Truly, we cannot face squarely to either sun or death. We cannot complete our being humans if we don't experience sufferings and death. All these things we supposed to think as threats are just part of what we called 'all-it-takes-to-be-the-best-concept'.
Thus, all things have purpose. Though, we are not aware at this time but these things will surely have an impact to us possitively if we look at them as significant vestiges of light.
We are with the existing world - into it and for it.
Ergo, our existence is for the others - comprised the whole as greatness.
On thinking for oneself enables us to think for our fellows and for our environment.
Now, act as one then move.
Be the enzyme!
***********************
God bless us all tomorrow Ü
As long as we will do our best, He will do the rest - the best thing we significantly deserve.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Advocating Green's Existence through People
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
LYNCEAN [NEWSLETTER COLUMN]
Behavioral Approach
It was an unusual dilemma chases me every now and then. It’s because of some reactions about my column in our first issue which confused my mind as to how will I write in a journalistic way. I knew the issue, even though they didn’t tell me directly. I’m neither numb nor deaf because I can psych and interpret some behaviors – and remember I’m enlisted in the fourth estate of society.
Few issues emerged out of nowhere; or perhaps, out of human interpretations which they perceived solely from my satirical column – to think logically. Or, I would say, there are certain complexes (Jungian Concept: a core or pattern of emotions, memories, perceptions and wishes organized around a common theme – such as power, status or more likely ‘threats’) inside their brain that triggered, preoccupied and directed their thoughts and behavior in various ways, thus it determined how ‘such’ perceive the world – my column – consciously and unconsciously.
Yes, it is very not untrue that ‘public journal is a public trust’ that our main purpose is to serve the readers. But, who are those readers? Here, in our university, the students are our market. They say that, in order to justify our being journalists, we should write for the average readers. We should level our writings to the general audience. We should rather express and not to impress. It only shows literary pretensions.
However, with regards to my column, I did not deliberately write to impress people but I intended to write in that way because of our ethical responsibilities – it’s just like a trial balloon of expression – that I was just careful when it comes to presenting my ideas. It’s a valid proposition as I deem.
I admit that the tone of the first two paragraph of my column was like an angry child scolding his playmates but the latter flowed in a logical manner.
The only reason why I’ve written in that way is because I couldn’t say it directly for I am liable to cause people in degradation and to lose my profession. I know some of the laws and ignorance will not put me at stake.
Hence, I remembered the person who told us about what we will write in our publications, particularly, The Bastion. He said that we should only write good things about our university and never degrade it. Oh, come on! Who is he to dictate us? Who is he to dismantle the conventional way of our profession? We are here to lay every side of the story for them to realize and take necessary actions and not to be like marionettes stringed in his fingertips. As said by some, we are an independent existing organization inside this institution and from that point we should not entertain things which can cause biases and one-sidedness.
After that event, someone followed like a parrot saying ‘verbs, adjectives, adverbs and nouns’ to cling to him. Just to cling? Or, it is a matter of looking good in his bulgy eyes? Think about it folks.
Yet, apparently, it’s contradicting to the concept of equilibrium among us journalists, for we should write in both sides of the issue; to inform and entertain the readers with critical mind. By then, they can have their own judgment as to which is fiction and non-fiction.
As writers and watchdogs, it is indeed a blessing that we have the ability to write. It’s not about our writings at all; it’s all about our intention to influence and wake up people in the dungeons of deafness and numbness; it’s all about realizing what we have written that can eradicate false beliefs and system; it’s all about emanating new paradigms that can emancipate the overused and wrong models; and it’s all about the appreciation of some people using their critical mind and open heart to make a move.
To my fellow writers and youths, this is our role – to be like an enzyme – the impetus to make changes for the common good.
“…at magsusulat ako kahit hindi ninyo ako maintindihan, o magsusulat ako hanggan hindi ninyo ako naiintindihan,” Virgilio S. Almarios; Panitikang Walang Lipunan (Agos).
***
Changes coincide with sacrifice. There will be no change if there is no sacrifice. There will be no sacrifice if there is none to sacrifice. There will be none to sacrifice if there is no unity. That is a sociological view of change.
We are living with our own family, our community, our society and our country. Thus, we have our own cultural traits, cultural patterns, traditions, beliefs, laws, mores and values. We are living in adherence to the changing culture and tradition. It’s a natural phenomenon for us people to adhere and compete for survival. However, if some will not, they will become the deviant of the society.
Same story with our institution, it started being arts, trades, fishery and agricultural school in 1910, and now almost a century ago and everything changed.
UP had celebrated its centennial milestone last year, according to some; they were very much prepared five years before the celebrations. And the day came for the celebrations; it’s an exhilarating and all-out event that justified their being a century old yet globally competitive institution especially when it comes to giving quality education to its clientele.
But I would like to ask, how about us? Can we feel on becoming a hundred-year-old institution? Can we feel the preparations? Or I would rather say, are we all informed that we will celebrate our centennial on February 12, 2010? I certainly doubt it; from that point can we be called a genuine university?
While some are still attached a century ago, we can now call this as deviancy; we are left behind – just like our country.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Intercampus Cultural and Literary Festival...wah!
Kaasar!
Bakit ba kasi napunta ako sa Dagliang Taalumpati.hahaha
anyway, matalo man ako, pupunta naman ako ng PALAWAN.wahaha..
and besides, masaya dahil may wayyyyyyyyyyyyyfaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy ang armchew.hek
libre ang net.bongga!
Oh xa!tsktsk!
Friday, January 23, 2009
TSOKOLATE*
“Ang sarap talaga ng chocolate na ‘to ‘no! Ito talaga ang ‘the best chocolate’ na natikman ko in my entire life,” wika niya.
“Ha!? Anu? Favorite ko din kaya yan! Sarap talaga,” wika ko naman.
Muli at ewan ko ba kung bakit naisipan ko nanamang bumili ng favorite chocolate ko. Hindi naman siya sosyal at hindi rin naman kamahalan kaya nakabili ako. Parang walang katuturan ‘yung sinabi ko kung iisipin. Dati nga pitong piso lang ‘yun, e ngayon walong piso na. Siguro, apektado rin sila ng global financial crisis o sadyang mapagsamantala lang ang ilang mga tao.
Nasa mga kamay ko na siya. Nakabalot pa ng makinang na wrapper na kulay violet. Sa kanyang pagkabalot, parang ayaw bang magpabukas. Pero hindi, ako lang pala ang nag-iisip na ayaw niyang magpabukas. Parang alaala ng nakaraan na ayaw mo nang tingnan o tikman ang tamis, ay hindi pala – ang pait ng nakalipas.
Iniisip ko. Handa na ba akong buksang muli ang pinto patungo sa mapait na kahapon? Handa na ba akong muling tikman ito? Handa na ba akong tuluyang pasakop sa ideyang… Hindi ko magawang hindi ito buksan. Hindi ko magawang hindi ko ito tingnan. Hindi ko magawang hindi utusan ng utak ko ang aking mga daliri.
Hayan, hindi ko na talaga napigilan, nabuksan ko na nga. Ang sarap talagang nguyain ng milk-chocolate-caramel-wafer-roll-cereal-crispy-chocolate na ito. Crunchy at nanunuot ang tamis. Ang sarap talaga!
At kung iisipin, kasingsarap ng pagkawala ng laruan ng isang batang umiiyak. Kasingsarap ng pagkawala ng lata ng isang pulubi sa kalye. Kasingsarap ng pagkawala ng buhay sa loob ng sinapupunan ng isang ina.
Kalagim-lagim!
Parang ayaw mo ng mabuhay pa kapag kinuha ng pagkakataon ang mahalagang bagay sa buhay mo. ‘Yung tipong magbabago na ang tingin mo sa mundo. ‘Yung tipong maiiba na ang pananaw mo sa mga bagay bagay. Hanggang sa matulad ka na lang kay Ophelia at Othello.
Ngunit ganyan talaga ang buhay. Dalawang pagkakataong nasa dugo na ng bawat indibidwal – ang pait at tamis.
At habang nasisiyahan ako sa pagkain ng chocolate na ito ay parang may kasama ang mga alimpuyo hangin – mainit bunga ng global warming. Parang may maiinit at maliliit na boses na bumubulong ng kung anu. Parang pilit pinapaalala ang isang bagay na hindi mo alam kung babalik pa. Paulit-ulit ang musika galing sa hangin. Parang gumagawa ito ng ritmo ng isang kanta.
“Ang sarap talaga ng chocolate na ‘to ‘no! Ito talaga ang ‘the best chocolate’ na natikman ko in my entire life,” wika niya.
“Ha!?Anu? Favorite ko din kaya yan! Sarap talaga,” wika ko naman.
Habang hinihipnotismo ako ng musikang dala ng hangin at ng tamis ng chocolate na ito. Nakita kong papaaubos na ito. Paubos na. Paubos na rin ang oras ko. Ngunit hindi! Maghihintay ako. Maghihintay ako.
Alam ko. Alam ko.
Babalik siya. Babalik siya.
*Choco Mucho
EDITOR’S THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCE
A Sublime Dream of Rizalized Youth: Moving Forward
“When your body is frozen with oppression to move, your mind is losing in labyrinthine chaotic reality, your heart is sealed with thorns and vines of injustices and emergence of crisis; just remember one thing, dispel them all with your faith, will and determination.”
Before, I was just reading some news in the past issues of our publication about the prestigious conference of National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute that is annually organize by the Order of the Knights of Rizal (Chartered Under RA 646) and Kabataang Pangarap ni Rizal (youth counterpart of the order). The university is sending delegates to compete in different competitions and train them to become effective leaders. In fact, during the past years, some alumni had lorded over in different contested areas nationwide from the said conference, like Rodel Q. Amita who was once a champion in Rizal Quiz Show and a finalist in the most coveted title of Jose Rizal Model Students of the Philippines (JRMSP); Ismael T. Fisco, Jr. who was once a silver medalist in Rizal Extemporaneous Speaking; and James John Peter Paul Bada who also once a bronze medalist in Rizal Essay Writing Competition. Hence, I told to myself that someday I will be one of those who will represent the university – even just a delegate.
I remembered the day when I was heading to our publication’s office after class. When I arrived in there, I saw the Federated Supreme Student Government President (Daimel Delos Reyes) sitting alongside the window. I greeted him and after a while, a thought came from my mind or perhaps a wishful thinking that had burst out. I asked him about the NRYLI without the intention of joining to it. Then, at that time, they were hunting another delegate who will represent the university in Rizal Essay Writing Competition. Yes, I was fortunate indeed! That I had been chosen! And I thought that this is my sought after sublime dream - chance of a lifetime.
And the day came for our departure from Zambales to Baguio City. As I recalled, I traveled with seven strangers and some total strangers within eight hours inside the bus.
But when we arrived at the coldest part of our archipelagic country, it seemed that the low temperature made us bonded with each other.
It was a five-day conference and training and I didn’t know what to expect from it because it was my first time to attend NRYLI. I thought that it was just an ordinary conference with different hues of mind motivated by their own motives. I had a vague idea of what will happen to me before. All I had in mind was the contest. I prepared for it before we go because of the thought of bringing home the bacon.
However, as the days went by and the contests and some lectures were done, I had a little satisfaction about my literary piece but I forgot about it. All I know was that I did my best.
My attention was diverted to the conference per se; I came there with totally indistinct idea of what will happen to me and to what purpose why I was able to join there. Many questions blasted inside my cranium but as I recognized, I had my own group commission (Rose-Pink), with my co-commissioners of different blend of mind and personality and a dear coordinator, Ate Castle.
From then on, I felt a sense of belongingness from my co-commissioners and it was fun. Every time when there were lectures and activities about various topics – about life, people and our country – we always made it to the point of listening and doing the activities wholeheartedly.
Hence, I learned variety of things about our world, our country, our government, our economy and more importantly about myself. I have learned and realized everything that our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, wanted for us to be – the youth of today as impetus for nation building and reformation by making his idealism come into reality.
But a question came out, how can I become one of the young ones as impetus for National progress if I am still attached to my own chaotic-individuality?
Then, I realized that I was living in my past because of my resentment and resistance to it and that I had been very much worried about my future. I realized that revenge will never be the key for emancipation of heavy baggage within me. I realized that I had a false and ambiguous vision and goals in life. I realized that I have to improve myself first before enacting and leading.
As the youth of today, we must first improve ourselves to fully lead in nation building. We must have the positive attitude in every life’s struggle; vivid imagination of what we will become; written goals as guide; focus and taking actions that all contributed to the secret of our success.
As young leaders of our own self, of our family, of our university and of our country, we must visualize our goals using our belief and action to attain the sought after result. We must cling to the idea of the will to perfection in the wide road of progress by using our means now – by treasuring our education.
“Por la educacion recibe lustre la patria.” It is only in education that we can acquire the luster of our nation. True to those words of Rizal, that this is our role and guiding principle as Filipino youth to change the overused belief systems and paradigms of our country, and build a moral community using our faith, will and determination that will become the impetus for National governance, prosperity, respect, integrity and liberty.
I remembered what Don Rafael Ibarra (a character from Noli Me Tangere/Touch me not/ Social Cancer) once told to Crisostomo Ibarra, his son, this things.
“You are a man now and you must think about your future and about your duties…You must learn the science of life. If you remain here in my shadow, you will not learn to look far ahead…You must think of other and greater things…sacrifice for the future.”
Yes, and it is very much apparent that a life which is not dedicated to a great idea is useless and more likely - futile.
In the end of the conference, though I didn’t win, still, I will never cease to write because it was never about the contest – it is about me - the learning I have gained that helped me evolved as one of the children of Rizal. I can say that I am a Rizalized youth for I surpassed my past and ready to fulfill my future - a sublime dream of our National Hero to relive his legacy and idealism!
NON OMNIS MORIAR
“Not everything in me will die.”
Injustices of Justice
- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, German Philosopher
As one of the volunteers during the Prison Awareness Sunday at Zambales Provincial Jail last October 24, I felt mixture of emotions when we entered the prison ground. I couldn’t determine what would be my impression and reaction towards the environment and specifically to the inmates –or enrollees as called by warden Paneda– during that time.
According to Ret. PNP Col. Amado Paneda, which is currently the warden of the provincial jail, he said that, when he studied the statistic of cases in the jail during his latter days as he occupied the chair, 5 percent from 100 percent enrollees are guilty of the crime while the remaining 95 percent are innocent and just pre-suspected by the complainants.
With my co-volunteers [the 3rd year and 4th year Psych Studes, CAS, RMTU-Main], we had witnessed the situations of the inmates when we roamed inside each cell. The environment is not so nice but you can see that they are making most of their times doing things which are useful; like making woodcrafts and the like. It was said, too, that some inmates are being enrolled in vocational courses.
After that ocular in each cell, we moved to the waiting shed adjacent to prisoners’ colony. There, we waited them - the inmates. And when they arrived, our adviser told us to approach and counsel one of them.
As I saw them, I tried to choose but I thought of not choosing anyone. I just moved to a petite man with a dark complexion and with typical body build. I asked him in a nice approach and there it goes.
He is Rene, a Born Again Christian. He became outspoken at that time. He has been a barber in a small shop. It was then that he was arrested with warrant of arrest as being suspected as the 26k- worth-robber in a grocery. He said that he was not the perpetrator because the evidence found inside his house was not his – it’s a frame up from his peers.
He told me, during the third month inside the jail, that his family has started to ruin. His family moved to Olongapo and did not even make an extra effort to visit him. He told me that the true suspect admitted it already but according to his lawyer, it’s not easy to do that because it’ll take a long process. His case can be bailed of about P8, 000 and he’s thinking where he will be able to find that amount. A big question and a call to the Christian community!
“Ganyan talaga ang batas dito, pumunta kayo dito para malaman nyu ang katotohanan. Baluktot ang batas, pawang para sa mga may pera lang ang batas natin. Kapag mahirap ka, kulong ang labas mo. Ipinagpapasa-Diyos ko na nga lang e, buti nga ‘di na uma-attend ‘yung complainant ko.”
After that, it just like something had provoked me to promise something to him but I recalled what had Sr. Lydia told us before we entered in the premise, “Do not promise anything to them!” I just said to him that God will not let him suffer that long. Time will come that you’ll get out from here. You’ll make another phase of your life outside these bars. Then, he bid good bye and thanked me for listening to him and so was I; that I had an odd conversation – the veracity of failures of the society.
Another inmate is Albert, a 19-year-old lad who has been suspected as one of the perpetrators of a murder case. His two older brothers have been in jailed one year before he entered because of the accusations, that they killed the victim.
According to him, three of them was in their house during the crime and they didn’t even know who’s that person being killed. Not in their consciousness that the victim is their acquaintance. One of the peers of the victim with the consent of the family pointed them as the murderers. Albert has been arrested during their barangay basketball league tournament without warrant of arrest and he said that the officer who had arrested him didn’t wear his proper uniform. A ground of suppression to one’s right and not abiding such standard procedure!
Another ear-boggling scenario from his innocent mind declared this manifesto, “Iniisip nga namin na pinagpeperahan lang kami ng pamilya nila. Sabi nga ng nanay namin, ibenta na lang ‘yung bukid para pang-bail samin. Pero sabi namin nila kuya, huwag, kasi parang inamin na din namin ‘yung krimen na hindi namin talaga ginawa.”
I just told him, that no matter what happen; keep your faith to God that someday there will come a time that you and your brothers will get out from these sufferings of injustice to the little people.
Yeah, it’s a fact! People who have wealth, who practiced padrino system and who abused peoples’ ignorance are just but the strong ones and the big ones. The laws are just for them. They can mobilize the society in their own palm.
However, is this righteous thing? Absolutely, it’s not. And I would like to reaffirm this, “Your conscience is your law and it’ll never be bought by such monetary and power system.”
