The Coolest of All

There are only few hours left before the deadline, but our group is still thinking for the perfect monologue speech to be passed. The assignment was given a couple of days before, yet we still decided to make it as early as the time bomb. My adrenaline glands roar. Passionately, I managed to move the pen as quick as copying other's homework. The miracle was there; our group has the most beautiful speech of all, says our Filipino teacher.

Back in elementary, where journalism club is very popular, I could only look at our school's writers. I didn't commit myself to journalism back then for I have something to have focus on rather, and I needed to sacrifice writing. When I reached High School, I decided to enter the world of campus journalism. I passed the auditions for Buklod Diwa, the publication of PUPLHS. It's so cool being a writer I thought, so I started being active to the school paper in a 'cool' manner, until my Filipino teacher discovered me as 'good' one.

I am here because this is what I wanted to do. It is my passion to write. I started it being so cool that I do not know the essence of having the right responsibility of a writer has. But that's me years ago; I have grown up. Every day, I wake up in a squatter’s area and see people living in the sickness of our society. I know that with my pen, magic can turn everyday sickness into a everyday party, where everyone can smile fully and truly. This is my responsibility. I'm very proud to say that mine's the World's coolest. To make or to see group of people laugh makes my heart happy.

Since I developed my skill from writing a monologue speech, I see myself in movies or plays as its writer/director. Back in High School, directing is also one of my favorite. If not in Journalism, you can see me in the classrooms of Theater Arts courses or Broadcast Communication. But still, BroadComm people are also considered journalists, so I don't really see myself far from this art of mine.

5 years from now, I'll be the coolest journalist/professor of all time. Yes, I would love it if I could teach college students even in part time. I'll let them learn the secret of being the coolest guy on Earth. Just kidding. Because I believe that to write responsively is also to teach. Serving the mass is my main goal aside from being a frustrated lead vocalist of a rock band.

The coolest writing of all, It's what I'm here for.

How long can you be influenced?

In a world where changes are dominant, people are somewhat like- puppets that follow new trends. We are accepting things so easily, without knowing it more. We are like being controlled by these influences in our environment.

            Influences come in different forms like fashion, music, and modern gadgets, until it manipulates the way we live our lives. The question is how long do these influences will drag us by? And how long can we stand from these influences before it cause us things in our lives?

            Influence runs through the history. People carry these things as they sail the sea and conquer a land. Today, it is like a new way of invasion. KPOP and Western influences battle the world for territory. You can find them everywhere—the way people dress or look, their choice of music, their lifestyle, and even their morale. Here in the Philippines, teenagers can’t go outside without a waxed hair or gadgets. How long are we going to let these aliens play on our thousand-isles?

            There are people, so powerful that others will do as what they say. They are holding us in our necks in everything that they do. Huge companies create new ideas and tell the people to use them. They control everything. They are the world’s monopoly. Even the ink you are reading now was marked by these influences. How long can we let these monsters be the masters of what we do?

            Think. If you are thinking that following what is “trending” is the best for you, it’s your choice. But if you let influences sink on you so easily, that you don’t even think of the consequences you might face, this is the time. Think.

WHERE WILL THE PORK GOOO?!!

The controversial Pork Barrel was now declared unconstitutional.

            What is unconstitutional? According to my own understanding, this means that anything declared “unconstitutional” is basically illegal, for it is not included in the Philippine Constitution.

            Now that the ‘pork’ is unconstitutional, what will happen in the money that tax payers submit? Where will the funds of the treasury go?

            According to some people, the funds will be added to this, added to that, with no concrete foundation or explanation. But there are also people who believe that there will be no difference at all. The money will simply have another name, but will go to the hands of the politicians in the end.

            What am I implying in this? I want to understand fully where the funds from the Pork Barrel will really go, I want an explanation from the administration that would be understood by all Filipinos. I want a full transparency on how the government handle on this amount of money will. The people need to know everything. It is their money.

            Our parents work hard for our future. If their money would be wasted by those demons, it is worth our lives. The pork must serve the people, for it is for the people.

A Father, A Mother, A Nation

            PA-MA-NA

Yellow-- the color of optimism, happiness, virtue and nobility, serves more significance for us here in the Philippines. It is the color of freedom. The symbol of democracy, together with the poplular “laban” sign, remind us that part of our history where our fathers walked together in unity to fight through the darkness. This color, hence associates us with two faces—Ninoy and Cory Aquino.

Last 27^th of August of this year, we had so much different experience. Away from our stressful midterms examinations struggles, we were required to watch a musical play at the Meralco Theatre. At the beginning, I was so excited because I love being involved in a theatre play and watch them. I was not mistaken. It was so fun witnessing the play. After it, was a satisfied smile on my face.

With that smile, hides a deeper impact of the play on me. It left me that fire in the heart that surely the other audience also felt. At the end of the day it teaches us to be aware not only of what did happen in the past but also its reflection in today’s society.

There are people like Ninoy and Cory who died honouring the Philippines. They had gone so many struggles for us to enjoy this freedom that we are experiencing. Yet, there are these other people who choose to forget about the Philippines and leave the country in exchange for a lot more opportunities abroad. These people enjoy so much wealthy living in other countries in contrast to the poor living here in our country—a social issue present in these days.

The PAMANA teaches us to be more country-loving citizens and be able to value our country in a deeper sense. We should love our country no matter what. Even if we endure poverty, crime, and corruption, we must not turn our back to our nation, hence, we must be united and give all that we can to lift the Philippines. Like Ninoy and Cory, and all other ancestors. Our freedom will not be wasted if we choose to use it properly.

The play is a good way of showing the public its message. It answers social concern like our patriotism through the use of stage art.

Is Politics Dirty?

When people hear the word “Politics”, they associate it with corruption, power abuse, and many other evil things. We now see politics and government a place for selfish and money-lovers. Politicians are now having a bad impression in the Filipinos. We see politicians differently and recognize those in the positions bad. People now generalize them as evil guys like what we usually see in the movies.

          Politics is a relationship of people. According to Aristotle, ‘”man is by natural a political animal.” It means that politics run through the veins of every man. We are naturally in relationship with others or socially alive. We struggle for power and position, even in the smallest kind.

            So the question is, is the politics really dirty? If man is naturally capable of being involved in political things, then can we conclude that man is also naturally dirty? Are we naturally corrupt? Selfish? Or money-lovers?

            Or can we revise the thought that the man itself, the politician, is the one that is capable of being dirty? If politics is dirty, then we shouldn’t put it as our system from the start. Politics and governance is in fact a foundation of human civilization. The dirty works start from the man himself! He has the power and the will to do whether the right or wrong decisions, to corrupt or not to, to abuse power or not to. The man, the politician himself, is what I believe the dirty, not the politics.

            I believe that those who are in the position should have a heart and fear of God. They should know their responsibilities and limitations. Only they shall determine the cleanliness or dirtiness of their works.

Vandalism: Free Twitter

I hate Vandalism.

            I smiled a bit when I read this as my eyes rolled and scan the library table. Different messages, drawings, and shoutouts were carved and written there.

            Then a question suddenly struck my mind like a text message: Why people vandalize?

            No place on earth is safe for vandalism. You can see a lot of them in the walls, seats on a bus, MMDA urinals, trees, public school textbooks, private school textbooks, comfort rooms, and even in a peso bill. I remember when I put shades on Manuel Quezon for the first time; I felt that the holy spirit of art flushed towards me.

            What is the benefit in writing your cellphone number in a CR cubicle with a caption ‘sex?’ Is someone stupid enough to contact the number? I s there a relief when you write your feelings to your crush on your desks? What is the contribution on writing ‘Putang Ina mo Sergio’ to the society? Is drawing the male private part helps our economy to grow?

            Ah, yes! The male penis is the most famous form of vandalism in the world. When I hear the word “vandal”, this image automatically registers on my head. For me, the penis is the most patronized and glorified signs in the planet, next to the cross.

            I now recognize vandalism as a new form of expression. People can now say what they wanted, everywhere with no internet connection needed. You can use pen, marker, or even carve like a sculptor. Feelings are needed to be released. And by this trick, people are now assured to have the easiest and the cheapest way to shout their hearts out. The society may not see it in a positive way, but as you look on a penis drawing on a wall, you will believe and realize that it is now a part of the modern era.

            GLENN <3 ANGELI.

Merry Election! Happy New Term!

Sometimes I think I want Election Period more than the Christmas Season.

           Why? It is simply because I have more money during the Philippine Election than the Christmas season.

I got lots of jobs and extra income from the politicians. I work for them, in both parties i should say. This resembles that truly the election here in the Philippines is one of the most celebrated, and also one of the dirtiest.

Literally, the election here is like a nationwide festival. Banners, streamers, posters, and many other campaign materials are all over the streets. Colorful papers are on the sidewalks and roads before, during, and after the elections. Politicians let these trashes taste the land even after the election that’s why the season seems to extend more days.

But as all of us know, the Philippine Election is also one of the dirtiest in form of vote buying, illegal flying voters, killings, and many other crimes. Politicians tend to choose to do all of these just to get the position. The position has the powers and wealth on it.

Overall, more santas are present during election than the Christmas season. In fact, they are more generous than the big red guy that comes with the reindeers. They love the people during the election, but I love their money only.

The Ball is the Key

Basketball, as we all know, is the most famous and most celebrated sport in the Philippines. The Philippines is known as a great basketball country. In fact next year, the Philippines will join its second Federation Internationale de Basketball Association (FIBA) World Cup after the Manila hosted the said event.

            The Gilas Pilipinas showed their Pinoy blood and skills last FIBA Asia Cup and ranked the 2^nd in the region.

            Now that the brown hardcourt warriors are on the spotlight again, a question hits my mind: If we can excel in basketball, why didn’t we excel in World Basketball?

            Our country, despite of being a great basketball area, is not that known as one of the strongest in the field. In fact, this is the only the second time that we will play in the World Cup.

            You can’t say that Filipinos are not really good players because in history, the Philippines marked the Basketball world. For example: The Philippine Team was the first team to score a hundred points in an Olympic games. Now, we can’t even go in the Olympics.

            After I talked with some of my friends and a professor, I came to realize that we don’t have the problem on the players. The reason why Philippine basketball is hardly to reach the world rankings is that the Government is lacking for support to these.

            Not only in basketball, but all te other sports needed a focus by the government. If Pacquiao attained his achievements now, what if the athletes like him were helped by our government.

            The government can’t see that Filipinos have a great potential in the world of sport. If only we have a better system for the development of both the athletes and the sport itself, we can bounce back and be on top of the world again.

            The government also can’t see that through the sports development, our economy will rise because we are on the rankings and well known internationally. We can use the sports to showcase our Filipino blood and have benefits from it.

            Right now, I believe that the sports development, especially basketball, is one of the keys in putting up a better Philippines.

Until I Met Her

It’s funny to think that once I hate mushy things, and now I am sacrificing many things for my girlfriend.

           Back then, I told myself to just focus on the simplicity of life. I am a happy-go-lucky guy. There are also those times that I got my dark ages. I appreciate my world, but I’m not open in things like love.

            I know I am too young to think of it. I am a normal guy that gets my buddy stiffen when I see a sexy woman. Yes, I had crushes, but only to appreciate their beauty. I am not yet interested in getting involved in love stories. For me, my family and my friends are enough from God to consider my life happy.

            It was until I met her.

            From the start, I have a good feeling about her. But that time, I think of it as having a good friend out of her, not realizing that I fell in love with her. Form a guy like me who doesn’t even have any idea about these things, I was worried. But our story flows smoothly until we found ourselves bound in each other’s love. We have gone so many trials and stories in our relationship. But here I am, writing an essay as I wait for her.

            It’s now past six forty and my original dismissal from class is earlier in three o’clock, yet I am decided to wait for her willingly. I have so many other things to do, but I know I chose the right. Being in love while studying isn’t just having a distraction to your duties; sometimes it makes a passive and some quite lazy guy like me to strive more and got those high grades on my hands.

Masustansya nga ang gulay, pero masarap ba?

Masustansiya nga ang gulay, pero masarap ba?

Masarap ba?!
http://www.leanwellness.org

                Isa ito sa mga hindi ko malilimutang linya sa pagbabasa ko ng libro ng sikat na si Bob Ong sa halip na lessons ko sa mga subjects na may numbers. Oo nga naman. Sino ang taong ayaw sa masarap?

                May mga tao rin naming hindi lamang tinatangkilik ang sustansiya ng mga gulay, kundi pati ang sarap daw nito. Sa katunayan, nagawa na nga nilang isuko ang kani-kanilang mga buhay sa mga gulay! Oh, nag-rhyme.

                Kung kikilalanin natin ang nakararami, na kagaya ng pagkilala natin sa napiling bagong mag-bubulsa sa pera ng bayan, ay masasabing hindi talaga ganoon kaganda ang lasa ng gulay. Hindi natin masisisi ang mga tao sa pagpili nila ng daan patungo sa karne, mantika, at matatamis.

                Atin namang baligtarin ang tanong. Masarap nga ang ma-karne, mamantika, at matatamis, pero masustansiya ba? Meron naman tayong mapapala sa kanila. Ang pork barbecue for example, ay nagatataglay ng protina, iron, at fats. Oo, fats! Ang tanging konkretong dahilan kung bakit ayaw ng mga health conscious sa karne. Ang tanging diperensiya ng masarap na karne sa berdeng damo. Kung sa bagay. Meron pang ibang bagay-bagay na kulang ang karne. Hindi naman saw ala, pero MAS KAUNTI kung ikumkumpara sa mga gulay. Mas maraming fiber na makukuha sa pagkain ng gulay at prutas na makatutulong sa mabilis at maayos na bowel movement. May preservatives din ang ilang pagkaing karne na nakasasama sa kalusugan kung susobra. Kahit na sabihing may mga gulay na nahaluan ng pesticides, mas malaki pa rinh ang tendency na piliin ng tao ang hotdog at tocino kaysa sa pangit na gulay sa palengke.

                Hindi rin naman ako against sa pagkain ng masustansiyan damong pantao. ‘Yun at ‘yun lang din kasi ang kaya naming mahihirap. At kahit na kaming madalas merong dahon sa hapag ay alam na mas masarap pa rin kung ang karne! ‘Wag mong lokohin ang sarili mo. Aminin mont mas gusto mo ang lasa ng karne sa tofu! At mas magana kang kumain ng malunggay kung isasahog ito sa tinolang manok na may Knorr Chicken Cubes! Maraming kombinasyon ang gulay at karne. Hindi natin kailangan magpatali sa sitaw at kangkong lang habang-buhay! RAAAWWRRRR!!!

                Medyo kalokohan ang mga katagang ”kung kakain ka ng mga halaman, e di sana nagging kabayo ka nalang!” Nakakatawa, pero ibing lamang nitong iparating na hindi mo kailangang maging vegetarian para maging healthy. Nasa tao lang ang disiplina kung paano niya mababantayan ng tama ang kanyang kalusugan. Pilipino ka at masarap kang kumain. Tatalikuran mo pa ba ang iyong natural na pagkahilig sa pagkain dahil sa inaakala mong tunay na daan tungo sa mas mahabang buhay? Pwede ka namang mag-gulay na may karne, o karne na may gulay. Hindi yung pinapahirapan mo ang sarili mo sa gulay lang.

Pagod na si Jan-jan

7:17

May sapat na oras pa para magpahinga ang pagod na katawan ni Janjan, ngunit hindi ang kanyang isip. Sa pagpatak ng alas siete y media, muling hihinga ang bata. Handa na siya.

Karaniwang maaga dumarating sa eskwela si Janjan, mas maaga kaysa sa ngayon. Tinapos pa kasi niya ang gatambak na takda at proyekto galling sa mga major-major niya. Binawi niya lang ilang minutong dapat sana’y nakalaan para sa paglalakad ng mahabang distansiya mula bahay hanggang sa sakayan ng jeep. Kaya ngayo’y napilitang gumastos ng pamasahe sa tricycle ang nagtitipid na bata para makaabot sa klase.

May ilang minuto pa.

Nakagawian na ni Janjan na maghanda para sa pagsusulit sa twing magpapalitan lamang ng asignatura. Ang ilang minutong ito ay makapagbubuklat na ng ilang pahina ng notebook, at kaya nang matitigan ang mga makulay na pamagat  ng mga liksyon sa libro. Hindo mo siya masising hindi siya nag-aaral sa bahay. Maagang umuwi sa bahay si Janjan kahapon. Inilaan ang ilang sandal sa pag-unat ng katawan. Ngunit marami pa rin siyang iniisip. Mas mahirap mapagod ang utak kaysa sa balikat. Ang bata ay inutusan pa ng kanyang inang kanina pa nakatingin sa kanyang pag-uunat. Maaga matatapos ni Janjan ang gawain at magpapahinga. Ang pahingang ito ay mauuwi sa tulog, hanggang sa dumating ang ama nito. Galit nitong dadatnan ang nakahilatang anak. Sasabihing napakatamad niya at wala nang naitulong sa bahay. Muling kikilos si Janjan. Hindi niya ipagtatanggol ang sarili kahit na alam niyang wala siyang maling ginagawa. Ayaw niyang lumala pa ang galit ng ama sa likod ng masasakit nitong paratang sa kanya. Mas mahirap mapagod ang puso kaysa sa utak. Gayunpaman, kikip-kipin niya ito at isasawalang bahala. Gabi na. Ang oras na ito ay siyang nakalaan para sa pagharap sa mga takdang kanina pa dapat niya nagawa. Aabutin pa ito ng medaling-araw sa pag-gawa kung minsan. Swerte kapag madali ang isang takda at pwede nalang niyang kopyahin sa susunod na araw.

Gabi na pero nasa biyahe pa si Janjan. Tinapos niya ang mga extrang gawain sa paaralan. Masaya siya habang iniisip ang paglampas niya sa lahat ng pagsubok ngayong araw.

Magmamano. Ang masayang mukhang ito ay pagdududahan ng mga magulang. “Ginabi ka nanaman. Naglakwatsa ka no?”

“Hindi po,” buong lungkot na sasabihin ng bata.

Ang hirap ng pinagdaanan ko tapos iisipan niyo akong naglalakwatsa? Pinag-aral niyo ako. Dapat ay handa kayong haraping ang kung ano rin naman ang hinaharap ko bilang estudyante. Tanggapin niyo sana.

Gustong isigaw ng isip ni Janjan ang sinasabi ng puso niya. Kaya nasa itaas ang utak ng tao, ay para makontrol ang emosyon. Mas mahirap mapagod ang puso kapag pagod din ang utak.

10:23

Pagod na si Janjan, ngunit kailangan pa niyang harapin ang mga major-major niya.

The Hope That Comes Alive

            Where are you? You, who have been called the hope of our nation, where are you? You, who are supposed to free this country from darkness, I can’t see you. You, who were given the mission to take care of the environment, I can’t feel. You, who should build your community to a better one, where are you? My fellow youth, are you still there?

           

We, youth, are the hope of our nation. We are entrusted to make a better Philippines. But what happened? All those years that passed after the man in the Luneta was fired was a big joke. Generations always pass the commitment of saving the Philippines to the young ones. When the youth has known his mission, he is inspired and starts to live Rizal’s vision. But when they reached their sunset, they are telling the next generations to sacrifice and do what they can to help our homeland. How can this thing be happening? Filipinos can’t finish his mission so when he knows he cannot continue working, he sends on the unfinished business to the next youth. While some of us do not even care, the cycle keeps rolling and rolling. The system of passing the mission to the next generation can’t save the Philippines.

           

            We, youth, are the protectors of the environment; but not only the youth, all of us must contribute to give our strength and knowledge to take care of the nature which God gave us as a gift. What is the purpose of this gift? It is rewarded to someone you really love and appreciate. Like what the other gifts the Almighty has written to be our weapons in everyday, let us use it properly. Don’t waste everything that comes to you. Putting these things to trash is like killing your own life as a very deadly sin. Oh, Philippines! – An awesome land, rich in wonderful places, loaded with virgin resources and most especially, the pride of the brown warriors of God. For the Lord’s sake! If only our country is not corrupted by the hungry reptiles, we could’ve had a better Philippines.

            We, youth, are the builders of the community. Like what is caring of the environment is all about, this could be done by everybody. But the young ones have more strength and skill to do this. The youth is more capable of bringing the others together, uniting, and working in the name of success. All of the development should start individually. We have the duty to help our fellow youth and citizen to change into a more productive person. Thus, resulting to a more bonded family, and a more stable and progressive community.

           

           

Hunger, crime, drugs. Youth who had gone astray are found here. Youth do illegal things just to earn money, money which will not be used for education. Some of us are in drugs to escape problems. There are also involved with forced labor. Or some just wanted to work early. But most of these youth are doing this due to the government’s lack of attention. The government, which chooses to be attracted by foreign demons, should work on this problem with the youth.

           

            No one wants to kill just because they wanted. All things have their reasons. A big problem they are facing is just not for us to understand a hundred percent.

            All we can do is to inspire our fellow youth. How? We can do great things! I mean, we are young, yet we have more time to study. Strive for education. For it is our most precious asset. Rizal once proved that even in hard times, if a student is willing to study, he achieves more than his goals were. On the other hand, great names like Ninoy and Cory saved the country from dictatorship. They have done a great deed which was not normally worked by a young body, but let us not forget that they are once one of the young people who dreamt and studied.

           

            Rizal once said on his letter to the women of Malolos, “Youth is a flower-bed that is to bear rich fruit and must accumulate wealth for its descendants”. We are the most capable ones who need to work and study well in order to produce a better community, environment, and Philippines. We can’t counter the only permanent thing on earth- change. We then, should go by the flow of the change and start developing new strategies. We can’t stop climate change, but we can know how to adopt on it. We can’t stop technology, but we should not try to, for it is one of the most important tools that the youth can use in order to make better changes.

            Rizal declared, “The youth is the hope of our nation”. I’m glad I am one of them. But I will be happier if I will not only become a hope, but a hope that became reality. From a youth that once a hope of our nation, I will be a youth that will change our nation.

The Mirror

I woke up this morning with an uneasy feeling. Right after I opened my eyes, I prayed to God, that everything may be alright. My heartbeat, my breathing, seems like I’m drowning in a thick greys of fog. Am I excited? No, there’s no reason for me to feel so spurred. It’s just an ordinary day—an ordinary morning, ordinary laziness, ordinary me.

            Also, the same questions run on my head today, like a Ferris wheel whirling on me every morning. What am I going to do today? Do I need to go to school? Yes. I have no class in my first subject for my professor has an appointment, but I have some after that. Besides, I need to see her, my love, one of the reasons for me to be fired up every day. Yes. It’s just an ordinary sunrise. But this extraordinary feeling drove me out of my pillows. I need to see her. Same morning, but many messages greeted me on my phone. What’s so special? I walk downstairs with the same melancholic aura returning on me.

            I’ve been living on this house for several years; actually, today’s the 17^th. But I’ve never seen a huge hole on our walls before, not until now. It seems that on the other side of the hole lies another house in there. The hole serves as a portal connecting our two houses like a secret passage. It is weird, but the look on that other house gives my spines shivering for real. It looks like exactly like ours! I’ve also noticed that a man is looking the same way towards me. We knew we found each other so we walked nearer. It is odd, but he seems familiar. I looked even closer at him—he is about the same height as mine, a 5-foot-5-inch man who has sincere eyes full of emotions, a brown skin tone, a normal body built, and an inclement presence. I wonder why he has that aura, for his eyes shows full of colors and enthusiasm. Maybe, he is a type of person who hides his real self within. I knew it for the eyes is the window of our soul.

            I really like talking about someone’s life and background. That guy showed me his story while we are facing each other. I learned that he is the eldest of his three siblings. He got his name from the combined names of his parents. He grew up with love and joy with all the people around him. He is the same age as mine and is raised by a poor but loving family. He lives as an informal settler by the time he was born. There, he learned lessons of life not being taught in school or academic preaching. He learned to make use of his life for the welfare of many people. His childhood is his favourite part of his life where he was careless and free to do many things. It is also the age where he experience getting dirty and learned the benefit of getting dirty is to be clean again. He has faced many trials in his growing stage but he knew there will be more of it since he is closer to the adult level. On his journey, he became an outstanding student during grade school, earning honors and recognitions. When he stepped on high school, he tasted falls and restored to conquer again. Now, he is in college and trains to be a future nation-servant.  He stood by the strength and guidance of the Lord. He acknowledged all of his experiences especially the people of his life: his family, friends, classmates, enemies, teachers, and mentors. He found his love and made her his main inspiration to pursue harder for their future. He is nothing, but played to get his everything.

            That’s just the glimpse that I learned from him. He is not sad, in fact, he smiled when I smiled. He is full of fire in his heart. He is now ready to get out of the fog and reach for the clouds above him. He is, just exactly, what lies within me. I looked at me. Then, I returned my glance on him. There I saw a warm smile that faces the world. There, I saw, not a huge hole, but a big mirror in front of me. The mirror of who I am. And who am I going to be.