The One Out of the Many

by Eulalia Naomi J. Espiritu

Here is a fact, at the time of writing, the Earth has 8,045,311,447 people living in it.
The population stayed at seven billion for eleven years, yet it isn't shocking; humanity's
number is growing exponentially. And with more people, the tighter the competition is for
scarce resources.

In every renowned institution, the race for slots is ruthless. Prospective applicants
have to wriggle and juggle rigorous tests. And it's the same for the BB Vicariates of St.
Raphael the Archangel. The seminary prioritizes premium education for young men
planning to dedicate their life to knowing more about God's work.

And as majestic as the seminary is, the more rigorous its entrance examinations are.
First, applicants underwent a test during the Third Vocations Fest. The successful
students will receive a message for an interview. And lastly, the still-standing applicants
will attend an orientation hosted in Tabaco City. What an exhausting procedure. Surely
only the toughest applicants can withstand that pressure.

Impressively, Bicol College hails one of the seminary passers. As a badminton

enthusiast, Renelle Renz M. Labrador didn't expect to pass out of all the aspiring
youths. Just as the bible verse, Matthew 22:14, he mentioned, says, "For many are
called, but few are chosen." It's exciting to the feeling that a person survives out of the
many.

Enlightenment starts with nourishing the souls with virtues, then the body and mind
follow. There are many paths for this, so why did Renz choose the seminary? "I want to
get closer to my dreams and understand the words of God," he said in a mini-interview.
Everyone has different perceptions and goals. But the commonality is that they have to
grind to win in the race for their dreams. It just so happens Renz chose this path.

As Lao Tzu said that knowing others is wisdom, and knowing oneself is
enlightenment. And through joining the seminary, Renz undergoes a path he loves and
in which he will get to know himself and the Creator at the same time. Kudos to you,
Renz, and good luck to future applicants!
 A Great Voyage Into the Clouds
by Eulalia Naomi J. Espiritu

Like cotton, clouds look very fluffy. They are so high that people crank their heads
upwards to gaze at their likeness. Some even dream of being surrounded by them.
More want to traverse into them. But instead of the clouds, fogs are closer to the
ground.

Feathery, white clouds are metaphors for stability and positivity. But fogs, on the
other hand, represent very tumultuous hurdles. Unfortunately, life surrounds people in
both, sometimes pure white, rarely abyssal black, and mostly a combination of the two.
And the road ahead for graduating students is a murky fog. Vague and enigmatic,
uncertain while thrilling, the future is unpredictable; the students can only shine a light in
the dark.

The strength and reach of that light depends on the students' steps. And one of them
starts with college. Prestigious universities are stepping stones and powerful torches for
students. One of these is the Sorsogon State University which aims to produce globally
competitive and values-oriented leaders and professionals.

But with prestige and credentials, getting into the university is not a walk in the park.
Yet Bicol College grade 12 students excel as [BLANK] passed the university's entrance
test.

"I'm just excited about this new academic or college journey that I'm now looking
forward to planning for the future," Jane Kimberly Sollestre, one of the passers who will
study Bachelor of Special Needs Education, said. Her insight and far-sightedness are
two elements that can fan the flames of a person's torch and let them see more into the
foggy future.

Planning for the future is like scouring through a wall in the dark first before
continuing to move forward. It will help make a relatively more secure road to success.
And enthusiasm and perseverance motivate those hands to explore and keep the light
shining amidst the eerie dark haze.

The fog is also a cloud. And people will trek in all kinds of clouds throughout their
lifetime. It's up to them how they will strengthen their light and build their paths. Salute
to all the passers, and may the people in the clouds find their clear sky!