Ultimately, my thought diverged to the Philippines, a tropical paradise. No more dangerous icy sidewalks to fall on, no more freezing hands when walking home, no more giant trucks to watch out for and, above all, it would still be sunny at 4pm! I cheered myself up by thinking of the up sides of living in a winter wonderland: snow days, tobogganing, hot chocolate, all the typical “Canadian stuff”. Honestly, it didn’t help. The treacherous snowstorm made it hard to believe there was anything good about this cold season.

             For all the newcomers, please be prepared (of course, this isn’t Alaska, but sometimes it can get very close).   Hat, scarf and a pair of gloves are very useful. Don’t get fooled by the teenagers only wearing a thin sweater and running shoes. Deep inside, they’re freezing. I have to admit being part of the group that always underestimates (or overestimates) the temperature. It’s better to be a Bonhomme Michelin and be warm, than a cool kid and die of hypothermia. I sound like my mother and I probably won’t take my own advice but “au pire” there’s only four months of winter…

             On the bright side, winter is a pretty season. Everything has a magical glow. The rooftops, the sidewalks, the trees, the cars, everything is covered in snow! If we forget the frustrations of cleaning up snow and take a second to just sit back and watch, we will see that it’s such beautiful scenery: a thin layer of snow on the streets, icicles on the rooftops, snowflakes in the air. The city is at its best at the start of the winter, when the snow is still fresh and white. I think anybody is in awe at the first snowfalls. Even a snowstorm can be pretty. Thousands of snowflakes raging outside can sometimes give me an overpowering feeling. Humans control so many things on earth, and yet a simple meteorological phenomenon changes our day and lifestyles.

             To all who can’t see the bright side, do not despair. You can tell yourselves that spring is only a few months away. We will make it through the storm!

It all started with the French colonies and la Nouvelle-France… but that was about 500 years ago. Between that time and now, the Canadiens Français have gone through a lot to keep their language and their beliefs, surviving attacks from the English and even from their homeland. This language held a whole population together through thick and thin. The reality is that it is rooted into the soil of this province and everybody who wants to live here needs to get accustomed to the language.

At the last Census in 2006, Statistics Canada estimated that more than 91% of Montrealers speak French and more than half speak French and English. Even if it is a cosmopolitan city, French is spoken by almost everybody. It makes us different from other multi-ethnic cities in Canada and even in the world. We should be proud of this.

Not everybody can balance two or even three languages like we, youth of Montreal, do. Most Filipino-Canadian youth in Montreal only use French at school, which brings up the question of the utility of learning an extra language. Outside of Quebec, everything is English. A lot of you probably wish that everything would be English here too. But what would Montreal be like without French?

There is no other place in North America that uses much of the French language like we do. It would be just another province with nothing special. It would, in a way, resemble other Canadian cities, like Toronto or Vancouver, not that it would be a bad thing. But a major piece of the landscape would be gone. No awkward translations on the billboards. No dépanneurs. No arrêt signs!

It just goes to show that Montreal wouldn’t be what it is without its French language. Even if it’s hard to learn, it surely comes in handy. Parlez-vous français? Oui, nous parlons français.

Christmas means two things: Going to church and spending time with family. The most important, of course, is going to Church. I have always believed since childhood days that Christmas time is a celebration of Jesus’ birth; He is the main celebrant of this day, not us. The preparation for the big day spreads out in four weeks during the season of Advent. The whole Church is preparing and I can really feel it. The little kids are practicing their Christmas play, the choir is singing Christmas songs, and red, silver and gold decorations everywhere. Each week builds up my anticipation for Christmas as I reflect on its essential meaning.

The equally important part of Christmas is my family.  As long as I can remember, I have always spent my Christmas with them… The joy and spirit continue as we gather after mass and eat dinner together. The party goes on, it is loud and fun – the adults sing karaoke and dance while I stay up and do cool stuff with my cousins and we wait… At exactly midnight, we all assemble again and even more loudly pass all the gifts. These are happy and joyful times that define my Christmas celebrations.

It obviously gets you thinking about the people that don’t have anybody or anything at this time of the year – the people living on the streets and those in underdeveloped countries. Christmas is a time for giving and warming up hearts, not only to the people that you love but also to those who need it. We can all share something because we received so much. There are many different ways – helping food drives, volunteer in nursing homes, or simply a smile to a person on the street. One kind gesture can brighten up someone else’s day.

Christmas Season … It fills up everybody with this feeling of expectation and joy. However, for me, it isn’t just the flashing lights or the happy songs that determine the vibe. It is the people around me, the warmth and happiness that cheer me up to endure the cold December weather. How I wish this Christmas spirit would last all-year round.

First of all, it is good to know the people in your class. A school day is not only the classes but also the people who take those classes. A silent group during break is probably not having as much fun as those who are talking in between classes. The trick is to not be shy to others in your group. The truth is you’re spending the whole year with these same people. Look forward to seeing your friends, mingle with them and build good relationships that would last for years ahead.

Another important detail in school is to have a good lunch (and breakfast, in fact). It sounds funny, but it makes sense. Hunger affects your mood and attitude. Having a full stomach will make you happier, especially in the morning. Plus, it will give better concentration.

Time can move faster with good concentration during class. Don’t think about how boring the teacher is but about what she is saying. It’s hard not to wander away in your thoughts but we have to stay focused on what they are teaching us. We should do what we are supposed to be doing – learning.

However, school is not only about sitting and listening to lessons. It is also everything around it, like sports, clubs and activities. Having a healthy lifestyle is as essential as cultivation of our minds. What better place to learn good habits and activities than school! In the end, you are not only learning subjects like math and science. You are also learning about life and how to be a better person. And most of the time, it is not easy.

The last trick is to use time wisely. At some point, we just feel overwhelmed by all the work and study. This makes school intolerable. That pressure and crisis could be prevented by dividing your time and not leaving everything to the last minute. In other words – don’t procrastinate! Do first things first and don’t let anything get in your way. It prevents lack of sleep and memory blanks. Most importantly, it keeps you on top of everything, relaxed and happy.

In the end, school is a part of life that can’t be escaped and we should be grateful for this opportunity. Like a lot of things, it isn’t always easy to handle. Just remember, all this is not for nothing and it will all pay off, one day…

Summer is in full swing and everybody has their plans to have fun. The perfect vacation for most teenagers would consist of sleeping-in, watching movies, hanging out with friends and doing nothing. Relaxing would be the main event of their vacation. Nothing else could seem more fun but the most enjoyable times were when they least expect it.

Family time can and will be longer during summer vacation. Especially with the summer trips and the barbecues, families get the time to really talk without a lot on their minds. Teenagers can’t escape to their rooms saying: “I have to finish my homework.”  Everybody will be glad of the bonding although long talks are not always that enthusiastic. Extreme biking and river rafting can be crazy ideas that will bring families closer one way or another. Then again, calm and soothing activities such as a trip to the museum or watching a movie will do just as fine. It might not be adrenaline pumping action but it’s definitely always a family adventure.

A summer job would rarely please any teen who just finished a rough year in school. However, it doesn’t always have to be relaxing during the summer after all the pros outnumber the cons in this case. Getting a part-time job could earn a good amount of cash just for you. There is one detail disregarded probably because it is only a little factor. Work is also a place to meet people. It is will be less fun when you are always cursing about life. A little smile will help along with the people around. Who knows, you might end up enjoying your work time.

An activity often over looked by teens is the summer camp. It is always thought to be a place for kids and often cheesy annoying songs. Maybe it is really a place with cheesy songs however you learn to love it with the right mentality. “Keep an open mind”, as they always say.  It helps to choose a camp that suits you. The start is always rough but as the weeks go on, you loose all self-consciousness and just have fun. The shyness has been long forgotten. Before you know it, you’re camp days are coming to an end. And you actually miss all the great friends you’ve made and the countless fun hours you’ve spent with them. This is proof that the less appealing activities can become unforgettable adventure of a lifetime!

Whether you’re on a long trip or stuck in a summer job anything can be fun with the right attitude. So keep a happy face and have fun wherever you are!

Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life. That’s the first phrase you see when you enter the website.  A university student’s little idea turned into the most popular site on the World Wide Web. With over 200 million active users around the globe, Facebook is one of the biggest social-networking sites. People from all walks of life have created a profile for various reasons, mainly to get in touch with their families and friends – not a bad idea! Now on its fifth year, it is worthwhile to review its pros and cons especially among us, the youth.

Having relatives on the other side of the world, Facebook can make us feel closer to our families–without having to wait for the mail or the next vacation to the Philippines, we share each others pictures, making funny comments and even chat once in a while. As for the issue of privacy, well, we just have to be careful not to post anything that we consider personal knowing that other people could use it against us.

Facebook is one of the many sites that steal the time among the teens. Even with all the bad media hype, Facebook has a lot of young users who have given the internet a big share of their lives. Some comment that computer has brought “socializing” out of the real world and on to the internet. In a way, it does influence the way we connect but nothing can replace a good time with friends at a movie theater or at the mall.

Spending countless hours in front of the computer, teens are often criticized as being addicted to technology. But among the teens on Facebook, only a few say that they could never live without it. Can Facebook do more harm to the youth than good? Well, it’s really up to the individual … So, let’s head out, put the computer aside for a while, breath the fresh spring air and enjoy the summer!

It seems the world is getting worse each day and we all know we have to do something about it. Climate change, exploitative child labor, deforestation and animal cruelty are some of the concerns. The answer I hear most often is that every little action will help. Personally, I try to always recycle my papers. Yet it never gives me the feeling that I just saved the world. The world’s problems are too big to be solved by only one person and one action.

Somebody once told me, “If you dream alone it is only a dream. If you are many to dream, it is the start of a reality”. Awareness of global issues amongst your family and friends is a big factor. Imagine if every single person you meet would do a little act to stop global warming. For example, they stopped using plastic bags to help the environment. The difference would be remarkable.

You should know that you are never alone in striving for a better world. A lot of organizations exist for different causes in your school or your community. Giving them your time and effort will certainly help their purpose.

 While Surfing the Internet, I stumbled across a Filipino Youth organization in America: ANAKBAYAN. Although there is no chapter here in Montreal, they seem to be relevant in a few American cities like New Jersey, Seattle and Los Angeles. 

Being the youth of our times makes us responsible of the whole world. The present problems in our society will be handed down to us sooner or later. We should really act together and without any delay because someday it might be too late.