NorthStar Flags

The Philippine flag is what students and teachers look up to every morning at school for the flag ceremony. They sing the national anthem while looking up to the red and blue stripes while singing gladly to praise the three stars and the sun. However, some Filipinos look to flag as a sign of dismay. Some look up to it and think when the glorious days will come. According to many, the country itself is drowning and will never rise again. If you would listen to some bystanders or listen to students, they blame corruption for the poverty they are experiencing.

In my point of view, corruption is the main reason why the Philippines and other countries experience poverty but the ones causing the harm are the ones who are complaining. In the Philippines, most people complain that politicians in office are corrupt. But if the people would look back, they were the ones who voted for these people to be in power. It is true that people realize their mistakes after the damage has been done and that is what’s happening in the Philippines.

If I would look at the Philippine flag nowadays, instead of seeing three stars and a sun, I see a dying sun and three falling stars. I ask myself will the glory ever come or will the sorrow never end? Then I look at some people whether they be politicians or civilians and I see some of them trying to make a change. I say to myself that there is still a glimpse of hope, we just have to neglect corruption that we have inherited long before we were born.

Things do change and time indeed passes. I hope that the three stars and the sun will rise again and give light to the flag that some already have forgotten.

What happens when you hear the word Nova Scotia? Some people are familiar with it and say it’s a province of Canada, while some say that they didn’t even know that place existed till I mentioned it.

Well, Nova Scotia is a Latin for New Scotland and the second smallest province of the country. It has a nice moderate climate w/c is pretty rare since it is located above the United States. It’s still pretty cold though reaching -11 Celsius during winter, and warmer during summer at about 20-25 Celsius, good atmosphere for outdoor activities.

Considering that they have stunning scenery because you are never more than 2 hours from the coast. From whale watching to surfing, or if you just want to have breakfast on top of a hill overlooking the ocean, Nova Scotia is the place to be. By the way, you could also rent a kayak and paddle along the towering cliffs for a breath taking view.

If you want to go down a more historic approach of the province, Pier 21 is the place to be. Considered one of Canada’s Seven Wonders, it is a major tourist destination.

Rich with history, this place has been compared to New York’s Ellis Island. It has been the “front door” to a million refugees, wartime troops, evacuees, and war brides.

You could also try the John Cabot landing site, a monument to the first European that ever set foot on the province on 1497.

From the point of view of a tourist, scenery and history are just two angles of an adventure. The third angle would be the food. Who doesn’t love good food? Nova Scotia used to have fishing as one of its major industries. Fresh food abound the place. From sea side markets where you pick your own lobster and choose the way you want it cooked. To the more elegant fine dining restaurants, Nova Scotia has it all.

As I looked up pictures of Nova Scotia, I was amazed at how the place looked beautiful. And I came over a picture of a couple dining on top of a hill while looking at whales break the surface. Absolutely stunning. No other word for it.

The Green Isle and land of the leprechaun, that’s what non-Irish people first think of when they hear Ireland. Ireland, the country is the state that occupies much of the southern part of the island of Ireland. The constituent country is Northern Ireland which is port of the United Kingdom. The flag of Ireland that represents the country is a tricolor of green, white, and orange.

A catholic nation, Ireland is most famous for its patron saint, St. Patrick. St. Patrick was known to have banished all serpents out of the island and until now, there are no snakes in Ireland. The Irish people and other citizens of the world who are of Irish descent celebrate the feast of St. Patrick with much merriment. But as they say everyone is an Irish every March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. People wear green as green being St. Patrick’s color and pin shamrocks on themselves. During this day, the Chicago river is even dyed green, and Boston, New York, and Philadelphia have their parades which dates back to the 1700s.

Ireland is synonymous to St. Patrick as it is to the Irish Flag. It has an illustrious history, paired with it’s struggle for selfhood from the more powerful neighbor, the United Kingdom. Ireland has also produced a lot of important people from the Irish king Brian Boru, to literary luminaries such as playwrights George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde, to men of science like Robert Boyle of the famed Boyle’s law, to music like Enya, and to Hollywood, who can forget James Bond alumni, Pierce Brosnan. There was a time when Ireland was so poor that a lot Irish immigrated to other nations, this is the widely-known Irish diaspora. One famous product of the Irish diaspora is one John F. Kennedy, one of the most beloved American president and icon of the American Camelot.

Ireland is not a very big country, in fact, it only has a little less than six million people. There are metropolis which have a bigger population. But it’s influence and importance all over the world is undeniable.

About two thousand years ago, a very popular figure was said to have been crucified to save mankind. When that person’s life ended, millions of others began to live without guilt of sins. Some said he was human, others would say more than just that. Any other claim by scholars and historians may be as vague as the obscurity of the real event itself, but one thing for sure, the faith that was established lives on in each follower and in the things that have been influenced by it. This includes the flag bearer of the Christian community who is the pope.

The pope stands as the main figure in the celebrated faith of Roman Catholicism. Acting as the Bishop of Rome and technically the head of the faith all over the world, he carries with him the symbols embodied as his holy gown, staff, and the Christian flag he carries. The more specific symbol seen in the papal flag is the center of the ideals and purposes of probably the largest religion in the world.

Defined by the two intertwining keys symbolizing a unity of two pathways of possibilities; leftists and rightists coming together with the papacy as the center of everything, the papal flag is an epitome of peace and harmony under the pope’s rule and influence. The yellow motif which may signify a bright outlook and an open friendship is a perfect complement for the white portion signifying purity and cleanliness. All these components make up the dreams and visions which the papal flag would wish to happen.

As one tours the city of Vatican, one may see the different Christian flags which are hoisted high atop sturdy flagpoles. Episcopal flags of all sorts, papal flags of all variants, and all other types of Christian flags are commonly seen in this holy city. This is the same city which prides of earthly independence and a seemingly eternal mandate from heaven to carry out an unmodified faith among others.

Hotel and restaurant management is the course that is popular amongst Filipino students nowadays. One reason they want to engage in this particular is to have the chance to go abroad and have a good job to sustain and help their families. At some point some of those who have different career plans shift to hotel and restaurant management even if they don’t like it because they think it’s more practical to feed their families than have their owns dreams come true. If we think of it, being practical is necessary we should give up those fancy dreams and just go with reality, but is this really true?

I have come across a lot of job fairs here in the Philippines which offer jobs for HRM students, some of which showcase hotel flags where in they could select the hotel they want to apply in. I would often hear some say that even if the hotel offers a low salary they would gladly take the job because for them it’s an opportunity then instead of a smile you would see gloomy eyes. Is this the price of practicality? Or is this the result of pressures form being poor?

If I would be asked I would chase my dreams rather than succumb to the pressures. According to one of my professors in college, it is much important to go with a course you love rather than go for a course you don’t love but feeds you. He also added that even if the course feeds you and makes you rich, it’s still like any other jobs you start from the bottom to go to the top. He said that he pities those who chase hotel flags instead of chasing their dreams (referring to HRM students) if they only chase their dreams it’s much easier for them to be progressive and successful. I smiled at his comments and before I left he added “look at me I’m successful and the best thing about it, I love my profession”.

Hotel and restaurant management is the course that is popular amongst Filipino students nowadays. One reason they want to engage in this particular is to have the chance to go abroad and have a good job to sustain and help their families. At some point some of those who have different career plans shift to hotel and restaurant management even if they don’t like it because they think it’s more practical to feed their families than have their owns dreams come true. If we think of it, being practical is necessary we should give up those fancy dreams and just go with reality, but is this really true?

I have come across a lot of job fairs here in the Philippines which offer jobs for HRM students, some of which showcase hotel flags where in they could select the hotel they want to apply in. I would often hear some say that even if the hotel offers a low salary they would gladly take the job because for them it’s an opportunity then instead of a smile you would see gloomy eyes. Is this the price of practicality? Or is this the result of pressures form being poor?

If I would be asked I would chase my dreams rather than succumb to the pressures. According to one of my professors in college, it is much important to go with a course you love rather than go for a course you don’t love but feeds you. He also added that even if the course feeds you and makes you rich, it’s still like any other jobs you start from the bottom to go to the top. He said that he pities those who chase hotel flags instead of chasing their dreams (referring to HRM students) if they only chase their dreams it’s much easier for them to be progressive and successful. I smiled at his comments and before I left he added “look at me I’m successful and the best thing about it, I love my profession”.

In the age of travel and communication, the world has been made smaller. Connecting together the different places, culture, and nationalities, transportation has paved the way to bridge together people and increase trade. The pace of globalization began with the advancements of means to travel. With the predominant automobiles we see today populating the streets, it is highly suggestive that cars would be here to stay. Different companies have sprung up around the globe over the years to have a shot at the automotive industry, each carrying their trademark designs and trademark car flags.

Each insignia flown by the different banners and flags of these different car companies convey different meanings. From the simplest designs which includes only the letters of the company such as Ford and GMC, to a more elaborate set of figures such as those by Mustang, Jaguar, Mitsubishi, and the like.

The very first brand that became commercially marketed and popularly known was the Ford Model T car. It was the first production line car created for the masses. Ford’s logo only consisted of a white striped blue oblong with the word “Ford” in it. It was so simple that it worked wonders for the company as buyers quickly remembered the name and the cars it sold. Even the car flag which flies in front of the Ford Headquarters in Michigan flew the plain logo we are so familiar with.

As for other car brands, Mustang carries the symbol of a steed which symbolizes power and automotive strength to which the company itself prides in among competition. The triceps symbol of Mitsubishi signifies an Old Norse symbol of protection, probably the same protection keeping it existing in a competitive industry. Other brands with symbolic figures definitely have their own interpretation.

Whatever car flag symbols these companies are flying, it is definitely their way of marketing their ideals and influence on the cars that they are selling. Meanings of car symbols are the embodiment of what each of their companies are all about.

Who does not go to malls these days? Especially this kind of days when the air is humid and the heat can kill. The cool air and the fresh scent of a mall can really turn it all around, but sometimes going to the mall can really get on my nerves.

People usually go to malls to shop or just stroll around as for me I do the strolling a lot than shopping. During summer days when the heat bites my skin, I go to the mall and cool off, maybe notice those corporate logo flags like Burger King or McDonald’s and get a bite to eat. But oftentimes, I just walk around the mall and do window shopping and stuff.

What’s nice about the mall are those pretty girls that roam around– local or foreign as long as they got the looks for it makes the strolling much, much more fun. Noticing the girls are not all that I look for or see inside the malls. I am a gadget geek so usually I stroll around computer shops. Every time I see those corporate logo flags of Macintosh or Microsoft, they make my heart skip one beat. It’s like a drive that makes me go berserk.

Sometimes, I rush to the shops and try everything and anything possible. I often put my hands on those cool computers that Macintosh offers or keenly observe the parts that Microsoft sells for I have a PC at home. If I get fed up with using the computer or observing and surveying some parts, I go to a music shop and listen to some cool songs and relax my soul.

It’s super amazing what a normal person like me can do inside a mall. I know every normal person in the world goes to malls but some just overlook how a public place like a mall can be amazing.

Who does not go to malls these days? Especially this kind of days when the air is humid and the heat can kill. The cool air and the fresh scent of a mall can really turn it all around, but sometimes going to the mall can really get on my nerves.

People usually go to malls to shop or just stroll around as for me I do the strolling a lot than shopping. During summer days when the heat bites my skin, I go to the mall and cool off, maybe notice those corporate logo flags like Burger King or McDonald’s and get a bite to eat. But oftentimes, I just walk around the mall and do window shopping and stuff.

What’s nice about the mall are those pretty girls that roam around– local or foreign as long as they got the looks for it makes the strolling much, much more fun. Noticing the girls are not all that I look for or see inside the malls. I am a gadget geek so usually I stroll around computer shops. Every time I see those corporate logo flags of Macintosh or Microsoft, they make my heart skip one beat. It’s like a drive that makes me go berserk.

Sometimes, I rush to the shops and try everything and anything possible. I often put my hands on those cool computers that Macintosh offers or keenly observe the parts that Microsoft sells for I have a PC at home. If I get fed up with using the computer or observing and surveying some parts, I go to a music shop and listen to some cool songs and relax my soul.

It’s super amazing what a normal person like me can do inside a mall. I know every normal person in the world goes to malls but some just overlook how a public place like a mall can be amazing.

Simplicity is beauty.

A quote that struck me long before I knew what beauty was. I always appreciate beauty even if it is little or great and I seldom miss things that are beautiful. Back then beauty for me was being lavish and intricate. Like the design of a peacock’s tail I appreciated anything that was bright and sophisticated. I go to beaches and hate the blank flags that sway with the wind for in my eyes I find them simple, unelegant and dull. My friends would criticize me for being so cruel about petty things and for being vain but I cannot blame them for I saw beauty that way. I am appreciated by many for having a great taste in things and designs. At times I hear them say that I had gift for noticing beauty and it would always make me proud.

Until one night everything changed. I saw beauty and elegance and it was not sophisticated yet I found it beautiful, magnificent beyond words. There she stood with that white dress across the room and I could not take my eyes off of her. She was simple and yet her beauty was radiating all over the room. Her smile was majestic and like blank flags on the beaches I swayed with the wind that changed my perception of beauty.

In an instant my outlook was changed, right then and there I knew that simplicity was the highest form of beauty, a beauty that can never be expressed by words or by letters. I approached her and looked at her up close seeing every detail of her face and if it wasn’t for my friend I could have melted right in front of her.

Truly, simplicity is beauty and that beauty I saw came with a name, a name that was etched in the deepest corner of my memory, a girl named Krenn.