The Art of Depression

I Try to Remember

Everybody Doesn’t Have To Love Me
Not everybody has to love me or even like me. I don’t necessarily like everybody I know, so why should everybody else like me? I enjoy being liked and being loved, but if somebody doesn’t like me, I will still be okay and still feel I am an okay person. I cannot make somebody like me, anymore than someone can get me to like them. I don’t need approval all the time. If someone does not approve of me, I will still be okay.

It is Okay to Make Mistakes
Making mistakes is something we all do, and I am still fine and worthwhile person when I make them. There is no reason for me to get upset when I make a mistake. I am trying, and if I make a mistake, I am going to continue trying. I can handle making a mistake. It is okay for others to make mistakes, too. I will accept mistakes that others make.

Other People are Okay and I am Okay
People who do things I don’t like are not necessarily be punished just because I don’t like what they do or did. There is no reason why other people should be the way I should be the way somebody else wants me to be. People will be whatever they want to be, and I will be whatever I want to be. I can not control other people or can change them. They are who they are; we all deserve basic respect.

I Don’t Have to Control Things
I will survive if things are different that what I want them to be. I can accept things the way they are, accept people the way they are, and accept myself the way I am. There is no reason to get upset if I can’t change things to fit my idea of how they ought to be. There is no reason why I should have to like everything. Even if I don’t like it, I can live with it.

I Am Responsible of My Day
I am responsible for how I feel and what to do. Nobody can make me feel anything. If I have a rotten day, I am the one who allowed it to be that way. If I have great day, I am the one who deserves credit for being positive. It is not the responsibility of other people to change so that I can feel better. I am that one who is in charge of my life. I am the one making my own life.


I Can Handle it When Things Go Wrong
I don’t need to watch out for things to go wrong, things usually go just fine, and when they don’t, I can handle it. I don’t have to waste my energy worrying. The sky won’t fall in; things will be okay.

It is Important to Try
I can. Even though I may face with difficult tasks, it is better to try than to avoid them. Avoiding a task does not give any opportunities for success or joy, but trying does. Things worth having are worth the effort. I might not be able to do everything, but I can do something.

I am capable
I don’t need someone else to take care of my problems. I am capable. I can take care of myself. I can make decisions for myself. I can think for myself. I don’t have to depend on somebody else to take care of me.

I Can Change
I don’t have to be a certain way because of what happened in the past. Every day is a new day. It’s silly to think I can’t help being the way I am. Of course I can. I can change.

Other People are Capable
I can’t solve other people’s problems for them. I don’t have to take on other peoples problems as if they were my own. I don’t need to change other people to fix up their lives. They are capable and can take care of themselves, and can solve their own problems. I can care and be of some help, but I can’t do everything for them.

I Can be Flexible
There is more than one way to do something. More than one person has had good ideas that will work. There is no one and only “best” way. Everybody has ideas that are worthwhile, and everyone has something worthwhile to contribute.

I Am Strong

SAVE ME

PALAWAN - Mr. Richard Catedral, President of the Student Government and Mr. Andres Ortega, Jr. represented WVCST in the 2nd Kampo Kalikasan, a four-day youth leaders environmental and ecological camp cum community immersion held at Sabang, Puerto Princesa last May 20-24, 2005.

Student Trustees and Regents and other active environmental youth organizations are the main target of SAVE ME Movement in this convention. It seeks to educate the participants on environmental issues and create a consensus among the young leaders as to their position on the environmental and ecological problems and the attendant effects with the end of crystallizing collective responses and motivating the participants to adopt or integrate environmental and ecological programs in their general program of actions. Furthermore, it seeks to identify the prospective role of institutions i.e. policy formulation, program planning, design and implementation, linkages and extension to address the problem concerning environmental degradation and ecological imbalance.

This program is conducted by the Students’ Actions Vital to the Environment and Mother Earth Movement (SAVE ME Movement) headed by Mr. Edwin Chinel Monares, program director of the Kampo, through its Leadership Institute and Institute for Entrepreneurship Development in partnership with the National Youth Commission, the secreatariat of the Green Brigade Program and the Sangguniang Kabataan the Department of Interior and Local Government and the host local government units, the Comission on Higher Education, and the Department of Agriculture.

All participants were given a chance to feel and see the paradise of the untouched nooks of Palawan. On the first day of the camp, all the student participants stayed at the Puerto Princesa National High School open ground in their tents together with the working committee, while the advisers where invited to dine and lodge at Rancho Sta. Monica – the antique cone-shaped resthouse made of the biggest tree in Palawan, the sequoia, and was owned by the late Speaker Mitra.

From Palawan National High School, all participants were also given the chance to visit the rest house on the second day and went off to the Crocodile Farm, Iwahig Penal Colony where they talked with felons and listen to their stories that gives them the deep value of freedom, and in Vietnam Village on where a community of refugees native of Vietnam was. These can only be seen in Puerto Princesa.

It took another 3 -4 hours to reach the final destination were the campwas situated– nearing the far north of Palawans’ Sabang were a starting trail leads to one of the wonders of the world, the Underground River. On that same day, the opening of the camp was held with a unique ceremony with a camp fire in an elevated shore surrounded by sea water. Commissioning and committee meetings were held before the day ends.

The third day was a bounty of fresh seafood on the table, and while having breakfast the participants were oriented regarding precautions and things to be remembered in the trail going to the Underground River. The rules were: no lotions, no shampoo, no perfumes and colognes – not to let the insects and mosquitoes bite since they are sensitive to smell; wear the most comfortable attire preferably shorts and cotton shirts, enough water, food must be inside the bag and cameras must be secured – or else the wild monkeys might get it off you. It took three mountains and two hanging bridges before reaching the spectacular Underground River. Tamed monitor lizards are everywhere - under the hut, under your feet, and sometimes grabbing your foods. The participants entered the cave through a boat, and through the tourist guide they were entertained by the different stories (of statues) of the formation of preserved stalactite and stalagmites inside the big dome of the river under a mountain.

For security reasons, every participant has a corresponding marine guard anywhere they go. All participants went back to the campsite through a boat passing the open sea. The third night was followed by a video presentation from the DENR then an open forum. There was also a night swimming after dinner.

The final day was packed with lectures, workshops, and contests. Each commission is required to have a concept paper on environmental engagement, an entry in essay writing, poster making, slogan writing, and oratorical contest. The advisers are having their own session on where Mr. Andres Ortega, Jr. was elected as Vice-President for Visayas of Philippine Youth Alliance for Sustainable Development. And before the night is over, the camp has its exit ceremony on the same venue where the campfire was put off.

The first Kampo Kalikasan was held in the historic island of Limasawa that gathered youth leaders of SK, Student Councils, and other youth organizations. It is just in Kampo Kalikasan where student leaders has the chance to sharpen their saw, deepen their advocacy, and enlarge their universe of friendship by learning to paddle their way to a sustained life in harmony with nature at its best.