Gabriela Silan

Maria Josefa Gabriela was the true name of Gabriela Silang. She was born on March 19, 1731 in Caniogan, Santa, Ilocos Sur.

Gabriela was a beautiful young woman. She was so pretty that many men, young and old alike, wanted her to be their wife.

She was 20 when her father arranged her marriage to a wealthy suitor. She became a widow at an early age. Her husband died a few years after they wed. She became wealthy because she inherited all the possessions of her spouse.

She met Diego Silang, a brave young man who led a group of courageous fellowmen fighting the abusive Spaniards. They fell in love and got married. They lived in Vigan, Ilocos Sur where Diego's hideaway was located.

Diego was fearless man. He fought valiantly. In one of the skirmishes with the Spaniards, he was killed. She took over as the leader of Diego's group. Like her husband, she fought gallantly against the Spaniards. She put into practice what she had learned from Diego when he was still alive especially using weapons.

Unfortunately, the Spaniards overpowered Gabriela and her men in one encounter.

The Spaniards persecuted her by means of strangulation on September 20,1763.

Champion Of The Masses

There was nothing extraordinary about Andres Bonifacio as a child. Unlike Jose Rizal, he did not show signs of being a genius that would have given clues to his greatness when he grew up to be a man. Even the circumstances of his birth were commonplace.

Bonifacio was born to Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro, a Spanish mestiza, in a shack in Tondo, Manila, on November 30, 1863. He finished only the primary school under the tutalege of Guillermo Osmeña. He had to quit schooling to support himself and his younger brothers and sisters who were orphaned of both parents at an early age.

Having learned to read and write, the fourteen-year-old Andres became a clerk messenger of Fleming and Company, a business firm dealing in rattan, tar, and other trade articles. His siblings, in turn, made wooden canes and paper fans which Andres sold in the streets.

The family earnings were not enough, though. Andres had to move to Freshell and Company where he got a bigger salary as an agent. He held on the job until Revolution began in August 1896.

In the mean time, he devoted much in his effort to self-improvement. He became proficient in Tagalog and Spanish. Among the feew books he kept and read were Rizal's novel, the lives of the presidents, Victor Hugo's Les Miserables and the French Revolution. These books prodded his spirit of rebellion and give him impulse to organize the Katipunan.

Bonifacio's appointment with destiny came on July 7, 1892 when he, long with Ladislao Diwa, Teodoro Plata and Deodato Arellano founded the Katipunan - an organization of the masses which started the Philippine Revolution. This organization spread rapidly in 1894 in the entire Philippines. Feeling that he was ready to lead a succesful revolt in 1896, he sent a man in Rizal, he was then an exile in Dapitan, asking Rizal to join the armed revolution Bonifacio was planning. Rizal firmly objected.

Bonifacio was left with no choice but to lead his men to the fight relying on his own guts and the overwhelming support of the workingmen who regarded him as their champion. Before he could act, however, the authorities discovered the Katipunan. More than 1,000 Katipuneros then assembled with him at Pugad Lawin, Caloocan, on August 23, 1896, either had to go into hiding or risked their lives in the battle field against the Spanish civil guards and Spanish soldiers.

Bonifacio and his men were poorly equipped to carry on the fight with the Spaniards. Bravely their faced the enemy and won uncertain victories and severe defeats. They had not been able to rise together on all fronts and take Manila as they had planned. But they had surrounded the capital city and wre in a position to rush in and overwhelm it when the Americans suddenly arrived.

However, the circumstances that led to the Supremo's execution did not lessen in anyway the stature of Andres Bonifacio in the eyes of the msses for whom he stood and fought. He was still their hero-brave, daring and a real fighter.

The Cartesian Coordinate Plane

Two real number lines constructed to perpendicular to each other, one horizontal and one vertical, form a coordinate plane, otherwise known as Cartesian Plane. It was name after Rene Descartes, a French philosopher and mathematician who introduced it in 1637.

The horizontal line is the x-axis and the vertical one is the y-axis. They intersect at a point called the origin, with corresponding ordered pair of numbers which is (0,0). The first number in the ordered pair is the x-coordinate or abcissa and the second number in the y-coordinate or ordinate. Thus, every point in the plane has corresponding ordered pair of number (x,y). The axes divide the coordinate plane into four regions called quadrant labeled I, II, III, and IV.

In plotting of points, the abcissa tells how many units to the right or to the left of the origin we should go and the ordinate tells how many units above or below x-axis the point is.

Assesing Business Opportunities

An entrepreneur is one who perceives a business opportunity and converts it to a profitable economic activity, with the desire to develop make it into large scale industry of vast potentialities for further expansion. The more common limiting factors in the selection of the final project are:

a) amount to be invested; and
b) nature of technology the business requires.

FEARLESS MAN OF GOD

Father Jacinto Zamora was the least distinguished of the triumvirate who died an early morning in the Bagumbayan Field. He lack Father Birgos' love for studies and Father Gomez' writing ability. But he had one thing which set him apart from other priest of his generation. He loves his country to the depths of his heart and soul. Eventually, he died for his Motherland.

A native of Pandacan , Manila, Father Zamora studied in Manila. He was faithful to his parish work. He was frank and bold. Wile in Pasig he spoke frankly about abuses of the Spaniards. This brought on their hatred towards him. So, he was transferred to Manila but his transfer did not stop him either. Instead, his voice against the abuses of the Spaniards became bolder.

When the Cavite Revolt began, on January 20, 1872, Father Zamora got a letter from Father Duran, a friend. The letter read; "Grand Reunion. Come without fail. Our friends are well provide with powder and ammunition's."

The letter which reach the hands of the Spanish authorities sealed his fate. He was accused of taking part in the Cavite Revolt. He was tried together with Burgos and Gomez. The trial was speedy and the sentence of death by garrote was quickly signed and handed down by Governor Izquierdo.

Father Zamora's sufferings during the mock trial were too much for his peace of mind. He died an insane on the same day Father Burgos and Gomez died.

Carry On Baggage Tips

1. Think small-no oversize package or luggage can be stowed on board.

2. Think smart- Plan to check more of your baggage and carry less with you in the cabin.

3. Think safe- Remember, be safety conscious when stowing your carry on items.

Preparing for the Future

How do we prepare for these various possible changes in the future? What type of training is necessary so that coping will not be painful?
Today is the best time to prepare for the "what might be's" of the future. Try to imagine families in the future and think about how you would like your family to be. Where would you like to live? What would you doing? The various changes it harder for you to answer these questions, far harder than when your parents were in the same situation. A careful planning at an early time will help.
According to J. Rose Eshelman, author of the book The Family, An Introduction, changes that take place and will take place in the community and in the family are not necessarily pleasing or regrettable, good or bad, constructive or destructive.
Whether or not these changes will be welcomed or rejected will depend largely on one's own orientation, experience one's own orientation, experience one are exposed to, the group with which one identifies , and ones value system.