Industry Diversity

                “Business is the clash of war and sport.” Illogical? Somehow it is, but reading between the lines of this short quotation, “business” would noticeably means a combination of different levels of intelligence and knowledge or I could simply say that it is akin to music, it has its various genres. In other words business is prominently a specific diverse field.

                The realm of the booming industrialization in the Philippines, to be specific in Laguna, truly captures fire on plenty business-minded people to invest and bid their lucks in the said place. Hence, this brings forth the different kinds of businesses in my fast changing hometown, Santa Rosa, Laguna. One of these businesses is the bread and pastry industry. People in Santa Rosa undoubtedly have this passion for bread. Basking around the premises of the city, anyone will see different bakeries or what Filipinos call as the “panaderyas”, like the Master Toque Breadshop and the Aling Nena’s. Through their love and passion for this food, people of Santa Rosa managed to produce a living for their own.

 Another is the business pertaining to the shipments or courier. Examples of these are the K’line Air and the O.C.S. (Overseas Courier Services) which are both situated in Laguna Bel-Air. They are like LBC and FEDEX, which concerns are about bringing and delivering products from one place to another. These companies transfer, for example, appliances and clothes.

Lastly, is about the Technopark. This one reflects how industrialization really affects Santa Rosa because this place is composed of assorted business and company oriented companies. This place has a very enormous area which is very suitable for the big and high rise commercial buildings. Technopark’s composition of various businesses and establishments, shows how successful is the industries, not only in Santa Rosa, but in the entire province of Laguna.

               

        Many people claims that Santa Rosa is the “Makati of the South”, perhaps, because of its features regarding the businesses and companies blooming around it. Truly, my hometown is full of businesses which do not only improve its economy but most of all; these mold its identity and beauty. Sport and war? Somehow. But no one can deny that Santa Rosa’s industry diversity portrays how vivacious it will be in the very near future.

On the Other Side

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    Have you ever heard one of the stories regarding Balete trees? I believe that the very first thing which emerged from the back of your minds is the “Balete Drive” story. According to myths and rumors, this account is mostly about people who had encountered supernatural beings such as “evil ghosts”, “tikbalang”, “white lady” or “kapre” which (I do not know why!) prefer to reside at the enormous standing Balete trees. No doubt, people who had felt the mere presence of these horrible creatures had experienced the living hell out of themselves to be startled! Frightening? Really it is! But now, let me share to you a different perspective of the known-to-be-terrifying Balete story. A story to which I am pretty much related with, my own story.

    I grew up in a small yet, very simple and comfortable house in Santa Rosa, Laguna. About 10 meters away from the door of my humble home, a playground which is surrounded by various trees, to be specific, balete trees, mango trees, coconut-like trees and many others, can be found. Among these trees I had mentioned, the huge Balete tree situated at the north-east part of the park is the only one which has this great sentimental value for me.

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    I had live in my lovely house for about 11 years, and I am pretty sure that I am a living witness (Perhaps, a self-proclaimed witness!) to the growth and improvement of this balete tree. Going back to year 2001, this tree was most likely 2 ft. in height. It was so hard to notice because of its minute size compare to other trees in the place and that was the reason back then, why when my friends and I began playing in the park, we almost step and tumble upon it! Years passed and 2004 arrived, this tiny-labeled-plant, turned out to be a gigantic tree. A three year margin was enough for it to become a mighty tree standing about 20 ft. with its lengthy bulky branches and lushly growing leaves. The balete tree I once knew to be superfluous became a stronghold for the birds, beetles and other insects most especially in times when storms (MILENYO!) devastated the country. Moreover, it was a place-to-play in. It produces a large dimension of shade which is very suitable for refreshment, toying marbles, watching spider bouts and for playing “moro-moro”. Desperate to have a basketball court in our street, my colleagues and I surely made a basketball ring attached into a wood backboard and hanged on the balete tree. Unfortunately, in just a short span of time, (about 2 days) the mock basketball ring we had created out of our hopelessness, gave up! 

    It had witnessed my growth starting from my childhood years up to now, my journey on the adolescence stage. Undoubtedly, this balete story of mine is completely different from the others. It is not about creatures lurking in the night, ready to feed on your soul or rupture your very flesh. Instead, it is a story pertaining to happiness and contentment which are possibly tangible through friendship and memories made. A lot of remarkable stories this tree has. I cannot deny that it has become a really huge part of my life. I love everything about this balete tree: its beauty, its greatness, its purpose and the memories I had garnered from it. It is such  a stupendous tree!

A Simple Equation

    Found at the central part of Laguna, Santa Rosa City simply manifests why it is always been pertained to as the “heart” of Laguna. There are many outstanding things I love about this hometown of mine but what shines above all these are the “hospitality” which lingers beneath the heart and personality of its citizens and most especially, the unusual beauty which the place itself reveals. 

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    My family begun to stay in Santa Rosa in the year 2000 and it was also the time when we have to move from our former residency at Cavite because of my father’s job. My first glance at Santa Rosa, though that day possessed a fine weather, was full of anxiety and worry. I left our house at Cavite, not only the house, but worst of all, my friends and colleagues which I had been playing with since my early childhood. As we drove towards Santa Rosa, in was still vivid in my memory, how my friends and I shed tears and wept before we bid a farewell, not knowing when will our roads will cross once more. But, as I step down our vehicle, everything gradually changed. As I threw my eyes unto the wonderful view, I was captured by the beauty of Santa Rosa! The sun’s heat and the cool breeze of the fresh air brought me the exact warmth and chill that my body needs. The green field which was located at the front of our house invites me to lie and experience its soft texture which will inevitably slowly bring anyone to a deep slumber. The chirp of the birds, the swooshing wind and the smooth lashing leaves of the trees produced a harmonious music which glided smoothly in my ears and brought me heaven. Santa Rosa’s beauty was undeniably mesmerizing!

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    As days passed, I made my adjustments with the place. As a child, what emerged as a huge problem for me was coping with the new surrounding especially with its people. Despite of this, everything ran smoothly and fulfilling. I did my adjustments very easy because the people of Santa Rosa, which I thought at first were indifferent, welcomed me wholeheartedly. They were the first one to ask me, with eyes wide open, shining and shimmering, where I reside and where was my former house and this really made me flattered. They always take time to say a hello or question me where will I be going when they see me walking around the street. Because of this, all throughout my stay in this wonderful city, I always come out of our house with a big glittering smile! (Literally!) I always greet our neighbors with hands waving as they respond with their loud and jubilant “Kamusta!”, “O, san Ka?” and “Sige ingat!” I seldom see them frown or bored, stared blankly at the ceiling or looked outside the window with teary eyes. Surely, they are the happiest type I had ever seen! People of Santa Rosa, which I now call as my “Kababayan”, always welcome me with their arms ready to catch me in times of trouble or chaos. These scenarios give me the reason to always look at Santa Rosa as a lovely place to live in and as my most beloved hometown.

    Above all these, the most enamoring and my most admired fact abut Santa Rosa, is its own, like what I had said, unusual beauty. The gorgeousness that this city has is absolutely rare. It is uncommon because it follows this simple equation: (Environment + Industrialization = Beauty). In other words, Santa Rosa’s picturesque look is the fruit of the harmonious mixture of God-given environment and the present industrialization. At present, I am living in this city for almost 12 years and I can proudly say that I have seen much of its enormous improvement. As I let my feet touch the concrete ground and wander around the city, the actuality that Sta. Rosa is unrelentingly turning into an industrialized area is truly visible. What reflects this the most is the huge number of facilities and infrastructures found inside the city’s premises. It is fair and safe enough to say that for every 5 minutes of hitting the road, it is for sure that company-owned buildings and commercial lots will be on the way. One great and fascinating example of these is the newly built Nuvali. 

   

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   This area’s scenery is composed of green lands and buildings which height ranges from approximately 15 ft. to a high rise of 100 ft. As the lucid beam of the sun hits the vast greenish land situated all over Nuvali, the grasses shines and gives out a view which is very appealing to the naked eye. The cool breeze which grazes unto the skin of the people visiting the vicinity simply makes them shiver a little but brings forth a wide smile on their faces as they continue to walk and have some chit-chats with their buddies or companions. At the middle, a broad man-made lake can be seen and I believe this is the main asset of the place. Surrounded by water plants and colorful school of coy fish, the lake becomes the place where people gather to witness  the extravagant beauty of the lake itself and to feed some of the fish. As the moon gradually replaces the sun, the beauty of Nuvali is emphasized more. Its enamoring view is projected, not only by the lake and the green field, but together with the glimmering lights coming from the tall standing buildings beside the lake. The combination of environmental beauty and changes brought by industrialization in Santa Rosa never fails to satisfy the hunger of my eyes. See why I pertained it to as having an unusual beauty? 

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   Santa Rosa City, Laguna would always have a special place in my heart. It is where I became the person who I am now and that, it embedded into me the values which built me as a true person. “People plus incomparable beauty”, this is the main equation which led me to love and adore this “Heart of Laguna!”

Hear me! (Superman and the Kryptonite)

   As a student, I truly want to improve and enhance my skills and be able to apply them in my daily life, likewise in my future. Thus, I indeed give relevance to matters which will help me to achieve the improvement I am aiming and one of these things is my listening skills. Well, my listening skills? If you are going to ask me about this, I can just tell you only the truth and nothing but the truth!

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   My own listening skills are partly bad, (Yes it is.) but nevertheless, it is absolutely good! I believe that my strength as a listener is my being “focus”. While a particular person is talking, bringing out his thoughts, I simply, keep quiet, lend my ears to him and begin to understand every single word that comes out of his mouth. In other words, I am capable of giving my entire attention to an individual who is speaking. But like anybody else, most specially, “SUPERMAN”, I admit that I also have my own weakness, specifically when it comes to the aspect of listening. What contradicts my strength the most is no other than “noise”. Akin to Superman’s kryptonite, noise severely destroys my attentiveness and focus towards a person. It easily distracts me and keeps me from understanding the idea a person wants to impose. When my friends starts to talk (Especially when it is about hilarious issues!) while we are inside a classroom or during a meeting, I cannot help myself to give my attention to them and then laugh really hard!

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    In the context of the processes involved in listening, I can say that I am having trouble in “Evaluating”. Judging others’ works gives me the chills and goose bumps. The reason is that I am having a hard time distinguishing the worst or even the best part of their work. In my own perspective, I am afraid to hurt someone because of my comments and opinion.

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    No doubt, weaknesses are not valid reasons to hinder my growth. Hence, these matters should be subjected into solutions which will completely impede them from causing problem. I will always put in my mind the discipline and control over my self. When it is not needed, I will set aside talking and prioritize listening. I will keep my self from talking to my friends or classmates, most specially during important discussions. Discipline and control are the key words that I have to be familiar with for these two will keep my track straight towards the development of my listening skills.As I listen with my whole attention, I will give my best to learn something fruitful in order for me to be able to share to others good things. From this, I will be a good communicator who is able to spread and reach out the things I had learned to other people.