Creative Nonfiction

Creative Nonfiction provides a holistic, learner-centered approach to teaching and learning. Creative Nonfiction is designed as a workbook to guide learners explore the many possibilities of writing together with their teachers or mentors. Moreover learners can also use Creative Nonfiction to teach themselves independently by following the suggested step by step processes and procedures.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Happiness and Sadness on Every Road

By: Jules Mitchel Vincent S. Espero

Today, I can say that I learned from a lot of people that I have been through on my way here. All the happy and sad memories I have experienced that make me a strong and independent person. But I think that this journey is just the beginning of my life, I can say that I am a wise person, intelligent and humble person. And before I continue my life story, let me tell you what I have been through to have this happiness and all the sadness in myself.

I was born in Quezon Memorial City Hospital in the year 2001 month of July day of 30.  I was raised by my beautiful mother and along with my father. They see me as a gift from the Almighty God and as the cutest baby in the hospital. I could not contain the laughter every time I hear this story from my parents. Going back, my parents knew that someday, I will make them proud as they expect a lot from me just because I am their first child.

My father works as a Policeman and from signing different documents to  handle different meetings with higher government officials, He has been serving the nation for 23 years now, while my mother gives all her effort in order to give all of our needs in life such as our education, food, and etc. She is currently a nurse in Arizona, Texas, United States of America.

We lived in a village in Taguig City, where our house was filled with colorful decorations inside and out and we also had our own garden in our backyard. Taguig City was a place where our neighbors were very hospitable and you could see their smiles on their faces when they were talking to you or having a chat with them.

It was 2011 when I was in the grade four and I was nine years old. I met my first friend, Adrienne, Her eyes was as beautiful as the diamond and her hair color was black. She was a young girl as graceful as a bird. She liked to dance, sing, and draw some portrait pictures. What I liked about here was the way she treated me as a best friend. We played every day and, often, I got invited to their house near our street. Also, her parents were so nice to me and treated me as their own family. While I was inside their home, I felt the love and affection from other people too. I realized that friends can also be your second family when you feel lonely or not having affection from your family.

As a firstborn in my family, my parents provided me good stuffs that made me happy such as the different fictional story books and food. As I enjoyed my childhood days, I was spoiled for how many years. They gave me toys whatever I wanted to and the places that I wanted to visit like the amusement park in Tagaytay City and different beaches in the province of Batangas City. As we traveled on different places, we took picture and collected them in a book that we used to store our memories together.

I’ve been through a lot of challenges and I can say that I have the same attitude when I was younger. But everything changed, when my little brother came to our family. He was born on September 29, 2004 in Cotabato City, and we were excited because I’m going to be an older brother and have a little friend by my side forever. I looked up on him and welcomed him to this world, As years passed by, my brother got bigger and played to me as what normal siblings do. We played outdoor games such as hide and seek, freeze tag, capture the flag, kick the can, and marbles. We enjoyed every moment that we’d been through as a brothers.

As an older brother I have many responsibilities to do even I was a young child. I was given a task to look into my younger brother at all times and to do light house hold chores such as washing the plates and folding clothes. At first it was hard, but it got easy for me in a couple of weeks. These tasks made me a responsible son even though we have the tight schedule in school. But I noticed that it’s a bit useful after all and sometimes I got to sleep and forgot the tasks that I had to do in school. I found it funny because even all the pains and sleepless nights, that I did,  I even continued to do those responsibilities.  

Back to my younger self, when I was eight years old, I got enrolled in a private school in Taguig City, Saint Francis of Assisi College. At first, I was too nervous because the place was not familiar with me and the surrounding people were all strangers. I got afraid of what may happen to me especially that my parents were far away because they have work to do.

My first day in class were like a puzzle to me. I didn’t know what to do and I felt a little bit nervous. The first thing that I did was to sit on my chair and be quiet, but all of a sudden, I saw my friend Adrienne. I felt a bit of excitement and enjoyment. I called her right away and  sat beside me. I felt comfortable and felt happy because we were on a same school and grade level. During the first meeting of our class teacher on that day, our teacher told us to group ourselves that must be done after the class. I decided to work together with Adrienne. From that activity, I gained friends with my classmates, Joshua, Patrick, and Isabel. I couldn’t believe that in just one day. I met several people already and gained friends. Also, I felt blessed to see how grateful that I had the chances to meet other people when I am too shy to talk to them, to play and to eat our lunch together.  

When I got home, I immediately told to my parents how happy I was on my first day in school, and how I met new friends. My parents congratulated me for what happened and told me, that I must always put the best effort that I do in school activities. I gave a smile and I promise them that I would always do my very best in all the task that my teacher would give to me.

A couple of weeks later, our teacher in values instructed as to draw of what we wanted to become in the future and our decision for our family also. For one hour, we were given time to think and draw it in a piece of bond paper. I drew a man wearing white coat with injection. While I was sketching it, I imagined the things that I could do for my family when I become doctor in the future. And I came up with an idea that my family can have the life that they wanted to have. I’ll be able to buy their needs and treat them in an authentic restaurant. And I drew beside of my work a family and I was eating in a table full of happiness and nothing more.  

I passed it to my teacher, and he commended that my drawing was good. Eventually, he put a star on my wrist. That was the first time that I became happy because I was given a reward for my work. When I got home, I showed it to my parents and told them how I got it. And they kissed me with a hug and gave a smile. I felt literarily happy when I got a reward from school and told them to my parents and saw their smiles. I wished that moment would last forever in our family, the happy and full of smiles at our home.   

Years passed by, when I was on grade eight , I noticed that my friend, Adrienne, was studying in the school library and I took that chance to have a group study with her.  This sounded looked funny but when I sat beside her I felt more comfortable and more dedicated to work harder in our subjects. As I reached high school, my favorite subject was science. I thought that this subject was too easy for me that I got the highest remark on my report card which was 93% that is why I pursue to be a doctor someday.

But suddenly all my dreams to my family and myself in the future got into trouble or I might say it would not happen anymore. When I got home from my school, I noticed that my parents were fighting with each other. I felt sadness of what I saw on that day. My mother and my father were shouting with each other, good thing that my little brother was for an overnight activity in Tagaytay City, that he would not see our parents from having a bad day.

I asked my Father what was going on with them, but he didn’t answer along with my mother. That night, both of them were not talking to each other and I didn’t know what to do to make them feel better. But things got worse. The day after I saw my mother was walking away from our house and she said that they’re going to separate. I quickly embraced my mother and told her not to go away, but she didn’t listen to me. Later that day after the school class, of my brother he already knew what happened to our parents. And we both cried in our rooms and wished it’s all a dream and never happened but it was all true  

That tragedy that happened in our family affected my habits in life, especially in my school grades. My grades started to get lower from 90% to 81%. My father knew this would happen, that’s why both my parents never told us the truth because of what could it cost. Two years after a devastating, I buried all the memories of what happened to my family, and just focused to meet my desire job in the future even my dream for my family would never happen again  

During the moving up ceremony of our junior high school, I suddenly felt envious towards my classmates because all of my classmates have their both parents on that very important event in their lives. But for me, I only have one parent to celebrate because my mother couldn’t attend it.  

In my life, I can say that it is like a roller coaster ride, because at first, I felt the excitement for all my plans for my family and me. But after all the preparation sometimes destiny is against it. This scenario gives me a visual to a family that needs to have strong roots to grow.

NATURE WRITING

Endless War and Endless Death

By: Jules Mitchel Vincent S. Espero

When I was a young boy, I was looking at the woods near our camping trip in BLOC Camp Site in Cavinti, Laguna. With my friends in our scouting organization, it was sunny and windy in the morning, and after we had our breakfast, we decided to look for some branches to make fire for the night. With our way into the woods, I saw and observed two large ants, the red was big as my finger nails, and the black one was much smaller. I observed how the two ants fiercely contended with one another. Having once got hold that they never let go to their bites, they struggled and wrestled and rolled on the chips incessantly. I started to notice what they were fighting for. I was surprised to find out that the food came from our camp and a small grain of rice were the causes of this battle. I was fascinated, a war between two races of ants. The red ants were always pecky against the black. The black seemed to be much stronger that the red ones, and it took two red ants to take down a black ant.

At the time of this nature event that I witnessed, the two races of ants covered around two trees in the woods and the ground was already spread with some dead and dying ants, both the red and the black. It fascinated my expectation to see a battle, which was the first time I witnessed, the only battlefield I ever trod while the battle was raging. As I observed them on fighting for the food, I called my friend Jake to see it also. We named the Black knight for the black and Red knight to the other one. we named it to think it could be epic and to be more excited. On every side of the ants, we bet if who would win the battle and who would take the food.

The two races of ants were engaged in deadly combat, yet we couldn’t hear any noise of fighting between the two races. Even human soldier never fought so determinedly, even I watched couple of movies like fighting in a war zone. There was a red ant, called himself like a leader in his adversary’s front. And through all the tumbling’s on the field of war between the two races never for an instant ceased to crunch at one of his feelers near the root of the tree. Having already caused the other ants to go in the top of the tree. One of the black ants dashed the red ant from side to side as I saw looking at them nearer. As I took a closer look, most of the ants had already been did dead. They fought with more painful and courage than people in a sword fight with horses or people fighting with guns and cannons.

I never been fascinated before, neither of the two races of ants wanted to retreat and claimed as the loser in the fight, like I called it an evident of their battle or I say “Starve or Die”. Meanwhile, there came along a single red ant on the big tree who had another battalion of warrior ants that wanted to fight the deadly battle, and to win against the black ants.

The black ants made a march and charged the remaining warriors of the red ants to win the battle and get the food. But this time I decided to took up the chip and rice grain to end their war and to end the death in both races, as the food and rice grains had been taken way from the center of the battlefield. The two races of ants stopped at the moment from fighting and instead. They returned to their home tree and they also brought their wounded allies. I’ve been fascinated by their movements; it was like a real action cartoon movie that I saw.

From what I have been witnessed from the deadly fight between two races of ants I realized that, there are no sense of fighting or anybody, there is no winner or loser in a fight of war. That we need to act as one in order to maintain peace in our community where the future generation will benefit to it as well.

MEMOIR

Lights in every tunnel of life

By: Jules Mitchel Vincent S. Espero

I live in a shadow full of darkness and scared in every new situation that I can encounter. I might say that my life is like living in a cave full of darkness and no light to be seen.  I envy other children When I see other them participate in different contests. Like the talent competition, where they usually demonstrate his/her talent or skills in crowd to gain achievement and fame in life. Well, I can say that I am the opposite of them, maybe you are wondering why? It’s because I’m a type of child who feels anxious in my mind and when I interact with people. When I am not familiar or I don’t know, my body suddenly trembles especially when I face a crowd. I have stage fright, I guess.

In my whole life, I would like to stay in my comfort zone and always want to be alone and never participate in large gathering of people. I was wondering what aspects I do excel that I can be proud of, share with other people, and make my parent’s proud.

On the 21^st day of February, while I was walking in our school corridor, I saw an announcement about a talent competition that is open to all the students, which would be held in ten days. I was very excited to join that talent competition. I wanted to see myself to get out finally of my comfort zone. I was thinking by that time, to get out of that dark zone.

When I got home, I told my father and mother about the talent competition that the school offered, They replied, “Go ahead, if you like, we will be on that day” That night, I felt the support of my parents and the motivation that I needed to participate in that contest.

 On the 22^nd day of February that day was a little bit sunny and a perfect timing to start a new chapter. While I was passing along the corridor, I saw my classmates who were looking at the announcement about the school talent competition. They approached and asked me if I would want to join their team for the contest, and I didn’t disappoint them. I used this opportunity to get out in my comfort zone where I would mingle with other people. They asked me if I could play piano instrument, “Great let’s meet in the school waiting area for our songs to play in the contest”.

While I was walking towards our home, I felt the light in my life that the new chapter was waiting for me. My classmates and I agreed that the song that we would play was something that the crowd could relate to and we chose a love song entitled “Let Me Be the One” written by Jimmy Bondoc.

Every day, we practiced our song and I felt a new atmosphere that I saw lights blinking and moving in front of me. Those experiences of fun of getting a companion playing together, and laughing together. I realized the importance of friendship in life, sometimes friends are the ones who can help you in your problems or burdens in everyday challenges.

Everything was fine when we were in our practices. But when I was walking down our school stairs, my foot slipped down the stairs. I got minor wound in my index finger. After seeing the wound, I was already thinking that, I might not be able to practice our songs for the talent competition. My classmate saw me and helped me to go to the school clinic and the school nurse strictly said that it would take two days to heal. What the nurse said really bothered me because, we had two days left until the talent competition. I was really worried that we might be disqualified in the contest because of me. I was also scared that they might turn their backs on me because I disappointed them. My teammates visited me in the school clinic and they asked me if I were okay. And it turned out, they were much worried about me instead of the competition.  

Two days later, every student in our school was present. Everyone went to the gymnasium in the afternoon to participate and to witness the contest to be competed with six teams. Only one would be declared as the winner.  I ran to the gymnasium and I was happy to see my teammates were already at the backstage I could sense the nervousness in their faces. They thought that I was not be able to join them. Their faces glowed when they saw me that I was there with them playing the song.

 Win or lose it didn’t matter as long as we enjoyed the competition and we enjoyed with each other’s company. All teams that competed in the contest were very excellent and did their best. Before the host began announcing the winners, each team had felt very nervous they held their hands together praying to win the competition. Luckily and surprisingly, our team was held as the champion in our school competition. We were very happy that we won the talent competition for the first time and the crowd were shouting and cheering for us.

That day was the most memorable event that happened in my life. Not just I felt being the winner, but also it changed my life from being a too shy person to a talented person.  It transformed me into a person who enjoys life with light instead of being in dark place or in my comfort zone.

PERSONAL ESSAY

Amusement Park

Back when I was young like other children who wanted to play outside with their friends, go to amusement park or go to a mall with their family or friends, I have always been fascinated by all the rides in an amusement park. Back to feel the excitement to new experiences or moments together with their family, that moment when children got to played together in a game or simply by observing in beautiful parade.

One time in my life, I wondered who invented this sort of enjoyment for people. All of us are thrilled and fascinated when we hear someone says amusement park. There are lots of rides to choose from. A lot death – defying and a lot of fun filled amusement park rides where memories are created and treasured. One ride gave me chills yet fulfilling one is the roller coaster rides.  Even though it looked like terrifying machines that move fast, I felt that it might be fun to experience and. Because of the thrills that it gave me, this also gave me the courage to keep from trying again and again.

It was windy and cloudy in the afternoon in the amusement park, when we first began to try a ride, it brought an extra ordinary vibe that gave me goosebumps.  This ride is commonly seen in some fairytales, carousel. By looking at its structure, it reminded me the fun of riding my old horse that were bought by my father. That moment, I felt a little tickle in my heart because it was my first time, to ride on it. I thought that it was a fast-moving ride because it had a handle between the horses. But when it started, I couldn’t even feel the tickles that I felt before riding it. It was different from what I expected that I knew. It’s kind of fun at all because how it moved and the soothing sound as it went around and around. Like other passengers in the carousel, they also took pictures with their son or daughter who were younger than me.

After I tried the Carousel, I went look for another exciting ride. I noticed a big object that moved fast and all the passengers on it were screaming. I asked my father about that ride over there that looks like a spinning wheel. He replied with a smile, “It is a roller coaster ride”, and he asked me if I wanted to try it. At that moment, while we were waiting on the line, I observed how it moved, as the death — defying ride started. A lump in my throat pulsed like a dislodged that I wanted to walk away.  But I told to myself I could do it. When we were about to ride the roller coaster, my heart felt like it would separate it from me. It looked funny, but it was true. As the ride gained speed, I felt the gravity that built up against my body. It gave me the feeling of unable to move. The feeling of you are going to fall at any moment from it. I can feel the wind rushing into my face and I could also sense that in a few moments, I needed to throw up. After that ride all the passengers with me, looked pale, and some paled, while others were laughing and screaming, “One more time!”.

Each spin of the roller coaster gave me the courage and confidence to try another ride in the amusement park or to ride it again. Even though I am scared to its physical appearance and how it moved, every doubt in myself I made sure that I left it behind of its death-defying experience. Even it was funny to say that, I had survived that moment. 

My fascination with these two fantastic rides in the amusement park are deeply implied to myself and soul. Every second that I spent on it, through one of them I gained a new wonderful experience and these rides taught me how to conquer my fears. Just like in the real life, I fight to the new challenges to cope with other people just like I was riding the roller coaster ride in an amusement park. 

TRAVELOGUE

A walk on the pass  

By: Jules Mitchel Vincent S. Espero

Vigan City, for most of us invokes the images of picture-perfect historical houses, historical places, nice people, culture and especially their delicacies that can be proud of. It is perfect to visit the well know Filipino world heritages sites on it. Vigan is very quaint city that you can tell is more different from the other cities in the Philippines. Most of the old buildings have not yet renovated so the people from other country or other Filipinos can feel of walking through an old Spanish City. The local government seems to follow the lead of tourists such that tourism is now one of the province’s main source of economy.

There were five of us in the trip my parents, brother, and my grandfather. We decided to take Christmas and New Year vacation in Vigan and to have a quality together as well. With this trip, we will have a quality time together and we’ve planning this about two months before

It was clear and windy that morning, when we finished our breakfast, we went straight to the bus terminal. At terminal I’d seen many people who also would have a vacation trip with their family in their provinces. I adored the color of the bus which had a light blue color underneath, and we saw lot of buses that passed by the same direction to the terminal. I could see from their faces the smiles and the feeling of excitement to have vacation or to return from their provinces to celebrate Christmas and New Year with their loved ones. As the wheels stretched along the highways, we saw a lot of farm animals and migratory birds. It was satisfying because it was my first time to see some migratory birds. I saw a group of migratory birds, some were white and dense. They flew in the formation of a triangle and they also seemed to find a place to rest and seek food. Even at the present I see them flying in the rice field.

It was 4:00pm when we arrived to Vigan, it took 6 hours of travel I couldn’t remember anything I  feel asleep on the bus when we arrived at our destination. My brother was trying to talk to me while we were traveling. As soon as we arrived at Vigan City, one of the people in the place welcomed us and gave us some flowers, I was amazed by their culture and hospitality towards their guests and tourists. I could feel their warm welcome especially in one of the restaurants that we had eaten, Luzon Inn & Restaurant. We were amazed by their different delicacies that other tourists might also come again to taste them. We witnessed their creativity and design at their place, you would also can see the antics like the paintings on the walls. I was also amazed to see a kind of restaurant like having a lunch or dinner along with your family members in Spanish setting. You could feel the effects of Spanish colonization from their tables, bathroom, utensils and even the entrance. In addition, their crew or their staff members were so polite to their guest. They even offered a free for each member of their guests. Indeed, it was memorable moment in our first vacation in Vigan.

As we finished our lunch at Luzon Inn & Restaurant, we headed to one of our bucket lists in Vigan which was Padre Burgos House. It is a two-storey museum which was the ancestral home of Fr. Jose Burgos who was one of the three martyred priests died during the Spanish rule. In that place, we also learned that the Filipino priests collectively known as Gomburza, who wanted to be treated equally as their Spanish counterparts. This place is open from 9am to 4pm (Monday to Friday). Just like any museum the number one rule is not to touch all the items, because they were very old and they might get destroyed easily. People in Vigan treasure those items and artifacts because there were part of their history, cultures and identities.  

After the visit in Padre Burgos House, we decided to go into the Calle Crisologo, which is known for over 200 homes still preserved from the Spanish Colonial period. It was melancholic, we felt that we were in the Spanish times. All the finest houses were made up of stones and wood. The place highlights the several shops where you could buy Vigan’s best products such as basil wine, antiques, Vigan vinegar, woodcrafts and more. It struck me the most because of its rich history. The street known as Calle De Escolta de Vigan during the Spanish occupation. But when the American came, it became Washington Street and then was finally named Calle Crisologo to honor Vigan’s first provincial governor, Meña Crisologo.

After a long day of travel and seeing the historical places, we decided to book a hotel for us to stay in Escolta Homey Lodge Hotel. I was satisfied that even their hotels were designed in Spanish inspired from their rooms, dining area and hallway as if we’re like in the movie of Jose Rizal. Truly, Vigan is perfect for travelers who like to visit historical and educational trip as well to enjoy with your family members. We celebrated our Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Vigan by taking a tour of various cultural sites and visiting the unspoiled scenery there. 

Days passed by and after we visited the Vigan, I couldn’t help to see my own country to its years of beauty. With knowledge that everyone can learn and enjoy together with your friends or family. However, seeing the beauty of Vigan, we should keep it and nourishes every sight of it because it reminds how we Filipinos started and how it values our time as well.