HAVE you ever had friends that stick beside you no matter what or friends that offer their time to you no matter what? I do. One of them has a talent of making people listen to her. But she doesn't use it against people. She uses it to defend them, and that's what I call a good friend.

I have a friend who has a talent of making people laugh. But she doesn't make fun of others. In fact, she makes everyone smile and laugh. Now that's what I call a nice and fun friend.

I also have a friend who's talented at everything and a great leader. But she never pushes people around. She helps other people with their problems. Now that's what I call a generous friend. And finally, I have a friend who's always there to cheer me up when I'm down. And that's what I call sisterly friend. So, those are my very best friends. They're very different from one another, but to me, they're just one thing: best friends.--JACQUELINE TANLIAO, Immaculate Conception Academy, Greenhills

When will the war in Mindanao stop?

"TURN it to the news channel," lolo says hurriedly. I did. The news was all about the war in Mindanao. They showed the kids who were wounded and hurt because of the bullets or shrapnel that hit them. When you see them, your heart becomes soft and you really want to go there and help them, but that's impossible. Why would we go there if there's a war? We might be affected.

"Lolo, what can we do to help the people in Mindanao?" I asked.

"Well, we can't go there to help them but we can give donations like food and clothes," lolo answered.