STUDENTS GRIEVANCES TOWARDS TEACHERS!

I was busy reading one of my sisters collection of sweet lies, pick-up lines and quotes about
failure. The term used to describe failure caught my attention and that is: FAILURE--- First
Attempt in Learning. And words start to fill my minds as the term failure has never been new
in a students life.
We all know that students learn best through encouragement; but many teachers seem too have
an automatic response in terms of what students dont do, havent done or cant do, and they are
too quick to use negative grading and evaluating rather than encouraging them to succeed.
Furthermore, most schools also seem to be organized for the purpose of encouraging only the top
students---those who are already motivated to succeed---and thereby discouraging those that at
the bottom who are in need of better encouragement My thought was how pity life is? My
professor once told me that Walang bobo na estudyante kung ginagawa ng guro ang trabaho
niya. Isnt it too much for them to tell us dambel, bobo, crazy? Though these are just words it
can mean a lot and it could even hurt someone intensely and this only bounces back into another
type of mishap-bullying. Students go to school to acquire knowledge.
Sino teacher natin? siya na naman? Ayuko sa kaniya nakakatakot kaya siya, at isa pa
nambabagsak kaya yun pa change code na lang ako. These are the usual statements after
knowing who their teachers are. This only depicts the impact to the students having a terror
teacher they would even run away and they were afraid now to their teachers I find it
interesting while Im writing this and I said to myself no matter who my teachers are and no
matter what grade they give to me its ok with me at least Ive done my part as a students and I
did it in the right way! Whats the sense of staying at the school? What is the sense of paying too
much time seating in your convenient seat if you dont have the will to listen to your teachers?
Dont sitting pretty there while your parents busy making some money there for your own needs.
They did all the sacrifices just to let us achieve our dreams. We should set aside those selfishmotives of ours. For whom all this sacrifices? Isnt it that this sacrifice belongs to our parents
and also to us?
The question is? Are you happy to have a low grades like 75-79? The answer is definitely NO!
Why because I cried because of that for its my first time to have a grade of 76.
Woh! College life, college students have 76 grades? I did everything , I wake up early in the
morning just not to be late, I did my homework just to pass this subject, I did review my notes,
Im taking down notes when my teacher is discussing but still it doesnt work. I did listen to my
teachers but sometimes I cannot assure myself that Im actually listening with my them because
if I only listen and I dont understand it whats the sense? For me, learning is acquired when only
and if your students are eager to learn something, to discover something, and to strive more
things much of what is being discussed. Sometimes kung sino pa daw yung mga palaging late

at nag aabsent sila pa tong may mas matataas na grado. Which is true anyway, you will miss
your High School Life later on when you entered into the cannibal world of College Life! Expect
the Unexpected!
By the time they heal, the race is over. Every wound of the past can make us step backward
what I want to speak is that I want respect and off course everybody want it right? Tell me my
dear fellow students? Im not against with the teaching strategy of our teachers because they
have different tactics. There are those teachers who are so very friendly to their students, a
teacher who would probably do his/her best just to make his/her student s understand what
he/shes talking about, a teacher who is motherly on his/her students and a teacher who puts a
little boundary between his/her students. Students nowadays treat their teachers like their friends,
and even treated them as their idol off course we all know that? Sometimes students dont know
how to respect their teachers, they even want to debate with them for what they know and what
is right and wrong because they do believe in themselves that they have the right to speak! Yes it
is okay to be expressive enough but look at first your limitation my dear students were just a
student! Too much confidence will lead you to nothing.
Lets just say, somebody will idolized you because at last there is a brave students who solely put
himself/herself just to face their terror teacher. But have you not asked yourselves first if what
might be the consequences of what youve done? Before its too late my dear students take a step
but always keep a limitation that a students is just a students it can never be lawyer, a doctor, or
whatsoever course is there to compare teachers. We should always remember that in life we need
to accept ups and downs of life so that when time comes we will never failed again; we will not
hurt too much again. I write this not because I hate my teachers, not also because I dont like the
way they teach us, not even because I want to advocate a war against them. Because we all
know that were just a student we have the freedom to speak but we should know our limitation
as a student. What we need as a student is respect and equal treatment-equal treatment in such a
way that there is a fair judging between a slow learners and high level learners. Please do bear
and keep in minds that grades are just grades you cannot eat them you cannot even sell them
the best thing is no matter how poor you are in the classroom, no matter how low your grades are
always remember that this failing grades will lead you someday to the door of success.
Whats done is done, whats gone is gone, one lifes lesson is always moving on. Its okay to
look back and think of fond memories, but keep moving forward.

When is failure a success?

When were small children, our mistakes are applauded. Our falling-down attempts to
walk for the first time are cheered by our parents, giving us the courage to get up in every time
we fall pushing us to stand up again and ignore the criticism for the mean time. When we
accidentally put our shirt on backwards, people smile and praise our independence. At this age,
the world teaches us that failure is merely a part of the stairway to success. But when we go to
school, we quickly learn that mistakes are bad. Answers are right or wrong, true or false, fact or
bluff, and erasures mean wrong. The risk-taking stage that used to be rewarded is now punished,
and we either give up or learn to stick with safe answers. Unfortunately, this black-and-white
thinking doesn`t encourage learning. Instead, it fosters fear of failure and discourages ingenuity.
Life is a battle, the clash between your mind and body. No one sits down to play a
new game and think to themselves, I can`t wait to reach the ending, kill the bad guy and be
done playing. Life is not too easy to handle but rather life is too complex to kindle. We can`t
wait to be what we want to be; it takes time to have it. Our hands may become calloused a
reminder of the ladder we`ve climbed. It`s easier to stay down than regret our lonely ascent. We
may get hurt after trying it but in the end we may become happy with the help of failure.
Remember when we were a child? There is a belief that before riding a bicycle, you should be
wounded first for you to ride that bicycle with ease. And just like in life, we suffer so many
failures. When does failure become a success? Is it when you succeed without being failed? Or it
is when you succeed because you failed first in the first attempt? My fellow students what do
you think is the answer? Have you asked yourselves if what made a successful individual to
become successful in todays world and in the future? No one may know. We should always keep
in our minds that in everything we do we should have the power to think wisely, practically and
firmly believe of what we want to achieve.
When does failure become success?
Failure becomes success when we individuals failed first in attempting to achieve our
dream. Failure is like a trial and error process of learning. Failure is the reason why we were still
here living in this world.
Just to take a look of your future you may begin with 1, 2, 3 and you will surely count the
ways how many times you have failed.
But we must keep on moving forward no matter what.
Because life is not a slow motion rather it is a little bit fast-forward you remember the
past but you just forwarded it just to find the future.

We may have failed many times, although we dont remember. We fell down the first
time we tried to walk. We almost drowned the first time we tried to swimbut dont worry about
failure do worry about the chances that we miss when we dont even try.

Enchanted Paradise of the North!

Mariel F. Bermejo

Are you looking for a place to relax? Are you looking for a place where to set your mind
free from problems? Take a step now into the Enchanted Paradise of the north- Calayan Island.
The Island where I was born and where I spent all my childhood days I remember when I was a
child I remember when electricity was a rare thing for us, it will just appear during 12:00 in the
afternoon end up during 12:00 enough for you to charge your cellphones. Only during fullmoon
you could see the town lighted. At night time you could see children playing tagu-taguan
maliwanag ang buwan or playing patintero their usual which we call INTRA. Travelling to
Apparri which is the nearest town in Calayan could take you 8 to 10 long hours on a motorboat
called the Lampitaw. We Calayanos may not be a beauty enough for you to stare at, we may
not have the talent of intelligence but Im proud to say that we Calayanos are known to be a
respectable person and the home of responsible individuals.
The Lampitaw is the only transportation we have since there was no airport in the island.
Enduring the extreme hit of the sun, the quarrel between your empty stomachs is not too easy to
handle because you may get hungry while on the boat so make sure that you bring enough food
and water to take in case of emergency. You have no choice but to take a ride in the Lampitaw
because theres no other alternative way of transportation. Today Calayan is lucky to have a
medium size ferry travelling from Calayan-Camiguin-Sta Ana. Calayan is really something
special. The peaceful town is home to some of the most unspoiled beaches in the country, rugged
cliffs that tower over the water, breathtaking waterfalls reachable only by clambering through
slippery rocks and dense forests, and dramatic seascapes where the waves crash against the coast.
The town of Calayan is composed of 4 islands: Calayan proper, Camiguin Island,
Dalupiri and Babuyan Claro in the province of Cagayan.
Most people refer to it as Babuyan, because of its location within the Babuyan Channel,
though locals say the proper term is Calayan Group of Islands because Babuyan is a separate
island. Though relatively near it, the island of Fuga is considered part of Aparri. What to do
while you were in Calayan? Bring out your backpacks, shoes and take a tour to the place of
paradise.
Take a walk! Take a hike up Nagudungan Hills and marvel at the amazing rock
formations of it, looking for a beach to walk through with your family? Let me lead you to the
path of fresh air and make your footstep into the smooth and white sand of Sibang Cove or walk
along the shores of Caniwara Beach and Cababaan Beach. You may breath like theres nothing

wrong in your life, Sibang beach is a place where you can see the gift of nature. We all know that
waterfalls capture tourist eyes because of its cool waters that bring your best shot between
walking and swimming.
The waterfalls of Calayan which can be founded near at Magsidel, Calayan are great
spots for you to take a cool break dipped in the ice-coldwaters perfect after the sunny trip. You
can relax a swim at the Bataraw Falls and Cananawan Falls or have your own secluded pool and
cave underneath of Malangsi Waterfalls.

What to use while turning around the town?

1. Lampitaw (motorized outrigger): some spots are best reached by boat so the best way
to tour is the lapitaw.

2. Kuliglig: we all know that a kuliglig very noisy hand tractors traditionally used in
farming are attached with a cart for transporting cargo, bags and groups of people. An
alternative ttransportation is to rid a tricycle if youre traveling with a big group. While
this can take you around town, to town, you can ride in it free because if the contractors
see you walking he would immediately ask you to take a ride on its kuliglig. Thats why
Calayanos are also helpful and kind individual.
3. Bicycle: Bicycles are widely available around town. Most homestays lend their bikes to
guests for free but before bPlans are underway to offer mountain biorrowing this bicycles
make sure that you ask permission.
4. Habal-Habal (motorcycle): Aside from going on foot, single motorcycles are the only
way you can reach certain areas like Sibang Cove. You can hire one for about P200-250
to bring you to Sibang and back. It will cost roughly P500/day for you to hire the habalhabal (with driver) plus gas for a day to go around to other spots. Motorcycle rental for
those who want to drive on their own is not yet available though prices can be negotiated
if you just want to use one around the town. If I were you Id better walk through those
spots because you will chatting with the people here in Calayan, they will entertain you
for you not to get bored while walking.
For now no need to worry about the place where to stay because Calayanos provided a 2
homestay options in the Calayan town proper, both walking distance from the port where boats
dock. There are 15 other residents who are in the process of registering their houses for
homestays in the near future.

What to buy while you stay in Calayan?

You might have friends and relatives waiting for you and their most awaited pasalubong, here
are some must-buy products of Calayan:
1. Banayuyu Wine A fruit wine made from banayuyu, a wild berry from the grape family
that only grows in the mountains of Calayan. Unlike most native wines which are on the
bitter side, Banayuyu wine is very sweet, making it a good dessert wine. Its said to help
lower cholesterol and be good for the health. Alcohol percent: 10%. Best when chilled.
Available at TPS Homestay for P75, P120 and P225 per bottle depending on size
(Calayan prices, more expensive in mainland).
2. Organic Wild Berry Vinegar Also made from the same banayuyu berries, this organic
vinegar is good for grilled seafood dishes. P100/bottle.

3. In Calayan, they also sells a range of other products including Bagoong (made from
Galungggong), Mango Wine, Banana Vinegar, Coated Peanut Honey and Forest Honey
(from Camiguin Island) though not all were available during my visit.
4. Fresh seafood like lobsters and fish (which can be packed in styro boxes) subject to
availability/pre-orders required cost of P500 / kilo but it depends on what class of lobster
you want to buy.
This is my advisory tips to all the travelers who wish to visit this marvelous place! Bring
enough cash as there are no ATMs or banks in Calayan. While traveling, dry bags for your
gadgets are a must. Waterproof everything in garbage bags. Generators used only for
special occasions. Only SMART and Sun networks are available. There was no Globe signal
back then when I was in Calayan there is no internet shop in town. Smart Unli wifi was very
slow and only seemed to work at certain times (at night and early morning). The best time to go
to Calayan is in the summer months of March and April. However, weather in Calayan is very
unpredictable, with sea conditions greatly affected by shifting wind patterns but dont you worry
because the Mayor will not allow the boat to ship when the weather is at not good to travel.
Calayanos Town Fiesta is held every August 24. Our patron saint is St. Bartholomew. Boat trips
are indefinite and unpredictable so prepare to be stranded for several days. Just go with the flow
and enjoy the place!

WHOS THE REAL PARASITE?

My classmates call me a parasite

I used to be their comforting site
An avenue of flowing eyes
They dont even care for me when Im not in their side.

I gave them papers

I lend them my letters.
I provide them answers
But they still give me problems.

These parasites are my bestfriends

They collect ideas to send
They pulled you out from where you stand

And I dont know now where to extend.

Dangerously Innocent
-

Mariel F. Bermejo

This is the world where I was born

I entered but nobody clapped
I began to speak but no one appreciated it
I cried but no one is there to wipe my tears.
Mirror is my friend
Because when I cry,
It never laughs.
It reflects how ugly I am when I cry.
Staring at someone dangerously,
Can kill even the innocent mind.
Lukewarm eyes can mean a lot,
To discriminate ones life.
Be careful with your actions!
Because an innocent look can be dangerous
There is an eye that may praise you or may hurt you
Innocence wont make you safe.

A closed eye may think of something

A teary eye that could cry heavily is better
Than an eye that could not cry
Even the most important thing is gone.
Their tears are kept away
Innocent look can make us cry
It can also make as laugh
Worst, it can make us someone we never wanted to be.

Its too late

-

Mariel F. Bermejo

BOY: I tried to hold you back

But its too late
Because youve already broke my heart
I couldnt stop myself from crying.

I tried to hide those tears

But they kept on falling.
I wish you were here
And wipe those stupid tears.

If time could turn like a magic

Time would turn as what we used to be

If time is a roller coaster

Things will fall in the same place no matter what.

GIRL: Im sorry baby if I have to say goodbye

You are the one who hurt me before
And I wont let that happen again
So please, just release me, let me go!