Informal Theme # 3.5: Just Keep Smiling Mona Lisa

                              MONA LISA, a portrait made by a well known author named Leonardo DA Vinci, was acclaimed to be "the Best known, the Most Visited and the Most Written About" work of art in the world. It has been very controversial since it was made back in 1500. When you take a first look on this portrait, you may say that there's nothing really special about it. But as you continue to stare at it, you'll see how her magical picture tempts or I can say magnifies some stories behind.  Aside from her eyebrows, which have been said to be missing, her smile made an unconditional trick for the people looking at it.
                              Yes, her smile; an enigmatic, inscrutable, puzzling one. Her teeth were not seen, her gums were not visible, her lips were just curved in an unmannerly way, making her look like a fair lady smiling flimsy. How can you say that there's nothing really to bother about this tender expression? It wasn't a beam nor a laugh; it was just a soft simper that hides millions of ideas and driven hundreds of people crazy thinking about it. People talk about it often, telling different opinions, and evidences were scattered by means of  surveys, researches or special studies. But it seems natural that every time you look at Mona Lisa, you see something different from the others. Her smile was different in each angle and so her expression seemed to be unique. She was happy, angry or disgusted; we don't know! She meant to inspire, tempt or threat; no one knows! But me, myself have my own opinion

                              Her smile is creepy. In some ways it is mysteriously puzzling. For me, she seems to hide a secret that is as old as her. The truth is, her face seems unpredictable in every way, though her smile was still the same. An occult and cryptic expression. But, I also think that Da Vinci was just smart enough to make his portrait as unique at the same time admirable as this. Because this is the type of painting which will make its viewers think and enjoy. This is a portrait worth staring for. Cause I think even the world stops rotating, Mona Lisa will just keep on smiling.

Informal Theme # 3.4: A Priceless Day with the Bard of Avon

                I was almost sleepy as a hazy child, as hard to see as a long time blind. My head felt dizzy, my eyes wanted to cry, but still I'm not sure the reason why. You see that's how I feel when I read works of Shakespeare. I can't really understand where his words are coming? Aside from the fact, that he lived thousands of years ago, I can't think of any factor, why he wants to leave blood from my nose. I was really enjoying this enticing view of mine, especially this windy day where grasses sway by. I felt so comfortable reading under a maple tree, although I'm not sure if I really understand this book my hands are holding. I wish someone's here with me, someone who can explain this beautiful story. Who can also enjoy this fascinating scenery. Well honestly, I'm not expecting some dramatic entrance, but I felt uneasy when I saw a man walking towards my place. I guess he's in his forties, holding what I think is a notebook, but much older version and a quill. He's heading for the bench where I sit, and next second I just saw him sitting beside me. I think he looks familiar, his mustache and his hair, I really think I have seen him before.
                  And I guess I found the right guy to accompany me in this kind of day. How will I say this; I was astonished? stunned? I'm pretty sure no words can express my amazement. His eyes were full of stories, and time to time you can see his eye brows raise. The notebook was actually a scratch with these revealing words that look exactly the words in my book. And suddenly, I felt excited, cause finally, thousands of questions from my head will be answered. I was not yet able to absorb all the happiness, amazement and confusion at the same time; when he started to talk. His speech is something special, somewhat classical. The kind of man that can make you believe in what he's saying, whatever it is. I started to talk simultaneously, asking him like I was a bullet striking him. He was answering back, but seems in a different language, because of his classical accent. Then he saw the book I was holding, and he seemed much more amazed than I am. And that is when he started to tell his story, and the story behind his stories. I was really fond of listening to him, I can do it all day. Stories make me feel like escaping in the world where I am, and letting me wander around to the world full of impossible  things; and that is what he is making me feel. To wander and feel all the emotions you can imagine, like in his stories, poems and sonnets. Pain, love, happiness, magic, tragic and hundreds of more.  Somewhat, I think I  can see what he is imagining, I  can hear his voice telling his real purpose to the world, and I can feel what his stories meant, not only to me, but to thousands of generations waiting for him.
                        I understand him now, not only because I'm his number one fan. Though, I still get dizzy with his language, I think he really deserves to be the "Bard of Avon". I enjoyed this day, and thanks to Shakespeare. Now, I realized he was not just a poet, an author or a playwright. He was way too cool for being just the writer of the books and poems we're reading now. He was way too dignified, not compromised for he was much better than a boring person most of us know. He may not be a hero, may not been  president, may not been a politician, but I'm proud to say that William Shakespeare, one of my most cherished authors in the world, not only helped but made unmeasured progress in terms of literature and individual reflections in our lives. This day, I marked, is one of the most precious of all, a priceless day with Bard of Avon.

Informal Theme # 3.3: Abandon all hope, ye who enter here

                    I may not see yet the Inferno Dante described, nor felt the unconditional and eerie chill when this  pit opens up. How could I say this properly, I have no clue, I haven't been in hell but I feel like something is not new. Every person in this planet has his/her own hatreds, malevolent plans towards others or things, dislikes and beastly form. Each of us had done uncountable wrong decisions thus, letting us gain more sin and be overthrown towards deeper parts of the hell. And when I say sins, it means the sins and wrong deeds we have done either its huge or just a simple sin we did even in school or as a student.            

                         During school years or I can say, our "teenage crazy years", we have experienced all the funniest,  most enjoying and even worst deeds that we could ever do. And because of our unstable hormones as teens, our sins got larger and larger. I can say that there's only a foot distance between our tween crimes and the Seven Top Sins. And as a student, I have my own 7 circles of Violations in school.                                                            

                          Imagine you yourself is inside the hell, but this time it's my own version of Inferno. Let's start at the lowest part of the Major Circles of my School Violations which is my own Attitude Swings. I gained this sin because of being short tempered and always irritated, then suddenly, my mood will just changed to something that is the most opposite of the first. I assume my friends and fellow schoolmates  think that I' m out of my mind and that sometimes they say unnecessary things to me. At the sixth circle, I think  it is Anger. I'm always angry because of being the treasurer in the class and  I'm always frowning to my classmates and yelling to them. Because of this, I think that most of the people in the class also get mad to me easily. I admit that it is hard for me to to not be angry, but I'll do my best to loose this bad habit.  Being Over- Acting will be my sin at the fifth circle. Most of the times, I react very inappropriate. In other words I am OA. It is not good to see a girl like me to act that way I suppose. On the fourth circle, I think Laziness. I always got lazy all the time, thus, sometimes my project and assignments were not done in school. And because of this, my grades got lower and most of the times it affect me not only in school but also in our own house, making my parents angry to me.                 

                           Third circle, being so much talkative. Talking is not a sin, because God gave you a mouth to tell the truth and say what you need to share, but being so talkative is not that good. Sometimes I say some things to my fellow classmates that aren't suppose to be revealed. And I suppose it's a sin. That's why sometimes I get included to some misunderstanding because of being talkative. Cheating will be a sin in my second circle. Aye, even though I know the answer, I still cheat and look at my classmates's assignment. Sometimes I'm not even letting my parent sign my assignments because my notebook is still empty. Unlike the past few years that I won't go to school until I'm done with all of my home works. Because of this, some of the teachers got angry and scold us. My grades also got lower and sometimes I don't know what to do when it comes to the actual quiz and exercises. And last but the worst, the first circle will be all about not believing in yourself. I'm a negative thinker and I always make my self down. I'm not believing in my own instincts and not actually realizing my own abilities. Because of this, I count on someone else's answers, I don't accept my own decisions and most of all, I am not confident. Thus, most of the times I don't get what I want, and I can't achieve what I need. I don't believe in myself  so how can others trust me either? I think, that's my biggest problem. I need to be myself and be me.                         

                                So now, you have read my own Inferno. As you can see, each sin has its own consequences that you need to face. I hope all who read this, will also realize their own. So, if some of them reflect their own teenage sins like mine, they can do better and not do the same like what I did. I know that all people has their own little evil space between their minds, that's why they can commit a wrong deed. I just hope that people, as early age as mine, can realize their sins and do something about it. Always ask for God's guidance because only He can save us from all those things we have done wrong.

Informal Theme # 3.1: A Letter for Him

Dear Jehiel,

                        First impression lasts, but not all impressions stand as wrong as the first. You know why? Because if you ask me to describe you back when I first met you, I’d say you are an irresponsible and childish guy. I was really mad at you because you made our survey project miserable, but as I was saying, you cannot judge a person by just meeting him for the first time.

                          Things are apparently unpredictable. The way our friendship grew, seem much more reliable. Believe me, I don’t know what to say. But unless now you know, you’re one of the inspirations of my day. Your kindness to everyone, smiles that you offer to anyone. Those simple corny jokes and lively laughter seem to unease the tension and sadness. You are different to any guys. Your thoughts and actions seem always nice. The way you gesture and try to be polite, that’s the reason you have friends at your side. I never saw you fight, nor talk in unmannerly way. And the way you try to listen to anyone’s story without getting bored, it seems to be a very reassuring talent only special persons like you, have.

                            Well, at least now my feelings were revealed. I hope you’ll always be the same, as jolly and as understanding as ever. I hope our friendship lasts, like the memories we’ve got. And I’ll be hoping that you’ll still be the Jehiel  that I know, a man who never stop making me smile. J J J

                                             From your friend,

                                           Angel

Informal Theme # 2.7: My Teacher, My Hero!

                      Upon growing up, they were always there to guide you. Like parents, they were always ready to help you. They were not even a relative nor a close family friend, but still they were your second guardian. Who would they possibly be? Of course, no other than but our most reliable, understanding, and patient teachers, who never stops giving us patience and longer due dates during submission of projects. Teachers who can still smile at us even we give them wrinkles and white hairs due to our disobedience. And teachers, who are one of the real heroes in our world, that is the reason why successful businessmen, presidents of the nation, world class artists are standing in front of us.

                      As a third year student, I already met uncountable teachers that taught, scold, laugh or got mad at me. I became a student of a terror, funny, loving, kind, or even a very strict teacher. Each of them were different from each other, leaving me impressions about who they really are. But from all those heroes I've met in my life, there's one teacher that really left a mark in my heart. and that is my most favorite teacher, Mrs. Maribel Richelle Bayot. She was my former Grade four teacher in Maragondon Elementary School. But she was not like the other teachers I knew before. Believe it or not, her past students told me that she was a terror, strict and very conscious teacher. And no doubt, Mrs. Bayot is really the kind of teacher that will make your hair stand until the last strand, especially when her face turns red whenever she gets impatient. I was really afraid of her. Always trying my best to act in my best way when she's around because I don't like the picture of her shouting at me. Mrs. Bayot scolded me, I don't know how many times, she frowned at me whenever I pass a late project, she looked at me like she was staring directly at my soul,but believe me when I say she was the best teacher that you can have. Those painful moments with her let me absorbed all the things she taught me. Those times that she became my adviser lets me realized why is she acting like that in front of her students. She was tough outside, but very caring inside. She was so intelligent, and all the  good traits she had, reminds me of what kind of person she wanted her students to be. And I'm sure that even I became older and older, I will still remember all the lessons I got from her.

                         Teachers may not be rich financially, but they were and will always be rich in ideas, thoughts and moral lessons. They may not have super powers, like flying or unnatural strength, but I can proudly say, in behalf of all the students in the world, that they will always be greater than Wonder woman, Darna or even Krystala. They are one of the most important living heroes in our generation, and for that I SALUTE THEM!!! Once again, HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY!!!

Informal Theme # 2.6: To Be or Not To Be

To be or not to be, our life is full of misery

Bounteous dilemma it may be,
Unending puzzle we seem to disagree
But with all our spirits, we wish all be, gone accidentally.

To be or not to be, still my mind works hilariously
I can't make up my thoughts, nor tell my true identity
Thousands and hundreds of words run outrageously
My brain kept yelling, this isn't easy!

To be or not to be, no words can describe what I plea
Only one thing I know abundantly
Answers won't try and visit me
So now I leave this subject, still unanswered and fuzzy.

Informal Theme # 2.5: Make things so Complicated!

                 

                     Before, I thought Shakespeare was just good in making tragic and love stories. But after I read this one, I realized that he is such a good writer whatever genre you wanted it to be. This story for me is the most unpredictable and unique of all, because it is not just funny, it is also confusing. "Comedy of Errors" didn't use tragic scenes nor mean and atrocious characters. Didn't end up in wars or dying people, and it didn't leave my eyes filled with tears and pain. But I can truly say, this is still as different and as enjoying as Shakespeare's other plays.
                    For me, Comedy of errors is a mixture of confusing, funny and complicated acts and scenes. What else can you conclude? If you read a story of twins, a twin brother who are Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus who came to separate lives living away from each other. With another twin, Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse, who also happened to be separated, each became a slave of each Antipholus'. Surely your head will twist and your mind will go all round dancing, because the next scenes will be about the exchanged of identities of each of the twins. That will be the root of all the conflicts, misunderstanding and problems that will occur. Well, I admit, at first, I was so depressed at the same  time felt little irritated, because I really can't get along with the story while my classmates are reporting. But when I decided to read it myself, I realized it was still confusing but in a funnier way.

                    It was not just an ordinary farcical comedy that made people's thoughts interchanged, but it is also a story that leave marks in our minds and hearts about certain things. Important matters, like its moral lessons and values, especially about family. It was, and will always be an "ALL in ONE" story, that will fit in any time, situation or person who will read it. I'm hundred percent sure that, as many people cried and sighed with pain while reading other Shakespeare's plays, it is as many as the people who laughed and cried out of joy because of this amazing story. Shakespeare made things so COMPLICATED!