SAN RAFAEL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SEÑIOR HIGH SCHOOL
SAN RAFAEL TIGAON CAMARINES SUR
COMPILATION IN
21ST CENTURY
LITERATURE
FROM PHILLIPINES
AND THE WORLD
(HUMSS 11-LAURETA)
SUBMITTED BY:
LIEZEL D.ESQUERRA
SUBMITTED TO:
MR.REINO LAURETA
PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE
POETRY
VISION OF TRUTH
I was obsessed with “Picture Perfect”
I searched the world inside and out,
For a single moment I could say,
It if what life all about.
My life was viewed through lenses
My camera, a medal worn with pride
I thought it held the moments
That I’d always keep inside,
But looking back at photos
I can’t remember how I felt
The noises that the world made
Or the way the warm air smelt
I don’t remember how the day was
If it was going good or bad
I’ve just a snapshot of a moment
That nobody even had
So, I gave away my camera
And now use my eyes instead
To take photos for the scrapbook
That I’ve made inside my head
I always thought my photos
Were ways to make my moments last,
But you remember life much better
When you don’t view it all through glass.
LITERARY JOURNALISM
LUCIO TAN: A SUCCESS STORY
One of the business tycoons in the Philippines who faced a lot of
controversies is probably Lucio Tan. Known to the general public as a “tax
evader”, a man involved in “numerous relationships” and as a Marcos
Loyalist, Lucio Tan has quite a reputation. But despite these negative
things people has to say about him, Lucio is more of a person who
succeeded in his life’s hardships. Let us all uncover his inspiring success
story here!
Lucio Tan, born in July 17, 1934 is a Chinese National who first lived at
Fujian Province in China. Since the 20’s and the early 30’s in Fujian was
marked by extreme impoverishment, the family decided to flew here in the
Philippines. The family started anew in Naga. Growing up, Lucio did not
have much of the luxury in life. He even had to work his way to College.
He took up Chemistry in Far Eastern University, but did not finished. The
reason, Lucio said, was because he cannot wait anymore to start up a
business. He was so caged within the academe, so he decided to leave the
school. By 1950’s he had his own business from scrap and later found a job
in a tobacco factory where he was tasked to buy leaf tobacco in the Ilocos
Provinces. He did not know that that job was to be the turning point of his
life. As he was exposed to the business of tobacco, he learned about the
possibilities of it.
In 1966, he established his very own cigarette tobacco company, Fortune
Tobacco. It was a success, because cigarette smokers loved the taste of
Fortune. Because of that, another budget brand, “Hope” was established in
1975. By year 1980, Fortune Tobacco was the Philippines’ largest cigarette
manufacturer. Another business venture made by Lucio Tan, was on
banking and finance. Since his tobacco business was doing fine, he had
gained enough capital to acquire from the Philippine government the then
bankrupt bank General Bank and Trust Co. or more popularly known as
Genbank. At P500, 000, Lucio has gained the ownership of the bank. He
later renamed this bank to now, Allied Bank.
At 48, Lucio was already a self-made man, with that strong and aggressive
personality. In 1982, he has put up another business, which is inclined into
making alcoholic beverages. However, it was a strict period during then, so
business starters cannot easily put up businesses. But as one would
remember, it was during Marcos regime, and as an ally he received favors
from the late president. One of which is the permit to establish Asia
Brewery, the main rival of San Miguel Corporation. 11 years after
establishing Asia Brewery, he then ventured into airlines. By 1993, Lucio
Tan secured control of the country’s airline carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL).
Tobacco Company. Banking and Finance Company. Beverage Company. An
Airline. What could Lucio Tan ask for more? He seemed to be the best at
his niche already. But Lucio did not stop growing his business empire there.
In 1995, he founded yet another company in the aviation industry. The
Macro Asia Corporation was envisioned to be the leading provider of
aviation and logistics services. This vision has become a reality as Macro
Asia Corporation is now the provider of technical ground handling,
engineering and maintenance services, and catering services to majority of
the international airlines. And in 2000, Lucio has also acquired the major
shares in yet another banking and finance institution, Philippine National
Bank. The merge between PNB and AB is yet to be observed.
Despite these successes and undeniable fortune Lucio Tan has made in his
lifetime, there also has been many issues about him. One example was his
tax evasion issue during the Martial Law. For he was close with the
President then, many speculated that Lucio Tan benefited a lot from tax
concessions and privileges that the Marcos Regime gave to him in
exchange for a rumored 60% on all his shareholdings. However, on the
court decision released in December 2007, the Philippine Supreme Court
affirmed the decision dismissing the state’s sequestration of Lucio Tan’s
companies. Thus, Lucio Tan’s properties remained intact and in place.
Today, Lucio Tan’s Group of Companies is composed of eight strong
subsidiaries. He has the Fortune Tobacco, the largest tobacco company in
the country; the Allied Bank, the Philippines 8th largest lender; Asia
brewery, the 2nd largest brewer in the Philippines; Philippine Airlines, the
country’s Number 1 Airline and Asia’s 1st Airline; Tanduay Holdings, one of
the world’s largest rum makers; University of the East, one of the most
financially stable universities in the country in terms of assets; Philippine
National Bank, the 5t largest bank in the country; and, Eton Properties
Philippines, the global real estate brand of the Lucio Tan Group.
What’s inspiring about this story of Lucio Tan is that, never let your limits
define you. Go against the flow, stand out and be proud. Never let
opportunities to do better pass you by. Be ready for change. No matter
where you came from nor what you have right have now, if you work hard
to achieve a goal, you will. Just believe in yourself.
TESTIMONIO
It was Sunday evening, at exactly 8:00, the highway
was silent. Suddenly the motorcycle bumped into
the side of our neighbors’ house. The rider was
unconscious because his head hit the wall. Then the
ambulance came and the police investigate what
happen.
FLASH FICTION
HE CAME HOME WELL PAST
MIDNIGHT
The man left the house with a wide smile
hanging on his wrinkled face. His family can't
even see the sorrow that has been hiding, but
his little granddaughter felt what his weary eyes
is trying to say. Until one day he came home
well past midnight lying on the coffin.
BLOG
LYRICAL
ESSAY
"YOU ARE MY SUNSHUNE"
BY: MOIRA DELA TORRE
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear, how much I love
you
Please don't take my sunshine away.
Sunshine gives hopes to our dark nights. It represents new beginning
and just like the sunshine. My family serves as a ray of hope that
shines and brightened my darkest days. They are my inspiration and
my shield through ups and down. They let me see the beauty of a
brightest sunshine who gives life to everyone.
SPECULATIVE FICTION
Some things are better left
unseen
Two dormmates in college were in the same science class. The teacher had
just reminded them about the midterm the next day when one dormmate—
let's call her Julie—got invited to a party by the hottest guy in school. The
other dormmate, Meg, had pretty much no interest in going and, being a
diligent student, took notes on the material that would appear on the
midterm. After spending all her time flirting with her date, Julie was totally
unprepared for her test.
At the end of the day, Julie spent hours getting ready for the party while
Meg started studying. Julie tried to get Meg to go, but Meg was insistent
that she needed to study and pass the test.
Julie went to the party and had the time of her life with her date. She
headed back to the dorm around 2 a.m. and decided not to wake Meg. She
went to bed nervous about the midterm and decided she would wake up
early to ask Meg for help.
In the morning, Meg was lying on her stomach, apparently sound asleep.
Julie rolled her over to reveal Meg's terrified face. Julie, concerned, turned
on the desk lamp. Meg's study stuff was still open and had blood all over it.
Meg had been slaughtered. Julie, in horror, fell to the floor and looked up
to see, written on the wall in Meg's blood, "Aren't you glad you didn't turn
on the light?"
MEMOIR
THE VICISSITUDE
It was evening of the month February 13 2016, I was
doing my homework when I suddenly heard my Grandpa
calling my name, complaining of severe pain and asked
me to give him a cup of coffee and biscuits. He took a bite
of the biscuits and take a sip of coffee. After a few
minutes he asked me to give him his medicine and take a
deep sleep. While my grandmother was cooking, I take a
glance at my grandpa's bedroom and realize that his not
breathing. I widened my eyes and prayed that it was only
an imagination. I tried to wake him up but he refused to
open his eyes. Immediately, I ran and called my grandma
and my uncle about what happened. They came rushing
and I advised them to bring my Grandpa to the nearest
hospital. Within a minute an ambulance came and took
my Grandpa to the hospital. That night he left this world
because of tuberculosis as the doctors couldn't revive him.
3 years have passed since then but I will never forget the
day when the doctors at the hospital told me that he was
gone.
Too many images come to my mind whenever I speak my
grandpa's name. It seems that without him in my life,
things will never be the same.
METAFICTION
BARCELONA: A LOVE UNTOLD
Ely is a young man who can't get over his past love, Celine, who died
accidentally in a shootout. He regretted not paying more attention to her
when she was still alive. He stays in Barcelona, Spain and juggles both his
work and studies in order to finish his master's degree. He has issues with
his mother, who also resides in Barcelona, because she left him when he
was a little boy. He then meets Mia, a girl who just moved to Spain to start
a new life after several mistakes she has done in the past. She came to
Spain in order to make her parents proud of her once again especially her
father.
Mia gets into trouble losing her job and her rental space and so Ely allowed
her to stay in his apartment while she finds a job. While she was there,
they eventually got closer as friends and talk about their reasons of leaving
the Philippines.
Ely had no idea that Mia contacted his mother to meet up with them at a
restaurant. Mia's purpose was to finally fix their relationship and help Ely
move on from the past, but it got even worse. Ely pointed out that there
shouldn't be any parent who would leave their child for any reason. After
the bitter talk, Ely and Mia fought about what she (Mia) did. They also
fought about Ely not opening his heart for a new love, for people who is
willing to give him love.
After days without seeing each other, they finally meet up to talk about
how they feel. Ely told Mia that he loves her. Mia refused to accept his
words for she said that she deserved to be loved by someone who truly
loves her. He should not love her because of having the thought that she
loves him.
Ely finally realized that he was in love with Mia. Eventually he confessed to
her about his true feelings and ended up being together.
DIGITAL MEDIA
TEXT
LET THE SEA, SET YOU FREE.
SPOKEN WORD
POETRY
ALMIGHTY
People always ask, how can there be a God?
How can there be a God when the world is full of destruction?
How can there be a God when the best of hearts, are full of corruption?
How can there be a God when people can take too early from their love’s ones
This happens every day?
Because of this, there's no God they say
Because of every mans greed and evil.
Because of murder and rape.
Because of the man with his finger on the trigger who doesn't hesitate.
Because of genocides and suicides.
Because of the child with starving eyes, who's barely staying alive.
Because of the men who abuse their wives.
Because of theft and infidelity.
Because of the mother of four whose lover just walked out the door.
Because of the girls broken heart who fell victim to the boy’s lustful scheme.
Now pay attention do you not notice a common theme?
It's us.
Everything is imperfect in this world because of us.
God gave us the ability to choose in our lives with hopes that we would find him.
But we use our ability for ourselves, betrayed our creator, and turned to sin.
How can there be no God?
How can there be no God when something as beautiful as a sunrise happens every day?
How can there be no God when dark times are painted with bright stars?
We're struggling but we're still eating.
We're crying but we're still breathing.
The most beautiful things happen every day.
Because of this, there's a God I say.
Because how can lives be changed by something that's not real.
Because lives can be defined by a touch that you can't physically feel.
Because hearts can be filled by a love you can't kiss.
Because the eyes of the blind can be opened.
Do you hear me God there are still people that believe in your existence?
That are faithful, loyal, and pursue you with persistence.
That love with all their hearts and for you are willing to go the distance.
Why do we get so scared?
Even when we can't see the sun, we know it's still there.
Even when we don't, he still cares.
How can people explain something they don't believe in?
God can't be described; he can only be experienced.
But saying something isn't real
Is really acknowledging the possibility of its existence.
WORLD
LITERATURE
LITERARY
JOURNALISM
HENRY SY: THE
SUCCESFUL STORY
Henry Sy’s life was a genuine ‘rags to riches’ story. When the tycoon passed away in 2019, he left a
legacy in the field of business and was known to be more than just the wealthiest man in Southeast Asia.
His journey to success was not easy. Learn about his story below:
Henry Sy opened the first Shoemart in 1958 after he had saved enough from selling surplus G.I. boots.
Little did he know that 60 years later his small store would become the behemoth that it is today. From a
small shoe store to one of the largest holding companies in the Philippines, take a look back at the story
of the SM founder and the growth of his enterprises.
Born in Xiamen, Sy and his family moved to the Philippines in hopes of a better life. Sy’s father owned a
simple sari-sari store on Echague Street in Quiapo which was ravaged when the Second World War came
along. With nothing left, Sy's father moved back to China while Sy stayed in Manila determined to
become successful—even with only 10 centavos to his name.
Sy worked hard all night and day to survive, this while learning English and Tagalog, attending school,
and hurdling other obstacles. After earning a degree in commercial studies from Far Eastern University,
the young entrepreneur entered the shoe business and sold surplus G.I. boots. which led to him opening
his first Shoemart.
After some time, Sy found that shoes were hard to come by locally. He then looked to other countries for
broken sizes—a move that would cement Shoemart’s status as an efficient shoe store.
When Sy married Felicidad Tan, a lace vendor, he thought of venturing into other products such as
childrenswear. Around the same time, Shoemart officially changed its name to SM Department Store.
Never one to settle, Sy bought Acme Savings Bank (Banco de Oro) in 1967. This would separate him
from his competitors—Isetann, Rempson, C.O.D.—allowing him to build a portfolio of companies. In
2006, SM acquired and merged Equitable PCI Bank with BDO.
After opening SM North EDSA in 1985, SM almost consecutively opened malls in the following years: SM
City Sta. Mesa in 1990, SM Megamall in 1991, and SM City Cebu in 1993. In 1994, SM Prime Holdings,
Inc. was incorporated and became public. This increased SM Prime’s funding capabilities and in turn,
fueled further development of SM malls and shopping centers.
Only a decade after SM began its expansion in the Philippines, it entered the Chinese industry through
shopping malls. Today, SM Prime has six malls in Xiamen, Jinjiang, Chengdu, Suzhou, Chongqing, and
Zibo. According to SM Investments, China’s SM malls continue to thrive “with high occupancy levels and
forging long-term tenant relationships with leading local and international brands.”
SMDC, the property developer of SM launched its maiden project, a condominium named Chateau Elysee,
in Paranaque in 2003. It currently has projects in numerous districts and areas including Makati,
Mandaluyong, Manila, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig, and Tagaytay, with plans to expand
in key cities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
PHOTOGRPHIC
ESSAY
Best friends make the good times better
and the hard times easier.
TEXTULA
