Thursday 29 March 2012

Final Entry: Reading Log

Final Entry                                                              March 29, 2012

 

Book Title: The Deadliest of Friends by Mary Main             

 

Part 1 

Reflection

 This is not just a suspense story. I felt that this story is about trust and friendship. Megan is a true friend to Brad and Darren. If not for her, everyone at Sapphire Lake would still be blind about Brad’s death. Megan’s determined spirit gave this story a happy ending. Even she knew that she will be in trouble for messing up with the case, she still continued because she believed that Darren is innocent. Also, I felt that Megan’s determination for truth is not only because of the friendship between her and Darren, but because of the feelings involved between them.

Connection

          I felt a connection to this story because of Megan’s trust to Darren. You know the feeling of desperation because a friend was accused of something you know he didn’t do and you only got each other to lean on.
            Another connection is that obnoxious impression of Megan to Julie. I always got stuck with the worst person (in my opinion) I know who does bad things but no one would believe me because they thought I’m nuts and just want to point people out.
            Lastly, I had a connection between Megan’s friendships towards Darren. Sometimes, you help people without even understanding why you do it. In the end, you’ll realize it is love.

Question

          I couldn’t figure out why some friends of Darren didn’t believe of his innocence. Are they true friends to Darren? Why did Karen put a shield mark on her killings, including her father? Is she really insane? Why Sam Hargrove did took time to think on whether he will represent Darren or not? Are there more he know than he say?

Prediction

             I think if Karen told the truth earlier, she wouldn’t be embarrassed in front of everybody. I think if she just followed Brad’s advice, then the latter would still be alive and even though she got imprisoned, she could plead for insanity. Then, all of them will be happy. If only I could change everything, but that’s the story. That’s why I like it.


Part 2

Option #23: Complete a number of statements.

·       1.   What I most wanted to happen is for the story to continue with Darren and Megan as the center of it. Megan will go back to Santa Monica and continue her studies. Every winter break, she and her family will have a vacation at Sapphire Lake. Eventually, the friendship between her and Darren will blossom into love.

 

·        2.  What I liked is when Julie appeared in the story. The moment she appeared, the story just began to take a turn that made me more curious about the ending.

 

·        3.  The thing that surprised me is when the truth about the killer. It was Karen. Unbelievable! At first, one may realize that there is no way she could kill Brad but as the story draws to its conclusion, all reasons to kill Brad and their fathers pointed to Karen.

 

·       4.  What I admired about the main character, Megan, was her perseverance and her attitude of standing to what she believes is right. Despite, the fact that everybody turned their backs against Darren, Megan found ways to know the truth and she never gave up to what she believes: Darren is innocent.

 

·       5.   What I hate the most is when Darren was pushing Karen to tell the truth but Karen still denies it. She is obnoxious! I mean, she knows the truth and the truth is already revealing itself yet, she has the guts to deny it and point fingers. Oh well, she is insane. Pity!

 

·      6.    My most admired character aside from Megan is Roberto. I like him because, though they already know what Karen did, he still stayed at her side for moral support. He never left her despite that Karen loves Brad so much and him a little less. Roberto is a hopeless romantic lad who just wants to love and to be loved, though unequally, by Karen.

 

·      7.    What I admired about the antagonist, Karen, was her strong- willed determination to excel. In spite that she’s the killer, she still has the attitude of a warrior goddess. That attitude of her makes me want to be like her, the sharp shooter, not her being the barbaric killer.

 

·      8.   The character that best resembles me is Roberto. We are the same in terms of being a hopeless romantic. Like him, I treat my friends the way they should be treated. When I like someone, I help him in every way I could and I always put myself beside him. I would always support him in his endeavors and though I know he likes someone else, I will not be mad but instead I will be happiest for them. Like Roberto to Karen, I am always two steps behind my loved ones.

 

·      9.    My first impression of the story was I thought it is about betrayal. Well in a way, betrayal was involved in its plot but as I read it through, I came to know that it’s about trust and friendship. The Deadliest of Friends began with a swirl of confusing events but eventually, it ended with a deathly revelation of the truth. My impression just turned out to be the base ingredient of the story.

 

·        10.  If I were to change one event in the story, it would be when Darren confronted Karen. Instead of confronting her at the Devil’s Trail Peak, I want Darren to do it when Karen and the rest goes hunting. It is more exciting for Darren will really get Karen the flashbacks of what she did to her and Brad’s father. That would have been nicer.

Saturday 25 February 2012


Third Entry                                                               Frbruary 29, 2012

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony Di Terlizzi and Holly Black


Part 1
Connection 

Reading the story reminds me of my own childhood fascination with dwarves, fairies, and the likes. It brought me back to the days when my friends and I would walk around the playground with the hope of seeing a dwarf or a fairy. There are times when we would stay up late in front of my aunt’s house and we would share our own stories about these creatures.
Another connection I had is that, one of my cousins, Kuya Macmac once told us that he has a friend dwarf when he once went to Bicol. When he returned to us in BiƱan, he told us everything about this friend if his. We never got the chance to see this dwarf but its okay as long as we have our OWN dwarf story. With this book, not only that my fascination about these creatures return but also, my belief about them coming to life will never be taken away from me, not again.

Reflection

            It was adventurous of the Grace’s children, especially Jared, to keep the book even if Thimbletack already warned them about the danger in keeping that field guide.  With their story, I thought it was fun having that field guide. The children just enjoyed that life- threatening experience (mystery finding, etc.) should be in the minds of people, especially children. I mean, with the world’s conformity in every aspect of life, we must not settle to it. We must explore the world and let not only our minds but also our hearts see the possible things we could grasp. It just proves that we are intelligent beings so we have the capabilities of discovering the uncommon and challenging the impossibilities.

Question

            Though I know a lot of people think that the book has been made out of a wild imagination of the authors, a description about why the book was written puzzled me. Was there a real letter from the Grace’s children that motivated the authors from writing the book? Well that is another part of my question. Another question that I have is that, if ever Jared gave up the field guide to the goblins, will the creatures stop ruining their lives.

Prediction

            This fascinating story began with a book, so for me, if ever the book from Arthur was not discovered by Jared and his siblings, their out- of- this –world adventure would not make me love this story a lot. Moreover, the end of the story is a cliffhanger for me. If I will be the one to write the next scene for the sixth book, that will be about the Grace’s siblings and their own family. You know, Jared, Simon and Mallory having their escapade with their children. That would be nice, isn’t it?


Part 2

Option 13: Write a letter to the author

Dear Mr. Di Terlizzi and Mrs. Black:


I know that you are very artistic authors and that shows in the serial, The Spiderwick Chronicles. I just want you to know that with this story, I am able to bring back my childhood memories about how my friends and I would go out telling stories about fairies. I am a believer of what is written in the book. 


I am sorry if I say that you can just invent the story about the Grace’s letter to you inspired you two to write the book. For me, whether it is real or just a make- belief, I am sure that the fairies and the world they live in exist. They are not just creatures from imaginations. I believe they are real.


Lastly, I thank you for this serial. With this story, my beliefs about fairies return. Thank you for I know that I am not alone in my beliefs. I know you also believe in them.

You are my dream savers.

Sincerely,
Sarah Ubpon

Tuesday 24 January 2012


Second Entry                                                                     January 30. 2012

Unspoken Fear by Hunter Morgan

Part 1
Question
                The novel is a romantic suspense story. It is like a question between what God really wants us to do and what man THINKS God wants us to do. The novel made me rose questions that really set my mood for curiosity.
                The “voice of God” that Alice is hearing over again, could it possibly be not God’s voice but of Satan telling her to kill the sinners? Also, I really don’t get the reason on why Noah would have his blackouts every time Alice (Azrael, The Angel of Death), would kill a sinner? Do his blackouts have something to do with Alice’s crimes? Lastly, who killed Alice? If she really is blessed by God to be Azrael, why did she experience such a gruesome death? It has been stated that another angel killed her but who sent that so- called “angel”, God or Satan?

Prediction
                I guess the Gibson’s with Mattie and Chester will again make a happy family. Rachel and Noah will get married again (though they never really got divorced), go to a honeymoon, maybe sold their property in Stephen Kill and move to another place to start a new life. They can still have another child to be Mallory and Mattie’s’ playmate. Then they’ll be complete and satisfied.
Another prediction is with Snowden and Delilah. They don’t have to keep their affections to each other. Delilah’s siblings would take Snowden as a new brother in the family. On the other hand, Tillie, Snowden’s mom would really love Delilah to be her daughter- in- law. The Calloways and the Swifts will be a very happy and riot- like family. They are the perfect match.


Connection

                The characters’ nightmare experiences are like my own experiences when I have them. Mostly the nightmares are simply nightmares but, there are those which were signs that bad things will happen. It’s a really scary experience so I could really connect.
                Another connection I had is that when I was a kid. Probably four or five years old, I’m telling things which the older ones don’t believe and they think I am just imagining. They would tell me to grow up and stop being childish. It’s like what Mallory is in this story.

Reflection

                The innocence of a child, portrayed by Mallory, made me realize that such innocence could really turn bad things around. The rude treatment of Rachel towards Noah changed because of Mallory’s innocent and kind- hearted nature. It made me imagined me with the same kind of innocence as Mallory have, and I smiled. However, that can never be possible. Time will always come that a child’s innocence is stripped off by experiences. Also, a broken family can also be fixed by a child’s presence. In this story, one of the reasons why Rachel hated Noah was because of the fact that he got imprisoned during the time she got pregnant. However, when Noah was released, the presence of Mallory slowly brought back the love between the two.
                In this story, I also pondered that Alice’s action of crucifying Judge Ellen Hearn was not right because God had not planned it. I guess she let her feeling of being powerful get into her head that’s why she thought of doing whatever she wants when she wants it. I think she was killed by what she named “an angel”, because she, also, must pay for the sins she committed and that is, doing what God has NOT commanded her to do. All of us will have to pay for our sins but no one has the right to kill someone just because she is a lesbian and just because someone thinks God will be pleased of him doing that. In this story, though a person was blessed by God as someone powerful (like in the story), at the end of every day, God still, has the final judgment.


 Part 2

Part 2 : Pretend this book will be made into a movie. Make a movie poster on large paper and put the stars who will play the main characters on it. Must be colorful, and follow other advertisements for movies. (Have a HOOK- to draw people to the movie)


Thursday 5 January 2012


Sarah F. Ubpon
English 8

A proposal to invent an internal combustion engine to improve the transportation of the land.

Sparks Fly

The need to improve the mode of transportation (horses), is a problem that’s been under the hat for centuries. Not that these horses obliged the people to home and feed them, but also, they need cleaning everyday and that, makes them inadequate for their  function.
I propose to invent this engine that will address the current problem. I’m sure that with this invention, the transportation will improve and it will mean productive industry.

This internal combustion engine is a potential solution and repalcement for the horses. The engine will be put in a cart specialized for an engine. This engine, aside form it will result faster transportation, it will also address several concerns that include the following.

1.    The engine means improved transportation which will mean greater exportation income.
With the exportation demands, which requires faster speeds, an engine- powered carriage would result to a more productive industry of the land. The carriage’s top of the line design would mean more income for the land but less stress for the people.

2.    The engine carriage will require less space and less expenses.
This engine carriage can be placed in a small room without the need of extra space for food. Consequently, this carriage doesn’t need food and habitual cleaning. All it needs is the gasoline or diesel to make it work and cleaning it will be easy as washing ones feet.

3.    The engine will last for years without having thy heart to pour out if it finally deteriorates and the engine will also improve as time passess.
The engine will be used for many years so no regrets about the money used to buy this type of carriage.  Also, when this carriage finally meet its destroyer, it will be easier for a person to let go of that carriage and buy a new one.
Also, an engine like this has rooms for improvement, which means as generations continue to use this, its functions will improve. Unlike for horses, time may change but a horse is still and will always be a horse with the same function.


This engine is a latent that surpasses other transporters. The ICE design as a innovation in the transportation field is expected to be the start- up to a more efficient industry. This ICE carriage will be the vehicle to develop gainful transportation experience. The ICE carriages will take the race farther and the land will dominate in the history of innovative aspects.






Sarah F. Ubpon
English 8

A proposal to invent a ballpoint pen to serve as the innovation of the quill pen.

Rolling in the Seep

The improvement needed for the quill is a mess that’s been marking our head for a long time. The quill not only causes unnecessary marks but it also make the people spend a lot of effort. In this reason, a new writing instrument must be developed.
I have this invention that surely will start the change in our writing experience.

The ballpoint pen is a simple writing machine whose writing point is a small rotating ball that inks itself from an inner container. This ballpoint pen is the exact machine to address this problem. Aside from writing neatly is never a worry, with this pen, the land will be able to endeavor more benefits, both personal and industrial. The benefits are here as follows:

1.    Time Management- compared to a quill pen, the making of the ballpoint pen requires less time. In a quill pen, one may have to catch a goose and search for a tree sap appropriate to be the ink. But with the construction of the ballpoint pen, less time will be consumed for it is made out of materials easily located in the household.
It must also be noted that once this ballpoint pen is made, more paperworks will be made in a shorter period of time compared if we use the quill. With this pen, writing will be no sweat and time will be spent wisely.

2.    Income Generating Machine- the ballpoint pen can be the primary product for export. When other nation knew about the existence of this pen in our very land, they will want it for themselves. Obviously, our land will be the primary source of this product. As the genuine producer of this ballpoint pen, our land will dominate not just in literature but more in industry.


This invention is a simple one but it is of great value to us. From a primitive way of the quill to a state of the art ballpoint pen, our writing experience will surely be the hook for a larger catch of innovation. Once this ballpoint pen is at hand, our land will roll to success and this invention will be known in all generations. The ballpoint pen will be our key to domination and recognition.




     

Saturday 10 December 2011


First Entry             December 15, 2011
To Swim Across the World
by Frances Park and Ginger Park
              
Part 1
1. Reflection 
The two main characters, Sei- Young and Heisook were both introduced with different circumstances but with a single purpose of their interaction to each other. Heisook was an innocent and feeble girl but as the events took effect in her life, my perception of her changed. Her escape from North to South Korea brought her to the realization that life is not just a bed of roses; life is also a field full of confusion, fear and danger. That truth transformed her into a brave woman fit to be the wife of an equally brave man, Sei-Young.
As to Sei- Young, the impoverished and diligent boy from the South proved to me that the best things come for those who persevere. His struggles and family inspired him to really work and study at his best for him to do what he is meant to do-- to swim across the world. From being a poor boy from a poor family into being a diplomat of The Republic of Korea until he, with Heisook, migrated to America-- Sei- Young means "to swim across the world" and he really did it.
The characters lives were at the opposite sides of the line but as the story draws to its end, they met halfway through. I guess with some experiences they had, they were able to relate to each other and made the relationship worked for the best.
2. Connection
This story is like the Korean counterpart of my parents' real- life story, two Filipinos living their lives at the opposite side of a foreign country. They met through a letter that my mother sent to his brother- in- law who happens to be my father's friend. My father was the one to receive and reply to the letter until one day, they came home in the Philippines, met each other personally and got married. Just like in the story, my parents are from different places, backgrounds and beliefs but because of common and unusual circumstances, their destinies interlocked and I became their first born child. I am proud to be the result of such kind of story.
3. Question
            In the novel, there are things I wonder about like, if Sei- Young’s grandfather never told him about the meaning of his name (Sei- Young—to swim across the world), would he still be able to do what he did in the novel? I also don’t know the very reason why Heisook’s mother never told them about their dead brother and Heisook has to find it out through a diary but still, the secret was never revealed out in the open. Also, I know Mr. Suka was forced to return to Japan but if he married Aunt Sunja,that will never be the case. Now, why did Mr. Suka did not ask Aunt Sunja to marry him? Did Kwan- Young’s death brought difference to Sei- Young or it was just to add drama to the latter’s life?
4. Predict
            I’m thinking that Sei- Young would not be an immediate diplomat- to- be in college if he never met Eun Ju. He would always set the fire in Sei- Young before his speeches. I guess he will not be a diplomat without Eun Ju’s influence. Another prediction, if Mr. Suka married Aunt Sunja, they will have a bigger family. Then Aunt Sunja’s loneliness and perception of the Japanese would be totally gone. Lastly, Heisook’s mother will be in safer hands if she went to the South with her daughter. I think she will be a good friend to Sei- Young’s mother and aunt.
           
Part 2

Option #18: Poem about an idea or a character in the novel. Three to four stanzas.

 The Freedom Trip

In the crowd of screaming pain,
Being alive is living in vain.
Our lips closed but the eyes could see,
What must be done to make the devil flee.

As lives of my people go to waste,
The fear in me starts to evaporate,
Leaving only my calm courage,
I want to see the fall of them, savage.

I was once a talker in silence,
A mindless thinker, prisoner of the darkness,
Now I must stand and take the steps,
Say the words and lead the nation to success.

I’ve done my part, the speeches were said.
I see my efforts and this where it led.
A road to blissful days with the motherland,
Oppression is over, freedom is at hand.