The following paragraphs were written by high school editors of Trinity Christian High School in Bacolod City who attended a Journalism Training last week. The students described abstract topics using the tools of objective description and true-to-life humanization. The names of the subjects in the paragraphs have been changed out of respect of their privacy.

New Hope

Abby sat over one corner of her room while the wind continued embracing her. Her tears slid down silently as the thought of the loneliness in her life right now. Everything seemed to be blurred and nothing made any sense to her. Things were turning into pitch black.

She leaned on the wall and caressed her cheeks. A trace of tears marked on her face, and then she began to reminisce the good times that have happened to her. Upon realizing that she was being lonely over spilled milk, she quickly stood up and forced herself to smile. She went over the window and felt the breeze once again, embracing her. The strands of her hair flew with the wind, then a shooting star fell from the sky. She felt her eyes heating up once again as she took a deep breath and sighed.

A tear rolled down from the edge of her eye and then she forced another smile as she whispered to herself: "There will always be a blue sky waiting tomorrow for me." She closed the window and felt a bit relieved, then she threw herself to bed and drifted away to sleep.

-Bethel Grace Pundan

Comfort

Amy stared at the window aimlessly. She kept thinking that all these years all she needed is little comfort from her mother. All her problems were thrown at the waste basket of her mind because there's no one she can turn to. Even friends are not there to offer just a pint of comfort in all her troubles.

She needs somebody to understand, somebody to listen… and to care. Thinking all her troubles would go away, she kept them all inside, in a glass jar, sealing them tightly inside. "Who needs anyone, anyway?" Amy asked. But deep inside she knows that everybody needs somebody. She just kept telling herself otherwise.

-Fria Divinagracia

Faith

A priest bumped against sharp metals and needles as the bus flew on the air, dropping the blood-soaked helpless one to the wide ocean. Seeing the blood drip from cuts and reddened bruises, a mailman tried to help save the priest by diving into the pool of blood. But it was actually the priest who saved the mailman's life. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" the priest asked, "Ssssirrrr… let me get you to safety."

A cold wave, however, tried to drown the battered body. Once again the priest asked, "Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" The mailman said, "I don't know Him but if it so important, I will believe." The waves then drowned the priest's crushed body which was never found.

-Ralph Kevin Genoguin

Inspiration

His eyes glistened as she saw her pass by, the room was shining when she entered. But he was merely an underdog in class - his card is filled with red marks and his parents begin to hate him. Eugene, a sophomore, was not recognized by Charry, his inspiration.

Her scores are higher than all of them. Eric loved everything about her, especially her mind and beauty. His scores began to increase as he thinks of his inspiration. On day, he packed up all his courage and decided to talk to her but when he did, he noticed that she has another guy beside her holding her hand. He was too late.

- Jay-Nico Guevarra

Trust in Him

The brightness of the light just strikes out fast. The sound of the devices makes her so scared. Here comes the most scary part of her life. My grandmother was being operated on because of arthritis. She nearly lost hope. All of them kept praying to God that she will survive the operation. After many hours, another light shines upon her. This was the light of success. She survived and all of us were very happy.

We thanked God and hope this will continue all the days of her life. "Don't think of negative things, just believe and trust in God," my grandmother said, Days passed and we found a smile in her heart. Now she can cook, sweep the floor, wash the dishes and go to the market. Even if we are afraid, we still hold on to God's hand…

-Ma. Karina de Leon

Justice

JC, the girl who has been seeking justice for a long time, finally ended her search that afternoon. She had that bad experience engraved in her heart. MJ, her friend since childhood, died two weeks ago. The crime was "fire in the house" and the one who started it wasn't she but someone else. When JC arrived at MJ's house, her eyes melted seeing and sharing of MJ's efforts to unlock the doors of the burning house. With her fear of fire, she didn't act to save her. She just sat outside, crying and waiting for the firemen to come.

After the fire was put out, victims were asked to stay outside of a checkup. The nurse checked MJ's pulse - it was quiet. On MJ's burial day, JC said, "Friend I would not stop to seek justice unless you know who brought you early to your grave." That afternoon, the search stopped when the suspect, overcome by his conscience, repented to JC. At the graveyard, she said, "My friend, at last I have found justice for you." After saying that, she felt a tingle on her neck - as if MJ was present and they were at play.

-Carmelo Destacamento

Anger

She simpered wildly trying to hide the hatred she felt inside. Her heart, consumed with much anger and disgust, pounded hard on her chest. As she entered the room, everyone stared at her as if they could see the little green monster behind her. Her hatred had taken shape… her feelings overthrew her. She tried to smile back. She took two steps back, unable to regain her composure. Her emotions were about to break.

-Luke Montelibano

Overcoming Trials

Living like hell for the past 13 years, Z knew better how it is to have someone to look forward to, being the youngest of five children. Z had known the sufferings her family had undergone as told by her older siblings. She herself has experienced poverty and persecution. As she grew up, she had learned that her needs weren't much provided. But everything seemed to change its course.

Z's mother was a devout Christian, sharing the joy of her faith to people around her. This same faith gave their family hope despite the circumstances. Their expenses -including fees for college education - are now provided for. Z has seen the faithfulness of Someone greater working in ways and she had also received in her heart the blessed hope of eternity. After years of trials, Z had come to understand that Christ Jesus is her only hope.

-Janel Hans Zapata .