just thinking...

ALASONLINE

2010-01-19T02:36:00.000-08:00

I was so down these past few days. I was bothered and too much preoccupied by questions that I cannot answer. I was saddened, really, by one moment I would never want to happen again.

For the Nth time, I was hurt. Heart’s bleeding again, but tears just don’t want to drop. I confided a friend whom I know can understand me, who really understand my situation. Got some points from her, but still, the pain is still there, and it drowns me. But nobody knows about it.

Still sad, but yesterday, it was eased by someone whom… uhm… well, I consider him as friend but I don’t know if he regards me the same. =) I happened to see him online and we chatted for a while, throwing thoughts regarding some matters. It was nice to hear from him. So cool, so funny and witty.

I still remember when I first saw him at the office (he had his on-the-job training there). He is just alone, sitting at Maam Tina’s side, doing nothing, except for the pile of papers he used to arrange, or scan or something. Well, I just really don’t know what he’s doing.

That skinny chinito boy…he looks so quiet, so firm. What I would never forget was when I asked him to check the laptop I am using at the office. Since he is a computer science student, I thought he could help me to run it a little faster. But he said to just throw it away. Duh?! That yellow-colored-hair guy, so snobbish! Uhm, but he is nice, and patient enough to wait for that heavy old laptop to open. I’m thankful anyway.

One time, he joined us at lunch. He was full of humor. He laughs with us, answers every question, and so on. It became easy for him to befriend us. He even tosses jokes that made us laugh too. That loner intern was not that snob at all.=) And what I thought of him before was changed in a sudden.

Though the conversation was quite serious, not that serious, it’s good to get words from that quiet boy. Well, it was not the first time. Even if he doesn’t talk, or say anything, I’ve known him a little since I’m a fan of his blogspot, alasonline.

Actually, it was my first time to meet a 20-year old NGSB (I’ve also known this from his blogsite). I admired him for that, I’m an NBSB myself. It is rare for guys to reach that age without having an affair. Though he may not look like that, well I believe he is.

It’s nice that we had an opportunity to chat and exchange ideas. I was grateful time lapsed swiftly yesterday. My heart aches as if I was so alone and there is nobody to hold on to. Thanks to few chats, some words and jokes, it relieved me. It eased the pain I was feeling then. Thanks he’s ONLINE.

LESSONS FROM A TRAGIC MEMORY

2010-01-19T02:28:00.000-08:00

note: well, this should be posted last september, but unfortunately, i wasn't able to do so,.. this may not be timely but i think, it still is worthy to be posted, hehe... continue reading.=)

The rain continued to fall for several hours… It was an abrupt moment. And the people didn’t anticipate that floodwaters will reach that high. It was a dreadful nightmare to thousands of them. And most, to those who have lost their loved ones in just a wink of an eye.

The wrath of typhoon Ondoy probably is one of the worst things our country has ever experienced. We encountered lots of calamities already. But Ondoy was a different test, knowing that hundreds of lives were lost, and billions of properties, crops and infrastructures were damaged. Until now, many are still trying to rebuild their lives. In the southern part, particularly those people living near Laguna Lake, many homes are still submerged in floodwaters.

It is so saddening to see our fellow Filipinos, especially children, who are staying in evacuation centers. Schools have served as their temporary shelter. And most of them, who were severely affected, rely only in relief goods that will be provided by kindhearted people.

Many children get sick. Many are starving. Many are still mourning due to sudden death of their beloved or because of still-missing family members. This could be difficult. Restoring what was lost would take much time. Same as those homes in flooded areas, it will take months before the waters will run dry.

But, in these trying times, we learned a lot. Our faith was tested, and our heroism was showed as well. Indeed, we still have unfathomable love for our fellows. See, there are lots of organizations-government, non-government, private individuals- everybody demonstrated their love and concern either through prayers, donations or volunteering in relief and rescue operations.

The aftermath of the typhoon may have a prolonged effect. Nevertheless, if we think intently the value of that experience, we will fully accept why God let that to happen. It is not a punishment. It is a lesson instead. A knock on our hearts.

As they say, we survived to tell our own stories…

breaking silence...

2009-06-05T04:08:00.000-07:00

Despite the outbreak of H1N1 virus, with now more than 20 victims in the country, GMA allies in the lower house are on the other hand, triumphing for their obvious agenda behind their ever-longed constitutional assembly.

Or should I say, they have used the perfect time to push through cha-cha, now that the people’s focus is on the rapid increase of A(H1N1) cases, 2010 elections and Hayden Kho scandals. Adding more is the Lakas-Kampi merger, which was declared days before the con-ass was passed in the congress.

It is truly saddening that our country’s situation is worsening as day passes, not year, but day. There are lots of important issues to be addressed, but they are being ignored.

Swine flu. The Philippines is already one with Austria, Hongkong, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Korea, Spain, Switzerland and United Kingdom. And everyday, the number of victims is increasing.

2010 elections. The presidential wannabes, they are making noise to lead their names to fame. Their faces on tarps and banners and televisions, as well. They are making issues. They are joining whatever activity or event they could get involved with just to make a name. Just to make people remember their deeds, which in reality, they have done nothing. Or if there is, it wouldn’t be enough to uplift our country. They may have done something, but it’s more of grabbing the country’s wealth, which is supposed to be distributed to people equally, and which is supposed to provide the needs of our countrymen.

Sex scandals. When Kho-Kat scandal erupted, almost 80% of our countrymen were involved. The said percentage is waiting to what will happen next. Will Hayden Kho be jailed? Why is the senate involved in this issue? Why is it only now they have thought of making a law regarding cyber sex when there are so many victims already? And why on earth, it became a super big topic around the nation, while there are so many other problems that we have to deal with?

I have read a news article from the Daily Tribune regarding the favorable response of the majority bloc to the constitutional assembly. It was really frustrating. It is actually irksome that those people are pursuing the constitutional amendment, while there are such issues in the country that we have to face.

Senator Francis Escudero said in the same article, “We are on the edge of recession. We are facing a possible outbreak of the dreaded virus. We are doing a battle with rebels and extremists on three fronts. We cannot afford to waste time and scarce resources on proposals that will eventually be rejected by the people.” This is very true. It is the same as what we’ve done during the EDSA 2, when we ousted former president Joseph Estrada, and then altered by Gloria Arroyo, that we are again urging to move out to her position.

Maybe, people who placed her to presidency are regretting. Or if not, feasting because of the so many blessings they are reaping. Like some congressmen. For every nod, they could gain millions of pesos. Like their “YES” to con-ass, where, according to news reports, each was given P20 million bribe.

And it is really annoying. The BAD officials running the country are wasting the money that should be for the people. They are living in mansion houses. They have lots of expensive cars. All luxury… they could have it, while there are millions of Filipinos suffering from poverty. While we are here, not secured from the AH1N1 virus. While there are women whose rights are being violated. While there are children, who, instead of going to school need to work to earn for living.

How dare can officials take it? Now, they are campaigning for the next election. And they are once again using innocent people as campaign paraphernalia.

Honestly, it is not a bad luck to live in the Philippines. It is just so dismaying that there are many imprudent and apathetic people.

As what Senator Francis Pangilinan said, “It’s hard to make anyone understand these implications if they are unwilling to understand in the first place.” Come to think of it. If at present, we can no longer address the problems, will changing the constitution make sense? Or this would just give more power to the unconcerned and ever-selfish politicians?

pag-aaral, mahalaga pa ba?

2008-09-22T23:28:00.001-07:00

Siguro mas mga magandang tagalog version ko gawin to…

Nung May pa pala nang huli akong sumulat ng blog, na umani ng mga comments. Salamat para don dahil nalaman ko na may nagbabasa pala ng sinusulat ko. Kailangan lang medyo may pagka kontrobersyal para may magrereact, hehe…

Tatlong buwan na rin ang nakakaraan mula nang kami ay grumadweyt sa kolehiyo… bagong buhay. Wala ng aral-aral… walang quiz, walang assignments at projects… walang pressure… nakakamiss talaga… nakakamiss ang buhay estudyante…

Kahapon… napadaan ako sa may city hall ng Maynila. Lugar na minsan din naming tinambayan, kahit na malayo ang university namin don… nakakainggit ang mga studyanteng nakatambay… tawanan, kulitan, yung iba nagaaral… ang saya nila tignan. Kahit alam kong may ilan sa kanila na kinaiinisan at kinatatamaran na ang pagpasok.

Sobrang nakakamiss talaga…

Kaya nga ilan lang masasabi ko sa mga kasalukuyang nag-aaral pa lang… bibihira ang pagkakataong mabigyan tayo ng tsansa na makapag-aral. May ilang bata na salat sa buhay na naghahangad nito pero hindi nila magawa dahil sa kakulangan sa pera. Pera na sapat lang para makatawid sa gutom.

Nakakalungkot isipin na kokonti lang ang nabibigyan ng pagkakataong makapag-aral dahil sa hikahos na dinaranas ng bansa. Ang mga bata na syang inaasahang magtataguyod sa Pilipinas ay nawawalan na ng pag-asang makatungtong pa sa kolehiyo o kahit hayskul man lang…

May napanood nga akong isang documentary. Ang mga bata, sa murang edad pa lang ay nagtatrabaho na…nakakaawa sila. Sa halip na mag-aral, andun sila at nagtratrabaho na parang matanda.

Sinong magsasabing hindi na natin kailangan pang mag-aral dahil wala na din naming pag-asa? Sinong magsasabing diskarte at tyaga lang ang kailangan at hindi kailangang nakapagtapos ka ng isang kurso o dapat kang maging propesyunal para makahanap ng trabaho?

OO. siguro nga tama ka sipag, tyaga, diskarte. Pero kinakailangan mo din ng kaalaman. Mahalaga na marunong kang magsulat at magbasa. Mahalaga na marunong kang mag-isip.

Habang naghahanap ako ng trabaho at nag-eexam para matanggap, nalaman ko ang halaga na may alam ka. Pano kung hindi ako nag-aral? Masasagot ko kaya ang mga exam na yun? Maiintindihan ko kaya ang ingles na tanong ng nagiinterview? May laban ba ko sa ibang aplikante na literado?

Sobrang mahalaga na nag-aral ka. Na may alam ka. Kaya kung ikaw ang nabigyan ng ganitong oportunidad, hindi mo dapat ito sayangin o aksayahin. Tandaan mong marami ang naghahangad nito. Hindi lang isa o dalawa ang hindi pinalad na makapag-aral. Milyon sila. At hindi ko, o mo alam kung anong naghihintay sa kinabukasan nila…

Ito ang nakakalungkot na realidad.

sagip pilipinas...

2008-05-23T05:19:00.002-07:00

Iniabot ko sa Manong drayber ang sampung piso kong barya. “Quiapo lang po.” At pagbalik ng sukli, dalawang piso na lamang. Hindi na ako nagtaka dahil sinabi na sa balita na magiging otso pesos na ang pamasahe.

Naalala ko nung unang taon ko pa lang sa kolehiyo. Limang piso lang ang bayad ng studyante. Pag dalawa kayo, kasya na ang sampung piso. Pero ngayon, para sa isang tao na lang ang halagang ito. Sakto namang kung kelan hindi na ako studyante saka tumaas ang pamasahe. Kahit singkwenta sentimos lang ito, may epekto na rin ito lalo na sa mga karaniwang tao lang.

Apektado ako, oo. Dahil sa ngayon ay wala pa akong nahahanap na trabaho. At kasalukuyang humihingi ng pang gastos sa aking magulang, na sa totoo lang ay nakakahiya na din naman.

Sa ngayon, isa ako sa libu-libong mga Pilipino na walang trabaho. Hindi pa man ako naghahanap, pero ganon ang aking pakiramdam. Ilang libo kaming mga studyante na nagtapos ngayong taon? Saan kami sisiksik? At kung magkatrabaho man kami, maaaring ang kikitain namin ay hindi sapat para tustusan ang lahat ng pangangailangan, lalo na ngayong ang bansa natin, sa kabila na paglakas ng piso laban sa dolyar, ay patuloy na naghihikahos dahil sa pagtaas ng mga bilihin, produktong petrolyo, kuryente at maging ng pamasahe. Ano ang naghihintay sa amin at sa mga pamilyang umaasa sa amin?

Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit karamihan sa mga studyante ngayon ay kumukuha ng nursing, o iba pang kurso na in demand sa ibang bansa. Pinaka madaling solusyon na inaakala ng marami para maiahon sila sa kahirapan. Ngunit bago ka pa man grumadweyt, ay daang libo ang kailangan mong gastusin. Tiis-tiis kumbaga. At pagkagradweyt mo naman ay hindi ka naman kaagad makakaalis. Magrereview, at kukuha ka pa ng board exam bago ang lahat. Pag minalas ka pa na hindi makapasa, hindi ka kagad makakapagtrabaho. Mapapabilang ka pa din sa tinatawag na “unemployed.”

Ang peryodismo, “Journalism” sa ingles, at hindi nursing ang kursong napili ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong sumagi sa isipan ko kung bakit naisip kong kunin ito. Walang katiyakan sa trabaho, sabi nga ng ilan. Tanong pa ng iba, maging ng mga magulang ko, “Anong magiging trabaho mo? Pati ang nanay ko na mismong nagrekomendang kunin ko ito ay nagtatanong din. Hindi na lang ako sumasagot.

Pinili ko ang kursong ito hindi dahil gusto ko lang ito, o dahil mahilig lang akong magsulat. Oo nung una, alinlangan ako, pero sa loob ng apat na taon ay napagtanto ko na sa kursong pinili ko ay maaari kong matulungan ang naghihikahos nating bansa. Makapangyarihan ang pagsulat. Tama! Kaya nitong ibulgar ang ano mang baho ng isang nagpapagwapong politiko at kaya nitong magpatalsik sino man ang makapangyarihang taong nakaupo sa pwesto. Makapangyarihan nga ang pagsulat ngunit dapat itong gamitin sa tamang paraan.

Kakatapos ko pa lang sa kolehiyo. At sa ngayon ay napakalabo pa ng daan ko. Magiging peryodista (journalist) ba ako, o hindi? Magsusulat ba ako para sa ibang tao at para sa ating bansa?

o gagamitin ko na lang ang natutunan ko para sa sarili ko lang? O ikukulong ko na lang ba ang aking napag-aralan sa apat na sulok ng “call-center,” at magpabulag sa malaking perang isasampal sayo tuwing swelduhan.

Sana hindi. Sana hindi ko gawin ito. Sana, kahit sobrang mahirap humanap ng trabaho ngayon ay hindi ako sumama sa nakararami na tinitiis ang matagalang pag-upo at pagkausap sa taong hindi nila kilala at pipiliting bumili o tangkilikin ang kanilang produkto, o kaya nama’y magbigay kasagutan sa tanong ng mga ito.

Sana magamit ko ang pinag-aralan ko para tumulong. Kung hindi man ako kaagad maging peryodista, sana sa darating na panahon. Sa ngayon, hahanapin ko muna ang tamang landas na makakapagpatibay sa loob ko.

Kaya hindi ko pinili ang pagiging nars ay dahil ayaw ko namang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Oo makakatulong ka sa ibang tao doon. At malaki ang kikitain mo na kung dito sa Pilipinas ay isang taon mong pagtatrabahuhan ang isang buwan lang doon. Sabihin ng kailangan ko at ng pamilya ko ng pera, pero ang bansa natin ay nangangailangan din ng tulong. Higit pa sa pera.

“Magtatrabaho ako sa ibang bansa para kumita ng malaki,” “wala ka namang mapapala sa bansang ito kaya dun na lang tayo sa abroad …” Kung ganito ang magiging pananaw ng maraming Pilipino, sino na lang ang matitira sa bansang Pilipinas? Sobrang daming magagaling at matatalino nating kababayan ang piniling umalis para magkaron ng mas malaking kita. Maging ang mga guro, iniinda kahit katulong sila doon. At kahit iyong iba na nagtapos na apat na taong kurso ay tinitiis kahit maglinis ng inidoro o maghugas ng pwet ng matatanda. Sayang. Dahil mas pinipili nilang maglingkod sa bansang hindi naman sila ganon ka-pamilyar, at maging malayo sa mga kamag-anak, kapalit ng pera.

Siguro nga sa oras na ito ay nasasabi ko pa ang mga ito dahil hindi pa ganoon kalaki ang hamon sa akin. Hindi pa ganon kalaki ang aking responsibilidad sa pamilya. Oo. Pero bilang isang Pilipino at dating studyante na pinag-aral ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas, nais kong dito magsilbi sa bayan natin. Sa tuwing may nagtatanong sa akin kung gusto kong mangibang-bansa, umiiling na lang ako, senyales ng di pagsang-ayon. Nais kong gamitin ang natutunan ko para tulungan kahit papaano, kahit sa napaka simpleng paraan, ang bansang kinalakihan ko. Kahit sa simpleng pagsulat lang.

Naiiintindihan ko ang mga taong walang humpay sa pagsigaw sa kalye sa kabila nang paghampas nang batuta at malakas na buga ng tubig. Marami akong nakakausap sa kanila buhat sa paaralang aking pinanggalingan, pero hindi sumagi sa isip ko ang makilahok sa kanila. Bakit? Dahil alam kong mayroon akong sariling paraan na maaaring hindi ko idaan sa pagsigaw-sigaw. Siguro nga, iyon ay ang pagsigaw sapamamagitan ng papel at panulat.

Ikaw? May naiisip ka bang paraan? Hahayaan mo bang ganito na lang ang bansa natin na kung ang pamasahe ngayon ay otso pesos na ay di maglaong maging singwenta na? Papayag ka bang patuloy na masadlak sa kahirapan ang mga kababayan nating naghihikahos na? Hahayaan mo bang maubos ang mga gurong dapat sana’y tinuturuan ang mga batang walang muwang at nais matuto? Hahayaan mo bang maubos ang mga manggagamot sa bansang ito? Matitiis mo kaya na umaani ka man ng libu-libong pera pero makikuita mo ang ibang kababayan mo na tinitiis ang hirap? O iiling ka na lang at kukutyain ang kabulukan ng gobyerno natin? Pupunain mo pero alam mo naman sa saili mo na wala ka naming nagawa?...

still a student

2008-05-23T05:19:00.001-07:00

i was at the mall with my friends one afternoon. we were strolling and then i saw the manequins diplayed in the department store, dressed in school uniforms. i told them to look at it, then they sighed "aaahhh..." then we realized, it's back to school again.
then i realized... i would not be going to school again (that is, if i will not pursue a 2nd degree). i would not be buying school supplies and i would not be seeing my classmates and college friends as well.
these thought iv'e often ponder... it was almost a week after we graduated. yes! we're already professionals although i can't feel it at the moment because my heart stiil is a student. it somehow makes me feel sad everytime the thought of leaving school and not seeing my classmates often, hit me. other than that are the so many things we did in the past that might not be repeated again and would just be banked in the so-called "memory..."
our class-the most outstanding graduating class of our college; my classmates; college friends, tribu; orgmates; our newspaper-The Journ Post, and all staff, press work, articles; PAo people, and of course our loving professors... i will so miss them...
these days, mothers are busy buying school supplies for their kids. children on the other hand are excited to go to school. that was my feeling before during same days, though in the middle of the school year i was visited with laziness because of the same routine everyday" you wake up, then go to school, listen to teacher, then exams, recitations, assignments, blah-blah... or if you are into orgs, you'll have practice during weekends..
....elementary and high school days....
although 60 percent of the scenario is the same, still, there's the 30% difference among the people, the teachers and most especially, the environment we cope with. but, at the end of the day, you'll realize that everything, despite the differences, is an experience, and an experience to learn...
... i'm a graduate now.. and will be entering a new world... i know that what i've learned in the past 15 years may not be enough to face the challenges of life. still, i have to learn... just like a student...

children are the future: let's help them...

2008-04-17T02:45:00.000-07:00

“Wala na tayong magagawa… ganto na ang kapalaran ko. Kesa mangarap tayo ng mangarap, kung wala naman tayong hinahawakan…”-victor

How will a child still dream if at his young age, he had lost hope already? And although he keeps on holding on to that dream, his belief that it would happen someday fades, then disappear, and don’t hope anymore?

Late night, that was two days after New Year, I watched the pathetic and very touching story of Victor in PROBE.

Victor was first interviewed in the show in 1988. He was just a child then, maybe 10 years old. He was a funny and naughty little boy. He always smiles. Whenever Che-che Lazaro asks him questions, he always responds with a smile. What a child.

Victor lives with his own and simple life. “Kalabit-penge,” a term coined for those children begging money on the streets. That was his work.

He was alone. He left his mother and step father that’s why he was living for himself. He left them for his step father batters him while his mother can’t give him a life a child of his age must experience. His mother was a hostess. Victor calls her “puta.” A brawny term that the child used to describe his mother. “Puta.”

After that interview, two decades have passed and PROBE Team searched Victor again. Twenty years. Where is he now?

Che-che, with the help of Victor’s former live-in partner and sister found him at Binan Laguna. He was a grown-up man already, with his beard and sudden wrinkles on his forehead. He makes hollow blocks. That was his only source of living. He has this kind of work, but is still not enough to build his family. With 100 pesos a day, he could not support his wife and four children. That’s why he still lives with his own until now and his siblings are in his partner’s mother.

This was his dream: to own a simple sari-sari store where he could get a little income and then start building his family. He indeed wants to be with his family, but he keeps on thinking how he would support them. With his unstable job and very low income, how is he going to do it?

Fortunately, kindhearted people lend help and gave him money to start. He now has his sari-sari store.

That was Victor’s story…

1988-2008. Two decades has passed. Slow improvement or perhaps, no improvement at all. For the not-so-fortunate people like Victor, progress in life is hard to achieve. He did not reach high school, how is he going to look for a stable job? Will companies or offices hire him? Will they give him work?
Let’s say we need to strive. Yes. Strive hard. Work harder. But even if you pay so much effort, and work so hard, it would just be useless. For a country whose focus are for acquiring more investors, and for more development of bridges and roads who are given a wide percentage of the country’s budget but are just being laid to the hands of corrupt officials, poor people will stay poor even though they work as hard as they can. That is why; more and more of our countrymen are loosing hope that their status in life will become better someday.

Poverty has been one of the great problems of this country. There maybe implemented rules and policies to resolve such issue, however, there are lots of apathetic who are sleeping in their golden beds, counting their money on their hands while poor people don’t know what to do to fill their empty stomach.

Victor is just one of the many who needs help. The government must make a way in giving chances to people like him.

To children, they must have a better solution to lessen or more importantly, to avoid the growing number of mendicants and street children. They need a home. They must be laid in a safer and comfortable place where they can start their lives and begin to dream. If the government can spend P15 million for electronic voting machines that were not used anyway, why not spend a little to the young ones. Why not make them feel there is still hope in this country and make them believe that if they do better and strive they will have a brighter future.

proud to be....

2008-02-13T23:50:00.000-08:00

This wasn't just an ordinary university for ordinary people... this is a university where, students could build their dreams despite poverty or lack of money... this is a university which shapes the minds of every individual to become aware of the present status of the society and let them see the truth. this is a university that enhances the potentials of every students... this is a university where i came from..

early this morning, i went to school to get my evaluation form for graduation... as i walked, i looked intently to the students passing by and to the main building, seeing it differently. for the four years of my stay here, i can say that i have appreciated somehow my school. Although, more often, it makes me feel awkward when somebody asks me where am i studying especially if he is from a prestigious or known school... oftentimes, i am thinking what if i studied in UP or Ateneo? there'll be more opportunities.. and many will say "ahhh..." whenever i would tell them my school...

but then, i just realized that, maybe school would help especially when looking for jobs, but it is still up to a student how he will make his way to succeed...

though we may not have so much facilities and complete equipment, though we may not have Harvard graduate professors, though we may not have a big parking lot , though we don't have big and air conditioned classrooms, though we may not have experienced what other students from private schools experience, though most of us lack in money, i am still proud that i belong to this university...

this is perhaps "an ordinary university" to some... seat of activists, or a university for the poor... yes these are all true. but proudly i would say that my university is the hope especially of the unfortunate people who still wants to continue studying despite financial problems.. this university made me a better person and encouraged me to persevere in life. it may not have provided me all my needs as a student but that made me more persistent in seeking for other ways where i would also learn.. i'm thankful because our university's weaknesses teach every student to innovate and gain knowledge at the same time.

however, the big chance that our university gives to the less-fortunate is slowly turning down because of the budget cut for education annually. this year, 40.2 million.. and how will a state university like us survive if the 52 million budget given by the government every year would be lessened? what will happen to the school? more dilapidated facilities? no more additional equipment? no more books to be used? no more comfortable classrooms? but what is so saddening about this is the thought that students are the first ones to suffer.

why do they need to cut the budget for education after putting it as the first priority in the budget share? why do they alot big money for some unimportant stuffs? why waste money for people who are not doing their job well? why, instead of helping out of school youths, the government is giving away money to the officials who are just seating on their couches doing nothing, waiting for the next election and then make their way again to fame? but the bottom line is still: why do they deprive the poor their right to study?

this is very true of our country. and this is the reason why we are not attaining progress despite the many resources available but are not used wisely.. if only all youths would be given the chance to go to school, maybe the country could produce more brilliant graduates... or perhaps, we could have better politicians.. well, i am not saying that our government officials are not good.. of course they won't be elected if they are not, unless they paid for it.. they are really smart people i believe. because they know how to get money then use it without the people knowing it. i am just wondering why they don't get embarrassed with what they are doing.. they get money without even working hard for it???

this country is so pathetic because of some people, mostly are intellectuals but just use their brains to fool their countrymen.. but despite all these, i still love this country and wants to contribute for change... this is just one of things i realized when i entered my school.. and i am grateful truly that my eyes where opened when i entered this university.

nice experience!!

2008-02-05T02:10:00.000-08:00

well... being in the outside world is really a nice exerience... maybe tough at times but if you'll just realize and know, what we are doing every day of the week is a lesson we could cherish and keep for future use...

i have spent months in my on the job training and i think i'm learning well... yeah! this is really different when you are just inside the classroom, listening to the teacher and unfortunately they are sometimes absent and don't attend the class...

i am applying the little things that i learned during the past years and still continue to study what i need to learn... the years of studying may not be enough for you to become an "all around" person, who knows everything. and still, it is very true that experience is the best teacher...

i have only few days left here in SUMMIT Media.. and i'm proud to say that for that 100 hours of my stay here, i've learned a lot... even to my first OJT at Manila Standard Today where i spent the other 100hrs....

maybe some of my classmates were complaning of their work and their bosses... but then i realized that if you really love your work, or even just try to love it, nothing is harder... all work will be finished easily with a smile of course on your face. =)

i hope that when i already graduated, i could look for a better job... but i'm still planning to take masteral either in UP or Ateneo if fate would grant me... but if not, better luck next time...if it's God's will, why not??!! but as of now, i'm still waiting for the result of our evaluation... i won't graduate if they found any defficiency in my grades.. duh!!! and we're still working on our thesis... waahh.. that's hard!!!! and we're still in the process of data gathering... goodluck to us!! =)

alive again???

2007-12-05T20:53:00.000-08:00

waaahh..... four months have passed... well... uhm... got a lot of experiences, happenings.. lessons and all sort...

i've been very busy... as usual... and don't have time to write here or i just forgot i have a blogspot???

well... the past months were really extraordinary...

september- we won the cheering competition during the university intramurals... that was really amazing!!! thank God for crowning our efforts with so much success... the whole college was very proud of us, although there were little controversies.. but i believe, we deserve the prize..

october- 1st semester ended. vacation grande??? nope... coz i spent more of my vacation doing and working for our final requirements... that was really exhausting... i wrote.. uhm... 17 news articles within three days... well it was a punishment coz i didn't pass even one. glad my professor still gave me a grade of 1.0 even though i already passed it late!!! haha..

november- a very memorable month...

we don't have classses anymore.. only two subjects, internship and thesis... but we don't go to school...

we went to Subic for the 20th advertising congress.. we were student volunteers there... that was tiring but it was really fun and exciting!!! you know, dealing with famous names in the advertising and marketing industry.. interacting with known people, the elites and the socialites... meeting new friends... and of course, visiting a very solemn and beautiful place (which i happened to visit 11 years ago...) that was all worth it...

and now... i'm on my OJT at the Manila Standard... still looking for another one to spend the half of 200 hours...

and now, there are 18 days to go before christmas... sort of planning for christmas parties... when and where are we going to spend it... but i hope on december 25... i'm at our house at the province spending the yuletide season with my family...

experience: the best teacher!

2007-08-18T01:47:00.000-07:00

vacation grande....

hmmm... should i say "i'm thankful because we don't have classes for six consecutive days?" or "i'm thankful because we escaped the midterms that we were supposed to take?"

honestly, i'm truly grateful because classes were suspended yesterday and i got enough time to sleep... we were on the shooting of lastikman last thursday. we were dancing there, acting a little bit... too tiring! the foods were, uhm... i don't like it anyway but since we were hungry, we have no choice but to eat it. we already finished at almost 6 in the morning and i got home at 7... oh my God... i was really tired and sleepy yesterday. and if ever there were classes, i could not manage to attend not only because i was too tired, but i did not study for our exam and i could not take it if i got a low score...

well... i just realized that it's too hard really, to earn money... yaah! we were paid... not enough for what we did... or perhaps for production staffs, it is...since we were just there dancing, acting like back ups, and all that... but for newcomers like us, the job was difficult.. some of us worried because we thought that the shooting will only be until afternoon. we did not expect that it will last until friday morning...

but then, it was an experience... dealing with some artists like vhong, iya, roxanne, jake, vanna and the directors and staffs of lastikman... it doesn't happen everytime. it was an oppurtunity. vhong was there teaching us the stunts he knows and how to execute it the right way. iya was also there cracking jokes and vanna was talking to us asking for the steps (because she was abpout to act as the squad captain)...it's nice knowing that people who are famous like them deal with just ordinaries like us... i consider it as a privelege because not everybody were given the chance to experience that. well, i'm not into idolizing those people, and i'm not a fan too.

however, what we've done is something to be treasured because it will be helpful in the future...

long silence

2007-08-08T23:58:00.001-07:00

how about a month not writing on my blog spot?

weird....

I've been so, so busy this past few weeks... sort of having an everyday training and practice of routines for the upcoming cheering competition...

kinda working on news articles for our newspaper...

but the funny thing is, I'm not doing my school works that are already piled up...

there are lots of homeworks- news articles that i need to write, but i'm not working with it...

i just ignore them and think that i can finish or do it once i find a time... like today, (since there are no classes because of the typhoon.)

sometimes, i was so beleaguered by many things and i don't know what will i prioritize... perhaps, my classmates and even my friends are thinking why i commit and commit but don't work on my acads....

maybe, they get annoyed with me when i tell stories that i find it difficult to deal with things or to balance them... and when there are group works, i complain and tell them that i'm too busy so better not give me a hard job 'coz i can't do it or finish it either...

well... i am just assuming that they do... but i hope, they don't...

sometimes, we find it difficult to tell people why are we doing such things. better be silent or just show them you are happy and contented with what you are doing...

i find pleasure when i'm busy... it gives me a lot of satisfaction and it makes me forget lonely moments that i must not think of...

not this time...

2007-07-05T03:18:00.000-07:00

"siguro nga ito ang unang sulat dito na tatagalugin ko...
ngunit ito ay may dahilan...
may malalim na kahulugan..."

minsan iniisip mong wala na ang lahat. marami kang ginagawa. aral. praktis. sulat. wala ka ng oras para isipin pa ang mga bagay-bagay... ngunit sa kabila nito, may mga pagkakataon pa rin na kung saan hindi mo maiiwasang mag-isip. hindi lang ng mga tungkol sa paaralan. ngunit sa iba pang dimensyon ng iyong buhay. sa kailaliman ng iyong puso...

kagabi....

oo nga... kagabi, kung saan ang isipan ko'y binalot ng mga alaala. ang utak ay punung-puno ng tanong. mga katanungan na kahit saang lupalop ng mundo mo hanapin ay hindi mo malalaman ang sagot... pagod man ang katawan sa maghapong pagsayaw, ngunit mas lalong napapagod ang puso at utak na ginugulo lamang ng isang pangalan...

hindi sapat na gawin ang lahat ng maaring gawin para hindi sya maalala. ngunit sa aking paghiga, ang mga matang ito'y di maipikit kahit pa pilitin. ang utak ay lumilipad sa lugar kung saan siyay naroon. nag-iisip. naluluha. ngunit walang magawa.

"bakit kung kailan nakakalimutan mong isipin ang isang tao, saka naman sya magbabalik sa buhay mo?"

nakakapagod. ngunit bakit ganon? alam mo ng nasasaktan ka, pero tuloy ka pa rin? dahil ba dun ka masaya? kahit alam mong ni minsan ay di nya pinaramdam na mahalaga ka?

sa simpleng salita napapangiti ka? ngunit sapat na ba ito para magpatuloy ka?

kung maaari lang humiling na sana'y bumilis ang panahon para malaman kung anong mangyayari sa hinaharap...
kung maaari ko lang sanang mabasa kung ano ang iniisip nya...
kung maaari lang sanang sabihin sa kanya...
kung maaari lang sanang mangyari ang lahat ng ito...

busy.... busyhan...

2007-06-28T06:46:00.000-07:00

4th year days so tiring.... waaaahhhhh.... i really don't know what to do.... kinda busy.....

i have a report tomorrow... I'm not ready yet... no visuals, and i haven't read anything about it...

i still have an assignment to work with...

i need to write more than five articles... am not sure but i think it's more than five... and i'm not in the mood to write even one... don't have any facts so, how will i write??? hmmmm....

sometimes, i think that I'm so irresponsible for not taking things so seriously.. i envy my friends. they always have assignments. they always have projects. they always do what our professors tell us to do... they always beat the deadline. but me, well... i always set things aside. easy easy often... not thinking of the consequences for my laziness...

i can't manage my time. and again, i don't know why... i'm always busy but i don't know if i will benefit for what i am doing...

i go to school every morning even if our class is still on the afternoon. and i always go home late.. i don't have time to unwind... don't have time for bonding with my high school friends... dont have time for myself... don't have enough sleep...

but......

this afternoon, we released our newspaper... we gained good feedbacks for a job well done... and most, our dean congratulated us....

sometimes, even if you experience all those things... hardships... lonely moments... sleepless nights... you always reap a very good harvest... and that's what i got... what we got...

for all our endeavors... for always being busy, ignoring all the assignments and projects... we achieve something... and it's worth a million achievement for making every students informed... for sharing what you know... and for making our professors so proud of us...

non sense...

2007-06-05T04:13:00.000-07:00

Forgot I have a blog…. I was just reminded coz I’ve read “his” blog.. yahh… “HIS” blog… Waah… don’t know what to write. Just filling out the so many days I haven’t visit my site. Kinda busy this past few days. Enrollment, seminars, line up of reading materials… too many works to do… vacation is about to end and I’m still here taking all the time and wasting it by sleeping half the day…

Am stuck up in the house. Feeling like my brain was rusted. For two months, felt like I haven’t done anything productive or anything that would contribute to my knowledge. Classes are about to start and everything would seem new again… whoa!!!! Am fourth year already… my last year in college… sort of excited for graduation but a bit frightened to what will happen next… thesis… thesis… how are we going to survive..??? Wish I could click the time and then graduation…. Whooooo!!!!!

Really, I am not in the mood to write anything with sense. Next time perhaps…. And don’t know…when will be that “next time.”

worth a thousand words...

2007-05-15T01:40:00.000-07:00

it's kinda boring staying at your house the whole day, really. and to somehow lessen it, i took my photo albums and looked at our pictures back in high school.
yeah... it's still the feeling everytime i look at those pics showing our funny moments. the places we went, the events we participated, trip-trip lang pics, barkada bonding, class pics- all of those remind me of how hard yet happy high school life is. those pictures relive every moments and it makes me feel sad when i think that we can never experience all of those again. my classmates and friends are too busy, they are far, they can't come, sort of reasons that will always hamper our plans of getting together, and it's hard. the only hope you have is to think that one day in the future, you will have time to see and talk with each other, remember all the memories you've done before, share the hardships and difficulties you've been through and brag what you have attained. it's kinda funny thinking of it. yet, it somehow excites me and challenges me to do everything i can so that if someday, we had an opportunity to meet, i can be proud of what i have achieved. hopeful... hopeful... hehe...
well... i miss them, really!! there are times when i see them in my dreams. we were happy, we were complete, we laugh and then we hug. they seem so true, yet when i wake up, they're gone. how sad...
how i wish fate would lead us to a point where our paths would cross again. like before, when we were still together. i miss them so much!! know why?? coz being with them for 11 years, and after that you'll never see them everytime like before, makes you feel so empty... so lost...

love high school!!!

2007-05-13T00:29:00.000-07:00

Attending events make us feel good, especially when we meet people close to our hearts. People whom you only see in rare times. Last time, I attended an event and I saw my former teachers there. They asked me “how am I,” “how’s my studies going on,” “how’s my other friends,” sort of things. They said time is too quick and we will be graduating next year. I can sense the feeling of happiness on their part knowing that their students, whom they taught and trained, will soon reach that point. And I know they are proud. Teachers are truly part of the students’ lives and seeing them succeed is a much more success for them.

On the other part, I saw my Alma Mater School too. Well, we sometimes visit it during sembreaks, but seeing it now is an odd feeling for me. There are lots of changes. Even the teachers, the policies, etc. As I look at it from afar, I clearly remember all the memories and it is so saddening that I can’t experience all of them again. Only memories are left, that’s why I really treasure all of them even the simplest moment. That was my school and that was my second home. Where I grew up and where I started my dreams… It hurts when someone says something against our teachers, or in our school, and to my classmates as well. I remember, somebody told me that our batch our BRAGGARTS and CHEATERS. I can’t blame him because it’s his own view about us. It just hurt a bit knowing that he is my schoolmate and friend too (it is if he considers me as his friend). And this issue ends here…

Truly, high school life is the best! It may not be for others, but for me, it’s a YES! Of course, college life is great too… having good friends and nice professors, meeting people with different attitudes. But, nothing beats high school…

how i wish

2007-04-28T22:53:00.000-07:00

2006 Bar topnotchers
Noel Neil Q. Malimba of the University of the Cordilleras
Deborah S. Acosta (UP)
Ricardo M. Pilares III (Ateneo de Manila)
Erika Ana Andrea C. Jimenez (Ateneo)
Maria Charizza B. Carlos (Ateneo)
Gina Lyn R. Rubio (Far Eastern University)
Anjuli Larla A. Tan (Romualdez Educational Foundation)
Karen H. Gaviola (University of San Carlos)
Al-shwaid L. Ismael (University of Cebu)
Timothy Joseph M. Mendoza (UP) and
Alain Charles J. Veloso (UP)

Of the 6,187 who took the exam (the largest batch ever), 30.60 percent passed.

I wish someday, I can be one of them…

Source: http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=60477

lawyers wannabe...

2007-04-28T22:52:00.000-07:00

to those who are aiming to become lawyers someday... please read this...
this was a blog written by LANBER J. DAсs and charissa m. luci, entitled "The making of a Filipino lawyer "
i read this while searching the 2006 bar topnotchers... hehe... may you, like me, be inspired by their words....
passing the bar is like being able to climb the highest mountain or being able to stand up in the face of a gargantuan tempest. the passing percentages of barristers have not been high ever since the inception of the bar exams in 1901. the highest bar exam percentage has been in 1981 with a sensational 43 percent passers. though the rate is impressive, the fatalities are still too numerous. the question is, why does the philippines has a very low passing percentage in the bar exam? is it because of the quality of the law schools or is it the quality of the students that is dipping? the life of a law studentif you are a graduate of a four-year course, you can automatically be eligible to apply for law school as long as you pass the qualifying exams and the interview. most of the time the qualifying exam for law schools consists of reading comprehension, this means that you need to have a combination of good analytical aptitude and a good command of english. as of the present, the language used in law schools is english, sometimes professors will add bonus points just because your answer to the questions is grammatically sound.now, except for some law schools, the entrance exam is not the hardest challenge for most students. rather, surviving in the school is the major goal. you may be able to pass the entrance exam but the school will do everything to filter out the deserving from those who are not.every year, you will never fail to see a scene during enrollment. when it is time to get your grades, mostly you will see some students hold back tears, sometimes they let out the sorrow and cry when they learn that their clearance has the red stamp with "debarred?? spelled out in bold. on the other side of the fence, you will see other students giving out a sigh of relief, others immediately run away from the scene to celebrate their acceptance for yet another semester.some students who are enrolled in law have not ever failed a subject before in their whole life. the scene is somewhat pathetic if you see a student cry over one subject that he or she failed while you have a couple of 5.0s in your class card. clearly, this only indicates that law school is not college, it is head and shoulders tougher.some of those who fail put the blame on some nasty professor whom they can?t adapt to. some just accept that they had not studied very well on the exam. some will try to figure a way to continue their studies, while some reject the notion of ever going back.a law student needs to read. for them life is all about reading law books as much as they can. for example, a student may only read the book of atty. ernesto pineda regarding the family code of the philippines.most of the time this is not enough in recitations, so the student reads everything he can get his hands on regarding the subject, including reading and memorizing a landmark case about a particular article.now, there are professors who give out insane amounts of cases for daily reading. if you have a class with that professor every other day, forget sleep. you will spend your night burning the midnight oil just so you can digest 20-30 cases for recitation the next day. the hard part is ? you still need to study for your other classes, so forget lunch, dinner, and c.r. breaks.one problem of a law student is how to stay up late at night to study, probably the best friend of a law student is coffee, but if you are a choosy fellow, you can opt for red bull, the official energy drink of law students. you can also stay up late armed only with a pack of cigarette, your law books, and a file cabinet full of photocopied cases. suffice it to say, it must be stressed that law school is not college anymore.if you want to be a law student, expect to decline on almost every conceivable party your yuppie friends invites you to. they don?t care about your studies, in fact most of them have the misconception that law school is just like college. but if you are a law student, you know that your time is best served by reading, memorizing and digesting cases. the fact is, not many party animals graduate in law.the serious pupil knows when to pick up the books and when to relax. this is never easy for working students, as they have to divide their time between school and work. just imagine ? a full time student can fail in a lot of subjects, that?s with full time studying.the working student on the other hand can?t even fit study time in one day. don?t get me wrong, i am not making martyrs out of working students, admirable some of them may be. there are still leech-like working students who photocopies the case digests of classmates so they can answer in recitations. some call them resourceful, maybe, but they?re more of a user type in everyday standards. that?s not even the worst case of leeching, as some full-time students can su*k dry their classmates resources without them lifting a finger to find cases in the library. this only illustrates the broad survival skills that you need to develop when you become a law student.the bar exam the bar examination started in the philippines on 1901 with 13 examinees, the language still used then was spanish. in the 1913 pre-war era, manuel roxas of the university of the philippines got the top rank with a score of 92 percent. during the war on 1944, jovito salonga of up got top honors along with jose diokno both garnering 95.3 percent. in 1954 the highest grade obtained in the bar was achieved by florenz d. regalado of the san beda college with a total of 96.7 percent.in the history of the bar exams the highest recorded passing rate was in 1981?setting a huge 43 percent passing benchmark. after this phenomenal passing ratio, the rate of passing has never gone up past 43 percent, but in 1998 the passing rate of 39.63 percent was recorded as the second best rank, though still below the 43 mark. in a surprising turn of events, after setting the second best record in 1998, 1999 has set the lowest record in bar exams history, setting a dismal 16.59 percent passing rate.

here's my song

2007-04-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

I remember, last December 2006, yeah, before Christmas, typhoon Reming hit our province and caused a three-week black out. I had nothing to do then. No TV, no radio (thanks a lot it’s very cold and we don’t need electric fan), cellphones always low batt! No unlimited texting that time.

I was in a lonely state then, and to somehow lessen it, I borrowed my cousin’s guitar and made this song…

Hiling
A E
Ang yong tinig ay narinig
C#m D
Sa dako kung saa’y wala naman doon
A E
Ang anino mo’y sumusunod
C#m D
Ginugulo ang aking isipan

Ref:
C#m D
Alaala na lang ang naiwan
C#m E
Tadhana’y sadyang pinaglalayo

Chorus:
A E
Ang tanging hiling ng puso ay
C#m D
Makita ka kahit saglit
A E
Subalit kahit panaginip
C#m D
Ikaw ay pinagkakait
A E
Isang awitin na lamang ang
C#m D
Sana’y makarating
C#m E
Kung saan ikaw’y naroon
C#m
At ito’y maririnig mo
D
At malalaman ang nais ng puso

A Em
Lumilipad sa kawalan
Ang isip kong ikaw ang laman
A Em
Tila hanging nagdadala
C#m D
Sa aking kalungkutan

(Ref. then Chorus)

Bridge:
C#m D
Kahit isa man lang pagkakataon
C#m
Sana’y makita kang muli
D E
Kahit di makausap
C#m D-E
Ito ang tanging hiling…

-----

Hope you understand its message!!!

hopeful

2007-04-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

I hope this will be the last. But it won’t. I wish this is the end. But it’s not.

It happened not only once, and not only twice. It always happens every time. I was immune of this feeling. But there’s nothing I could do. Only to fall and love again.

It wasn’t what I wanted. Yet this heart keeps on beating and no matter how hard I tried, it’s still him that I’m always thinking of.

He’s with another woman. He loves her. SHE is different, she’s beautiful, and she’s intelligent. That’s how he describes her. And I’m just here listening to what he says. Hoping that someday, it would be me whom he is telling and whom he is with every now and then. Whom he often thinks, whom he cares. It’s painful, really. Yet acceptance is the only way I can do.

It’s hard letting someone know what you feel. But nothing is harder than keeping it with you. You can’t help but just listen to his stories and agree to what he says. You can’t tell him what you feel. It will just be useless. He may avoid you. He may feel bad about you. You may loose the friendship you built for some time. That’s why I can’t.

I HOPE THIS WILL BE THE LAST. The last time I would fall… but it won’t!

i wish this is the end. End of heartaches, end of pain. End of desperation to someone who will never be mine. BUT IT”S NOT!

Here I am again, writing down what I feel. Hoping that someday he can read this. He may never understand. He may never know he’s the one. Uncertain I am, but I hope he will.

welcome to Puerto Galera!

2007-04-25T02:03:00.000-07:00

We went to puerto galera last sunday, that was april 22. After five years, I reached that beautiful place again... same scenery. Nothing changed. It’s still a paradise.

Even if we are living here in mindoro, we rarely find time to go there, primarily because it's far. It would take about two and a half hours of travel from our house. It’s far really and you need to trudge a rough and winding road before you reach the place. It’s like you're traveling to Baguio. But once you reached the place, wow!!! That’s the only word you can say.

The blue color of water in the beach, the white sand, the mountainous place… what a creation! There are lots of tourists there, which are mostly Americans and Manileňos. There are many people there who are truly “negosiantes.” Tiangge everywhere! Shirts, blouses, and shorts printed with Puerto Galera, all sort, name it, and it’s available…Hena tattoo for P100. Hair braid for P200. Cottage, P1500. Every products and services cost double of the true price. Well, it’s a tourist spot, and that explains it all.

But, having been to puerto would make you feel proud that once in your life, you saw a beautiful creation of God. You will also experience a soothing feeling that you wouldn’t feel when you are just staying at your home. Nothing beats the feeling of being in one place while relaxing, seeing and appreciating nature.

there'll always be chances...

2007-04-21T03:02:00.000-07:00

studying is genuinely hard -putting up all your priorities, setting aside those things that would interfere your studies, coping with the different attitudes of people you encounter and meet everyday, and all sort. and for almost 14 years of studying, I've been through such kind of difficulties. there are times when I wanna give up, but there are lot more times when tears would just flow from my eyes because I can't do something. so sad. but as always, triumphs would always come after defeats...

so many words for introduction... but, here's the true story...

since elementary, I used to belong in the cream of the crop. i used to be one of the honor students of the class, not to brag of. i maybe not that an achiever compared to my brothers and sister -in terms of medals, trophies, plaques and certificates they've received. i envy them for being math wizards, musicians, and awardees of different awards. i envy them because students and teachers know them for the honor they brought to our former school. and i envy them because i don't excel that much in their fields, and i haven't received many awards like them, and i was being compared at times.

well, it may hurt a bit but thinking of the little achievements i received is enough for me to be proud of myself, though it is just nothing compared to what others have achieved. and this is the reason why i'm pursuing hard now in college. i joined different orgs, joined some contests and grabbed any opportunities. it gave me satisfaction and happiness. but, fate will not give it to you at all. when i was in first year, i was given a grade of 3.0 in history [many of my classmates were also given the same grade]. and, having a 3.0 means that you can not be qualified to be a cum laude anymore. DISQUALIFIED. unfortunately, i was one. that time, i realized how wronh i was for taking things easily and i regret, for i know that i don't deserve the grade. history was one of my favorite subjects back in high school and i didn't think that History would be the stumbling block in my dream of graduating with honors. waah!!! i can't be a cum laude anymore, and why would i still continue to strive hard right? hah! that was the wrong thinking i had before. but then, i can't barely leave what i have learned to do-to study... so, i just did. luckily, for the small efforts i exerted, i became dean's lister, president's lister, and scholar of course. last recognition day, medals and certificates were given to the college's TOP SCHOLARS and i was truly proud i'm one. i was very happy then. not only for what i have received, but also for seeing my classmates and friends happy. i was also glad that many of us received that award and it made me happy more that what we gained would earn points for us in our aim to become the MOST OUTSTANDING CLASS OF THE YEAR next year. thanks a lot to my proffesors, classmates, friends, super friends, tribu and inspiration-if there is- for making my 3rd year life happy and complete, hehe...

truly, when God closes a door, He opens a window. we may not reach everything we want. we may not have anything we like. but, God will always provide and give what is best for us, of course, in the right time. he will always crown our efforts with success...

VOTE FOR CHANGE!!!

2007-04-06T05:15:00.000-07:00

The Philippines as of now is in the utmost condition of sinking. Just riding on a jeepney from one place to another would slap you the reality of what the country is at present. See how people live in condominium-like houses under the bridges. See how others build their homes near the “riles,” while few consider their caritons as houses. See the beggars and some children sleeping in sidewalks waiting for another morning of working whole day begging alms. This scenario reveals that poverty is genuinely in the worsening state. Because of that, many Filipinos as of now are giving up their hopes that this country could still move on, the reason why they prefer to go abroad and look for opportunities there. It is ironic that many of us go outside the country because of indigence, while foreigners do come here to become rich.
The blame should be put not only to the government perse. There are some people who, because of negligence and ignorance let the officials who are now governing this country, to grasp for power. Those people who, chose the corrupt people to be there. Those who allowed themselves to be fooled in exchange of money. And those who permitted the cheaters and liars to have a seat in the government.
How would this country shift to what you call progress when there are some people who allow these things to happen?
Youths are believed to be the potent agent of change. And they should be the prime movers and the first to initiate that change. But, how this could happen when out of the 100%, half of it is not aware of what is the present state of this country. Some do not even care to know about it, thinking that they could do nothing, so they just sit down and stay calm. Just go with the flow, never knowing that this country would suffer more and become weaker and weaker until it slides down. Those youths who, without hesitations would rather migrate to other countries and leave the Philippines for good.
The other half however is the youths who never surrender and continuously strive for the betterment of this country. Youths who firmly believe that this nation could still stand in the midst of the tragic situation it faces. They are the concerned citizens who will incessantly struggle until this country would be placed on the right track. But how would these reveries be achieved when only half of the hope of the motherland do the right thing? How will the Philippines be redeemed in its weakening state?
The vision is far from reality when many Filipinos would just be apathetic. There is no other way than uniting and joining hands in order to unsheathe this country from the deep mud where it was soaked. And as youths, being considered as the only hope of this country, we should be the first to move. We should serve as the leaders of change. And for us to do that, we should select the person who is willing to serve the people and this country, and not the one who barely wants to get elected for personal purposes only.
Now, election is near. Once again, the candidates or the people who longs for power would appeal to your emotions to get your votes. Their faces, their achievements and awards, or any recognition they attained will be rampant on posters, newspapers, and television and radio advertisements that would probably permeate your minds. You will be deafened by the constant hearing of voices promising you something if you give them your vote. You will probably be allured by their beautiful and handsome faces and be admired by their brilliant minds. But then again, you should use your brain. The country’s hope is in our hands. We should vote not for popularity, not because of familiarity or personality. Vote the people who could uplift the country. We were cheated and fooled once, and we should not allow anybody again to hamper our rights. We should not let our country be governed by corrupt officials. Do not allow that there’ll be many more Filipinos who will live under the bridges, in squatters, or in sidewalks. The Philippines needs good leaders. Not liars, not burglars. The country depends on every name you will write on your ballots. Every vote counts, so choose the best one. Because only through our votes, our wants will be heard, and that’s the only way we can be heard. Show them that you are a youth who really is concerned in this country. Prove to them that you are truly the hope of the motherland.

the first time i heard "wow..."

2007-04-06T05:14:00.001-07:00

Looking back to my last year in high school, I wasn’t really sure what course I would take. But fate intervened and led my feet to the point where I am now. Doubts hindered me first, but since I don’t have any choice, I decided to take up Bachelor in Journalism. I do love writing and that was the very first reason why I chose it. Yet, I wasn’t aware that choosing this career would cause others to ask questions, questions that sometimes make me lose hope.
Every time they ask me of my course, they would just politely nod or out rightly ask why. And I, on the other hand would just remain tongue-tied, for I know, even if I speak, they would not understand. Better if you don’t talk so you would hear nothing.
However, there came a time when those questions bothered me. And I was brought to the edge of thinking whether I will still continue or shift to another course. I was really discourage by the negative words coming from other people saying that it’ll be hard for me to look for a job once I graduated. They also say that you can’t earn money with such kind of work. And that, journalists at present are being killed with or without reasons. But still, I tightened my grip and told myself that I can do it no matter what.
I must admit, I feel a mixture of fear and hate whenever I hear such words. Fear because it is true that journalists’ life is always at risk and mine would be placed in trouble as well if I will become one of them. Hate because why would they discourage me when it is my choice? And it is what I want. Not because of the power that the press has but because I firmly believe that journalists can do something to save the country’s weakening state. To expose and propagate the truth and let the people know everything good or bad, through writing.
That was the real reason why I still continue pursuing this career. And it made me more inspired when somebody asked me one time what my course is, and when I answered “Journalism po,” he burst out with a “WOW!” I saw in his face that he was genuinely proud of me. And I was filled with so much gladness for hearing that word for the first time.
With all hopes and determination, I am now here waiting for another year-my last year in college. Though this will not be the end, I am very glad that in the three years that passed, I experienced interacting and interviewing different people- celebrities, politicians and ordinary men. I also reached different places when we are assigned on beats or asked to cover a certain event. I learned more about the media and its present condition. And I am truly proud that I belong to the few who experience those.
Despite all the hardships in pursuing goals, we need to endure it and believe that we can reach it. There might be challenges and difficulties but we should remember that it would take much time and effort for a person to achieve all his dreams. In the cycle of life, triumphs and defeats would always come around. With all of these, only a heart filled with enthusiasm and a person who is truly determined will live on and win in the battles of life.