Thank You

By Tinna Santos Bonifacio

That's what Judy Ann wants to say to her family as she prepares to leave them behind and start one of her own.

Judy Ann Santos grew up the baby of her family. The youngest of three, she displayed a mature streak early. Despite her young age, she doted on her nephews and nieces. She would change their diapers and give them a bath--in a way, unconsciously preparing herself for parenthood. As the years passed, she began praying for a child to come into her life. It was the unspoken desire of her heart. "Hanggang lumaki sila, ganoon ako. Mga times na 'yon, anak na ang gusto ko," she says.

She got what she wanted when daughter Yohanna, or Yohan, came along. But the arrival of Yohan, now four years old, brought an unexpected bonus: Ryan. And just like that, Judy Ann got more than she had been praying for. "Nung binigay ni Lord si Yohan, saka naman dumating si Ryan. Hindi anak ang binigay sa akin, kundi family."

That it should happen to her is no coincidence, because Judy Ann has always been very family-oriented. Leading the busy life of one of showbiz's youngest superstars has never stopped her from keeping her family uppermost in her mind. When her brother Jeffrey got married, she became his wedding planner, slowing down on her commitments for two whole weeks so she could give it her undivided attention. She went into business, getting a franchise of Anonymous and having her sister Jackie manage it so the latter would have something to do. They had disagreements over certain aspects of the business and how it would be run, but that never changed the way she felt about her sister. "I offered my services to Ricco and Tina Ocampo (the owners of the Anonymous chain) to be an endorser, tapos bayad yung franchise. I wanted to give my sister something to do. Pero mahirap pala 'yon. Dapat pala, sa business, hindi kamag-anak, kasi magkaka-issues kayo. Nag-away kami ng kapatid ko. Pero natuto ako na manahimik na lang. After that, masaya na lahat."

Since her early days in showbiz, she has been guided by a desire to give her family the best. Whatever they wanted, she wanted too--and that's why she worked so hard. She was driven by an inner quest for excellence and by wanting to fulfill dreams, not for herself, but for them. "Ang dream ko lang naman noon is matupad yung wish ni Mommy na mabigyan sila ng sariling property, at saka makabili ng sariling bahay...makabili ng mga properties at magkaroon ng sariling bahay. Na-achieve ko naman. At yung maging stable ang mga kapatid ko."

So now that they are okay, it is her turn to fulfill her own dreams of having a family.

But before she does, she has one last word to share with the people who stood by her. These words, more than anything she could have done or given them, speak volumes.

"Sa lahat ng mahal ko, ang sinasabi ko lang lagi, thank you. Thank you for understanding me, thank you for loving me and for accepting who I am. Thank you for allowing me to be me."

Taken from StarStudio Magazine: Judy Ann Santos Special Edition

Five Resume Writing Tips

A resume introduces you to an employer. It should:

• State the job you want and include your name, address and telephone number. The resume lists your job or school experience, your education, skills and relevant personal information, such as job-related hobbies.

• Be typed or printed on quality paper. And it must be absolutely perfect. It must be no longer than two pages.

• List those qualifications and experiences that are relevant to the job for which you are applying. If you are applying for a first job, include responsibilities at school or in clubs.

• Be specific about your background without getting too detailed. Be positive.

• Be simple and easy to read. Check with your library or guidance counselor for good formats.

- Adapted from Resumes, Application Forms, Cover Letters and Interviews, U.S. Department of Labor.

Taken from Youth 90 magazine

PLANET EARTH NEEDS YOU!

If you’re concerned about our planet, but not sure what to do, here are nine ways you can help save the environment.

By Rick L. Shallenberger

“The earth is slowly dying, and the inconceivable—the end of life itself—is actually becoming conceivable.”

These words, spoken by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, reflect the thinking of people worldwide.

Surveys among young people in the United States and Europe reveal that you are concerned about the environment and for good cause.

Look around you. Chances are you are surrounded by air pollution. You may have to drink filtered or bottled water because the water in your area is polluted.

Landfills around the world are filling up and we are running out of places to put our garbage. It is a serious concern for many nations, especially the United States.

Many lakes and streams are no longer fit for swimming or fishing. Much of the pollution is caused by waste being dumped into the streams and a general lack of care.

You’ve probably heard of the forests being cut down in South America and Alaska. This leads to the extinction of animals and insects that may not have even been discovered yet.

What can you do?

While you can't solve all the world's pollution problems, you can make a difference in helping to save the environment. Too many people think they can't change anything, but that's just not true.

No matter where you are, you do make a difference. The average person in the United States, Canada and Britain discards three to four pounds (up to 1.8 kilograms) of refuse-- daily. The West Germans discard about 2 pounds (.9 kilograms) and the Italians 1.5 pounds (.7 kilograms). Most of that ends up in landfills.

Here is a list of nine things you can do to lessen your personal impact on our endangered ecosystem.

1. Cut down on your trash. Trash can often be reused, repaired or made available to others. Your trash can be another's treasure.

Before you throw something away, whether old clothes, shoes, albums or toys, offer it to someone else.

There are organizations that make used clothing available to the needy. These include charities such as Goodwill Industries and the Salvation Army.

One organization in the United States is looking for old tennis shoes. They clean and relace them and make them available to the homeless. (Those in the United States can send them to World Shoe Relief, P.O. Box 423, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92678.)

2. Up to 18 percent of trash is yard waste. Grass clippings, leaves and vegetable waste can be put into a compost heap. This can be used as mulch and fertilizer for plants and gardens. Talk to your parents about composting your yard waste.

3. Recycle all you can. Check around for places to recycle glass, cans, plastic, newspapers and other paper products such as magazines, junk mail and cardboard.

One archaeologist from the University of Arizona was digging through an old landfill and found a newspaper from 1951. It was still readable after being buried 37 years.

Things generally do not decompose in landfills. We need to recycle all we can.

4. Don't litter. Litter really damages the environment. Plastic is especially harmful because it doesn't decompose for years, if at all. Many animals choke and suffocate on it.

5. Make a habit of cleaning up messes with rags rather than paper towels. Rags can be washed and reused. On the other hand, most paper towels end up in landfills.

6. Car pool, walk, ride your bike or use public transportation to and from school or work. Walking and riding a bike are good exercise and don't pollute the air.

Driving is something we all look forward to, but every car on the road adds to air pollution. Save driving for special or must drive occasions.

7. Plant a tree. (Check with your parents first.) Trees absorb carbon dioxide and every one planted helps cut down on air pollution.

Trees can also save your family in heating and cooling costs. They also help prevent soil erosion and add beauty.

8. Avoid purchasing endangered plants or animals or products made from these species. The extinction of any species can have a serious effect on the ecology. Even things as small as earrings or rings can have products made from endangered species.

The world's lust for ivory has all but wiped out the elephant populations in Africa.

9. Organize a cleanup party. Get a group of friends or your church group to clean up a park or an empty lot in your town. (Check with the owner first.) Recycle what you can and dispose of the trash.

While you can't solve all the world's pollution problems, you can make a difference...

These are just a few things you can do to help the earth. You can make a difference.

Taken from Youth 90 magazine

How You Love Me Now

Hey Monday

You were talking to her

But messing with me

It's finally clear

You're blurring the lines

Are you disturbed?

Oh, now you care

Why do you race through my red lights?

Refrain:

Can't understand

I'll slow it down for you

Chorus:

Tell me how can you sleep?

How can you breathe?

Baby, tell me how

How you love me now

Tell me how can you sleep?

How can you breathe?

I hate when you say

How you love me now

Save

Save it for her

I'm not gonna hear

Your reasons and "please-just-take-me-backs"

We never were right

Don't waste your breath

You crashed and you're on your own tonight

Can't understand

I'll slow it down for you

Tell me how can you sleep?

How can you breathe?

Baby, tell me how

How you love me now

Tell me how can you sleep?

How can you breathe?

I hate when you say

How you love me now

Lights out

I found out

My falling star

Goodbye

The sun rises here

There's no more you and I

Tell me how can you sleep?

How can you breathe?

Baby, tell me how

How you love me now

Tell me how can you sleep?

How can you breathe?

I hate when you say

How you love me now

How you love me now

How you love me now