Speech choir competition

A Speech Choir Competition was held last December 22, 2015 at Asia Pacific College's Auditorium. We were the 3rd participant. And all of us are nervous on what will happen in the stage. But the time we step on the stage the nervous that I'm saying awhile ago... It was all gone we were filled with confidence and did our responsibility as a speaker. Even though we did not win it's okay because I know that time will come that we are going to win in competition. 

It's true that in order for us to win the war we need to lose small battles. Just like in the speech choir competition maybe it's God's will for us to lose because he wants us to win in a bigger competition. And I'm pretty sure that we will win the next competition.

Ignite speech competition

Last December 22, 2015 an Ignite speech competition along with the speech choir competition was held at Asia Pacific College's auditorium. Even though we did not won in the speech choir competition at least our representative Benjamin Bajet won in the Ignite speech competition. It was an honor to have a blockmate who has an excellent talent in public speaking. I wish I had his gift in speaking. But I know that everything can be learned just love what you are doing and you will succeed in everything. 

I believe in this saying by John Ford" You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart" meaning if you will just say what's in your heart about you feel and about opinion on certain topic you could be a good speaker someday because you're true to yourself and to others that's listening to you. You are not giving them false statements. 

Public speaking competition

Last December 21, 2015 a Public Competition was held at Asia Pacific College. And I was part of it, I mean I was a participant during the event. All in all there were 30 participants. We were assigned to different rooms in the 7th floor to deliver our speeches about " The Cult of Celebrities and Fantasies a Filipino obsession?"  I was assigned to Discussion room B. Although I wasn't able to be part of the Final 9 to push through to the finals. It's okay at least I had an experience in public speaking. Let me share to you my speech.

“The Cult of Celebrities and Fantasies. A Filipino Obsession?”

Good Day to all of you! Today I will discuss about the cult of celebrities. Yes, you did hear me correctly. It would never cross your mind to put those two words in a sentence right?  I just did. 

So what is this cult I’m talking about? Cult pertains to a group of people with fresh ideas and deviant beliefs. Figuratively speaking, I will be tackling the positive and negative effects of these celebrities in our lives. By definition, “fanaticism” is an excessive display of obsession or interest to a certain thing, belief or person. Presently the society is dictated by the power of social media. It is manifested in several ways. It could be in a form of massive collection of Harry Potter souvenirs and the like. It could be looking up to a legendary basketball player like Kobe Bryant. It could be attending various fan meet ups, taping or watching your favourite so called celebrities. Have we gone too far that the admiration has become an obsession? In our generation today, we strive so hard to imitate and recreate these personalities among us.

With the unending and unchanging news we get in politics, we couldn’t blame Filipinos resorting and paying more attention in the show business industry. It drives us away from the more serious problems we should be facing. To be more concrete, a perfect example of celebrity idolatry or fanaticism is the fans of the very popular “Aldub” love team, which apparently filled the entire Philippine arena. It created a massive attention and sensation not only nationally but worldwide. They are trending in Twitter. They are the topic in Facebook posts and news feed. They are the topic of conversations among circles of friends. They have dominated. They are so famous and hyped up, that even writers from different parts of the world have written an article about them.

I have to admit Filipinos find joy in simple things and that’s one thing I’m proud of. We could win the heart of foreigners with our smile. These celebrities make us happy in a way no one would understand.  In line with this, we are moved with how an ordinary girl has made a name in the competitive world of showbiz. It somehow serves as an inspiration to others.

On a personal note there is nothing wrong in being a fan. I for one is a fan. It is inevitable to admire people with great talent or beauty. We are fascinated by these celebrities. Who wouldn’t? It is their job to entertain us. It is self-affirming and fulfilling. We feel happy when they are successful and disappointed when they are going through difficult times. We empathize and sympathize. What I believe is wrong is when it affects your relationship to people, it destroys moral obligations and it goes beyond ethical duties. That’s when I call it cult of celebrities.

I have seen a show before depicting the life of a die-hard fan who almost gave up everything for a celebrity. This person is a smart one who excels in class, the pride and hope of his family.  He got too involved into a fans club of a particular celebrity. He forgot his tasks as a student. He began to skip classes just to watch a shooting or taping of a movie. He spent his allowance in doing projects or holding events to show support to the celebrity he admires. He got into arguments and fights defending this celebrity against his haters. He started to lie to his parents for not joining them in their church just to watch an interview for this celebrity. He goes home late because he was too busy doing bits and pieces of a fan’s life. He failed to fulfil his role as a son, as a student and as a child of God.

Moreover let’s recall the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge, which ruined the naturally beautiful lips of the teens who went for it. Instead of engaging oneself in real life challenges, which are more essential, we find ourselves wasting our time with things like this.

In conclusion, Filipinos are heavily influenced and or in more favor of celebrities and fantasies.

Media Literacy: Mobilizing the Millennials as Socially Responsible Prosumers

On the 25th of November 2015, a seminar entitled "Media Literacy: Mobilizing the Millennials as Socially Responsible Prosumers". The seminar was held at the Asia Pacific College Auditorium. The objective of the seminar was to develop sense of social responsibility among RAMpage editorial staff and APCians in general; and To create a discourse on media literacy among APCians. 

There were three speaker. All of them came from a Television network (GMA). Ms. Edmallyne Remillano as the head writer for the State of Nation with Jessica Soho and the secretary; Ms. Jan Maynard Nualla as the program producer for Global Conversations on CNN Philippines and affiliated with Talents Association of GMA Network and Society of Asian Journalist. Ms. Lian Nami Buan as the associate producer for segments on the State of Nation with Jessica Soho, Associate Editor for Subselfie.com and affiliated with Talents Association of GMA Network. These speakers are good because they were able to convince us that all of us can be news reporter. That through media we can say what ever we want that can help our society. Each speaker has different focus or topic.

What is important to understand is that media literacy is not about "protecting" kids from unwanted messages. Although some groups urge families to just turn the TV off, the fact is, media are so ingrained in our cultural milieu that even if you turn off the set, you still cannot escape today's media culture. Media no longer just influence our culture. They ARE our culture.

Media literacy, therefore, is about helping students become competent, critical and literate in all media forms so that they control the interpretation of what they see or hear rather than letting the interpretation control them.

To become media literate is not to memorize facts or statistics about the media, but rather to learn to raise the right questions about what you are watching, reading or listening to. Len Masterman, the acclaimed author of Teaching the Media, calls it "critical autonomy" or the ability to think for oneself.

Without this fundamental ability, an individual cannot have full dignity as a human person or exercise citizenship in a democratic society where to be a citizen is to both understand and contribute to the debates of the time. source

Media literacy represents a necessary, inevitable, and realistic response to the complex, ever-changing electronic environment and communication cornucopia that surround us.

To become a successful student, responsible citizen, productive worker, or competent and conscientious consumer, individuals need to develop expertise with the increasingly sophisticated information and entertainment media that address us on a multi-sensory level, affecting the way we think, feel, and behave.

Today’s information and entertainment technologies communicate to us through a powerful combination of words, images, and sounds. As such, we need to develop a wider set of literacy skills helping us to both comprehend the messages we receive and effectively utilize these tools to design and distribute our own messages. Being literate in a media age requires critical thinking skills that empower us as we make decisions, whether in the classroom, the living room, the workplace, the boardroom, or the voting booth.

Finally, while media literacy does raise critical questions about the impact of media and technology, it is not an anti-media movement. Rather, it represents a coalition of concerned individuals and organizations, including educators, faith-based groups, health care-providers, and citizen and consumer groups, who seek a more enlightened way of understanding our media environment. source

Simplicity is the Essence of Happiness

If you’re looking for happiness, call off the search party. Chances are, it’s right in front of you. The moment I began living my life for myself, rather than depending on external people or factors to bring me joy, I discovered true happiness. Being happy isn’t about some mega milestone occurring and all of a sudden your world is dandy; it’s about finding the beauty in life’s simple pleasures.

Having a positive outlook on life may sound trite, but it truly is amazing for your spirit. When we face obstacles, negative people, or undesirable circumstances, we also face the decision of how to cope with it. I don’t let my thoughts and circumstances control me; I am in control of my life and emotions. Because of these small changes, I feel I’m a better version of myself.

Sometimes I sit and revel in thought of all the things that make me twinkle. I’m passing them onto you, in hopes that you, too, might learn to recognize the littlest factors in life as the biggest moments of joy.

Happiness is…

Laughing so hard your side hurts. Knowing that somebody misses you. Making homemade cookies. Having someone play with your hair. Hearing from an old friend. Seeing a kid laugh after he farts. Eating a hearty meal then taking a nap. A full tank of gas. Wearing something lacey under my t-shirt and sweats. The beach. A long, hot shower. Finding a good sale. Watching an underdog win. A cupcake. Hot chocolate with whipped cream. Knee-high boots.

All green lights on your morning commute. Getting something unexpected in the mail. Laughing for no reason with your kids. Seeing a hot guy jogging shirtless. Free online shipping. A good book. No line at the grocery store. Finding a parking place up front. Holiday decorations. Fresh-squeezed lemonade. The perfect handbag. A good hair day. Eye contact with someone sexy.

Waking up and realizing you have two hours to lay in bed before you have to get up. Hearing your favorite song on the radio. Writing. Falling in love. A keyboard that lights up in the dark. Knowing you’ve done the right thing.

You can spend a lifetime chasing things you think will make you cheese, but open your eyes to the beautiful world around you. No matter what comes at you in life, find joy in simplicity. Don’t let negative situations or people become you. Attitudes are contagious; spread joy! SOURCE

Research topic: Effects of Classical Music to babies

Listening to classical music may soothe your baby and turn her into a classical fan later in life, but it won't make her smarter. Researchers at Appalachian State University believe that they've debunked what has been called the Mozart effect, a temporary increase in intelligence experienced after listening to a piano sonata written by the famed composer.

The Mozart effect was first reported in 1993 by scientists at the University of California at Irvine, and replicated by the same group in 1995. The study (which did not look at the effect of Mozart on babies) found that college students who listened to a Mozart sonata for a few minutes before taking a test that measured spatial relationship skills did better than students who took the test after listening to another musician or no music at all.

The effect in the students was temporary (it lasted only 15 minutes) and has always been controversial. Nonetheless, the media and politicians hopped on the Mozart effect bandwagon, claiming that listening to the music offered numerous benefits and could alleviate physical and mental health problems.

The notion that babies would be smarter if they listened to classical music was born out of this hype. One year, the governor of Georgia mandated that a classic music CD — which contained the sonata and other pieces and was donated by Sony — be given to all new babies when they left the hospital.

Despite popular sentiment, the evidence that listening to classical music made anybody smarter was tenuous at best. The lead researcher in the original U.C. Irvine study himself said in a Forbes article that the idea that classical music can cure health problems and make babies smarter has no basis in reality, even though he believes that listening to a Mozart sonata can prime the brain to tackle mathematical tasks.

The researchers at Appalachian State University were unable to duplicate the original "Mozart effect" results and found that the presence or absence of classical music didn't significantly affect student performance on tests. Their results were published in the July 1999 issue of the journal Psychological Science.

Why Should I Choose Classical Music for My Babies?

There are many reasons to choose classical music for babies to listen to. The benefits such melodies can have on infants are many.

1. Positive on Physical Health

Unlike many kinds of music, classical songs have a calming effect upon the human mind and body. The structure and slow tunes relax the mind and, according to some studies, the heart. This can help babies sleep and improve their mental health. Babies that have a hard time sleeping and those that have suffered emotional trauma can benefit most from music.

2. Good for Language Development

There’s a strong correlation between music and language development. Young children that listen to classical music might learn to talk and to read faster. They may also develop better memories and listening skills, which are vital to learning language.

3. Able to Uplift Their Mood

One the most interesting attributes of classical music is its ability to affect and improve mental health. A study by the American Music Therapy Association showed that listening to classical rhythms stimulated the production of endorphins or natural relaxants in the brain. This improves the mood and relaxes the body. This calming effect can lead to improved mental health and increased learning abilities.

4. The Mozart Effect

The best known and most controversial benefit from classical music for babies is the Mozart Effect. The term comes from an experiment that showed listening to classical music can temporarily boost IQs and increase spatial temporal reasoning abilities. French researcher Dr. Alfred A. Tomatis, who coined the term, believed that classical music encouraged development of the brain. Some researchers believe listening to classical music encourages mental developments, while others do not. Even though the Mozart Effect may not be real, the many benefits show that classical music is good for babies. source

Rehabilitation Programs for minors

Inspiration’s Teen Drug  Rehab Treatment

Inspirations’ addiction treatment program allows the adolescent to work through many emotional conflicts within the safe boundaries of our facility. Adolescents move through levels and are assisted in developing living skills, interpersonal skills and relapse prevention skills. In addition to the regular program, adolescents attend special workshops designed to meet their needs and attend on-site tutorial services to help them reach their educational goals. The setting at Inspirations is designed for our Adolescent Program by allowing room for exploration, meditation, and activities geared toward the high energy level of teens.

Inspirations program provides treatment for adolescent patients whose addictive disease, emotional and behavioral problems prevent adequate functioning in a less restrictive setting. It is the philosophy of the staff at Inspirations that these behaviors are symptoms of deeper problems that may include difficulties in the emotional life of the adolescent and in his/her family and peer group. This philosophy promotes the provision of a secure, structured environment to address chemical dependence, inclusive of these difficulties while encouraging independence and self esteem for the adolescent. It further promotes that every effort be made to involve the family in an intensive family program, as all members of the family are adversely affected by chemical dependency.

Teen Drug Rehab Program, Services, Treatment Team and Planning Process

Inspiration’s multidisciplinary treatment team is led by licensed therapists and is composed of master level mental health counselors and social workers, addiction therapist, nursing staff, recreational therapist, and educational staff. All treatment is overseen by a board certified adolescent psychiatrist.

Inspirations treatment team meets twice a week and is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring the course of treatment for each patient. The team develops a comprehensive treatment plan that is individualized and meets all the needs of the patient. The plan also includes discharge criteria as well as aftercare plans. Parents, guardians and referral agencies are critical components of the treatment and aftercare process and their participation is highly encouraged. The patient is also an integral part of the planning process and may at times be included in the team meeting.

Inspirations’ teen addiction treatment programs include:

• Residential addiction treatment
• 12-step program
• Individual, family and group therapy
• Dual-Diagnosis
• Gender specific drug abuse treatment
• Short-term and Long-Term rehabilitation
• Intervention
• Recreation, Art, Music, and Trauma therapy  (source)

Teen rehab programs are designed to treat more than just addiction; they also treat any additional related needs the patient may have. Substance abuse affects many aspects of a user's life, including brain function and behaviors. Rehabilitation treatment is designed to address these effects of substance abuse. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), studies since the 1970s have shown that treatment is generally effective in stopping drug use in users. These studies have also shown that treatment prevents relapse and enables users to resume sober lifestyles after treatment.

The biggest part of treatment in a teen rehab facility will be counseling. Through therapy, the addict will learn the skills needed to stay sober. Counseling uses various methods to help the addict overcome his or her addiction and take control again. source