Goodbye

Goodbye is not the saddest word, because it doesn't mean that you stop loving someone or you stop to care. 

The cool wind gushed outside the window. It's past midnight and I felt another day is coming. Every time I breathed out the coldness that covered me, cold vapor came out of my nose and mouth. It was on the month of September year 2010 when we had our 8th National Leadership Training for Student Government Officers with the theme: "Team SSG: Making the Dream Work" at the Teachers Camp, Baguio City. It was when I met the boy named Timothy.

One midnight, our first night at Baguio, my cellphone's beeping sound woke me up. I thought, I received important messages only. So I grabbed my cellphone and sleepily pushed the keys to read the message.
"Hi!"
I don't know who was the sender. I immediately deleted the message and put the phone down beside me. I wanted to go back to sleep so I tried to, but before I close my eyes, the phone beeped again.
"Hi again! Please care to be my text-mate," the message said.
Without agitating to reply, I deleted the message again. I was tired and I wanted to sleep before another day would come.

I was not like someone who enjoys texting someone else especially at the midnight hours. I closed my eyes and wanted to return to my dreamless sleep, but the phone beeped again. I wanted to turn it off but I decided not to, because I set an alarm to ring at 4:00 AM.
"Could you be my angel?" the message said from the same number.
"Who the wicked could this be disturbing someone like me at this hour?" a question on my mind.

As I was lying down, I pushed the keys and realized that I was replying to the message.
"I'm not an angel. I'm only a human who you disturb at this hour of my sleeping. Do I know you?" I typed.
A minute later, the reply came.
"No. You don't know this lonely one,but I want to be your friend. I'm Timothy. How about you?"
"Just call me Bhing-Bhing. This is what my friends call me. How did you get my number?" I sent.
"Hi Bhing-Bhing, I'm glad to meet you. Well, I just shambled the last three digits of my number," he replied.

That was not the first time I received messages from unknown person but that was the first time I met someone over the cellphone. We exchanged short messages and shared simple information about each other that time. That was how that all started. I only said goodbye when the alarm rang at 4 o'clock.

"Good morning! Sorry for disturbance last night and thank you for accepting me as your friend," a message from Timothy.
I didn't reply to his message because my friends and fellow SSG officers were already awake and we needed to prepare ourselves because our SSG adviser told us that we have to prepared early.

After the day of being part of the meaningful sessions, my friend and I went to the food station to get our dinner.
"Good evening friend! How did you spend your day? I thought you are busy because you're not replying to my messages," a message from Timothy when I once look for my cellphone after the whole afternoon.
"Good evening too! Yes, it's true. I got busy, and texting is not my habit while focusing on something," I replied.
"May we text now?" he asked.
"Yes, we may. Do have something to share about your day?" I asked.
It's a busy for me too, but I enjoyed it. It's full of learning."
"And what did you learn?"
"I learned the value of the teamwork, something like that. Hahaha!" he replied.
"Oh! I think I learned something related on that," I sent.
"What's that?" he asked.
"A team is always a group, but a group is not always a team. Haha!"
That's a quote mentioned by one of our Atenean Facilitators during the session.
"Really? How it happened that we have the same topic learned? Ah, wait, where did you learn this?" his questions.
"From the session this afternoon," I sent.
"Session? What session?"
"A session on our leadership training," I sent.
"Are you now attending leadership training?" he asked.
"Yes, why?"
"Cause I'm attending too. Oh! Are we talking the same leadership training? Are we attending only one training? Is it possible that you are here too?" his consecutive questions.
After reading this message, I was not able to reply on this because my phone beeped three times reminding that it's low battery and not able to send a message until it shut down. I put it on my small bag as I entered the Benitez Hall together with my friends waiting for the entertainment part of the training.

The morning came and my cellphone got fully charged. When I turn it on, it's continuous beeping sound surrounded the room where my five friends and I sleep. And the messages from Timothy appeared on the screen.
"Good morning Tim, sorry for not having texting back last night. My cellphone shut down. Have a nice day!" I sent to him.
"Good morning! It's okay. Anyway, are you SSG officer?"
"Yes," my one word replied because I was starting getting busy again for a new great day.
"I get it. Last night, I was thinking if it is possible that you are here too, and if it is, I thought I want to see you. I am here and you are here too. We're both attending the NLTSGO."
"Huh? National Leadership Training?" I typed and sent.
"Exactly! Here at Baguio?" his replied.
"Hahaha! Small world," I replied.
"Wonderful destination," he sent.

After the breakfast hour, my phone beeped.
"Where are you?" a question from Tim.
"Benitez Hall," I replied.
"Oh! You're too early. It's one hour before the plenary session."
"Yeah. We always want to be seated in front."
"I'm entering the Benitez Hall. I'll go there to meet you."
"If you can find us."
"Off course I can. It's easy because at this early hour, only few groups are here inside and the rest are somewhere else."
I didn't reply to that message but another message appeared.
"Is your group wearing the NLTSGO shirt?"
"No. We are wearing our SSG shirt."
"What color?"
"Peach."

My friends and I were talking about some things that make us laugh in chorus until we heard a voice at my back.
"Bhing-Bhing, is that you?"
"Hey! Is he talking to you?" my friend asked to me.
"W...who? I asked looking at my friend.
"At your back," my friend said.
"Huh?"

When I looked at my back, the boy said "See? I told you, I can find you," he said with a friendly smile.
"Timothy? Ahm...how did you know that...," I didn't finished that question because he suddenly answered.
"The nae on you shirt," still smiling.
"Ah, yeah."
"Excuse me, do you know each other?" my friend asked between us.

I became speechless that time then Timothy spoke.
"Yes. We are text-mates. We are friends."
"Oh really? Our friend doesn't tell us that she has a text-mate here," my friend said in a jesting mood.
"Actually, at first, I don't know that we will meet personally like this, because I just shuffled the last three digits of my number," he explained.
"Amazing, huh?" my other friend said.

I cannot describe what I felt during that time, but meeting him in person infatuates me. His radiant face, the look on his eyes, and his smile are like the works of an artist. He's one in five thousand plus students at the training and I didn't expect that happened. I wished his eyes would turn away from me because they are just holding me as fascinated. Aside from feeling well in the plenary session on that day, my mind was juggled with thoughts about him.

Seconds, minutes, hours, and days passed. We were text-mates, friends, or group-mates until we faced the last day and last night at Baguio. One evening after the event officially ended, our facilitators let us bond with friends. It's two hours of waiting for the distribution of certificates. We were allowed to form groups with new friends. I decided to stay on my place under the robust pine trees together with my friend until I saw him walking on a distance with his friend. They joined us at our area. His eyes and smile caught my attention. I stared at him smiling that suddenly made my heart beats twice as fast. It's also hard to have an eye to eye contact during that time, maybe that's what you feel when you are entering the kingdom of love.

My friends took his friend out of the scene and their naughty way led us into a private moment. Entering into a more personal conversation was the difficult one and I couldn't find myself listening from what he was saying. He told me everything how he felt from a friendly love of being text-mates to the very root of love itself. But I ignored what he said not because I didn't believe him but because I believe from the start that you should not find someone who you will love through text. It's not a true way of finding a true love.

He was looking at me straight into the eyes and I saw that there's something in them. There was something in those lovely yet lonely eyes that directed me to ask a question.
"On the first night you texted me, why did you ask me to be your angel?"
"It's because I really felt alone," he said.
"How do you say so?"
"I'm the only one son of my parents. They got separated just three months ago because my father has another woman. Then my mother decided to go abroad a month ago. They are both saying that they love me but what happened to them, to our family hurts me so much and makes me alone."
"I'm...I'm sorry for asking."
"It's okay. I was thinking about what my father did and I told to myself that I'll not be the one like him. You know, I was never a textmaniac but everywhere I go, sorrow comes with me. And as I tried to shuffle the last three digits of my number, I thought that if someone would care to be my text-mate, she would be my angel who would lessen my sadness. And thanks cause you cared."
"Hahaha! I'm not an angel. I told you."
"But it is really you. It was then I learned to appreciate text messages and become excited every time my phone beeped. I learned how to care, how to be kind, and how to love. And in life, we seldom find a true person, and if you ever find, hold on and never let go."
"I think, if someone learned how to care, how to be kind, and how to love, he must also know how to let go."
"Do you believe that goodbye is a painful way ta say I love you?"
"Maybe it is. But for me, goodbye is not the saddest word because it doesn't mean that you stop loving someone or you stop to care," I said staring at my friend's face, memorizing his face, a face I knew, I would never forget.
"Tomorrow is our homeward bound. Goodbye Mr. President," I said to him with a cheerful tone.
"Well, goodbye Ms. Secretary."

The evening full of wonderful words that came from the heart and cut though the heart has ended. We met and parted at the Summer Capital of the Philippines. Goodbye Baguio!

Songs of my Life

               Everyone experiences certain moments where you want to express yourself in a different way and sometimes music is the best companion during those moments. Sometimes you just want to lie down and listen to your favorite music and just forget the world. When we need to let go of the emotion or feeling, we use song as an outlet. When words are not enough to say what we need to say, song is the perfect thing to say.

               Once in my life, I ought to concentrate my mind upon the remembered earth. I ought to give myself up to a particular landscape in my experience, looking at it from as many angles as I can, to wonder upon it, and to dwell upon it. Because in this cycle that we call life, I am one of those who are next in line.

               The story of my life is composed of different sounds like the songs I hear from a radio. I could relate and understand the contents and messages of those songs, simply because as a human, I experience bad or good things and sad and happy moments. It is sad because since when I was three-months old, my parents got separated. That's why I belong in broken family. And since then, I never had to live with my father to call "Papa" like others and I never had to dance with my father. Besides circumstances in my life, my mother is a strong one because she always do her best. She is working hard in her own to support and to feed my two sisters and me. So I am very thankful to God for giving me my loving mother and two nice sisters. When I feel shuttered into pieces, there are always beside me to make as a whole. That's the reason, I told to  myself that I never cry.

               Life is matter of realization. Don't stop thinking positive, because all problems have an appropriate solutions like the problems or equations on Mathematics. Everything will be fine in doing such good things. Everything takes time as love takes time. I love my family, friends, and God. And I dedicate the song I''ll be alright for them because I always feel alright with them.



NEXT IN LINE
BY: AFTER IMAGE

What has life to offer me when I grow old?
What's there to look forward to beyond the biting cold
They say it's difficult, yes, stereotypical.
What's there beyond sleep, eat, work in this cruel life
Ain't there nothin' else 'round here but human strife
'Cause they say it's difficult, yes, stereotypica
Gotta be conventional, you can't be so radical.


Chorus:
So I sing this song to all of my age
For these are the questions we've got to face
For in this cycle that we call life
We are the ones who are next in line
We are next in line.


What has life to offer me when I grow old?
What's there to look forward to beyond the biting cold
'Cause they say it's difficult, yes, stereotypical
Gotta be conventional, you can't be so radical.
So I sing this song to all of my age
For these are the questions we've got to face
For in this cycle that we call lifeWe are the ones who are next in line
We are next in line
Oh-hoh, we are next in line.


Bridge:
And we gotta work,
 we gotta feel (we gotta feel)
Let's open our eyes and do whatever it takes
We gotta work, we gotta feel (we gotta feel)
Let's open our eyes, oh-woh
And sing this song to all of our age
For these are the questions we've got to face
For in this cycle that we call life
We are the ones who are next in line


DANCE WITH MY FATHER
BY: LUTHER VANDROSS

Back when I was a child

Before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high
And dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around til' I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure I was loved

If I could get another chance
Another walk, another dance with him
I'd play a song that would never ever end
How I'd love, love, love to dance with my father again, ooh

To get my way I would run from her to him
He'd make me laugh just to comfort me, yeah yeah
Then finally make me do just what my momma said
Later that night when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he would be gone from me

If I could steal one final glance, one final step 
One final dance with him
I'd play a song that would never ever end
'Cause I'd love, love, love to dance with my father again
And I'd hear how my mother cried for him
I pray for her even more than me
I pray for her even more than me
But could you send back the only man she loved?
I know you don't do it usually
But dear Lord she's dying to dance with my father again

If I could get another chance

When I and my mother would disagree

If I could steal one final glance, one final step

Sometimes I'd listen outside her door

I know I'm praying for much too much

Every night I fall asleep and this is all I ever dream

I NEVER CRY
BY: ALICE COOPER


If there's a tear on my face

It makes me shiver to the bones it shakes me, babe
It's just a heartache that got caught in my eye
And you know, I never cry
I never cry

Sometimes I drink more than I need
Until the TV's dead and gone
I may be lonely but I'm never alone
And the night may pass me by
But I'll never cry

Take away, take away my eyes
Sometimes I'd rather be blind
Break a heart, break a heart of stone
Open it up but don't you leave it alone

'Cause that's all I've got to give you
Believe me babe, it ain't been used
My heart's a virgin, it ain't never been tried
And you know I never cry
And you know I never cry
And you know, you know, you know, you know
That I never cry, I never cry

Break a heart, break a heart of stone
Open it up but don't you leave it alone

'Cause that's all I've got to give to you
Believe me babe, it ain't been used
My heart's a virgin, it ain't never been tried
And you know I never cry
I never cry

LOVE TAKES TIME
BY: MARIAH CAREY

Oh, oh

I had, I had it all
But I let it slip away
Couldn't see I treated you wrong
Now I wander around
Feeling down and cold
Trying to believe that you're gone

Love takes time to heal when you're hurting so much
Couldn't see that I was blind to let you go
I can't escape the pain inside
'Cause love takes time
I don't wanna be here
I don't wanna be here alone

Losing my mind
From this hollow in my heart
Suddenly I'm so incomplete, yeah
Lord I'm needing you now
Tell me how to stop the rain?
Tears are falling down endlessly, oh

Love takes time to heal when you're hurting so much
Couldn't see that I was blind to let you go
I can't escape the pain inside
'Cause love takes time
And I don't wanna be here
I don't wanna be here alone

You might say that it's over
You might say that you don't care, oh
You might say you don't miss me
You don't need me
But I know that you do
And I feel that you do inside, oh

Love takes time to heal when you're hurting so much
Couldn't see that I was blind to let you go
I can't escape the pain inside
'Cause love takes time
I don't wanna be there
I don't wanna be there alone, oh

I'LL BE ALRIGHT

BY:SARAH GERONIMO

It's time for me to let you know
I am so glad that I have you
Through all these years
I am so thankful

Now that I've grown
I'll always be thinking of you
With all the things you taught me so
Always remember


I'll be alright, I'll be OK
I will be good learning all the way
All from the heart, these things I do
I'll make you proud because I love you
I'll be alright, I'll be OK
I will be fine
And I'll be good all the way
All from the heart, these things I do
I'll make you proud because I do
I love you so

I will stand tall and I'll try not to fall
As I reach all of my goalsI will go on,
I will move on
All because of you
For you


I'll be alright, 
I'll be OK
I will be good learning all the way
All from the heart, these things I do
I'll make you proud because I love you
I'll be alright, I'll be OK
I will be fine
And I'll be good all the way
All from the heart, these things I do
I'll make you proud because I do
I love you so.
I love you so.
I love you sooo.

LATEST NEWS AND TRENDS (Required)

Challenge for Today

One of the trending issues nowadays is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. We see movie actors and politicians took the challenge in an attempt to contribute to the fundraising activity. For the meantime, we enjoy looking at our favorite celebrities getting drenched in ice and water.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is an activity involving dumping a bucket of ice water on someone's head to promote awareness of the disease ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and encourage donations to research . The challenge dares nominated participant to be filmed having a bucket of ice poured on his head and challenging other to do the same.Within 24 hours of being challenged, participant have to record a video, post and tag himself on social media. He has to announce his acceptance of the challenge followed by pouring ice into a bucket of water. Then the bucket is to be lifted and poured over the participant's head. And the participant can call out a challenge to other people.

Whether people choose to donate, perform the challenge, or do both varies. In one version of the challenge, the participant is expected to donate $10 if they have taken the challenge or donate $100 if they have not. In another version, taking the challenge is done in place of any donation.

Justin Bieber

Kris Aquino

The challenge became viral on social media and became a popular culture phenomenon, particularly in the United States with numerous celebrities, politicians, and athletes. In just few weeks, it has become a major fundraising for patients and organizations with ALS. Many people have seen videos of the challenge, but not many people know what ALS is. So before you dump a bucket of ice water on your head, be sure you know some facts about ALS. Here are some facts about ALS:

Lou Gehrig
 (famous baseball player who had ALS)

The ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a progressive neurodegenarative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.

A-myo-trophic comes from the Greek language . 'A' means no or negative. 'Myo' refers to muscle, and 'trophic' means nourishment- "No muscle nourishment". When a muscle has no nourishment, it atrophies or wastes away. "Lateral" identifies the areas in a person's spinal cord where options of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are located. As this area degenerates, it leads to scarring or hardening ("sclerosis") in the region.

As motor neurons degenerated, they can no longer send impulses to the muscle fibers that normally result in muscle movement. Early symptoms of ALS often include increasing muscle weakness, especially involving the arms and legs, speech, swallowing or breathing. When muscles no longer receive the messages from the motor neurons that they require to function, the muscles begin to become smaller. And limbs begin to look thinner as muscle tissue becomes smaller.

No one is sure what brings about ALS. Heredity plays a role in about 5-10% of cases, but the cause is still a mystery and researchers are trying to get to the bottom of it so we can see if we are able to prevent it in the future. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure because the muscles in the respiratory system begin to fail and the person can no longer breathe on his or her own. Once diagnosed with ALS, the average person is only expected to live 3-5 years longer due to the rapid progression of the disease. Though roughly 10% of people with ALS live for 10+ years after diagnosis.

After the Ice Bucket Challenge went viral on social media, public awareness and charitable donations to ALS charities soared. The New York Times reported that the ALS Association had received $41.8 million in donations from July 29 until August 21. More than 739,000 new donors have given money to the association. ALS Therapy Development Institute reported a ten-fold increase in donations relative to the same period in 2014, with over 2,000 donations made in a single day on August 20, 2014, while Project ALS reported a 50-fold increase.The ALS Association, which had raised $64 million in all of 2013, raised more than $10 million on Thursday, August 21, 2014 alone.

The things people do and how they do those things won't always make sense to every mind. There are still different opinions about this challenge.  Maybe, for others, the Ice Bucket Challenge looks like attention-seeking tool, while for some of us, it represents hope. At the end, there's a question "is this the best option?"

Example of QUATRAIN

                Alone

Have you ever really felt alone,

In a room crowded, with people

With the buzz of conversation,

Ignoring, wanting to decouple?

Have you ever really felt alone,

With someone lying next to you,

And you don't really feel her there,

When you belong to someone new.

Have you ever had to carry on,

That nothing seems to be amiss

And yet your mind is miles away

To where your heart still exists.

http://www.thepoetsgarret.com/2010Challenge/form1.html

Example of OTTAVA RIMA

Quickly did the tiger begin his fast run

Over hilly ground you see him fly and leap

The passive prey laying grazing in the sun

Suddenly its life that it wanted to keep

Tiger pounces, quickly getting the job done

The prey collapsing in a really big heap

Tiger sleeps as night takes over from the day

Will we ever see the hunter become prey?

https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/types-ottava-rima

My own example of QUATRAIN :

-> abcb rhyme scheme

      With You

Tell me that I have been so right           

Because it seems everlasting                  

When you take me to the sky                

My heart doesn't need a warning       

There is no cold and lonely night        

I hear your symphony singing                 

I hear you sing a lullaby                            

I can't help myself from falling                   

It felt so good holding you tight                 

Don't stop keep me believing                    

That our true love will never die                 

Though don't know where we're going       

My own example of OTTAVA RIMA:

-> abababcc rhyme scheme

            In Love

I can't help it when I get lost in your eyes

I can't be strong when I get weak in glance               

But I love the way my spirits rise                                     

Maybe that is the one thing they called romance               

Unknowing, you're taking me the skies                            

We are happy together winning the chance                      

The sound of love is a real tone of voice                          

It's truly directed to us out of choice

                 

TUTORIAL (Required) 

                              

Stressed and You

Stress can greatly affect your performance, your career, but most especially your health. Stress brings about many health disorders. It can worsen already existing illnesses such as asthma and diabetes, trigger headaches, can make you prone to depression and anxiety, and cause you to age faster than usual.
One of the most serious illnesses linked with stress concern the heart. Stress may have a direct effect on the heart, at the same time, it increases one's likelihood of smoking, or eating unhealthy habits that may also increase heart risks. Sudden emotional stress can trigger serious cardiac problems, such as heart attacks.


Other common signs of stress include fatigue, muscle tension, sleeping difficulties such as insomnia and dermatological disorders. Psychological symptoms include irritability, pessimism, feelings of discouragement and being overwhelmed, and cognitive difficulties such as reduced ability to concentrate or make decisions.
That's why before health problems even start, know what makes you stressed and how to prevent it.

Here are some examples of common stressors:
• Emotional and psychological stress. This includes an unhappy work situation, marital friction, negative thought patterns, or death of a loved one.
• Lack of sleep, relaxation and downtime. This is all too common in our society, where many people sacrifice sleep and downtime in order to get more done.
• Allergies. Allergens in food or in your environment can cause stress, and stress can in turn trigger allergic reactions. This results in a vicious cycle which is sure to wear on your adrenals.
• Poor eating habits and diet. A healthy, balanced diet is the foundation of overall health and especially adrenal health. Skipping meals, dieting, or cutting out macronutrients are all stressors.
• Excessive exercise. Staying active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but the mantra of "exercise more" is repeated so often people tend to think more is better. This is not necessarily true. Over-exercising is just as bad as not exercising at all, if not worse.
• Physical stressors. Whether it's a common cold or a sports injury, illness and physical trauma are stressors. Recurring infections, chronic pain or repeat injuries are especially stressful.
• Toxin exposure. This includes substances like refined sugar, chemical food additives (such as MSG), caffeine, nicotine, airborne pollution, chemicals found in household cleaners, toxins in our water supply, and the host of other chemicals and toxins we encounter every day.
The above list is meant to be used as a resource for identifying the top sources of stress in your life. It may not be possible to avoid every single one of these stressors - in fact, you are sure to encounter many of them throughout your life. But whenever possible, making positive changes in order to reduce the number or intensity of stressors you experience can have a substantial impact on your physical and emotional health.

Seven Keys to Reducing Stress: Once you've identified the top sources of stress in your life, it's important to take action and start moving things in a positive direction. Most people are amazed at the improvement they see in their health after making just a few small but very significant changes. Here are seven simple keys for reducing the stress in your life:

• Reduce Emotional and Psychological Stress: The impact of emotional stress cannot be underestimated, but this type of stress is often overlooked because it is difficult to make changes in this area. A difficult living situation, an unhappy marriage or a stressful job could be a source of major stress that is wearing down your health. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to move, get a divorce or quit your job, but it's important to look for ways to improve your situation in any case. If you're dealing with other stressors like depression, anxiety, or the loss of a loved one, you may want to seek counseling or join a support group that can offer you help. Although it appears small on the surface, negative thought patterns have a way of chipping away at our quality of life by compounding our stress. Establishing healthy patterns of enjoying the moment, reframing, and learning to forgive can have a very positive effect on your health.
• Prioritize Quality Sleep and Regular Downtime: The impact sleep can have on your life is well documented. Getting at least seven hours every night will balance your cortisol levels, improve your energy and brighten your mood. And just as important as sleep is downtime. It may take some rearranging if your schedule is packed with activities, but it's vital for your health to take time each day to relax and unwind. Taking a day off now and then and freeing yourself from a mile-long to-do list is very restorative as well. And by all means, if you can take a vacation and get away from it all, do it!
• Improve Food Quality and Eating Habits: It can't be emphasized enough: food is the foundation of your health. A balanced diet of natural foods is a must. All macronutrient groups (fats, proteins and carbohydrates) should be included in balanced ratios. Avoid skipping meals or under-eating. Your body needs quality food for nourishment.
• Avoid Allergens: If you have allergies, these can trigger a stress response in the body. Do your best to avoid allergens, which includes identifying food allergies so you can make better food choices. On the up side, if you deal properly with other stressors in your life, this may decrease the severity of your allergic reactions (which are, in part, a stress response of their own).
• Exercise: Make It Smart and Sensible: Exercise is very healthy, but it's important not to overdo it if you're otherwise stressed. Emphasize activities like strength training, yoga, walking and swimming. Avoid overtraining or doing too much cardio, which can exhaust the adrenals.
• Reduce Physical Stressors: If you get sick, injured or have to deal with chronic pain, try to get the rest and care you need so you can reduce the stress these cause on your body. Allow your body time to heal or, in the case of chronic pain, look for ways to treat the pain or the underlying cause that prevents you from living a normal, happy life.
• Avoid Toxin Exposure: Most of us can't completely eliminate toxins from our lives, but we can take measures to greatly reduce the amount of toxins our bodies must deal with every day. Filter your water, use natural beauty and cleaning products, eat organic foods, avoid chemical food additives and take the time to enjoy fresh air as much as you can.

References:

-The Philippine Star (newspaper)

- http://www.sott.net/

NATURE (Required)

                               The Beauty of Nature

Quezon Province is one of the largest provinces in the Philippines. In the middle Siera Madre, the Philippine Sea and Bondoc Peninsula, Quezon Province shares its natural resources wherein the land and water provide the basic needs of the residents. By entering the first town of Quezon, You don't need to hunt for the scenic view. You will see it continuously as you travel the land's vastness.

Going to Quezon will make you experience the long and winding highway bringing into view the forest and sea. You will take the Atimonan Zigzag road which they called as "Bitukang Manok." The name of this road is derived on the chicken intestines. Don't think that this is just an ordinary road to travel because it is very steep. Taking "Bitukang Manok" will make you experience the beauty of Quezon National Park. It is a well-kept forest that offers you the full view of Manila and Quezon at its pointed hilltop.

Quezon National Park

Well, for the almost seven years of residing in Quezon, I would say that aside from being with peace-loving people and fun means on festivities, it made made me believe that there are wonderful beaches exist in Quezon. If you will go to Pagbilao Quezon, don't waste your time, you have to experience the white sand beach which the peolple there called "Puting Buhangin". As it is named Puting Buhangin, the long stretch of the beach is covered with white powdery sand . Even though it is unknown to many, I treasured its beauty during spending Holy Week year 2007. This beach has clear water. This is lovely.  

Also, at the end side of Puting Buhangin, there's a small cave named "Kwebang Lampas." It has openings at both ends that's why they called it Kwebang Lampas. The water in it is shallow with big rocks under water and there are small fishes swimming. It's not too dark in this cave because of having openings at both ends.

The second beach that I had go over in Quezon is the Libjo Beach. It is located in Brgy. Libjo, Infanta Quezon. I stayed there for one day and one night because of our camping when I was in third year high school. I, together with my fellow girl scouts and with our some teachers and principal, enjoyed staying there. Aside from learning significant things and having activities, we enjoyed the beauty of the place. The sand is fine and light gray in color.

Even though Infanta's beaches are not really the attraction for others, the municipality and its neighboring towns and islands hold many gems which should provide a different kind of euphoria to the adventure-seeking kind. Also, if you want to chase waterfalls, you can visit the Cawayan Waterfalls. If you want to swim in river, you can go to Agos River.  And if you want to go to nearby islands, you can travel to the white beaches of Polilio.

Cawayan Waterfalls (Real, Quezon)

Balagbag Falls (Real, Quezon)

Agos Bridge 

Agos River (Infanta, Quezon)

Quezon Province is an amazing place where you can stay and enjoy the nature's beauty. The beaches of Quezon are belong to the God's wonderful creation. Nothing's going to stop me from enjoying one of God’s greatest and most beautiful creations. This world is beautiful. Only God could have created such a magnificent place. We are all so blessed.