Issue No.

1 The Inaugural Issue Summer 2014

1
Frbel Stories
An essay and literary journal to showcase student writings.
Summer Writing Class
Issue No. 1 The Inaugural Issue Summer 2014
The Bookworms Guide
by Katarina Ruo, Grade 6
Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children is a debut
novel by American author Ransom Riggs. It is about a boy called
Jacob who, following the death of grandfather, follows clues that
lead him to an abandoned orphanage on a Welsh island. The books
cover is really eye"catching, because its a black and white photo of
a little girl, if you look closely, you can see that see is actually
oating. The books interior is equally interesting, black and white
photos are scattered all over the book, and the black pages give the
book a creepy e#ect. This book does not disappoint, and is
undoubtedly one of the best young"adults literature I have ever
read. I also hear it is being made into a lm to be directed by Tim
Burton, so the time to read it is now!


2
This book does not disappoint,
and is one of the best young-
adults literature I have read.
Top L-R: Our signed copy in the library, JB Tan (Gr6) also got
his books signed, Ransom Riggs at Ayala Mall. Right: Huge
crowd at the book signing event sponsored by National
Bookstore. Three best-selling authors in one place! The other
two were Veronica Rossi and Tahereh Ma (actually Ransom
Riggs wife).
Issue No. 1 The Inaugural Issue Summer 2014

My First Day at Frbel iSchool
By: Dawn Raine Dy, Grade 6
In the year of 2013, it was my rst day in Frbel iSchool. It wasnt
really a shock. Since I was here last April. It was Summer School
for me. It was a struggle, since I didnt really know anything from
the lessons! I barely knew it, since they gave the test right a way. In
fact, I didnt even know it was 2 years advanced! But, I understood
the lessons right after, my teacher, Teacher Cha, tought
First of all, the people in Frobel have nice, fun and great to be with
people, compared to the previous school that I was in. These
people are original and not acting like somebody else. And I
accepted of who they are. Second, the teachers are great, fun and
have sense of humor that makes the class lively. Lastly, its
obviously better than my previous school. It may be a little hard
but it made me smarter. Thats what makes Frobel, DIFFERENT.
Secondly, Frobel School is 2 years advanced. First, its more harder
since the lesson is like for high school already. But in the other
hand, its a lot better since you can learn better and your
knowledge grows higher. And that is a really good thing.
Lastly, I discovered/learned new things in Frobel. Like in camping.
I discovered new friends from the 4th Graders and also from the
3rd Graders. Also from eld trips. I discovered histories from the
historical places in the Philippines.
Frbel iSchool is named after Friedrich Wilhelm August Frbel.
Todays Frobel is now into technology and brought lessons to the
next level! Frobel is where childrens knowledge and growth guided.



3
Issue No. 1 The Inaugural Issue Summer 2014
Jump Start Your 6 " Strings
Ma. Leoni"e Therese D. Silfavan, Gr6
The guitar is easy to play and learn. It's also very handy and light.
You could bring it anywhere you go. It also doesn't really need
electricity to play it. Playing the guitar is a lot of fun, though at
rst playing the chords may seem a little intimidating. Successfully
learning how to play the guitar is in the grasp of most people $pun
intended%.
The Guitar
The guitar is one of those easy " to " play instruments. It's not only
easy to play its also easy to learn. However, learning how to play
the guitar needs real patience. You can't just learn it in one sitting,
it needs real practice. Don't worry about not getting it correctly at
once, it will sink in sooner or later.
Before you start learning how to play the guitar, you rst have to
learn the parts of the guitar. Learn the names and the functions of
each part. Learn how sound is emitted by the parts. Learn how
tension a#ects the strings of the guitar. Spending at least half an
hours on this basic understanding will help you learn how to play
the guitar faster than normal.
Chords
After learning the parts of the guitar, let's move on to the "guitar
chords." Chords are 3 or more notes that are put together and
creates a harmonious sound.
But before that, you have to know the names or the numberings
of your ngers. So face your right palm towards your face, your
pinky nger sould be at the left side. So your pinky nger is nger
#4. Your ring nger is your nger #3. Your middle nger is your
nger #2. Your pointer nger is your nger #1. Lastly, your thumb
nger is your T nger. It's the only nger that isn't really used in
most chords.
Let's start with the 5 basic chords which are mostly being used in
songs. These chords are A, C, D, E, and G. It might be hard placing
your ngers properly at rst but once you have mastered placing
the chords properly, it's a piece of cake.
4
Learning to play the guitar is as
easy as 1-2-3-4-5-6!
Issue No. 1 The Inaugural Issue Summer 2014
Once you have mastered the basic chords, you can now move on to
minor and major chords. Each chord has another version or set of
notes but a bit di#erent from the root chord. $ example: Am, Cm,
Dm, Em, and Gm %
There are also other chords that one or more ngers are used to
press multiple stings across the guitar ngerboard or what is
mostly called as fret board, enabling the guitarist to play a chord
not restricted by the tones of the guitar's open strings. These
chords are called barre chords or mostly known as bar chords.
Now, you might not get these chords as fast as the ones from the
basic chords but believe me, once you've learned it, it's nothing at
all.
Did you know that songs could be played in the guitar using only 2
chords!
Strumming Your Strings
Strumming has downstrokes and upstrokes in various
combinations, striking all notes evenly and rhythmically.
Strumming while playing at least 3 or more chords in a pattern will
help you adjust the way you hold your chords properly. Once you
get used to strumming while playing chords, it would be easier for
you to learn a new strumming pattern from tutorials or if you have
a listening ear you can immediately catch the right strumming
pattern for the song without even looking at tutorials from sites.
One more thing about playing a random strumming pattern is that
unconsciously you are already making your own composition that
someday it might become a song and win an Oscars Award.
Sticking With Your Fingers
Though some beginners may blame their lack of time in practice
and that playing makes their ngers hurt, that pain will only last
for a few weeks and then it just goes away. You could only
experience that pain in your ngers when you've just started
playing.
There will be a time when everything feels bleak. That when you
try to grasp some chords it would feel like it's about to cut your
ngers o#, that you just want to put it back to its case. That is one
reason why guitarists stops playing the guitar for a few weeks. The
5
Issue No. 1 The Inaugural Issue Summer 2014
more you force it, the worse it gets, it might even bleed
sometimes, but that is normal, though don't abuse it. The wound
might get infected by something that will prevent you from playing
the guitar. As time passes by, your beautiful ngers would grow
callouses that would greatly reduce the pain.
Learn from Others
One of the fastest way to learn how to play the guitar is by learning
from other guitarists. Listening, watching, and mimicking others
techniques is the best way to learn how to play the guitar. Each
guitarist might have di#erent techniques when it comes to playing
the guitar but they have only one goal, and that is to play the
guitar.
I hope you would also be like the famous people who loves playing
the guitar. Most of them knows how to play it since it's easy to
learn and play and the melody is fantastic. That's why people try
their best to learn how to play the guitar.
To every guitarist, the guitar is not a thing, it's an extension of
themselves.



6
Issue No. 1 The Inaugural Issue Summer 2014

Proud Brother To a Triathlete
Iigo Gonzalez, Gr6
Now a days people are into sports like running, swimming and
biking to stay t and to live a healthy lifestyle. Triathlon is the one
sport thats becoming a fast"rising sport.
Triathlon is a multiple"stage competition involving the completion
of three continuous and sequential endurance disciplines. While
many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular
form, involves swimming, cycling and running in immediate
succession over various distances. A person join in a triathlon race
is called a triathlete. Its not easy being a triathlete, though. I
would feel like Im watching triathlon because being athletic is in
my heart, even my older sister. This is how she told me about her
life as a triathlete.
Cianyl Jamae P. Gonzalez trains on a daily $2 disciplines% basis. She
was trained by her father and some of her friends. Being a
triathlete is more challenging because she has to wake up early to
start training. She works out every day in preparation for her
upcoming events.
I nd her amazing and heres a glimpse of her being a triathlete.
Me: How does winning feel like?
CJ : I feel happy every time i get a podium nish because it boosts my
condence level. It feels wonderful to ful" my goal at the same time.
Why is being a triathlete very important to you?
Its very important to me because its fun and keeps me t. I get to travel and
meet new #iends.
What is the key of winning the race?
I go for the ki" in the swim leg or go a" out. If I have the lead, I maintain
the pace in the bike leg. Then, go as hard as I can in the run leg.

7
Issue No. 1 The Inaugural Issue Summer 2014
Why did you pick the sport that you want to play?
I didnt pick it, the sport picked me... just kidding. Before being a triathlete,
I have been part of my schools swimming team for 9 years. During my
third year in co"age, my dad brought me to a half Ironman event and seeing
those who crossed the nish line made me decide I wanted to be like them
and since I am a swimmer, I bike on weekends and occassiona"y go for a run
on the track, I dont have a zero idea about the sport.
What do you have for any advice for others who want to go into
the sport?
Prepare your pockets because you have to spend a lot for each discipline.
Like for swimming, you have to have the swimming caps, go$les, suits
which would not cost below Php400. For biking, you have to keep on tuning
it up for maintenance, upgrade some parts, make the bike lighter. And for
the run, you have to buy shoes. And a" must be in great quality for you to
have a quality training which in turn would lead you to a quality race.
And you have to dedicate more time on training than being at parties.
Haha!
8