Travel Blog Vigan CIty: Conversion of Saint Paul Celebration

     The fiesta is celebrated every month of January, and the whole city becomes alive with joy and excitement. 

    First, I went to witness the field demonstration of Saint Paul. The students performed and showed the story of Saint Paul. It was fun and awesome because all of them were great dancers, and they were so energetic. I also saw the students' parents dancing on the field, capturing their children's dance, and their pride was evident. 

        

  
    

     After that, as I walked around the city, I saw a tarpaulin for the 25th Vigan City Fiesta and Longganisa Festival, and the celebration felt even more exciting. Of course, seeing the sign made me even more excited to enjoy the activities prepared for the fiesta. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take a picture of the parade because we had exams that day. However, I was still able to go see the activities of Vigan City after the exams.  

    

      Moving on, I went to Plaza Burgos to watch the concert. One of the singers who performed was Gigi De Lana. When I saw her on the stage, she was stunning, and her voice was so amazing that makes your jaw drop; you could see that she was more beautiful in person. She also sang the "Liwang sa Dilim," which was my favorite song that she sang that night. The exciting part is that the concert was fun, and a lot of people were singing or jamming with her. 

 

     Next, the last performer was Dionela, and the vibe became more exciting since he was the last performer. When he sang "Marilag" and "Sining," everyone indeed sang along. We even put out our phones and turned on the flashlights. I could see the big screen in front that made the place feel filled with lights and made the moment feel amazing and really unforgettable. Also, the last song was the best because he threw water while we were all jumping. The vibe and energy were high, and I believe that everyone did enjoy it. It was a moment I will never forget. 

Overall, the Vigan City Fiesta was an unforgettable experience for me. It made me feel happy, and I really had fun after exams. It also showed the spirit of the Bigueños. 

My Third Quarter Learning Experience

In the third quarter, I used my knowledge of basic research during a performance task that required it. I learned that teamwork and time management are important for finishing the task and submitting it early. I discovered that socializing with others isn't that bad, and with that, we need to get out of our comfort zone to see the bright side.

I think one of the challenges that I faced was managing my time since we go out for our research. There were also times when coordination with your teammates was hard because some of them were not available and some went somewhere. Plus, gathering information in our research was a bit difficult, as was interviewing some people who were needed.

To address these challenges, I tried to communicate well with my teammates and make plans so that it would be easier. We also divided the parts so that everyone would do something, and it would be easier. Through cooperation and teamwork, we were able to complete our performance task. 

Moving on, I will apply what I learned this third quarter. I will also continue to improve my time management and coordination whenever there are group activities. Also, I will stay responsible with these it will help in future performance tasks or activities. 

The Pen That Awakened a Nation

    

Jose Rizal was a Filipino national hero, writer, and doctor. His greatest contribution was that he used his skills in writing during the colonization by the Spanish, and many Filipinos were abused and mistreated. Then, Rizal helped to educate them that they are all one country and that their problems are the same. He taught them to be proud of their rights as citizens of their country.

Rizal expressed his idea through the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which contain the wrongdoings of Spanish leaders and friars and the people they affected with their cruelty. With the help of these books, Rizal helped them to think better, question the things they had been taught to follow, and to foster the hope for change.  

    Jose Rizal believed that education could make the country better and lead to peaceful action. He showed that fighting for the nation does not always have to be violent, but it can be done through knowledge and good values. Thus, he lived and died a great example of the love of the country. 

Google Image Result. (n.d.). https://share.google/Bm27lfLrleWTgtQ8H

Jose Rizal | Knights of Rizal - The Netherlands. (n.d.). www.google.com. https://share.google/zcVf3CyDhGDbTxgwz 

Novels | Jose Rizal. (n.d.-b). www.google.com. https://share.google/AD8jldsn82fRtUNku

Indigenous Peoples Month

     

    The Philippines has set aside a month to honor Indigenous Peoples of the nation, declaring November as the National Indigenous Peoples Month. The theme of Indigenous Peoples Month "Weaving Culture To Create A Better Tomorrow" indicates that culture can create a better tomorrow. Indigenous Peoples are part of the overall identity and history of the Philippines as part of our Indigenous Heritage.

    Indigenous Peoples' community has many customs and traditions, such as traditional arts like weaving, dancing, and storytelling. These traditions and customs were passed down to the Indigenous Peoples from their ancestors. Another attribute of the Indigenous People is their close relationship with nature, such as forests and land. The Indigenous Peoples are knowledgeable about living harmoniously with the land and its resources. By respecting Native People, we respect their Indigenous Heritage, culture, and Resource Management.

    To empower Indigenous Peoples, we must assign value to them by respecting their humanity, grant them rights, and provide them with resources. Support for the Indigenous People Community can enhance their quality of life through the protection of their Culture and the ability to succeed within society. The celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Month provides an opportunity for all of us to become part of a more inclusive society, especially related to the Indigenous Peoples Community.

Agshanonline, V. a. P. B. (2018b, May 4). Strengthening cultural traditions on IP month through programs and projects. AgshanOnline2018. https://agshanonline2018.wordpress.com/2018/05/04/strengthening-cultural-traditions-on-ip-month-through-programs-and-projects/ 

Busse, F. M. J. (2022b, August 24). Valuing, respecting & supporting Indigenous people’s culture, history, and voice. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/valuing-respecting-supporting-indigenous-peoples-culture-busse 

Purdy, B. (2016b, November 27). 3 reasons you need to support Indigenous peoples, even if you are not Indigenous. Food Tank. https://foodtank.com/news/2014/02/3-reasons-you-need-to-support-indigenous-peoples-even-if-you-are-not-indige/ 

Joy in Simple Things

      Christmas is a special day of the year. It is fun, and you can receive many gifts, but more importantly, it is the season of giving, loving, and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Aside from that, Christmas is also about spending time with our loved ones or family. 

  

     Before Christmas Day, my family and I helped each other to decorate our Christmas tree. We went to buy Christmas lights, and we reused some of the decorations so we could save money. We also put Christmas lights on our gate and put some decorations in the hallway of our house. Being with them while preparing for Christmas made it feel special.

    We also had a Christmas party with my friends. Each of us brought food; some brought pancit, crispy Chickenjoy, and more delicious food. We had played a few games, and I was so lucky that I won some of them and received a prize, which was money. After the games, we exchanged gifts with the person that we randomly picked.

    When the clock hit 12:00 AM, I ran towards our Christmas tree and opened the gifts that I received. Even if they were simple, they still made me happy. After that, we ate the food that we prepared, like yummy spaghetti and graham with fruits. Eating together made it even more joyful. However, Christmas feels incomplete when my father is away working as an OFW. I haven't yet experienced celebrating Christmas with my father. I miss him a lot, but what can I do when he is working hard for our family?

        At the end, Christmas is still Christmas. A season of giving and sharing. Where Jesus Christ's birth is celebrated, and family remains at the heart of everything, even when some loved ones are far away.