The Little Big Improvements from Exercising

Many of us today are exercising for good health. We exercise to improve our breathing, to increase our endurance and to achieve those six-pack abs that will have everyone going crazy over us. It's a noble thing, to exercise for the sake of our health. But sometimes, we don't notice the improvements that we gain from exercising. At first, you think that after exercising for weeks you don't see the belly you have shrink to a considerable size. You think that your efforts were nothing but a waste.

But you shouldn't just look at how it changes you physically outside. You have to see how it changes you physically inside. The improvements begins there. Exercising changes the way our body adapts to an ever-changing environment. When you don't exercise, climbing stairs has you breathing hard and your legs hurting.
But when you exercise, you'll notice how easy it becomes in climbing stairs. When you don't exercise, running around with kids or friends will have you winded. But when you exercise, you can catch them faster than the road runner.

Exercising also helps improve your sleeping, your thinking, your flexibility and everything else. You have to look at it from a different point of view. It isn't just for that hunky body type you want.While you may see that you don't look like a model, you will feel like a model.

Even the Buddha-looking guy is fitter than a scrawny nerdy guy. So keep on exercising and eventually, you'll have that model body you've been looking for. The greatest and fittest people of the world are above 50 years old. So what are you waiting? Get running already!

The Philippines is Beautiful! - Last Entry/Thesis

The Philippines is Beautiful

I. Introduction
Through the many years of history, the Philippines has become one of the well-known countries around the world. With its historic landmarks and natural resources, you would be saying the Philippines is Beautiful! But why is it beautiful? 

         A. Pearl of the Orient
During the Spanish colonial period Graciano Lopez Jaena, a Filipino propagandist, praised the Philippines by calling it "Pearl of the Orient". He called it so because he admired the beauty of the country as a whole. Long before the colonial period, the Philippines and other Asian countries were known collectively as countries of the "Orient" or what we know now as Asia. Many European countries had desires to venture to the Orient because of the stories of how the natural resources and goods obtained in these countries were exceptional. To say Philippines is the "Pearl" of the Orient shows that the Philippines stands out among the rest. 

        B. Sea Region

The Philippines has sea regions, all contained in the Philippine Sea, which is a marginal sea north and east of the Philippines. It has a complex and undersea relief, which means that some floors of the sea have risen due to geographical faults. Due some of this, islands are formed. 

The Philippine hosts an exotic marine ecosystem, About five hundred species of hard and soft corals occur in the coastal waters and 20 per cent of the worldwide known shellfish species are found in Philippine waters. Sea turtles, sharks, moray eels, octopuses and sea snakes along with numerous species of fish such as tuna can commonly be observed. Additionally, the Philippine Sea serves as spawning ground for Japanese eel, tuna and different whale species.

II. Because of its geographical features

        A. Land Features 


1. Sierra Madre
The Philippines has mountainous regions. But let's stick with one mountain that might be our own little Great Wall of China: Sierra Madre. Sierra Madre is known to have the longest continuous mountain range in the country. It starts from the town of Baler in the eastern part of the Quezon Province, and crosses the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Quezon. Can't picture that? Here's a map to show you:

Now that is our own Great Wall of China. Maybe we can build a wall too? 


         B. Bodies of Water


1. Boracay
Ah, yes, Boracay. It's the Philippines' celebrities' favorite beach spot. Boracay is, undeniably, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines. Many natives and foreigners come and go to relax and unwind in the alluring sands of joy. 

Who wouldn't want to lie down in these spots all day?



Besides the beautiful beaches, Boracay has two seasonal patterns,  known locally as the Amihan and Habagat seasons. In the Tagalog language, Amihan means a cool northeast wind, and Habagat means west or southwest wind; south-west monsoon. The Amihan season is characterized by moderate temperatures, little or no rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the east. The Habagat season is characterized by hot and humid weather, frequent heavy rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the west. The indicator of seasonal changes is the direction of wind. The changes can sometimes be abrupt and sometimes be detected. The changes vary and may not be the same from the previous years. 


III. Because of its people


       A. "Average beautiful" 
Why are the people of the Philippines averagely beautiful? Because you have to look at the physical genes of the average Filipino. Long before the colonial settlements, the Filipinos were not tall, handsome and beautiful. The Filipinos' physical features were average. They had average noses, not big or not small. They had brown skin color, which unlike today have a much lighter color. They had an average height of 4 feet to 5 feet. But when colonial settlements happened in the country, the Filipino experienced changes in their physical structures. This was more felt in the American period, when the Americans altered the Filipino diet. With more nutrients in their bodies, the Filipinos had changed their physical looks. But they still retained an average look until now, but it's averagely beautiful. 


    B. Hospitable People


1. Tourists
Filipinos are known to be hospitable people. They always welcome people, whether they are strangers or friends, in their homes. This is felt by tourists the most who come to the Philippines. The Filipinos do their best to let the tourists feel happy, contented and comfortable. Filipino hospitality is unequaled and known the world over. 


IV. Because of its culture


    A. Tradition


1. Melting pot of mixed inheritance


The Philippine has a diverse culture and a melting pot of mixed inheritance. This goes way back in the pre-colonial period, when the first Filipinos had the early forms of society and social customs. They had their own alphabets and ways of communication. It gradually evolved when other countries outside the Philippines traded with the country. The Muslims, the Chinese and other countries had influenced the culture and everything else, such as our alphabet and our customs. When the Spaniards colonized the country, the Philippines gained even more influence in their culture and from there on, the Philippines continued to have mixed inheritance of different cultures. 


     B. Rituals


1. Fiestas
Fiestas in the Philippines are held to celebrate a patron saint (the Philippines is the only majority-Christian country in Southeast Asia) or to mark the passage of the seasons, depending on which part of the country you're in. The origin of fiestas go way back in the 1500's, before the Spaniards colonized the Philippines. In the old culture, fiestas were a way of pleasing their gods. So they made offerings to gods for luck and prosperity. They were many varieties of fiestas, such as tribes dancing and tribes whipping themselves repeatedly until they bled. They had different meanings according to what tribe they were in. These had gradually evolved into the fiestas we know today. 

V. Conclusion

   

    A. Summary

The Philippines is a very dynamic and complex country because of the land features, the sea regions, the people, the culture, and the history revolving around it. Like any other country, there is a world to explore in the Philippines. Whether you're frolicking in the sands of Boracay, trekking the Sierra Madre or enjoying that yummy puto you got from your Filipino host, we can conclude and say with a smile of enlightenment the Philippines is beautiful. 

Miguel Marfori: The Fix Up - 10th Entry

I'm going to look at myself and assess my positive and negative traits. It's a requirement for English. Although I'm going to keep it simple and short because I don't want people knocking on my door asking me if I'm really like this or like that. I want to keep myself small even in the cyber world. Here goes.

My positive traits are: I'm an ambivert, which means I'm part introvert and part extrovert. I can spend time with friends, and spend time with myself. I can read books and I can play arcade with my friends. I'm kind, generous, sweet, assertive, positive, confident, happy-go-lucky, helpful, open-minded and supportive. 

My negative traits, on the other hand, are: I can be very noisy sometimes. I laugh crazily. I sometimes joke too much. I sometimes make fun of people without being aware I'm hurting them. I'm clumsy and forgetful sometimes. I make mistakes. I sometimes procrastinate. I sometimes don't control my emotions when I get very angry or get very sad. I focus on one task for so long that when someone disturbs me, I get angry. I'm not so good at multitasking certain things. 

These are the traits I have as of now. But do I have intentions in fixing myself up? Of course. I am fully aware of them and I do my best to improve myself every single day, because it is my daily resolution. 

The Issue with Teaching English - 9th Entry

Being an native English speaker, I know it's important and valuable to become proficient in the English language. It is a necessity and an obligation for all of us. We need it in order to succeed in work, life and all areas of life.

We would be in difficult circumstances if we can't speak and write in English.

But I do have an issue how English is being taught to Filipinos. It is being taught for academics, not for life. 

Why do I see this as an issue? First, I haven't seen that many Filipinos adapt what they have learned in English to their lives. I know they can do well during class but when they're thrust into the real world, they suddenly forget what they were taught. The change here would be to have students use it even outside of the classroom. English must be used frequently for students to retain the lessons.They only use it as an obligation for school but never something to apply in life. Second, the methods of teaching English isn't dynamic and interesting enough to keep the students engaged. The students cannot learn well if all they do is routines, which is boring. That is why schools should have new ways of teaching English. An example would be to have challenges, such as using English to communicate what they want to say without feeling scared or shy. And lastly, there is no discipline when teaching English. The way English is taught here in the country is not sufficient enough to keep students engaged. Without discipline, it is difficult to make changes in teaching English. That is why teachers must instill discipline to keep students in line.

In short, English must be taught not just for academics, but for life as well. It must not be bound inside the classroom. This is the only way we can enrich the language and keep it for life. 

Academic Success - 8th Entry

Academic success is one of the things that many students want to achieve. It is that sweet feeling of passing all your subjects, gaining grades that induce jealousy and the right to boast with pride. It is the one thing your parents, your relatives, your close friends and you, yourself, want to see. But what are the causes that lead to academic success? 

One possible cause is an adjustment in attitude. It could be the student had a change of heart or he suddenly gained intellect. But whatever the change, having a change in attitude can lead to academic success. Another possible cause is the implementation of time management. Most students nowadays have difficulty managing their time for all their subjects. It's a hassle to prepare for a party night when the student find outs  he has 100-page Biology test coming up. But by implementing time management, the student has a clear view of how to use his time. He can balance the activities he does on a daily basis and set his priorities. Another possible cause for academic success is the competitive spirit in himself. This is related to the "adjustment in attitude". Students who strive for academic success are the A-type students, who strive for the best in everything. This instills a competitive attitude that gives them the drive to go for success. 

Now we know what causes academic success. But how about the effects of academic success?

One effect is the overall confidence in the student. Because he has achieved the academic success, it boosts his confidence. He believes more in himself. Another effect is how his peers will respond to it. It's either they will shun him or they will praise him. They may also be inspired by his success and be motivated to drive towards success as well. Another effect is the improvement in knowledge. The student becomes more knowledgeable about things in life because now that he has confidence and inspiration, he is able to gain more knowledgeable with his open mind.

In short, these are the causes and effects of academic success. We may not be like the student illustrated here in this article but we can mimic his ways of driving towards success and gain our own individual academic success. Study hard, play hard and have fun! 

The X Factor vs. American Idol - 7th Entry

Simon Cowell's The X Factor premiered on Studio 23 a few weeks ago. It was originally a British TV Show where he was also one of the judges and now he decided to bring it to America, as a way of competing against American Idol. I watched a few episodes and here's how it compares to American Idol, America's equivalent to The X Factor.

From the first few episodes, it already had potential and excitement oozing from the auditions. Unlike American Idol where the contestant was faced by the judges, in X Factor the contestant is now faced by not just the judges but also the audiences. This gives the contestant the chance to charm the audience and judges. To truly see how talented and charming a singer is, she or he has to prove that she or he has the X Factor. They may be good in auditioning but are they good with the crowd? This is one good point.

Another good point is the diversity of contestants. In American Idol, you had only contestants who were appealing to the youth. They never went below 17, and never went above to 30 years old. But in X Factor, they have contestants who are the ages of 14 and 42. They also have contestants who are moms, couples, dads and others who you thought didn't have the potential but after they sing, they have that X Factor everyone is looking for.

Another good point is the panel of judges. It's great to see Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul judge again. In contrast with American Idol, whose judges are not quite as good as the original, The X Factor brings back that fire, that thrill of seeing them judge again. It's also nice to see them argue once in a while, since that's also part of their chemistry. It's a nice change as well to have the new judges L.A. Reid and Nicole Scherzinger join them. It gives the show a nice touch.

But there are also some parts of X Factor that can go a little bit over the top. In American Idol, the craziness of contestants is kept to the minimum. But in X Factor, there was one contestant who really took the X in X Factor to new heights. While he was singing his song, he intently unhooked his belt and exposed himself to the crowd. He was swinging his **** around and he got booed out. Paula was disgusted and she had to go to bathroom because she was sickened by the sight. Maybe the producers should have kept that out. Kids are watching the show too.

 The drama among judges, while it does give it some oomph, can sometimes be nothing but attention-getters that are not always needed to keep the show going. In American Idol, the drama wasn't always over-the-top. But in X Factor, the drama can be too much to handle that the show loses focus on what it's suppose to broadcast.

But both shows, when compared to each other, have similar goals: That is to entertain people and seek out who is the one that deserves to win. There are many talented people out there and both shows are in line to find out who is the most unique among all of them.

But overall, comparing and contrasting, both shows are in a fierce competition. But from my opinion, The X Factor has a potential to outclass American Idol. But we can't close the door on American Idol just yet. We'll see as the weeks and months go by.

Pablo Picasso - 6th Entry

I recently read on a book about Pablo Picasso, the artist who defied the conventions of art and made his place in the world of art. He was truly a genius and a visionary of his time. This is my assessment of him.
Picasso didn't go for the style he was popularly known for at first, because he actually did the conventional style of painters when he was still young. His family encouraged him to do painting and thanks to that, he nurtured his interest in painting and started to make paintings that conveyed what he had seen in childhood. This for me was a  good thing because what he draws in childhood conveyed a sense of happiness. When he becomes an adult, he suddenly and abruptly stops doing conventions and begins to create a style that upsets many of his followers and family. This is where his individualism develops. From here, I think it was a surprise for me but at the same time a  great development in his life because he creates the style he is most known for: Cubism. This is where it ignores the conventional form and conveys the mood or emotion of the situation or person he is trying to create. From here, his works go back and forth the convention and the unconventional but ultimately, he sticks to his style more often to create very thought-provoking pieces of art that you can't help but admire. In later years, even as he becomes old, his works never suffer from old age. He still works like that of a 20 year old. And so, I can say after reading about him, Pablo Picasso is the one of the great artists who defied the conventions of art and made his place in the world of art. He is unforgettable.