Third Quarter: A Quarter of Struggles and Growth

During the third quarter of ICT, we learned how to create ordered and unordered lists in HTML. We then focused on our community-based research (CBR) and applied our knowledge of HTML to design the webpage layout for our CBR.

Throughout this quarter, I encountered difficulties in completing my part of the CBR and was unable to contribute to the webpage layout due to a lack of resources, such as a laptop. Fortunately, I was able to overcome these challenges with the help of Ashley, who guided me in completing my CBR tasks. Additionally, Ashley and Shecinah stepped in to handle my part of the webpage layout to ensure our project was completed on time.

Moving forward, I will strive to be more involved in group activities and find ways to contribute effectively, despite any challenges I may face.

REFERENCE/S

Kean, K. (2023, December 31). 3 Types of HTML lists and how to use them. MUO. https://www.makeuseof.com/html-lists-types-how-use/

Chinese New Year: Connection Between Chinese and Filipinos

 Chinese New Year is celebrated in the Philippines every year. It is not just a celebration but an important part of Chinese culture. While it is primarily observed by the Chinese, many Filipinos also take part in the celebration.

Over time, celebrating Chinese New Year has become a tradition in the Philippines. People follow customs such as giving red envelopes, wearing red clothes, and preparing lucky foods. In 2012, the holiday was officially recognized as a special non-working day. Through Proclamation No. 295, issued in November 2011, President Benigno Aquino III declared Chinese New Year a special non-working holiday to allow both Filipinos and Filipino-Chinese to celebrate. He emphasized that this recognition reflects the country’s solidarity with the Chinese-Filipino community, which has long been an integral part of Philippine society.

In conclusion, Chinese New Year is more than just a celebration of traditions and gift-giving. It symbolizes the deep connections shared between the Chinese and Filipinos.

REFERENCE/S

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand | Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Bangkok. (n.d.). Sindhorn Midtown. https://www.sindhornmidtown.com/things-to-do-in-bangkok/chinese-new-year-in-bangkok

Font, A. M. (2025, January 27). 2025, YEAR OF THE SNAKE: A GUIDE TO THE WONDERS OF CHINESE NEW YEAR — EAST WEST. EAST WEST. https://eastwestspace.com/ew-blog/chinese-new-year-2025

Philstar (2014, January 27). Why celebrate Chinese New Year? A look at Philippine, China economic ties. https://www.philstar.com/business/2014/01/27/1283587/why-celebrate-chinese-new-year-look-philippine-china-economic

From A Simple Municipality To A Thriving City

 Have you ever been in the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia? The historic town of Vigan City, located in Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It is the capital city of Ilcoos Sur. In fact, Vigan City is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New7Wonders Cities.

The state of Vigan then was far from Vigan now. Up until 1999, before Vigan became a city, it was just a third-class town, and its popularity almost faded and disappeared. Despite Vigan's historic charm, it wasn't as popular and developed as it is now. One reason why it was not popular was that it was not easy to travel to Vigan. The roads in Vigan were not as developed as they are today. There were fewer paved roads. Second, Vigan lacked the resources to promote itself as a tourist destination. While it had many historic sites, such as Spanish-era buildings and churches, the town did not have the facilities or government support to preserve these sites or advertise them to a broader audience. As a result, it remained largely unknown to many Filipinos and foreign visitors; people outside the region didn’t know much about it. At that time, Vigan did not receive much attention, and many people didn’t realize its potential as a cultural and historical destination.

However, the conversion of the Municipality of Vigan in the Province of Ilocos Sur into a city on December 28, 2000 through Republic Act No. 8988, otherwise known as “An  Act Validating and Recognizing the Creation of the City of Vigan" strengthened its historical significance. This law officially recognized Vigan's status as a city, further highlighting its cultural heritage and historical importance. Vigan became popular and even garnered the recognition  as one of the New Seven Wonder Cities of the modern world in 2015. From then Vigan received more attention from the national government, gained access to more resources, including funding for infrastructure and public services. So they began to develop Vigan's roads, transportation systems, and tourist facilities.  With better accessibility, more tourists began to discover Vigan’s historical beauty. The local government officials of Vigan also took more steps to improve the City of Vigan, such as Mayor Eva Marie Singson-Medina. Under Mayor Eva Marie Singson-Medina in the early 2000s, Vigan expanded tourism beyond Calle Crisologo by promoting industries like loom weaving, jar-making, and terracotta crafting, accessible by horse-drawn carriages. She also initiated the Vigan Conservation Complex, which includes museums, a school for restorers, and a research center. The city developed streets parallel to Calle Crisologo to reduce congestion and strengthened heritage conservation through the Vigan Conservation Council. Vigan also earned recognition as a child-friendly city for three consecutive years from 2009 to 2011. It was only when Vigan started to develop more infrastructure and gained recognition for its preserved Spanish architecture that it began to attract more visitors

The transformation of Vigan from a municipality to a city has changed the journey of Vigan. From a municipality with a simple community to a city with remarkable historic beauty.

REFERENCE/S

Cabillen, J. (2024, July 17). Top 13 Vigan City Tourist Spots: Historic UNESCO World Heritage site. Guide to the Philippines. https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/what-to-experience/vigan-ilocos-tourist-spots

DepEd Vigan City. (n.d.)Our History | https://depedvigancity.com/index.php/our-history/#:~:text=8988%2C%20otherwise%20known%20as%20%E2%80%9CAn,plebiscite%20conducted%20in%20Ilocos%20Sur.

Flores, J., Dela Cruz, M.(n.d) VIGAN: a THRIVING HERITAGE CITY. League. https://www.league.ph/items-8/vigan%3A-a-thriving-heritage-city

Patrick. (2024, April 25). Vigan City Visitors Guide. Discover the Philippines. https://www.discoverthephilippines.com/vigan-city-visitors-guide/

Walker, J. E. (2021, May 14). Travel & food stories. Travel & Food Stories. https://travelandfoodworld.wordpress.com/

2025: A Year To Become Better

 

"Celebrate endings—for they precede new beginnings." - Jonathan Huie. 2024 is over, and here comes the start of 2025. New year means a new chance to start over and become better. 

This year I decided to make changes for my self-growth. I will stop letting people take advantage of me. I’ve realized that forgiving people all the time, even when they hurt me repeatedly, only makes them feel that it is okay to take advantage of me. It’s time to set boundaries and learn to say no. Saying no doesn’t mean I no longer care, it doesn’t make me a bad person, it means I am protecting myself. I will also learn to cut off people who are no longer good for me, especially for my mental health. I’ve held on to certain relationships for too long, thinking they might get better, but sometimes, cutting them off is the best thing to do. I will not be able to grow when I surround myself with negative people who only want the bad things to happen to me. Lastly, I will try new things and step out of my comfort zone, even if it scares me. Taking risks and doing things I’m afraid of for more opportunities. 

2025 will be my chance to be the best version of myself. New year, new me, I guess?

REFERENCE/S

ABC News. (2025, January 1). New Year’s celebrations: How the world is ringing in 2025. ABC News. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/104775778

A Dim Christmas

Christmas used to be one of my favorite holidays of the year. The yummy foods, a lot of gifts, and a time well spent with family. When I was a child, my cousins and I always made Christmas enjoyable and unforgettable, like camping and going to every house in our barangay for Christmas caroling. But as I grew older, Christmas didn't feel the same anymore, it started to feel boring and sad. The sparkle of Christmas faded, it felt empty. 

This Christmas vacation, I wasn’t able to enjoy it at all because one of our relatives passed away. Instead of celebrating, we spent most of the time at the “burol”. I helped serve food to the visitors who came to show their condolences.

On December 24, my family on my father's side decided to go to Sived Beach. My uncle’s employees were having their Christmas party there, and we joined them. However, it still didn’t feel like a celebration for me. The bond I used to have with my cousins has changed as we grew older. We’ve become more distant, so even the beach trip felt sad and boring. In the past, I would stay up until midnight on Christmas Eve, excited to celebrate and open gifts with my cousins. But this year, I didn’t feel like celebrating. I just went to bed early and slept. On December 26, our relative was buried. We accompanied her to the cemetery for the burial. After that, life slowly went back to normal.This year’s Christmas wasn’t like the happy ones I used to have. It was filled with emptiness.

Life can be unpredictable, and we should treasure the good moments with our loved ones while we can.

REFERENCE/S

Haven, G. (2023, January 24). Pre and Post Pandemic Filipino Christmas Traditions. Golden Haven Memorial Parks. https://www.goldenhaven.com.ph/blog/pre-and-post-pandemic-filipino-christmas-traditions/

My Second Quarter Journey With HTML

During the second quarter, we focused on learning, discovering, and applying HTML. I learned how to use different tags. I also learned how to format text, add background color and images, create tables, etc. 

During our HTML activities, I encountered some challenges. One of the challenges I encountered was memorizing the different HTML tags and their purposes. I sometimes struggled to make my output exactly like what was instructed because I couldn't find the right tag or attribute, or I would forget or miss some tags or formats. 

In order to address those challenges, I often seek help from my classmates. They showed and taught me how to properly use the tags I was confused about. 

Moving on, I will try to learn more about HTML and try to apply it. This way, I can improve my skills in basic coding. 

Fighting Violence Against Women

 

Every March, the Philippines celebrates the National Women’s Month. This year’s theme is "Lipunang Patas Sa Bagong Pilipinas: Kakayahan ng Kababaihan, Patutunayan!" As part of this celebration, the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women is observed from November 25 to December 12. This campaign aims to raise awareness about violence against women and to promote gender equality.

The Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act of 2004 is a law that protects women and their children from any form of violence and seeks to address the prevalence of violence against women and their children (VAWC) by their intimate partners. 

The Republic Act No. 9262 covers several acts of violence, which are physical, sexual, physiological, and economic abuse. The persons who are protected by R.A. 9262 are wife, former wife, a woman with whom the offender has or had sexual relations, a woman with whom the offender has a common child, and the legitimate or illegitimate child of the woman within or without the family abode. It is an act that served as a foundation and a tool for the 18-day campaign to end violence against women that provides rights and support to women. 

Republic Act 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, is an act that addresses gender-based harassment in streets, public spaces, workplaces, online platforms, and educational or training institutions. It prohibits acts such as catcalling, stalking, and inappropriate behavior.

Republic Act 8353, or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997. This law defines rape and provides for the punishment of those who commit this crime. It also protects the rights of rape victims, such as the right to privacy and the right to seek medical and psychological help.

The 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women is an important opportunity to raise awareness about VAW and to promote gender equality. Understanding the laws that protect women and children, such as the VAWC Act, RA 9262, and related laws like RA 8353 and RA 11313, is important in protecting women and raising awareness through the 18-Day Campaign, ensuring a safer and more equal society.

 

REFERENCES

Philippine Commission on Women. (n.d.). Republic Acts | Philippine Commission on Women. https://pcw.gov.ph/republic-acts-2/?_page=2
 
Philippine Commission on Women.(n.d.).FAQs RA 9262: the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004. 

https://pcw.gov.ph/faq-republic-act-9262/

Angel Kristine N.( 2024, March 1) 2024 National Women’s Month Celebration | Department of Science and Technology.
https://asti.dost.gov.ph/transparency/gad/2024-national-womens-month-celebration/

St. Clare’s Medical Center, Inc. (2024, January 9). 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women. https://stclaresmedicalcenter.com/18-day-campaign-to-end-violence-against-women-2/

Mercurio, R. (2019, December 17). Gender equality: Philippines out of Top 10. Philstar.com. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/12/18/1977944/gender-equality-philippines-out-top-10/amp/