Author's Note: Sometime in June
when I was browsing the ‘maps’ application of my gadget named Drew, I suddenly
bumped into an interesting barangay number. It is 666, the bible’s anointed
‘mark of the beast’. What interests me more about the barangay is that it is
pointing at the National Museum. Right there and then, I started to research
about its story. Fortunately, I managed to interview its Chairman and found out
a lot more juicy information about the barangay’s existence. Below is a copy of
the article I wrote, which is published in a national publication.
October 31, 2012
To Mr. & Mrs. Cortez
I've done something terrible last
Monday and I just wish that this blog would be enough to pay for what I did.
I believe it’s the first time
that I was invited to a wedding by someone not blood related to me and I
incidentally ditched it. I really said that I would attend this ceremony, but
due to a deadline, I forgot and failed to come at this once-in-a-lifetime
event.
My sincerest apologies to King
and Ellay Cortez. I just wish you and your journey together all the best.
I’ve known and idolized King for
more than a year now and I know deep inside me that he will really take good
care of her new beloved wife.
Don’t worry, 25 years from now,
during this couple’s silver anniversary, if I will be invited again; I promise
to surely reserve that date to be physically present at their renewal of vows.
Once again, sorry.
Congratulations. Good luck.
Pagkatuto
Adamsonian ako. Proud na Mass
Communication graduate ng Batch 2010. Wala akong pakialam sa sinasabi ng iba
pero kapag galing na sa loob ang naninira eh hindi ako mangingimi na huwag
magsalita.
For the past few days eh ang dami
kong nalalaman at ang masakit eh yung iba pang tao na inaasahan ko ring
magtanggol sa pinakamamahal kong pamantasan eh siya pang nangunguna para
ipagtabuyan ito.
Hindi ako magbibitaw ng pangalan.
Alam kong matalino itong tao na ito pero lang ang masasabi ko; wala siyang
kwenta kung hindi magbabago ang paniniwala niya.
Walang perpektong paaralan pero
may mga taong pwedeng gawing perpekto ang pananatili mo kung nasaan ka man
naka-enrol.
Alam ko na kahit yung numero
unong pamantasan sa Pilipinas eh may niluluwal din na bulok na propesyonal. Ang
sikreto sa buhay pag-aaral ay kung paano mo gagawing memorable ang stay mo na
kapag naka-graduate ka na eh mayroon kang isang tahanan na hindi malilimutang
balikan.
Marahil maganda nga ang patakaran
sa iba at may angking kabulukan ang Adamson University pero walang karapatan
ang kahit sino para sira-siraan ito sa buong mundo.
Huwag mo na isipin na ikaw ang
diyos o martir na makakaresolba sa problema ng buong pamantasan dahil may
kakilala akong school administrator na nagsasabing mahirap talaga magpatakbo ng
isang paraalan kahit na maliit lang ito, lalo pa yung isang malaking pamantasan
na may mahigit na labinlimang libong estudyante. Kaya bigyan dapat ng credits
ang mga opisyal at guro dahil sa mundo eh tuldok lang tayo. Marahil eh mas
maliit pa nga tayo sa tuldok.
Isang bagay na lalong nagpainit
ng ulo ko eh nung marinig ko na itong taong ito ay way ahead those cum laude’s and other honors dahil hindi
na daw niya kailangan yun para ipagmalaki kung gaano siya katalino.
Well, hindi porke’t marami kang
nababasang libro, nakapagtrabaho ka na ng part-time, marami kang kilalang
author at philosophers, at marami ka nang napanood na pelikula eh may malaking
kwenta ka na. Ang talino ay hindi binubuo ng mga nabanggit ko lamang. Isang
parte nga lang ata iyun sa tinatawag na multiple intelligence.
Una, grumaduate ka muna at
makipagsabayan sa mga propesyonal. Kung ayaw mong grumaduate eh gumawa ka muna
ng pangalan na tatalingkin sa buong mundo bago ka magsalita ng mga
pinaniniwalaan mo dahil ngayon eh hindi ka pa ‘credible’ o ‘reliable’.
Finally, lahat ng tao ay may
choice. Ikaw ay pwedeng pumili na umalis at maghanap ng bagong paaralan na
ikatutuwa mo o manatili sa kung nasaan ka at ipagsigawan ang posibleng
napakaraming bagay na dala nito.
Actually, it hurts, but with this
kind of philosophy being held by some students, I’m no longer wondering why
some graduates nowadays are slowly becoming nonsense and useless.
I just wish that they be more
bold to take more risky steps and stop complaining because if they will
continue on bickering issues that in the first place require only minimal
attention then, I’ll be one of those people who will wish for this world to
end.
Heck of an issue
I’ll only speak of this issue just once and sana
mapanindigan ko na isang beses ko lang talaga ito mapag-usapan.
***
First time since I entered the
so-called ‘professional world’ that I experienced going outside my home with
only 16 pesos at one of my bank accounts. At that point, I really felt very
sorry for myself.
I always say that money will
never be a big issue to me, but when people who depend on you start complaining
about the lack of such means, you will somehow begin to realize how important
money still is. If you don’t have enough of it, you will feel incapable of
doing a lot of worthy things.
What bothered me most was when I
realized that some of my colleagues are earning much by doing simple things
that they like. I also somehow like what I’m doing right now even if I feel
very busy at times. However, money still plays a factor.
Honestly, I’m being tempted and
let’s end it this way.
October 5, 2012
These goodbyes
July 10 when the whole nation mourned
the untimely demise of Comedy King Dolphy and until last Sunday, tribute
in his honor continued to pour in not only from his great immediate
family but from the entire showbiz/entertainment industry.
Almost all celebrities from the three
major television networks pitched the same commendations to the late
Filipino icon that he indeed served a life, which was full of humility
and happiness. Until his last breath, all of them noted no presence
of pain nor any sadness from the eyes of Dolphy.
Above anything else, I think that's
how he wanted to be remembered; that when people speaks of his name,
they would first show a smile on their face before revealing how sublime
Dolphy was.
:)
Before I share my story, above is one
smile first for the man who gave another powerful and symbolic meaning
to the word 'comedy'.
I personally don't know Dolphy but
I still vividly remember all those afternoons way back during the 90's
when instead of sleeping, I would pretend to be taking a nap while silently
watching the re-runs of his timeless sitcom John and Marsha in the now
defunct RPN9 television network.
When ABS-CBN gave life to his another
hit sitcom 'Home Along Da Riles', I also got immediately hooked along
with the millions of people who grew with me while watching the comedy
show.
Now that he's gone, the only way which
I could best offer my respect for the man considered as one of Filipino
entertainment's foundations was through attending his funeral wake when
he was publicly laid at the theater named after him in the ABS-CBN's
compound. The same television station also served as his second residence
for decades.
The line in the funeral was long and
you would see him only for a few seconds but it was all worth it.
I believe in what most artists said
during the tribute. A man like Dolphy is one in a million and perhaps,
that someone who might be destined to gain his rightful throne has not
yet been born until today.
Goodbye Dolphy.
***
August 18 when the nation once again
embraced the feeling of loss as Interior and Local Government Secretary
Jesse Robredo died due to an air accident in Masbate.
He came from Cebu to represent President
Noynoy Aquino even on a weekend just to show how devoted he was in serving
this nation. Unfortunately, the plane that he used when he rushed to
see his family was figured in a crash that took his life, along with
three others.
It's tragic that he had to undergo
such an accident when he was supposed to be serving our country and
leading us to become a promising nation.
Robredo's name didn't ring a bell to
me until he was officially named as part of P-Noy's executive family
in a powerful cabinet position that was indeed eyed by countless people
who wanted to take advantage of the post's great political reach. But
when he was called to represent the president in the Department of Interior
and Local Government, most people never raised a doubt on his capability
to handle the task. He was, afterall, the first local government official
to bag the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, which is Asia's version
of the prominent Nobel Prize.
Serving as mayor of Naga for 19 outstanding
years, he led the transformation of the city from a lethargic place
to a promising destination in the Bicol region.
As he stepped into the national office,
he silently promoted the 'tsinelas' brand of leadership wherein officials
gave their utmost humility in serving their bosses, who are the Filipino
people.
Robredo acted as a role model to all
employees working not only in government offices but also in private
institutions.
Similar to Dolphy, although Robredo
was just in the government sector, this benign official will also surely
be missed by the whole nation.
Goodbye Jesse.
***
This third person, who I'm about to
praise hasn't died yet, although in the eyes of his co-workers, it's
as if he has also jumped into that great white light.
For three months, this person tried
to gain the approval of the many eyes who have been keen to finding
faults upon anyone.
For three months, this person tried
to work his butt off to settle what he could provide for the benefit
of not just the group where he belongs to but also to the welfare of
the institution where he works.
For three months, this person tried
to play the professional world's slowly becoming abnormal ambience just
to show that he can and he will.
This person is Mr. Yfur Porsche Fernandez.
A social scientist by nature, Mr. Fernandez
is a journalist who aims to reformat the world of journalism by giving
people what they need to know instead of offering what they want to
know.
Mr. Fernandez dreams to soon stand
in a platform where cameras are on stand by mode, while waiting the
cue before reporting to millions of people watching from their home
television sets what's happening around them.
When that time comes, I'll be one of
his proud colleagues who will surely congratulate and support him for
what he attains.
On a personal note, if I speak of this
man, I will always remember that moment when Sec. Robredo's body was
found and along with another co-researcher, the three of us had to interview
a pilot regarding the article that we're writing. At that precise moment,
we were on our crunch time but still we never failed to smile as if
we're just having fun and not being overcome by the stress and seriousness
of the situation where we were at.
I think that moment defined how Mr.
Fernandez would succeed in this dynamic field of media and mass communication.
Just like in the typical newsroom scenario, even how busy you are, even
how stress you are, you will still be able to pull it off as long as
you know how to smile and not be buried by those earnest moments that
will be bestowed upon you. If you can manage to see the light side of
every state, no matter what they say, you will surely and gamely survive.
This smiling thing might be a secret
but at least, before anybody could point that out, I know that Mr. Fernandez
has realized it already.
My remaining advice is just for this
man to go beyond and never give up, following the blood of a real UPian.
Continue being a risk-taker and always accept whatever consequences.
Goodbye my friend. Just goodbye for
now Poy - Mr. Fernandez. Surely, we'll meet again.
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