Man Down

I've been passing a lot of times through the Manila City Hall underpass. Seeing kids begging and crying, teenagers sniffing a contact cement known as "rugby" and other aromatic solvents to alleviate their hunger wasn't an unusual scene for me, perhaps to all the students and people here in Manila.

Often passing through that underpass, I am aware that danger could be there in any minute. Climbing up the stairway of the underpass I wasn't aware that at the very floor that many people walk on everyday a man was shot dead. Concrete reason weren't known. It's probably because of discordance between the two men. But such a conflict could never be an enough reason to take a mans life. A bullet could take a mans life, but such thing could bring grief, revenge, and anger. That bullet took a life, and destroyed lives.. lives of the people that loved the "man down".

The question remains, why do this kind of people exist? Conscienceless and heartless. Society often wonders, "What makes an individual want to commit such a crime?". The question was never answered, or perhaps answered yet was never understood. The truth is, no one is born a murderer; society gives birth to them. And these people destroy the society..

Could we ever live in peace and harmony? would these two exist?  Justice should prevail and unveil the truth. And speak for the voiceless victims that is now in the cage where their rights are ignored. Pleading not to be buried in the grave of agony and neglect...

                           

People walk past the body of Juanito Delfin who was shot along an underpass near Manila's City Hall

(August 1,2013)

http://www.philstar.com/metro/2013/08/02/1040761/man-shot-dead-manila-city-hall-underpass

Flashback #HighSchool 

 Just like what I've said in my first blog. My highschool years was a sure-fire-fun. Not only I had a lot of friends and crazy experiences but I've learned a lot in life. Being part of the Cordian Family made a lot of who I am now... 

Enjoyed the 4D ride with my girls in Festival  Mall.

With my classmates. Way-back in our 7th grade.This was actually already the first day of vacation, but we decided to have a last day in school instead. (Trustworthy S.Y. 2010-2011)

 I am very blessed to have such wonderful friends in highschool. No matter how we vary from one another, we learned to accept each other without doubts. But like all circle of friends, we also experienced hardships that caused us to part from one another. But as years passed, we just realized that friendship can never be destroyed by misunderstandings. We may be apart from each other, but we make sure always to catch up with one another.

 

Immersion in Sitio Wakas, Tayabas Quezon.(Solidarity S.Y. 2013-2014)

Highschool wasn't just about the fun. Here I experienced having a whole family. Above is a picture of two great parents that I had. Different bloods may be running in our veins. But in those two days we had lived with them, I felt that they really welcomed me and my friend and took care of us as their own child. They were living simply, often times they have nothing to eat but the fruits and vegetables they get from their backyard, but their family is as strong as steel. I saw how happy they were. After that immersion, the experience really made me appreciate the things that I have. And I was very thankful, because in those two days, I felt the feeling of having a complete family. The beauty of the house doesn't define the bond of the family, because if there is love,complete happiness would be there too.


here are some pictures from my highschool memories...

 

Junior & Senior Prom. This is me and my Opa, he was very happy because I was the "Star of the Night".

Seniors Prom. I haven't got a good photo that night. But again my parents and my Opa and Oma were very happy because I was the "Face of the Night".

As the goddess of love, Aphrodite. Back in my 10th grade year.

Pre-graduation pictorial. Days before our farewell.

..........These are just some of  the sneak-peaks of my highschool years.


Highschool may have ended, but memories won't be faded. So here my blog ends.

Education

...key to success. That's how they describe it. I agree that education plays a vast role in creating ones future. It makes us competitive, it develops our skills which will be a great help in our careers. But I don't view education as the 'key' to success. I prefer it to be described as the 'door' to success. Sounds a bit funny, but for me its more realistic. Why do I say so? In this blog I would share my insights.

Here in the Philippines where I lived my whole life. No matter how hard surviving-life gets, (I mean all the expenses and stuffs) Still education is given the highest priority. Because we believe that education is an investment for the future. Even though expenses gets higher and higher, parents strive hard to send their sons/daughters to school. Many are given the privilege to devour education, but why many failed to have a successful life? Because they didn't took advantage of the opportunity that was given to them. All of us are dreaming or even once dreamed to have a successful life. But few persevered and worked for it. That is why maybe many is still dreaming until now. But how can we reach that dream if we wouldn't believe? Hard work, perseverance and faith. That is the 'key' to success. The key that would unlock the profit of 'Education'.r

I know that after I graduate, success wouldn't be thee in just snap of a finger. I know that education is just one of the mile stones I have to go through to reach my dreams. In life I know no matter how well-educated I am, there would be times that I would fall down to my knees, but I'm willing to stand up again and try, and if again I fail ,I will be back up again to try..it goes on. Until I come face to face with the one that everyone is dreaming of ..."Success".

Hey people! What's up. It's me Ash. This is my first blog so I still ain't getting the hang of it. But, if you feel like getting to know me more,feel free to read. 


Hi guys! (wave+smile) So, first things first. Let me introduce myself, my name is Ashanti Shaine L. Ervas. My friends call me ash,asheng,shaine,ashy, or whatever it is they feel like. Some of them even call me "Asiong" HAHA (if you know who HE is) .It's kinda weird that people call me random names but yeah to me, it's cool. So enough with the name. I'm turning 16 this October 26. My dad is from New Zealand and my mom is a Filipina. I grew up here in the Philippines, never got out of the country. So yeah, in terms of the language I'm fluent in speaking Tagalog. 



             

This is me with my loving cat (1999)

Way-back in my toddler years, we lived in La Union. My dad is a surfer, and that's the greatest spot for surfing so he prefers us to stay there despite the fact that my grandparents (moms side) lived in Tagkawayan Quezon,which is a loooong way from La Union. Few years then, my mom and dad got separated. They weren't actually married. After that, we went back to Tagkawayan Quezon. I spent my childhood years there. I usually went home with skinned knees, I was a 'layas' kid. 

St. Philomena School

 Preparatory school and elementary years wasn't really memorable for me. I was just a typical kid, been bullied, been under estimated. I couldn't say that I had real friends at all. T'was really hard surviving those years without your parents around. It's like hell, literally. I had a hard time trusting myself that made me hold back myself from excelling and trying the things I loved and wanted. Luckily spending quite sometime with my dad whenever he visits me kinda made me change a little. He taught me how to swim, which later on made me love the ocean. He often bought me coloring stuffs that made me develop my artsy skills. Which later on I used in winning contests. 

A free-hand drawing, inspired by a photo that I saw on Pinterest

My dad and I never had a picture together. (seriously) Lucky I have this one stolen shot. 

My teenage years was a sure-fire fun. I excelled at school, I became an honor student.I wasn't one of the suffer-in-silence type anymore. I learned to mingle and express my ideas. And I sure wouldn't let anyone bully or under estimate me again. My childhood experiences brought me a lot of lessons and realizations. Having a tough life shaped me into a strong person. Something that I am thankful for. Being a member of the Cordian Family (Sacred Heart College Lucena City) made me accept the things that happened in my past. I may be a product of a broken family but at least I could learn from my parents mistakes. Being a product of a broken family isn't something I should be ashamed of, It's something that I should be proud of, because now I have 2 cool dads and two outrageously awesome siblings.

Together with my fellow classmates during our pre-graduation pictorial

                   

Afternoon walks and sunset watching (Boracay 2014)

Enough with the drama. Time for some hobby and interest info.'s I typically love eating and having foodtrips with my friends which is pretty normal for a teenager like me :D (more like, for all people). My biggest goal, is to travel the world and that is probably why I took up BSITTM in Lyceum of the Philippines University.
I like being free, and I love adventures. The craziest thing I've ever done (so far) is to jump off a river bridge which is probably 25ft high, and a waterfall which is more or less 40ft high. Yep, I love adrenaline rush but it would really be a challenge for me to do it again cuz I haven't done it for a few years now. Haha.





Uh-Oh. Cliff hanger ALERT! This is it for my first blog peeps. Catch me on my second blog which would be posted next week. Tah-tah. Lots of love.    -Ash