thedecipherer

While staying here in Durham and after visiting New Castle, I've ultimately realized that a lot of things were deprived from us by the Spanish and American Colonization as well as by the Japanese occupation.. We were robbed of our history, our destiny, and our identity.

university Student life is really different here in the Uk. Imagine, the Durham Union has its own building and Dormitory. They also have their own business (a student-ran pub) in order to make sure that the organization will be self-sufficient. This is awesome. They really treat their students as adults who can manage everything. They trust that their students can run businesses and dormitories. This is super unlike the Philippines were an illiberal education dictates that students must be monitored as much as possible especially in restrictive Catholic Universities. It has its own perks I guess, but I think Filipino students both from Private and Public Institutions, must be given more autonomy. They shouldn't be treated with much suspicion and must be treated more like adults. :-)

 

In the train on the way to Durham from London.

 

Woah. Everything’s connected by train here in the United Kingdom. At may wifi in the train! And their low cost airport looks even better than our NAIA 3. Super efficient ng transportation system here.

 

Dino’s jealous and wonders when the Philippines will have these amenities.

 

We’ve wasted so much time and opportunities to develop because of poor leadership. I’m hoping that the next great leader will emerge this coming 2010 presidential election.

11:35 AM

October 3, 2009

 

On my way to Kuala Lumpur

 

That was fast. The world is moving so fast and we cannot afford to be left behind. Gone were the days when we can just dillydally around. Right now, you have to always be quick in order to beat as much people as possible in this never-ending race.

 

Later.

         As a person, I believe in three fundamental things: first, I believe that the rights and dignity of poor and non-influential individuals are not less valuable than that of the rich and influential people; second, I believe that a hallmark of a healthy and thriving democracy is the constant existence of quality discourse specifically participated by well-informed and learned citizens; and lastly, I believe in the existence of a sovereign God who gave us the opportunities to learn and talents to hone for us to share it with others. These three beliefs will be the main principles that will set my direction as a lawyer.

 

                        I believe that the rights and dignity of poor and non-influential individuals are not less valuable than that of the rich and influential people. When I was in high school, I was fortunate enough to have been exposed to urban poor communities present in Metro Manila. This experience continued when I was in my college undergraduate and it is untrue that Lasallians are completely alien to the putrid smell of poverty and its excruciating vicious cycle. I might not have experienced this degree of poverty first-hand, but am completely one with the marginalized in their fight for what has to be justly given to them. After meeting some of those whose voice seem to not matter in our society like the youth in Baseco and the farmers of Calatagan, I got to realize that when they feel pain, it’s not less painful as when I am the one who is feeling the pain. It dawned on me that these people deserve the same kind of respect and dignity that every human being should get. Unfortunately, however, they are actually constantly victimized by a society that is plagued with injustice and inequality. As a lawyer, I will devote my career in defending the most defenseless people in society. Now I recognize that this sounds like a too ideal direction considering that the defense of the poor is not very promising when it comes to financial rewards, but having lots of money is not my end as a lawyer anyway.   Rather, it is my humble belief that it is just supposed to be a means towards a nobler end. Some people will treat this idea as absurd especially since the financial, emotional and intellectual, investments that one has poured just to become a lawyer are never a joke, but I see no wrong in aiming for the absurd in order to achieve what seems to be impossible. This is a lesson that I have learned from the founder CMLI, Atty. Fernanda S. Balboa.  Essentially, it is with this conviction that I see myself marching forward with clenched fist, ready to declare to oppressors of the poor and the marginalized that we shall not allow them to step on the inalienable right of every individual to dignity.

 

                        I believe that a hallmark of a healthy and thriving democracy is the constant existence of quality discourse specifically participated by well-informed and learned citizens. As a believer of free speech and the importance of social discourse in a democratic society, it is my belief that citizens should actively participate in public policy discussions. Corollary to this, I think that lawyers have the social and moral obligation to aggressively take part in social dialectics that mold the direction of the world. This is because supposedly, lawyers are there to promote justice and passiveness is never a good and effective way in upholding what is just. As a lawyer, I see myself at the forefront of public policy discussions in order to ascertain that such policies are still in line with what is believed to be just and acceptable.

 

                        Lastly, I believe in the existence of a sovereign God who gave us the opportunities to learn and talents to hone for us to share it with others. Since time immemorial, I have always loved the idea of teaching. I am a frustrated teacher and I would like to settle this frustration once and for all. I will definitely make sure that I will be able to teach what I know to other people who also have the same kind of thirst for knowledge that I have. As a lawyer, I will definitely make sure that I will be able to impart my knowledge by probably being involved with academic institutions or eventually starting my own training institute.

 

                        Being a lawyer opens a lot of opportunities. I do not intend to waste these opportunities by just making money out of lawyering because, like my three fundamental beliefs, I also believe that being a lawyer is more than just earning millions of money.

Chiz Escudero for a dumber Philippines? This was written by Benj from UP-Manila.

 Pro-Chiz people, care to respond? *Calling Robin Garcia*

From

 

http://www.atheista.net/2007/05/10/chiz-escudero-for-a-dumber-philippines/comment-page-2/#comment-10544

 

Excerpt from the Philippine Daily Inquirer

Escudero also suggested a revision of public schools’ curriculum that would reduce the number of regular subjects taught to students – from the current eight to 11, to six – as one way to reduce the classroom shortage.

Essential subjects, he said, would include Languages, including English and Filipino, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies or History, Computer and Good Manners and Right Conduct.

Subjects like trigonometry, calculus, geometry, and algebra, should be taught only in college or as high school electives since these are not relevant to the everyday life of Filipinos, he said.

If you think that’s not enough, look at what he said in his privilege speech:

Quote:

PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. ESCUDERO

………

Mr. Speaker, ang isang dahilan kung bakit kada taon marami tayong classrooms na kinakailangan ay dahil napakaraming nasisira sa kakulangan ng supisyenteng pondo para i-maintain at i-repair lang sana ang mga classrooms na ito.

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, we should and we propose that the curriculum be restudied. Mr. Speaker, I know that this will generate a lot of debate but I hope that our colleagues will listen for awhile. Sa ngayon, umaabot sa nine to eleven ang subjects ng ating mga estudyante sa elementary at high school. Nakukuba na ang ating mga estudyante sa kakabitbit ng napakaraming libro. Subalit ang tanong ko ho: Ito ba ay angkop pa rin sa pangangailangan ng ating bansa sa ngayon? Ang kanila po bang pinag-aralan ay nagagamit nila sa kanilang buhay sa labas ng paaralan at magagamit kapagka sila ay naghanap ng trabaho?
I can only cite myself as an example, Mr. Speaker, but mula po nung natapos ako nung high school hindi ko pa nagamit ang Calculus, hindi ko pa ho nagamit and Trigonometry, hindi ko pa ho nagamit and Algebra, iyung Geometry, sa bilyar ko lang nagamit. At iyong mga ibang itinuturo ay marapat sigurong ituro sa kolehiyo kung nais maging inhinyero ng isang bata. Iyong mga ibang itinuturo, marapat sigurong ibigay na lamang nating sa kanila sa kolehiyo o bilang elective pagdating ng high school.

I guess the ‘good’ congressman forgot that most high school students won’t grow up to be lawmakers who waste time by making really retarded statements. Algebra, Trigonometry, Chemistry and similar subjects stimulate critical thinking and this prepares them for the more challenging topics that they’ll face in college or in the work environment. Yes, knowing Euclid’s postulates and ionic bonds won’t help a future lawyer, but geometric concepts could come handy for an architect or engineer. Using your brain to think logically in solving problems didn’t kill anyone and there’s no reason for us stop making high school students use this faculty.

A lot of people will be voting for Escudero because he’s cute. Some people even say he looks like Bamboo Mañalac. I don’t recall Bamboo having gigantic craters on his face. What Chiz needs aside from a lobotomy is a nice, luxurious and affordable skin resurfacing treatment. Come to think of it, he might need more than one.

 

 

Dino de Leon
Chair, Philippine Debate Union

Vice Chair, United Asian Debate Union

dinorm58@ yahoo.com 
+639155406181

Claretiano. Lasalliano. Filipino.

 

 

Robin’s response:

 

 

Dino!

 

Thanks for sharing the article. May i just assert that this public policy proposal examplifies a legislator who is not afraid of widespread public criticism even when elections are just around the corner. More impotantly, this shows that he is willing to go against the tide and change status quo. He wants to change even what most people consider as truth.

 

May i just remind everyone to not stop at looking at the intent of the legislation, because undenialby, it seems really outragous, instead, look at the reason behind that intent. The topic, as he warned is really debateable, but take note, that Senator Escudero DID NOT propose abolishing the subjects from the high school curiculum altogether, instead, it will be an elective, like shakespeare in college. There is more in the topic, in fact, i suggest we debate about it in training sometime.

 

Cheers!

 

ps. REGISTERED KA NA BA????? =)

Robin Michael Upano Garcia 

Senior Varsity Debater, La Salle Debate Society

Metro Manila Youth Adviser, Youth 4 Chiz Incorporated

Alumnus, Department of Political Science & Development Studies

De La Salle University

+639157646291

 

 

Tl’s comment

 

 

 

Robin, your interpretation of Chiz Escudero's actions are both perverse and self-serving. Let me say this as clearly as possible so you will understand:

 

A legislator who acts against the people's will and what they hold as sacred as a truth (such as the rigour of education in this case), is a BAD POLITICIAN AND A BAD LEGISLATOR. He is not being true to his constituency and is going against public interest, something he was sworn in to protect. And yes this does exemplify a legislator who is not afraid of criticism but it is because HE DOES NOT HOLD HIMSELF ACCOUNTABLE TO THOSE CRITICISMS and hides behind the bigger skirts of his patrons. Of course, he's not afraid. In the same way, Oswald was not afraid to kill John F. Kennedy unafraid. He was holding the power with the gun in his hand.

 

But I guess any publicity is good publicity. 

 

tl

 

 

 

TERRY’s RESPONSE

 

Hi Robin,

I just want to comment on the article without any personal animosity attached to it, but since you place such high value on not being afraid of criticism and going against the tide, feel free to consider yourself the receiving end of my criticism, or if you want to make it sound more heroic - antagonism. ;p

1) There are only 6 main subjects: English, Filipino, Math, Science, Social Science, and Makabayan (what used to be PEHM + Computer). The "non-essential" subjects he mentioned are merely sub-categories of an "essential" subject which is Math. So, it won't change the students' schedule, therefore it won't solve the problem of inadequate classrooms.

2) So what does he want Math teachers to teach? Arithmetic for the next ten years? And since he doesn't want to totally abolish the "non-essentials" they will still be taught as electives. And who would want additional school work if they have a choice? Will having to choose an elective be mandatory like it is in college? And how much of a choice would it be exactly if you can't go straight to Geometry or Trigonometry without a basic understanding of Algebra (how will they even understand the pythagorean theorem if they don't know that letters are supposed to signify a variable?)

3) And how important is it to solve for x anyway? Escudero claims he has never used it since graduating from high school. (If there were only two candidates, and there are 45M voters, how many people can I afford to piss off and still win the elections?) I doubt he never studied the numbers.

4) "May i just remind everyone to not stop at looking at the intent of the legislation, because undenialby, it seems really outragous, instead, look at the reason behind that intent." You are right about the proposal being outrageous, but "look at the reason behind that intent"? hmmm... i'm looking, what am i supposed to find? From the way it sounds, instead of encouraging discipline, perseverance, and excellence, he is succumbing to the pull of convenience, laziness, and lack of vision.

Speaking from a teacher's point of view,
Terry

 

 

ERIC CRUZ’s COMMENT

 

Comments???

 

‘Across-the-board’ passing mark urged for typhoon-hit students

By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 10:10:00 10/12/2009

Filed Under: Pepeng, Ondoy, Disasters (general), Education, Politics, Eleksyon 2010, Elections

MANILA, Philippines – An "across-the-board" passing grade for all students affected by recent typhoons has been proposed by a senator on Monday.

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero said this should be given to affected students in elementary, high school, and college levels since their schools were no longer "usable" and they could no longer catch up with their lessons.

"Ideklara nang pasado or across-the board-ipasa na lahat ng estudyante mula elementary, high school at college sa mga naapektuhang lugar [Students in the elementary, high school, and college levels in affected areas should be given a passing grade across-the-board]," Escudero said in an interview over “Umagang kay Ganda,” a morning show over ABS-CBN television network.

"If you notice, even in reliefe effortsof ABS-CBN, a lot of the youth helped when there were no classes. When classes resumed, only you were left,” Escudero told his hosts.

"What the youth will learn when they help, what the youth will learn in areas ravaged by the typhoons, these cannot be taught inside the classroom in one semester or even in a year,” he said in Filipino.

In a text message, Escudero explained that a passing grade for these students was the least that the government could do for them, "especially given the fact that they already learned a lot from this experience and the semester is almost over."

He said the Department of Education can issue a directive on this, citing a similar incident during Edsa I.

"If I remember, this was done during Edsa I when there was no grade given to the students except “P” so that their average or grade won’t be affected,” Escudero said.

Instead of returning to school, the students should be tapped to help the victims of the calamity.

"We should tap youth power to help us get through this," said the senator

DepEd thumbs down ‘calamity diplomas’

By Philip Tubeza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:35:00 10/13/2009

Filed Under: Education, Disasters (general), Weather

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Education has rejected the call of Senator Francis Escudero for all students in calamity-hit areas to be given passing marks this grading period or semester.

Educatio Secretary Jesli Lapus said the Department of Education (DepEd) was not sold on the idea of issuing passing marks across the board because doing so might further hobble a public education system reeling from storm-damaged or -destroyed property worth P930.75 million.

“Maybe [Escudero] was misconstrued? [If we follow his suggestion], we compound our losses of lives and property further with a costly penalty to the education of our children,” said Lapus, who, like the senator, is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

“The students might pray for supertyphoons every year, and we might end up with calamity diplomas,” he added.

Education Undersecretary Vilma Labrador echoed Lapus’ position, saying: “We sympathize with the victims of the recent typhoons, including our students and teachers. The country has lost lives and resources. We can’t afford to lose further by giving up the needed learning of our youth.”

Labrador said school and local officials would resume all regular classes as soon as possible and have been “looking for ways to make up for the missed class days.”

“The required minimum number of class days can be met,” she said.

On the other hand, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) is leaving it to tertiary schools to decide on the matter.

DepEd-National Capital Region Director Teresita Domalanta said teachers would be willing to “walk the extra mile” and even “bend policies” just so the students in devastated areas would make the grade.

After all, under normal circumstances, “at most only one or two students” failed in an average class of 50 students in public schools, Domalanta said, adding: “That’s because our teachers always try their best to give those students in danger of failure [every chance to pass], like remedial classes and other enrichment studies. Our teachers even visit them at home.

“So now, although many of our teachers are also victims of the [storms], they will do what they can to help students pass. We’ve already thought about this. Our teachers will walk the extra mile to visit them.”

Domalanta admitted that when classes resumed last week, student attendance was noticeably low in the devastated areas of Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, Navotas, Valenzuela and Muntinlupa.

“But this week, we’ve noticed that the numbers are improving,” she said.

According to Domalanta, the children seeking shelter in schools that are serving as evacuation centers may temporarily attend classes there.

“We’ll have separate records for that, and they can return to their original schools later,” she said.

CHEd Executive Director Julito Vitriolo said the issue could be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

He said school officials could assess their students’ standing.

“If the grades of these students show that they have a chance of passing even if they fail their final exams, then maybe they can be exempted from their finals,” Vitriolo said.

“But if their grades show that there is no hope of passing even if they get a perfect grade in their finals, then that’s a different matter,” he said.

 

 

terry, your previous comment was very teacher-esque... haha

 

 

ANGELA’S RESPONSE

 

CHIZ ESCUDERO FOR A DUMBER PHILIPPINES?

 

"Ideklara nang pasado or across-the board-ipasa na lahat ng estudyante mula elementary, high school at college sa mga naapektuhang lugar [Students in the elementary, high school, and college levels in affected areas should be given a passing grade across-the-board]," Escudero said in an interview over “Umagang kay Ganda,” a morning show over ABS-CBN television network.

While I am not ignorant of the fact that the affected areas of the typhoon have badly ravaged, with classrooms deep in flood water and books - if not stolen by evacuees - equally drenched, I disagree in principle with the idea of the automatic passing of students. It destroys the very idea of meritocracy that should be taught in school. As a future teacher, I understand that this is a difficult dilemma to reconcile. However, "awa" simply does not cut it. Hard work and resilience does. Working hard to make the grade, studying your ass off, listening to lectures, participating in activities - you remove those values and make it easier for students (at least students who are inherently tamad) to justify why they should pass, even if they don't deserve it. You have to make students feel that they have to earn the grade and lessen their sense of entitlement about it. As teachers, we help students get through the hardest moments of their young lives, and this kind of reciprocity should stand in a situation like this. We will work together for them to make the grade in spite of this, no excuses.

School has always been a place where meritocracy almost always stands, typhoons and being nasalanta is not an excuse for you to pass.

"What the youth will learn when they help, what the youth will learn in areas ravaged by the typhoons, these cannot be taught inside the classroom in one semester or even in a year,” he said in Filipino.

I am very knowledgeable that not everything can be learned inside the classroom. That's why we take field trips and encourage extracurricular activities (i.e. sports, COSCA, choir, etc.). However, the statement assumes that the things we learn inside the classroom is not as important. I don't know about the person who said this, but I know about balance. We've all done it - or are doing it right now. Classroom work and relief work can be done, just like sports and academics. This is a more balanced practice of education that the person who said this statement forgot to ask his education advisor (or does he have one?).

 

 

AND THE OTHER COMMENT OF ANGELA:

 

Escudero also suggested a revision of public schools curriculum that would reduce the number of regular subjects taught to students – from the current eight to 11, to six as one way to reduce the classroom shortage.

 

Essential subjects, he said, would include Languages, including English and Filipino, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies or History, Computer and Good Manners and Right Conduct.

 

If by any chance they are able to reduce the curriculum by half, we would effectively double the number of classrooms in a day and overnight, because we can now use the classroom twice over instead of simply being used once, given the overburden curriculum that our children have,” he said.

Subjects like trigonometry, calculus, geometry, and algebra, should be taught only in college or as high school electives since these are not relevant to the everyday life of Filipinos, he said.

 

The crux of his argument is this, that if we reduce the number of subjects students are already taking we solve 2 problems: first, classroom shortage and second, the "overburdened" curriculum where we make students learn insignificant subjects like algebra, trigonometry, geometry and calculus.

I would like to concentrate on the second idea.

His response is not sound at all in an education perspective. Logistically, yes, it can be done. However, if it so happens that we remove subjects that will teach our students how to be more critical thinkers, I would have to pass. The present curriculum we have right now (RBEC) is more balanced given that it accommodates Multiple Intelligences (his suggested curriculum eliminated Art, Music and PE). Furthermore, his curriculum eliminates the students' avenue to learn higher maths. Even if I don't like it, I still think that these subjects expose students to first, critical thinking and second, an idea of possible fields that involve the use of these "irrelevant" subjects like engineering, architecture and finance. At the end of the day, when you eliminate these subjects, you limit our students' scope of learning. Instead, like Terry said, you have students who can just add well. So much for a Philippine win in the Math Olympiad.

 

 

 

AND SINCE I LIKE DISCOURSE,

 

Sobrang astig ng response mo dito. Youth adviser, care to respond?

 

 

Dino de Leon
Chair, Philippine Debate Union

Vice Chair, United Asian Debate Union

dinorm58@ yahoo.com 
+639155406181

Claretiano. Lasalliano. Filipino.

 

 

Robin, because of these stupid policies, I will definitely not vote for Chiz.

I wouldn't want to see the day where crucial subjects are no longer being taught in HS (5x a day nga math ngayon eh. ayaw ko na marunong lang ako mag add!)

I wouldn't want to see the day na lahat ng estudyante ay nagpapack na alng ng relief goods at may college diploma na.

Never. Never will I vote for Chiz.

 

 

Dino de Leon
Chair, Philippine Debate Union

Vice Chair, United Asian Debate Union

dinorm58@ yahoo.com 
+639155406181

Claretiano. Lasalliano. Filipino.

 

 

 

AND ANGELA’S OBSERVATION

 

Daming haters ni Chiz. Grin.

 

 

AND TO TOP IT ALL, THE REIGNING PUBLIC SPEAKING CHAMPION PRINCESS SPEAKS.

 

What is this Chiz whiz all about huh? Notifications of this conversation are becoming overwhelming already. Such are bothering my ym! BWAHAHA I am studying for the final exams and every minute I can see a flashing "CHIZ ESCUDERO FOR A DUMBER WHATEVER CHURVA".

 

Can I just say, I'll kill Chiz tomorrow?

 

No more Chiz Escudero, No more Robin Garcia eksena, No more notifications, No more distractions.

 

pwede ba? kung ipapasa lang naman nya yung mga victims of misfortunes, sus magpapa request na ako sa daddy ko na magpadala ng airplane sa San beda college of law para magpa cloud seeding. Para umulan ng malakas at maging victim of misfortune na rin kami lahat dun. PARA PUMASA NA RIN AKO SA LAW SCHOOL HANGGANG FOURTH YEAR.

 

CHIZ FOR PRESIDENT! PAG-ASA NG PASANG AWA!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still waiting for some responses. Looking forward to it! Hehehe.

It is with regret that we announce the cancellation of our BATCH reunion slated on Saturday, October 3, 2009 due to the devastation that was caused by typhoon Ondoy. The said reunion shall have to be rescheduled to another date. Wait for further announcements regarding this.

Since this is a difficult moment for the Filipino nation, let's all pray for our fellow Filipinos. May we be able to hurdle the difficult times ahead of us. We call on everyone to volunteer and donate if you can! :-)

-BATCH DAWN ALUMNI OFFICERS

"There will only be one thing in the world I will never accept — that you love me more than I love you — because my love for you though unarticulated will never be equaled. - Ninoy Aquino
------------------


My Dearest Cory,

In a few hours I shall be embarking on an uncertain fate, which may well be the end of a long struggle. I slept well last night for the first time since I left Boston — maybe because I’m just plain tired or I’m really at peace with myself. I want to tell you many things but time is running out and I do not have any machine. After a few more paragraphs, my penmanship will be illegible.

All the things I want to tell you may be capsulized in one line - - I love you! You’ve stood by me in my most trying moments and there were times I was very hard on you. But if anyone will ever understand me, it is you, and I know you will always find it in your heart to forgive — and unfair and ironic as it is — it is because of this thought and belief that I often took you for granted.

Early on I knew I was not meant to make money — so I won’t be able to leave anything to the children. I did what I thought I could do best, which is public service, and I hope our people in time will appreciate my sacrifices. This would be my legacy to the children. I may not bequeath them material wealth but I leave them a tradition which can be priceless.

I realize I’ve been very stingy with praise and appreciation for all your efforts — but though unsaid — you know that as far I’m concerned, you are the best. That’s why we’ve lasted this long. There will only be one thing in the world I will never accept — that you love me more than I love you — because my love for you though unarticulated will never be equaled.

If all goes well I should be back in my cell before sundown. Should I be detained do not rush to get home. Take your time and enjoy a side trip to Europe with the girls.

I’ll try to call you tonight if the authorities will allow me. Otherwise just remember me in your dreams.

Love,
Ninoy

P.S. I offered a special rosary for Papa and I asked for his intercession. You know he never failed me. (Ninoy here is referring to Cory’s father, Jose Cojuangco, who died on August 21, 1976)

Calling all Batch DAWN members! 2005 proud Claretians!

 

What: BATCH DAWN REUINON

Where: Conspiracy Bar, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City

When: October 3, 2009, Saturday, 6:30 PM-sawa

How much: 300 pesos/person inclusive of food and drinks (Choose between the two packages available)

 

Noel Cabangon performance 9 PM-1 AM.

 

Package 1

Choice of 1 Pasta + Iced Tea

Choices are: Pesto, Spaghetti Bolognese, Angel hair Garlic and Mushroom, Pasta Carbonara or Tomato-basil 

 

Package 2

Choice of 1 viand + beer

Choices are: pork sisig, Mexican nachos, chili wings, or Hungarian sausage

 

You may bring your friends/girlfriends :-)

 

Please spread the word! We need your help to make this endeavor a success! Text Lj (09189246354), RB (09052201040) or Dino

 

See you there. 

 

Your Batch DAWN Alumni Association Executive Officers

"I don’t have an answer for everyone. I only have mine. This year I am proud to have contributed 25 dollars to Barack Hussein Obama’s campaign. This year, Michael Jackson died and while reminiscing all his songs, I realized I first discovered my humanity when I heard Man in the Mirror when I was a kid. This year, Shels and Alexis died. I do not care to use their death to score sympathy points for my argument but only to sincerely state that life is too short to postpone the promises we make to each other. One promise is to help turn our country around. And this year, I will not be silent. I will not accept revisionism in my political history. I will research like hell and arrive at the best decision possible. I will try to raise the bar for political discourse. And I will not forget. I will push for reform even if it is in just my circle of friends and acquaintances and facebook and my blog are my only political machinery. That is what this vote means to me.'' (David, 2009)

I can't believe Shels died at such a young age. She was a nice person, definitely a Lasallian debater. I admire her for her simplicity and her humility. Most of all, she is a high school teacher, and I really admire people who dedicate their lives to teach.

I would like to share an essay she wrote before she died. :-)

We will forever miss you Shels!

"Essay for Iwill2will" by Shella Paz

[DISCLAIMER: When asked to talk about one's self, I think the tendency is to sell yourself good, or to vindicate some flaws. I don't really know where to begin. I don't know how honest or how accurate this essay will come out to be but I am hoping that in the end, it will serve at least two purposes: to help me sort out my thoughts about my self, and help me really prepare for the Iwill2will workshop]

Let's pretend I'm someone else other than myself, describing my self as a very familiar friend:

Shella is a 24 year old teacher, a graduate of De La Salle University, daughter of Mercedes and Nemrod. She lives in Quezon City. She is into drawing and painting, an avid reader, and a music enthusiast. She currently teaches World History at the Philippine Science High School. She earns meagerly and is still single.

The above reads like a slum book or an encyclopedia entry. Is it accurate? If I hear my friend saying that about me, what would I feel?

I think that the description above would answer the question "What am I?" rather than "Who am I?". "Who" is used to pertain to a person, to someone. And a person, perhaps, is more than his/her job, clothes, nationality or degree; more than the color of skin, height, width, favorite ice cream.

So, who am I? I think I am the life that I live. When I think of the meaning of "me", can't help but speak about the meaning of "my life".

What is my life? It may be described as the sum of all the circumstances I've gone through, thoughts and dreams I embrace, work I've done, tears I've shed (mushy..), laughter, things and people I love, my hopes, fears, the lessons I've learned throughout the years, and some of my drawings. The products of my experiences, choices, and responses as an individual make up my life.

But what if, to my surprise, I find someone somewhere in the other side of the world who looks, thinks, feels, and acts, exactly like I do? Would that mean there are two "me's"? What if, somewhere in time, I meet someone who've gone through the same things, dreamt and loved the same, laughed as loud and cried as shamelessly, and lived like I do, would that person be another "me"? Somehow, it's not enough to talk about one's self as a product of a set of possibilities. I feel that, to define one's self, it is a requirement also to distinguish one's existence from all the billions of other existence; perhaps, what makes the person a "someone", an "individual", is that which sets him/her apart--unique amidst the many peoples who live, have lived, and will live.

I used to think that I am not at all unique. A description of me can fit any one; if you just change the names and figures, it can be anybody. Even the thoughts I have and have had, even the most silent ones, these can be someone else's too.

However, I have come to believe that my existence is unique. I am a unique body and soul for one. My set of circumstances would also be impossibly the same with anybody else's. And most of all, I was uniquely designed, intended for a unique purpose and meaning by God. I am not one of the outcomes of mass-production in a factory; I was handcrafted by an omnipotent craftsman. And it doesn't stop there. I am also continuously being shaped and colored, tracked and guided, sustained, rebuilt, fortified, nurtured, and loved. I don't always feel good about what I am or what I do but this fact about me makes me love my self, my life.

What is that unique purpose that I was created for? What is the meaning of my life? I know now, that I was born to love. However, I am still unsure about which road to take, or which path to follow--I mean, I am uncertain about which lifetime career I should dedicate my self to, or what is the vocation I should see and follow.

In the meantime, I would like to live my life one day at a time. And I hope that I would live it each day fighting to love and learning how to love. I still have many hopes and dreams that I want to pursue, tears and troubles I want to overcome, yearnings I want to satisfy, but in the general sense this is what I want out of my life: to be what I ought to be and to never fall away on account of Him who saves me.

Theres The Rub
May araw din kayo

By Conrado de Quiros
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:04:00 08/17/2009

Tatagalugin ko na nang makuha n’yo. Kahit na lingwaheng kanto lang ang alam kong Tagalog.

Tutal Buwan ng Wika naman ang Agosto. Baka sakali ’yung paboritong wika ni Balagtas ay makatulong sa pag-unawa n’yo dahil mukhang ’yung paboritong wika ni Shakespeare ay lampas sa IQ n’yo. Kung sa bagay, ang pinakamahirap gisingin ay ’yung nagtutulug-tulugan. Ang pinakamahirap padinggin ay ’yung nagbibingi-bingihan. Ang pinakamahirap paintindihin ay ’yung nagmamaangmaangan. Bueno, mahirap din paintindihin ’yung likas na tanga. Pero bahala na.

Sabi mo, Cerge Remonde, alangan naman pakanin ng hotdog ang amo mo. Bakit alangan? Hindi naman vegetarian ’yon. At public service nga ’yon, makakatulong dagdagan ng cholesterol at salitre ang dugong dumadaloy papuntang puso n’ya. Kung meron man s’yang dugo, kung meron man s’yang puso.

Bakit alangan? Malamang di ka nagbabasa ng balita, o di lang talaga nagbabasa, kung hindi ay nalaman mo ’yung ginawa ni Barack Obama at Joe Biden nitong nakaraang Mayo. Galing silang White House patungong Virginia nang magtakam sila pareho ng hamburger. Pina detour nila ang motorcade at tumuloy sa unang hamburgerang nakita nila. Ito ang Ray’s Hell Burger, isang maliit at independienteng hamburger joint.

Tumungo ang dalawa sa counter at sila mismo ang nag-order, hindi mga aides. Nagbayad sila ng cash na galing sa sariling bulsa at kagaya ng ibang customers ay pumila para sa turno nila.

Ito ay presidente at bise presidente ng pinakamakapangyarihang bansa sa buong mundo. Kung sa bagay, ’yung amo n’yo ay hindi naman talaga presidente. Di lang makita ang pagkakaiba ni Garci kay God kaya nasabing “God put me here.” Pekeng presidente, pekeng asal presidente.

Sabi mo, Anthony Golez, maliit lang ang P1 million dinner kumpara sa bilyon-bilyong pisong dinala ng amo mo sa bansa.

Ay kayo lang naman ang nagsasabing may inambag ang amo n’yo na bilyong-bilyong piso sa kaban ng bayan. Ni anino noon wala kaming nakita. Ang nakita lang namin ay yung bilyon-bilyong piso—o borjer, ayon nga sa inyong dating kakosa na si Benjamin Abalos—na inaswang ng amo n’yo sa kaban ng bayan. Executive privilege daw ang hindi n’ya sagutin ito. Kailan pa naging pribilehiyo ng isang opisyal ang di managot sa taumbayan? Kailan pa naging pribilehiyo ng isang opisyal ang magnakaw?

Maliit lang pala ang P1 million, ay bakit hindi n’yo na lang ibigay sa nagugutom? O doon sa mga sundalo sa Mindanao? Tama si Archbishop Oscar Cruz. Isipin n’yo kung gaano karaming botas man lang ang mabibili ng P1 million at karagdagang P750,000 na nilamon ng amo n’yo at mga taga bitbit ng kanyang maleta sa isa pang restawran sa New York.

Maliit lang pala ang P1 million (at P750,000), bakit hindi n’yo na lang ibigay doon sa pamilya ng mga sundalong namatay sa Mindanao? Magkano ’yung gusto n’yong ibigay sa bawat isa? P20,000? Sa halagang iyan 50 sundalo na ang maaabuluyan n’yo sa $20,000. Pasalu-saludo pa ’yang amo n’yo sa mga namatay na kala mo ay talagang may malasakit. Bumenta na ’yang dramang ’yan. At pasabi-sabi pa ng “Annihilate the Abus!” Di ba noon pa n’ya ’yan pinangako? Mahilig lang talagang mangako ’yang amo n’yo.

Bukod pa d’yan, saan ba nanggaling ’yung limpak-limpak na salapi ng mga kongresista na pinansisindi nila ng tabako? Di ba sa amin din? Tanong n’yo muna kung ayos lang na i-blowout namin ng wine at caviar ang amo n’yo habang kami ay nagdidildil ng asin—’yung magaspang na klase ha, ’di yung iodized. Ang tindi n’yo, mga p’re.

At ikaw naman, Romulo Macalintal, tapang ng apog mo. Maiisip mo tuloy na sundin na lang ang mungkahi ni Dick the Butcher sa “Henry VI” ni Shakespeare: “First thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Pa ethics-ethics ka pa, pasalamat ka di nasunog ang bibig mo sa pagbigkas ng katagang ’yon.

Marami mang sugapa rin sa aming mga taga media, di naman kasing sugapa n’yo. At di naman kami sineswelduhan ng taumbayan. Wala naman kaming problemang sumakay sa PAL at kailangan pang bumili ng P1.2 billion jet. Anong sabi n’yo, kailangan ng amo n’yo sa pabyahe-byahe? E sino naman ang may sabing magbabyahe s’ya? Ngayon pang paalis na s’ya—malinaw na ayaw n’yang umalis. Bakit hindi na lang s’ya bumili ng Matchbox na eroplano? Kasya naman s’ya ro’n.

Lalo kayong nagpupumiglas, lalo lang kayong lumulubog sa kumunoy. Di n’yo malulusutan ang bulilyasong ginawa n’yo. Para n’yo na ring inagaw ang isinusubong kanin ng isang batang nagugutom. Tama si Obama at Biden: Sa panahon ng recession, kung saan nakalugmok ang mga Amerikano sa hirap, dapat makiramay ang mga pinuno sa taumbayan, di nagpapakapariwara. Sa panahon ng kagutuman, na matagal nang kalagayan ng Pinoy, at lalo pang tumindi sa paghagupit ng Typhoon Gloria, dapat siguro uminom na lang kayo ng insecticide. Gawin n’yo ’yan at mapapawi kaagad ang kagutuman ng bayan.

Sa bandang huli, buti na rin lang at ginawa n’yo ’yung magpasasa sa P1 million dinner habang lupaypay ang bayan sa kagutuman—di lang sa kawalan ng pagkain kundi sa iba pang bagay—at pagdadalamhati sa yumaong Ina ng Bayan. Binigyan n’yo ng mukha ang katakawan. Katakawang walang kabusugan. Mukhang di nakita ng masa sa usaping NBN, mukhang di nakikita ng masa sa usaping SAL. Mukhang nakita lang ng masa dito sa ginawa n’yong ito. Sa pagpapabondat sa New York habang naghihinagpis ang bayan.

At buti na rin lang mayroon tayong sariling wika. Di sapat ang Inggles para iparamdam sa inyo ang suklam na nararamdaman namin sa inyo. Di sapat ang Inggles para ipakita sa inyo ang pagkamuhi na nararamdaman namin sa inyo. Di maarok ng Inggles ang lalim ng poot na nararamdaman namin sa inyo.

Isinusuka na kayo ng taumbayan, mahirap man sumuka ang gutom.

May araw din kayo.

Liberasyon.

Ito ang tema ng mga nakaraang araw.

Maraming nagnanais na makalaya sa mga imposisyon ng lipunan. Minsan panandaliang kalayaan lamang ang kanilang hiling. Marami rin ang nagnanais na makalaya pang habambuhay.

Gaya ng isang kaibigan na nagpakamatay upang makalaya na sa mga mapapait na patikim ng buhay.

Gaya ng ilang kaibigan na hinahanap ang kalayaan na inaasam sa bawat hihit ng usok na dumadaloy sa kanilang mga baga.

Gaya ng pagpapaunlak sa init ng katawan ng isang kaibigan sa nagnanasa sa kanya sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita ng maseselang bahagi ng katawan on-line.

Liberasyon. Yan ang bago sa bokabularyo ng marami sa ating lipunan ngayon. Marahil marami sa atin ang hindi makakaintindi sa pangangailangan ng mga taong bigat lamang ang nararamdaman sa kanilang dibdib. Ngunit masasabi ko na kabilang rin ako sa mga taong minsang naghanap ng kalayaan sa realidad ng buhay na araw araw nating kailangang harapin.

Isa lamang yugto sa buhay ng isang tao ang paghahanap ng liberasyon. Marami ang nakakaalis sa yugtong ito ng walang permanenteng marka na naiiwan sa kanila ng kanilang mga nagawa. Ang yugtong ito ay kanilang babalik-balikan bilang isang alaala na lamang. Pagtatawanan.

Isang katatawanan.

Ngunit ilan rin sa kanila ang hindi na mababalikan ang mga nasabing alaala. Bagkus, sila na lamang ang mananatiling alaala para sa aming mga kaibigan na minsan ay tinahak ang mga imposisyon ng buhay kasama sila.

hahahaha... and may nag comment na isa yung LABAN sign raw Middle Finger na lang. hahaha

Prayer for Perseverance for

PRESIDENT Cory and Country

And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having girded your waits with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Ephesians 6:13-16

As one body of Private Educators we have prayed and sacrificed and stormed heaven with prayers for our beloved President Cory Aquino. We have seen and discerned the same suffering of our beloved country from the decadent socio-political cancer that now eats the core and fringes of our society. We have heeded the call to stand up and let our voices be heard on the streets and in heaven.

But our work is not yet done. We owe a debt of gratitude to both Ninoy Aquino and President Cory for their unselfish sacrifice. And in these times of darkness and doubt, we must gather our strength for the battle is yet to be done. Truth and righteousness are our arms and faith, prayer and sacrifice are our armor. And our resolve must not waver though the light may seem to fade. We will find our light in the legacy of President Cory and her unparalleled moral ascendance. We will find our strength in the ultimate sacrifice that Ninoy gave for our democracy. As President Cory offers to share in the sufferings of Jesus Chirst for the world, so too will we offer our sufferings for our aspiration for genuine democracy.

We pray:

Lord, grant President Cory peace and grace that she may overcome her illness. We pray for strength for the people of our nation as we look up to the model of strong faith and persevering spirit of true stewardship, our dear President Cory. Bless our leaders and grant them discernment to banish their selfish interests and do what is truly good for the country. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.


As we kneel in prayer for President Cory Aquino, as she knelt in prayer for our country, let us keep in passionate remembrance the persevering and unwavering light of hope embodied through her. We ask all our member schools to offer daily prayers and masses, to sacrifice and to continue to storm heaven with prayers for perseverance for Cory and our country until the peace of the Lord and the light of truth reign over us again.

We call on all our member-schools to make our students understand and value the pivotal role of President Cory in the history of this country. The true meaning of EDSA should not be lost on all of us as we prepare for a crucial transition in the life of our country – the elections in May 2010.

We also ask all our member-schools to tie yellow ribbons, wear yellow bands and shirts and hang streamers expressing unequivocal support for President Cory and her family.

As it was in the 1986 snap elections, so it is today.

President Cory, hindi ka nag-iisa!


Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations

28 July 2009

Got this from Pat Evangelista


MY NAME is Melissa Roxas. I’m 31 years old. I was born in Manila, but my family immigrated to the United States when I was young, right after Ninoy was assassinated. My parents said there weren’t many economic opportunities available in the Philippines.

I knew I was different from other American kids. When I was older and had a chance to return to the Philippines, I noticed I was different here too. I don’t have a vivid memory of the Philippines, but I remember questioning why we had to leave and immigrate. I wanted to find out more about the world: why there was poverty, why there was inequality. If you asked me what I wanted to be then, I’ll say I knew I wanted to do something that would be important, that would make, not necessarily an impact, but would make me feel that I was doing something good in the world.

I was already an activist, but I started being involved with Philippine issues much later on. I’ve always felt close to health care issues, and one of the places I remember going to was Payatas. The Philippines I saw in Payatas was very different from the Philippines I saw when my relatives took me around. Ever since that trip I’ve been going back and forth the United States and the Philippines for missions. Being in the Philippines and having that experience means you can’t ignore the human rights aspect of it. People who want to change what’s going on become targets. Many of them are killed, or are disappeared.

I was in La Paz, Tarlac on May 19, 2009. We had been doing health care surveys in the community, and had slept over. We were just there resting that morning, talking, watching a noontime show.

We heard them at the door.

They tell us to open it. There is a man wearing a white shirt he is the only one without a bonnet he is telling us to open the door and the door is forced open and they come through the front door come through the back door. There are about 15 men and they have long firearms and bonnets on and they try to push us down on the floor with our faces to the ground. I keep saying no and they push me and start to punch me and they force me to my knees and shove my face to the ground. And then I see Juanito and John Edward and everyone in the house being forced up. And the men tape their mouths, tie blindfolds over eyes. I start resisting. I keep saying my name as hard and as loud as I can. “Melissa Roxas. Melissa Roxas!” I keep thinking, I don’t want to go with these people.

They started dragging me and there was gravel and my nose was bleeding after they punched me and I saw the van, the van outside, there outside, and I put my foot against the side of the van while they were pushing me in. I was doing everything I could because I didn’t want to get in that van because I knew if I got in that van – I just didn’t want to get in the van. I kept yelling my name. They couldn’t get the blindfold on me because I kept ripping it off. They pushed me into the van and handcuffed me and that was the only time they could blindfold me but they couldn’t put the tape on my mouth because I was vomiting. They forced my head down because they didn’t want me to see outside. We drove. And I remember thinking that I didn’t want to panic. I had to remember everything, to keep track of time in my own head. I couldn’t see and I was facing the floor and I was vomiting. Then we were pausing. Gravel. Some kind of road and there was a pause, then the van stopped. Then I thought: This is it they’re going to kill us, this is it. They drove a little. Stopped. I thought the same thing. They told me to step down.

They took me into a cramped cell. They didn’t feed me for the first two days, had me drink only once or twice during that time. I just wanted to not lose it. I was trying very hard to keep track. I kept thinking that I had to think and I was terrified and I would peek under my blindfold and I knew there was someone watching.

The interrogation started early. It was almost round the clock. They took me out of the jail cell to that little place just before you reach the screen door. That was where they beat me. That was where they strangled me. They asked me many things. They were accusing me of being a member of the CPP-NPA and I kept saying I was not. I kept saying, My name is Melissa Roxas, and I want access to a lawyer. I want to talk to a lawyer, that’s all I kept saying. They kept trying to tell me I was part of the CPP-NPA. And then I kept saying, just kept saying, kept saying my name and that I want to see a lawyer. And they said even if you’re here a year you’ll never see a lawyer. We got you clean, no one knows you’re here. You’ll never see a lawyer.

The interrogation never ended. It’s hard to say what the worst was, because everything was worst for me because every minute I was there I thought I was going to die. When they were beating me they put a plastic bag over my head and they put on a first one and then a second one and all I kept thinking was I’m going to die and all I saw was white and I was losing my breath and I remember having, thinking – couldn’t breathe. They started telling me that they were just tools of God to make people return into the fold of the law. And I told them that God can never do that, can never torture people. And I said the only people who can do that are demons. And I told them I didn’t believe them.

I don’t know exactly why I was released. While I was with them I eventually told them that I was a US citizen. Maybe they were afraid of that. They kept telling me, we’re friends right? We’re friends right? You won’t tell anyone what happened?

I don’t want it to happen ever again to anyone, and I want the Philippine government and the Philippine military to be held accountable for what they did to me, and what they are doing to other people. They can’t keep denying it. I am still afraid. Every day, I’m still afraid. But I know what the truth is. I know what happened. I know what I heard. And I know what I saw. And I want to testify.

* * *

Melissa Roxas flew in from the United States last Monday after leaving the country immediately after her release. She returned at the request of the Court of Appeals to testify on her abduction and torture, and is under the protection of the Commission on Human Rights.

ANC’s Storyline features her narrative Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Got this from RIc. :p
---------------------------------------

Mahal kita, todo todo

Walang break, walang preno

Mabangga man sa kanto

Ikaw pa rin ang mahal ko

Sa dahon ng gumamela

Sa bulaklak ng sampaguita

Doon mo makikita ang salitang “Mahal kita”

Mahal kita sa Tagalog

I love you sa English

143 sa Mathematics

Ewan ko lang sa Physics

Tubig is water

Ilog is river

Combine it together

I love you forever.

 
1. Apart from being sexy, what else do you do for a living?

2. Do your legs hurt? Cause you've been running through my mind all day.

3. You’re like a dictionary, you add meaning to my life.

4. If you were a pair of pants I would wear you out.

5. I wish you were a door, so I could bang you all day!

6. You know, if I were you, I'd have sex with me. got to admire him for trying

7. If I were a fly, I would be all over you, because you are the shit!

8. Are you from Tennessee? Cause you're the only ten I see. corny as hell

9. I'm no Fred Flintstone, but I can make your Bedrock! wahaha embarrassing to say but silly

10. Is that a mirror in your pants? Cause I can see myself in them. sleazy

11. Do you work for UPS? I could have sworn I saw you checking out my package.

12. Hey, don't frown - you'll never know who might be falling in love with your
smile.

13. You remind me of Pokemon. I just want to piccachu. eeww nerd

14.Nice shoes, wanna screw?

15. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but is your name Gurtrude?

16. Did you hear the latest health report? You need to up your daily intake of
vitamin me

17. Would you like to try an Australian kiss? It is just like a French kiss, but down under.

18. The word of the day is "legs." Let's go back to my place and spread the word.

19. You’re ugly but you intrigue me.

20. If I made the alphabet I would put U and I together.

21. If you were words on a page, you'd be what they call FINE PRINT!

22. When God made you, he was showing off.

23. Are you a library card? Cause I'm checking you out.

24. There must be something wrong with my eyes, I can't take them off you.

25. If I told you that you had a great body, would you hold it against me? funny

26. What does it feel like to be the most beautiful girl in this room?

27. If beauty were time, you'd be eternity.
28. Dang, Sugar, settle down. I'm diabetic.

29. True, there are a lot of fish in the sea, but you're the only one I'd like to catch and mount back at my place. It’s just so wrong.

30. I hope you know CPR, because you take my breath away. corny

31. Let's conserve water and shower together! funny

32.You're so fine you turn my software into hardware. ewww seriously???

33. You can put a Trojan on my Hard Drive anytime.

34. Your body's name must be Visa, because it's everywhere I want to be.

35. Let's do breakfast tomorrow. Should I call you or nudge you?

36. I just put you on the top of my 'To Do List'.

37.Nice legs, what time do they open?

38. If I received a nickel for every time I saw someone as beautiful as you, I'd have five cents.

39. It's not my fault I fell in love, you're the one who tripped me!

40. I lost my teddy bear, will you sleep with me?

41. Do you have a map? Cause I keep getting lost in your eyes.

42. You must be Cheerios, cause you seem healthy for my heart.

43. If snowflakes were kisses, I'd send you a blizzard.

44. Can you give me directions... To your heart?

45. I'm feeling a little off today, would you like to turn me on?

I received a text from Angela:

“Kung kabilang ka sa huling taon ng dekada ’80 at mga unang taon ng ’90, kilala mo sina Shaider, Bioman at Masked Rider Black. Kumakain ka ng Humpy Dumpy at Tomi. Naglaro ka ng 10-20 at Langit Lupa. Alam mo ang universal song na “UWIAN NA”. Nagsayaw ka ng Macarena, Boombastic at Tamagochi. Alam mo ibig sabihin ng “Time First” (mostly pronounced as “TAYMPERS”). Alam mo na importante ang “PERIOD NO ERASE”. Nilalagyan mo ng pritos ring bawat daliri mo. Meron kang pencil case na madaming pindutan. Kilala mo si Remi, Cedie, Princess Sarah at si Patras. Natatawa ka? Matanda ka na."

OMG. I did them all. I am starting to get old.  

I am currently addicted to Plurk. Micro blogging is cool as it forces you to condense your thoughts especially in this world that is increasingly moving faster by the minute.

But somehow, I miss my LJ account. Plurk might allow you to update your status every minute, but it is inadequate in making one feel that s/he has already completely expressed his/her thoughts.

That's the reason why my livejournal account is bound to stay.

-----------------------------------------------

I have a lot of friends who are still looking for a job at this point in time. Mind you, I really admire these people and that I honestly think that they are very talented people. It really just sucks that our batch of graduates is a victim of the recession.

But these are the people who are at least looking for work. I also have friends who are at a lost right now, not knowing where they want to be or what they really want to do. There's just so much possible things to do and that it is quite scary not to try each one of them because you might be missing something that will give meaning to your life—something that is really meant for you.

At least that's what I used to feel. Not anymore.

Yesterday morning, I was late for work again, as usual. Wearing my usual office attire of black slacks and polo, I had to catch a jeepney at sumabit na lang ako. I was too much in a hurry to care. And a realization struck me while looking at the busy streets of EDSA Monumento.

There are a lot of possible things that one can try. I can constantly look for work because of the possibility that I can find a better job. I can study abroad or just study law here next year. I can be a La Salle brother, a Claretian priest, or a father to 5 children. I can try bungee jumping, or just migrate somewhere in Europe. I want to try them all.

 But it is also important to settle down. It is also important to choose a thing that you shall concentrate on. There might be a lot of possible things to try; there’s nothing wrong in trying all those sort of stuff. But you will eventually have to choose where you will put you energy on.

 Because maturity means that you are capable of making decisions. Indeed the choice that one would make at this point in his/her life would really be tough. But decisions have to be made.

 And that’s what I will do soon enough. I wanna try them all. But surely, I would have to choose.

 After all, it’s up to us to make that choice work. Instead of living a life of what ifs and regretting the choice that we have to inevitably make, I would rather divert my energy in making that choice of mine work.

-----------------------------------------------
I love my job. It's not yet that challenging as of the moment, but I'm sure it will soon be. And I am looking forward to a great future. :-)