"WHEN REALITY STRIKES"

Everything starts with a dream, a dream that can be our inspiration to accomplish our goals.
When we were children, we've always hoped that we can serve our nation someday and be part
of the progression of our country.

I've always dreamt of being someone who could make a difference, many people doubted me and
thought otherwise. As time goes by, that dream faded away.
Each day was a dreadful sight, the coward side of me that didn't dare to hold on.

I can't do it anymore. I told myself, "Why do I have to suffer like this? It's not fair!"

Tick....tock....tick...tock.... hearing the sound of the clock made it worst.

I had my chance, just didn't take it.

Now, reality speaks with a familiar sound.

LIFE! IS! GREAT!

"What"

"Are you serious?"

"If this is the life that was planned for me, then I wouldn't want to go on!"

"Go ahead and end it!"

"It wouldn't even make a difference ."

Then reality striked again..... with greater force, louder than you could imagine

You are living by choice not by chance!

"I know! That's why I'm living an awful life!"

You made it happen!

"It's what was given!"

You were given all those years, and this is all you could come up with? Come on!

"I'm hopeless!"
"I'm weak!"
"Are you suppose to rub it in?"
"I get it!"

Reality ended the battle

It's not the end of the world! Time doesn't stop when you fall. That's why the sky is high. It's
something to reach for.

A cold breeze suddenly surrounded me
The view seemed to change!

"Now, I get it!"

So live your life
Be yourself
And see the difference

-Mando (Armand Reyes Lucaas)
"Promise Land"

"Where am I?"
"Is this the real world?"

A lot of things are on my mind. I may be young and innocent, but not ignorant. I can clearly
see what's present.

I can only imagine life when the world was first created, a beautiful scene yet to be exploited.A
dash of green and blue then add the bright yellow sunshine that lights up the day. God gave us
a world full of promise. He wanted us to use it, take care of it and make sure that there is
plenty for everybody.

The water is not blue as it was.

The air we breath is not healthy anymore.

The forest that used to be rich and full, nowhere to be seen.

Dead
Denuded
Destroyed

"What happened to the promised land?"

"How dare we ruin it!"
"Look at it people! look at it!"
"If the world could only speak, it would tell us how much it hurts."

"All of us can do something but not everyone is willing to do it."

"Now, I can't imagine what the future holds."
Living
Hoping
Praying

The chances are getting thinner everytime. Time is running out. We better do it now or pay the
price later.

Let's rebuild this world and plant new life for a new day.
Vengeance Is Not Ours, Its Gods

Alms, alms, alms. Spare me a piece of bread. Spare me your mercy. I am a child so young, so
thin, and so ragged.Why are you staring at me? With my eyes I cannot see but I know that you
are all staring at me. Why are you whispering to one another? Why? Do you know my mother?
Do you know my father? Did you know me five years ago?

Yes, five years of bitterness have passed. I can still remember the vast happiness mother and I
shared with each other. We were very happy indeed.

Suddenly, five loud knocks were heard on the door and a deep silence ensued. Did the cruel
Nippons discover our peaceful home? Mother ran to Fathers side pleading. Please, Luis, hide in
the cellar, there in the cellar where they cannot find you, I pulled my fathers arm but he did
not move. It seemed as though his feet were glued to the floor.

The door went bang and before us five ugly beasts came barging in. Are you Captain Luis
Santos? roared the ugliest of them all. Yes, said my father. You are under arrest, said
one of the beasts. They pulled father roughly away from us. Father was not given a chance to
bid us goodbye.

We followed them mile after mile. We were hungry and thirsty. We saw group of Japanese
eating. Oh, how our mouths watered seeing the delicious fruits they were eating,

Then suddenly, we heard a voice call, Consuelo. . . . Oscar. . . . Consuelo. . . . Oscar. . . .
Consuelo. . . . Oscar. . . . we ran towards the direction of the voice, but it was too late. We
saw father hanging on a tree. . . . dead. Oh, it was terrible. He had been badly beaten before
he died. . . . and I cried vengeance, vengeance, vengeance! Everything went black. The next thing
I knew I was nursing my poor invalid mother.

One day, we heard the church bell ringing ding-dong, ding-dong! It was a sign for us to find a
shelter in our hide-out, but I could not leave my invalid mother, I tried to show her the way to
the hide-out.

Suddenly, bombs started falling; airplanes were roaring overhead, canyons were firing from
everywhere. Boom, boom, boom, boom! Mother was hit. Her legs were shattered into pieces. I
took her gently in my arms and cried, Ill have vengeance, vengeance! No, Oscar. Vengeance,
its Gods, said mother.

But I cried out vengeance. I was like a pent-up volcano. Vengeance is mine not the Lords.
No, Oscar. Vengeance is not ours, its Gods these were the words from my mother before
she died.

Mother was dead and I was blind. Vengeance is not ours? To forgive is divine but vengeance is
sweeter. That was five years ago, five years. . . .

Alms, alms, alms. Spare me a piece of bread. Spare me your mercy. I am a child so young, so
thin, and so ragged. Vengeance is not ours, its Gods. . . . Its. . . . Gods. . Its

Bel ai t Ri ver i s the Longest Ri ver i n Brunei
Brunei ethni c groups :
Mal ay - 66.3%
Chi nese - 11.2%
i ndi genous - 3.4%
other - 19.1%
Minority languages include Iban, Dusun, Murut, Kedayan, and Tutong. Many citizens and
resident expatriots speak Chinese or English, as well. Bahasa Malay, English, and Chinese
are spoken in Brunei. Malay is the official language, however, English is understood and
used widely for business.
Islam is the official religion in Brunei. Muslim: 67%; Buddhist: 13%; Christian: 10%;
Other: 10%
There are about 35 species of plants that come only from Brunei. Some of these are
the orchidCoelogynebruneiensis, the palms Calamusmaiadum and Livistonaexigua, and the
bamboo Temburongia simplex.

The National Crest, added to the centre of the flag in 1959, consists of;
theBendera (flag).
thePayungUbor-Ubor (royal umbrella).
theSayap (wing) which signifies justice, tranquility, prosperity and peace.
theTangan (hand) which represents the government's pledge to promote welfare, peace
and prosperity.
theBulan (crescent) which symbolises Islam, the national religion of Brunei Darussalam.
Brunei is free from malaria and other tropical diseases, is outside the typhoon belt, has
no volcanoes, and is not prone to earthquakes or other major natural disasters. The
country also enjoys government stability and economic prosperity, resulting in a very low
crime rate.
Bruneis highest mountain is Bukit Pagon, which stands at 1850 meters (6070 feet).

The Nurul Palace is one of the worlds largest palaces. Annually, the palace remains
open to the public for three days, after a month of fasting during the Ramadan
month.

Brunei is the second smallest nation in South East Asia after Singapore.
Traditions:
Table manners include eating and passing food with right hand only with the exception
that while holding a heavy plate with a right hand, the left one can be used to support
the right wrist.
It is expected from one to remove the shoes while entering a home.
Pointing the index finger while in conversation is considered to be rude, instead using
thumb to point is encouraged.
it is illegal to drink alcohol in public in Brunei

Sultan HassanalBolkiah with the former President of the People's Republic of China, Hu
Jintao. Under Brunei's 1959 constitution, the Sultan is the head of state with full
executive authority, including emergency powers since 1962.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque - is an Islamic mosque located in Bandar Seri
Begawan, the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei. Considered as one of the most
beautiful mosques in the Asia Pacific, it is a place of worship for the Muslim
community, a major landmark and a tourist attraction of Brunei.
Istana NurulIman - is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, HassanalBolkiah, and
the seat of the Brunei government.
Brunei Museum - is the national museum of Brunei. It is located in the capital city of
Bandar Seri Begawan.
Jerudong Park - is an amusement park in Brunei. It is the smallest and most expensive
amusement park in South East Asia, built and funded by the Bruneian government for
$1 billion.
Taman Tasek - BSB's tinier, dustier version of Central Park has greenery, picnic areas
and peaceful walks to a small waterfall and a large reservoir.
Jame'AsrHassanilBolkiah Mosque - This is the prayer hall of the Muslims in Brunei.
-Brunei's largest mosque