Rosette Newsletter 2014

The Official Student Publication of PAREF Woodrose School, Inc.

Having the Heart for Challenges

by Johnna Balane

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Issue No. 1 SY 2013-2014

Word War on Disney Princesses: Love as an Inspiration and Benefit

by Tina Barretto

Following One’s Heart Down the Path of False Love

by Mayte Abola

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Why do You Teach?

by Ms. Criselda San

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Rosette • May 2014

Editorial

Letter from the Editor

By Bea Adajar

An Interview with Dr. Villegas

By Rita Camacho

Heart \’härt\ noun: ?

The word ‘heart’ encompasses many definitions and is used in many kinds of expressions.

That being the case, I admit that to write with such a theme is difficult, as the coverage is so broad. Where should I begin?

Perhaps it would be simpler to flip through a dictionary and take a look at all the (relevant) meanings, one at a time: 1. The emotional or moral nature, as: a. compassion; b. love, affection; c. courage, ardor.

The meaning of the heart goes well beyond the literal fist-sized organ beating in our chests; it also refers to values such as love, courage and compassion.

When faced with hardships, we must never lose heart – that is to say, we must remain courageous and continue to persevere no matter how difficult it can get.

Above all, we should always, though I know it sounds cliché, ‘have a heart,’ or show empathy and understanding towards others. At the end of the day, such an attitude pays off.

2. One’s innermost character, feelings or inclinations.

When people say ‘listen to your heart’ or ‘be true to your heart,’ this is what they’re actually referring to. In all the decisions we make, it’s always a matter of head over heart – but that doesn’t mean we completely disregard our feelings or inclinations. In fact, sometimes, it is our innermost character that knows what is right. It’s simply a matter of understanding first our heart before deciding whether to follow it or not.

3. The essential or most vital part of something.

This definition takes a more profound view of the theme, leading us to ask: What is at the heart of all that we do? In the wake of routine, it is easy to forget why we bother with anything at all. It’s vital that we remind ourselves of the reasons why we do what we must, so that we don’t fall into the trap of just going through the motions of life. I won’t go into those reasons, though – they all vary depending on the person, and it is up to each one of us to either discover or remember what they are.

Having said all this, I, along with the rest of the Rosette staff, invite you to explore the different perspectives of the heart through this issue. We hope that as you go through these pages you will be inspired to take heart in the face of challenges, to be true to yourself, and to find the heart of all your endeavors!

W

e, the editors, writers, and staff of the Rosette, aim to write and present works that engage our readers intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. We aspire to promote school pride and represent in our craft dynamism, depth, and creativity— elements that define Woodrose students.

We to aim to inspire reflection and to elicit responses from our readers by providing them with thoughtprovoking insights. Finally, through our work, we strive to be models of truth and substance, helping Woodrose students develop a broader perspective of life and attain greater awareness of relevant issues.

1. What, do you think, is the heart of Woodrose? (You may refer to its vision for its students, faculty, and staff.)

The heart of Woodrose is about embracing the unique individuality and personhood of each of our students. We can liken our students to precious stones that must be carefully shaped and polished in order for the stones’ utmost beauty to shine through. Our teachers and mentors are tasked with the duty to recognize each student’s personhood. They are trained to focus on each student’s positive points and potential, so that they may encourage the student to become that best that she can be.

In my opinion, the uniqueness of personhood is best channelled through mentoring. Mentors encourage students to express their dreams and aspirations, joys and sorrows, and stories characterized by lights and shadows. In short, when we talk about the heart of Woodrose, we emphasize that we do not deal with our students as one big group. Instead, each teacher should know the capacity of each student, while simultaneously setting a high academic standard suited to the student’s pace. This allows the teacher to recognize her students’ individuality, while simultaneously combining discipline with understanding.

2. When it comes to making decisions, which do you believe is more important to listen to, the head or the heart?

According to Antoine de Saint Exupery, “Only with the heart can you see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”

With this said, I personally believe that the heart should come first, because we must listen to the language of the heart and fully exercise our understanding in order for us to connect with other people. An example of this may be seen in the family: parents must fully understand their children’s lifestyle and culture before demanding anything from them.

When one uses the language of the heart, authoritarian principles must take a back seat, and prioritize humility and openness. Through this, people will be able to communicate and foster trust, allowing them to understand and connect with each other more effectively.

Thus, once we have connected with our teachers and students, it will be easier for us to encourage them to soar along an inclined plane. This is where the mind enters the picture. The mind provides the necessary principles, which are objective and non-negotiable. These principles provide the clear direction that helps our students and teachers attain their goals. Still, one must remember that, although the heart should come first, there must be a perfect balance between the head and the heart at all times -- too much of anything is a vice.

3. What advice can you give about the heart to the readers of this issue?

While it is true that the heart is important, the heart may also betray us and derail us in terms of personhood. This said, we must learn to clearly discern mixed emotions, while simultaneously developing selfmastery and maintaining a clear direction in life.

Editor-in-Chief Bea Adajar Associate Editor Bianca Marañon

News Editor Johnna Balane

Features Editor Rita Camacho

Art Editor Robyn Victa Photography Editor Aya Cabauatan Moderator Ms. Criselda San

Writers Lean Miller Johnna Balane Tanya Anastacio Thea Anastacio Rita Camacho Pebbles Daez Frances Jacob Artists Eia Collantes Tammy dela Fuente Inya de Vera Maxine Garcia Kamille Tapia Alissa Quintal

Photographers Trina Camacho Pau Fermin Sofia Lorenzo Gabbi Tablante Cheska Vasallo Writers Mayte Abola Thea Anastacio Tanya Anastacio Tina Barretto Frances Jacob Lean Miller Iris Mauricio Iya Oracion Pauline Borlongan Marikit Salvador

acacia avenue extension, ayala alabang village, muntinlupa city 1780 tel. nos.: 850-6380 to 83 • 807-6735 • 809-5508 • fax no.: 842-1481

Kate Tuason Anne Zamora Celine Zamora Contributors Katrina Sarabia Zarina San Jose Cover designed by Robyn Victa, Eia Collantes and Maxine Garcia Special thanks to Robyn Victa, Eia Collantes, and Maxine Garcia for the design of the centerspread!

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Rosette • May 2014

Beyond the Brick Walls

My Life in Three Acts Bags, Still in the Shadows of Corruption

My Life In Three Acts Bags

By Iris Mauricio

Being in a small-scale private school down south, people who aren’t familiar with us Woodrose students make wild assumptions based only on what they can see, or what they’ve heard (equestrians, teatime breaks and swimming pools, anybody?).

There’s a long list of things that people have thought about us, and what it’s like to be in Woodrose, but none of them have come close to getting it right.

There’s a lot more to us than others think, and we know it, but how do we show them what really goes on behind our brick walls?

Solution? A musical.

The long-awaited Woodrose Production, cleverly titled “My Life In Three Acts Bags,” finally raised its curtains to the public, coming to life on the Insular stage from July 26 to 28, with a total of 6 shows. Written and directed by Mrs. Stephanie Cabañes, the story of the play revolves around a girl named Pia del Rosario (played by Bianca Ruiz) and her life in Woodrose as she struggles to find a place for herself. The importance of the mentoring system, which is something uniquely PAREF, is also brought into focus through Pia’s chats – key dialogue scenes that show Pia’s progression as a student, and as a person slowly discovering herself and her strengths.

Many long, grueling hours went into the making of the production, and it was a difficult journey for everyone involved—each part was firmly hammered out, and nothing was left to chance. Because of all this dedication, the production was a resounding success. Thanks to all the members of the cast and the crew, a production with a seemingly simple story, laden with values and struggles that anyone can understand, was brought to the big stage to be shared with many.

Although we don’t collectively burst into song

in the middle of a conversation, Pia’s story is still one that each of us can easily relate to: a story of wanting to belong. With so many clubs, orgs and varsities available to us, it can be difficult to find the ones that can really help us develop our skills and encourage us to grow. But, because we have so many things to choose from, we’re also given the chance to test out different waters, so that we can find the ones that suit us perfectly.

Pia embodies what it is to be a Woodrose student, and the kinds of situations and struggles we encounter. She shows the qualities of Woodrose students that we might never really think about, but are things that we can be proud of. It can be difficult

to explain to others how it is to wear the plaid and live the life of a Woodrose girl, but through the production, we’re able to give a glimpse of what life is like for us.

More than that, however, Pia is also an example of how it’s never too late to find a place where you can belong, and how it’s okay to feel unsure about the future. As students, we are still only at the beginning of our stories. We’re still young, and, from our vantage point, the hundreds of blank pages waiting to be turned into chapters can seem incredibly intimidating. But that’s okay, because sometimes, finding out what you want to do for the rest of your life takes a while.

Still in the Shadows of Corruption

By Marikit Salvador

Instead of ten billion pesos being used for new public schools, better drainage and floodway systems, infrastructures, hospitals and other projects that could have benefited the nation, the money just ended up in the pockets of whom we had first trusted our taxes with—the government.

The Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF is a sum of money given to each lawmaker to finance his or her projects, activities, and plans. A more commonly used name for the PDAF is the Pork Barrel. The “pork” being distributed every year is the taxpayers’ money: P200 million per senator and P70 million per congressman. The Pork Barrel was meant to be good, to help others do good – until government officials started to abuse it.

Some government officials request for a hefty amount of money, when in reality, they only spend a quarter of it for its respective purpose, and use the rest for their own personal benefit. In fact, it has been revealed that some senators or congressmen hire people to plan “ghost projects” that amount to millions of pesos, but none of the money is used for the actual approved project. The Pork Barrel scam is centered on Janet Lim Napoles and her covert allies who have stolen P2.928 billion. Money that could have been used for the welfare of millions of Filipinos was spent for the selfish wants of a few.

It is frustrating to think of the many Filipinos suffering from hunger and sickness, while our trusted government officials shower themselves with sports cars and mansions.

Filipinos, fed up with the injustice and corruption, rallied for the abolishment of the PDAF last August 29 in Luneta Park. Four hundred thousand citizens gathered together for the cause, while thousands of other Filipinos held mini rallies in different places nationwide. People protested by carrying posters and banners that expressed their outrage against Janet Napoles and the other government officials guilty of the same heinous crime.

The country needs people who are eager to serve, not eager to be served – people who want to feed starving Filipinos, not smother themselves with expensive gourmet food. The purpose of true leaders is to make change in order to better the lives of the people they serve. Rather than stealing hard-earned money, officials should use the money to put a roof above people’s heads or to educate them so that they may improve their lives. In order for the Philippines to progress, officials should replace the dishonest ones to re-establish a culture of trust in Philippine society.

It is not too late for our country to move forward from this disheartening situation. Hopefully, our government will learn to remove their hands from their pockets and hold their hands out to others instead.

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Rosette • May 2014

Beyond the Brick Walls

How To Be Successful, “If Music be the Food of Love…”

How To Be Successful

By Johnna Balane

Chris Gardner is a multi-millionaire entrepreneur, investor, stockbroker and author. He travels 200 days a year, lives in the Trump Tower’s beautiful penthouse, and is CEO of his own stockbrokerage firm, Gardner & Co. Today, he deals with crucial business contracts, complicated accounting ledgers, and hectic travel itineraries. However, only twenty years ago, he was a single father struggling with bankruptcy and unemployment. He could barely make ends meet, having to seek refuge in buses, airports, parks, and even subway bathrooms on nights when foster homes could no longer accommodate him and his two-year old son. Driven by his desire to rise from poverty, Gardner aspired to become the top trainee in a company called Dean Witter Reynolds. Every day, Gardner would come to work early and leave work late. He would also make around two hundred phone calls every day to speak with potential clients. Finally, after months of hard work, yet earning next to nothing as an intern, Gardner finally became a full employee, earning enough money to rent a tiny room in a flophouse.

After a few years of exposure to the finance world, he decided to establish his own brokerage firm. And the rest is history.

Chris Gardner’s employers had absolutely no idea that he and his son had to live in a shelter for homeless women, or that he went to jail for ten days because he failed to pay $1200 in parking tickets. They did not employ him out of pity; rather, they were simply impressed by his extraordinary work ethic and ever present professionalism. If they had known what he went through every day, imagine their shock! With everything on his plate, how was he able to accomplish as much as he did?

Well, Chris Gardner had two things: determination and optimism. He knew who he was and what he wanted for himself and for his son. He kept his eyes on the prize, willing to sacrifice nights of sleep and time with his family for a chance to escape the evil clutches of poverty. And while all this was happening, he stayed his natural, good-natured, friendly self

around his officemates. Instead of drowning in self-pity and jumping into a pit of depression, he chose to use these obstacles to his own advantage by learning from them and applying these lessons to his life. The scars and pain these hurdles left behind served as his pathway to a greater understanding of life. He used these to become a man of strength and wisdom, capable of turning every bad situation into an opportunity to grow.

Fortunately, we’re luckier than Chris Gardner. He has gone through separation, c a r e e r d o r m a n c y, and financial i n s t a b i l i t y.

Compared to his life, ours have been a bit easier.

But we mustn’t fall into a state of laxity, comfort, and indifference.

We must work harder than ever before and strive to be better by using the many blessings God has given us. Life’s greatest gifts are wrapped in suffering and pain, so we should not be afraid of hardship. Instead, we must welcome it, and use it as our stepping stone to success.

“If Music be the Food of Love…”

Bea Adajar

In his play entitled Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare wrote, “If music be the food of love, play on.” But nowadays, with popular songs distorting the meaning of true love, Shakespeare’s statement turns into a question for our generation: Is our music really the ‘food of love’?

Perhaps it all depends on the kind of songs we listen to. For instance, much of today’s music portrays love as a sort of sentiment: when we experience an attraction towards someone, it’s got to be love. For people who don’t know better, this becomes what they believe – it has to be some intense, romantic feeling upon meeting or getting to know another. Love is then reduced to a

passion, with all the notions of self-giving and sacrifice completely ignored.

Another popular depiction of love is more on the fairy-tale side. The person you love has to have an attractive profile – girls are the helpless princesses while guys are the knights in shining armor. “Today was a fairytale, you were a prince; I used to be a damsel in distress,” as Taylor Swift sang.

In short: If he’s not sweet, or handsome, or perfect, he’s not the one for you.

And let’s not forget the idea of love as merely physical, which is certainly not the case. Quite often, love has been equated to lust, or described as purely sensual. As Sylvia Plath once wrote, “If they substituted the word ‘Lust’ for ‘Love’ in the popular songs it would come nearer the truth.”

Considering these perceptions of love, much of today’s music is definitely feeding listeners with lies. It’s no wonder most of our society struggle to find affection in the wrong places and seek perfect soulmates who d o n ’ t exist. Instead of feeling complete, people are left with an aching emptiness, their hearts left wanting for something t he y cannot find and cannot understand.

I n the process, many try to fill their hearts with cheap

imitations of love, thinking it will suffice – but it never does, and it leaves them in a worse state than they previously were.

However, there is no need to toss all your music in the bin. Radio stations may send some appalling songs our way but they also play a fair share of good music. If you filter through today’s music, there are songs that explain love at a deeper and more sophisticated level and not as a mere passion, emotion, or even sensuality. They emphasize the selflessness, sacrifice and patience in which love is manifested. Thus, they expose to the world the true, raw meaning of love, not having to forego content for popularity.

That is the kind of music that people should promote and listen to today – the kind of music that, we can say with all certainty, is truly the ‘food of love.’

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Rosette • May 2014

Beyond the Brick Walls

Year of Faith—A Trip to Remember, Year of Faith—Holy Week in the Holy City

Year of Faih A Trip to Remember

By Thea Anastacio

In line with the celebration of the Year of Faith initiated by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI last November 2012, I, along with thirteen other students accompanied by two adults, joyfully went on a pilgrimage to Cebu last May 22 to 26, 2013. The five-day trip fortuitously coincided with the observance of Holy Week, making the event all the more remarkable and fulfilling for the participants.

Upon arriving at Cebu, we stayed in Center Suites, an extraordinary hotel complete with warm and friendly employees, hearty meals from breakfast up to dinner, and an absolutely beautiful chapel (yes, inside the hotel).

The pilgrimage also included a short cultural trip to some famous landmarks in the Visayan region, such as the Mactan shrine and Magellan's cross. Aside from those, we also engaged in other activities such as completing a challenging rope course -- complete with tire bridges, narrow wooden planks, and a zipline -- located in Mountain View Park. We also had the chance to interact with some girls from PAREF Southcrest (who seemed to have been a much more "animated" version of us PAREF Woodrose students).

Of course, although these experiences will never be forgotten, the bulk of the trip was actually visiting the fascinating churches of Cebu, which included Simala, Pedro Calungsod Church, Sto. Nino Church, and Nuestra Senora del Pilar. In fact, I believe the highlight of our trip was the Bisita Iglesia we did on the second evening of the pilgrimage. A Bisita Iglesia, as most of us are aware of, is a Filipino tradition of visiting seven churches during Holy Week. That evening, all sixteen of us offered up a Bisita Iglesia that lasted for three hours.

On foot.

This local pilgrimage, if anything, has shown me that one does not need to travel all the way to the Vatican or to some other Catholic country to celebrate the Year of Faith to the fullest – or to see the faith being lived out actively, for that matter. Just by visiting Cebu, one can already see that the faith is very much alive here in the Philippines.

Holy Week in the Holy City

By Frances Jacob

All twelve students, accompanied by three chaperones were practically jumping with excitement as we took our first breath of the cold Roman air.

We looked at each other and knew right from the start that this would be an unforgettable adventure.

The great Roman adventure began in San Giuseppe Della Montagna, a small bed and breakfast inn that stood just outside the walls of the Vatican.

None of the Spanish nuns running the inn spoke English, unfortunately, so we relied on Ms. Carilio’s Spanish speaking skills to communicate. Luckily, we were able to meet a Filipina housekeeper named Gina who translated for us.

Palm Sunday was the first full day we had spent in Rome. Only a thick, wooden barrier separated us from Pope Francis as he rode his Pope mobile to greet those who attended mass that Sunday. It was a sight to see: people of different nationalities, all proudly waving their country’s flag as he passed.

We saw Pope Francis four more times after that: during the Chrism Mass for priests in St. Peter’s Basilica, his first General Audience, and finally on Easter Sunday. All these events were celebrated in various languages like Italian, Spanish, French, English, and even Latin! Each time we saw the Pope, the Vatican was filled with people coming together to rejoice and be with Pope Francis for his first Holy Week as the Vicar of Christ on Earth.

Most of our trip was spent visiting places in Italy that are of great importance to Catholic history. We visited many churches, including the four major basilicas: St. Peter’s Basilica, Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Archbasilica St. John Lateran. In addition to this, we visited places like Assisi, where we learned of the lives of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Claire and visited basilicas. We also went to Florence, to the museum called L’ Academia – the house of Dante Alighieri, writer of the famous Divine Comedy. Trips were also made to the St. Callisto’s catacombs and the Colliseum with a side trip to Pisa. Of course, who could pass up the opportunity for a cliche leaning tower of Pisa shot? We certainly couldn’t!

Those two weeks were a great experience for all of us. We learned so much more than we expected about Christian history. Those two weeks were an adventure filled with great moments, gelato, pizza, and a lot of fulfilling prayer. I’m sure I speak for all of us Year of Faith pilgrims when I say that we would not hesitate to do it all over again.

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Rosette • May 2014

Beyond the Brick Walls

Not-So-Classified Information, Straight Path

Not-So-Classified Information

By Tanya Anastacio

To lead is to serve. This is one sentence we recite on a weekly basis, some with conviction, others, sadly, without. Among the sea of red-green-blue plaid uniforms, however, are nine who find meaning in this sentence and apply it in their duties as council members. Following this year’s military theme, it seems fitting to write Count on Council by showing a parallelism between Council’s world and the military world.

COMBAT. Every upcoming event is like a new battlefield we have to assess, prepare for, and deliberate upon to ensure victory. Every little detail should be accounted for, and we never go in unprepared – regular meetings allow us to effectively come up with plans to triumph over obstacles. Our main weapons? All our ideas and the suggestions we get from others, be they students or teachers.

TEAMWORK. No matter what, the council moves as one, and through this unity, we achieve results far beyond what any of us could accomplish alone. Although we won’t be put in life-or-death situations like the military, it’s nice to know that we’ve got each other’s backs. Here, we are different batches formed into one unit. Our plans for the year remain classified information, but if there’s one thing allowed to be revealed, it’s this: what we’ve got up our sleeves will surely involve plenty of fun, challenges, and surprises.

MOTIVATION. Knowing that we’re bringing new things to life with our ideas. Seeing people SACRIFICE. follow what we implement. Receiving comments of gratitude for anything we Every action comes with a price to pay. From regular meetings to weekend do. These are just some of the things which motivate us to constantly do our trips and even late-night planning, a council member always seems to have best, but more than that is our desire to serve the school. That’s what keeps us so much work! However, results are the sum of one’s efforts, so if we want big going. Like the military’s desire to fight for their country, ours is to give our results, then it’s fitting that there should be a big amount of sacrifice. In fact, it’s school and the school community the best. That is the fuel to the fires in our the best thing about being in council: one gets to reap the benefits, the fruits of hearts. The “heart of service,” as others call it – and it’s a fire that will never stop her labor. There’s no other word to describe the satisfaction a council member burning. feels when she knows that she’s doing her job.

Straight Path

By Rita Camacho

PAREF Woodrose’s annual Linggo ng Wika is always a widely anticipated event, as it draws students and teachers together with the aim of fostering love for our national language: Filipino. Although this year’s Linggo ng Wika was postponed due to the suspension of classes all over Muntinlupa, Woodrose was not deterred, and the event was quickly re-slotted for Saturday, August 31, 2013. However, due to time constraints, Linggo ng Wika was condensed into a one-day event and renamed “Araw ng Wika.”

Come Araw ng Wika, the entire gym was jam-packed with parents, guests, and teachers who had come to watch the students’ much awaited presentations.

With the theme “Wika Natin ang Daang Matuwid,” which translates into “Our Language is the Straight Path,” this year’s program opened with two special numbers from the talented Woodrose Chorale, namely “Awit ng Bagong Henerasyon” and “Limang Dipang Tao.” After this, the program featured a talk from one of Woodrose’s alumnae, Vanessa Valdez, who did the screenplay of the movie “Four Sisters and a Wedding.” Ms. Valdez’s talk, which was about the importance of the Filipino language, as well as its application in the film industry, was well-received by the audience, especially the students. Following Ms. Valdez’s talk, the performance proper officially began.

This year’s show included the Juniors’ Balagtasan and the Sophomores’ Sabayang Pagbigkas, both of which largely promoted the love for and importance of the Filipino language. Aside from this, the audience enjoyed the Seniors’ entertaining Cosplay, which depicted the major female characters in Dr. Jose Rizal’s renowned novel, Noli Me Tangere. Still, though, the key features of the show were truly the students’ incredible dances.

The audience was treated to goose-bump inducing Awit Sarilikha performances from Grade 8 and an elegant Spanish dance called Bailos de los Pastores from Year II. Following these numbers were the Year III’s fantastic renditions of Pinoy Jazz, as well as the Grade 7’s novel interpretations of Pinoy Hip-hop. The program ended with a bang, as the Seniors took the stage with their batch dance, which combined various dance numbers from the seventies, eighties, nineties, and modern times.

Although this year’s Araw ng Wika was extremely short-lived, everyone should remember that the celebration of the Filipino language did not simply end on August 31, 2013. As proud Filipinos, we must revive the patriotism within us, specifically by learning how to appreciate and utilize our unique, God-given language. With this patriotism not only in our minds, but also in our hearts, we will truly be able to use our language to find a straight path to the future.

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Rosette • May 2014

Beyond the Brick Walls

Word War—Following One’s Heart Down the Path of False Love, Word War—Love as an Inspiration and Benefit

Word War—Following One’s Word War—Love as an Heart Down the Path of False Love Inspiration and Benefit

By Mayte Abola

By Tina Baretto

Is love at first sight true love? Apparently, for the Disney Princesses, it is. Snow White and Aurora fell in love with the first person they saw when they woke up. Cinderella married the guy she danced with for one night. These Princesses married their Prince Charmings after experiencing just one magical event, concluding that their hearts told them that he was ‘The One’. However, it is questionable that they actually lived ‘happily ever after’, because the Disney Princess experience does not embody the meaning of true love.

True love is defined by rational thinking, not by emotions.

Consequently, true love is not determined by following one’s heart, as this process relies on emotions to judge. It is characterized by knowledge and sacrifice – the knowledge of the other person’s traits and the willingness to sacrifice for the beloved.

Determining true love without these qualities leads to love that is flawed. Because the Disney Princesses followed their hearts and overlooked these standards, their model of love does not reflect true love.

Loving is knowing. The Princesses simply trampled over this definition. They knew next to nothing about their Princes but they still got married to them. For instance, Snow White was just kissed and she consented to ride off into the sunset to marry the Prince who found her sleeping in the middle of the forest. Cinderella only got to know her Prince for one night. Probably, the only information she knew about him was about the quality of his dancing skills, which are not good criteria for judging love. These examples do not define true love, as the people involved did not know much about each other before they were married. Usually, the Princes were attracted to the Princesses because of their beauty. However, the Princes did not know their Princesses personally. Therefore, love at first sight is not true love, as both parties do not know each other well.

Moreover, the Disney Princesses based their love on emotions. They experienced a magical event with some guy who ‘fulfilled their dreams,’ thus prompting the Princesses to submit to their dreams. Nevertheless, emotions, especially those from experiencing magic, should not be the first basis for judging true love. Snow White was poisoned by her evil step mother and was put to sleep until someone kissed her. She was so overjoyed when her Prince saved her from the clutches of eternal sleep that she identified him as the love of her life and married him. Aurora dreamt about a Prince, hence when he woke her up, she was so happy she agreed to marry him despite the fact that she did not even know him. The Princesses based their love on the emotions they felt, which were augmented by the magic surrounding their experiences.

Unfortunately, one knows that their lives will not always be magic. They could stop loving their Princes when they stop feeling intense emotions. Emotions should not dictate true love, as these could end anytime.

Even if the Disney Princesses are not good role models in the sense of true love, their mistakes can be a source of learning. In real life, true love is not always magical. In fact, recognizing it takes more rational reasoning than listening to one’s heart, for true love is not about demanding pleasant emotions at all times.

The Disney Princesses do not embody the meaning of true love. Contrary to what the Disney Princesses believe, true love is not following one’s heart at all.

They followed their hearts without using their brains – they did not know their Princes intimately; in fact, some Princesses did not even know their Princes’ names. In addition, these Princesses were so caught up in the Disney magic that they forgot to think and they let their emotions cloud their judgment.

Love is discerned by critical thinking. That is why, anatomically, the brain is above the heart – rationality should trump emotions. Although the Disney Princesses hold sentimental value and childhood memories, they should not be role models in defining true love. Without rational thinking, the Princesses were wrong in following their hearts, as this led them to live an unauthentic life of false love. Don’t make the same mistake.

Love, /ləv/, noun – an intense feeling of deep affection.

From the very beginning, all people are loved. People come from love, they are loved, and they are taught to love. Just as heroes like Superman stand as models of bravery and power for little boys, heroines such as the Disney Princesses never fail to act as idols for little girls to look up to. These princesses have a knack for showing the perks of what it is like to follow one’s heart for the sake of their love ones, and they’ve never gone wrong when it comes to that.

While they don’t teach their fans the Alpha Decay equation, or how to graph a linear function, Disney Princesses teach people about something that can be applied in non-academic circumstances: love. One must be rolling one’s eyes at how cliché it sounds, but if one really thinks about it, love doesn’t necessarily refer to the romantic love. Love is an intense feeling of deep affection, whether it is romantic or familial. Although romance is an element often seen in classic Princess films, this does not mean that love is limited to romance alone. Love isn’t only expressed through the exciting exchange of words between the heroine and her love interest, or in the kisses that always come towards the end. Doesn’t a hug alone express affection and caring? When the daring princess risks her life to save a friend, doesn’t this show love as well?

Love helps everyone to follow their hearts and do what they feel is best according to the given situations.

What better example of a woman capable of following her heart than the beautiful Princess Belle? Looking back at Belle’s story, it is clear that Belle’s father was everything to her. More than simply being her family, he was her educator and her friend. When the day came that her father picked flowers from a castle garden and angered the beast that lived inside, Belle bravely offered to take her father’s place as the Beast’s prisoner to save her father – she followed her heart, and, in doing so, showed complete love for her family. Aside from this, Belle also showed the romantic love when she went to aid the Beast as he lay dying from the wounds Gaston had inflicted upon him. Belle could have run away and left the Beast alone and dying. However, because of her great love, Belle went on to help the Beast and even forgive him for the terrible things he had done. Who would have thought that the Beast would turn into a dashing prince? Truly, one can say that Belle was wholly and richly rewarded for her great compassion and love for the Beast.

And what about Mulan? When Mulan’s identity as a woman was revealed, Shang sent her away. In spite of being distrusted by her friends, she travelled to the Imperial city to save the Emperor and her countrymen when she discovered that the Huns planned on assassinating the ruler. By doing so, Mulan followed her heart and showed her love for her country. Even when she was pushed around, doubted, and mistreated, Mulan didn’t fail to show her love for her country and even risked her life in order to save the nation.

It is a mistaken view that Disney Princesses don’t teach what it means to love. These princesses teach people that love can drive one to follow his heart and do good, or that by following one’s heart, one can eventually find love.

Also, Disney Princesses teach people what true love really is about: sacrifice, forgiveness, and persevering until the end. Without the Princesses, who would be there to guide young girls to endure and persevere? The Disney Princesses are the teachers of the younger generation. Without these iconic princesses, who would be able to make people understand what it means to fight out of love for ones country or sacrifice for one’s family? Disney Princesses are not simply a bunch of girls who wear their hearts on their sleeves. These princesses are the girls who had the ability to follow their hearts, and, through this, show others the happiness that could be gained in the process of doing so.

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Rosette • May 2014

Wear the Plaid with Pride

Not Another Teenage Love Story

Not Another Teenage Love Story

By Lean Miller

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” – Dr. Seuss Troy and Gabriella spent two whole years in high school, singing about its sheer brilliance, and so did Danny and Sandy all the way back in the 1950’s. Bella and Edward will have it for a thousand years while Romeo and Juliet were willing to die for it. What exactly is it? It is a crazy little thing called teenage love.

Today, however, the definition of love is easily mistaken as lust. Media plays a big role in this misconception. Popular TV shows and movies spread the wrong meaning of love. They involve the average female protagonist ending up with the school’s Adonis or the complete make-over of the school geek into the potential love interest for the entire male population. Couples are formed sometimes as a result of silly high-school bets, hook-ups, or one-night-stands. These contrived forms of entertainment give teenagers unrealistic expectations of love. Most teenagers mistakenly believe that by engaging in sexual activity, their love for the other is proven.

Last September 7, 2013, the high school student body, alongside students from different schools, attended the Real Love Revolution held at PICC. Internationally renowned chastity speakers, Jason and Crystalina Evert, gave a talk on authentic love and the power of waiting. They first began by posing the question: How far is too far? This then spurred on other common questions that the youth seek which pertain to the limitations of having a physical relationship with their loved one. They covered topics on authentic love, the meaning of manhood and womanhood, the perils of a pornographic culture and more. By sharing funny yet thought provoking anecdotes and updated and relevant statistics, their points came across to their audience.

After their respective talks, there was an open forum wherein they answered several questions concerning love, chastity, lust, and sexuality.

Every person longs for authentic love, yet this can easily be confused with lust. Mr. Evert emphasized the difference when he said “Love can’t wait to give and lust can’t wait to get.” To love another requires hard-work, patience, and a whole lot of self-giving; on the other hand, lust

looks for temporary pleasure and satisfaction from sexual encounters with partners. Mrs. Evert also emphasized that no one is beyond saving. It is never too late to live a chaste life no matter what one has done in the past. Through waiting for the one, a person can discover who he or she is meant to be, and become an individual worthy of true love. So when the time is right and one enters a romantic relationship, he or she will be able to respect his/her partner’s dignity.

In sum, the teenage years are the time in every person’s life where much change tends to happen.

One grows physically, mentally, and emotionally – dating and relationships are a natural part of it.

However, the current culture that is being bred among the youth is the misconception of love and lust from media. The talk given by Jason and Crystalina Evert shed light on this issue. It gave the students clarity in distinguishing between the two concepts to find authentic love, and taught them that for those who have made mistakes in the past, there is always hope. Jason and Crystalina’s inspiring life stories have ultimately proven that true love is definitely worth the wait!

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Rosette • May 2014

Wear the Plaid with Pride

The Youthful Gathering, The Heart of a Saint

The Youthful Gathering

By Celine Zamora

The large crowd, the happy faces, the receptive atmosphere: this is World Youth Day. Though it was Pope Francis’ first time hosting the event, he was warmly welcomed by the 3,700,000 attendees.

This year’s theme, “Go and Make Disciples of All Nations,” was clearly expressed by his words and actions. For instance, Pope Francis’ first hour in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was devoted to interviews while the next were spent kissing babies, tossing his zuchetto (spherical white cap which he normally wears on his head) to the crowd, and ignoring his allotted nap time.

The next day, he welcomed the youth – that is, anyone young at heart – by exclaiming, “I have neither silver nor gold, but I bring with me the most precious thing given: Jesus Christ!” Pope Francis interacted with the attendees during the Stations of the Cross and masses held throughout July 22-28.

He also attended numerous meetings with religious and political leaders, and he highlighted the need to cease selfishness and exclusion of the poor.

In a successful attempt to form the basis of his words, Pope Francis visited a rehabilitation centre which aimed to help former drug users. He emphasized the need to turn away from vacancy and negativity. The patients, he suggested, should

The Heart of a Saint

by Bianca Marañon

When one thinks of saints, surely what comes to mind are men and women, eyes lifted to heaven and heads crowned with luminous halos, contemplating realities and soaring to theological heights that one can only aspire to reach. This image may not be entirely accurate. After all, St. Josemaria describes saints as “perfectly ordinary, normal beings like you and me.”

St. Josemaria is one such saint. Even while he was alive, people were sure he would be canonized one day. One person even told his mother, “Someday, we’ll be seeing him raised on the altars!” His heart was very much in God, and the saint’s love for Him practically rolled off him in waves. Apart from a rich prayer life and a lot of work lovingly completed, St. Josemaria loved God in many different ways.

For example, he was very aware of Christ’s real presence in the tabernacle.

While working, he would “escape” to the oratory in between tasks. If that wasn’t possible, he’d turn his mind and heart to our Lord in the tabernacle over and over.

On a car drive, he saw a bell tower of a church in the distance. He opened the window and shouted, “Hey, Lord! An affectionate greeting from all of us here in this car!”

Also, St. Josemaria wanted to always remember that he was in God’s presence.

When he celebrated Mass, for instance, he was so recollected and absorbed in

learn how to pick up from the past, grab on to a helping hand, and realize the true satisfaction in serving Christ and others.

The rest of the three million visitors were gathered at Copacabana beach for the final World Youth Day mass. While waiting, they followed the Pope’s advice and initiated virtuous acts, such as donating sleeping bags to those who had none. Pope Francis smiled in appreciation upon seeing the active response of the people. He warmly commented on how it was a wonderful experience to live the faith with other young people, but also how it was up to them to continue the legacy of faith and love. “Go beyond the confines of what is humanly possible,” he accentuated, “and create a world of brothers and sisters!”

As these things took place, Woodrose was also participating in the celebration, despite being halfway across the world. The Grade Eight students, for example, designed their own Stations of the Cross while the Juniors produced videos based on Blessed John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Pope Francis’ unique experiences while hosting the event. Everyone was highly encouraged to pray and hear mass for the Pope and participants.

The year 2013 held the thirteenth World Youth Day in history. Its success in terms of the number of attendees could almost rival the five million participants in the 1995th World Youth Day held in Manila (about 1,300,000 more than the one in Rio). Nevertheless, this year’s World Youth Day was historical, and the next one – to be held in Krakow, Poland – is garnering an even more promising amount of excitement from people around the world.

God that the person serving the Mass had to lift his vestments so he wouldn’t trip going up a step. He would often trace a cross with his thumb on the palm of his hand when his hands were clasped in front of him, as he depicted in most paintings and prayer cards.

Though he was a very holy man, he was also “perfectly ordinary”. He enjoyed math, and would play sports to rest or exercise. He, too, had his faults, as all people do. He struggled against his temper for most of his life.

He also had a very healthy sense of humor, and loved jokes. Once, he and a few companions were being driven around Rome by a very careless driver. At one point, when they nearly collided into a streetlight, he exclaimed jokingly, “Ave, Caesar, morituri te salutant!” In English, this is “Hail, Caesar, we who are about to die salute you!” The driver, who didn’t understand a word of Latin, said, “Thanks, Father!”

St. Josemaria also enjoyed listening to songs. In fact, he loved Mexican love songs so much that, when he wasn’t praying, he would play them during long car drives and sing along. He would often share these songs with his spiritual children.

One day, in a center in Italy, they heard a love song playing over the loudspeakers, and St. Josemaria laughing, saying, “We got this record as a present, and I thought you’d like to hear it!”

He loved his spiritual children deeply, and often sent them sweets, even for no reason. A son of his recalls a time when he was praying in the oratory. St. Josemaria entered, genuflected, placed a tiny chocolate in front of him, and left without a word. He would clean the glasses of his sons, and draw ducks for his daughters when they asked him to. When they were sick, he would visit them, and do his best to alleviate the pain. He once improvised a funny dance to cheer up a child of his who was in pain.

In the last audience St. Josemaria had with the pope, Pope Paul VI, the pope would look at him and interrupt him, exclaiming, “You are a saint!” Indeed, that much was obvious from the way he lived. But what was also extraordinary about his life is how much of an ordinary person he was. He was a person who had likes and dislikes, who liked to joke around, and who was very much human. In this man, holiness and ordinariness were seamlessly united. After all, he spent his life teaching others that one could become the saint in the most ordinary setting – everyday life.

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Rosette • May 2014

Wear the Plaid with Pride

WRelief Opertions, The Heart ot help

WRelief Operations

By Anne Zamora

Last August, the Philippines was hit by Tropical Storm Maring (internationally known as Trami), a cyclone of such magnitude and strength that wreaked havoc even in neighbouring regions such as Taiwan and East China. Maring caused severe flooding all over the nation, killing a total of eighteen people, costing $1.83 million in damages, and changing the lives of millions of Filipinos.

Woodrose students were quick to respond to the needs of our poor Filipino brothers and sisters who lost almost everything after the typhoon. Food, clothes, toiletries and other goods were generously donated and brought to the school. Student volunteers arrived early on a Saturday, eager to offer their services to the less fortunate. They meticulously sorted out clothes and packed goods for four hours straight.

Students, teachers, alumnae and Red Cross volunteers headed to an evacuation center in Barangay Cupang. This evacuation center was just a basketball court, still wet from the extreme downpour the night before. Around nine families had to share the small space after being forced to flee from their houses.

The volunteers graciously distributed the relief goods that they had prepared. The evacuees were more than grateful for all that the volunteers had done. After leaving their wrecked homes with nothing but the clothes on their back, it was reassuring to have some food and clothes to help rebuild their houses and their lives once again.

The evacuees may have returned to their families with canned goods and new t-shirts, but the Woodrose volunteers did not go home empty-handed either. A student volunteer mentioned how the experience opened her eyes to the reality of life. There were about a hundred people cramped in a basketball court, simply trying to survive, while she was fortunate enough to go home to a place that supplied her with more than what she needed. Although the nine families in the evacuation centre were given the relief goods that they needed, until this day they and countless other Filipinos continue to rely on the support of the more fortunate citizens willing to lend a helping hand.

The Heart to Help

by Rita Camacho

On November 8, 2013, Super Typhoon Yolanda struck the Philippines.

Within mere seconds, one could see that the Filipinos’ preparations were simply not enough. The typhoon plowed through the province, uprooting trees, ripping apart homes, sweeping away belongings, and generally leaving a devastating plain of mass destruction in its wake. The typhoon tore apart families, showing no mercy as it annihilated 6,000 people – all in the blink of an eye.

The worst part of all: nobody could stop it.

With their suffering countrymen in mind, it was then that PAREF Woodrose decided to hold a Relief Drive. Students, teachers, parents, and staff gave up their time and packed countless donations into boxes.

These boxes were then flown to the areas of calamity, and the donations were quickly distributed to the people affected.

Through our Relief Drive and countless prayers offered up, Woodrose has shown that, truly, the Filipinos have the heart to help.

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Rosette • May 2014

Wear the Plaid with Pride

To Teach is to Touch a Life Forever: CDO 2013, Finding Heart(s), Balete Rurals

To Teach is to Touch a Life Forever: CDO 2013

By Lucia Lorenzo and Trina Camacho

A mother who had lost all her children. Two children living with their grandmother because their mother had perished after the flood. Multiple families whose houses and belongings were all swept away. A whole community that lived in darkness because they lacked the money needed to pay the electricity bills.

These were only some of the people that our Rurals group met during our five-day-long service camp in Cagayan de Oro, shortly after Typhoon Sendong struck. For five days, our group taught Catechism, Math, and Crafts in two relocation sites for Typhoon Sendong victims. Aside from this, we were able to visit many families and listen to their stories.

The first relocation site that we visited was Aluba. There, our group taught in a basketball court before moving to a classroom. We taught the kids prayers and even made origami cranes and stars for them. Aside from that, we joined the Flores de Mayo activities, where we sang songs to Our Lady and offered up our petitions. After teaching in Aluba, we taught in another relocation site called Dahag.

Here, we taught under a mango tree while sitting on banigs, with stray chickens constantly interrupting our lessons. In both relocation sites, we were able to

Balete Rurals

By Ela Banaag

Besides lazing around and using the computer all day, it was nice to do something worthwhile last summer. Last May, I joined a group of Narra girls on a trip to Balete, Batangas for the annual Rural Service Project. It wasn’t my first time there, but it was a different experience, one much more memorable than expected.

The highlight of the trip was definitely the teaching itself. We were divided into groups, and I was part of the group who would teach Grades 5-6. We had prepared for days and couldn’t wait to get started. On our first day there, there were a few

visit many families who were the victims of Typhoon Sendong. After these families shared their stories with us, we would teach them about St. Josemaria and the Work, and give them bags of food. Truly, the families we visited showed us what gratitude, thanksgiving, optimism and hope really are about.

Even in the darkest of times, these families were able to see the light and thank the Lord for all the blessings that they had.

On a lighter note, the trip wasn’t simply “all work and no play.” One entire day of the trip, in fact, was devoted to white-water rafting down the Cagayan de Oro River and visiting the Lunocan Canyon in Bukidnon. Our group was also able to visit the Divine Mercy Shrine and the monument of the Heart of Jesus, where we looked hilarious, as we had to wear skirts over our teaching clothes while climbing up the Heart of Jesus monument! During our trip, we were also able to befriend many people, including girls from the Rosevale School and from Corpus Christi. All these events made our trip more memorable because we were able to grow closer each other and to God. Truly, we will always remember this life-changing experience. We will remember making paper stars and cranes for the kids and preparing breakfast with only a microwave and a toaster. We will remember how we tried to sleep during the truck rides home, and how we always ended waking up because it was just too bumpy! Most of all, we will always remember how we were able to touch the lives of all the people, who, in turn, touched our lives too. As one of our co-volunteers adequately expressed, “I feel like I am the beneficiary of this program because these people have taught me so much more than I have taught them.” challenges, such as keeping everyone interested and attentive. We noticed some of the kids getting bored and not wanting to pay attention to the discussion.

We realized that we needed to do something to prevent our students from spacing out! We pointed out things we needed to improve on after each class day, such as the way we talked to them or how we were treating them. Soon enough, the kids were all engaged in the discussions and activities!

For myself and a lot of the other members of the group, another challenge was speaking in Filipino.

At first, I was worried that the kids would laugh at me and all my mistakes. However, it soon became clear to me that I was mistaken about that assumption.

The kids were very polite and kind. I realized that they saw beyond my grammatical mistakes and saw the effort I was putting into reaching out to them.

As the days went by, I looked forward to teaching more and more. We also had other activities, like visiting families and painting the walls of the farm school, which I also enjoyed very much.

Teaching in Balete was life-changing. Seeing those kids’ faces light up when you teach them gives you a warm feeling inside that one can’t explain but only experience. And it’s an experience I look forward to having again. Like I said, it wasn’t my first time there, but it definitely isn’t my last.

Finding Heart(s)

By Iya Oracion

Last May 2013, I flew out to Palo, Leyte with nineteen other volunteers for the Rural Service Project, a program that gives young volunteers a chance to teach the catechism of the Catholic Church and English to children in rural areas.

Every single day we spent in Leyte was jampacked with various activities. We began each day with Holy Mass, preparing ourselves spiritually for the long day ahead. Then, we would walk to San Joaquin Parish Church for the morning teaching session wherein we would teach catechism and English to the youngsters from first grade up to Year IV students for the first two hours. The remaining hour was spent for Alternative Learning with subjects like Music, Sports, and Dance. The classes would continue during the afternoon session, and then we would play games with the kids. Afterwards, we would journey into the community to distribute medicines, canned goods, and St. Josemaria prayer cards to the families. In return, they shared their wonderful life stories of sacrifice, love, and hard work.

Back at the house, we also had our “secret buddy” system to look forward to! Basically, every volunteer was assigned to another volunteer to covertly do nice things for that particular person.

No one was allowed to reveal herself until the end of the third day. It definitely kept us all on our toes, guessing who our secret buddies were and trying not to expose our own secret buddies.

After going through this routine for five days, I learned, as the idiom goes, “to have a heart” – three, in fact! First is the heart of service: whether it was preparing my teaching materials, or planning a surprise for my secret buddy, I always tried to give my very best, so that others could benefit from my hard work. Consequently, I felt a sense of fulfilment after every tiring day of teaching. Through this encounter with the heart of service came my discovery of the heart of learning. Sacrificing a couple of hours each day led to learning of my students and their appreciation of the lesson. I actually saw learning and education everywhere I went – volunteers learning about the lives of the people in Leyte, or even volunteers learning new things about each other. I was able to discover more about my students and fellow volunteers. I began to care for them; I began to enjoy their company. It was then that I discovered the heart of friendship.

I returned to Manila with more than just “thank you” notes from my students; I returned with the satisfaction of living simply: of bringing happiness to others through the service and love that Rurals has taught me.

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Wear the Plaid with Pride

Pride and Prejudice

By Pauline Borlongan

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a beloved classic that will live on until the end of time. How can it be beloved even now when most of the antiquated words seem almost alien to us? Because of the story.

At the heart of the story, of course, is the plot. There’s a headstrong, independent young woman Elizabeth Bennet and an arrogant, aloof man named Mr. Darcy. At first look, these two don’t seem to have anything in common, personality-wise.

But the truth is that they’re perfect for each other! They just don’t realize it at first. The gist of it is that they go from hating each other to — well, spoilers. Anyway, they go through ups and downs in their relationship and through it all, we find ourselves rooting for the both of them.

Although Miss Bennet and Mr. Darcy will probably occupy your head and your heart, make some more space for the other endearing characters! Pride and Prejudice has a large cast of diverse characters who all contribute to the plot in one way or another. Their interactions are funny, which give the book a light and cheery tone. Through her masterful writing, Austen pokes fun at her own characters through their actions. She makes them look so ridiculous that it’s highly probable you will find yourself laughing by yourself with this book in your hands — yet another reason why it’s worth it.

All of these elements come together to create a brilliant novel that you can learn so much from.

There are so many reasons why Pride and Prejudice is still so popular despite being two hundred years old. Anyone who’s interested in romance or even just a good laugh will enjoy this book. It holds a special place in the hearts of many. Get a copy and prepare to make lots of room in your heart.

The Princess Bride

By Mayte Abola

The Princess Bride is S. Morgenstern’s classic tale of “true love and high adventure.” The only available copy today, however, is the “good parts” version abridged by William Goldman. The book is ranked 10 out of 100 on the Goodreads list of best love stories, and is ranked even higher than The Hunger Games!

A summary of the book’s highlights can be expressed in these 26 concepts: fencing, fighting, torture, poison, true love, hate, revenge, giants, hunters, bad men, good men, gorgeous ladies, snakes, spiders, beasts of all natures, pain, death, brave men, cowardly men, strong men, chases, escapes, lies, truths, passion, and miracles. With all these different elements, the book will cater to one’s taste for romance, adventure, and suspense.

The most enjoyable aspect of the book is definitely the characters. There is, of course, a beautiful princess who is to become a bride, a hunter-prince who is not in love with this princess, a six-fingered count, a farm boy who is elegantly sarcastic, a Spanish fencer who is fueled by revenge, a giant who loves to formulate rhymes, and a self-proclaimed genius. These characters and their interactions create a fairy tale worth reading.

Throughout the plot, at every moment, the characters strive to attain what they consider to be their true love: a person, a concept, or even an action. Indeed, The Princess Bride is a love story that transcends the usual concept of love, which states that “love exists solely between a young man and woman.” For the characters of The Princess Bride, true love is not merely interpreted in a romantic sense. True love is a lofty concept based on being noble and honorable. Saving a princess, avenging the death of a loved one, and working a miracle were all acts that, when carried out with nobility and honor, became acts of true love, even if these actions did not transpire between a young man and a young woman.

If the previously stated reasons are not yet enough motivation, read the book to figure out the significance of this exclamation: “Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”

Enjoy reading!

Rosette • May 2014 Pride and Prejudice, The Princess Bride

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Rosette • May 2014

Wear the Plaid with Pride

Corny Jokes, Word Search, Comics

Corny Jokes #1 Q:What did the digital clock say to the grandfather clock?

A: Look grandpa, no hands! #2 Q. What did the baby corn say to the mama corn?

A. “Where’s pop corn?” #3 Q. What do you get when you cross a tyrannosaurus rex with fireworks?

A. DINO-MITE! #4 Q. What washes up on tiny beaches?

A. Microwaves! #5 Q. How does Hitler tie his shoes?

A. With little Nazis! #6 Q. What did the worker at the rubber band factory say when he lost his job?

A. OH SNAP!

Word Search

Interviewer: Pauline Borlongan

What advice can you give about the heart?

“I decide to love something because that something will be good for me even if it may be hard to love.”

— Ms. Kliatchko, Grade 8 Religion Teacher

“The heart must always speak louder than the brain because it knows what is best.” —Macy Agoncillo, IIIB

“Guard it well and keep it clean for God or else it will turn traitor.”

— Fr. Reyes, school chaplain

“The heart is below the brain, so when you make decisions, reason should prevail over emotions.”

— Reesa Marasigan, IVC

“Share your heart with the one whom you trust to always protect it.” — Nica Jaucian, IVA