SPCP SHS International Immersion for Global Mindedness

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL St. Paul College Pasig

Spending Wisely

As a minor, travelling without your parents is actually not as easy as you would think, especially when it comes to budgeting money. It may seem that you have all the freedom in the world, but you definitely do not. It is difficult to budget your expenses withthelimitedamountofmoneyyouhave and no way to add more to it. That is why it is important to plan your expenses for everytrip,withorwithoutyourparents.

Our experience with this was surely not perfect. We would constantly buy food when we were hungry, shop whenever we wouldseeasale, top-upoursimcards tobe abletocontacteachother,payforourtrain rides to get to different places, and of course buy our “pasalubongs” to bring back home to our families and friends. It was overwhelming in the beginning because we had so much money on our hands that we felt like we could just spend itallinadayifwedidnotcontrolourselves. Luckily, we promised to look out for and help one another when it comes to allocating our expenses and purchasing items.

This was just one of the ways we budgeted our money, but here some tips on how to save some cash and budget it wisely when travelling.

The first tip is to keep track of all your expenses every day. Some of us decided to have a list of whatever they bought during the trip. From food to “pasalubongs,” they updated their list constantly and computed how much they spent for the day. This may be stressful, but it is the best way to know how much was deducted from the money thatyoubroughtwithyouonthetrip.Itwill certainly be helpful especially when your parents ask how much you spent while you werethere

The second tip is to keep some cash aside in case of emergencies. We all had extra dollars with us that we were not allowed to spend unless it was absolutely needed. This would serve as your back-up money that should not be brought with you everywhere you go A sample scenario would be if you lost your walletwalkingaround,youhaveyourback-up moneythatwasleftinyourluggagetouse.

The third tip would be to buy only what you need. This was actually a tip that all of us kept in mind to not waste our money. Prioritize purchasing food, “pasalubongs,” transportation, and personal care items. These arequiteessentialwhentravellingandmustbe bought before anything else. Then, when all thatistakencareof,youmaybuysome“want” items for yourself. You also need to think of yourself and splurge on some products that will make you happy; just make sure you do notspendallyourcash!

The final tip would be to control yourself. I mentioned in the third tip that you may splurge on some things for yourself, but you alsoneedtohaveself-control. Justbecauseyou have money does not mean you can spend it all. When you are about to purchase an item you really like, keep in mind the price of the product and ask yourself “Is this really worth how much it is sold for?” In addition, consider some other factors, such as quality, uniqueness, etc. to be able to figure out if it is worth the money or not. Also, you need to think if you have something similar back at homebecauseyoudonotneedtwoofthesame kind. With all these questions, you will be able tohavesomeself-control.

All in all, aside from the lessons I gained during our classes and various group activities in the university, I also learned how to be independent. Having to manage the money that I have on my own was a big responsibility, and it absolutely taught me so much. The trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was not only a chance to learn from the modules and to explore the city, but it was also an opportunity to develop different values, qualities, and skills through all the experiences we had while we were there. After this trip, I am now much more conscious and mindful when it comes to handlingmoney.

"...I am much more conscious and mindful when it comes to handling money after this trip."

Julianna Marie Gil

TheFood Culture

"Malaysia, like the Philippines, is diverse there is so much more that was deep within the surface, and you really have to immerse yourself in the culture in order to fully understand it."

Upon my arrival in Malaysia, I realized that even when the overall culture and the people were different from those in our country, the food was somewhat similar to ours Malaysia, like the Philippines, is diverse there is so much more that was deep within the surface, and you really have to immerse yourself in the culture in order to fully understand it

They served cuisine much like ours; the meals served to my groupmates and me would contain some of the following: fried rice, chicken, and egg The street vendors outside our hotel showcased their creations most of them looking just like our local squid balls and kikiam. But here is the catch: most of the food we ate had some sort of spicy sauce that is incomparable to any of the spicy dishes here in the Philippines

I remember arriving in Kuala Lumpur, assuming that I was already accustomed to spicy food. It had been something I thought I have gotten used to all throughout my life During meals, before I could even realize it, my hands would reach out for the hot sauce bottle that stood tall at the end of the dining table I thought that I had grown somewhat immune to the spiciness of certain foods, because the ever so small red (or green) chili pepper was a constant presence in my meals and I was never bothered by the miniature warfare that was occurring on my taste buds

However, I recall the day I had my first spicy meal in Malaysia. The memory is still fresh in my mind It was lunch break; my friend and I ordered Tom Yum fried rice The dish came to us, with such vibrant colors displayed all over it

We took a bite, relished its flavor, and it suddenly hit us The “miniature warfare” I so fondly thought of whenever indulging in spicy food had turned into something entirely different. Up until this day, I still lack enough words to be able to describe it in detail

Looking back on that experience, I think that that certain meal had been the most intense meal I have ever had. It came to the point wherein I forced myself to swallow the rice down my throat and choke back the tears that were threatening to spill out of my eyes It was truly a challenge, and it was certainly a challenge I would never forget

I also experimented with a variety of dishes during my stay, from the street food to the desserts offered to us during the program While trying to taste as much as I could, I realized that the food culture in Malaysia is not based on how they present their food or the like, but most of it focuses on the spices they mix with their dishes The food, without these spices, would be just normal and plain It would be just like ours or some other country’s cuisine. However, sometime in the past years, they have learned to incorporate their own taste and flavor into the common household dishes that one would eat every day They have found a way to show off their individualism In a way, it symbolizes their own uniqueness, and it makes them stand taller and prouder in the diverse sea of nationalities in this world

FrancescaAnneR.Ramos

Independence: Redefined

Through my experience in Malaysia, however, I had a wider view towards the definition of independence

As I was growing up, the sense of independence has always been something I have wanted to develop It has been the main reason why I have always wanted to do things alone or learn things by myself I want to prove to myself that I really am independent person and that I can stand on my own feet and not need anyone else. Through my experience in Malaysia, however, I gained a wider view of the meaning of independence. Yes, I learned that being independent does not entirely mean doing things alone

Late May, when I knew that I was going to travel without any family member with me, I was filled with mixed emotions. I felt uncomfortable not travelling with them. I felt happy at the same time too, knowing that it would serve as an opportunity for me to prove to them that I am capable of looking after myself, despite my young age

Then came the trip proper Initially, I loved the feeling of doing things by and for myself These included passing through immigration, boarding the plane, buying my own food, and budgeting my own money. Things changed as days passed by, though.

Halfway through my stay in Malaysia, things were not the same as on the first two to three days I was already having a difficult time managing the different resources I had, ranging from money to time. I had to decide for myself during these days and doing so meant prioritizing a specific need over the other. I realized that I was having a difficult time, and I was left with no choice but to ask help from batchmates who came with me I needed their help in order for me to survive during the remaining days, most especially when it came to going around the city using different modes of transportation.

Only after that did I realize that despite being able to do things by myself, I will also need people to help me Despite having all the freedom to do things, I concluded that I still need people to help me After doing so, I learned to appreciate having the company and the presence of my family when it comes to going to places. I guess it is because I felt comfortable travelling without me worrying about anything.

On a positive note, however, there are a lot of fears which I conquered through the process of proving that I am independent These included my unusual fear of walking on sidewalks with no barriers and using public transportation at night. I also got to discover a lot of things about myself which I never knew before, one of which was my ability to stay firm about not buying something which I do not need despite it being on sale

I learned that being independent does not entirely mean doing things alone.

Being able to experience this, I was able to modify my personal definition of independence After the trip, I realized that independence means having the ability to do things alone but remaining open at the same time if the need for help arises.

COMPANIONSHIP

Raphaela C. Nabaza

The International Study Tour (2018) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia had many firsts for me. It was the first trip I had ever taken without my parents or other relatives (except for my twin sister who also joined this program); it was the first time I ever set foot on Malaysian soil; it was the first time I spent so much time with my schoolmates and some teachers; and it was the first time I was educated formally outside of Philippines. Since there were a lot of firsts for me, I could not help being nervous and a little naïve. I did not know my way around Malaysia or the country’s culture, which of course left me confused. Aside from the culture shock I received when we landed in Malaysia, there were also negative/uncomfortable experiences which I encountered during the trip.

What really made the International Study Tour memorable for me were the fun and happy moments with my fellow Paulinians (batchmates) and our other companions. There is a belief that no matter where you go, no matter what you are doing, the only thing that matters is whom you are with to have a good time. The people who joined me in the tour were fun to be with. They would make jokes in uncomfortable situations; therefore, alleviating the awkward atmosphere. They were street smart, making it easier to navigate or tour around Malaysia, though we got lost a couple of times at the start.

We were from different Tracks (STEM, HUMMS, ABM, and General), we all had different skills or talents, we had different strengths, and we were different people but it didn’t stop us from bonding and becoming friends. At first I didn’t know anybody or wasn’t particularly close with anyone from the group except for my sister, but as time passed we all started getting along and talking. I remember one night after eating me and my sister said that we were going back to our room to rest, but the others pleaded for us to stay and play a game with them, and so we did.

By the end of the night we were all having fun and had all gotten closer. I can say that aside from the extra knowledge we had gained from studying in Malaysia or the many “Pasalubong” we had shopped for in Malaysia we were able to bring home happy memories and of course gain more friends. We all shopped together, got lost together, studied together, ate together, went touring together, and even slept in the same room together how could we have not gotten closer. Aside of from my batch mates Sir. Shawn Marasigan, a teacher from St. Paul College, Pasig also joined us on the tour. He chaperoned us during the tour and acted like our father. He always made sure we were alright and joked around with us especially when we were tired. I am also thankful for the others who chaperoned us during the tour and made sure we were alright.

Maria

The Malaysian Culture

During our Malaysia work immersion, we were able to learn about their culture and understand their way of life During our first five days, we experienced how it was to study in a university in Malaysia and how they teach the students their The professors in the university focused on enhancing our business skills and communication skills by having us present after every lecture we had From the university we studied in, I realized that in Malaysia, speech and communication skills was something very important for students to have They always reminded us to strive to improve our skills and to do our best in presenting since a student’s presentation will show their skills and knowledge

Another thing I find interesting about Malaysia’s culture is that every time we would have breakfast, lunch, and dinner they always had tea to serve us They would either serve us ready to drink black pearl tea or the powder sachets of tea for us to make Sadly we were not able to try other traditional food of Malaysia because of our time schedule and because of Ramadan We were only able to eat different kinds of Malaysian dishes that only had chicken since Malaysia is a Muslim country and they strictly follow no meat during Ramadan

Since it was Ramadan during our stay, stores or shops would close early around 8:30 pm which made it really hard for us to find souvenirs and to shop around What we loved the most was they had Ramadan sale in Malaysia, every store was on sale because of Ramadan and we were able to but a lot of cheap things that used to be very expensive before the sale The teachers allowed us to go around the city or Malaysia by using the train as transportation so we can look for more things to buy and for us to be able to really explore and enjoy Malaysia’s culture During our trip without our teachers, we learned how to be independent and how to trust each other when trying to find where to go We realized that Malaysia is somehow like the Philippines but less people and more peaceful, you won’t really find it noisy when crossing busy streets or when walking in their mall because they don’t really talk as much as we Filipinos do

During our last day, our coordinator brought us to a church since it was a Sunday Upon arriving in the church we realized that a lot of Malaysians were also catholic because of the many people we went to mass with The church there had usherettes that helped us find our seats in the middle just before the mass started Me along with my companions felt a little shy because we were the only foreigners attending the mass As soon as the mass began, we realized that the mass was not in English or Malay, we were attending a mass that was in Chinese which made us feel more out of place We copied them every time they would kneel, stand up or seat down and tried to observe how they sing, pray and receive their communion We found out that they would bow before receiving the bread and would put their hand together like our prayer position and would bow right after not like our kiss of peace in the Philippines

Our stay in Malaysia has helped me become more aware and observant of the things around me and the differences in each country and culture. Although we were not really able to explore much or go out as much, I’m happy to be able to learn about the little things or little details about Malaysia’s culture

Maria Michaela Nabaza

BeforegoingtoAustralia,Iwasabitafraidofwhatwasgoingtohappen.Ireallydidnotknowwhat toexpect.Itwasmyfirsttimetotraveloutsideofmyowncountrywithoutasinglefamilymember.I didnotknowthepeoplewhomIwastravellingwithverywell Australiaisabitfarawayfromthe PhilippinesandtheculturethereisverydifferentfromwhatIamusedto Ididnotknowwhatdo andIfeltquitelost. As an introvert, I had to step out of my comfort zone and become a little more outgoing than I normally am Thankfully, my schoolmates Cat Ao, Bea Mallari, Bianca Mallari, Joj Begonia, Kat Soberano and teacher, Ms Alejandro, who were with me during the trip, were very kind and helpful.Ms.Alejandromadesurethatwealldidtherightthingandthatwewerenot100%cluelessof whatweweredoing.Westucktogetherandbondedinaspanof10days whichweallthinkwasnot enoughforthetrip.

Kiana Alexis Abiva

"As an introvert, I had to step out of my comfort zone and become a little more out-going than I normally am."

Other than my schoolmates and Ms. Alejandro, my foster parents, Mr and Mrs Taylor made my trip fun They helped me loosen up and adjust well to the new environment I was in. The Taylors made sure that we felt welcome and at home in their beautiful house My experiences living with a foster family were very memorable and allowed me to do things that I do not usually do at home Even though things are different in an Australian household, I noticed that Australia and the Philippines have practices that are similar Like in the Philippines, my foster family likes to eat together during meals and is very family oriented They would always talk about their children and grandchildren and even showed us pictures of them Someday, I would like to visit my Australian family again and make our relationship stronger so that we may be able to learn from both the Philippine and Australian history and culture.

Despite the short trip, we were able to visit a lot of places and a number of campuses in the Gold Coast Area. For our mode of transportation, we rode the train and the buses, but our foster parents drove us to and from school. We visited the multiple campuses of Southern Cross University and were oriented on how the school functions The universities were much larger than those in the Philippines.

We were all amazed by the largeness of everything. Aside from the different campuses, we visited tourist spots, such as the Wildlife Sanctuary, and got to see koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies. We were also able to visit Q1, a tall building that allowed us to see the whole beach and area. Personally, my favorite attraction and activity during the trip was when we spent a day at Movie World, where we went on rides and got to see attractions of some of our favorite movies

I really enjoyed being able to travel by myself and experience things on my own It helped me become more independent and it aided in my development as a person. I got to make somewhat big decisions for myself and found out more about who I am during the trip I got to develop my skills in time and money management. I learned how to communicate better with other people who are different The trip was a big factor when it came to choosing the course I want to take up in college Being in the university also made me consider studying abroad in the future. As a humanities student, the study tour led me to finally decide that I wanted to be a communications student I want to be able to bridge the diverse people in the world and unite them to work better together The Australian study tour was a huge blessing to me and I would like to do it again in the future.

"I did not know what do and was very lost."

SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY Gold Coast, Australia

AUSTRALIA MAY 2018

From left to right: Christina Bea Mallari, Ms. Joyce Alejandro (teacher), Katrina Soberano, Katrina Abiva, Catriona Ao, Jojhana Begonia, Christina Bianca Mallari

Southern Cross University, Gold Coast Campus, Campus Tour

The Aqua Duck

Hiroshima Japan

"

...simply learning about history in the classroom cannot amount to the feelings, thoughts, and lessons that one may have by experiencing it firsthand."

Hiroshima is a place where a lot has taken place throughout the course of history It is not one of those big city areas that I am usually more drawn to visiting, but it is full of culture and history Something I learned or came to see and understand better, something which may not have been entirely possible without the school’s program, is that simply learning about history in the classroom cannot approximate the feelings, thoughts, and lessons that one can have by experiencing it firsthand. An example of this could be how some people have come to respect Japan and perceive it to be an ideal country with little to no flaws, a country that upholds a standard which other countries should follow From having a clean environment to the disciplined people, the general impression of the country is far different from that of our own

While I was there, through the lessons and interactions we had with both university and high school students, I got to see a bit of their own perspectives of the country. Yes, they have a good environment, one that is still green and not full of pollution, but then we also came to learn that it comes at the price of other countries suffering, because they take illegally logged resources from them to be used industrially Despite how great the country may seem to be, it comes with its own set of flaws that we, as foreigners, may see; and yet, they are still known to be proud of their country, something that cannot be said of all Filipinos

At the same time, something I realized is how differently we may have learned about certain social issues, such as the war. How they have come to terms with what happened, study the war, and honor its victims is something I wish our country would do as well Perhaps it cannot be exactly in the same manner, but to be able to remember events in more than just our history classes and to have genuine care for and pride in our country and countrymen like them While we were at the shrine, we witnessed students chanting and singing as a tribute to those who had fallen during the atomic bombing that took place in Hiroshima.

Something in me that changed during the trip could be how I think and feel towards our country and its history As our country has been through so much in the past, I wish we could have learned from our mistakes as well as learned to be proud of our own country Instead of idolizing other countries and comparing, we should be striving to better ourselves and our community and become proud of our Filipino identity

G I A N E L L E C O R D O V A

C d

me feeling upset; upset that I had to leave such a beautiful place After all the things Hiroshima went through, it blooms and grows through the obstacles and continues to develop along with the other parts of Japan

Thinking of how it changed me, I would say that I have learned to appreciate small things in life and the value behind them Many did not survive the Abomb dropping, but those who did struggled with their losses and clung to small items and tokens that once belonged to those they lost People there were nice and respectful I was taught the beauty and value of things and not just its monetary value As an example, during our ikebana flower arrangement meeting, patience, creativity, and gentleness were required and encouraged to be practiced. Doing calligraphy in their alphabet required a steady hand and a certain amount of gracefulness that was dependent on the person himself.

To grow and cherish the things we have is as important as remembering what we lost. The Peace Park made me realize that. It made me realize not to take things or someone for granted. Every August 6, they hold a ceremony in the park for those who had been lost, and I find it heartbreaking but somehow hopeful.

If the Japanese can go past what the other countries have done to them, why can we not? We struggle with peace even as of now. Coming back from Japan gave me hope. It changed my view of how most people are.

Sabrina Teresa Romerol

Hiroshima: The StudyTour

many locals I met was a man who was seated beside me in the plane going back to Narita (but then Nagoya) He told me stories about his family, his career, basically his life and also gave me the chance to share about my mine. He was nice enough to translate to me the announcements regarding the issues the airplane was facing at that time Aside from making friends with the locals, I also got to make new Paulinian friends who went on the trip with us. At times, it was as if we had known each other for so long because of how strong our connection was to one another To add to what I said earlier about learning culture, I got to experience and immerse myself in it as well We went to Miyajima Shrine and drank matcha tea the traditional way while wearing kimonos The trip unexpectedly opened my eyes to new experiences and perspectives on the Japanese culture in terms of religion and etiquette that we may not learn by just reading books

Clara Felise Villegas

"...not only did I come back with new knowledge and a better version of myself, but I came back with a new family."

Before arriving in Japan, I already had an image in mind of what my work immersion experience would be like. I expected to be friends only with my fellow batchmates and that we would give all our time to the work and output expected from us. I expected strict structure and to be limited in boxes of what we were able and allowed to do. Nothing could have prepared me for the destruction of my expectations. My entire trip was full of pleasant surprises and blessings that I am forever grateful for and it has definitely created a big impact in my life.

It was my first time being truly immersed in the more countryside part of Japan. It was such a peaceful and simple city that allowed me to appreciate and engage with nature. Being there was liberating as the streets were safe and I could only wish that I could feel that again here in the Philippines.

Hiroshima is a city that is truly one with its history. Even if it was not a pretty one, they never forgot about it. Instead, they studied the events of the past in order to strive for a better future not just for their country and people but also for everyone else around the world. There are many things I wish for our country to learn from Japan and its people, but the main one would be remembering and growing from history, both good and bad.

It was not a sudden realization or a flip of the switch change, but I think I grew to be a much more open person. I faced a lot of fears and stepped out of my comfort zone the entire week in Japan. With the help of my newfound friends, I took more risks and embraced uncertainty a little bit more. Overall, I grew to learn to just have more fun with the places I am in and the people I am with and to not be so limiting of myself.

Something I learned and observed while in Hiroshima was the relationship between Filipinos and newfound families. There were very few Filipinos in the University and they are this wonderful little community. Filipinos find one another in solidarity and can become a family overnight. This was something that moved us to continue striving and working hard despite new environments and being so far from home. Going back home, I am so blessed to be able to say that not only did I come back with new knowledge and a better version of myself, but I came back with a new family.

"My entire trip was full of pleasant surprises and blessings that I am forevergrateful for and it has definitelycreated a big impact in my life."

Theresa Angela R. Zamora

Home Visit

Hirata Farm

Hattendo Bread factory

University

camp under the stars

It all started with a WOW!

Itallstartedandendedwitha“WOW.”

WhenIfirstheardabouttheopportunityofgoing toStanfordlastyear(2018),Iwasveryintimidated and excited at the same time. I knew it will cost a lot and I also knew that it will be an amazing experience thatwillhelpmypersonalgrowthand in academic learning as well. After thoroughly thinking whether I should join or not, the results ended up with pros weighing more than the cons, which led me to join. That decision pushed me to put more effort into my academics and time management without even noticing it. Although most people think of having to spend a lot of money for this experience as a negative thing, it led me to think otherwise. Having to spend a lot of money was a blessing. If I chose not to join this program because of the intimidation of having to spend, I would have never learned about growth experience in an early stage of life. I realized that maturity really comes with your exposure, experiences, and the decisions you make. When you experience these at a young age, you expand your thinking and you mature early, which gives you more wisdom in dealing with people and in dealing with yourself. You become open minded because of the diversity surrounding you. You learnhowtorespectandacceptothersregardless oftheirbackgroundsand nationalities,whichbuildslastingfriendshipsand connectionsthatwillhelpyouinthenear future. Time is too precious to waste just because of the fear of losing money. You can take money back, but the opportunity you could have taken NOW and did not, you can never take back. Because of this, this experience taught me the real definition of “quality over quantity.” And of course,allof these would not have been possible without the support and guidance of our parents and facilitators, for which I have a whole lot of gratitude.

DuringmystayinStanford,onewordIalwayssay was “Wow”—not just because of the beautiful campus but more of the people. I never thought of being very close to students from Mexico, Colombia, and Australia, but guess how close we arenow—weareinseparable.

Ineverthoughtofhavingtowatchalivesoccer game, experience wild parties, having a bonfire, trying other cultures’ ways and traditions, meeting with the most successful people, even having to speak Spanish! And of course,thereisawholelotmore.

Adjusting to the time zones and culture was okay for us but nothing is harder than not having rice per meal when you are a Filipino. AlthoughIfoundthisasapositivesignbecause it only means that we should be open and accepting of what is given to us to fully immerse ourselves in the community and traditionswecurrentlylivein.

This experience really led me out of my comfort zone. Being in a diverse community requiredmetobemorevigilantwithmywords and actions. I became more of a person who takes action than merely someone who thinks. I experienced different responses to my actions which led me to take initiatives on improving myself. This experience really helped me mature in many ways, but it helped memostlytobewise.

We all knew that someday, there would be a “goodbye” for us students. But what really struck me the most was that those words did not exist in our community in Stanford. We said, “see you again soon!” Although even if this was the statement, the connection we had for each other even in a short period of time led us to have tears in our eyes. That was when I realized that this program might end, but the memories, relationships, and learnings will alwaysleaveamarkinourhearts.

Now, it is not only a mere “wow” I always say when I think of Stanford. There is a meaning behind it now and taking the leap to join this program might be the best leap I have taken in my entire life. Now that it has meaning, in the end, “wow” for me stands for “willingness of wisdom.”

"

...I noticed about myself after the whole experience was that I gained more confidence in myself and my fear of speaking in front of many people was lessened."

On our arrival day in the San Francisco Airport, we immediately saw the banner that said Stanford Pre-Collegiate International Institutes. We ran because we were all very excited to see the poster welcoming us after almost 14 hours of travelling Then before we knew it, we were already escorted into the coach that would bring us to Stanford University. The bus ride though just 30 minutes felt very long because we were all tired from our flight. But we were excited and nervous about what awaits us in this 10-day camp. We were brought to La Maison Francaise, our home for two weeks. We settled in, explored the house, found our rooms, and unpacked our luggage We had free time on that day and had our first house meeting at nighttime.

M y S t a n f o r d E x p e r i e n c e

The next day (June 25, 2019), was officially the first day of the entire program. We went to Encina Hall to talk about our Global Solutions Project Groups. Then, we had lunch at Florence Moore Dining Hall. After that, we all had our first class Not everyone from SPCP was in the same class because we were separated into small groups of 11 which became our teams every time we would go to our classes. I was part of French 6 group.

Our first class was called Decision Quality: Better Decisions Better Lives. In this class, we learned that a decision is a choice that leads to an action The elements of a good decision are: Helpful Frame, Clear Values, Creative Alternatives, Useful Information, Sound Reasoning, Commitment to Follow Through.

The Helpful Frame is the decision situation that you are working through. This is where you ask yourself, “What am I really deciding?” or “What do I want to achieve?” The next is Clear Values; it is where you think of what you want or do not want in the outcome. After that, you look for Creati Alternatives or different ways by which you can address t situation. You also need to have Useful Information about t decision that you are about to make. Next is Sound Reasoni and this is where you identify the alternatives that best your values. And then, you need to have the Commitment Follow Through the decision you have made.

After that class, we had our Campus Tour. We were able walk around the campus with our chaperones and o counselors. We had counselors who were studying Stanford University so they showed and explained to us som landmarks inside the campus, like the Stanford Memorial Church and the fountain in front of the Stanford Booksto After the Campus Tour, we had free time and had a ho meeting again during nighttime.

The next day (June 26, 2019), our first class was ab Capitalism. I learned that capitalism is an economic syst in which private individuals or businesses own capital goo The production of goods and services is based on supply a demand in the general market The teacher gave us so situations that would help us apply the concepts in real life

Later day, we had a storytelling session through hip-h Everyone thought that we would be asked to dance in t class but surprisingly, we were not We discussed the history of hip-hop and composed a song during this class

One fact about hip-hop is that it was first developed in the late 1970's, but not many people knew about it. It was created in the poorest districts of New York City by African American and Latino teenagers as part of a hip hop scene that also produced break dancing and graffiti art.

The output for this activity was very interesting because we had to think of a product that would be helpful for them. For example, my seatmate's difficulty during her most recent trip was having a jetlag and stiff neck. To help her out, I thought of making a neck pillow for her. We also had the opportunity to attend a class called the Social Ocean. I learned about the different problems that the ocean is facing right now, like pollution, rising of sea levels, change in water temperature, increasing number of endangered animals, etc. We also discussed about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and their benefit and how some countries take advantage of the MPA’s resources for their own benefit.

Later that day, we met some Stanford college students, who shared about their university experience and gave us tips on how to survive college life away from home. The following day was about Philosophy and Writing with Images. I learned that Philosophy was derived from two words: Philo, which means love, and Sophy, that is wisdom or knowledge. Philosophy is the love for knowledge and that is the reason why philosophers often ask so many questions about everything around them.

The Writing with Images class on the other hand made us go to the Cantor Arts Museum, which is located inside the Stanford Campus. We went only to the part of the museum where they showed portraits and paintings of the Stanford Family, but there was one specific huge painting that we needed to write a story about. We were tasked to write about what we think is happening in the painting. The story needed to have very descriptive details about the said image.

CULTURE. DIVERSITY.

After the Writing with Images session, we prepare for our Multicultural Exhibitio practiced our dance and fixed our During the Multicultural Exhibition, ev presented something about his/her coun our presentation to represent the Phil we sang the national anthem and perfo cultural dance that had a combina modern dances. After the presentatio went around to try treats from each co booth and played with some of each co traditional toys. There was also a fashio that presented each country’s tradition modern clothes.

The next day (June 29, 2019) was Camp Day. There was a field which had activit the giant hamster ball, a basketball cou mini games. We enjoyed the ice cream truck because the weather was hot on that day and most of us were really ice cream lovers, so we tried different flavors of ice cream. Below are some pictures of this activity.

Our chaperone was with her sister who lives in San Francisco and they wanted to attend Holy Mass. One of our counselors drove us to the church, which was outside the Stanford Campus. After Mass, we had a quick dinner back in our house, then we went to the Stanford Stadium to watch the soccer match between San Jose Earthquakes and L.A. Galaxy. San Jose Earthquakes won by a score of 3 over L.A. Galaxy, who had a score of 0. After the soccer match, we watched the fireworks show for the advanced celebration of the Fourth of July.

Scarlette Cua Grade 11 Student

Mikaela Ramos Grade 11 Student

San Francisco

June2019

On the next day (June 30, 2019) was our San Francisco Tour. We first went to the California Academy of Sciences, which was a research institute and museum. My friends and I went only to the aquarium part of the museum because we did not have much time to explore all the tourist attractions in the museum. Although we went only to the aquariums, we still had fun because we got to see sea animals that we do not get to see every day The group picture below is us outside the museum After Cal Academy, we went to the view deck of the Golden Gate Bridge. We took pictures and spent time with our friends. It was really cold there but it was all right because we really enjoyed seeing the bridge. From the Golden Gate Bridge, we went to Pier 39, a tourist spot in San Francisco with many souvenir shops. After the San Francisco Tour, we had free time so some students went to the bookstore, some to Tresidder, while others just stayed in the house Tresidder is a place inside the campus where there was Panda Express, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, and other restaurants

After the San Francisco Tour, we had free time so some students went to the bookstore, some to Tresidder, while others just stayed in the house. Tresidder is a place inside the campus where there was Panda Express, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, and other restaurants.

DISCOVER

TECHNOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE

The next day (July 1, 2019), we were back in the classroom to answer the question How We Can Defeat Cancer? the title of our class Here, we learned about cells and how they divide. We learned the difference of cancer cells to healthy cells and that healthy cells have a limit of dividing themselves but cancer cells do not have a limit so they just keep dividing. We learned that cancer has 5 stages-(Stage 0, Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4). The workshop did not really talk about how to defeat cancer but it talked more about what cancer really is and what it does to the body.

Then we were off to our next class, Business Entrepreneurship We talked about what we think certain terminologies meant We had a group activity wherein we thought of problem, made a concept map, and looked for a solution The problem that my group thought about was diabetes The solution that we thought of was to sell a specialized menu to restaurants The specialized menu uses ingredients that are good for people who have diabetes instead of the usual food The menu will vary in every restaurant that will buy the concept as it is made to fit the food and theme of the specific restaurant The ingredients will differ to meet the types of food that the restaurant is offering It will be an additional option in their menu and our group thought that it is also a good marketing strategy because a person who has diabetes need not worry about what to order.

Then there was the Entrepreneur Panel. Our teacher from the Business Entrepreneurship class was also there and we learned that she was the founder and CEO of Cactus International. Cactus International is a company she founded in 2013 to promote women entrepreneurship and leadership. She consults with and trains women on how to start and grow a sustainable business Other entrepreneurs talked about their experiences and their stories before they became successful It was really inspiring because they all started small and faced several challenges before they became who they are right now They gave us tips and shared with us that starting a business would not be easy but it would be worth a try

Unleashing Your Personal Potential was the title of our next session This class made us realize more things about ourselves and helped us to think positive even if we are facing challenges It also helped us know that we were not the only ones dealing with challenges and that the people around us could also be facing the same challenge This class helped me become more openminded We learned the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset We also made mantra cards that could be a daily reminder for us to look at the brighter side of things whenever we are struggling Our teacher in this workshop, Raj Bhargava, was also part of the Entrepreneur Panel.

Our Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture class, on the other hand, helped us understand the use of technology and agriculture in farming. Together, it was the technology used in the field of agriculture. Some farmers use technology to determine the weather and there are also farmers who use technology to make farming easier (the use of robots)

L E A R N .

C R E A T E .

G L O B A L S O L U T I O N S D E V E L O P .

We learned about the lobes of the brain and what the brain does in the Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience class We had the chance to visit the Center for Clinical Sciences Research (CCSR) and the Digital Anatomy Lab.

In one of the laboratory rooms, we had the opportunity to hold real preserved organs We were able to see and hold the heart, the lungs, the liver, and the brain It was a learning experience for us because we got to see what the organs really look like and know more about their functions in the human body While in the Digital Anatomy Lab, we had the chance to experience their interactive Virtual Reality platforms being used by their medical school students The equipment in the lab gives a detailed explanation of each bone that you click They also had a table with a touch-screen pad In that table, there were many case studies and you could do what you wanted to do in the case that you picked

The next day (July 4, 2019), our first class was Creative Writing Many enjoyed this class because it made us unleash our inner creativity through writing and drawing We had two activities in this workshop The first activity was that we had to write something about anything In the second activity we had to make a story for a character assigned to us Everyone contributed something to one another’s character which made it interesting to write a story.

Our next class was Math Explorations The discussion was about symmetry in functions It was about identifying the domain and range in a graph It was helpful for us because we also discuss this in our mathematics subject in our own schools

The next day (July 5 2019) We also had our GSP (Global Solutions Project) Presentation There were seven meetings allotted for us to plan and prepare for the presentation. There was a total of seven groups and each group had a certain island assigned to them The main objective was to develop our island in terms of its identity, sustainable environment, omy and trade, immigration and ilation, healthcare, and the human of its citizens Once all the groups were to complete the island’s needs, we ed to present them to a panel of judges o other groups All the groups were in petition with each other in the things they added to their island My group he team award for the strategy: human , healthcare, and education

ext day (July 6, 2019) was departure day ad breakfast in our house and placed ggage outside our room We spent time one another for the last time before we veryone was emotional since it was the me we would all be together While we leaving we took pictures and cried all her because we would miss everyone we would also miss the place Later we ome of our friends in the airport when ere roaming around while waiting for oarding time

S. ESTRELLA

My Stanford Experience

Before the immersion was even brought up, Stanford was already one of my dream schools because I heard that it was the number one school internationally in terms of the course that I wanted for college which was Computer Science. When it was offered as an international immersion by my school, Saint Paul College Pasig (SPCP), I knew it would be an amazing opportunity. I was lucky enough that my own parents approved despite the cost being 6, 500 USD. I expected to get a feel of school life there, the difficulty of the classes, and having to socialize and dorm with people I wasn’t very familiar with The third expectation was what honestly scared me the most, along with the fact that it was my first time travelling alone and my first time in the US.

When we finally arrived in Stanford, the campus was so big and honestly very beautiful. Our dorm was called French and when we entered the dorm, we found that our Residential Counselors (RCs), the people who were taking care of us while we were in Stanford, went extra and also decorated the entire room in a Toy Story 4 theme. We absolutely loved it. We immediately explored around the house. There were many common areas, one even had a pool table and mini-grand piano, a laundry room, a dining hall, a backyard, and all the bedrooms were on the second floor and third floor and each floor had an RC.

After exploring we were a big hungry and so two RCs offered to take us out for food. Aysu brought a first batch of people while Sofia brought another batch I was part of the second batch which consisted of Martha, Shekinah, Felicia, Sabinah, and Tara. We went to an eating place that had Panda Express, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Subway, and others that were never really open when we were there so we didn’t pay them much attention. The place itself never really had a name so the entire we called it either Panda Express, Jamba Juice, or Stabucks depending on what we wanted at the time. For us Filipinos we mostly wanted Panda Express for the rice.

Anyway, after eating we went back to the French Dorm and by then the Mexicans have arrived. I was in a dorm of four people and one of them was Mexican. Her name was Andrea Schneeweiss and she was really nice, pretty, and approachable. Honestly speaking, it was kinda scary because all of them were so tall and majority had this guarded face and air around them but once you got to know them they were actually really fun.

The last ones to arrive were the Colombians because they were having troubles with the US Immigration. I later found out from a Colombian friend, Manuela Piñeros that it was because they didn’t declare the food they brought in the US Customs. I knew that the US was very strict with this because of my mom but because of the story that Manuela told me, I learned that I really, really, really had to be careful. The first Colombian I actually met was someone who travelled independently from her group and that was Valentina Cadena.

Valentina was really tall, pretty, kind, talented, and modest. The next ones I met were my two Colombian roommates, Manuela Jaramillo and Blanca Medina. Now that everyone has arrived, we met the important people of the Stanford Pre-Collegiate International Immersion (SPII) program. There was Trevor who was basically the head of everything, Iffa who was a muslim whow as the events coordinator/manager, Kylan who was the head RC of the French dorm, Will, Lily, Aysu, and Sofia who were the normal RCs.

We had our very first house meeting and we discussed house rules, the schedule, and introductions. For our introductions we had to say our name, the country we were from, what made us feel like home, and what super power we wanted and why. After all this, we had the earliest lights out (curfew basically) which was at 10 pm. The following time for lights out for the following days were at 11 while at one point, thanks to Will, on a weekend we had a lights out at 12.

For classes we took in Stanford we took them with our academic cohort which was basically an academic group I was in French 7 which consisted of only Colombians and Filipinos. For Filipinos, it included me, Mika Ramos, and Scarlette Cua from SPCP and Cheska, Nika, Sabina, and Tara from Assumption College (AC). The Colombians consisted of Valentina Sierra, Manuela Piñeros, Maria Camila Gireva, and Sofia Andrade Together we took many classes but the classes that stood out to me the most were Decision Quality: Better Decisions - Better Lives, Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience, Collaborative Fiction, the Social Ocean - Humans in Coastal and Marine, Business Entrepreneurship, Lecture/Visit to CCSR Lab, How We Can Defeat Cancer, and Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision in Agriculture

We had Decision Quality: Better DecisionsBetter Lives with Dana Luca. Dana Luca taught us how we would know we would make a quality decision regardless of an outcome. She said that even though the outcome of a decision may not have been good, the decision itself could still be a quality decision. She showed us videos on her topic and a video of a scenario that really taught us so many things. She even showed us a tool called a Decision Tree and I would honestly use it on school projects and making important decisions for myself.

We had Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience with Alan Ceasar. He taught us many new parts of the brain that go beyond the four lobes and cerebrum and cerebellum. He taught us about gray matter, white matter, why the brain is wrinkled, and cytoarchitecture of the cerebral cortex. We even learned what main parts of the brain activate when doing certain activities and what don’t. I definitely learned a lot from this topic and I believe that it’ll help me in STEM.

We had Collaborative Fiction with Emma Perry. Her class stood out the most to me because of her activities. Her activities were the most fun out of all the classes. We made stories and we all pitched in so many different ideas and even made funny characters. Some examples of funny and unique characters would be a pregnant astronaut grandma, a tater tots obsessed character named Meh, and a magical baby

We had Social Ocean - Humans in Coastal and Marine with Francisca Santana. We discussed many topics but what I honestly learned the most about was the matters regarding the Ross Sea. I learned about its geographic locations, its unpopularity, and how people are finding loopholes to tarnish it.

We had Business Entrepreneurship with Areen Shahbari. She taught us many things about entrepreneurship and solving common issues, how we can solve it, when we can solve it, and what to consider when solving said issue. Entrepreneurship is something that I, personally, will jot pursue in the future but what she taught us about solving problems or issues is definitely something that I will be taking with me for the rest of my life.

We had a Lecture/Visit to the CCSR Lab of Stanford and there we learned and saw many things. We actually had this period with French 6. We first had a lecture together then we separated for the more somewhat hands-on activities. Us French 7 first went to the place where we would could hold and see the actual organs of the human body. We saw a heart, liver, lungs, brain and spinal cord and one other thing that I can’t really remember. We learned new things about the organs and why certain organs have this certain thing on it. After this, we went the more digital portion of things. There were two VRs that I didn’t really take part in because VR makes me dizzy but what interested me the most was this computer like thing that showed many things that I find really hard to explain but that’s my favorite part.

We had How We Can Defeat Cancer with Husam Bakibir. We corrected misconceptions on cancer, we learned what caused cancer and what happens to cells when one has cancer, we compared the characteristics of a normal and healthy cell to a cancerous cell, we also learned the stages of cancer, and the different treatments for it.

For our Global Solutions Project (GSP). I was in the 5th cohort and our main facilitator was Lily. It was really fun thinking about the many necessities in running an island nation such as economy and trade, health and human rights, sustainable development, and immigration and mitigation We were separated into groups depending on which of the categories we chose among the four. The presentation was honestly a bit nerve-wrecking but it was interesting to see the question and answer portions. The people of different GSP cohorts honestly thought of intelligent questions regarding the island.

The last day was quite sad for everyone. The two weeks honestly passed by in a flash. It was astonishing how close everyone got in just two weeks. Not just with each other but also with the RCs. Everyone was crying (except a select few which included me) and surprisingly (but also a bit not surprising), a lot of people from the French dorm woke up early so they can go to the Synergy dorm to say their goodbyes. I honestly don’t even know how many times we’ve postponed boarding the bus. When the time finally came to really leave, it was both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. However, we left with memories that we will hold dear to us forever.

My Journal Entry

STANFORD UNIVERSITY IMMERSION

S h e k i n a h T a n t e

My expectations about the Stanford PreCollegiate International Institutes are :

Learning the different cultures of the other countries.

Meeting new friends

Learning new things everyday in classes.

During my first week in Stanford, I felt home sick since I've never been separated from my parents for so long but in a way it was nice because i get to think about my responsibilities and really got responsible since my parents are far from me and no one was their to remind me with every step of the way During the program I got introduced to American College life, knowing that I'll be far my family and not knowing whom you'll meet in college was exciting and scary, exciting because you get to meet new people, scary because you don't know what'll happen along the way. Meeting new people means learning about their cultures, We the Filipinos were able to share our cultures by teaching them the manners we give when we see elderly people, we also shared some more during the Multi-Cultural Exhibit.

I also learned the different cultures of the countries during my stay and the in MultiCultural Exhibit, for example Mexico and Colombia has such vibrant and outgoing personalities that each one of them had, it was so fun to be around them. And I realized that even all of us have different cultures we all still have similar core values that we all can relate to.

The classes were amazing and interesting, but my favorites would be the neuroscience and the anatomy classes because I aspire to be a doctor in the future and those classes got me even more interested in continuing my passion to be doctor. The professors were incredible, they really put effort into their teaching and they don't make their classes boring, they really want every one of us to participate and that's really great.

While in Stanford I was able to live out the values and teachings of my school during the program by praying for each others , respecting and being sensitive towards everyone, and being committed on our missions. I was able to share onto others by doing what I know whats right and helping everyone who's in need of help, and by being responsible not just for me but for others too. Global Solution Project, during the 2 weeks in Stanford i got to know more of the cultures of my friends from different countries because all of us were able to raise our opinions and got into agreements. The project reminded me how we're destroying our earth one by one, and the littlest thing can damage the earth so much that we the people on earth cant even notice, and so much had happen and many warning had been given about climate change and global warming and yet, we're still continuing the wrong doings that is destroying the earth slowly, but that project also opened my mind even more about how we can really improve our systems if we all unite and really focus and have the determination to save the earth, then maybe just maybe we can actually save the earth someday. The group that i was assigned with was great they were all amazing, we were all cooperated and we had our opinions but we all accepted it and we really discussed the things we're going to do for our island. One of the experiences that impacted me was when i got to meet the friends I made during my stay in Stanford, it really impacted me because I know that the people I met there and made friends with, will forever be there for me.

What touched me the most is when we all gather at night for house meetings and get to talk about our day and read testimonials, that felt emotional especially the last house meeting a lot had cried that night because we all knew that was our last night together. Would I apply the lessons I've learned to my daily routine? yes, especially my core values because its the one that will keep me going and the one that will help me achieve my goals in life.

Stanford

University

After Camp Activities

New York Film Academy Los Angeles

“Despite being an artist who draws and sings rather than being any sort of film maker, the NYFA camp was still a spectacular form experience. You do not need to be into film in order to enjoy it as when you get there you will definitely end up loving film We learned about directing, writing, camera work, editing, and a lot of other things. We also learned how to produce our own film. I learned so much from the camp regardless of it being for film and I know I will be able to use these skills in my craft and in life in general.”

FRANCESCA MARIE E. JOSE

“Before coming to NYFA, I was relatively nervous to interact with a culture I was unfamiliar with – at other side of the world. But as my time in NYFA passed, I become more comfortable in meeting new people. The NYFA LA camp has been a good experience in allowing my fellow students and me to learn what it is like in the film industry.

Being in NYFA with people from all walks of life enriched our knowledge of the different cultures everyone came from. The camp aught me to become a better communicator and to learn to express and sell my ideas as an artist.”

JustinClareA.Dulfo

“This International Immersion helped me overcome my social anxiety and be more open to people. It helped me understand the film aspect of my first love, animation. My fellow classmates and the teachers were so friendly and accommodating.”

CHRISTINEANNEP.YANGA

Ayesha Songalia

It is a universal truth we all have to come to terms with. Whether we want it or not, everything ends. My experience in the NYFA Los Angeles Camp gave me the most eye-opening Epiphanies that I will keep with me until I become old. It is important to know that every step of the journey is a destination in itself. I will forever be grateful for the people with whom I have grown in a week and because of this camp, I am ready to pursue a career I have always wanted to take. Do not be afraid to stumble because most of the time the greatest rewards come from doing the things that scare you the most.”

robably one of the f my summer. In has become the 2019 has been the During the NYFA Camp, we were taught the different factors and technicalities involved in film making, from directing, to camera work, you name it, they taught it. However, apart from the professional side of film, we were also taught the reality of this field: not everyone makes it. Our reliable teachers, with years of working in the Hollywood industry, were very frank with us about the struggles of going into such career. You probably think that their honesty scared me or intimidated me… well it was actually the opposite. I then understood that it does matter how good you are in the technical aspect of film. If you lack conviction, motivation, determination, and most importantly passion, you might never achieve your dream. The NYFA camp has made me want to work even harder and aim bigger because after all, failure is just one step closer to success. ”

MARIACHRISTIANA ARABELLAN.RAMENTO

“We inevitably encounter new discoveries within our lifetime. Knowledge is a collection of learnings we gain over time and we either choose to put it to good use or it becomes an old memory that chips away into oblivion. I have always been keen on gaining insightful learnings and I can say that this experience has truly satisfied that eagerness. Before entering the NYFA camp, I was filled with self-doubt and I struggled with anxieties. This program, the teachers and the students taught me to be confident in myself and trust my gut in everything that I do despite the struggles. I learned that struggling is not entirely a bad thing as learnings are derived from struggles. To do what you love means doing it whole heartedly. One cannot always expect his craft to come out the way he wanted. There is always room for improvement and it is just a matter of getting better and who you become in the process.”

DAY 0 To the Hollywood Sign

NYFA CAMPUS BURBANK, CALIFORNIA

NYFACampusTour

amongst the buildings are a visual treat

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Warner Brothers Studios

Christiana Ramento, Christine Yanga, Justine Dulfo, Jamila Petalver, Ayesha Songalia, Franchesca Jose