Umbrellas, Bandages, and Juans

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day, nor the hour."

- Matthew 25:13

     Mighty blows of wind started attacking Tacloban, Leyte, and parts of Samar, afternoon of November 8, 2013. Haiyan began throwing splashes of water, but that was just not it. It felt like rain continuously and tremendously poured. This was worsened when storm surges occurred. The trees were uprooted, and these places were extremely flooded. Children were crying, families went starving, and people went missing- some were drowned, some could not be found. Then, when the super typhoon started to calm down and exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility, hundreds of communities were left devastated. Families had nothing left except for the clothes they wore that day. Haiyan only left debris.

     Philippines experiences a number of calamities as it is located near the West Basin and the Pacific Ring of Fire. The most common calamities that visit the country are earthquakes and typhoons.

     That being said, during the aftermath of the typhoon, the primary services from the Local Government Unit started within the residents themselves. Parents, teachers, as well as students lead in the distribution of relief goods. Despite the flooded roads, fallen trees, broken posts, and debris from infrastructure, they managed to deliver these goods to the areas of Leyte that were harder to reach. After a few days, a lot of places were still "underwater", but the condition was more stable. Donations from others were being distributed, and tents were being given out as temporary shelter. The community lost a lot, but not the bayanihan among the people.

     This is a concrete example to show the resiliency of the people. This exact scenario is how Filipinos bandage the wounds brought by disasters.

     But with resilience should come preparedness. Let us be reminded when Benjamin Franklin once mentioned, "An ounce of preparedness is worth a pound of cure." Let us reflect on the story of Noah a long time ago, when he encountered a death-defying calamity. That time, the storms strength was so powerful, it caused extreme floods. The forty days of rain cause water to rise so high, it covered the mountains. Fortunately, he, along with his family and two of each animal, survived. After all, it took him a hundred and twenty years to build an ark to serve as their shield against the challenges that the rain brought. He prepared, and so he survived.

     In emergency management, preparedness and resiliency of us, citizens, will ultimately prove our strength amidst any calamity. Let preparedness be our umbrella- it won't stop the rain but it would help us get through it. And let resiliency be our bandage- it won't heal the wound immediately, but it would help in the process of recovery.

     With our umbrella and bandage, we are ready to face any calamity, no matter how strong it may be.

Scavenger Hunt 2

CHALLENGE 2

Search the Internet for the following facts and information. Write your answers in the table below.

1.            What is the context of "embedded journalist"? When was it first used? Who created the term?

2.             _______________ is the only pope honored by Turkey a Muslim nation. His statue stands at center of a city square of ______________.

3.            Who designed the tallest building in Hong Kong?

4.            In September 11, 2001, two commercial airplanes commandeered by terrorist crashed and destroyed the World Trade Center in New York. Is this the first time that an airplane crashed into a skyscraper in New York?

5.            __________ is the tallest building in the world. It is located in ____________. The construction started in ________ and was finished_________.

6.            What is the meaning of tundra? Why is the Bush administration so interested with exploring and exploiting the tundra?

7.            Draw in a diagram form the metamorphosis of an "urban legend"

Item	Answer	URL	Search Engine	Search Technique
1.	Embedded journalism refers to news reporters being attached to military units involved in armed conflicts. It was first used last 2003.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_journalism	Google	Phrase Searching
2.	Pope Benedict XV's is the only pope honored by Turkey , a Muslim nation. His statute stands in the courtyard of St Esprit Cathedral, Instanbul Turkey.	http://www.answers.com/Q/Who_is_the_only_pope_honored_by_Turkey_a_Muslim_nation	Google	Phrase Searching
3.	Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (design) Belt Collins & Associates (landscape) Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Hong_Kong	Google	Phrase Searching
4.	No	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks	Google	Phrase Searching
5.	Construction of the Burj Khalifa began in 2004, with the exterior completed five years later in 2009. The primary structure is reinforced concrete.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Khalifa	Google	Phrase Searching
6.	Tundra is a vast, flat, treeless Arctic region of Europe, Asia, and North America in which the subsoil is permanently frozen. Bush administration so interested with exploring and exploiting the tundra because their administration is looking for oil resource	https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=tundra+meaning&oq=tundra&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.3200j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 http://religion.answers.wikia.com/wiki/Why_is_the_bush_administration_so_interested_with_exploring_and_exploiting_tundra_Rephrase_question	Google	Phrase Searching
7.		https://prezi.com/xvcgfcu4wxy-/fairy-tale-fable-and-myth-venn-diagram/	Google	Phrase Searching

First Chapter: The Beginning

     Over the course of 2 months, I have learned a lot of things- specially in the field of internet and blogging. I have learned how the internet started, what it really is, and how it actually works. In addition to this, I also learned how to create and start a blog, along with it's types. These information- specially blogging- are beneficial to me as a student as it develops my writing skills, widens my vocabulary, and enhances my creativity. Furthermore, I am able to share my ideas and opinions, as well as understand those of others.

     But in the duration of learning and applying these lessons, I encountered a lot of challenges. These challenges needed to be addressed accordingly. Listed below are some of the challenges I encountered and how I faced them:

     First is being able to compose an informative article to be posted on time. During the first articles, I did not know how to start my drafts. I had difficulties in writing because I had no idea on what to put.  So to address this, I always start with an outline of the whole essay. I also research for information by surfing the internet or by interviewing others. When doing these, I find it easier to write an article.

     Another is the difficulty in managing my time. I found it difficult to manage my time considering my first challenge. I always spend a lot of time in writing because I either get distracted and get nothing done, or I start writing but I do not have an idea on what to write. As a result, I would always procrastinate in order to finish them on time. But to lessen the cases, I started to remember and write down everything that needs to be done, or to be taken note of. By doing this, I can see the tasks that need to be completed first and I would start doing it. When I see a lot of things to be done, then I would get motivated to finish them all. Plus, I wouldn't forget to do a task because all are listed.

     Overall, the First Quarter was a great chapter. Despite the challenges, the interaction within the class was amazing. I indeed learned so much- even lessons that I can apply in my daily life. Moving on, I will surely apply what I learned from the challenges that The Beginning brought. I will take note of everything in order to avoid or lessen these challenges. I look forward to more colorful and fun Quarters and Chapters from the ICT Class.

     This is the end of the First Chapter. This is how my story begins.

Scavenger Hunt 1

NUGGETS	ANSWER	LOCATION	VALUE: Sources/Author/Date Published/Sponsor/Copyright	Search Engine	Search Technique
1. Sometime in   1991, a chief scientist at the NIIT, named, started an experiment hole in a wall.	Sugata Mitra	India	Businessweek Online Daily Briefing, March 2, 2000  by Paul Judge	Google	Phrase Searching and Boolean Logic
2. What does NIIT stands for?	NIIT stands for National Institute of Information Technology.	India	Author: Vivian Falae UPDATED: 9 MONTHS AGO	Google	Phrase Searching
3. It was implemented at a slum area in New Delhi.	The "Hole in the Wall" was implemented at Kalkaji, New Delhi.	India	© Hole-in-the-Wall Education Limited 2015	Google	Phrase Searching
4. His team carved a hole in the wall that separated NIIT campuses from slum areas. Why did they carve hole in the wall?	Dr. Mitra’s Team carved a hole in the wall that separated the NIIT premises from the adjoining slum. By having this hole, a freely accessible computer was up for use.	Kalkaji, New Delhi	© Hole-in-the-Wall Education Limited 2015	Google	Phrase Searching
5. What was the significant finding of the experiment?	The results, which have been uniformly encouraging, show that children learn to operate as well as play with the computer with minimum intervention. They picked up skills and tasks by constructing their own learning environment.	India	© Hole-in-the-Wall Education Limited 2015	Google	Pseudo-Boolean Logic
6. What could be the implications of this finding to existing teaching practices especially those that are related with the use of ICT in learning?	An effective assessment task is one which assesses students'attainment of the learning outcomes. Unit learning outcomes are what students are expected to know, understand or be able to do in order to be successful in a unit.	Australia	Learning and Teaching Centre at Macquarie University	Google	Phrase Searching

Filipino: Wika ng Saliksik

     Isang wika ang bumubuklod sa milyon-milyong mamamayan. Isang wika ang nagsisilbing tulay sa pagkakaintindihan ng buong bansa. Isang wika ang nagdurugtong ng Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao- ang wikang Filipino. Ang pagtangkilik at paggamit ng sariling wika ay isang paraan ng pagsulong ng kaunlaran. Sa paggamit ng wikang atin, napapadali ang pakikipagkomunikasyon saan man sa bayan. Napapatunayan din ang pagmamahal sa sariling bansa kung ating gagamitin ang wikang Filipino. At pagsapit ng Agosto, ating gunitahin ang Buwan ng Wika.

      Ngayong taon, ang tema ng Buwan ng Wika ay "Filipino: Wika ng Saliksik". Tayo'y hinihikayat na gamitin ang wikang Filipino bilang midyum sa pananaliksik, lalo na sa larangan ng Agham at Sipnayan. Sa pagpawi ng pagkauhaw sa karunungan, ating gamitin ang wikang Filipino sa pagtamo ng impormasyon. Hindi lamang sa paghahanap ng impormasyon magagamit ang wika. Ito ay mainam na midyum sa pagbabahagi ng karunungan, gaya na lamang sa diskusyon, sa pagsusulat ng isang artikulo, o sa pakikipagtalastasan. Sa paggamit ng wikang atin, mas mapapadali ang paghahanap at pagbabahagi ng impormasyon, sapagkat mas madali tayong magkaintindihan at mas madali nating maipaparating ang mga nais nating sabihin.

     Ang Buwan ng Wika ay ipinagdiriwang ng mga paaralan sa buong bansa sa pamamagitan ng paghahandog ng iba't ibang kompetisyon. Kabilang dito ang pagsusulat ng sanaysay, pag-awit ng OPM, pagbigkas ng Spoken Word Poetry, interpretatibong pagbasa, at marami pang iba.

     Ang Wikang Filipino ang ating pagkakakilanlan. Nararapat lamang na ito'y ating pagyamanin, pahalagahan, at gamitin. Huwag nating papabayaan kung ano ang nasimulan ni dating Pangulong Manuel L. Quezon. Kaya't saang bahagi ng mundo man tayo mapadpad, ating gamitin ang sariling wika. Ating ipagmalaki na dugong Pilipino ang nananalaytay sa atin. Mabuhay, Filipino!