Mitch Albom, Inspirational Stories and 6 more days of school

The last few days, I’ve been able to meet some of my biggest idols when it comes to both business, journalism and writing. 

It’s honestly been such a surreal experience getting to meet and talk to the likes of the CEO of Rappler Maria Ressa, the New York Times Best Selling Author Mitch Albom, one of the richest Filipinos in the world Manny V. Pangilinan and a few other inspiring personalities.

 

All of them had such compelling and inspiring stories to tell yet at the same time I realized that just like us they’re also human. They all started out just like us. They were just students who were interested in many different things. They were just individuals passionate about a certain something but what made them become who they are today is that they were willing to go the extra mile, to be different from the rest. I’ve compiled a bunch of notes and anecdotes from the talks I’ve heard in the past few days. Hopefully, I’ll be able to transcribe them soon for never have I been more inspired to follow my passion and try to leave a legacy in this world.

But for now, I got to go back to finishing this week strong. There are only 6 more school days left before Senior year ends. Everything’s happening so fast right now yet I want to take time to remember everything from the Filipino play we had earlier to being able to ask Mitch Albom a question about his works. 

I will truly miss Xavier School but there’s no use in being senti right now for the story isn’t over.

Quotes of the day:

“Death ends a life, not a relationship.” – Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie

“Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do somehing else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn’t. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted.” 
― Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie

With Mitch Albom, the best selling author of my favorite book, Tuesdays with Morrie

Ilaw Ng Paglinaw – Lighting Up Lives

This article was taken from the Philippine Daily Inquirer http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/128803/lighting-up-lives

The Ilaw Ng Paglinaw Team

In line with the celebration of Peace One Day Sept. 21, the “Ilaw ng Paglinaw” (Light of Enlightenment) team, composed of five high-school students from Xavier School, went to Payatas to bring light to impoverished homes.

The team’s vision is to help eradicate darkness in the homes of Filipinos who have access to only minimal source of light and as a result, only have the daytime to function. The Ilaw ng Paglinaw initiative was formed with this vision.

By providing rechargeable, cost-efficient and environment-friendly LED lights to families, the project will help people be productive even at night.

The Ilaw ng Paglinaw project started out a year ago when the team won the Indie Engineering Competition of the University of the Philippines-Diliman on April 8. As a result, it secured funding from the Ninoy and Cory Aquino and Tanging Yaman Foundations as part of its prize.

With a strong desire to give back to the community and help out in our own simple way, the team decided to carry out its first major operation by visiting Payatas and lighting up their homes.