Every Woman Matters

 

From Rhythm to Reason

 

When I was a child, I always knew what I wanted to become in the future. I dreamed of becoming a lawyer. I imagined standing in a courtroom, speaking confidently, and defending people who needed justice. I admired how lawyers could use their knowledge and voice to fight for what is right. From a young age, I believed that one day I would also stand up for others and help protect their rights.

  

But there has always been another dream close to my heart. Dancing has always been my passion. Ever since I discovered my love for it, dance has been more than just a hobby. It is a way for me to express my emotions, creativity, and passion. I imagined teaching students, creating performances, and inspiring others as a Dance Instructor or Dance Choreographer. Dance is beautiful because it allows people to communicate without words and bring joy to both the performers and the audience.

  Even though dancing has always been my dream, I have realized that pursuing it as a career might not be realistic for me at this time. Becoming a professional choreographer or dance instructor requires opportunities and financial resources that are not easy to secure. Considering my family’s situation and the financial realities of life, I feel that choosing a more stable career is the best path for now.

  That is why I have decided to prioritize law as my future career. Being a lawyer offers stability and the chance to help people in real ways. While dance will always remain my passion, law has become my main goal because it is practical and allows me to support myself and my loved ones. I still hope to continue dancing as a hobby or even teach small classes in the future, but my focus now is on building a secure and meaningful career.

  Making this decision was not easy. There are moments when I feel torn between what I love and what I need to do. I have learned that life often requires balancing dreams with reality Choosing law does not mean giving up on dance completely. It means finding a way to grow, learn, and prepare for the future while still keeping my passion alive.

  dreams guide us, but reality teaches us how to make them possible. My love for dance will never disappear, but choosing law as my career is the decision that will help me achieve my goals and build a future I can be proud of. I hope that with hard work and dedication, I can succeed in both my responsibilities and my passions.

Love Beyond February

Valentine’s Day is usually celebrated on February 14. On this day, many people give flowers, chocolates, letters, and gifts to the people they love. Couples go on dates, friends exchange small presents, and families spend time together. Because of these traditions, many people think that Valentine’s Day is only about romance or relationships. However, love is much more than that. Love is something that should not be shown only once a year. It should be expressed every day in the way we treat other people.

  Love can be shown through simple actions. We do not always need expensive gifts or grand gestures to show someone that we care. Sometimes, the smallest actions can mean the most. Saying thank you, helping someone who is struggling, or listening when a friend needs someone to talk to are all ways of showing love. These small acts of kindness can brighten someone’s day and remind them that they are valued.

  Family is often the first place where we learn about love.

 

Parents show their love by working hard to provide for their children and by guiding them as they grow. Children can also show love to their parents by respecting them, helping with household chores, and appreciating the sacrifices they make.

Love within a family creates a strong bond that helps people support each other during both happy and difficult times.

Intayon Sirmata ti Ili

A Short Visit, A City Full of Stories

The Vigan Festival runs from January 16 to 26, and even though I only visited for a few days, the experience was more than enough to make it memorable. I did not go on the exact feast day, but the events I witnessed still showed how alive and colorful the festival was. Each visit felt special in its own way and made me appreciate Vigan more.

On January 21, after our periodical exams, Aubrey and I

decided to go to Vigan as a way to relax. We went to Calle Crisologo, a place known for its old houses and peaceful atmosphere. Walking along the street felt calming, especially after days of studying and exams. 

The sound of footsteps on the cobblestone road and the warm lights around the area made the place feel comforting. We took our time walking, talking, and simply enjoying the moment. After spending some time there, we went to McDonald’s to eat. It was a simple meal, but it felt rewarding after a long and tiring day. That short visit helped clear our minds and made us feel refreshed.

On January 22, we went back to Vigan to watch the festival dance competitions.

The place was filled with people, music, and excitement. I was truly amazed by the performances, especially Category A, which was composed of elementary students. Despite their young age, they performed with confidence and energy. Their costumes were colorful, and their choreography was well prepared. It was impressive to see how much effort they put into their performances.

We also supported our school’s dance troupe, Sanggalaw. Watching them perform made the event more meaningful for me. 

After the dance competitions, my classmates and I went to the food fair.

 

There were many foods to choose from, and it was fun trying something new. I tasted pani puri, an Indian food, for the first time.

 

Unfortunately, I was only able to taste the base and not the sauce, but even so, it still tasted good. The experience of trying food from a different culture made the festival even more exciting.

At around six in the evening, we watched the festival showdown. All the performances were amazing, and the energy of the crowd made everything more exciting. When the winner was announced and our school’s dance troupe won, I felt very proud. It was a happy moment not only for the performers but also for those who supported them.

After the festival dance, there was a band performance.

Parokya ni Edgar performed that night, and I felt very emotional because they are one of my favorite bands and will always be special to me. Watching them perform live was something I did not expect, and it made the night even more unforgettable.

A quarter

The second quarter taught me lessons that were not always written on the board. I learned about pressure, expectations, and how words can stay longer than lessons. Hearing things like 

“kaya mo yan dati ah”

 “dapat perfect score ka” or

 “parang nagdadrasal ka lang ng sagot”

slowly sank into me and made me question myself. Still, I learned that learning is not always loud success. Sometimes it is quiet survival, showing up even when confidence is shaking. I discovered that growth does not always look impressive, but it is still growth.

This quarter was emotionally heavy for me. There were days when I felt overwhelmed, tired, and afraid of disappointing others. The pressure to do well made simple tasks feel heavy, and there were moments when I felt like my efforts were not enough. I also struggled with comparing myself to others and feeling like I was falling behind. At times, it felt lonely carrying all these thoughts while trying to keep going.

I faced these challenges with the help of my friends and my own determination. My friends became my safe space, the ones who reminded me to breathe, laugh, and keep going when everything felt too much. We shared stress, jokes, and encouragement, making the hard days lighter. I also learned to push myself gently, to study even when motivation was low, and to remind myself that trying is already an achievement.

Moving forward, I will choose to be kinder to myself. I will continue learning without letting harsh words define my worth. I will value progress over perfection and hold onto the people who support me through my highs and lows. Next quarter, I will move forward stronger, not because everything became easier, but because I learned how to keep going despite everything.

 

Growth Beyond Winning

The third quarter taught me so many things that I did not expect to learn. I learned not only lessons from schoolwork, but also lessons from experiences that tested me as a person. One of the biggest moments this quarter was our hip hop performance. I was the leader and also one of the choreographers, and through that role, I realized that leadership is not about being the best or knowing everything. It is about learning alongside others. Even if I was the leader, I was still learning too. We were all learning together, making mistakes, correcting them, and growing as a group. That experience taught me patience, responsibility, and humility.

Despite the learnings, this quarter was also challenging. Being a leader was not easy because I felt pressure to guide my group while still figuring things out myself. There were times when practices were exhausting and stressful, especially when things did not go as planned. Balancing academics with practice was difficult, and there were moments when I doubted myself. Losing the competition was painful because we worked hard and gave our best. It made me feel disappointed and frustrated, especially knowing how much effort everyone put into the performance.

I addressed these challenges by choosing to reflect instead of giving up. I listened to my teammates, accepted criticism, and tried to improve where I fell short. Losing helped me realize that winning is not the only measure of success. That experience made me more mindful of my skills and my attitude. Instead of blaming myself or others, I used the loss as motivation. It pushed me to think about what I could do better next time and how I could grow, not just as a dancer, but as a leader and teammate.

Moving on, I want to continue improving myself. I want to sharpen my skills, be more confident, and stay open to learning no matter what role I am given. I will carry the lessons from this quarter with me and remember that growth often comes from challenges and failure. This quarter taught me that learning does not stop when you lead, and that sometimes losing is what helps you become better.