The Happy Loner

Blockmate 1: Hello Herald!


Blockmate 2: Hello Herald!? (As if talking to a deaf)


Herald: (With a nervous, shaky tone) Oh, hi there!


[And the conversation stops there]

***

[The bell rings for a two-hour break]


Blockmate 1: Where are we gonna stay now?


Blockmate 2: Let’s go to the canteen! I’m hungry.


Blockmate 1: Eh, how about you Herald? Would you like to join us?


Herald: (so glad that he was actually asked) Uhm, well, uhm---- (B2 suddenly interrupts)


Blockmate 2: Nah! I’m pretty sure he’ll be off to the library AGAIN. Study habits, as they say.


Herald, talking to himself: W-H-A-T?? LIBRARY??!! Are you serious? That place is only for the LOSERS who got no friends! A refuge for the LONERS!


[But Herald silently still proceeds to the library,with his stomach growling loudly]

***

I am the kind of person who is very used to being alone. Surprisingly, it neither makes me happy nor sad.

In high school, although I had my circle of friends, I still felt that I only existed behind their shadows. But I really didn’t mind. Aside from the friendship we were building, the security that stems from it was what I needed. Like any other growing teen in high school, I also dreamt ‘to belong.’ I sought for that sense of belongingness. And in high school where the world seems to be literally small, it didn’t take me long to find it.

But high school was entirely different. I’m now in college where things are tougher and people fiercer. There may be thousands of students from all walks of life here, but the sense of belongingness that I am searching for remains elusive. Friends in college are indeed scarce. Or should I say, friends here in college are unfortunately scarce... TO THE ONE WRITING THIS ARTICLE.

But hey, it doesn’t mean that I don’t have friends at all. I still have. And although they may not be as many as the fingers in your one hand, I think it’s already better than having none at all.

Okay, so I’m still sort of a loser loner. But I’m not the typical nerd-looking loner whose vacant hours are spent in the library (although I’m already getting accustomed to spending most of my time studying). I don’t know why but I’m just happy being alone. It’s like I get to observe the world around me without actually involving myself with them. It’s like I’m just in the level of a spectator who doesn’t care much about what people would say to me. It’s like they anticipate for the every word that my mouth would utter. It’s like I’m creating my own world out of my unbreakable silence. It’s amazing! It’s like I’m baffling people with my aura of mystery. For them, I am puzzling and mysterious. And it just always thrills me whenever I see them trying so hard to figure me out with my imperviousness. And I must say I’m loving it! It’s very different from my world in high school – busy, tiring, noisy, no peace, almost without privacy. Cool! Loner? Definitely! Playing safe? Probably. Crazy? You judge.

But wait. I’m not here to encourage you to detach yourselves from social ties. I, too, am still learning to establish bonds and to socialize with others. I know that living one’s self alone is unhealthy, and it may not do him good in the long run. So instead of distancing myself from people, I know that I should start opening up myself to them. I also know that I must squash the feeling of ‘intimidation’ if I want to gain friends. This has always been the problem with me: I easily get intimidated with the people here in college. (But hey, why would I? Perhaps I just need to have a boost of self-confidence! Go Herald!)

You may think now that I’m insanely faced with a dilemma. But I tell you, I am not torn between being a loner and being a social individual. This isn’t a struggle for me. THIS IS SKILL! (Oh yeah? Lol) Without any intent to brag, I know well how to handle myself. I am a loner and can be silent at times, but I can also be the opposite when I want to. I just happen to discover the ‘peace’ of being a loner and the solitude it offers, and then learned to love it. This is indeed a skill! (Whatever!)

So what if I’m a loner? It doesn't add any bout of misery in my life anyway. At least I could get the chance to view the world from a different perspective. At least I’m honing my intrapersonal skill (is there such a skill?). But more than anything else, at least I could prove to everyone that the *oxymoron ‘HAPPY LONER’ does exist!

You have to believe me. I'm a living testament to that.

***

Instructor: Okay, class. We will have a game and I want you to group yourselves into five.


Herald: Uh-oh!


[Students begin to form groups]


Blockmate 1 (leader of one group consisting blockmates 2, 3, 4 & 5): is it okay if we're six in the group sir?


Herald (to blockmate 1): No, don't bother. I'm fine. Really.


Instructor: Oh I forgot to tell you. The mechanics of the game is for everyone to find a group. He who has no group loses the game. In other words, the LONERS are the LOSERS!


...are the LOSERS! the LOSERS! LOSERS! (echoing into Herald's mind...then fading)


Herald: WOW SIR! THAT HURTS!

***

-end






NOTE: the article above is written quite exaggeratedly :D :D :D
*oxymoron- A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side (examples: open secret, living dead, burning cold, dark light)

WE WERE FLOODED, literally!

Today, November 7, 2010, was a day when the heaven cried a river of tears. I’m not exaggerating. It actually did. Not that a celebrity superstar or a relative of mine died today. It was just that, uhm, we were FLOODED, literally!

At first, the rain seemed to be just a normal heavy rain. Heavy rains in our place don’t usually cause floods. The rains may pour humongous volume of water but the floods they normally create are only small floods enough for the canals to hold.

But today, Sunday, was a different story.

The rain this afternoon wasn’t the first time we experienced a notably heavy rain. However, scary as this may sound, it was our first time to see the floodwater creep in inside our house. Yeah, you read that right! The flood has actually reached the ground floor (murag pila ka storey among balay!haha!) of our house despite its elevation from the ground.

When the floodwater started to flow in inside our house, we immediately carried the must-not-get-wet things from the floor and placed them on the tables and chairs. Fortunately, the waters did not reach the bedrooms and the kitchen. Only our living room was hit by the catastrophe (OA!).

Meanwhile, outside our house was a ‘sea’ of brown, murky water. Almost everything was covered with the out-of-nowhere gush of floodwater, reminding me of some scenes I usually see on TV everytime a typhoon strikes Luzon, submerging the island in flood. And in that very moment, I could hardly distinguish imagination from reality.

Drama aside, I was also able to take pictures of the flood that struck our house, the casualties it left us with, as well as the horrid aftermath of the tragedy.

Sa kasagsagan ng pagbaha

Ang kalunos-lunos na aftermath


-Aba! Ngisi2x pa jud!! wuhaha!

-Mud and stones piled up in our yards

-Asa na ang pares aning slipper nga isa? LOL!

:)

Finding peace behind the clouds

Incessant bombings and killings. Burgeoning corruption and poverty. Chaos--unending chaos.

I turned off the TV. It totally bored me to see all those recurring news regarding our country. Humanity being torn between good and evil, with evil almost embracing victory.

Everything’s just way too disheartening. Way too confusing.

Tired of watching such dismal scenario, I went outside our house. I gazed at the boundless blanket of blue sky above me, tried my luck to seek anything that is possibly there... and prayed. But what could this be that I’m trying to seek? This that I’m deeply longing and praying for?

The fathomless dome above me seemed to be nothing more than a virtual empty space. Yet despite the void that it is, is the presence of a feeling of calmness... a peculiar tranquility giving off an aura of security... but what is this feeling?

I could hardly distinguish this relaxing mood enveloping my very being. What could this be? What could this be that seemed to brush off every dust of weariness that I feel? What could this be that completely silenced all the wailing and the whining inside of me? What could this be that rejuvenated my soul so gloriously?

My consciousness, with all its might, tried to conjure up a reasonable explanation for what it was.
Then my mind fell into one judgment: Peace.

Yes! It should be peace that I was feeling right then. Yes, PEACE--this elusive remedy I was long been searching for, which from out of the blue I suddenly discovered in the midst of my soul-searching. This peace which arrived with an entourage of angels. This that would finally bring solace and relief to my disheartened feeling and enlighten the confusion within.

Oh PEACE! I love this feeling! But if it does exist, why do most people still choose bombings and killings over amicable measures of achieving their goals? Why do politicians still believe that corruption is an effective resort to cultivate and amass wealth? Why do masses of people still have to wallow in poverty’s lair?

Why don’t people just simply dig up the happiness from the simple things? Why choose to listen to an ugly orchestra of divisions, hatred and selfishness when we have the option to sing gleefully in the symphony of brotherhood? Why don’t people just stare at the sky and read behind the clouds the invisible signboard which reads “PEACE” hidden in its vast nothingness?

After mulling this over, I found myself hoping: hoping that people may learn to discover PEACE in their hearts; hoping that people may see the million little things around them worth grinning at; hoping that people would find time to look up at the sky and learn to seek PEACE in their solitude; and finally, hoping that people may learn to kneel in worship and extend both their joy and misery to the one true King of Peace, the Almighty!


Ad majorem dei gloriam!

Dora the explorer meets Herald the grown-up whiner

Can we truly consider DORA as an explorer? Fearless and fierce? I mean, if she’s really an explorer, then I’m sure she’s the lamest in the roster.

Okay, I know I’m just being too hypocritical and a whiner here, but probably brought about by the deficiency of topics to write about, poor Dora has now just become my victim to be subjected into my unnecessary scrutiny.

This morning I happened to watch a complete episode of DORA The Explorer (Tagalog version) aired on ABS-CBN simply because I have no other resort to placate my boredom.

Annoyed with its infantile script (all in poor Tagalog translations) and almost nonsensical storyline, I suddenly muttered to myself:

“Oh, Dora! When will you ever grow up and learn to decide for yourself? You’re supposed to be a valiant, fearless ‘explorer’ bound to overcome all odds with your instincts and sense of independence, not a little princess who is still baby-sat at age what, 8 or 9, and who is accompanied by an equally stupid monkey!”

Yeah. I know it’s only an animated show for kids. So why am I so affected with its stupidity? That I am not sure of!

* thinking *

Well, how about this? Maybe... maybe it’s just that I’ve grown more MATURE (oh really?). Precisely! That explains it! That explains why I can’t stoop to Dora’s level without being uncomfortable. It's like this. An adult, or let's say someone who has a more matured thinking, should get irked with childish things. Little girl crying over her broken doll. Little boy endlessly bugging his mother to buy him a new toy. Quite irksome!

And since I've grown more mature now, it goes without saying that I, too, should also be irritated with her-- with her stupidity I couldn't comprehend and with her big head!

That’s it! Dora’s just a kid who still needs to perch herself in a safe environment to gain security and comfort. Dora is just a child whose hands are still tightly clutched on the railings in order not to fall. Dora is an explorer in her own little world of fantasies. She needs Boots and the audience to decide for her.

But I ain’t like Dora. I just happen to live in the REALITY. A reality which can be fierce and unforgiving at times. A real world with real characters and real experiences. A reality which has now made me more mature and grown-up in the way I view life. In my world, I’ve learned--and still am learning--to be wise with and responsible for my decisions... decisions and their consequences that no one but myself could be held accountable for.

***

Geez! I owe you one Dora for unexpectedly giving me a whole new spectrum of understanding about reality and maturity. :p

An inspired writer wanna-be

After reading some really beautifully-crafted articles written by some of my seniors in the university, I suddenly had this I-also-want-to-be-like-them feeling, and was obviously inspired because of their works. And with a profound admiration for their passion in writing, I then just found myself secretly setting a goal to which my “amateur writer’s life” will surely be tied up with.

***

I want to be a writer, not just someone who knows the proverbial subject-verb agreement and conforms to the complex set of grammatical rules.

I want to be a good writer. Someone who can put into a beautiful tapestry of writing my feelings and my thoughts. Someone who can make his hand and his pen smoothly work together like that of the formless water flowing so exquisitely in whatever kind of surface it may stumble across. Be it rough and rocky or level and smooth, it still can stream freely.

Yes, I want to be good in writing. To be good in letting my mind freely embody its repertoire of ideas into words. To be good at breathing life to a jumble of flowery words. To be good at aggregating my scattered and wandering thoughts. Yes, to be good at expressing myself.

***

I was just inspired. Sometimes, a little dose of inspiration is just what it takes to get me steaming with enthusiasm and drive me overly melodramatic about the trivial things. But hey, lemme make this clear, writing isn't a trivial thing for me anymore. Matter of fact, I just made a sort of an official statement, haven't I? :p

A clamor from someone gone mad while on a sembreak

Herald turns on the TV... and later gets bored.

He opens the ref for something to eat, devours it... and later gets bored.

He visits his Facebook account for a while... then he gets bored.

He picks a book, tries to open the first few pages... and he gets bored.

He surfs for anything on the internet... and boredom strikes on him.

He reaches his phone, texts something... and what’s new? Boredom paralyzes him.

He tries to sleep, dreams about nothing... and guess what, his soul still gets bored. Yeah, nothing is more boring and lifeless than having to float in some dreamless sleeps.

This is hell. He is doomed. The sembreak’s notorious BOREDOM SPELL is cast on him.

_____________________________________________________

Hellish. Deafening. Pricking.

This has been the track of my life in the past two weeks. And this has been how my SEMBREAK was softly killing me, torturing me... while I am helplessly caged in its powerful spell of absolute tediousness and dullness... which will inevitably lead me to an appalling state of nervous breakdown if situations were left unattended... gently driving me insane in the process, tormenting my very soul... until finally, such breakdown will be reached and the irrevocable spell will completely take over my reasoning... incapacitating me to a deathlike stupor!

And now, my only desire is for this sembreak to end... for this whole pervading pandemonium to bid its farewell. If sembreak would just draw to a close, I know I can break free from the spell. But how could I still have the faith to grasp to this little shred of hope if my mind’s utterly certain that the remaining days of this break would only serve to prolong the agony in an unimaginably hundred-fold efficacy?

Doomed.

***

I Also Had My Share of Such Sembreak Reunions

Let’s face it: sembreak can sometimes be dull and boring. We eagerly want and wait for such break simply because we want to give ourselves a ‘break’ from school’s demanding atmosphere. Ironically, when sembreak arrives, we then tend to curse and nag about it (consciously or not) because of its becoming TOO BORING--too boring that sometimes it seems it can almost kill!

On a lighter note, sembreak has also its likable side. On the top of this list: REUNIONS! For friends who are parted away because of college studies, sembreak perhaps is one impeccable time for them to get-together and a rare chance to bring back into the scene the good old times they shared. Lo and behold, I also just had my share of such reunion this sembreak!

***

Yesterday, 10/25/10, marked the nationwide Barangay and SK elections. And apart from politics, it also marked the reunion of the wild pack. Yes, the not-well-planned and we-lacked-food-but-still-it’s-okay-coz-nothing’s-gonna-stop-us reunion of the SY 09-10 IV-Isaac Newton students, or better known as the ISATONIX!

There were 22 of us, namely (according to the time of arrival): Al, Tisay, myself, Hanzhell, Vevian, Archie, Alemar, Evangelene, Jireh, Nobie, Wena, Joemar, Gliselle, Jaime, Evelyn, Glen, Judel, Maegan, Dian, Edmund, Fatima and Christyl. Johanna, because of her motherly concern for the group’s scarcity of food, donated a layer of chiffon cake and 2 bottles of 1.5-liter Coke even though she wasn’t able to join us to the reunion’s proper venue.

Speaking of venue, we had our reunion at the Mangima Spring Resort, the only elegant resort we know we could easily have access to. A Haven away from home! (I read this in a poster at the resort’s walls while we were all busy haggling with the in-charged lady to give us some discount in our entrance fee and cottage rentals, all to no avail!)

But heaven’s luck! When we got inside the resort, we found ourselves to be the earliest visitors... which only meant one thing: we could MONOPOLIZE the entire resort! So, without any hesitation (except sa mga kandingon like AL! :DD), we then plunged ourselves to the pool’s refreshing, cold waters. We actually didn’t do much than just having to playfully swim in the pool and childishly splash waters on each other’s faces; trying so hard to make it across the other side of the pool without stopping along the way; submerging in the waters and betting who’s gonna emerge the last; diving in underwater to see who’s gonna get the object (usually Jaime’s mirror or simply a stone thrown in the pool) first; emerging from the pool whenever we felt like eating; posing and modeling whenever the cam’s lenses find the perfect angle to shot; and trying to dance with the playing music despite of the shivers caused by the cold waters – while other people as well started arriving at the resort.

Aside from keenly talking about the other malicious people in the resort, we also got the chance to talk about college life and about stuffs that keep us now busy. Almost everyone shared something about how their grades for the first sem went, how their teachers could be so “terror”, how their subjects could be so easy or difficult, how their scholarships might possibly get near in the ‘verge of extinction’ (including me!!!), how their school uniforms look like, how their respective schools top in nationwide board exams, how their schools’ head-turners melted their hearts, and how as a whole, college life has been treating them so far.

Apart from the abovementioned, the most important I guess is that we got the chance to be TOGETHER again (even for just a day). Together, we got the chance to strike any pose we desired in front of the camera, while striking our own poses in our pursuit of college. Together, we happily enjoyed swimming in Mangima’s pool, while still swimming forward in the seas of our dreams. Together, we had savoured another precious time of being together, while further strengthening the so many bonds we’ve established: of being friends, of being a family, and of being ISATONIX! =)

***

* end *

P.S.1: I don't like the title !

P.S.2: Long hair na bya si Shonya ! wuhahaha!

P.S.3: Nagsakay mi ug bus pauli ! Naka-standing position ang tanan... with queen Christyl still crowning the towel on her head ! :DD

First Semester AY 2010-2011: A History In A Nanosecond

Alleluia! First semester has finally drawn to a close. The four months that passed greatly created a seemingly millennium-long history within just a nanosecond. Indeed, time flies so swiftly that everything just seemed to pass like a blur. We might even be thinking now that high school graduation was already an 'ancient' event in our lives... and we might as well be forgetting that it was ONLY JUST 7 MONTHS ago when we actually had it.

Anyway, merely thinking that semester break is here just gives me so much relief: relief from the deafening boredom prevailing in the boarding house, relief from the tight budgeting of the allowance, and above all, relief from the gruelling study tasks and sleepless nights of burning my midnight candle which for some times, sadly, do not pay off!

***

Enough with the drama. Now let's have a recap of everything major major that has happened within the first sem's course of time.

FIRST DAY of college. Well, uhm, I really can't clearly remember the happenings on the first day of class, but I'm quite sure that part of that day was the not showing up of our teachers, save for Mr. Voltaire Marquez, who we initially thought as just another student. Also, on the first day of school, I hadn't totally made up my mind on which to use between the traditional notebooks and a binder.

ACA family. Well, I am just so honoured to be part of such wonderful block. Our Accounting teacher once said that block ACA is the flagship of the university’s School of Business and Management (SBM) which is primarily composed of elite students who obtained a GSA of 95 and up in the entrance exam (and now I feel like a royalty...hahaha). However, being surrounded with great minds can sometimes be draining. On a lighter note, I really thank my ACA friends for letting me experience ‘home’ in my first head-on confrontation of college.

Statement shirt. As part of being one united block, we decided to have our own shirt. The color’s blue, and the print says: “DUGONG BUGHAW, PUSONG DILAW, WALAY ULAW”! The bughaw is for being an Atenian, dilaw for being part of SBM, and walay ulaw for... uhm, let’s just say it’s for the brimming ‘confidence’ and ‘ingenuity’ of the block! (wahahahahahaha! ewan!) And oh, I think the shirt has cost each of us fairly 180 pesos.

Acquaintance Party. Did we ever have such? I think we were supposed to have an acquaintance party that was basically why ACA block shirt was designed. Was I absent that time? How come I don’t remember savouring such much anticipated college gathering? Oh yeah, coz’ we never had one. They kept on deferring it which then so sadly, ended to having none at all.

Jabelle Labella. It’s actually ACA’s textserye created by a creative blockmate of ours, Solomon. The story revolves around the sister relationship of Jabelle, the ugly hunchbacked multi-evolutional sister of Labella, the kontrabida bully. As the system dictates, each episode would be patiently sent to everyone via GMs (group messages). Of course, it starred almost everyone in ACA including myself. I played the extra role of JOVIT HERALDINO (which at least finally fulfilled my dream of being a singer!) and had my critically acclaimed first appearance in episode 18.

BS Accountancy – Major in Cartography. Yep! Cartography, as in the tedious map-making. This one was actually in preparation for our History 10 prelim exam, when we were all compelled to memorize the entire map of the Philippines including the provinces’ capitals and towns as well as their geographic shapes, the regional and provincial boundaries, and everything that is in the map! Net result: gained a perfect sense of direction and a silent ill feeling towards the subject!

Intramurals. Well, I unfortunately didn’t get to enjoy the entirety of it. I even wasn’t able to witness how the SBM Eagles stunned the audience and successfully defended the Championship in the Cheerdance competition last intrams. I irredeemably missed a great deal of it. How pitiful!

General Biology Quiz Bowl. This was held on the opening day of the Intrams. Dan Uriel, Reynold, and I composed the group which represented our block. At stake: ACA’s semi-final exams! Cheers and jeers abounded for us; however, luck wasn’t on our side and we didn’t win. On a lighter note, just hours after the quiz bowl, SBM emerged as Champion in the Cheerdance competition.

Waka waka P.E. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think of myself dancing Shakira’s Waka waka with modified dumbbells in the form of mineral water bottles filled with strawberry-flavoured juice (which was prepared and mixed in the CR!), while doing some aerobics and gymnastic skills (our group got the lowest grade for this activity). But we had fun anyway; and that was what mattered most!

Ten hours of university service. Scholars are compelled to render at least ten hours of service every semester to any of the university’s offices. In my part, I effortlessly completed my service with 5 hours in the Scholarships office, and 2.5 hours each in the Finance and clinic. According to them, such service serves as the scholars’ token of gratitude towards the university.

The genius: Dr. Labuntog. He’s our English teacher - an unpredictable, intellectually powerful teacher who introduced us to the lovable Little Prince; who imprinted on us the XU Mission Statement; who fascinated us with the Tibetan bell; who made us delve deeper to the stickiness of the biko and the crunchiness of chicharon; who made us sing our hearts out with Till There Was You and Something Stupid Like I Love You; and who awed us with his multilingual tongue. Everyone idolize Dr. Mark Labuntog!

Tangled with the Pancit Canton. Yeah, food. I think it’s also worth noting that in the first semester of my being a freshman college, I’ve indiscernibly grown bigger and fatter. Throw the blame to the culprit of this fattening: the canteen’s Pancit Canton! I don’t know why, but it seems that the canteen personnel could somehow cook it tastier than when I cook it at home.

Finally, FINALS! What is a final exam? Yes. A torture! If you could just feel the excruciating pain of our brain cells in being forced to absorb everything that’s in our THICK (and when I say thick, believe that I’m not joking) books when we were subjected to such final exam, then you’ll get an idea how finals could be so hell. I personally don’t even like remembering how my finals went; it’s SEM-BREAK afterall! Everyone’s currently savoring the coziness of being on their cloud nine (which everyone rightfully deserves)! And I, I don’t wanna break such repose! :DDD

***

All the aforementioned make up a history – a history of ACA, of the ‘firsts’ in college, of friendships established, of blending in and standing out as freshmen, and of us all, hitching our wagons to our individual stars – a memorable history created just in a brief span of what was like a nanosecond.

***

Si Juan dela Cruz sa entablado ng mundo

(Speech nako, activity sa Filipino 22!)


Kilalanin si Juan dela Cruz. Balat ay kulay-kayumanggi. Tahana’y sa munting bahay-kubo na napapaligiran ng halimuyak ng sampaguita. Katawa’y nakabalot sa kanyang mahiblang barong-tagalog. Sipag at tiyaga’y kahambing ng ‘sang kalabaw. Nagkamulat na mahirap kaya’t di’ naninibago sa karukhaan. Buhay niya: isang kahig, isang tuka! Gayunpaman, sa kabila ng kahirapang kinasasadlakan, si Juan ay tunay na hinahangaan ng buong mundo. Sa anumang larangan – palakasan, musika at marami pang iba – siya’y namamayagpag. Siya’y tanyag sa buong mundo – sapagkat si Juan ay isang PILIPINO!

Mga minamahal kong kaibigan at kababayan, bilang pambungad, pahintulutan niyo akong ibuhos ang aking malugod na pagbati sa inyong lahat ng isang MAGANDANG HAPON!

Ako’y naririto sa inyong harapan upang ipabatid na ang Juan dela Cruz na patuloy na inaabot ang tugatog ng katanyagan sa pandaigdigang entablado ay salamin ng bawat Pilipino. Ito’y nangangahulugan lamang na sa bawat isa sa atin nananalaytay ang dugo ni Juan dela Cruz – ang Juan na maaaring maging susunod na Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao; ang inaasahang susunod sa mga yapak ng matagumpay na mang-aawit na sina Charice Pempengco at Arnel Pineda; ang ipinagdarasal na magmamana at susungkit ng korona matapos kay Maria Venus Raj; ang magpapatuloy sa kabayanihan ni Efren Peñaflorida; at ang tutulad sa sinibak na pulis na si Rolando Mendoza? Nawa’y huwag naman sana!

Nagimbal nga hindi lamang ang bansa kundi maging ang apat na sulok ng mundo matapos ng masaklap at kahindik-hindik na hostage crisis na kinasangkutan ni dating Police Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza at ng ilang mga dayuhang nais lamang maglibang dito sa ating bansa. Isang kaganapang nauwi sa isang madugong larawan. Isang nakapanlulumong trahedya na naghatid ngayon sa ating bansa sa bumabahang kahihiyan. Sa ngayon, binabato tayo ng masasakit na pintas at batikos mula sa mga dayuhan, lalo na ng Hongkong, na nakasaksi sa kapalpakan at kakulangan ng Pilipinas sa pagtugon sa nasabing insidente. Kasinglungkot ng pagkamatay ng mga sangkot, nakapandudurog-puso rin na basta-basta na lamang nilalait ng marami ang lahi ni Juan dela Cruz dahil lamang sa iisang pangyayari. Maging si Pangulong Noynoy Aquino’y hindi rin nakalusot sa pangungutya. Sa kasalukuyan, ang imahe ni Juan dela Cruz ay ang mismong mukha ni ROLANDO MENDOZA!

Mga kaibigan, hindi ko layon ang magbintang o sisihin ang kung sinuman. Ngayong wasak na ang imahen ng bayang Pilipinas, ang ninanais ko lamang ay maipabatid sa buong mundo na hindi lahat ng Pilipino ay katulad ni Mendoza. Hindi lahat ay mamamatay-tao. Hindi lahat ay pusong-bato.

Ang PILIPINO ay likas na mabuti. Sa katunayan, bantog ang mga Pilipino sa kanilang katangiang tumanggap ng mga panauhin na para bagang sariling mga kaanak lamang. Siya’y mapagmahal at maunawa. Kabiyak ng kanyang takot sa Diyos, nagsusumikap siya upang maabot ang kanyang mga pangarap. Sa kabila ng mga balakid sa buhay, hindi namamatay ang alab ng kanyang pagpupursige, bagkus, lalo pa siyang nauudyok na magsumikap at magtiyaga alang-alang sa kanyang mga pinaninindigang prinsipyo sa buhay. Gayon nga’y nagawang masungkit nina Pacquiao, Pempengco, Pineda, Raj, Peñaflorida at marami pang matagumpay na Pilipino ang kanilang mga pangarap sa buhay kupkop ang mga natatanging katangiang PILIPINO!

Ngayon, mula sa karagatan ng kahihiyan, umahon tayo! Huwag tayong magpagapi sa agos ng rumaragasang suklam ng mundo. Mapait man ang sinapit ng mga biktima, kasuklam-suklam man ang ginawa ni Mendoza, bumangon tayo dala ang mga napulot na aral! Malabo mang maghilom ang sugat, subukan nating itayo ang nawasak na larawan ng Pilipinas at muling ibandila ang pangalan nito sa buong daigdig! Mahirap man ilibing sa limot ang trahedya, kumapit pa rin tayo sa positibong banda. Kumapit tayo sa mga mabubuting katangian ni Juan na nagdala sa atin sa pandaigdigang entablado.

Sa kasagsagan ng mga pangyayari, ito ang pangarap ko: na sana’y makitang muli ng mundo ang Pilipino sa larawan ng isang TUNAY NA PILIPINO – at tuluyang maaninag muli si Juan dela Cruz sa tinitingalang entablado ng mundo!

Maraming salamat! Pagpalain nawa tayong lahat!

Coming to terms with the changes

This is written FRIDAY, September 10, 2010 when I get to read again my previous "ON THAT BENCH" article simply out of mere boredom & ; loneliness.

Okay. Roughly three months ago, before classes opened, my brain was into a lot of imagining how going into college would turn out. I didn't have any idea to what college life would hurl at me, either sweet cotton candies directly on my salivating mouth or rough, hard stones aimed at my forehead. I didn't know. And it sent me that peculiar shiver down my spines. I was afraid of the unknown. I was afraid of COLLEGE!

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying now that COLLEGE is not that frightening and difficult afterall. With all honesty, college still terrifies me (in a major, major way!) and still gives me random moments when I could just pause and all of a sudden say: "samuk! lisura pud aning college uy! maypang high school sauna."

Well, it still is September afterall, barely 3 months since I first set foot on college's groounds. I still don't have any right to tell whether college is the COTTON CANDY or the HARD STONE that would hit any newbie here in college. But one thing is for sure: everything here in college is just the result of one's OWN determination and will. You actually reap what you sow, unlike in HS when everything seemed to be plainly spoon-fed (But I so love HS. I miss HS! huhuhu).

About coping up with college?! NOT EASY! You'd ask me now if I'm already fully-adjusted to it? LOL. I still certainly have a lot of "adjustments" to do other than the nosebleed-inducing adjustments we're making in accounting. Diverse people, demanding subjects, new teachers with *nakaka-OMG!* approach of teaching, very limited resource (specifically kanang KWARTA!) and how to budget allowance, paying visit to my hometown every weekends, totally boring life in the boarding house, housekeeping and stuffs--all of these and more are just part of my adjustments-to-do list! And so far, I think I'm bit by bit doing it with success (roll-eyes) !

About my grades?! Hmmm. Shaky, yet so far, I'm doing good! 'B' is my lowest letter grade in my midterm grades (accounting, of course, samok nga subject uy! hehehe). I just pray that everything would go smooth-sailing for the next weeks, months, and years until.... you know na!

About missing high school? Indeed the most difficult! Uhm (teary-eyed), I just keep on reminiscing the past, on excavating memories, on resurfacing the youthfulness of my HS life, and keep on praying, for I know that a time will come when the PAST would eventually just become a blurred vision in our memories. And I don't want that to happen. I'm keeping my fingers crossed: I want everyone to stay in my memory, to remember them as if it was just like yesterday. I miss the ISATONiX & my other former high school classmates; my teachers and mentors; the school guards and the frequent squabbles with them; the Mondays/Fridays flag ceremonies and Maam Chico's motherly rantings; the CATs' snappy commands and the elements' as-if-I-care response; Pogi's tempuras, fish balls, manggang hilaw and his wife; the quarterly settlement of clearances including proper haircut check-ups; the foodstuffs sold in the canteen; the many attempted ghost-huntings; the benches; the habitual chitchats, gossiping, teasing, fighting, cleaning (or maybe later), running, playing, giggling, dancing, singing, laughing, and more laughing plus more laughing ending up to more laughing --- I just miss 'em all! As in MAJOR MAJOR missing 'em all!

***

Anyways (still teary-eyed), in my three-month long college life, a lot has changed. I'm around good people here in college. Although they still intimidate me, I somehow could manage to squeeze through my wild, noisy block, block ACA! I was at first timid whenever I'm with the group knowing that we're only about five people who came from 'Nat'l High Schools', with the rest coming from semi-private or private schools (but then, who cares?). I'm also happy to befriend some XUHSians and other private-school-groomed students whom I initially thought were "maarte and all" but contrarily proved to be friendly and happy to be with! The teachers as well are nice. However, I don't know if I'd ever find a liking to our thick, unfriendly books (especially BIOLOGY)! Whoah!

Everything is just so unpredictable here. Life just go and continue under the sun with so many surprises. Personally, I'm still endeavoring to seek for them, for the surprises that could be beneficially life-changing. And in the process, I am overwhelmingly humbled and thankful for everything that has been endowed with me by the Almighty. With a thinking like this, I'll always be eager and braced up, not just to face life, but also to live life!

Ad majorem dei gloriam!

***

P.S. #1: I hope you find my writing improved! Hehehehe.We keep on writing compositions, essays and the like in our English class. =)

P.S. #2: It's utterly funny to think how long it took me just coming to terms with the changes. "KOLEHIYO NA MAN DIAY KO! LOL!" =)

X.U. Red Mass

Summary of the Homily

In a nutshell, Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin’s homily on the recently concluded University Red Mass teaches us the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, as summarized in the three key points he underscored: the Holy Spirit guides us to the truth; the Holy Spirit helps us to help ourselves and others; and the Holy Spirit is life.

Personal reflection

Many of us wonder how God is able to conspicuously manifest His power on our lives. For me, this is both a mystery and a gift – a mystery, since God works in such subtle ways that frequently leave us awe-struck yet we know that He is ultimately responsible of everything in our lives, and a gift since we know that He only does such things because He loves us. And in the process, I am more than aware of the sacred working of the Holy Spirit in me.

Even though we do not live in the biblical era anymore, the era when Jesus Himself set foot on earth, we are still assured and faithful that God is still constantly present with us because of the Holy Spirit. In my part, I may not recognize it tangibly, but I can confidently say that the Holy Spirit is working on me through countless of ways which never fail to bring me at a loss for words.

For instance, when I’m in doubt of my faith, primarily because of my unmet personal desires, the Holy Spirit would then bring me the inspiration I need in ways I least expected. It guides me back to the spiritual truth – that God is love – which is said would set us free. When I struggle to clarify the obscurities in my mind or to reconcile the conflicting forces of good and evil inside, the Holy Spirit grants me spiritual wisdom. In a way, it helps me in helping myself in my quest of seeking for the truth. Finally, the Holy Spirit gives me life – the color and vibrance in a Chrisitan life as I rejuvenate in God’s love and solace.

Veritas liberabit vos.

Not the best, just the ordinary

I am—well at least I was—that somebody who used to be the center of attraction when I was in high school, surely not because I possess those rare savagely attractive looks, but only because I was then what they called the achiever, and all the other names that might come along with it—the honor student, the studious, the bookworm… always the winner, excellent!

In the same sense, the thought that I used to be the one to be focused on the spotlight has also made me believe that I was exceptional, different from among the others. All was a vivid picture of an ordinary public high school, where ordinary students come and go, and where ordinary teachers just remain for almost the rest of their lives. And at the back of my mind, I certainly knew: I was different.

But soon, a sudden gust of fate might blow everything I used to believe in. I will now be entering college and will be brawling over the hectic and unforgiving routines of a university. I’ll then be wrapped by its school uniform bespeaking that I am a proud Atenista, which will somehow make me appear more scholarly than I thought I had already been. I will soon be poring over the thick textbooks that my subjects would require me and also be scribbling down notes in the conformity of my classes. I will soon be trying myself to be accustomed to commuting from now and then as I pay visit to my town, as well as budgeting my allowance in the wisest way possible.

And the most dreadful of all—yet probably the most exciting and challenging—is that I will also be starting to wear the figure I previously least liked and cared about: the ORDINARY figure. I will soon bear the mask that will identify me as one normal student, not the 'me' who once used to be the achiever, who had gotten used to the fame over the spotlight. I will be under the guise of someone who is not an excellent student, but rather, just under the figure of an ordinary student.

YES! I am fully aware that as soon as I enter the world of college, I’d also have to expect less of myself, because out there lurks a huge heap of students which is definitely as competent—or even more competent—as myself. While I know that this is not a wise and a good option to do, I still believe that the only way for me to get through college is to lower my self-esteem, to wreck my pride and to shatter my confidence in order to be not regretting anything or getting embarrassed in the end.

This might be good for me in the long run. I won’t expect much of myself in such a world where I might be inferior to my colleagues. I won’t dare fight against such strong opponents, for if I do, I know I’ll only end up affirming the fact that I am weak, maybe the weakest. I fear to lose, but I fear more the fact of losing against those whom I already knew are undisputed and unbeatable.

I may be a coward now. But so be it, 'coz I am indeed a coward.

In this new chapter of my life, I am ready—but still afraid—to face what this new twist has in store for me. In college, I won't become the best, and surely cannot be the best. That’s why I’ve decided to wear the ORDINARY STUDENT mask, wherein I will look like just an ordinary student: burdened with pressure, and then eventually defeated by the pressure. I will work on my clearances like an ordinary student, not expecting to maintain my scholarship. I will study my lessons and read my books and still won’t expect to get the highest score.

I will follow the routines of a normal student: school, home, school, home… and yet, I will not expect to be caught by the blinding spotlight and the flashes of praises from the people around me. I will do my best, but I won’t expect to be on the top. There in the prestigious university I will soon attend to, I am not a somebody, I am just the ordinary. And I better get myself up on this piercing truth.

That’s how life would definitely go in college. And as life goes under the sun, I’ll be most comfortable—and most unhappy—to be wearing the ordinary figure. I will just be the normal student--not the best, just the ordinary. =(

'Dear John': The Magic of Letters

What would you do with a letter that changed everything?

As of this writing, I would have already watched ‘Dear John’ twice. But no matter how I think my taste would have changed this time, I was still utterly certain of one thing: it was mesmerizing, as ever. Even if I’d watch it over and over again, I know I wouldn’t get tired of it.
Well, I guess I have no right to be obsessed with his works since honestly, I never had read any of Nicholas Sparks’ novels. I’ve always seen only the cover of his books in the bookstores but I really didn’t get the chance to read though their pages. I have to admit that I’m not that really much of a bookworm. I get easily tired of reading verbatim, and I’d rather watch it on actual, on movies.
Well anyways, I am writing this article to express my praises for the movie ‘Dear John’. It magically hooked my being. Watching it on the TV’s screen was not far different from being on the story itself. I was really ‘into’ it. I was caught on it. I was all but loving ‘Dear John’.
Okay. So ‘Dear John’ is starred by Channing Tatum, who was playing as the main male protagonist ‘John’, and Amanda Seyfried, who was breathing life to the character of ‘Savannah’. Since I am not that good in storytelling, I guess it would be better if I leave things vague, and not narrating the entire story detail by detail. But I wonder… how would I let this article end on such a way? Well now, I guess you really have to watch the movie for yourselves. Probably because of how deeply it penetrated down on me, I simply cannot pour down into writing my brimming love and praises for ‘Dear John’.
Nonetheless, as a generalized introduction, the story somehow revolved around writing, sending, receiving, then finally reading ‘letters’. Yes. LETTERS!
But before the ‘letters’ stuff, John met Savannah in the beach near their respective homes. The movie opens with John, surf boarding through the waves; when Savannah enters the scene accompanied by her friends. A friend of Savannah accidentally dropped Savannah’s bag into the waters. John sees it, and immediately, he expertly dives into the sea to retrieve Savannah’s bag. Right after rescuing Savannah’s precious bag from sinking into the sea, John reluctantly returned it to her. Savannah was very grateful to him, saying that she greatly owed him. And from there on, their romance blossomed, growing profusely within just two weeks, before John returns to the Army while Savannah back to school.
That’s all it took them. Two weeks. And they easily fell in love with each other. It seemed very short from a normal perspective, but a lot of things had happened within such duration. John met Tim, the fatherly-figure in Savannah’s life; Savannah met John’s dad; John got to help Savannah rebuilding their devastated house; et cetera, et cetera. It would be a very long list to elaborate them all.
Well, you see, since John was assigned in the US Army - Special Forces, he needed to be far away from Savannah most of the time. And as their two weeks of being together comes to end, before John flies back to the Army, he wrote a tattered letter for Savannah. It wasn’t an official letter, but it gave Savannah some good idea. She then made John promise her to make her know of everything that was happening to him while he was away. She told John to scribble down every detail of his life in letters. In this way, no matter how far they were from each other, it seemed to bridge their lives together. COMMUNICATION. It was what the letters would be for. To let both of them know what’s going on with each other. So that somehow, they’ll be connected.

BUT FOR HOW LONG?

Were the letters enough to keep the relationship going? Well, that’s how it would lead the story to a lot of twists. Through the letters they wrote for each other, the story progresses. Through the letters they sent and received, both lives will be changed.
***This is all where the magic is. In the LETTERS. And personally, I was always greatly carried away by the magic. ‘Dear John’ meets my heart in a close-up.
What would you do with a letter that changed everything? For me? I surely will take chances. I’ll certainly respond to it, as long as I would be happy with such life-changing endeavor.
Well, I know I wouldn’t be able to end this article in a good way, partly because I don’t know the exact words to say, and partly because I am so much ‘into’ it that I don’t even know how to start and how to end praising such great movie. But anyhow, ‘Dear John’, on my intuitive perception, is definitely more than a STORY itself, it got its own life. It reveals a LIFE in the letters. And there’s the magic of LOVE, too.

O' Great Mountains of Sampiano

"Hoy, manlaag ta ilang Irene sa Sto.Nino!"

No one seemed to care about the idea.

No one even showed the slightest interest to accept this jurag-jurag scheme.

But before we knew it, we were already a group of seven riding in a white multicab headed to Sto.Nino. With only a scanty supply of food. No water. Just the enthusiasm to escape from the boredom prevailing at our respective homes. And of course, with the thrill and excitement of embarking into such out-of-the-blue scheme.

Well, the road when we got to Sto.Nino was all fogged by so much dust. The scorching heat of the sun was like opening every pore of my skin that it could really pierce down into my bones. But all of it was nothing compared to what was waiting ahead of us, the exciting unknown we were about to explore.

On the way to Sampiano (a sitio of Brgy. Sto Nino), the very location of our trek right below Sto.Nino itself, we momentarily dropped by at some stores along the dusty road to buy ourselves some stuff--ice water, bread, snacks. Of course, like someone who plans to enter a war, we also needed to fully equip ourselves for this tough battle.

Walk. Walk. Walk.

And now came the ultimate test… the real battle against nature.

We were on the cliff, right before descending the mountain. At the outset, we found ourselves on an amazing panoramic view of nature’s hidden beauty. With such rare façade, we took a brief halt and contemplated the breathtaking natural wonder that was laid right before our very eyes. It was such a gift – a heavenly sight of pure serenity.

From there, we took our first step in going down. With the beautiful Ms.Irene Gaspe as our ‘tour guide’, we started descending the very steep, barren mountain. The spectacular view around us entranced us so much that we forgot what we were getting ourselves into. But there was no chickening out now. And advancing together, we bravely passed the rocky, narrow paths going down of the mountain. It was so windy out there, that it seemed nature itself is whispering right directly into your ears. The grasses were strongly glued on the slopes as if they’ve been there from the very beginning. The birds were swaying gracefully with the wind, not even scared of the altitude of their flight. I hardly noticed the exact moment when I begun to envy those birds because they don’t need to feel what it was like to descend from the mountaintop. I could really feel my knees tremble so hard. Even my heart’s pounding was very much audible in my chest.

I could only wish that my eyes were blindfolded so that I wouldn’t be able to see the view below – the trees and houses which seemed to be so tiny like an army of ants in a constant parade. But no matter how I tried, I could still see the view below. I had to carefully watch my every step so that I wouldn’t trip down and end up rolling to the footsteps of this gigantic mountain. For now, I guess there is no reason at all to deny that I really do fear heights.

Down and down we went, and we even hardly noticed that we were nearing the bottom of the mountain. When we finally reached the base of the mountain, all we could think of was that: it was energy-sapping. Rappelling down the mountain was like an endless torture of the every joint of our bodies.

Nonetheless, the prize of making it down there was really an unforgettable treat for all us. It personally gave me so much relief when I saw the crystal-clear waters of the wide rivers that was literally stretched out to the far end of my sight; while the pure air that was enveloping us soothingly caressed our tired bodies. In my mind, I was certain of one thing: it was all worth it.

To burst the excitement out, we passed a narrow, long hanging bridge. The strong winds easily swayed the bridge, tremendously scaring us all to death. Things were made more severe when we got to see the river's fierce current right below the bridge. It actually made me nauseous.

It was about one o’ clock when we officialy passed the bridge and decided to take our lunch. But thirsty as we were, we decided first to seek for a store that would have to sell ice water or any other softdrinks that would quench our dry throats. Not far from the bridge and river, we came to the sitio proper of Sampiano where only few houses can be seen. It was very hot as the sun rose above us, when we finally found ourselves in a small store which luckily sells ice water and softdrinks. And there, at last, we were once again energized.

We also bought two cans of sardines that would somehow increase the very little food supply we had. From the sitio proper, we hiked again back to the bridge. This time, it was a lot easier for us to pass the bridge because we already learned the maneuver tricks the first time we crossed it. When we made it across, we then immediately devoured our lunch. We got to finish our lunch inside a small cave by the river.

By then, we were already so tired. But as they say, nothing’s gonna to stop us! We then enjoyed ourselves in the cool, pristine river as we started soaking ourselves onto it. We splashed waters to each other’s faces; started swimming against the current; and even challenged ourselves to dive into the deep portions of the river (but then decided not to). It was only Donessa and Maegan who did not plunge themselves into the water, maybe afraid of getting wet. But Al, Tisay, Ate Beth,Vevian, Wena, Jireh, Irene and I, hesitated no more in playing with the refreshing waters. With the magnificent view of nature as bonus, we savored every second of our swimming escapade in the river.

After all the enjoyment below, we then needed to hike up back to the top of the mountain. It was not easy returning home especially when you see right before you a mighty bulge of mountain you need to surpass. Just seeing it drains one’s energy. But in no time, against all odds, we made it back on top. So exhausted. Now soaked in sweat and even racing to breathe. But what counted for us back then was that we were able to successfully win over the battle against our nature trek.

As our consolation for this jurag-jurag plan, Irene’s family which resides at Sto.Nino, treated us with the delicious ‘lamaw’, a recipe of coconut flesh added with milk and sugar. It was just so revitalizing, so melting in the mouth. It really did satiate our growling stomachs after just finishing it off with nature’s strenuous challenge.

It was already dusk when we departed from Irene’s house. Few streaks of sunlight beamed to the dimming sky as we exhaustedly hiked (as in literally just walking) from their house, to wherever our feet would bring us, before we could catch a cab that would eventually take us home. And heaven’s luck! A cab rescued us. By then, our untidy figures were really a picture of poor barefooted beggars. YES. We really looked like beggars from the way our feet and clothes were dirtied and the worn-out expression that our faces were bearing.

Nevertheless, it was not on how tired we were, but on how much fun we had, that matters the most. We may then appeared to be so dirty and exhausted after that long day of jurag-jurag – but every scratch in our bodies, every ache we felt in descending and ascending the mountain, every drop of sweat all through this crazy adventure, and every fraction of time we spent together – all of it will be treasured deep in our hearts. Our happy and exciting EXPERIENCE out there was what matters most.

All in all, as we gaze back to that experience - to the mighty mountains and the white threads of rivers, we get to realize that LIFE, in comparison to our memorable nature trek, is also an array of challenges that we need to surpass. That is why, with confidence, we bravely swear to those majestic mountains of Sampiano:

“Whatever life has to throw at us, we will face it with valor and fervor… and then surpass it as victors, just like how we conquered you, o’ great mountains of Sampiano!”

Totong and his Valedictory speech

Delivered: 03/29/10, around 10AM @ MFNHS Gym

High School Graduation was once just a dream. Now that it is becoming real in front of my very eyes, I wish I never had longed for this day; because bidding goodbye to what we have we have gotten used to is unbearably painful. But go we must, for we know that the journey has not yet ended.

Today, our journey takes a pause, as we, the jubilant passengers of this voyage now take some rest. I intend to say this journey to take a pause, and not a full stop, for we all know that Graduation Day is not the end of our story; that this day means something more than the thought of finishing the painstaking four years of high school; and that this day is just another significant milestone of our lives which opens the door towards the wider horizons of greater opportunities waiting ahead.

“Someday it’s gonna make sense,” as one line of our graduation song says. This bespeaks the essence of what we have gathered for at this very moment.

Fellow graduates, we have now finally arrived at the sweetest and most rewarding point of our journey in high school. We are now claiming the moment to rest which we rightfully deserve after four years of hard work and sacrifices in facing and dealing with the innumerable demands of our secondary education. Along with this, I also take pleasure in saying that at this very moment, we not only reap the fruits of our labors and sacrifices, but we also savor the great fulfillment and joy of having been able to make it to the finish line.

To be given the opportunity to speak on behalf of the graduating class, batch 2009-2010 as the class Valedictorian, is a thing that still overwhelms me so much. Even now, the thought of it still triggers my legs and my knees to tremble, not because the information to carry out this task came as a surprise; but rather, because I feel myself to be unworthy of standing on this pedestal and delivering this Valedictory Speech; for I know that many can replace me here, and many could have done far better than what I have done.

But somehow, the four years of my incessant toil and patience in high school has taught me that it was never a question of whether you would march on stage as the Valedictorian or not - but a question of whether you have done your best in this venture or just have played around with the four straight years that passed. It was never a question of how great you were in the four years of your stay in high school, but how those four years have become great and meaningful as you lived in them.

In my part, I learned to put life and meaning to my high school years by expressing my overwhelming gratitude to the persons behind my success. It took me years to realize that any achievement in life would remain as dull as defeat if one doesn’t know how to share them. And I think this piece of speech would not be enough to contain the ever-outpouring thanks I have for everybody who stood by me as I worked for my aspirations, and subsequently conquered my dreams.

As an outset, I would like to thank my teachers and mentors here in Manolo Fortich National High School, my ever so beloved and cherished alma mater, who did not only impart me with the educational armaments in training for life, but have as well molded me into a morally upright individual. I will always be indebted to my advisers from first year to fourth year: Mrs. Lani R. Ua-o, Mr. John O. Urbina, Mrs. Nora S. Gumahin and Ms. Methuselah K. Arenas, whose patience and commitment to teach remain unparalleled as they stood as my second parents in school. I cannot dare forget also my subject teachers from first year up to now in fourth year, whose figures will always have my salute and respect, as they have been the instruments in broadening my knowledge as I take up my secondary education. These great educators have immensely contributed to what I have now become, a student whom they can be proud of. As I speak in behalf of every graduate, a million thanks to you our dear advisers and teachers for freeing us from the realm of ignorance. Thank you!

I also would like to take this rare opportunity to express how thankful I am to God for sending me angels in disguise in the persons of my friends and classmates who have accompanied me in my entire sojourn in high school. My friends, classmates and schoolmates, who have been the set of crayons in my dull school life, brightening up the years of our togetherness and bonding: my first year Aquarian classmates, the second year Sampaguettes barkadahan, the wild Shakespeareans team and now reaching fourth year, the Albert Einsteinerz and most specially to what we have unofficially considered as the fourth law of motion, the fourth year ISATONIX--my bundle of diverse yet united friends who have kept me inspired as I went through my school life. Not long now, we will part ways and go to college, but there is one thing that will surely attach us together no matter how far we may wander apart– and that is the friendship we have strongly established in high school. And all the memories we have fabricated, all the tears and laughter we shared, the memorable times of laag2x, jurag2x, mga kabuang, and all the experiences we had, will be treasured like gems in the vintage chest of our memories.

To my family, I will eternally be grateful for the gracious support, guidance, and love that you have unconditionally provided, as I take head on in this journey. Together with my supportive relatives, you all have become my driving force, my inspiration, for me to exceed beyond my limits, to take greater heights and to achieve all that there is to be achieved. Thus, it is just but right that I dedicate all my accomplishments to you, since honestly, I would be nothing if you were not there, to tap my shoulder and remind me that I am more than what I can be, and that I can be the best among the rest. Thank you so much for letting me experience what it is like to be going to school, and eventually be educated. A big fraction of my life will never stop thanking you, as I will now be heading to the uncertain world of reality.

Above all, I want to thank Him for definitely showering me with all the blessings in heaven – for the strength which allowed me to push through, for the patience which made me learn to make sacrifices in many aspects of life, and for letting the paths of those crucial persons who helped me overcome the odds to coincide with mine. In this day, we praise and glorify our most powerful and benevolent God as He makes our paths always level and victorious, leading us right now to our Graduation Day. And for His glory, we are now chins up, proud and glad, to march on stage and take our diplomas.

In the end, the road to El Dorado has not been easy. It was never been a promise of a bed of roses. Nevertheless, behind all the hurdles that barred us in getting through, we still have made it today. Yes! There may have been times when we felt uncertain of ourselves; when we were so tired of going to school; when we got trapped in studying our lessons and making our assignments or projects; when we were sandwiched between our financial and family problems; when we couldn’t help but think of quitting; when all of our strengths have been totally drained and our spirits have gone low; when our days have gone dim and our hopes faded – but – fellow graduates, let us think of now, and observe our cheerful surroundings, and there look at the happy faces of our fellow graduates, the genuine, wide smiles of our mentors, and the proud, inexorably joyful looks of our parents.

Today we take a brief halt. Today we harvest our yield out of the four years of working so hard in high school. Today we cross another threshold of life and unfold history, as we challenge ourselves to create our own. Let us all be glad. Today is indeed your day. Our day. Our GRADUATION DAY. The mark of what we have become. The happy ending of our high school tale. The moment when all things, both the little and the great, have finally made sense.

“Someday it’s gonna make sense” so the song says, and that someday... begins today. =)

Thank you.








TTT.TTT