vienneshirin

si puedes soñarlo, puedes hacerlo 

[vienneshirin]

La Isla Bonita de las Filipinas

     It’s more fun in the Philippines. That is a famous line that a lot of people say and it is indeed true. I haven't seen all of the beautiful places in the Philippines but I have heard and seen mesmerizing places in our home country. A place I have visited back in 2015 was Boracay. It is a famous tourist attraction because of the fine and white sand that attracts thousands of people. In August 2015, I flew back to the Philippines from Germany with my classmate and her family. We spent our holidays here in the Philippines. It was a dream come true. I mean, just imagine bringing a friend and her whole family to the country you have grown up in, which you are proudly representing because of all of the beauty it has.

     I must say that our journey to Boracay was challenging because of the stormy weather and the high tides. Our flights got canceled that night because of the heavy rain and the loud thunders that occurred. But after several hours we finally were able to fly to Visayas and later take the van to go to the pier. When we arrived the pier, my friend Emily was amazed by the clear water or the beach. She was screaming out of joy and she thanked me a lot though hugs and laughters. She couldn't believe that she was seeing clear water at night. When our boat arrived, we were a little bit skeptical because of the strong waves that were coming and the small boat we were seeing. It was scary during the trip but it was an experience.

     We stayed at a resort that my mother’s friend owns. Her resort is very near from the beach which was truly enjoyable. That night, we took some rest and woke up very early in the morning to go to the wet market to get some food to cook. After we ate, we immediately rushed to the beach and took pictures of the white sand beach with the background of the marvelous sky and the unbelievable sight of the mountains from a far. We spent our time every single day the beaches of Boracay. We are thankful that we caught the good weather while we were there for the whole week. We tried all of the activities such as island hopping, banana boating, fly fishing, snorkelling, and cliff diving. My favorite island must be the Crystal Cove as it has the beautiful turquoise closed water and the beautiful structures of bahay kubos and the stairs that were made out of stones. The flowers on that island were beautiful, we made sure to take a picture of it all. The cove itself was interesting, it was also like a hiking trip on an island. I also recall my friend being stung by jellyfishes which alarmed us but then we just thought it was silly, seeing the wonders underneath  the ocean was much more important than being stung by jellyfishes which weren't even poisonous. At night, we always walked from station one until the end of station three to explore the night life of Boracay in which it is also very famous for. The trip was just incredible.

     Sadly, after five days we had to leave and go to Manila again. The boat trip was a nerve wracking experience again because that time, the water already came inside the boat which was really making all of the passengers nervous that night. Our boat was dancing side to side and it was very scary. But with praying and hoping that we would arrive safe and sound, we luckily did survive that boat trip.

     If I had the chance to visit Boracay again, I surely will. Especially now that it has been improved by the project of our president here in the Philippines. I also would like to further explore the Philippines to see the wonders of it and invite more of my friends from Germany to proudly represent my country.

[vienneshirin]

I Scream Ice Cream

     Money cannot buy happiness but it can buy gelato, and that is kind of the same thing right? Ice cream, sorbet, glace or gelato, whatever you want to call it, it is one of the favorite desserts of the universe. Eating a gelato is indescribable. The cold, creamy or fruity, and sour or sweet taste of it makes it so special. Especially when you eat a gelato in Italy. That is when you can say that you have already tasted the best ice cream you could ever taste.

     When I was younger, my mother always used to visit Italy with me and she tells me stories about her favorite things about Italy. She tells me about the places that are miraculously wonderful and the food that are indescribably delicious. Italy is mostly known for pasta, pizza, and of course their gelato. When I found out that I was going to visit Italy with my mother’s friends, I was extremely stoked to experience another culture, to encounter different places, and to taste Italy’s finest food specialties.

     It was a hot day, we were tired from all of the touring and shopping and so we have decided to find an ice cream store. We were in Piazza del Popolo in Rome, there were a lot of ice cream stores near the plaza and we have chosen the one where most of the people were queued in. When we were ordering, we did not expect the ice cream to be that big. It was enormous, they used huge spoons to scoop the gelato. They used a gigantic cone with two separate small cones on top for the two ice creams we have ordered. I personally love hazelnut and stracciatella flavored ice cream and so I have ordered the two. In case you didn’t know, stracciatella is an Italian-style vanilla ice cream containing fine flakes of chocolate. The two combinations I have ordered were just perfect. They were creamy and milky, it already served as my lunch since it was so big. The cone was perfect, the top of the cone had a coat of chocolate with nuts which was so good. The ice cream was unforgettable. It was expensive but it was worth it.

[vienneshirin]

My Pamper Routine

     Paper works here, paper works there, paper works everywhere. Finals is literally hell week or even month and a lot of mental breakdowns occur during this time. At the moment, I am lying on my bed day dreaming about when I am going to be able to do my pamper routine again. I miss waking up having time to slowly get ready. I miss enjoying breakfast and taking my time to shower, do my skin care routine, and also do my hair and makeup. How I wish I could pause the time right now and do all of those indulging things. All I can do for now is continue to day dream and tell you the things I usually do in my daily pamper routine.

     First thing in the morning, I know it is bad, but as a teenager I check my phone and look at the messages I have received while I was sleeping. I check the news in snapchat since it serves as my daily newspaper and I check at funny vines to wake me up. I then get up and go to the kitchen to prepare my breakfast. I know that everyone loves food but I must say that I am one of the members of the foodie committee. After I eat my pancakes that are deliciously soaked in maple syrup, I go to the bathroom and take a warm shower to relax and put a hydrating mask on after it. While my mask is on my face, I listen and jam to music. I communicate with my friends back in Germany, I send them funny videos of myself doing ridiculous teenager things I guess and I also tell them stories about my stay here in the Philippines.

     Once I have taken off my mask, I pick my outfit of the day. As a normal girl, I take a very long time picking my outfits as I would like to feel confident and also of course be able to say that I am feeling myself. After picking the perfect outfit, I proceed to my face again and do my makeup which is my favorite part. It is pretty early to start wearing makeup with the age of 14 every day but I enjoy it and it also has its perks. I help my friends out now and sometimes they even hire me as their makeup artist. Anyway, after moisturizing my face, putting on my foundation, concealer, powder, contour, blush, highlight, eyeshadow, mascara, brows, and lipstick on, yes I know it is a lot but at least makeup serves as my therapy, I then proceed to my hair. I am not really good at fixing my hair that is why i usually only either curl or braid a little bit.

     Looking back, I realise how much I miss pampering myself almost everyday. But well, finals are almost over and I can finally do all of these things again soon enough.

[vienneshirin]

The Bunso We Left Behind

     “I have one big brother and a baby sister. My brother is 14 years old and my sister is a newborn dog.” That is what I said when I finally got my wish granted, which was to get a little dog I could play with. I will never ever regret the decision of wishing for a dog and I will always give thanks to my mother who gave me the unforgettable experience of having a responsibly to take care of our family’s “baby sister”.

     When I was 6 years old, I have always wanted a baby sister but unfortunately my mother couldn’t provide another sibling. One day, when  I was playing with my neighbor’s dogs, I thought it would be more fun to have a dog instead. They are as adorable as babies and are also playful, loyal, and caring. Honestly, dogs aren't only a man’s best friend, they are everyone’s best friend.

     My 6 year old mind decided to ask our neighbor if I could take one of their dogs home. Mang Manny, our neighbor, luckily agreed. When I got home, my mother had mixed emotions. She was partly laughing but she was mostly angry because Buchoy, the dog I adopted that night, was dirty and ugly in her opinion. We immediately returned Buchoy back and my mother promised me that she will buy me a dog the next day. I agreed and we started planning which dog I wanted to buy. The next day, as my mother promised, we bought the cutest Shih Tzu we could ever buy.

     I remember her first night at our house in Laguna, she was so little that my brother already thought she was another new stuff toy of mine. He was shocked when it moved but he was so happy that we finally had a dog, rather another sibling. My dog had a bunch of names before we came up to Shinshin. She is named after me, we have the same nicknames which I think is really funny. Another thing I remember is her being outstandingly smart. Her whole family have joined dog competitions, all of them have an impressing record in their pedigrees. I remember her being there for me when I have to rant all of my problems. I remember growing up with her.

     Unfortunately, we had to leave her behind when we moved to Germany. She is now living in Baguio with our family’s friend. I miss her very much, we miss our bunso. All I have left from her now are the memories we have shared when I was younger, her old pictures that I have taken, and her old things in our house that we still haven’t thrown away until now.

[vienneshirin]

All Hail Fair New Era

     The University in which most of my childhood occurred is non other than New Era University. I have spent four years in elementary in New Era University, I have witnessed the implementation of good morals and values of the school. The school has never failed to discipline their students in a passionate way. Eranians are trained to be respectful, diligent, and most importantly, religious.

     Whether the student is a member of the Church of Christ or a member of a different religion, whether the student is from the Philippines or is from a different part of the world, the students have the desire to enter the University in Quezon City, Philippines that is located along Central Avenue near the temple of the Church of Christ. Their reason why they would like to set foot in New Era University is that the school excels academically and more importantly, spiritually.

     It is amazing how a school can control thousands of students, how a school can monitor the actions of the students. Although, do not get it wrong, the school monitors their students in a way that students will not rebel, instead, the students will reflect more in their wrong doings and change them to be better examples of New Era University.

     Aside from the good morals that the school teaches, the university also offers a lot of academical features. Laboratories for Sciences for example, is included in the school facility for better education and exploration of the students. Clubs of course cannot be left out, there are various clubs that the school provides. Varsities are also open to the students who loves sports. Another good thing about the school is that it does not discriminate anyone. That means every student can decide whichever club they would like to enter and every student can go to any varsity they would like to enjoy.

     Personally, I have moved a lot during my school career and I still expect that I will move again in the near future. Out of all of the schools I went to, only New Era University teaches the students to be intellectual and God-fearing at the same time. This is what a lot of people look up to. Once students gets asked in which school they go to, and the response is New Era University, people expect them to be intelligent and God-fearing at the same time. Therefore, I am a proud Eranian and New Era University will always be dear to me.

[vienneshirin]

Mi Madre es mi Padre // My Mother is my Father

“Ano ba ‘yan Shirin ingatan mo naman ang sarili mo, noong bata ka pa hindi ko pinapabayaang makagat ka ng lamok tapos ngayon ‘di mo man lang maingatan ang sarili mo.” That is what my loving mother always says every time I get injured or get sick. It’s pretty sweet actually because although she says it with an angry voice, the message of it is caring. I really do think that once I fully grow up, I will truly miss all of her sermons and payos as a mother.

In my 17 years of existence, I only grew up with a mother that only proves that she is the strongest woman I know. She managed to raise two children on her own while facing a lot of challenges in life.

You are probably wondering why my mom is a single mother. I have a half brother who is half German, but unfortunately his father passed away when he was six. My mother then met my father but he is a muslim. Therefore, due to religious differences, they had to be separated. The religion wasn’t the only problem, my mother didn’t know that my father has a family in Turkey. Despite of these obstacles, my mother kept being strong and prayed to God to help her out.

When hard times come, I try to reach him out. I try to ask for help but he always says that his sons need help too. He promised me that I will be equally treated, just like his sons. I expected that but he failed to do it. He tells me to go home with him. He tells me not to marry because I already have my future husband in Turkey. He tells me to wear a hijab once I turn 18. Now my father reaches me out after years of no contact and I don’t know how to feel. He is now full of regrets but should I forgive him that he wasn’t by my side the whole time? Should I forgive him that I didn’t feel the support a father should give to a child? Should I love him despite of what happened? Does he deserve my respect?

[vienneshirin]

Los Churros Deliciosos // The Delicious Sinkers

“My hear says gym but my heart says churros.” Churros is probably one of the most popular snacks that originated from Spain, Portugal and Mexico, as well as the Philippines and Ibero- America. People wait a lot in line just to get a taste of these delicious churros. But guess what? Churros are easy to make and this recipe is the best recipe I have tried so far.

Ingredients

1 cup water

2 1/2 tablespoons white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 quarts oil for frying

1/2 cup white sugar, or to taste

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1 In a saucepan over medium heat, pour in the water with sugar, salt and vegetable oil. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. After that, Stir in the flour until the mixture forms a ball.

2  Prepare deep- fryer to 190°C. Pipe strips of dough into hot oil using a pastry bag. Fry until golden then drain with paper towels.

3 Combine 1/2 cup of sugar with cinnamon and roll the drained churros in that mixture.

[vienneshirin]

Mi Guía para mi Triunfo // My Guide to my Success

“I call my students “my kids” because in our year together they aren't just kids on my class list, they become a part of my heart.” That quote is proven once you meet the guide of my success and the guide of every student’s success.

The inspiring, intelligent, and mother-like Rochelle M. Razo is a psychologist and a teacher who has shaped many students, including me, as a person. She is very close to the hearts of the students as she treats every student as an individual and focuses on the strengths of every student.

I remember entering the school, in which she is the principal. I was pretty much clueless and I had no idea what my strengths were. She was the one who guided me. She saw the strength I had in me. She made me enhance it. Until now, I am very thankful that I have met a teacher like her because she is mostly the reason why I am in the track of Humanities and Social Sciences right now.

When I graduate in college I am sure that she will be sitting next to my family. She deserves to see what outcome she has made to her beloved students who have learned from the great experiences and advises she has never failed to share.

[vienneshirin]

El Viaje Inolvidable // The Unforgettable Trip

The spanish temperament truly captures everyone’s heart. Malaga did that for me, I was amazed by their culture. It seemed like everyone lived every single moment they could.

I got attached to the family we stayed in for one week. The food was amazing and just like us Filipinos, they are family-oriented. In one week of stay, they made us feel like we were a part of their big and happy family.

One of the things I enjoyed the most in the city is the beach beside it. We spent our summer nights there as much as we could. Experiencing a different culture, seeing wonderful places, and meeting new people while having the opportunity to speak in Spanish all the time is one of the most enjoyable things I have done so far. The educational trip felt like a vacation with my classmates and the friends I have made in Germany, the ones who will probably stay for a very long time, maybe even for a life time.

[vienneshirin]

Mi Barrio Presente // My Current Barangay

I have moved a lot in my 17 years of existence. I have lived in two countries. Now, out of 142 barangays in Quezon City I live in one of the most populous ones, which has approximately 70,000 people living in it.

I live in Central Avenue which is located in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City. I hear a lot of crimes happening around here maybe because the people living here do not know really each other but despite of this, if you look at the bright side, as true Filipinos, everyone still tries to do their best to maintain a healthy relationship with each other by remaining friendly, helpful, and cheerful.

I guess we can say that all barangays have one thing in common—remaining the light-hearted culture God has blessed to all Filipinos.