Hi, Mrs. Lee!

Dear Mrs. Lee,

HEY THERE! I am your so called "younger self" and I am asked to write a letter to you in not less than five hundred words for our Journalism project. Yes! Journalism! Do you remember that subject? Do you remember your one heck of a life in Assumption? When you wrote this letter, you were seated at the left side of the classroom on the second to the last row from the front. You especially loved that seat because it is near the electric fan and the window where it is very airy and where it gives you a wonderful view of the High School field. Remember that old High School field you used to run around at, playing "elbow-elbow" with your friends most of the time (even during CLE classes when you were in second year) and where you dance and play sports during Intramurals? Yeah, you were always delighted by that thought. Okay, back to the "seat" topic. In your seat you were surrounded by some very nice and crazy people and that is what adds to why you like this seat! You were so noisy back then and I can't imagine of how much of a retard you are right now! Or could it be that you have changed your personality? I wonder. And do you remember your group of friends you used to hang out with a lot during High School called Power Rangers X44? Yeah. In case you have forgotten, your anniversary is every October 1st. So wherever you are now, I hope you still communicate with them! They are probably one of your most treasured and special people in your life. So you cherish that very much. I'm currently in senior year (just in case you are wondering) and I am sure you remember those times when you will get so emotional when you talk about "separation" especially that you were about to graduate back then. I bet now as you think back of those memories, you will probably be missing your friends, your batch mates, your old school or to make is short, your whole childhood since now you are most probably busy with your career and work and stuff and most especially with your heavenly, angelic husband. WAH! I'm jealous of my older self already! Hahahaha! But you know Liss (if that is your name until now), no matter how busy you are, I hope you still take time to bond with your family, relatives and childhood friends. I hope you still remember your memories as an innocent little child and as a responsible hard-headed teenager. I hope until now you still stay in contact with you batch mates most especially with 15 crazy girls aka your fellow rangers. Whenever you feel tempted with vices or when you feel suicidal, just try to remember me, your old self, saying how much you despise those kind of stuff and that you will never try them when you grow up. Remember that? I want to be a good person and have a clean reputation when I grow up. I want to be a person everyone can like and approach to. I want to be a person who can contribute a change for the better in this world. I want to be someone who showed to everyone that nothing is truly impossible. Do you remember that as your motto when you were young? I want to be someone who does everything with God first in mind. Did you do all of these? If you have not, can you promise me that you will? It is never too late, Elissa! It is never too late to change. I do not know if you, if WE actually achieved our dreams or not but what matters the most is that you still have that little piece of "the young Elissa" with you. I cannot enumerate all the things you have done in your past here, but I can say that you have had a very blessed and memorable past and you should thank God for that. Remember the people in the past who have made you who you are today! And that is exactly where you will get your inspiration to do better in the future. So promise me to be a better Elissa this time. If you are already good, then promise me to be better. If not, promise me to be the best. And do not just survive life. LIVE IT. Live like there is no tomorrow. Good luck and enjoy future self. YOU ROCK!

P.S.: How is paradise with Lee Taemin?

xoxo,

16-year-old Elissa

Mural Painting!

(c) Sir Rene Secular for the photos

Our batch painting the walls of Assumption during the Centennial year!

Batch of dancers!

Junior batch 2012-2013 performed 3 outstanding dance presentations! Proud to be in this very talented batch :)

Hip Hop Classes

THROWBACK!

1st Grade class pictures! Guess where and what section I am. Hahahaha!

(c) Ela Duran for the picture

Astronaut?

I've always wanted to be an astronaut. But it seems impossible because of my fear of the life outside Earth. Oh wait, life doesn't exist outside of Earth. Only surviving out there is possible. No one can ever live there though, not with the technology we have today. In a few years time we might discover something new to probably let us build our own houses on Mars or something.
But being an astronaut is probably 85% risking your life and 15% fun. It requires you strength to put your life on the line too. I've just been so touched on the movie I've recently watched entitled "Gravity" and it was a very amazing movie! A every amazing plot with extremely good actors George Clooney and Sandra Bullock.
So yeah, being an astronaut is probably impossible for me. But I am interested in studying Astronomy though.

Is it really 2 years? Felt more than 5...

Last October 1, 2013 my rangers and I celebrated our second anniversary together after classes! It's been 2 years of craziness and love with these guys. But you know what's nice about it? I felt more than 2 years! When you're having too much fun with your friends, it feels like you've spent your whole lifetime with them already. I'm just really thankful to be a part of this group and to have met each and every one of them :')

Sweet 16 ♥

I just have to let all of you know how special my sweet 16 is! No, I didn't go to any fancy restaurant at some other country outside of the Philippines or arrange a party with all those fancy dresses and food.

But what I did... I spent a day with my rangers, with ALL of them... every single one of them! And it was the very first time we were complete!
Not to mention our special rangers Nikka and Bernadine were there too!
I don't need any fancy celebration to make my sweet 16 a memorable one.
I just had to be with all 17 of my friends and I'll be contented already. It would've been better too if Rachel were there :')

Fairy Tail

Hey. I'm here to tell you the plot of one of my favorite animes of all time, Fairy Tail! :)

Lucy Heartfilia, is a 17-year-old celestial wizard who runs away from home to join Fairy Tail, a rambunctious wizards' guild whose members are famous for their overly destructive antics. Along the way, she meets Natsu Dragneel, a boy who is traveling the land of Fiore together with his partner Happy, a blue flying cat, in search of his foster parent, a dragon named Igneel who had disappeared seven years earlier. Lucy is soon abducted by a renegade wizard posing as the famous Salamander of Fairy Tail. Natsu rescues Lucy, revealing himself to be the real Salamander and a Dragon Slayer, a wizard with the abilities of a dragon. After defeating the imposter, Natsu invites Lucy to join Fairy Tail.

And there you have it! I can't tell any further than that though because I'd be spoiling y'all with the whole story ;) You have to watch it to know more about it! You won't regret it, I promise :D

Kpop Republic 2013

So last January 19, 2013 I went to a concert in Manila with 6 Kpop groups namely Girl's Generation, EXO, U-Kiss, Infinite, Tasty and Tahiti. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my entire life! The concert was really worth  the price, I tell ya!

After going there, I didn't actually plan to go to any more concerts this year and plan to go on another next year instead since there will probably be better concerts coming up.

But then when I heard rumors about SHINee (my ultimate favorite Kpop group of all Kpop groups) performing in the Philippines this year, I just had a major shock and couldn't believe what other people said. I really froze for how many minutes and thought a lot about it. Then I put in my head, "They're just rumors anyway." You might probably be wondering why I'm not so happy about this. Well, I really am not. Why? Because if the concert will be held this year, then I'll most probably be not allowed to go! My parents will think of me as a very greedy person because I just attended a concert last January then I'm going to attend another one again this September? It really does make me a greedy person though. But I'm going to tell you guise, I saved money for both concerts. I started saving last year for January but then my parents volunteered to pay for the tickets instead and no matter how much I insisted on paying for the tickets, they wouldn't allow me. So I had to save the money for future expenses instead. But no matter how much I try to tell them about it, they won't allow me.

And so there I go wishing for those rumors not to be true.

But then there has to be an official announcement to ruin my hopes. Yes, it was official. The concert is real. SHINee is really going here......... OH. MY. GOSH. I panicked and rolled down on the floor 'til my tiles make those cracking noises. THEY'RE REALLY COMING HERE!

BUT WAIT.
I CAN'T SEE THEM.

OH NO.
I don't know when they'll be back! What if they'll come back when I'm so old already? Or worse.. what if they never do?!

So I really had to take this chance, I really had to!
There I go, asking for permission again and again and again. I keep hearing the same answer: either total silence or telling me that it's sorta hard to manage.
But I already have the money here. Then I thought again... Maybe this isn't just right. I really really really wanna do see them perform. I really do wanna see them live. I really, really do. :( But I can't get everything I want, can I? So I thought about it and tried to accept the fact that maybe God had other plans for me. Maybe it wasn't the right time yet or something. So I sobbed, and tried to accept reality.

Then I just moved on with my boring old life.

But then one Saturday morning when I woke up, I went to my parents' room to get something then my mom said, "Dad's buying you plane tickets later for your concert. Are you sure about this?"

Wow. Hahaha! It's like I was dreaming. I literally slapped my face in front of my mother to check if it was a dream or not. And wow did it hurt. BUT HEY. IT HURTS. If there's pain, it means it's real!! OH MY GOSH. FINALLY. I'M ALLOWED TO GO! OMG. WOW. IT'S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!
Sooo yeeeaaaahhhh that was it! I then gave them the money, my dad and I bought tickets online and one day when I went home, I saw my plane ticket on my laptop. It was a complete miracle. I cried for a while, thanking God and my parents for everything, for this very special blessing I received. Then I ran to my dad and thanked him a whole lot.

And yes, I traveled alone to lessen the expenses. My aunt took care of me when I got to Manila.
I learned how to travel alone and it's actually quite fun!
So yes, that is how I persuaded my parents in letting me go and from that moment on I swear to not go to a concert ever again 'til I graduate. When I get to college, I can probably manage my life more and go to concerts on my own with my own money and all.

It was an amazing experience and I'm really thankful for it :')

I wish I could post more pictures but for some odd reason my internet is currently being such a constipated sloth.

Korean Cuisine

ANNYEONG HASEYO!

Yep. That's what we all had to say whenever we see an adult in our Korean classmates' houses. Our Korean friends Daisy and Mion invited us to their houses.

Daisy invited us to her house a few months ago. She wanted us to take a tour in her crib too. She also wanted to introduce her mom to her friends. We had lunch then we talked and did crazy stuff! Her house is so cool! She has a picture of her dad on a pillar. Her sister has some pretty amazing paintings displayed and you can see one of them on the background of the picture below. Diasy also has this cool-looking piano inside her house! She played a bit for us and she was reallyyyy good at it.

Mion invited us to her house as sort of like our "venue" for our project in Math. We went there immediately after the 2nd Qtr. exams to get it done soon. I've heard a lot of things about Mion's house on how nice and big it is. They also said that their church is inside their house. Well, what do you know. They were all true! It's very big because there are a whole lot of rooms for Koreans who go there for English Camp and for masses. Inside their church they have a drum set and a piano. They have two guitars too. I'm not sure if there were more though. Then after we arrived we had lunch and recorded all afternoon. I left early though.

I'm glad I got to enjoy Korean cuisine twice together with my friends! Thank you so much, Mion and Daisy!

Kamsahamnida :)

CAT

Citizenship Advancement Training last summer was fun!
I'm proud I got to be an officer.

Power Rangers X44

When I was in grade school, I have 5 friends in our group of friends. Our group's name was CJENK. It stands for Carmella, Julia, Elissa, Noe and Kathleen.
But of course we know that we won't all go to the same school in High School eventually. So we grew apart a bit.
Now in High School I've met a new group of friends. Guess what? There are 16 of us in the group! We call ourselves Power Rangers X44! Why? No reason. We're just crazy like that. And later on we realize that X44 can have a meaning. It can be sorta like 4x4=16. 16 members in the group!
The rangers are Mion, Daisy, Lei, Iris, Isza, Shannon, Shaira, me, Crystel, Kristal, Dia, Nachelle, Rachel, Jo, Ninna and Shiela.
I just love them and every moment I spend with them is the craziest and the most fun I have. I'll never forget them for the rest of my life and even though we're apart when we grow old, we'll still stay in touch with each other and possibly, have a business together. Hahaha!

Dream Kpop Fantasy Concert

Last January 19, 2013 I went to Manila to attend the Dream Kpop Fantasy Concert Philippines 2013! IT WAS INDEED A DREAM COME TRUE!
In this concert, 6 kpop groups will present on stage:
Girl's Generation
EXO-K and EXO-M
Infinite
Tahiti
U-Kiss
Tasty2wins

It was truly an amazing experience and I'll surely never forget it for the rest of my life! I mean, who would? It was that memorable! I went with my cousin and I also met a classmate there! The 3 of us went in together because we had the same ticket. The first performer was Infinite and the moment I saw one member step on stage, tears just began to fall right out of my eyes! I couldn't even properly wave my light stick anymore! It was just so unbelievable! While EXO was performing on stage, they were throwing roses and guess what? MY COUSIN WAS ABLE TO CATCH ONE! She didn't really have any interest in it so she gave it to me which like, DOUBLED MY HAPPINESS!!!!
I couldn't really remember anything else to say because my mind's a disaster right now but I tell you, there are still a lot more to tell and this is just a small part of it.
I just wanted to share a little bit of the best day of my life so far.

Tootsie

Last year, October 22, 2012, I lost my pet Shih Tzu names Tootsie.
I was so depressed those past few days and I tweeted a lot of things I wanna say about my dog.
I saved some of those tweets and I just wanna share it and express myself.

Tootsie…

Now I know how Sponge Bob felt when he lost Gary :(

My dad even bought a small bottle of dog shampoo and a new pack of dog food.

I'm that desperate that I don't care if I looked weird but I was asking other dogs if they've seen my dog and I was serious.

Why do I feel like the ones I love are slowly drifting away from me?

I still want to hang on on that little bit of hope :'(

Tootsie, I hope you are happy and okay right now, whether you're with a new owner already. Hope they won't hurt you :(

While we were going home, we were hoping that Tootsie will be outside, waiting for us to open the gate.

Been roaming around the subdivision for hours now, but still no sign of my dog.

So those are the things I probably said when I was deeply sad about losing my dog. Until now, I just hope she comes back home.

I MISS YOU TOOTSIE!

Thoughts of a Junior Assumptionista - a poem by Elissa

“In an all-girl school…”

I once myself said

But now this school

Was just proclaimed co-ed

With 12 years of experience

Of good education

I never once regret

That I chose Assumption

The Family Days, Monthly masses and Play festivals

The Kapatiran, Integration Days and the Intramurals

All these traditions I’ll never forget

Who knows what’ll add, they might better I bet

With all the teachers

And my classmates and friends

Who made school fun

And how I wish it’ll never end

But now as a junior

I’ll have to move on

With my senior year

And finally my graduation

SHINee

So I've started to like kpop ever since I was in 6th grade. I've been through a lot of groups, but the group whom I adore the most is SHINee. SHINee made their debut on the 25th of May, 2008. SHINee's made up of 5 members: Onew who's the leader and the oldest, Jonghyun the main and lead vocalist of the group, Minho who's the tallest and the rapper, Key who's also a rapper and singer and Taemin the youngest and the dancing machine. I don't know, their type of music just amazes me and they have a very funny sense of humor. I may not have been with them since their debut day, but I'll surely be with them until the end! SHAWOL FOREVER ♥

The Lucky and the Unlucky - a poem by Elissa

A world of choice

In which we dwell

Puts us in waiting

‘Til destinies foretell

Two beings of which

Are born to live

The lucky and not

Their best to give

Not man and woman

Nor husband and wife

But the way you live

Your way of life

This present of mine

Is total defeat

The all in my life

I wish to repeat

Too late to do

What could have been done

With total regret

I end up with none

Jealousy sinks

In these eyes of mine

To see these youngsters

With plenty of time

Plenty of time

To start early

Unlike me

Grown-up and tardy

Ages of 3 to 5

Are those young ones

But 14 years of living

I consider young once

Some people think

This expression of over exaggerating

Well yes it’s true

It’s my way of thinking

Until the days of today

I have yet to discover

My dreams and my abilities

The talent I’m under

I’ve tried numerous

Numerous of categories

Yes, I might be good

These lying stories

I’m good in most

But see this as a shocker

I see these people

Who are far much better

Natural talents

Which runs in your blood

Unlike talents with pressure

With pressure that floods

Not a single skill

That runs in my family

Though this skill of art

I have in my body

Still confused of where

Such a skill was born

A happy trigger

With that of a horn

To this work

I shall proceed

But people I know of

To me they precede

Numerous of categories

I wish to have tried

To be a child prodigy

These goals that have lied

But I believe that

There are more to be shown

Than just silly acts

Which are worth to be thrown

A kid of dreams

A kid of imagination

A kid who wonders

Of impossible situations

I belong to the unlucky ones

For my future is blurry

But I shall take my time

And try not to hurry

Not completely misfortune

Dwells inside of me

For I also have good sides

I share to please

This inspiration of mine

In which I never stop

To keep on trying

To never give up

I hope this may be of help

To make your decision right

The lucky and the unlucky

Where will you take side?

Einstein's Riddle!

There are 5 houses in 5 different colors. In each house lives a person with a different nationality. The 5 owners drink a certain type of beverage, smoke a certain brand of cigar, and keep a certain pet. No owners have the same pet, smoke the same brand of cigar, or drink the same beverage.
The question is: Who owns the fish?
Hints:

• The Brit lives in the red house.
• The Swede keeps dogs as pets.
• The Dane drinks tea.
• The green house is on the left of the white house.
• The green homeowner drinks coffee.
• The person who smokes Pall Mall rears birds.
• The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhill.
• The man living in the center house drinks milk.
• The Norwegian lives in the first house.
• The man who smokes Blend lives next to the one who keeps cats.
• The man who keeps the horse lives next to the man who smokes Dunhill.
• The owner who smokes Bluemaster drinks beer.
• The German smokes prince.
• The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.
• The man who smokes Blend has a neighbor who drinks water.

Einstein wrote this riddle early during the 19th century. He said 98% of the world could not solve it. Its not hard, you just need to pay attention and be patient.

McDonalds Poem

I broke up with McDonalds
On Valentine's day 
People said she was no good for me 
I had to get away 

So I told her, It's not you, 
It's just a phase I'm going through 
But as we all know -
Dumping fast food is not a pleasant thing to do. 

So I broke up with McDonalds, didn't see her for a while 
Was doing pretty well - there was the occasional drunk-dial 
When I walked up to the window 
And I slipped into the queue - 
But then I came back to my senses 
And realised the thing to do... 

Was to keep on walking 
Keep on walking 
Right past her 
Ignore the temptation 
To suckle 
On those golden arches 
Ignore those bed-like burgers 
And those oh-so-easy fries 
Divide our shared world up 
And sever all ties! 

Yes! I broke up with McDonalds and my life is better for it 
When my girlfriend serves up rabbit food I simply adore it 
I was scared of life alone with no kebab to walk me home 
But...
      What I once spent on burgers... 
                                                     I now spend on...
                                                             ­                    Haribo!

Oh Haribo! Haribo!  
You are a fruit tree in a sack 
And although it feels wrong to see you 
Behind my girlfriend's back 
She can not be hurt by wrongs she does not know! 
No - the new love of my life is Haribo, oh Haribo! 

But then one evening after work 
My girfriend came home early. 
Caught me curled up on the couch  
Soaking up her girly  
DVDs 
In front of me 
A bowl of 
Not nuts, nor seeds... 
But fizzy, yes fizzy, 
Cola bottles  
That were  
FIZZY! 

How could you do this? 
My girlfriend screamed at me. 
Cannot you see the damage that they do-eth to your teeth?
(She'd been reading Shakespeare) 
No, my eyes are on my face, I can't see in my mouth. 
Right, she said, If you think I'm joking then I'm going to kick you out. 

So she kicked me out the flat and that was that she said. 
Not quite... 
I grabbed my stash of Haribo from underneath the bed. 
I told her all the things about her that I really hated 

And the moral is: 

Relationships with things that you can't eat are over-rated.