Afraid of the Dark? Fear Not!

(Nyctophobia Case)

by: Ma. Sharmine R. Ventura

Some of us is afraid in the dark. This is a kind of phobia called Nyctophobia or Fear of the dark. It is triggered by the brains disfigured perception of what would or could happen when in a dark environment. (Source: google.com) Some are scared of dark places because of the ghost or any un-earthly element’s that can possibly appear in the dark place. Despite its pervasive nature, there has been a lack of etiological research on the subject. Nyctophobia is a psychologically-impacted feeling of being disposed from comfort to fear-evoking state. It has several non-clinical terminologies- lyphobia, scotophobia, and achluophobia. It is a phobia generally related to children but, according to J. Adrian Williams article intitled; Indirect Hypnotic therapy of Therapy of Nyctophobia, a case report, many clinics with pediatric patients have a great chance of having adults who have nyctophobia. (Source: Wikipedia.org)

     

Why do we have this certain fear of the dark?
     I tried to ask ten of my classmate’s if they are afraid when they are in dark places. Five of them answered yes. The reason why they fear dark places? It’s because they are afraid of ghost.
      When we are young, we used to hear stories about white ladies, dwarfs, fairies, lost spirits, zombies and many supernatural beings from the elders. And, there are also a lot of horror movies we watch. Those things that we hear and see on the television, which are all coming out in times of darkness, brought goosebumps and cause us to fear during night time or when we are on a dark place.
      But do you know that those supernatural beings are only product of our wide imagination brought by stress?
      Yes, they don’t really exist. According to an article I’ve read while surfing the net, our mind is capable on playing trick. Just imagine yourself inside a room, alone and blindfolded with some howling and creepy sounds. Surely, you will get afraid and think that there’s some supernatural being inside that room. The article also stated that, perhaps, in some of us, that capacity of our mind is more pronounced and they are more susceptible to hearing things or seeing things or drawing interferences. It is our mind that creates the ghost, irrespective of whether they exist in real or not. In that respect, ghost can only be a figment of our imagination. (Source: google.com)

How to cure Nyctophobia?
     *Hypnotheraphy
-helps to re-program your sub-conscious “programs” that may be part of your.
      *Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
-NLP is basically the study and practice of how we create our reality. From the NLP viewpoint, a phobia is the result of your programs or “constructs” that you have created that don’t work very well. With NLP, these contents are revealed and re-program so that the Nyctophobia is minimized and often eliminated. 
      Energy Psychology
-Energy Psychology is emerging as an excellent therapy for fears and phobias because in studies, it is shown to be rapid, safe, effective and long lasting. It is based on theory and practice that has been around for couple of thousand years. It has the same foundation or roots as acupuncture, except in this case there are no needles used. (Source: phobia-fear-release.com)

      These are only some of the treatment we can apply to cure Nyctophobia. If you browse the net, you can still found lots of available treatment you can possibly use.

      

      We are not actually afraid of the dark. The truth is, we are afraid of what would be inside the darkness. We fear darkness because we fear the things that might occur in its time. In order to overcome it, we must always have a relaxed mind, positive thoughts and a great faith.
      We all have our personal fear’s, but if we are brave enough to face those fears, surely we can passed it with flying color. 

“I-Reflect:Behind the song Lord Patawad”

by: Ma. Sharmine Ventura

Lord, patawad
Pagka’t akoy makasalanan
Makasalanang nilalang
Lord, patawad
Pakat akoy makasalanan
Makasalanang nilalang…..

            I am pretty sure that we are all familiar with this song. It is entitled ‘Lord Patawad’ by Basilyo. It is such a very reflective song, anyone who can hear it will easily relate his/her self to every lyrics of the song. But what was the purpose of the songwriter in writing this song? What message does he/she wanted to share with the listener’s?
            O n the first part of the song, the singer concede that he only remembers to talk to God when he wants something or need’s something. This is very wrong. The bible tells us a lot of things about praising and calling to God. Yes, there’s nothing            wrong on talking to him while we suffer from different circumstances in life. He, Himself, as God and head of every creation, has offer Himself and say; ‘Come unto Me…’ and there’s no such law that avoids us on calling to Him. But the fact that we merely forget God after He has granted all our desires is such a shameful thing. Why? Come to think of it; we are sinners, so unworthy for His love and blessing’s, but still, He chose to offer His only begotten son Jesus Christ for us to be cleansed. Just like what is written in John 3:16. Even we don’t ask Him to do such thing He still does it for the sake of His great love for us. In this case, can we say that He is not worthy for even our simple ‘Thank You’ to Him?
            The second part of the song focused about going to church. In this, let me asked; ‘How often do you find time spending inside the church? Do you come to the house of God every Sunday’s to worship and glorify Him?’ In Matthew 6 verse 33, it is stated; ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all this things shall be added on to you…’ Coming unto the Lords house is His command, not for His own sake but for the sake of our spiritual bodies who also needs to be feed. The songs and messages we hear from His appointed disciples are our spiritual food. If we don’t managed spending time going to church, our souls will be weak. And that was the time were we are easily attacked by the enemy.
            I can say that the songwriter has a brilliant talent in putting up his best to write the things that He observed to each of us, including himself, when it comes to God. On the last part he remembers how he became selfish to God and to other people. And then he ended up asking forgiveness to Him for everything he has done.
            We humans are not perfect; we have to admit that in every single day that had pass in our life, we do commit sin. But let’s believe that our God is not a deaf upon hearing our prayers when we asked for His forgiveness. He is neither not blind to see our sincere heart as we call to Him.
            The very lesson we must learn when we hear this song is that; having quality time to put God on the top of our priorities. No matter how busy kind of life we had, we have to remember to pause once in a while to praise Him. And most of all; we should not forget to be humble; we should asked for forgiveness and thank Him for every good things He has done rather than blaming Him for those unpleasant things happen in our lives.  

Inside ICT: ’Through the Bridge towards technology’

by: Ma. Sharmine Ventura

"Only qualities such as creativity and imagination will enable us to adopt in a world where information has become the primary raw material…"   ~Robert Salmon

            ‘We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us, things in saddle and ride mankind. Do we control machines, or do they control us? Who is master, who is slave?’ this is an axiom of a writer named Philip McFarland. Nowadays, technology is ruling over us. Yes, it’s true. Even if we said that human’s are more sophisticated than machines, still we can’t erase the fact that our work will never be easy without them. What was the purpose of the inventors in inventing those gadgets? Can’t we live without technology?
            As we observed today’s generation, we can see those high-tech gadgets and technologies that are getting more and more upgraded each day. People, specially teenagers and kids are getting attach to those stuffs. As a result, people became lazy upon doing thing’s which can be done manually without any machine. We became dependent on what technology can make rather than doing it on ourselves. Yes, it is life living a better way, but did we forget that God has made us master’s of all things here on earth?  So why would we have to cage ourselves inside the cold rails of modern technology? For the sake of being ‘in’ and updated?
            Technologies may give us convenience in our life but there was always negative effect on it. As creatures, God has given us the authority to lead among other species on earth and not to be under the spell of unique technologies.
            Individuals like us has the strength to do things on our own. It’s only the imagination and creativity that cross the distance between human and machinery things.  Because the knowledge of human was no longer wide, they never stop thinking of alternative ways to make our life comfortable. Otherwise, machines work for us.
            We are not slaves of our own creatures, but we are prisoners of their influence. We are the controller, at the same time, they do control us. There’s no more way to cut the tie that binds between we, human, and the things we had created. But once in a while, we had to bare in our minds that our role here is to rule and not to be ruled over other creations.

"Letters Roses and Marriage special chapter"

Part 2.2 of Chapter III

            (Hey readers! This is a special part of chapter 3. I'll be going to put a brief bio aout the character's you've encountered from chapter 1! So, here they are! ^_~ )

Dylan Forbes

15 year's of age

Grade 9 (3rd year high school)

American-Japanesse

Hobby: singing, playing musical instrument specially guitar, playing basketball.

Parent's: Mr. and Mrs. Adam Forbes

Sibling: Genie Forbes

Haley Williams

14 years of age

Grade 9 (3rd year high school)

Filipino-American

Hobby: watching movies and reading novel's and books, sketching, painting

Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Jack Williams

Siblings: Hansel and Hannah Williams

Emma Eidel Vega

14 years of age

Grade 9 (3rd year high shool)

Filipino

Hobby: Part time modeling, dancing

Sebastian Hutaro Lim

15 years of age

Grade 9 (3d year high school student)

Japanesse-Chinesse

Hobby: playing basketball

Argie Herrero

18 years of age

1st year college

Filipino-Korean

Hobby: playing guitar, acting

Hansel Williams

19 years of age

1st year college

Filipino-American

Hobby: playing x-box and basketball.

Siblings: Haley and Hannah Williams

Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Jack Williams

(All photo credits to Google.com)

Nyebe by: Aries Sales

As requested by kuya Aries, ipo-post ko to dito.hehe.sbi nya po kasi sa kin share ko daw sa mga friends ko ^_^ it's a gospel song so I hope you would love it :)

Our Father

By: Maria Sharmine

Our father, thou art in heaven,

Holy is thy name on earth

Great is thy work and creation.

Our father, You are the lamb,

The sheppered of the sheeps;

The master of  all in this land.

The light in the darkness

Hope for the hopeless

And peace for the rectless.

Our father, how great is thy love?

You bestowed to us,

Who's unworthy ones?

Our father, thou art in heaven;

Let Your name be glorified

Both now and Forever!

“Alam Mo Na Nga Ba Ang Mga Bagay Na Alam Mo Na?”

Ni: Maria Sharmine

                   Ang mga bata ay madaling turuan. Ika nga nila, kung anong  ginagawa ng matanda ay siya ring  gagawin ng bata. Madali silang natututo dahil sa nkikita nila. Madali nilang naa-adopt ang anumang salitang marinig nila. Ngunit ang malaking katanungan; alam nga ba nila ang mga bagay na alam na nila?
          Kung sa akin mo itatanong ang bagay na iyan ay mahihirapan akong sagutin ka. Una, dahil hindi ko naman talaga nalalaman ang pag-iisip ng mga bata. Ang tanging alam ko lang ay  ginagawa nila ang anumang mkita nila sa kanilang  paligid.
           Nung tayoy bata pa, naniniwala akong curious tayo sa maraming bagay. Tulad ng kung bakit umaandar ang ulap, kung bakit bilog ang mundo, kung may gold nga ba sa dulo ng rainbow, kung totoo ba ang aswang at ang pinakasikat na 'Kung paano tayo ginawa'. Madalas, pinag-tatawanan tayo kung ito ang itatanong natin. Subalit ang tanong uli, 'Alam nga ba nila ang mga bagay na Alam na nila?'
           Apat na taon ako ng ako'y magsimulang pumasok sa eskwela. Sa isang pribadong paaralan ng aming lungsod ako inenroll ng aking mga magulang. Ng mga panahong iyon ay dalawa pa lamang kaming magkapatid at ang mama ko ay may magandang trabaho. In short; afford-nilang-mapagaral-ako-sa-private-school. Wala akong ibang maalala sa nursery year ko sa nasabing paaralan. Palibhasay apat na taon pa lamang ako ng mga panahong yun. Ang tanging naalala ko ay ang madalas kong pagpunta sa library upang magbasa ng kung ano-anong kwento. Paborito ko ang English, kaya English din ang malimit kong basahin.
          Tatlong taon akong nagtagal sa pribadong paaralang iyon bago nagpasya ang aking lola na ilipat ako sa pampublikong paaralan dahil lamang sa kadahilanang hindi na nila ako matutukang turuan. Ngunit ang dessyon nilang iyon ang siyang nagpabago sa takbo ng buhay ko,maging ng mga pananaw ko. Ngayon, sa desisyong ginawa ng aking mga magulang para sa akin, masasabi bang Alama na nila ang mga bagay na Alam na nila?
          Hindi ko Alam noon kung nakabuti ba o nakasama ang paglipat ko sa pampublikong paaralan. Dahil mas namulat ako sa realidad ng buhay at hindi naka-kulong sa rehas ng aking kamusmusan. Natuto akong maging independent, nadevelop ko ang self-esteem ko. Sa pag-babago ng kapaligiran ko'y unti-unti ring kumawala ang natutulog kong kamalayan.
          Dati ang alam ko ay madali kong makukuha ang mga bagay na nais kong makuha. Kasama na ang aking pangarap. Ngunit isang araw ay nagising na lamang ako na ako'y nakikipaglaban sa buhay upang makuha ang mga bagay na gusto kong makuha. Na maging ang pangarap na dati'y abot-kamay ko lamang ay tila baga lumayo na sa akin. Kinailangan kong lumaban para mabuhay, at para na rin sa aking mga pangarap... Ito ang mga bagay na ipinamulat sa akin ng tunay na daigdig sa labas ng matayog na gusali ng pribadong paaralan kung saan ako nag-mula. Ngunit sa kabila ng mga bagay na aking napagtanto ay ang mga bagay din namang aking natutunan. At sa patuloy kong pagsakay sa byahe ng buhay ay patuloy din ang aking paggising sa katotohanan ng tunay na kahulugan ng salitang 'pait' at 'saya'.