My Gift to SLU on Its Centennial

The Saint Louis University's Centennial celebration aims to increase the people's awareness of CICM past and present engagements as well as to express gratitude to people and communities for the opportunity to do its mission. As to revitalization, the centennial is a time to revitalize missionary spirituality among mission partners to intensify and renew mission and vocation animation and to shape dynamic future direction of CICM in the Philippines.

"A Louisian: An Empowered Steward of the World"


The theme itself shows that SLU is a Catholic school. As its students, we must do our duty to spread God's words. As its student, it is just right to show a bit of appreciation for its full effort on broadening the knowledge of its students especially now that it's celebrating its centennial.

One of the simplest form of appreciation for SLU is to be proud that you are a Louisian. Every student should be proud of his own school. He should be proud to say that he is studying in an excellent and exceptional school. Another form of appreciation that we could give is to protect the name of Saint Louis University. We must not do anything that could destroy its name. We should always be aware in everything that we do. We must know our limitations as a student and we must always put in our minds  that a Louisian is a model and inspiration for all; a Louisian is a good example for all.

We can also show our appreciation by bringing out the best in each one of us, we must know how to share our God-given talents and we must be determined to do well in our studies. Saint Louis University is a school that enhances our skills and helps bring out the best in each one of us. It helps us share the blessings that God had given us. As students, we must not only depend on SLU alone, we must also help ourselves to bring out the hidden talents that we have. We must think that all of these we do not only for our parents but also for ourselves.

Being a Louisian, a student if Saint Louis University is really a great plesure. For me, SLU is one of the best school here in Baguio. Why? ..because it enhances not only our skills, it also focuses on four core values - competence, Christian spirited, creativity, and social involvement. I also can see that SLU has an aim. Aim is to make every student graduate. I can also see its aim to renew students who had lost their path at first but are now willing to change their path into right ones. I can see SLU's perseverance to make students realize the importance of learning and studying and  in their life.

Now, as we  celebrate SLU's Centennial, I offer a gift of prayer. A prayer that asks for guidance so that SLU could  continue its mission to serve people and to make them realize the importance of many things in their lives. A prayer for guidance to help SLU renew students who had lost their path and is now willing to change. 

The gift of Love, I also give... promising that SLU would always be with me; the knowledge I had learned and the knowledge that I'm about to learn will always be my guiding light. It will always be my key to success, my key to a better future. Even though in the near future, I am to graduate, a part of SLU would always be with me.

SLU had touched my life. It had left me with great memories and it will be leaving me with more. SLU: you'll be my school forever; Nothing could ever replace you. :). I started as a Louisian and that mark will be mine forever.

I wish that SLU could touch more lives and that it can give students a deep realization of how important education is in their lives.

My Gift to SLU on Its Centennial by Lady Shaira 'Shai' Abuan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.shaimemylifeandyou.blogspot.com.

SLU, You're One of A Kind

Saint Louis University is a Catholic school founded by Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae (CICM) in 1911.

CICM was founded on November 28, 1862. It was born not knowing exactly what lies ahead. In 1862, Fr. Theophile Verbist led a group of Belgian priest. He had the desire to help the orphans as well as those who lived in ignorance and poverty in China. The fathers never imagined that many would follow their footsteps.

On November 2, 1907 the first batch of nine pioneer CICM missionaries composed of priests and a brother arrived in the Philippines.CICM has grown into an international religious missionary congregation.

The CICM works have challenged and inspired many Filipinos to serve the missions nationwide. CICM missionaries live and work together as brothers in order to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ wherever it is most needed.

Here is a CICM-Philippines Timeline:

1898 - After the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1898 with the help of the United States, all Spanish missionaries were expelled. Thus, the Philippines became an American territory and American bishops were appointed, among them Bishop Dennis Dougherty who was assigned to the diocese of Nueva Segovia in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

1906 - Msgr. Ambrosius Agius, Apostolic Delegate to the Philippines, appealed to CICM in Scheut, Brussels to send priests to replace the ousted Spanish frailes.

- Bishop Dougherty offered the northern Luzon missions populated by many pagans as the areas to be served by the arriving CICM missionaries.

November 02, 1907- Msgr. Agius welcomed the first nine CICM missionaries composed of eight priests and one brother along Manila Bay. They were Superior Pieter Dierickx, Florimond Carlu, Albert Dereume, Seraphin Devesse, Constant Jurgens, Jules Sepulchre, Oktaaf Vandewalle, Henre Verbeeck and Christiaan Hulsbosch (brother). Weeks later Herman Ramaekers and Albert Botty also arrived. They set up initial mission  stations in Baguio; Bauko, Mountain Province; and Cervantes, Ilocos Sur.

1908- A group of 10 more missionaries arrived in 1908 and 13 more in 1909. By 1912, there were 40 CICM missionaries in the Philippines. 

April 1909- The Philippine mission was established as a religious province and the provincial house 'Home Sweet Home' was set up in Baguio City. It was opened as a central house where the Belgian spend a 10-day retreat annually.

1911- Fr. Seraphin Devesse founded a one-room school in the sacristy of the church along Session Road for 10 local boys. From this humble origin, the Saint Louis School began. He also founded a school in Campo Filipino.

1912- The missionaries built two churches: the Baguio Cathedral in the center of Baguio along Session Road, and another in Campo Filipino along Naguilian Road.

1924- Fr. Francis H. Lambrecht (1895-1978) arrived in the Philippines after being ordained in 1923. For 17 years, he evangelized the Ifugao people, mastering their language and tradition. He became one of the most energetic CICM missionaries in the mountains of Luzon.

1941- Fr. Lambrecht became the secretary and procurator of the Apostolic Prefecture, later the Vicariate of the Mountain Province; he founded the Saint Francis Xavier Seminary in Baguio City and for 30 years, he was involved in the training of the native priests for the Mountain Province. At the same time, he taught anthropology at Maryhurst Seminary, Saint Louis University and Baguio Colleges Foundation (now University of the Cordilleras)

June 1928- Establishment of the St. Mary's Elementary School in Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya which later grew into the St. Mary's University.

1931- Arrival of Fr. William Brasseur who worked in several missions among the Benguet tribes.

June 1948- Appointment of Fr. Brasseur as Vicar Apostiolicof the Mountain Province. Two months later, he was ordained a bishop at the Baguio Cathedral.

1951- Candidates for the priesthood were accepted temporarily in Home Sweet Home, the provincial house.

1954- The property where Maryhurst Seminary was to be built has been purchased in Lucnab, a barangay in Baguio City.

1955- A juniorate for possible candidates for foreign missions was initiated. Thus, the CICM General Government started constructing Maryhurst Seminar, the CICM novitiate in Baguio City which opened in May of the same year with eight novices.

From the early days, Scheut Missions-CICM in the Philippines accepted challenges outside the Mountain Province in many lowland parishes taht had no priests for years. From that concerted effort towards the evangelization of the Igorots and the revitalization of whole Christian areas, the greatest achievement CICM is proud of are the native Philippine CICM members.

June 1965- Saint Louis School in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan opened its portals to 138 boys accommodated in two sections of the First Year and one section of the Second Year. Later in May 2002, the college became the University of Saint Louis.

-Establishment of Saint Louis College in San Fernando City, La Union

-Establisment of Saint Louis High School in Mandaue City, Cebu

November 28, 2007- Centennial commemoration of the day when CICM pioneer missionaries first set foot on the Philippines.

As we celebrate SLU's Centennial... may we appreciate the efforts of SLU so as to make students more knowledgeable. May we also realize that SLU is not only a school; it is more than a school... it is a home and a teacher for all.

SLU, You're One of A Kind by Lady Shaira 'Shai' Abuan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.shaimemylifeandyou.blogspot.com.

Can't Live Without You SLU

SLU - my second home, my second family, my teacher, my friend, my comforter, my inspiration.

For almost 10 years, I am a student of Saint Louis University. From my elementary years... until now, my high school years. Saint Louis is a witness of my successes, my failures, my struggles as a student, as well as my growing and maturing years.

Saint Louis University as my second home and family...

As a student, I spend most of my time in school. I only spend 3 to 5 hours of my day for my family and the remaining hours, for school and other school works like assignments, home works, and activities. In a week, I spend 5 to 6 days for school and only 1 day for my family. Still, sometimes, I spend 5 to 7 days for school, especially when there are group projects or activities. This is the reason why I  consider Saint Louis as my second home as well as my second family.

Saint Louis serves as my teacher...

Each school year is a challenge for me to learn more and grab the opportunities that SLU gives. Each day is a chance for me to do my best so that I could make my parents proud. Every minute is a chance for me to listen well to what my teachers say and every second is a chance for me to finish my assignments and other works so that I may pass all my subjects. Every day is chance for me to remember that if I'll do well today... rest assured because tomorrow will surely be great.

Saint Louis as my friend and my comforter...

Crushes... Infatuations... Admirations...

Yes, things related to the so called, "love". These are all normal especially for us - young people, high school students. In today's concept, it's not normal for a boy or a girl not to have a "crush". Most believe that every person has a thing to admire in another person (usually of different sex).

Honestly... SLU is one of the witnesses of how I had crushes, how I got infatuated, how I admired somebody, and how i experienced the feeling of "love". Yes, love...

Saint Louis as my inspiration...

Grades... This is usually one of my problems. I don't mean that I get failing grades, I just don't want my grades to be exactly passing or usually termed as "pasang awa". I'm not even contented with an eighty-five grade. I aim to get higher grades and if possible, I want eighty-six to be the lowest grade that I would have. Maybe it's because my parents are too strict about my grades that's why I'm also striving for a higher grade. 

My parents always scold me whenever I get a grade of eighty-six and below. At first, I thought that they were too strict. I thought that they were too over reacting. But afterwards, I realized that they're just right. It's a good thing for them to get mad whenever I get low grades. It's a good thing that they care.  I realized that they're just scolding me because that's what's best for me.

SLU gives me the reason to strive harder. It gives me a thought that one day, all of my hardships... my struggles as a student... will lead me to the right way. It gives me the thought that after all of these, I'll have a better future, and that I will also be the one to benefit all of my hard works.

Yes, it's true that it's not easy to be a student. It will never be easy to become a student. Sometimes you have to sacrifice some of your works, chores, and other businesses just to participate in your school works. Sometimes you just have to sacrifice your time just to finish your home works.

Now, as we celebrateSLU's Centennial, I hope that more people - especially the Lousians - could see the importance of SLU in their lives. I hope that people could realize how SLU had helped them achieve what they had achived right now 'coz it is surely a great pleasure to be a Louisian.

Can't Live Without You SLU by Lady Shaira 'Shai' Abuan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.shaimemylifeandyou.blogspot.com.

A Search of Meaning: Live Life to the Fullest

"Why to believe in others"

A striking... a catchy title; the title itself gave a great impact on introducing the talk. As an overview, the talk was about correcting man's mistakes.

When a person commits mistakes, we often hear them say: "Nobody's Perfect". Yes, it's true that nobody is perfect; there's no one in this world who never committed a mistake but it doesn't mean that we can't avoid mistakes; in fact there are many ways to avoid these mistakes. Some of these include making moral decisions. It means that we must first think a million times before doing something. Think twice or even thrice before deciding. We must always include the welfare of other people before coming up with a decision. It is not only ourselves that we must think of we must also think of others because besides the fact that we are relational beings, they affect the person who we are right now.

In the talk the speaker often mentioned these words: "If you take man as he really is, you make him worst; but if you take man as he should be, you make him capable of becoming what he can be."

In this statement, it clearly tells us that we should not let a person continue doing his mistake. It's like teaching a child about good manners and the like. Parents should correct them if they do wrong things. They should scold their child if he don't obey them, if he don't respect them, and if he do not listen to them. The parents should not tolerate their child's wrong acts because if they do, the child would be spoiled; he might carry those bad attitudes while growing up and once he had started carrying those attitudes, it will be hard for him to be corrected. As a result, the child could not have a better future.. a bright future. 

As we know parents knows best; adults know best. As children, as youngsters, we must take time to listen to them because they were the ones who had most of the experiences. They are the ones who knows best what's good from bad. They are the ones who can guide us through so that we may reach our goal, achieve our ambitions, and search for a better future.  

If we know that what what the person's act was wrong, we must have an initiative to correct him because if we don't, he might think that he is doing the right thing... he might think that it's okay. If we don't correct him or at least give him advices for his improvement, there would be a great possibility for him to repeat his mistake knowing that no one cares... and so, no one would react even if he is doing the wrong thing, the wrong act, or the wrong deed. If we don't recognize a young man's way to meaning, man's search for meaning, we make him dull, we make him frustrated, we still add and contribute to his frustration. 

There should always be a spark of search for meaning.  

A Search of Meaning: Live Life to the Fullest by Lady Shaira 'Shai' Abuan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at shaimemylifeandyou.blogspot.com.

Yummilicious Delicious

Dish made of pasta, mixed with cream of  mushroom and chicken... often served with ham, cheese, eggs, or bacon... Yes, Carbonara it is! I chose this as my favorite food because it is yummy, delicious and nutritious.

 http://www.steffensdinners.com/files/images/spaghetti-carbonara.jpg 

Greenwich... Is it love at first taste? I can still remember those first bites... that fascinating taste...

An aroma tickled my nostrils. It was a Sunday night when my family and I decided to drop by Greenwich. I was staring at the menu when the word, "carbonara" caught my eyes. I usually ignore that dish before but I wanted to try a new food instead of eating chicken meals as always. The order was there... in front me... as I ate my first bite... a savouring feeling, i felt! Wooaahhh... It tastes great! Very first dish that fascinated me at once! Oh, yes! It was love at first taste!  Nutritious, yummilicious, delicious!
 

Asking me why it is nutritious?

Pasta is the main ingredient of this dish is rich in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are generally considered as substances made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbohydrates supply the largest part of the energy needed by the living cell. The pasta is made up of starch. When starch is digested, it is converted into glucose and using different enzymes, it is converted into ATP: the source of our energy.

Ham, bacon, egg, and cheese... proteins in nature. Proteins are organic compounds made up of amino acids. Proteins supply the body not only with heat and energy, but also provide materials for building and repair. Protein molecule is known to contain the elements, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus together with traces of iron, copper, iodine, manganese and zinc. Protein forms the primary constituent not only of the cell but also of such regulatory agents as hormones and enzymes. It also helps to distribute body fluids and forms antibodies which combat diseases. Hydrolysis of proteins yields amino acids and could be also be a source of ATPs.

Carbonara, being nutritious can be classified as a complete food. because it is composed of go, grow, and glow foods.

Recipe:

500 grams spaghetti
6 quarts salted boiling water
1 tablespoons vegetable oil

1. Add spaghetti noodles to salted boiling water, bring water back to a boil.
2. Cook spaghetti until Al Dent (barely tender) about 6-8 minutes (Tasting is the only way to test doneness. Never overcook pasta)
3. Add oil during the last 2 minutes. To keep spaghetti from sticking together wen it is drained.
4. Drain but leave hot, ready to use.

Sauce

6-8 slices lean bacon, cut into large pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
2- 3 small pieces garlic, minced (I prefer more garlic)
4 egg whites
2-3 tablespoons Coarsely grated Parmesan cheese
Freshly grated black pepper to taste.

1. Cook bacon in olive oil crisp in moderate heat. If bacon is excessively fatty, pour off some of the bacon fat.

2.Add garlic during the last minute of cooking.

3. Working quickly, blend hot bacon-garlic sauce into hot spaghetti noodles in heated serving bowl.

4. Work in eggs quickly with grated cheese, tossing spaghetti.

5. Add pepper to taste.

6. Eggs will harden from the heat of the fat and spaghetti.

7. Serve at once. Delicious with Tossed green Salad and your favorite wine.

Read more: http://pinoyfoodblog.com/recipes/spaghetti-carbonara/#ixzz3HqxsczBW

Yummilicious Delicious by Lady Shaira 'Shai' Abuan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at shaimemylifeandyou.blogspot.com.

Sex in the Stance of Youngsters

Teenage pregnancies... abortions...

... things related to "human sexuality".

Many people are misguided by the term, "human sexuality". Most say that it is just about the intercourse between a man and a woman. Some say that it is just for pleasure... and some, just for intimacy. They do not look at a broader view of what human sexuality really means. They just focus on one type of human sexuality which is: gender sexuality.

There are three types of human sexuality as mentioned in the talk; they are as follows:

1. Primary- this is refers to two sexes: man and woman

2. Affective- this refers to the feelings that we have for a person. It is associated with emotions.

3. Gender- as mentioned earlier, this is the type of human sexuality which people often focused at. 

Human sexuality is a gift from God; therefore, it is sacred. We must not only focus on gender sexuality; we must also take into consideration the other types of sexuality, the primary and affective human sexuality.

Generally, the talk was educational. It gave us a broader knowledge about human sexuality and things related to it.  There were lots of discussions about premarital sex, teenage pregnancies, abortions, and the like. There was a  film that shocked us, and this was the film about a woman giving birth. This showed us that it is not easy for a woman to give birth; thus, it is never easy for a woman to become a mother.The talk also dealt with dilemmas that teenagers usually encounter. Some teenagers in their early age, enter into intimate relationships that often cause them to engage in sexual activities such as premarital sex. They  believe that engaging in such activities will make them go with the "society's trend". They think that doing such things will satisfy their need for intimacy, belongingness, and curiosity. They do not consider the disadvantages of their irresponsible behavior. These teenagers don't realize that  premarital sex will make their life miserable, it leads to more negative habits to unlearn, and it may lead to teenage pregnancy.

The following are some reasons why teenagers are involved in premarital sex:

1. An adolescent is afraid that s/he might lose the relationship.

Teenagers think that if s/he will refuse to do the "thing" with his/her partner s/he would be left alone. They think that once they are left by their partner, no one would love and care for them anymore.

2. An adolescent imagines that sex is part of the society's trend.

Teenagers are being influenced by the society by making them think that "everybody's doing it". They do not want to appear old fashion or "square".

 

3. An adolescent wants to prove that he is a real man or that she is a real woman.

Popularity is one of the reasons why teenagers engage in such things. They thinks that if s/he had tried to have sex with his/her partner, s/he would be praised by his/her peer group. S/he thinks that they will be proud of him/her.

4. An adolescent thinks that s/he "owes" it to the other person.

Teenagers think that sex is a form of returning or giving back the "love" that they gain from their partner . They believe that it is the best "gift" that they can give for their partner.

5. An adolescent feels pressured or intimidated.

Teenagers seek to gain affection and warmth. They may think that engaging in premarital sex is a way to cope with stress. Some of them think that with it, they could get over with their problem. Rebellion is also one reason why they try to do the "thing".

6. An adolescent is curious.

I think that this is the main reason why teenagers engage themselves in premarital sex. They try to imitate what they have seen, read, or watched. They try to experiment and explore the things that they merely know.

   

7. An adolescent thinks that it is the next step in a relationship.

Teenage couples think that sex is a way of proving their love for one another. They think that it is just right for them to do it because they "love" each other very much. They do not think of the effects of their wrong actions; what is important for them, is that they had expressed their love for each other.

8. An adolescent can't help himself/herself.

Teenagers can't resist the call of temptation, the call of pleasure. They just do it for fun. 

We must always make right decisions. We must be aware that engaging in such immoral things will make our life miserable; it could ruin our life, our ambitions, our future. We should think a million times before doing an act so that in the end there will be no regrets. 

As they say: "Nasa huli ang pagsisisi"...

Sex in the Stance of Youngsters by Lady Shaira 'Shai' Abuan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at shaimemylifeandyou.blogspot.com.

Do You Agree?

Do you, as citizens of our country - the Philippines - agree with President Nonoy Aquino's K-12 program? Do you think our country is ready for the said changes? Do you think we can go with that educational trend?

On the first place, what is K-12? K-12 is used for describing the sum of the primary and secondary curriculum. It is the curriculum used by most of the countries nationwide. As we know, the Philippines is still in the K-10 curriculum where the primary academics is composed of six levels and the secondary is composed of four levels. This is why President Aquino is planning to change our K-10 curriculum to a K-12 curriculum. 

Having this kind of curriculum have advantages...


With this curriculum, the students will have longer years to study; thus, they can have more time to learn, they can have more knowledge, and they can have higher potentials. With this, our country can also go with the world's trend on having this kind of curriculum. 

K-12 offers outstanding, highly effective curriculum that enables mastery of core concepts and skills for all kinds of minds. It enables students to achieve mastery through a combination of individualized learning approaches, passionate teacher engagement, and adherence to the best educational research about how young minds really work, and rich, engaging content.

Yes, K-12 has advantages but with it are certain disadvantages, problems, and intrigues. We are aware that the plan would be implemented for the next school year and we are not yet ready for the said changes. We cannot right away change our educational level because we had started with the K-10 curriculum; besides, not all agree with this academical change. 

One year is not enough for us to decide whether or not these plan would be implemented. It would never be easy for us to go with the changes because this kind of academics has many improvements and these improvements change per year. Thus, if these plan would pursue then there would be lots and lots of changes per year.

It would also be unfair for the students who had already started with the K-10 curriculum if they had to go with the new curriculum. It would be a disadvantage for the families that have financial problems; it would just be an extra cost for them. Some students might also loose their interest because of the added years before graduating.

I think that if they really want K-12 to be applied, then it must start after six years. It must be applied for the incoming students for it to be fair for the students that had already started with the K-10 curriculum. If in case by the sixth year, President Aquino is no longer our president then he could ask for the implementation of the K-12 from the new president. In this way, we can have a time to be ready for the changes. Also, within that six years, we can think of many ways on how to improve the curriculum and make it better.   

Applying K-12 curriculum really has lots of conflicts. I just hope, these conflicts can be solved as early as possible so that we would be able to agree on the implementation of K-12.

Do You Agree? by Lady Shaira 'Shai' Abuan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at shaimemylifeandyou.blogspot.com.