to the present time, David found himself on his bed, as if it was all a dream. Then, he goes hurriedly to his mother.
     "Mom, you won't believe where I went last night. I went to the future with a friend of mine and we played all day. There are also robots and flying cars and -," David said swiftly.
     "David, talk normally. How did you go out last night? Because, I saw you sleeping dreamily and I watched you until this early morning. That's why I woke up so late today." David's mom explained.
     "But, Dahlia and I-," David said in defense.
     "No BUTS! You're just dreaming," David's mom interrupted.
     David knew that her mother doesn't believed him. And then he remembered the seashell at his drawer. He saw a note that said: "Just open the seashell whenever you want to visit me." Dahlia.
     David wants to see Dahlia again so he opened the seashell and found himself again in the future.
     "Oh, it's you David, I missed you already," Dahlia said.
     "You startled me," David said in shock.
     From then on, David always visited Dahlia until technology starts developing. Little by little people from the present time discovers something like robots. Robots that work as maids, helping the elderly and that can even watch over someone's child or baby. They also invented flying cars that needs no engine. They even build skyscrapers and buildings.
     One afternoon, Dahlia said, "Well, I guess this is goodbye."
     "Why?" David asked intriguingly.
     "It's because your present time is already nearing in my time. But, someday we will meet again. It's because I'm from the future." Dahlia replied gloomy.
     "Yeah, I guess this is really goodbye. I'll miss you and the times we played together," David said while opening the seashell so he can go back to the present time.
     Time after time, the world of David was very similar from what he experienced in Dahlia's time.
     Then one evening, David saw someone familiar. It was Dahlia.
     This ends my story. The story actually characterized two person from different times and got so close together but can't change the hands of time. What they've seen in the progress and development of technology of both time won't be similar with they're feelings or emotions for each other.

Voice Of The Teenagers

     When you arrived from school and you don't have any homework, the first thing you'll do is switch on the television. If you are a teenager, you could watch the so-called"Shout Out" on ABS-CBN. It is the most famous and the most suitable tv program for me.
     Shout Out is every 5:30 pm Monday to Friday. It is about teenagers who want to express their feelings to the world. It is divided into four teams: Monderrifics for Monday, Tuesdelicious for Tuesday, Miyerkulitz for Wednesday, Friends-Thurs for Thursday and in Friday, all of them perform.
     The casts in Monderrifics are Ryan Bang, Jenny Kim, Julia Montes, Ann Li, Tippy Dos Santos, Martin del Rosario, Aria Clemente, Makisig Morales and Rhap Salazar.
     The casts in Tuesdelicious are James Reid, Devon Seron, 3AM (James Torres, Mica Caldito and Kyle Amor), Imelda Schweighart, Emmanuel Vera, Inno Martin and Piero Vergara.
     The casts in Miyerkulitz are Bret Jackson, Fretzie Bercede, Miles Ocampo, Jane Oineza, Mikylla Ramirez, Kathryn Bernardo, John Manalo, Paul Salas and Sue Dodd.
     And the casts in Friends-Thurs are Ivan Dorschner, Trisha Santos, Nel Gomez, Young JV, Jaco Benin, Benjamin de Guzman, Anna Bianca Casado, Yen Santos and Linn Oeymo. The hosts of Shout Out are Erich Gonzales, Empress Schuck, Enrique Gil, Sam Concepcion, Robi Domingo, Arron Villaflor and Enchong Dee.
     At first, I thought that this tv program is boring. But when I studied what they are after, I think I want to join because I am one of the teenagers in the whole world that wants others to know what I feel about my life. I want to sing my heart out so that people would understand why I'm here. These are my impression of the well-known "Shout Out."

Donna, A Responsible Netizen

     I am a responsible netizen because I follow to the rules of netiquette. The rules are: Remember the human; Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life; Know where you are in cyberspace; Respect other people's time and bandwidth; Make yourself look good online; Share expert knowledge; Help keep flame wars under control; Respect other people's privacy; Don't abuse your power and; Be forgiving of other people's mistakes.

     Remember the human. When you communicate electronically, all you see is a computer screen so you don't have the opportunity to use facial expressions and gestures. Do not be offensive online because any message you send could be saved or forwarded by its recipients. You have no control over where it goes.

     Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life. You should be ethical. If you encounter an ethical dilemma in cyberspace, consult the code you follow in real life. And breaking the laws is bad Netiquette. If you're tempted to do something that's illegal in cyberspace, chances are it's also a bad Netiquette. Some laws are obscure or complicated enough like the laws on privacy and copyright that it's hard to know how to follow them.
     Know where you are in cyberspace. Because Netiquette is different in different places, it's important to know where you are. Thus, lurk before you leap. When you enter a domain of cyberspace that's new to you, take a look around. Know what others who are already there act. Afterwards, go ahead and participate.
     Respect other people's time and bandwidth. You are not the center of cyberspace. Don't expect instant responses to all your questions and don't assume that all readers will agree with or care about your arguments. If you want to send a message like a quote or a joke, ask yourself whether they really have to know. If no, don't waste their time. If maybe, think twice before sending.
     Make yourself look good online. Take advantage of your anonymity. Networks let you meet people and none of them see you. You won't be judged by your physical appearance. However, you will be judged by the quality of your writing. If an older adult, you don't have to take a "bonehead grammar" course. Instead look for courses on proofreading and copy-editing. Know what you're talking about and make sense. Make sure your notes are clear and logical. It's better to keep it simple. Finally, be pleasant and polite. Don't use offensive words that can hurt someone.
     Share expert knowledge. Don't be afraid to share what you know. It's polite to share results of your questions with others.
     Help keep flame wars under control. Tact is not its objective. Netiquette does not forbid flaming. It only forbid the perpetuation of flame wars.
     Respect other people's privacy. A lot of people nowadays would read the e-mails of other people. Failing to respect other people's privacy is not just bad Netiquette. It could also cost you your job.
     Don't abuse your power. Some people in cyberspace are wizards in MUDs, experts in every office and system administrators in every system. Knowing this does not give you the right to take advantage of others.
     Be forgiving of other people's mistakes. Whether it's a spelling or grammar error, a stupid question--be kind about it. Having good manners doesn't give you license to correct everyone else.
     These are the rules that I follow to be considered as a responsible Netizen.

The Three Leaf Clover

     Some of us believes that a four leaf clover causes luckiness for the person holding it. But for me, a three leaf clover causes luckiness for me because it symbolizes my inspirations and they are my grandma, my father and my mother. It also symbolizes my best friends and me. And they are Claire, Eunice and, of course, me. The three leaf  clover also symbolizes my favorite things in life. Like the colors pink, white and green. Like the foods fried chicken, cotton candy and lasagna. Like the hobbies I do and they are sleeping, eating and texting my classmates and friends.

     But before deciding that "The Three Leaf Clover" would be my title for my blog, I've thought of the phrase "A Treasure Without Price" because memories from the past are gifts that money can't buy. There are happy times and, of course, sad and lonely times. There are also times wherein we feel anger and hatred for others. I feel happiness whenever I am with Claire and Eunice. I also feel it when I'm with my teachers like Mrs. Juliano, Mr. Lacsam and Mrs. Ilagan and with my classmates like Zane, Bianca, Rizza and Diane. Of course, I also feel joy when I'm with my family and relatives especially my cousins. I feel sadness whenever there's a family problem. I also feel loneliness whenever some classmate of mine would be angry to me. I feel anger when someone insults me, my family and my friend. That is why moments from years ago are treasurable and memorable.

     But something inside me told me that the title appropriate would be "The Three Leaf Clover" because it means love, life and luck.Love is the most important because without love, the world would be nothing. And, of course, love without trust is not love at all. Life is important also because life makes us alive at this very moment. And last but not the least, luck. Luck is also important because it is the reason why we have some happy, sad and lonely times. Example, a man you don't know gave you a candy and you are overjoyed. But when you were about to eat it, you saw a dirty kid just about your age loitering in the street. Even if you want the candy so badly, you gave your candy to the kid. A few seconds, the child collapsed. You sensed that there is poison in the candy. That is what you call lucky.That is why these three L's are important.

     That is why I definitely settled to the title "The Three Leaf Clover" and I am already contented with the reasons why I chose this title. I really don't think about the title, it's the thought inside it that really counts.