angelene

  Christmas in Vigan has always felt enchanting. Simbang Gabi at St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, then going to eat at the fast-food chains around. The hectic atmosphere of the shopping center, and the busy shoppers looking for the perfect gift that they can give to their loved ones. The Christmas breeze is felt when you are walking through the streets of Calle Crisologo, or sitting in the swings of Plaza Burgos. Sure, it may not be different from any other place’s Christmas season, but the fact that it is Vigan, and feels like home – this is what makes it so special.  Although this has all changed when the pandemic struck. Rarely do you see children playing in the playgrounds of Plaza Burgos. All you can do is watch the Empty Cathedral during Simbang gabi season. A lot has changed, and sometimes we feel like the change brought emptiness in our hearts. But during this time do we realize that isolation brought all of us together.  During the pandemic’s Christmas, there was...

  Second-quarter came by quickly. We learned a lot of lessons and acquired new information. Aside from that, we get to progress through the school year. With that said, here are my reflections during the Second Quarter  I have learned a lot during this quarter, both life lessons and information I will be needing for the future. Something that I have learned during this quarter that struck me the most, is how hard balancing your time between family, friends, and academics. Also, motivation is needed in order to do things successfully. I have lost motivation for this quarter, that is why I found it hard to do my modules, and I mostly procrastinated. But by the end of the quarter, I suddenly gained motivation. It made me enjoy answering modules and understanding the lessons.  Most of my problems were my lack of motivation. I struggled in focusing and doing my tasks. Looking back, I admit that my performance this quarter is not the best. This was because of my inability to en...

  During the 25th of January, it is no surprise that Vigan would be ten times more festive than it already is. On this day, the Biguenos celebrate the town’s fiesta. Various activities are held, there is the Street Dancing that I will never get tired of watching, no matter how old I am. There are different contests and events held by the Vigan City Government. It truly was a time to be alive. The streets are filled with colorful dancers shouting “Viva Vigan'' and the houses are filled with colorful Abels.  Though, for the past 2 years, the 25th of January feels a bit .. different than usual. The loud noises of the lyres and drums are replaced with the silence of isolation. We celebrate the town’s fiesta in the comforts of our own home. The virus forced so much change that even in festivities, we sometimes feel alone. This is just one of the challenges faced during the pandemic.  Although we face challenges, our resiliency still remains. Even if the events that we are used...

New year provides an illusion of a clean slate. It gives off the feeling of being new, being free of all the shackles from the past year. It gives an opportunity to forget and leave all worries behind the past year – hence, the term “new year, new me.” after all, new year is a fresh start. A chance to write on a new page the universe has given us. And whether we like the change that is coming, it is inevitable. Holding the memories of the past year in the palm of my hands, clutched deep in my heart is the thought that these memories are important. That no matter what new things come, or what change is going to happen, these memories will keep me on ground this whole year. Change is inevitable and knowing there is a possibility that I’ll forget these memories I keep so dear frightens me. I think I will never fully relate to the saying “new year, new me” since I am a mosaic of all the memories I hold for the past years. That all the things I have changed about myself are everything that ...