“Journey, not the destination”

Adam Ross T. Briones

11- STEM
Inspirational
“Life is all about success. You need to show strength and courage in order to
obtain it”. You might be thinking, this is in fact, a motivational quote. It gives us
motivation to keep striving, for it gives us a mindset that the acceptance of success lies
within our future. I cannot argue with that, but the question is, is it realistic enough? Does
is it give us a vision of what we should do if we do not meet our own expectation? Our
own definition of success? Does it tell us on how to accept disappointment if such
scenario happens? Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. At this moment, it will be the
release of my thought, my perspective in life. And I will explain to you later why this
kind of quote seems so delusional to me.

To start my speech, I would like to ask you all the oldest question in the book,
“what is life?” Young and old people are having tough times answering this question. But
wouldn’t you think that it should be the first we should know? The purpose of our lives?
The purpose of all the hard work that we do? Well, there is no right or wrong answer, for
everyone has their own insights, but personally to me, life is all about happiness. We do
things that we do in order to make us happy. We do things because we think that it would
make us happier or less happy. For example, studying. We study because we think that it
will give us more opportunity to be happy in the future. For as we know, studying leads
to better grades, better grades gives us better colleges, better colleges gives us more
opportunity to secure a better job, and as a definition by the society, this is where you
reach the so called success. Once you are rich, you are most likely to be recognized as a
successful person. But in all serious, is studying really that fun? Personally, I think it’s
not. We only do it because it promises us a better future. But no one really love studying,
unless you’re a freak. Some may even consider killing themselves for they cannot take
the pressure of studying. But they just continue because they think that after all this, all
the sadness, the depression and the anxiety will go away once they face success. Well, in
that case, they are wrong. They think that the final destination would be the so called
happiness, not realizing that it is only wealth that is waiting for them there and not joy.
Let’s take Bill Gates for example. You see, Gates is indeed a genius. But to tell you, he
was also a college dropout. But that does not stop him from being the Bill Gates now,
who owns the Microsoft. He did something that he is fund of instead of listening to
lectures all day long that it doesn’t even have something to do in his career. He did
something to make himself happy. He took the biggest risk of his life. Now to tell you, it
is not the money that makes him the richest man on earth, but it is his contentment. He is
now satisfied of what he have. He is happy.

And it all brings us back to the meaning of life, happiness. You see behind a
successful man lies a whole disappointing story. Full of failure and hardships. But facing
this in your journey doesn’t necessarily mean that you will not get success. That’s the
complete opposite. Because once you overcome those problems and face your flaws and
incapabilities, you are now mentally capable to overcome any problem, and that’s what
makes a person successful. One does not make failure a reason to fall, instead makes it as
a fundamental foundation to rise and fight again.
“For everyone? Or for one?”
Adam Ross T. Briones
11- STEM
Argumentative
The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression and Equality Bill abbreviated as
SOGIE BILL is now an uprising topic, both in the senate and media. It states that the
LGBTQ+ Community should be treated with equity, like how normal genders are treated.
This have just gotten more and more popular due to the rise of Gretchen Diez, a
transgender who was punished accordingly for a clear violation of entering a female’s
restroom. Now our president, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, choose the Anti-Discrimination Law
or the so called ADL over this bill for it is said to provide right treatment to those who
are discriminated by their age, religion, culture, and other forms instead of just ones
gender.

Not being totally biased but I strongly agree with our president. I agree, not because that I
have hatred towards the people that belongs to this community, but because I believe that
it is not only them that should experience a discrimination-free society. For me, everyone
deserves to be respected as long as ones does not show harm or wrong doings. I do get
the point of the LGBTQ+ community because as seen on the news, they’re the most
targeted of our society when it comes to discrimination and inequality. But why only
them? What about those who are discriminated by their age? Their religion? And their
culture? Are they not worth being saved from our judgmental society? They are just as
hated as the LGBTQ+ community. So why don’t give them protection from this? If on
the LGBTQ+ were to receive this special treatment, then that would be biased. It would
be much like playing the game of Russian roulette, with a fully loaded gun, and not
letting the LGBTQ+ community to play. Everyone would be killed by the bullets of
discrimination while the LGBTQ+ will be the only one saved.

Another is, we all know that we are only born to have to genders, man and woman. And
the funny thing is, science and religion agrees with it. Scientifically, there are only two
types of chromosome nature to human. Male and Female. Now have you ever heard of a
Gay Chromosome? A Transgender one? There is none. As a matter of fact, this is
considered as a mental issue. It is not normal for a man to pretend as woman. That would
be just delusional. And as for the Catholic Church, they do not get along pretty well with
the LGBTQ+ community. For it is said in the bible that God only created human to have
two genders, and that is man and women.

I do believe that it is not freedom from discrimination that the LGBTQ+ community
wants, rather a special treatment. To be honest, they are just using their membership to
this community as an advantage for the government to spoil them. Because if freedom
and peace is what they really want, they would not only focus the bill only to them but
those who are discriminated in other forms as well. They are only passing this bill to have
benefit for themselves. And that is just cruelty.

In all honesty, this problem should not be the primary problem that the government
should focus unto. There are lots of problems in the Philippines that needs fixing.
Corruption, drugs, and poverty. Let us focus on the bigger deal and carry on with the
little ones.
“Be the chamge”
Adam Ross T. Briones
11- STEM
Persuasive
Earth, is now a dying planet and nobody seems to care. Climate changes is real,
and it’s getting worse that before. The ice caps are now melting and forests are now
burning, which has caused the death of a whole ecosystem. Yet, no one seems to care.
Even the government doesn’t care about what’s happening on our environment, for what
they really care about is money, economic growth, and wealth. Everyone wants change,
but not everyone wants to be a part of the change. Funny enough, it seems like we are
only waiting for a miracle. We are waiting for someone to move, yet there is tons of
people who wanted change but we do not acknowledge them. We treat them as a joke.

You care about the environment, right? You are fully aware that global warming
is indeed real, right? And maybe you are also fully aware that this is the cause of our
actions, right? If so, why? Why do you still use straws? Why is that you don’t practice
proper segregation of garbage? And why are silent instead of using your voice to save the
environment? By these actions, you are just being a hypocrite. Nothing but a straight up
fake. You always say that you care about the turtles yet here you are drinking you milk
tea with a straw. You always say that mass wasting is a problem, yet you are one of its
contributor. And yet you always complain that the earth is dying, while you are being one
of its murderer. How hypocrite. In order for us to witness change, we should be the
change. We don’t need to rely on our useless government, because as a community, we
are technically stronger than them. I will show some ideas that could possibly save our
planet. First, I want to you all to not focus on recycling. It may be useful but that’s not the
point. We should focus more on reducing. Because to be fairly honest, the production of
waste is much bigger than to the rate of people who really recycle. This is proven by
statistics. So as a community, we should practice the proper way of segregation and put
the production of our waste at minimal. Because prevention is indeed better than cure.
Second, lessen the burning of fossil fuels because there is no way to stop it for it may
cause economic failure and product creation would be slower. So we cannot straight up
stop the usage of fossil fuels. What we can only do is not to contribute to them too much
and consume little fossil fuels when only needed. If source of energy is what you need
then there are these things called “renewable energy” namely solar energy, the energy
coming from the sun; geological energy, coming from the heat inside the earth;
hydroelectricity, that relies on the flow of the water; and windmills coming from the
wind. These are more efficient than consuming nonrenewable energy. Because the day
will come and all of the fossil fuel will be gone because we have fully consumed it and
not leaving some for the next generation. Lastly, if you want the turtles to live, please
avoid using straws and throwing waste in the oceans. Plastics do contaminate the water
and that is a threat to the marine lives. Maybe this action is small, but atleast you are
contributing to the change.

However big or however small, your action can change it all. Let us not be a
potato couch, and be lazy all day. Stand up, use your voice to raise social awareness on
earth environmental issue. Because little by little, we can make a new revolution that
would change the world forever.
“Limitless?”
Adam Ross T. Briones
11- STEM
Informative
“Students are not robots.” This is what the students cry about. They always say
that they have limitations and weakness too. And that they are not capable of studying too
much because of how much it frustrates them. As a personal experience, I too, came to
that point where I would just cry on the homework our teacher gave us. I cannot handle
my studied at that point. But now, as obvious as it can be, I now is one of the students
who excel on classes. Not to mention that I am an athlete too. So how do I do this? One
may even question if do I ever get some rest. Well I am getting an adequate rest after
being a student athlete. It is just all about management.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Today I will be presenting to you all the
tips in order to be an excellent student. And as for now, I will only discuss the three
fundamentals; time management, performance, and commitment.

So first, in order to be organized, you should always know how to handle time.
Not literally, but how to manage your time in doing urgent matters. Because in reality,
school is all about deadlines. If you always pass you project late, please do not expect a
high grade, because you did not meet the exact date that the teacher told you. Be as
timely as you can. Because in life, time will be your friend and your enemy as the same
time. Once you perfect how to manage your time, you will have enough time to do your
studies and have time for your rest at the same time. Sometimes you can even insert fun if
you managed it right. Knowing the power of time gives you the sense of responsibility
and power of organization

Second is your performance. Both in school and home. This could be self-explanatory but
to give you further information, you can’t just expect to have a good standing in school if
you act weak. You have to show dominance, yet you still have to stay humble. Big brain
is better the airy brain. Always do your best. It may not be the best among the rest, but
who cares? This ain’t a competition anyway. What matter is that you learn, and your
capability to apply it in your life. And at home, you have to be as hardworking if you
really want a full recognition.

Lastly, commitment. You have to stay committed if you want to be an outstanding

student. Because it will serve as your motivation, a reason of why you are doing this. Are
you doing this to learn or to show dominance? Or maybe even just to brag? Remember
that you are doing this for your own sake. You have to stay committed if you want to be a
good student. This is also where you could test your time. On how long are you willing to
do your best in order to be a good student.

At the end of the day, it is your choice if you are going to follow these tips. Or carry on
with your own. Because this is what I’ve used to achieve the me that I have now. To
everyone here, good luck and May the spirit of studying possess y’all.
“Ex?”
Adam Ross T. Briones
11- STEM
Entertainment
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Oh sorry, please don’t mind the face, just
lend me your ears and listen. Today, I want to tell something about past relationship.
Relationships rater. Because I believe that I had… Well let’s see, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10, 11, and then there’s KC if I would consider that. So yeah, I had a total of 5 exes.
Yeah I know, you wouldn’t be surprised. To a face like this? Hahaha! How did 4 girls fell
inlove with a guy that looks like Shrek? Well here’s the story.

So my first ex, was on grade 6. Crazy right? Her name? Nevermind her name. So
I was probably 11 or 12 by that time, and she became my girlfriend through chat. And the
reason why I fell inlove with her is because she was so white. And at the age of 11, that
was my own definition of beauty, the color of one’s skin. And also her profile picture was
edited and filtered like who wouldn’t fall inlove with a pretty face? Long story short, I
asked her. “Kiara, can you be my girlfriend?” Like woah. That just did came out of my
mind. And I was more surprised when she suddenly replied “yes”. And you know what I
replied to her after that? I said I love you. And lucky enough, she said “I love you too”.
So excitedly, I told that to my mom, and she said. “Breakup with her. Ambitious child.”
That’s not what she said exactly because that was in Bicol, but she said it a little like that.
So the next day, I broke up with her and she said “okay”. So I was like “bye” and she did
not reply.

My second wasn’t that much important. Me and April only lasted for 3 days, so
yeah, whatever.

The third one? That was the first time I experienced love. She was so caring. She
even feed me when we used to eat in our classroom. Ewww. Yuckkk. I loved her since
grade 7 but, we only lasted for 1 moth. I caught Syria cheating on me on the day of
anniversary. So I decide to break up.
 The fourth one, was Dyna. I met her when I was on grade 8, she was grade 7 by
that time. So one year gap. Sigh. Our monthsary was on October 14. And guess what?
We broke up 10 days later. It was fiesta in our town that time. And being cringy as I can
be I bought her a ring to make her come back. It was store-bought. 10 pesos. And she
didn’t come back. Like woah, that escalated quickly.

And my recent ex. Iriez. I met her last year ago. And by this time, things were
getting a little serious. She was the longest to stay. We lasted for 7 months. And she was
just the best for one reason. And that reason is confidential. HAHAHAHAHAHA. Just
kidding. She was the best because she was the one that pays whenever we have dates.
Being more practical. Last fiesta she came to Manito. And she paid for all the rides that
we rode. Like who would not like free rides? Yes. She was the best among the rest.

And then there is blank blank. A grade 9 student. We labeled ourselves “mutual
understanding” but that only lasted for like 3 days. And she found someone new from
Legasci. It was like BROOOOOOOOM. Speeding out of my memory.

And now there this one girl that I am waiting. If you are seeing my post, you
probably got to know her. Her name is Melle Marie. She was my childhood friend. From
my childhood of course. And I just realized that I like her now. Not just now really,
because I confessed my lobe to her on grade 9. So technically not the first time. I tried to
court her back then but she said we were too young. So I waited. Waited but not really
the wait wait. What I mean is I wait while… You get the point. So now, I am going to
take the risk.

So the lesson here is that love is not a game to play with. Because it is your heart
that you’re gambling. But that’s the meaning of love, right? It’s all about taking risk. And
now I will be risking mine again to Melle. Thank you.