RULES TO FOLLOWThe Grade Six pupils decided to make their room clean, orderly and beautiful. Here are some of the rules everyone needs to follow:Wipe your shoes on the doormat before entering the room.Put the wastepaper, fruit peelings and candy wrappers in the waste basket.Keep the walls, desks and tables free from pencil and chalk marks and scratches.Put the cleaning materials in a box.Arrange the furniture properly. Put away your pencils, books, notebooks after using them.Hang umbrellas and raincoats in one corner of a room.Keep books clean and well-covered. DAPHNEDaphne was a beautiful nymph. The son God, Apollo, fell in love with her but she rejected him. Once, Apollo saw her and pursued her. Daphne sought shelter behind a big tree. She was out of breath from running. Now, as she leaned on the tree, she looked back with frightened eyes. Was Apollo still running after her? She threw herself upon her knees and prayed to be saved from her pursuer. She rose with outstretched arms. Then her fingers fluttered gently, as if blown by a gentle breeze. Little by little she was changed from a beautiful nymph to a laurel tree. Slowly she broke into a smile. Now, she was safe. Apollo could not carry her away anymore.

HOW THE ROMANS COOKED THEIR FOODLong ago the Romans used to cook their food just as the way hunters today sometimes do. They dug out an oven in the ground, lined it with stones and made a fire in it. When the improvised oven was well heated, they raked out the ashes, put in the food and covered it. We learned it from excavations in the city of Pompeii. Pompeii was destroyed and buried during the eruption of a volcano hundreds of years ago. When the city was excavated, ovens with wood and ashes were found around the ruins. It is believed that just as the cooks were about to bake, the fiery volcano rained out ashes and boiling lava and burned down the city.FIRST NIGHT IN THE CITYIt was Lynns first night in the city. she woke up with a stun and then she remembered where she was. She had never spent the night in a city before. She lay still and listened. Cars and jeepers seemed to race like ants heading straight towards her. A new house was being built next to her aunts house and the cement mixer was roaring angrily. Downstairs, in the kitchen, she heard the cluttering of pans. Then, she heard the chime of the big clock. She turned over and asleep again.THE FACE IN THE POOLNarcissus was out of breath from running when he came to a clear pool. He stopped to drink. Just as he was about to sip the cool water, he saw a face in the pool. It was handsome and he was attracted to it. Who are you? he asked.Who are you? echoed someone. Why are you mocking me? asked Narcissus.Mocking me, said the voice.Narcissus was puzzled. He wanted to talk with the face in the pool but it would not answer. He tried to catch it but no to avail. At last, he lost hope and plunged into the pool hoping to see the owner of the face.CAMPINGPRene was tired from the days tramp. He rolled himself in his scout blanket and laid still. It was very quiet in the woods. Then he heard some queer noises. There was a flapping of wings. A night owl was on its way to hunt. Tiny raindrops started to fall on the leaves. The shower was over though, in a moment. The cicadas and other insects started their night songs which ended into a forest symphony. Those queer night sounds in the forest is a good lullaby, Rene thought as he drowsed off to a sound sleep.A WISE BUYERI have good news today, Mother, said Norma as she put down the big basket she was carrying.Whats your news, Norma? asked Mother.Look at my basket, said Norma excitedly. I bought many things today: meat, sugar, fish, vegetables and fruits. She, I still have a change left.But why? Asked Mother puzzled.HOW TO PREPARE TOMATO CATCHUPSelect some ripe tomatoes. Wash them thoroughly. Cut them crosswise into halves. Then separate the pulp from the seeds. cook the pulp in an enameled kettle, stirring it occasionally until the thin peelings separate and rolled up. Remove the pulp from the fire. Pass the pulp through a wire strainer and get the juice. Mix the juice with the pulp. Add some vinegar. Put onion juice, powdered cinnamon, pepper, cloves of garlic and spices in a small cloth bag and dip it into the mixture. Cook the mixture until it is thick. Take out the bag of spices. Bottle the cooked pulp and seal.BOOKSThose who cannot read are pitiful because they cannot enjoy books. Books tell us about the wonderful things in the world. They tell us the interesting things people do. Books can answer the whys and hows of things that puzzle us. They can take us faraway places through imagination. They can show us, too, the things happened a long time ago as well as those happening at present. Books tell us about the children in other lands. They hold the key to the greatest treasures in the world. A wise man once said that he would rather be a poor boy in a cellar surrounded with books than a prince who had no chance to read.THE DIVERA skillful diver can see clearly what lies underneath a vast body of water. He sees swaying seaweeds, acres of sea plants that have large, bright colored leaves. He finds countless giant crabs and lobsters. A diver also encounters sea snakes, sea horses, fierce sharks and other wild fishes. He takes delight in watching the different species of fish, splendid in their brilliant colors. To a diver, the life underworld is full of thrilling adventures.

THE BLIND GIRLA group of students were chatting and laughing excitedly near the sidewalk. They seemed to be talking at the same time when suddenly they became silent. They stared spellbound to a blind girl groping along the wall, and feel her way about. Though her eyes were open, they could tell that she could not see. In her right hand was a bunch of flowers which she smelled now and then. She continued walking till the end of the street. When she was out of sight the students gave a sigh of relief. Were they not lucky to have two eyes?

FEEDING TIME AT THE ZOOIt was time for the zookeeper to feed the animals. Judging from the noise, the beasts were hungry. The lions open their mouths and gave the people in the zoo a frightful sample of the howl of the king of beasts. The little monkey squeaked as they tumbled over each other to reach the cage bars. The monkeys shook the iron bars till they rattled, and parrots jumped up and down shrieking excitedly.

AN AIRPLANE RIDEThe strangest thing about my airplane ride was that I seemed not to be moving at all since the plane assumed a certain attitude. As I looked down, the earth below seemed like a wonderful map in lovely colors. Everything was a miniature. The houses, the trees, the buildings appeared like playthings. The vast rice fields were restful to the eyes to look at. The ocean was but a shallow stream of clear, blue water.Indeed, anybodys first plane ride is a pleasant experience.

PLANT PESTSIn addition to different kinds of plants diseases, there are great numbers of plant pests that can destroy or stop the growth of plants. Insects carry fungi and bacterial diseases from plant to plant. The potato beetle carries the potato rot. Some insects even eat plants. Certain grasshoppers and biting insects strip a plant of its leaves, thus killing the plant. The most destructive kinds of insects are the scale insects, mealy bugs, plant lice and leaf hoppers. They consume the sap of plant tissues thus causing the withering of the plant itself.

THE ATOMIC ENERGYWith the establishment of a Nuclear Center, we will engage in the production of radio isotopes for use in agriculture, industry and medicine. This is a landmark in our scientific progress as it opens up for our youth the field of nuclear science and ultimately harness the mightiest industrial power known to man. It will greatly help fight poverty. With the use of the atomic energy, we will have the power to run more industries.

THE DUTCHThe Dutch are the people from Holland. They are considered serious and hardworking. They are the cleanest people in the world. The Dutch are fond of eating, drinking and attending parties. Have you seen a picture of a Dutch girl? She wears big wooden shoes called klompers. Men wear baggy trousers while women wear flowing skirts, white apron and starched cloth caps. Dutch children are healthy for they drink plenty of milk and take big amounts of butter. Boys are trained to steer the boat and take charge of the windmill. Water sports are popular with the Dutch children.PLANT FOR LIFENestor looked happily at his rows of vegetable plants with their green, fresh and healthy leaves. There were rows of lettuce, tomatoes, eggplants and pechay. On one side of the yard were trellises of patola, squash and amorgoso. Nestor remembered that their backyard was once a dumping place of garbage, empty cans and trash. Then the government launched the Plant for Life project. With the help of his father, they cleaned the backyard and dug the stumps and roots of old trees. They cultivated the soil, got vegetable seeds from the Bureau of Plants and planted them in their backyard. Now all are ready for harvest. The vegetables are more than what they need so Nestor will take some to the market. That will be extra money for the family.THE RATThe rat belongs to the mouse family although it is larger than a mouse. It has also more scales on its tail than a mouse. There are rats of different sizes and colors. The brown Norway rat is the most destructive and powerful. Black rat can still be found and in cities with warm climate.Rats travel aboard ships and eat almost anything. If they are hungry they attach animals, even men. Rats breed rapidly, producing 20 to 50 offsprings a year. A rat can start breeding at six months old. Wild rats are special problem to man because they spread bubonic plague, rat fever and they destroy crops.

THE SCHOOL LUNCH COUNTERA school canteen or lunch counter is established in every school to improve childrens eating habits and preferences. Native, nutritious dishes such as goto, pancit and lumpia are prepared by a teacher with the help of some children. Sandwiches are sold for those who prefer a light merienda. A good lunch counter as milk as a regular item for sale. Teachers encourage their pupils to include milk in their daily food intake.The canteen is part of a school. It protects from sickness by discouraging them to buy from food peddlers and unsanitary, nearby stores.Pupils are asked to patronize the canteen for their own health. The low prices of food serve as an encouragement for the children to buy the from the school canteen.JOSE RIZALS MOTHERGods best gift to Jose Rizal was his mother, Dona Teodora Alonzo. Teodora was brought up by her mother in a home full of love and understanding. She was educated at Santa Rosa College. Her excellent education, her goodness of heart and her other virtues prepared her to be the mother of our national hero. To Jose Rizal, next to God, a mother means every- thing to a man. Dona Teodora was a devout Catholic. It was her teaching that made her son, Jose, love the Christian way of life. He was still a baby when his mother began teaching him the alphabet and the simple prayers as was the custom of the Filipino Family.Dona Teodora was fond of telling a stories of her little son, Jose. The word story meant something new and wonderful to Jose. He would sit down to listen, full of interest and wonder, when his mother called him for the regular story time. He loved the stories his mother told him. He remembered the moral lesson each story conveyed and made it a part of his education and training.TRAVEL MADE EASYHow was your trip, Wally? asked Grandma Wally kissed her hands.It was fine, Grandma, answered Wally, yawning while stretching his arms, and shaking his legs. I slept almost throughout the way.Why you lazy boy! exclaimed Grandma. Then you didnt see the beautiful scenery on the countryside.It was so nice riding on the bus, explained Wally. The roads now are very smooth, unlike the first time Father and I visited you after the flood. A week had passed after that visit, yet my body was still aching all over. We were like mashed fruits after our ride over those pot marked roads.It did not take long for the government to have all the damaged roads repaired, agreed Grandma. Thanks to our government, things are back to normal again.HOME FOR THE AGEDIt will not be long from now and Tandang Sela will not go begging anymore, Mel told his sister Shiela.Why did you say that? asked Shiela.Didnt you know? Mel asked. The government has decided to help the beggars, young and old.But how? asked Shiela, still puzzled.There are hundreds of beggars around.How can the government help them all?It is like this, explained Mel. The young ones will be placed in the care of their relatives if they have any. The others will be sent to the provinces where they came from. The children who do not have anybody to look after they will be placed in orphanages. The old ones who have will be housed in the Home for the Aged. They will be taken care of by the government.How nice, Sheila said. It is really a pity to see these beggars, especially the old ones.BEAUTYBeauty is seenIn the sunlightThe trees, the birdsCorn growing, people workingOr praying for a good harvest.

Beauty is heard all aroundWind sighing,Rain falling or a singing hummingAn old folk song.

Beauty is in yourselfGood deeds, happy thoughts reflectedIn your dreamsIn your work,During peaceful rest.THE ANIMALS WISHWe beg no fancy garbTo keep us cozily warmNor softer bed to restThough it should be less hard.

We wish not our libertyFor to serve is our fateWe live as servants foreverTo work early and late

To talk is a silly dreamFor us doomed mute to remainBut we hear, see and feelPlease to us be a bit kinder.

Be kind a little bit moreAnd be unkind ten times lessWe are poor dump creaturesAnd we have but few needs.

LUNETA AND MANILA BAYDo you know that Manila Bay is the finest harbor in the Philippines? It is also famous for its beautiful sunset. Tourists observe thatManila Bay has one of the most glowing sunsets in the world. Roxas Boulevard, formerly Dewey Boulevard, runs along the shores of Manila Bay. There are many beautiful buildings along the street, mostly hotels and restaurants. Luneta, a big park with fountains and ornamental plants, faces the bay. People can be seen strolling daily and enjoying the cool breeze from the bay. On Sundays, people go to the Luneta to listen to band concerts and to view performances at the open theater.

BEING ON TIMEArturo was the president of the Grade Six class organization. They agreed to celebrate Arbor Day with a program and mass planting of fruit trees.At what time will the program start? asked Miss Diaz, their teacher.It will start at 7:00 oclock in the morning, Miss Diaz. answered Arturo.Thats good, observed Miss Diaz. It will not be too hot for planting of trees. I only hope it will begin on schedule.Thats sure, Miss Diaz, Arturo said. It will be a new Filipino time concept.I admire you, Arturo, for saying Filipino time, which means on time, Said Miss Diaz laughing.It is really time for us to observed punctuality, explained Arturo. So instead of saying being on time is American time, we shall call it Filipino time

THE TRUE FILIPINOPresident Quezons counsel to the Filipino was: Make the Filipinos true citizens of the Philippines. They should be made aware of things connected with their country and people including their culture and civilizations.What did President Quezon want to convey to his countrymen? In his opinion, we deserved to be called a true Filipino if we have our countrys welfare at heart. Knowledge and appreciation of our countrys history, civilization and culture are to be required from each individual. Every citizen must be concerned with the progress of the nation, in making the country known to other parts of the world and in achieving peace for the land of his birth.OUR MALAYAN BROTHERSIn some ways we, Filipinos, are similar to our Malayan brothers. This is so because our ancestors include the Malays and the Indonesians. the Malays and the Filipinos are similar in height, in complexion and in looks. Philippines aborigines such as the Ifugaos, Subanuns and Tagbanuas live in much the same way as the Malaysians and Indonesians. The clothes, the houses, weapons and art of the Filipino Muslims are similar to those of the Malaysians and Indonesians.The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have the same industries and products. The languages used in the Philippines include many Malayan words. Like the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia were former territories of western countries. Like the Filipinos, the people of Malaysia and Indonesia struggled hard also for independence. The former MAPHILINDO composed of Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia was organized for mutual protection against belligerent countries.TWO PAINTERSWhen Jose Rizal and Juan Luna studying in Madrid, they live together in boarding house. They used to play jokes on one another.Juan Luna woke up early one morning and saw Rizal was still asleep. He hid one of Rizals slippers and drew exactly one like it on a card, board. When Jose woke up, he tried to put on his slippers but he found out that one was made out of cardboard. I know who painted this. It is nicely done, he said.One day, Juan Luna went out with his friends. Jose decided to draw the contents of Juans room on the closed door with the permission of their landlady. When Luna arrived, he went directly to his room. He bumped his head on the closed door. You are a good painter, Juan Luna told Rizal. THE FLOWER OF LOVEOnce there lived a chieftain who had a beautiful daughter named Liwayway. One day Liwayway went into the woods to gather fruits and flowers but unfortunately lost her way. She became unconscious when a wild beast ran after her. He was the son of another chieftain. When they parted, each one knew they were in love with each other.One day the young man was going away to fight the white men who had invaded their land. The lovers promised never to forget each other saying Sumpa kita. but the warrior never came back. In sorrow, the maiden killed herself. Sometime later, shrubs with fragrant flowers grew on her grave. People believed that Liwayways love grew and bloomed. It became a custom for young lovers taken of their faithful love. They whispered I promise (Sumpa kita) to each other. In time, the flowers became known as sampaguita. It is adopted as our national flower because of its fragrance and simplicity.FOOD AND DRINKS OF THE ANCIENT FILIPINOSRice was the staple food of the ancient Filipinos. They cooked it in pots and in bamboos. Our forefathers diet included also various species of fish caught in rivers and lakes; meat from carabaos, deer, hogs, chickens and edible birds; vegetables, tubers like sweet potato, spices like pepper and garlic; and fruits like bananas, oranges, guavas and mangoes.There were also many kinds of wine and drinks on the islands. The tuba which was taken from the coconut palms was the champagne of the early Filipinos. Among the popular wines were the Visayan pangasi, fermented from rice; the Visayan gauilang distilled from sugar cane and the igorot tapuy, taken from rice.Although the early Filipinos were heavy drinkers, they seldom lost their senses when drunk. They only became lively, talkative and witty when intoxicated. Even after a heavy drink, their hands never trembled and they could manage to weigh their gold correct!SUPERSTITIONSPlease tell us about some of our superstitious beliefs, Grandmother, pleaded Elvi as she saw the old woman sitting by the window.We will discuss them in the class tomorrow.Listen and I will tell you about mans three friends. These are three superstitious beliefs about animals, Grandma answered, putting down the shorts she was mending.Tell us about them, said Elvi excitedly.One of them is the rooster who is up before dawn and crows on the rooftops, said Grandmother. It is the biddings its master to get up and go forth to earn his living.The second one is the cat who announces the coming of visitor by washing its face so it may look presentable to its masters guests.And the third is the dog that can smell danger and death. It barks to warn its master of the presence of any stranger who might do him harm. When a dog howls with sorrow it is said that it smells death coming its masters way.TELL THE TRUTHDont be afraid, Little Johnny, my boy,Open the door and go in;The longer you wait before telling your faultThe harder it is to begin.

No wonder you stand with a pitiful faceAnd fear the confession to make;For you know when youre naughty the worst of it allIs making your mothers heart ache.

Have courage, dear boy, never mind if your shoes Are muddy and wet, and all that;Never mind if your clothes have been terribly tornAnd you have ruined your pretty new hat.

Go in like man, and tell Mother the truth Like a brave little lad, and youll seeHow happy a boy who confesses his fault,And is truthful and honest as can be.

THE LEGEND OF LAKE BUHIGrandmother was relating the story of Lake Buhi to her grandchildren. According to her, Buhi was a town at bottom of the lake.Once upon a time the people of this enchanted town lived in abundance. But as the people became wealthy they forgot all the about God and so God punished them. Their town sank beneath the earth overnight and in its place there rose a beautiful lake.When the weather was warm and clear as a mirror, it is said that one can look down into the bottom of the lake. The people can be seen doing their everyday tasks. Some are cultivating their lands, others are building houses and smoke can be seen coming from the kitchen as woman cook the family meals.It is also said that the tiniest fish in the world, found in Lake Buhi, are trimmings of abaca fiber as the people in the Lake continue to make hats out of abaca for which the town was once famous.

DAY OF FREEDOMFor more than three hundred years, Spain ruled our land. The Spanish flag flew in our and to show that the Philippines was Spains territory. Then, the Americans came. They freed us from Spanish rule. For fifty years we were governed by the Americans. Our flag was allowed to fly side by side with the American flag. We were permitted to establish our own government but under the control and supervision of the Americans.In 1941, the Japanese invaded the Philippines. Under the Japanese, we suffered three years of hunger, fear and misery. With the help of the Americans, our country was freed from the Japanese invaders.Once more, peace came to our country. The fourth of July, now known as the Fil-American Friendship Day, marked the completion of Philippine Independence from foreign rule. It was on the fourth of July that we were granted total freedom.

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMANAn American soldier called Gregorio del Pilar was an officer and a gentleman. Del Pilar was the youngest general of the Philippine revolution. When the revolution broke out he was only seventeen. He was brave and gallant soldier. He was only twenty four years old when he died fighting at Tirad Pass. Gregorio del Pilar was born in Bulacan, Bulacan. He was a nephew of Marcelo H. del Pilar. He became the favorite of General Emilio Aguinaldo who took the very young soldier with him wherever he went. When the fighting between the Americans and the Filipinos became intense, General Emilio Aguinaldo had to retreat to the mountains. General del Pilar and his sixty men stood at Tirad Pass to cover the retreat. The narrow pass was in Palanan, Isabela. Three hundred American soldiers fought against del Pilars sixty men. But del Pilar and his men fought bravely until a bullet stuck him dead.

ABELENS, A NEW MOUNTAIN TRIBEThe Abelens are small people, almost of pygmy size. The average height of a grown up girls four feet and a young man about four feet and eight inches. They are entirely different from the Negritoes among whom they have lived for a thousands of years. Abelens have long straight hair, not curly like that of the Negritoes. Their complexion is light brown much lighter than the dark distinct red tint on their hair. Their eyes are brown. Their features are fine. They are quite a savage people. they used to make drinking cups from skulls of their enemies. Although they know the Negrito language, the Abelens have a language of their own.

THE HOMING PIGEONSDuring the first World War, both the army and the navy felt a great need for some way to send messages back to their headquarters. Sometimes a tornadoed ship needed to send wireless message to land. Men in a sinking ship were lost unless a passing ship chanced upon them. Batallions sent out on scouting trips were sometimes gunned down by enemies. A soldier sent with a message for help was oftentimes caught. Even messengers in airplanes were not safe. The enemy usually shot the planes and kept the messengers as prisoners. So, pigeons were trained as messengers. They have strong love for their homes. Most of the birds move from one home to another but the pigeons have one home to which they always return. Pigeons even when taken away far from home, always fly swiftly back to their habitations.THE LOBSTER AND THE CRABOne day Lobster and Crab met.I have ten claws, boasted Crab. I am the great Crab which the land people like best to eat. We, crabs are covered with head shield.We are knight belonging to the Order of the Crustacea, cried lobster.What does that mean? asked Crab.Crustacea means covered with a crust or shell, explained Lobster.It is the same with us said Crab. Our claws and bodies are made of rings of shell joined together by sockets. We use our claws for walking and for tearing our food.Land people like to eat us, said Lobster. When we are cooked, we turn into a bright red color but in the water, we are green.A LETTER OF INVITATION

26 del Pilar StreetSampaloc, Manila March 15, 2004Dear Nina,My parents are going to give a party on the evening of my graduation, March 29. It will be held in our house on del Pilar Street. Please come and bring along your brother, Milo, and your sister, Ester. My father has prepared some very exciting parlor games which I am sure you and your sister and brother will enjoy. There will be also a program prepared by my elder sister, Nora. The party starts at six oclock. You can go home at nine so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the party. We are hoping to see you all.

Your friend, Gina