SACRIFICES

A warrior needs to face his most challenging choice in his life: between family and responsibility.

In Aenid, Aeneas knew their city being attacked because of the Greeks, to think that he must lead his countrymen and do a step against this war. And that decision is to leave the house and continue fighting against the enemy. Countering his choices, Creusa begs his husband to consider their family’s future if Aeneas is to be killed in that war.

Similar to this, in Iliad, Andromache pleads to his husband, Hector to not endanger his life for the sake of his wife and son. But because of Hector’s reputation and responsibility, he needs to join in the war for the sake of his countrymen and kingdom.

Both stories had these similarities having a warrior as Andromache and Creusa’s husband. They both plead to their husband not to risk their life for the sake of their family’s future. They were both concerned to what will happen and try their best to prevent bad things. But unfortunately, both of their husbands took the risk and went through the battle because of their big responsibility as a future leader. They both listened to the plead of their wives but did not follow them.

     There are also differences because in Aenid, Creusa’s life led into a terrible path because she was unfortunately left behind. And also, omens were present in Aenid which is the biggest factor why Aeneas needed to go through the battle and avoid his wife’s plead while in Iliad, Hector’s thoughts pushed him. He thought of his reputation and duty that is the biggest factor for him to go on.

THE RAINBOW AFTER A STORM

The Aenid of Virgil narrates a lot of things purely about adventures of a leader and presumably about the war which caused this adventure. This selection can be best described having the theme of ultimate victory through defeat and terrible loss. As we all know, Aenas and his countrymen went through a lot of challenges before attaining their objective. A lot of sacrifices and hardships happened including deaths of the people they encounter. Even before their journey, they already felt the impact of their loss against the Greeks which pursued the Trojans to take their path involving a great journey ahead of them.

They even encountered the wrath of the gods that got through their way, making a lot of things to prevent them from finding and building new Rome. Another terrible loss they encountered is that when a great warrior of theirs, innocent Pallas, died. This really caused a big fire and urge for Aenas to kill Turnus. But after their hardships, victory is what awaited them in the end. They attained new Rome which enabled them to start a new life and build a new city.

This tells the readers that before you get what you wish for, you’ll have to go through different obstacles first that will challenge you and will only prove if you are worthy of the ultimate victory you will get.

A VENGEFUL TRAGEDY

  

Mythologically speaking, we all know that Troy fell to its knees once it has been attacked by the Greeks. A crazy but logical tactic was made by the Greeks to start the Trojan war. This enabled the Greeks to get their chance of a higher probability in defeating the Trojans. Victorious as they may be, they were able to obliterate and slain everything and everyone in their path.

As Aenas narrates the fall of Troy, I felt sympathy deep inside. Just imagine, in a blink of an eye, everything you worked hard for perished because of a girl. If I was in his shoes, regrets and sorrow is what fills my heart seeing my own kingdom and the ones I care about, crumble into pieces. And one more thing, this attack from the Greeks can be considered ‘unfair’ because it’s like they attacked them at their backs without them having a single bit of clue. If you’re a true opponent, then you would play fair in a game.

With the knowledge of Aenas’ task finding new Rome, my feelings changed. This simply means that this event is merely a challenge for him to go through. So I felt more courageous for Aenas to not give up even though he went to the most vengeful and distressed thing in his life. It also links with the idea that Aenas and his troops that survived still has this hope to bring back their lifestyle, although a lot different than before. This is just a challenge to his leadership and how he will try to raise his countrymen despite of crisis. 

Everybody knows that enigmatic smile painted on the famous Mona Lisa. Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci with a big mystery within this painting. Yes, this painting has been the most famous one that even anyone would do something to have it like stealing. We are seeing this inscrutable smile in her and yet, do we even know what is behind this? What is Mona Lisa’s smile for me?

          They say this mysterious smile has caused inspiration for many and depression for others. Italians call her La Gioconda, which means "the light-hearted woman." Basing from this, we can conclude that Mona Lisa is an optimistic and cheery person so the painter pictured her smile more than anything. I say this smile encourages viewers to be inspired. For them to take things lightly, like her based from what others call her. Her smile serves as the intention of her woman soul. The way that she keeps her psyche as happy and as optimistic as she could.

          Well, whatever that smile is, we’re definitely out of it. Judging ourselves, yes, we are just merely observers. Let us just leave that atypical smile on the beholder of anyone who sees it. For the mean time, this painting still serves as the most awesome yet mysterious one for me.

          It was an afternoon of December when I was sitting on a porch. I was amazed with the blue skies and calm sea. I was serenely sitting when an associate of mine appeared before my eyes. It was Yana. I asked her about her summer vacation so far. “I was fine but unfortunately, I was sent to this summer job I don’t like.” Yana moaned. “Summer job? That’s great! What kind of job it is?” I was curious. Yana scratched her chin and answered “Uhm.. Something to do with serving customers in that restaurant over there.”  I stomped my feet “Oh! That’s a nice thing! But why would you-” Yana interrupted “Well I want to enjoy my vacation swimming and strolling down the beach. Not that crappy job being a waitress!”. “Well, alright. If you don’t like to, even though you can get lots of benefit from it, you can refuse your mother.” Yana had her face on the ground and told me she don’t want to disappoint her mother and asked me what to do. I scratched her chin. “Maybe you can just accept the job and take it positively. You’ll see that it is fun to work.” Yana was enlightened. “Well, okay! I’ll do what you said- hoping everything would be fine. Thank you.” She exits the porch and said goodbye.

         Afternoon in the nineteenth of September that was, I was sleeping serenely in the porch of our summer house in the vicinity of the beach with the whitest sand, clearest water and astonishing creatures. How indebted I am, yes to perceive this little paradise in a peaceful manner, having no nuisance with me. This was a great time for me and abruptly, an aurora borealis appeared in close proximity to my sight. Though it has been my trance for so long to see one, I find it bizarre because it only appears whenever a historical person will show to you. The next thing I knew, I was feeling my goose bumps and a vague person smiled at me- it was no other than Apolinario Mabini.

        His eyes were the brightest, his smile was as cheerful as ever and that mouth that would want to say remarkable words was all I witness. He reached out to my hand as he draws nearer to me. Spending the afternoon with me, that’s all I know about his intent. Well, why not? We walked across the beach and the next thing I know, we were sitting in a table with a cup of tea and some bread on a table. I cheerfully started the conversation with a hello, adding those words asking about him. I see in his smile that he was conceited of me for I feel interested in him instead of being anxious. His tears were expressed to say he was sorry for he didn’t get to brawl in the combat but all I said is that it was acceptable for he did his best and excreted all courage just to save the Filipinos. He thanked me for the complement and held my hand.

        I closed my eyes and when I opened them, I realized we were no longer on the beach. We were on a grey, lifeless place and I was clueless of where we are. I was about to mouth words but instead, he pointed to somewhere. There I saw my family, acquaintances, relatives and the persons I love suffering from the hands of those filthy Spaniards. My heart was frenzied with anger, eyes with burning rage and fisted hands ready to beat them up. But I recognized one cruel thing- I was disabled. I couldn’t do a thing to save them and felt so hopeless in life. I cried and screamed but those screams did zilch good to save them. But, why? Why them? 

        Mabini held my hand again and we were back at the beach. I was so glad it was not real. He felt sympathy for me and I guessed why he did that. He let me feel what it’s like when he wanted to save the persons he love but had nothing to do with those disabled feet. Now I know what it’s like but I comforted him for I said to him that he still did something good and became a hero. The aurora borealis came again and I knew Mabini would be leaving in seconds. For that short time we had, I see in his eyes and smile that he was impressed of me because he saw how optimistic and courageous my heart and soul is. The next thing I knew, his bright figure is now luring away and drawing near the aurora borealis.

        For that short time, I felt ecstasy and learned many things – things that not all people would know. In life, not all times we would be helpful and save the persons we love from misery. There goes those cruel times that we may be helpless though we could not do anything. But that helpless feeling is just what our mind tells us. Deep inside, we did our best and without knowing, we did something that others could not do. It’s just a matter of faith and trust in our self.  

        We always say that this time, in school as a good student, we will do our best to avoid sins and stay away from trouble as much as we could. But unfortunately, we could not avoid these sins we commit. Here are just some of the six sins we commit at school. The first Nome having the slightest sin and the sixth Nome having the most dreadful one.

Nome One: The Dyslectic-like Ones

        Don’t be confused of me as a heroic half blood, this does not literally means having dyslexia but being put in a spell of Morpheus I became too sleepy in classes and so I sleep whenever I like. I know I have this Athenian side of me that is very wise not to sleep in classes but Morpheus is stronger than her. I end up sleeping in some discussions.

        I hate this evil punishment I get. I don’t understand a bit of the lessons because of my halcyon sleep. So when the test comes, I always need someone to explain to me what the teacher discussed.

Nome Two: The Laziness

        I admit I am one of the lazy students. Though I pass projects early, there is just one side of me becoming lazy like my other classmates. I got lazy to fix my things under my chair because they are just too many to fix and I've got more things to do than that. Then dismissal comes so I cram to clean and fix my things.

        The punishment is very obvious- things will scatter and has a big probability to be lost. Once not taken care of, there may be a lot of things to happen in scattered things. They may be in the trash can or worst-be lost forever in the depths of Tartarus. One’s treasure is your belongings so one needs to take care and protect them like the Golden Fleece.

Nome Three: The Cramming Overloads

        Sometimes I could just not get over with cramming so it became like my main hobby in the morning. Observing the fast speed of the students rushing towards their classroom, so obvious that they would cram for something they did not supposedly do at home. Those evil spirits that influence the students, including me to cram were unstoppable.

        The cruel punishment? It’s simply not understanding clearly what you wrote because one is pressured by time, knowing that they’re just doing it for compliance.

Nome Four: The Not Obedient Ones

        As a student, I admit that I belong to the not obedient ones. Why? Simply because sir Tom gives the rule of respecting your own school uniform. He gives commands on not to roll up the sleeves because it is a disgrace. And what do I do? I still roll up my sleeves because I could not bear the hotness. I know I did the bad thing so I am trying to change.

        I always get my punishment. For the boys, it’s the haircut that matters but for girls like me, this is the one that matters. Sir Tom always scolds me whenever he sees I roll my sleeves up. I promise not to repeat but as a naughty student, sometimes I still do it so I feel guilty. There’s just the Hades side in my head that persuades me to do the wrong thing.

Nome Five: The Un-tardies

        The normal time to go to school is before seven o’ clock. But these sinners actually go past seven. We could not avoid the traffic and the school service problems but some students just wake up late because they are too lazy to wake up early. Therefore, they are considered the un-tardies or the late comers.

        This has a heavy punishment for the school is anti-late comers. In case this day is Monday, sir Tom would have another set of students to have the flag ceremony of their own and that is for the late comers. Or thus, ma’am Pareja will have the gate closed and will later be opened BUT the student will stay at the guidance and will have a talk to ma’am Pareja in recess, therefore being absent for two subjects in the morning. Scary punishments, right? I believe that punishment was from Octavian the strict.

Nome Six: The Copycats

        I cannot avoid the fact that I could not understand the lesson myself. I know I can simply ask questions regarding the lesson but one need not to copy another classmate’s answer. Those devils coming out of their place and got inside my soul were so desperate, which makes me cram even more. Students like me are getting used to it so they get too lazy to answer on their own.

        One cannot simply determine the punishment at first but when a test comes, that’s also when you realized you still don’t understand the lesson. You only have grades in homework because of copying, and now, a test comes and you got to do nothing but guess for the answers.