Magellan's Cross

Have you seen the thing that is such called as the Magellan’s Cross? Have you touched it with your own bare hands? Have you seen it with your own naked hands? If you asked me the same questions I will say yes to the first and the last questions. Because I have seen the cross with my own eyes. I have gone to the place where it was planted. In this post of mine it states that there are many mysteries hidden behind the walls of this cross. And you will find out all of those mysteries if you read this post thoroughly.
Close to 500 years ago, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan planted a huge Christian cross in Sugbu (now Cebu) to celebrate the baptism into the Roman Catholic religion of island chief Rajah Humabon, his wife, and some 500 of their followers on April 21, 1521.The 485-year-old cross, called Magellan’s Cross, now stands at a small chapel located across Cebu City Hall and along Magallanes Street. The street is named after Magellan, Magallanes being the Spanish translation of the Portuguese explorer’s name. A sign below the cross says the original Magellan’s Cross is encased in the tindalo wood cross displayed in the center of the chapel. This is to protect it from people who chipped away parts of the cross believing it has miraculous powers or as souvenirs. Some, however, say that the original cross planted by Magellan was destroyed or lost and what stands there now is a replacement planted by Spaniards who came after the Portuguese explorer. Magellan was killed on April 27, 1521 in what is now known as the Battle of Mactan. The Portuguese explorer died when his men fought Mactan natives led by the island’s chieftain, Lapu-Lapu. Cebu City Hall now uses the cross as a symbol and the chapel’s image can be found in the city seal. Many other Cebu-based government and non-government organizations use Magellan’s Cross in their seals and logos. The cross is a popular tourist attraction together with other Cebu historical landmarks like the Fort San Pedro, built by the Spanish conquistador who came some 40 years after Magellan, and the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, considered the oldest church in the Philippines. Within the vicinity of Magellan’s Cross are Cebu guitar vendors and shell craft and woodcraft displays. The products are popular with the locals and tourists. Magellan’s Cross, as with many areas and landmarks in Cebu, is currently being renovated and restored in preparation for the province’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit this December. If you haven’t found out about the mysteries here are some additional information about this cross.
This cross is found in the middle of the busy metropolitan city of Cebu. This cross signaled the Christianization of the country as the cross is the symbol of Christianity. Magellan’s cross, as it is referred to, is housed in a well-preserved dome-shaped concrete structure. People who flock to the spot get a better view of the cross as it elevated on a platform in the middle of the structure. From the outside, the place resembles a covered deep well. On the concrete ceiling are found elaborate paintings that depict Christianity and religious symbols.
Now that my explaining of my topic is over you already know the secret of this cross or barely. There are many secrets and memories treasured in and by this cross.
Have you seen the thing that is such called as the Magellan’s Cross? Have you touched it with your own bare hands? Have you seen it with your own naked hands? If you asked me the same questions I will say yes to the first and the last questions. Because I have seen the cross with my own eyes. I have gone to the place where it was planted. In this post of mine it states that there are many mysteries hidden behind the walls of this cross. And you will find out all of those mysteries if you read this post thoroughly.
Close to 500 years ago, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan planted a huge Christian cross in Sugbu (now Cebu) to celebrate the baptism into the Roman Catholic religion of island chief Rajah Humabon, his wife, and some 500 of their followers on April 21, 1521.The 485-year-old cross, called Magellan’s Cross, now stands at a small chapel located across Cebu City Hall and along Magallanes Street. The street is named after Magellan, Magallanes being the Spanish translation of the Portuguese explorer’s name. A sign below the cross says the original Magellan’s Cross is encased in the tindalo wood cross displayed in the center of the chapel. This is to protect it from people who chipped away parts of the cross believing it has miraculous powers or as souvenirs. Some, however, say that the original cross planted by Magellan was destroyed or lost and what stands there now is a replacement planted by Spaniards who came after the Portuguese explorer. Magellan was killed on April 27, 1521 in what is now known as the Battle of Mactan. The Portuguese explorer died when his men fought Mactan natives led by the island’s chieftain, Lapu-Lapu. Cebu City Hall now uses the cross as a symbol and the chapel’s image can be found in the city seal. Many other Cebu-based government and non-government organizations use Magellan’s Cross in their seals and logos. The cross is a popular tourist attraction together with other Cebu historical landmarks like the Fort San Pedro, built by the Spanish conquistador who came some 40 years after Magellan, and the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, considered the oldest church in the Philippines. Within the vicinity of Magellan’s Cross are Cebu guitar vendors and shell craft and woodcraft displays. The products are popular with the locals and tourists. Magellan’s Cross, as with many areas and landmarks in Cebu, is currently being renovated and restored in preparation for the province’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit this December. If you haven’t found out about the mysteries here are some additional information about this cross.
This cross is found in the middle of the busy metropolitan city of Cebu. This cross signaled the Christianization of the country as the cross is the symbol of Christianity. Magellan’s cross, as it is referred to, is housed in a well-preserved dome-shaped concrete structure. People who flock to the spot get a better view of the cross as it elevated on a platform in the middle of the structure. From the outside, the place resembles a covered deep well. On the concrete ceiling are found elaborate paintings that depict Christianity and religious symbols.
Now that my explaining of my topic is over you already know the secret of this cross or barely. There are many secrets and memories treasured in and by this cross.

My Favorite National Hero

My favorite national hero is General Gregorio Del Pilar. I want to ask you a question; do you have a favorite national hero? Why is he or she your favorite hero? If you ask me the same questions I will say that he is my favorite because he is brave and he sacrificed his life for all the Filipinos. Why do I say such a thing? You will know why when you will finish reading my blog. Now I will tell you the life story of my favorite national hero General Gregorio Del Pilar.
Gregorio Del Pilar was born on November 16, 1875 in Bulacan. Marcel0o H. Del Pilar is his uncle.
Gregorio Del Pilar learned his first letters from Pedro Serrano Laktaw, a leading mason who wrote an extensive Tagalog-Spanish dictionary decade later.
Gregorio enrolled in the Ateneo Municipal in Manila. He graduated with a bachillerato at the outset of the revolution in 1896. He was an average student. He became an ardent student nationalist through his association with Deodato Arellano. Arellano was the first president of the secret revolutionary society the Katipunan. In Manila, the young Gregorio distributed pamphlets about the nationalist movement which his uncle Marcelo had written in Madrid.
Gregorio became an active rebel army when the revolution broke out. He displayed courage sacrifices in the battles he fought with the Spanish troops. Emilio Aguinaldo was so impressed with Gregorio’s military skills and had so much confidence in him that he made Gregorio a general.
Gregorio Del Pilar’s greatest achievement was the defense of Tirad Pass. The Tirad Pass was 1300 meters high. Clouds cover it’s peak during rainy seasons. But when the weather is clear it demands good view for miles around.
When General Emilio Aguinaldo fled from the American army Del Pilar and his men stood guard at the Pass. Del Pilar thought that an ensuing battle would necessarily delay the Americans from pursuing Aguinaldo.
Del Pilar and his sixty men built trenches on both shoulders of Tirad Pass. This would enable them to see the movement of the enemy from below.
On December 2, 1899 the American army reached Tirad Pass. The trail to the Pass was very narrow. So the American soldiers had to come up in single file. Del Pilar’s men kept up a continuous and accurate fire at the enemy. They also threw stones on the soldier’s heads.
Eventually the Americans found a secret trail to the top. Using it to advantage they surprised Del Pilar and his men. So, from the top of a nearby ridge, the Americans’ powerful rifles picked out one by one fifty-two of the sixty rebels.
The last to fall was Del Pilar. He had already been wounded on the shoulder and was ascending the summit of Tirad on his horse when a sharpshooter’s bullet hit him in the face. He covered his face with his hands and blood gushed forth. Then he fell backward, died. He died fighting for his beloved country. And that is why he is my favorite national hero.
My favorite national hero is General Gregorio Del Pilar. I want to ask you a question; do you have a favorite national hero? Why is he or she your favorite hero? If you ask me the same questions I will say that he is my favorite because he is brave and he sacrificed his life for all the Filipinos. Why do I say such a thing? You will know why when you will finish reading my blog. Now I will tell you the life story of my favorite national hero General Gregorio Del Pilar.
Gregorio Del Pilar was born on November 16, 1875 in Bulacan. Marcel0o H. Del Pilar is his uncle.
Gregorio Del Pilar learned his first letters from Pedro Serrano Laktaw, a leading mason who wrote an extensive Tagalog-Spanish dictionary decade later.
Gregorio enrolled in the Ateneo Municipal in Manila. He graduated with a bachillerato at the outset of the revolution in 1896. He was an average student. He became an ardent student nationalist through his association with Deodato Arellano. Arellano was the first president of the secret revolutionary society the Katipunan. In Manila, the young Gregorio distributed pamphlets about the nationalist movement which his uncle Marcelo had written in Madrid.
Gregorio became an active rebel army when the revolution broke out. He displayed courage sacrifices in the battles he fought with the Spanish troops. Emilio Aguinaldo was so impressed with Gregorio’s military skills and had so much confidence in him that he made Gregorio a general.
Gregorio Del Pilar’s greatest achievement was the defense of Tirad Pass. The Tirad Pass was 1300 meters high. Clouds cover it’s peak during rainy seasons. But when the weather is clear it demands good view for miles around.
When General Emilio Aguinaldo fled from the American army Del Pilar and his men stood guard at the Pass. Del Pilar thought that an ensuing battle would necessarily delay the Americans from pursuing Aguinaldo.
Del Pilar and his sixty men built trenches on both shoulders of Tirad Pass. This would enable them to see the movement of the enemy from below.
On December 2, 1899 the American army reached Tirad Pass. The trail to the Pass was very narrow. So the American soldiers had to come up in single file. Del Pilar’s men kept up a continuous and accurate fire at the enemy. They also threw stones on the soldier’s heads.
Eventually the Americans found a secret trail to the top. Using it to advantage they surprised Del Pilar and his men. So, from the top of a nearby ridge, the Americans’ powerful rifles picked out one by one fifty-two of the sixty rebels.
The last to fall was Del Pilar. He had already been wounded on the shoulder and was ascending the summit of Tirad on his horse when a sharpshooter’s bullet hit him in the face. He covered his face with his hands and blood gushed forth. Then he fell backward, died. He died fighting for his beloved country. And that is why he is my favorite national hero.

Love

What is the true meaning of love? Tell me, do you know that word truly means? According to my grandmother, her definition of love is that “Love is crazy” and that “love is blind but neighbors can see”. The meaning of the second quote is that the lover can’t see the bad characteristics of his loved one but others can. This means that love is truly blind. You don’t care what your loved one has. You won’t care whether he or she is ugly or handsome. You won’t care if he or she is selfish or if he or she is joining fraternities or if he or she is not serious in their studies. All you care about is that you love him or her with all your heart. You k now, I know someone that does the same too. He has a girlfriend right now. I don’t know why he loved that girl. I know that he knows that his girlfriend is very selfish. But I also know that his girlfriend is intelligent beautiful. I don’t know why he fell in love with that girl when he somebody is waiting for him that is better than that girlfriend of his. But that is not the true meaning of love. If you read the bible, you will see different definitions of love and they are all correct and true. Like the verse “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself; it is not puffed up. 1st Corinthians 13 :4. another verse said “ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1st Corinthians 13:7. And the last verse that is about love said “Love never fails. But whether there are prophesies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is a knowledge, it will vanish away. 1st Corinthians 13:8. Which do you think is the greatest faith, hope or love? In the bible, it states that those three things are important but the most important thing of all is LOVE. God also loses us , what makes me say that? It is because of this verse “For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son, and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16. It makes me say that God really loves us all because he gave his only son just to save us all. He really loves us all. Nobody except God has ever done that to save people that are not as important as his own son. We all know that it is very hard to loose your son or daughter. But He gave his only son’s life to save us all from our sins. Now that’s the true definition of love. It’s not the kind of love that you admire somebody because he or she is handsome or beautiful. It does not mean that having a girlfriend or having a boyfriend is a sign that you already experienced loving. What you feel is not love. It is only admiration. Love is measured on how you want the person you love to be safe. It is when you are willing to give your own life or the life of the persons who are very important to you. Just like what God did for us.

My Journey on Becoming a highschool student

Hi everyone. I am Marie Therese Baquilta a I–Villamor student of the University of the Philippines High School Cebu. Our school is one of the most known schools here in the Philippines. You know, for me, my stay here in UP is the greatest. I know there are a lot of people who hates me and there are many people here in UP that are insulting me. I don’t care. All I care about are my studies and my friends. I really love studying here in UP. There are many friendly people here. I learned many things on my stay here in UP. My classmates and friends told me that I have changed a lot. I have changed because of my friends. I have many friends here in UP, I think. But there are people that really made a spot here in my heart. There are three of them. They are Adelpha Albino, Gizelle Peras and Roxenne Lourdes Rosario. They are my closest friend. They are the ones who changed me. They changed me from being boyish to being a true girl. I will tell you how they changed my life. First is Gizelle, she was the one who thought me to be gentle. She thought me how to hide my feelings. Now I can hide my feelings. I can hide my feelings whether I am angry at them or I was hurt by what they said to me. She thought me how to stop my anger, because long time ago when I was still in elementary I used to punch those people who insult me or the people that I am angry with. Next is Roxenne, you know Roxenne and I always quarrel. I know that I have hurt her. So she thought me how to say sorry to the ones that I have hurt. and she has corrected me thousands of but I don't even listen to her and instead of saying thank you for correcting me I say to stop correcting me because sometimes when she gives me advices it makes me insulted. Because she gives me advice everytime. Now the last person that had made the most changes in me is Adelpha. She made many changes in me. By the way she is the one that made the most changes in me.

My Childhood Friends

My childhood friends are very important to me. They are important to me because they played a very big role in my life. They are the ones who thought me how to be a great person. I have four childhood friends. And you know they are all boys. I have childhood friends that are boys because in the past I didn’t like girls. I didn’t even want to be a girl. What was in my head before was how to become a man. But I changed after what had happened before just read and you will know how I become a true girl or am I. As I said before I have four childhood friends. They are Junrey, Paolo, Vincent Madrideños and Eric Montealto. We are friends for almost five to six years. We play together every weekend and every summer. We are very close. Every weekend when their father is not around (maybe on a trip) they usually stay at our house. One time they even slept in our house. I forgot to tell you their ages. So lets start from the youngest, Vincent is turning thirteen this year. Eric is turning fifth teen this year. Paolo is also turning fifth teen this year. And I think Junrey is turning seven teen this year. So that means that Junrey is the eldest among the five of us. You know, they are the ones who thought me how to play basketball. At first I really had no interest in that sport. But I became interested when Paolo was the one who personally thought me how to play. He was the first one to teach me. After that day I kept thinking that basketball shall be my favorite sports. Why? I don’t know why. Maybe it is because of Paolo. Three years after what happened they already matured. I discovered that Junrey already had a girlfriend. But for me it was nothing until my brother told me that Paolo also has a girlfriend. After what I heard I became angry. All that I was thinking that moment was to kill his girlfriend. Something came to me and asked me “do you like him?” and both my mind and my heart told me yes, yes, yes I like him, I like him very much. Why? I like him because he is kind, smart, athletic, strong, tall, handsome and the most important one is that he is a gentleman. He respects women. That is why I like him very much. Until now I still like him very much. but we can’t see each other anymore. Why? Because my mother is avoiding me from going to their house. She is avoiding me to see one of the members of the Madrideños Family. I don’t know why. But I think she is avoiding me to see Paolo. I think we were only destined to be friends. I really miss playing with my childhood friends. I miss their faces. I miss the way they smile and the way they laugh. My wish is that those days will come back. I wish that the good and happy memories will come back. I hope, wish and most importantly I pray that the five of us will see each other again. I really love my friends. I hope that they can still remember me. And I also hope that I too played a very big role in their lives. In Paolo’s life especially. When can we ever see each other again? I hope that it will be in this year. I really miss them.

My Family

First of all I will introduce the members of my family. My father is Leopoldo Baquilta. My mother is Jennifer Baquilta. My brother is Dexter Baquilta. And yours truly Marie Therese Baquilta. Let us start from me. I am Marie Therese Baquilta. 12 years of age. I am a product of Barrio Luz Elementary School. The school where there are many fights. Everyday there is always a fight. Once I fought with a boy. He was the one who started the fight. He started the fight by punching me in the face. I tried very hard to punch him back but I couldn’t. I was so frightened that I will be suspended. I was afraid because we were already in grade six and if I get suspended it would affect my grade. So I didn’t fight back. What did I do? I went to our room. I went near the mirror and saw blood on my lips. My lips then were as red as an apple. Enough about me and my school. Lets go to my brother. His name is Dexter Baquilta. He is 17 years of age. He is turning 18 on November 4. I will tell you where he studied. When he was in kinder one and two and grades one, two and three he studied at Samanthabadra Institute. When he was in grades four, five and six he studied in Barrio Luz Elementary School. And when he was in high school he studied in University of the Southern Philippines or USP. He is supposed to be a first year college student now. But he decided to quit studying for one year so that he could rest. You know, my brother is a good in playing the guitar. He knows different songs. He also knows songs that are not very popular. He is good in picking, plucking, etc. he also has a band. I still don’t know the name of their band. But they already started playing in different schools. I think they started playing last December. I love my brother very much. But he does not know about it. All he knows is that I hate him very much. Because we always quarrel everyday, every week etc. my brother is one of the persons who taught me how to play the guitar. Now lets go to my mother. Her name is Jennifer Baquilta. She is 37 years of age. She is turning 38 on June 8. She is a housewife. She is a great mother. But sometimes I get irritated. Why? Because when she speaks at me the tone of her voice is like she is very angry at me. And if we have something to quarrel over she does not want to be wrong. In my case I am always wrong in the eyes of my mother. That’s what I hate about her. Now lets go to my father. He is Leopoldo Baquilta. He is 42 years old. He is turning 43 this November 10. my father really cares for me. For me he is the best father in the whole world. He works in TESDA or Technical Education Skills Development Authority. And that is part of the story behind each of the Baquilta Family members.

The Thief

My elementary years was full of joy, laughter and tears. These years were full of joy and laughter because of my friends Julie Pearl V. Calinog, Jessa May dela Torre, Marjorie S. Limbaga, Eloise Joy Morales and Babielyn Murillo. We were so happy. We play together everyday. We eat our lunch together. We even copy our assignments from Julie. They say that she is the smartest in our group. We were so happy back then. Until one day, I knew that I really have one best friend left. And that friend that was left was Jessa. Julie, Marjorie, Eloise and Babielyn were only using me to get what they wanted. And thats one characteristic that I hate for my friends. They want me to buy things for them using my own money. They ask me to throw garbage for them. One of them even copies my answers during tests. That girl was my best friend before but my worst enemy now. You know I do all the things they want me to do for them. Why? Because I treat them as family. I treat them as my real older sisters. And I obey my older sisters. I know that I am a loyal friend to them. I have always been loyal to them. They are the ones who are not loyal to me. One day after the Christmas break my Daddy gave me P 100.00. I brought my money to school because I know that they are going to ask money from me again, so I decided to bring it with me. What was on my mind came true they asked me to buy stuff for them. What was left of my P100.00 was only P70.00. I put it in my wallet so that it will be safe. But one time I let Marjorie hold my wallet so that it won't fall out my skirt. Then we went to the CR after we went out the CR I asked for my wallet so that I can buy food for us. When she gave me my wallet there was only P20.00 left in the wallet. I asked her if she knows where my P50.00 went but she told me that she doesn't know where it went. I asked her over and over but still she said that she doesn't know where it is. I was starting to think that she was the one who stole all the money that was lost from me. I kept asking her if she has seen the money and she got angry at me. She said that I didn’t trust her. But who would trust a lying such like her. When we went back to school I told my classmates about what happened. And they also think that she was the one who stole the money from my pocket. I and my classmates decided to investigate this case. Before that stealing of money happened, Marjorie told us that she only had a little money. So I bought snacks for her. And after the stealing happened when classes were through she bought many foods. She gave all of us food. We asked her where she had the money to buy all those food. And she didn’t tell us where. We asked permission from her so we can open her bag and see what’s inside and she stared at us and when we started to check what is inside she cried. And when we saw her crying we stopped we said sorry and when I came to her side she pinched me so hard nobody saw what she did and I was starting to think again that she was the one who stole all the things that was lost from me.