What drives you?

      Have you ever wanted to just let yourself free from all the problems in life? If you are to look at my last post, it's about a game called flower. Sometimes, I don't want to be in touch of technology when I relax and feel at peace so I go out. With what? My bike. I go biking around Baguio, I know not everyone can see the fun and excitement of biking but it really makes me feel happy and I could just forget everything that makes me sad when I'm riding. The beauty of the City cannot also be seen by all the locals but It really is a scene that would take your breath away...

 

 This is my Cannondale F4.

• Frame CO2 SL Alloy HeadShok
• Fork HeadShok Super Fatty Ultra DL, 80 mm
• Rear Shock N/A
• Rims WTB Speed Disc All Mountain, 32 hole
• Hubs Formula DC 20, DC 22
• Spokes Stainless Steel
• Tires CST Caballero, 26 x 2.1"
• Pedals Wellgo alloy platform
• Crank Shimano FC-M4428, 22/32/44
• Chain KMC 9-speed
• Rear Cogs SRAM PG-950, 11-34
• Bottom Bracket Shimano Octalink
• Front Derailleur SRAM X-7
• Rear Derailleur SRAM X-7
• Shifters SRAM X-5 Trigger 9-speed
• Handlebars Cannondale C3, 20 mm rise
• Stem Cannondale XC3 HeadShok, 31.8 mm
• Headset Cannondale HeadShok Si
• Brakeset Avid Juicy 3 160/160mm
• Brakelevers Avid Juicy 3
• Saddle Cannondale XC
• Seat Post Kalloy SP-359
• Sizes S, M, L, X
• Extras Cannondale V-Tech Grip

      As I've used a lot of bikes, this is my 1st bike which is really built for mountainous trails. I could probably say that this is also my favorite bike because of the Hydraulic Brake-discs and shocks that were created for downhill and uphill trails.

     I know that people usually perceive biking as a very tiring sport but it's not actually the point. The point here is that the bikers who ride enjoys what they're doing. As a biker, I could not explain the feeling of biking to you but if you were to ride, I know all will be clear to you. The adrenaline rush that we bikers feel when were biking is a whole lot different than any other sport. Yes it's tiring to bike, uphill that is; but after you're on the top, and you'll bike down the slope, there's the excitement that nothing else could explain.
  
     Biking not only is exciting but it is beautiful. There are routes that no car, motorcycle or any contraption could go that a bike could. Those are the undisturbed routes of the mountains, fields, hills and so much more... The view of these kinds of environments are just beautiful. The sun's rays trying to pass through the trees as we bike through the path carved only by the rubber tires of the bikes... The beautiful horizon that we see... The flowery fields with the winds trying to keep us cool... The birds chirping... Oh men, that is just beautiful in every way!

    I hope that everyone would be able to know the feeling of these kinds of stuff. I hope that everyone would be able to try biking. Biking is my sport. My leisure time. My peace. My piece of life. Biking drives me.

Have you fogotten?

          Another game from the Play Station Network Store. This game is a whole lot different than any other game that you've played before. Flower is an interactive game wherein you use the six-axis remote control to be the wind; tilt the remote however you want and the wind will do what you do. The objective of the game is to beautify your surroundings by collecting all the petals of the  flowers that have not bloomed yet. Sounds boring? It's not actually a competitive game, the sole reason of the game is to let us players be reminded of what we have forgotten, the beauty of this world.

        Every flower has it's own story. There are 6 flowers; some flowers just want to beautify the landscape; some  flowers just want to soar up in the winds; some are lonely in an environment destroyed by humans and still tries to make the flowers live; some are in total darkness and are the "light" petals; and some are in the cities trying to make it vibrant.

        This is a very special game for me because whenever I feel that I am lonely, saddened or problematic, I just turn to this game; I can't actually explain my feelings but in a term that I can say, all my negative feelings will be gone and I'll just have a smile on my face that I can't really remove. There was one time that I really had a serious problem about school and I tried to forget about it and believe that I can really do it but I wasn't able to forget about it, after that I remembered that I had a game that could probably help me forget so I turned the game on and in a couple of minutes, I really forgot about that problem.

      Some of my friends don't actually see the good in this game, they'd just play around and make it look as if it was a racing game. That sucks for me because I wanted to really show that this game could really make you feel at ease and relaxed. No matter, at least I can see that this game could really do some good to me. Every second that I played this game all I remembered were the smiles that I had and the way I felt, relaxed.

      I hope that there would be more games like this. Games that would help people remember the things that we should have not forgotten. Flower, thanks for the experience that I would not forget. May it bring the joy to everyone the way it has brought joy to me. Thank you for the experience!

A Crashing Story!

               Castle Crashers is a game in the PS3 console that can be bought at the Play Station Network store. It's super fun because normal games can only accommodate 1-2 players but this game can accommodate 4! Haha! Every time I play this game with my friends, they would always create a mayhem and run around the whole screen. 

               One of my friends would just wait for us to kill the enemies and he'll go running around collecting the money left by the enemies. Another one of my friends kills all the enemies and says, "Hoy! Akin yan! Wag mong aagawin!" Truly it's a fun game when you're playing with your friends! Some of my friends would call me up at my home and would tell mo to level their castle crasher up. "Uy Aaron, pa level up naman ung character ko, kawawa ako ang baba nang level ko..." 

              Every time they could go to our house there's nothing else that they would rather play than this cute and violent game. Whenever I would ask them if they would want to play another game, they would just tell me,"Castle Crashers! Castle Crashers!" Haha, there's no stopping my friends, when they step inside my house all would go running to the PS3 and quickly sit down to get ready for the next thrilling experience of the game. Here's a picture of how the game looks like...

       
                By the looks of the game, you would now see how my friends could create such a mayhem. It's really really fun to play because it's not your ordinary button-smashing game because you not only have your swords and axes but you have your special magic. Every knight has his own special power: The green spits out poison gas that would stick to the enemy for a while and poisons the enemy when it touches it. The orange spits out  fire that would, like the poison, stick to the enemy for a while and would burn it. The blue one creates multiple blocks of ice that would freeze the enemy. The red one creates a chain of lighting that would electrocute the enemies.

             As you could see with this picture, it's not actually a serious game. It's super cute and super funny because there's no one in the line of characters who takes it really serious. If you'll play the game, you'd really laugh so hard that you'll cry! I hope that you guys could play this fun and exciting game.

          Look at the characters of the game, think of each one of them with their own special and funny personality, now wouldn't you want to play them? Right? Haha, I would want to thank the developers who created this game, you guys are trully innovative in all aspects of the gaming industry! I hope that there would be more games like this one in the market soon.

Hey Soul Sister!

I enjoy listening to this song and whenever I hear this song, I smile; maybe because I am happy whenever I see her happy. I can easily relate to this song because the lyrics of the song are like the ideas in my brain. I wish that this song would never end because it reminds me of her. When I feel sad, I just listen to this song and it makes me happy again. All that I want to say to her are already sang by the song. Here’s a letter that I made for you using the lyrics of the song…

Dear Soul Sister,
I know I wouldn’t forget you whatever I would do so I’ll just go and let you blow my mind. Every single dream I dream I remember you and your sweet smell. I knew when we collided, you’re the one I have decided; who’s one of my kind. Hey soul sister, I don’t wanna miss a single thing you do. All my time I want to spend it with you. The way you move ain’t fair you know; it makes me wanna say l love you more. You gave my life direction whenever I lost hope. When I see you smile, we can’t deny; I’m so obsessed. My heart is bound to beat right out because I believe in you, like a virgin, you’re Madonna and I’m always gonna wanna blow your mind. Hey Soul sister, there’s only one thing I would do and it’s watching you because watching you is the only drug I need. Every time I dream, you’re the only one I’m dreaming of you see, I can be myself now finally; In fact, there’s nothing I can’t be. All I wish for is the world to see you’ll, be with me.
Yours truly,
Pathfinder

I would like to say more but I don’t know how to say it. So this is what I would like to say for now. Thanks Train, for helping me say what I have to say…

You're the best...

Friends. Whatever you did, whatever you are doing and surely whatever you will do, you’re friends will be the one who’s going to be there for you. I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs and to tell you the truth, you’re true friends are the one who you could really lean on in those times when you really don’t know what to do.

My friends are the best; they have always helped me with all my problems. There are 3 best friends that I would like to share to you guys, they were the friends that I spent my time the longest and I could surely say that they are my best of friends…

1.) Aidan Madarang- He was my best friend since Grade 6. Everything about me he knows and everything about him I know. We helped each other with everything: academics, social life, love life and some other things… He’s like my brother; sometimes I think he knows me more than I know myself. He has helped me with so many things and I believe that If not for him, I would not be the John Aaron that I would be today. He’s something else, he’s not the typical guy you meet every day, I couldn’t explain it but he really isn’t. We have a lot of things in common and I’m so glad to have met a guy like him. I know that we’ll be best friends until we grow old and I’m just so lucky to have him as a friend. Thanks Aidan.

2.) Lianne Quitiquit- Lianne, well we started being close I think when I was in 1st year. Lianne is a special girl in my life and I couldn’t have faced all my problems if it wasn’t for her. Whenever I see her, we talk about anything and everything. I help her with her problems, and she also helps me with my problems. She makes me smile whenever I feel sad and she gives me hope that it’s all going to be fine. That’s what I love about her; she never makes me feel down. She always shows me the brighter side of life even if my heart’s flooded with darkness. Lianne would die trying just to help me and I really feel that she cares for me. She’s my best friend and I hope she’ll always be…Thanks Lianne.

3.) John Paul Salvatera- JP! That’s what I called him before but now we have codes for best friends. He’s super fun to be with and he’ll do anything just to help me. He’ll go to the ends of the world just to give me hope. We started being friends when we were in 1st year, same with Lianne. We got farther from each other when we were in 2nd year primarily because of the different buildings we stayed in. But now that were in 3rd year, we are close again, that’s a good thing. He’s my brother from another mother. He’ll always be… John Paul has been a great brother to me because like my other best friends, he has helped me with so much; but what makes him different is that he’s the person that I would prefer to talk to if it’s about my personal life. Not that I don’t want to tell my other best friends, actually they also know; but I don’t know, maybe because he knows what to do and he would really help me if I needed it. Thanks John Paul.

Whenever I feel that my life doesn’t really matter, I remember these 3 persons in my life and all comes back.”What are you saying? You’ve got these people in your life so don’t waste it.” Whenever you feel down, just remember that your friends will always be there for you. Thanks guys, so much… You’ve shown me that there would always be a brighter tomorrow.

The Light of the North

The Light of the North:

SLU is now one of the best schools in the North. What started as a 10-student room created by the
Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae (CICM), is now approximately a 26,700 student institution excluding the Elementary and High School students as of 2009-2010.

The logo is a graphical abstract from thoughts about the hundred years of commitment of Saint Louis University, and the search for meaning through Competence, Creativity, Christian Spirit, and Social Involvement.

The flame, depicted by the stylized ‘SLU’, represents the transformation that education can result in, while the elevated steps, shown by the ‘100′, leads to this direction. The torch embodies excellence in education and its enlightening process. Excellence has largely to do with the way a Louisian leads his life and the way he relates with others.

The major color of the logo which is blue and its various shades in the University’s color representing education as a journey. The golden flame illustrates the relentless achievement of excellence from an idea to enlightenment, and from core of emotion to realization.

The logo was designed by Archt. Dulthe Carlo C. Munar of the Department of Architecture, College of Engineering and Architecture.

The Centennial Celebration of Baguio as a City is also near the Centennial Celebration of SLU. Baguio celebrated it's 100th Birthday last year, 2009. Now it's SLU's turn!

It all started with one cause, to Christianize the people of the North. Now, it does not aim to Christianize the North primarily because they have more or less done it. They now want to craft students to reach their optimum efficiency. To teach them the moral values that they need for their future.

About the SLU Logo:

The motto of Saint Louis University is "Sapientia Aedificat", a Latin phrase meaning "Wisdom Builds" or more literally "Knowledge Edifies." Saint Louis University offers programs from the elementay,secondary, and tertiary level, which includes undergraduate and graduate programs.

The colors of Saint Louis University are white and blue, the colors of the Blessed Virgin Mary. White symbolizes the earth and man. Blue signifies heaven and God. The big golden cross in the middle of the shield represents the Christian faith that the school aims to spread to all corners of the earth symbolized by the four small crosses.

Superimposed on the golden cross is the stylized lily that is associated with Saint Aloysius (Louis) de Gonzaga, the patron saint of the school. The big sword across the shield expresses vigilance and perseverance. The rugged mountains behind the sword signify the obstacles that SLU strives to surpass in bringing the light of truth in the darkness of ignorance.

 CICM did not just create Saint Louis University, Baguio City but rather, created multiple schools all over the Philippines to continue it's mission: 

CICM System of Schools

 Saint Louis College, San Fernando City, La Union

    

     University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City

     

 

    
Saint Mary's University, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

    

 Saint Louis School of Mandaue, Mandaue City, Cebu

    

Truly our schools are the best of the best and I wouldn't go to any other school other than CICM's very well-known learning Institutions. Happy Birthday SLU. May you continue to be the light of the North to everyone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Louis_University,_Baguio_City#History
google images

http://www.slu.edu.ph/

Happy 100th Birthday SLU

Let me give you a brief history of CICM’s Institution. In 1907, the CICM Missionaries arrived in the Philippines, mandated by the Vatican to Christianize the northern part of the country. The missionaries settled in Baguio because of its proximity to both Manila and the mountain province of Benguet beyond the Cordillera mountain range, that was home to numerous indigenous tribes. In 1911, Rev. Fr. Séraphin Devesse, CICM, founded a one-room elementary school in Baguio for ten local boys, naming the school the Saint Louis School . In 1915, the St. Louis School expanded becoming a vocational and trade school. In 1915 the school opened a secondary branch. In 1952, the combined efforts of Msgr. William Brasseur and Rev. Fr. Rafael Desmedt founded Saint Louis College, then consisting of three departments: Education, Liberal Arts, Commerce and Secretarial. In 1955, the graduate-level programs of Saint Louis College were granted recognition, but the real turning point came on 13 May 1963, when Saint Louis College was conferred University status by the Philippine Government. The school started with only 75 students with Gerard Decaestecker, CICM, as the first rector.

It’s been 100 years since the 10-student school was established and now it is a home to more than 25,000 students not only from Baguio City but from multiple towns and cities from the Philippines and even for other countries. It justly proves that the institution has evolved so much since 1911. Now that SLU is celebrating its 100 years of educational and non-educational excellence, I would like to congratulate its continuous growth and I wish that the Institution will become better every passing year.

The school has created its name all over the Philippines and it is now one of the leading schools mainly in the regions of CAR. The Centennial Celebration will be held starting December 2010 until December 2011. If you are to look at SLU’s website, you would be able to see the events that are to be done for the 1 year celebration. It will really be a very memorable event for the CICM and for us.

The things that I would want to wish SLU are these:

1. I wish that SLU would continue to be the Light of the North, to give the proper guidance and education for students who would really want to attain heights that they would never possibly attain if they didn’t have the proper help and education.

2. I wish that SLU, being a Christian Institution, would shower their vision to the people in becoming a better Christian. I would want SLU to craft their students, to always put their hopes towards God. To always believe in Him when everything seems perfect and when everything seems to be just complicated and wrong.

3. I wish that SLU would teach their students the proper moral value in becoming truly Human because our world is not the world before, it is more, let’s say “dangerous and aggressive.” I hope that the students would not be like these and would be a person for God and for everyone.

SLU, I am so grateful for everything you have done. I hope that you continue to guide us and help us in everything we do. I would also want to congratulate you again for a job well-done for the past 100 years. Thank you, Happy 100th Birthday and May God bless us all.

http://www.slu.edu.ph/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Louis_University,_Baguio_City