RULES TO FOLLOW

The 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,
notebooks after using them.

books,

Hang umbrellas and raincoats in

one corner of a room.
Keep books
covered.

clean

and

well-

DAPHNE
Daphne 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 FOOD

Long 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 CITY

It 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 POOL
Narcissus 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
someone.

you?

echoed

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.

CAMPINGP
Rene 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 BUYER

I 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?
Mother puzzled.

Asked

HOW TO PREPARE TOMATO

CATCHUP
Select 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.

BOOKS
Those 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 DIVER
A 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 GIRL

A 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 ZOO

It 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 RIDE
The 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 PESTS

In 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 ENERGY

With 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 DUTCH
The 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 LIFE

Nestor 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 RAT
The 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 COUNTER

A 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 MOTHER
Gods 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 EASY

How 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 AGED

It will not be long from now and
Tandang Sela will not go begging
anymore, Mel told his sister Shiela.
Why
Shiela.

did

you

say

that?

asked

Didnt you know? Mel asked. The

government has decided to help the
beggars, young and old.
But
puzzled.
There
around.

how?
are

asked

hundreds

Shiela,
of

still

beggars

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.

BEAUTY
Beauty is seen
In the sunlight
The trees, the birds
Corn growing, people working
Or praying for a good harvest.

Beauty is heard all around

Wind sighing,
Rain falling or a singing
humming
An old folk song.
Beauty is in yourself
Good deeds, happy thoughts
reflected
In your dreams
In your work,
During peaceful rest.

THE ANIMALS WISH

We beg no fancy garb
To keep us cozily warm
Nor softer bed to rest
Though it should be less hard.
We wish not our liberty

For to serve is our fate

We live as servants forever
To work early and late
To talk is a silly dream
For us doomed mute to remain
But we hear, see and feel
Please to us be a bit kinder.
Be kind a little bit more
And be unkind ten times less
We are poor dump creatures
And we have but few needs.

LUNETA AND MANILA BAY

Do you know that Manila Bay
is the finest harbor in the
Philippines? It is also famous
for its beautiful sunset. Tourists
observe that

Manila 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 TIME
Arturo 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 FILIPINO

President 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 BROTHERS

In 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 PAINTERS
When 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 LOVE

Once 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 FILIPINOS
Rice 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!

SUPERSTITIONS

Please 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 TRUTH

Dont be afraid, Little Johnny, my boy,
Open the door and go in;
The longer you wait before telling your
fault
The harder it is to begin.
No wonder you stand with a pitiful face
And fear the confession to make;
For you know when youre naughty the
worst of it all
Is 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 torn
And you have ruined your pretty new
hat.

Go in like man, and tell Mother the

truth
Like a brave little lad, and youll see
How happy a boy who confesses his
fault,
And is truthful and honest as can be.

THE LEGEND OF LAKE BUHI

Grandmother 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 FREEDOM
For 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 GENTLEMAN

An 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
TRIBE
The 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 PIGEONS

During 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 CRAB

One
met.

day

Lobster

and

Crab

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 Street
Sampaloc, Manila
March 15, 2004
Dear 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