Khaizel

     What takes place when old cobblestone streets are filled with drum beats, bright carnival lights, and the friendly warmth of a whole community celebrating together? In January 2026, I found this answer in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, when the city became full of life for the yearly Longganisa Festival, which is held at the same time as the Fiesta of the Conversion of St. Paul.     The very moment I walked into Vigan’s historic area, the air was full of energy. Colorful decorations were put up on every side of the well-kept Spanish colonial streets. Live music could be heard moving through the small streets where local people and travelers had come together to celebrate the event. What I noticed most was how smoothly the city combines its deep historical roots with practices that are still part of daily life. This turns the festival into an experience that has important cultural meaning and is also very interesting for every person who is there.   ...

     During the third quarter, I gained valuable knowledge and practical skills in web development fundamentals. Specifically, I learned about HTML tags, understanding their purpose, syntax, and proper usage for structuring content like headings, paragraphs, images, links, and lists. I also developed basic coding skills, including how to write clean, well-formatted HTML code. Additionally, I successfully learned how to create HTML files using text editors and how to build simple web pages by testing and viewing them in web browsers.         The main challenge I faced was getting confused with different HTML tags at times. It was difficult to keep track of which tags to use for specific elements, and I often mixed up tag names or forgot to include closing tags, which caused errors in my web pages. To overcome this confusion, I dedicated time to study and practice consistently. I reviewed tag references regularly, did hands-on exercises for each typ...

     What makes a man become the symbol of an entire nation? For the Philippines, that man is Jose Rizal, a name known by every Filipino, from young students to elders who still tell stories of his courage. He is everywhere you look: on money, in schools, on monuments, and even in the lessons we learn as kids. People call him the face of the Philippines not just because his image is easy to recognize, but because he gave everything to make his country free and better.      Rizal’s greatest contribution to Philippine society is how he used words instead of weapons to fight for change. During his time, the Philippines was ruled by foreign powers that treated Filipinos unfairly. Instead of picking up a sword, he wrote books and essays that opened people’s eyes. His stories showed the truth about the problems in society and made Filipinos proud of who they were. He taught us that knowledge and love for our country are powerful tools that can move mountains. ...

     Christmas always feels like a warm hug, until you realize some loved ones are missing from the circle, leaving a gentle empty space amidst the joy.      I spent this Christmas surrounded by family, laughing and sharing hearty meals with my grandparents, aunts, and uncles.  What made it truly enjoyable was playing with my cousins, we ran around the yard chasing each other, exchanged small, handmade gifts, and told silly stories by the glowing Christmas tree. Those moments made my heart feel light and happy, as if all worries had melted away in our laughter.      Yet a quiet sadness lingered in my chest. My mom and dad weren’t there,  both were busy at work, far from home, working hard to provide for our family. I kept looking at the empty chairs beside me during dinner, imagining their smiles and the way they would tease me about not eating much . Even with all the joy and warmth around me, I couldn’t help but wish they were by ...

       Imagine walking through a mountain village, where elders teach young people to weave cloth with patterns that tell stories of their ancestors’ connection to the land, stories that have been passed down for hundreds of years, and that hold the key to how we can live in balance with the world around us.That image is the heart of this year’s National IP Month: a reminder that the cultures we often overlook are the ones that can guide us toward a better future.        This celebration matters because it stops us from forgetting. For too long, many Indigenous communities’ traditions, knowledge, and voices have been pushed to the side.The theme “Weaving Culture, Enriching Future” is a simple, powerful way to say: these cultures are not relics of the past, they are threads we need to weave into our country’s future. When we protect Indigenous weaving, farming, or storytelling traditions, we are not just saving “old things”, we are saving ways of l...