Defying those with pretentious asses

This post is for people–probably like you who still don’t have the passion to engage into blog writing–to formally be introduced into the real writers’ path and begin writing blog.

A veteran Filipino columnist once said, “I may not agree with what you write but I will defend with all my heart your right to express what you want to write”.

Almost the same ideology is what I want to impart; you may think of yourself not as the prolific writer but it will not hurt if you will just try to write and express your thoughts. One better way to do it is through blog writing.

In the blogosphere, you have your own universe where you can utter whatever topic that comes into your mind including issues or ideas from the weirdest or most stupid product of your wild imagination up to the most intellectually stimulating conceptualization.

In the blogosphere, the only editor is yourself and it’s up to you whether you will want to be bold or curtailed in giving out your notions.

For me, you can spot some of the best writers of today by searching in the blogosphere and not just by reading the dailies, since it was established even in those days of our forefathers that the real measurement of being a good writer is being able to express creatively or interestingly the written words.

A good writer must not be bound by the rules set usually by pretentious people who only have the means to pay the publication fee. To live a happy life, we must not be constrained with the set of rules; same idea goes with the concept of writing.

Now, perhaps you’ll ask: can you consider bloggers as journalists? Definitely, because journalist’s primary task is to journal or chronicle through a medium the news or what’s happening around them. It is same with blogging that if you express your thoughts using the medium of Internet, the very act of speaking out your mind is already considered as relaying something new since we are not living in the robotic aspect that routinely follows the same exact act.

Similar to how linguists put it; our stated words are the greatest manifestation that time is moving on. Every time you say something, that word that you said immediately forms part of the so-called past. So every time you speak, it is always new.

So if you want to be a great writer, don’t just follow those people who have pretentious asses. Start with yourself by practicing in the blogosphere.

Mali si Rizal

Minsang tinuran ni Gat Jose Rizal na ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan. Pinaniniwalaan kong matalinong bayani si Rizal pero sa pagkakataong binanggit niya ang mga kataga na yan ay napagtanto kong hindi sa lahat ng oras ay tama siya.

Para sa akin, ang pag-asa ng bayan ay nakasalalay sa kahit sinong taong marunong umunawa kung bakit nga ba natin kailangang umasa. Minsan, hindi iyon ang kabataan dahil sa impluwensiya ng makabagong panahon ay nakalulungkot isipin na ang ilang kabataan ay mapusok na at unti-unting nawawalan ng kwenta.

Hindi ko alam kung anong ihip ng hangin ang nagdala sa ganitong estado ng mga bata pero nakalulungkot na ang ilan sa kanila, kung papainan mo eh madaling bibigay.

Minsan iniisip ko na lang na sana mali ako at hindi pa tuluyang nawawalan ng malalim na pag-iisip ang mga kabataan ngayon.

Subalit kung tama ako eh sana magunaw na lang ang mundo nang tuluyang lamunin ng kamatayan ang lahat ng mga nilalang na walang kwentang nabubuhay dito.

***

Mahigit limang taon na ang nakaraan ng makilala ko ang isang guro na pinaniniwalaan ng lahat na isa sa pinakamagaling sa pamantasan na iyon. Subalit nang siya na ay nagsimulang magturo eh nabatid kong konti lang ang maiaambag niya sa kaalaman ko.

Sa pagkadismaya ko noon ay ipinangako ko sa sarili ko na gusto kong maging guro upang magkaroon pa ng pag-asa ang ilang patuloy na umaasang mapagkakalooban ng mahusay na edukasyon.

Ngayon ay napagtanto ko na sa pagtuturo ay dalawang aspeto ang dapat laging isaalang-alang: ang nagtuturo at ang tinuturuan.

Kahit gaano kagaling ang nagtuturo, kung ayaw tanggapin ng tinuturuan ang aral eh wala pa ring mangyayari.

Nasasaktan ako dahil sayang ang pagkakataong nakakapag-aral ang mga tao na ang tanging iniisip ay kung paano lang makakatapos ng may mataas na marka. Hindi nila naiisip na ang tunay na batayan ng aral na nakamit ay wala sa marka kundi nasa pag-iisip nila na maging malalim at makita ang bawat anggulo sa buhay.

Malamang, eto rin ang dahilan kung bakit maraming nakakapag-tapos na hirap makahanap ng trabaho.

Naiintindihan ko na ngayon na hindi dapat sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay sinisisi natin ang gobyerno; dapat ay inaalala rin natin kung may kwenta pa nga ba tayo.

'Till we meet again

(First published online on June 15, 2012)

 

The falcon has temporarily landed in a forest full of uncertainties. However, amidst all the worries that he needs to undergo, a shining light serves as his guide, which helps him to stretch his wings to the fullest and boldly take every step that he has to make. Without the light, the falcon would probably surface again and look for another residence.

The falcon has been brave, not only because he has to, but definitely due to the light that assists him in his every way. Now that with dark days surely coming ahead, the falcon can now be independent in the forest until such momentous time when he has to surface again.

Truly, in these circumstances, the shining light has proved its worth.

***

In the years of existence of this multiply page, I have been keen to writing open letters for those people who in one way or another have made a difference in my life. For my co-worker, co-joker, co-researcher: Ms. Angela Melchora Garchitorena, here’s one for you.

***

Two years of brainstorming about a lot of things including how we plan to rule our world in the near future seems not enough for us to be able to fully cope with the various changes that are abruptly happening in our lives. There were times that we had to argue over who’s right (although I always point out that it is me) and say sorry that the word has seemingly become meaningless, still, for the sake of those two years, forgive and forget can be one of the most appropriate lessons that we can imbibe in relating with others. 

Aside from that, I want to thank you.

During my first days and that time when I thought that the party-list Akbayan seemed to be on its way to leading the roster of marginalized sectors in Congress, you were the one who faced the ‘bullshit’ from a straight-forwarded editor and stood as the frontliner and my spokesperson to assure them how I can be successful in the future.

In simple words, you saved me and pulled the extent of what I can do. I had my previous experiences in managing work but you still put a note on how to be better.

Now that goodbye seems inevitable, all I wish is contentment that you may finally find whatever that you have been searching for in your life. After contentment, everything will surely follow.

  

As parting words, I want to impart one of my favorite lines, as stated by Sirius Black, in the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:

“That one that loves us never really leaves us; we can always find them here (in our hearts).”

Angela, thank you and good bye. Until we meet again.

P.S.

Hanggang sa huli nating pagsasama eh ‘joke’ pa rin ang ating mga inaatupag. Hehe. Pero definitely, mami-miss kita.

Social Networking Sites

(First published online on May 11, 2012)

5:53pm

“I don’t know why I didn’t come.” – Norah Jones

Okay, this post has nothing to do with the above line. I just like the song and don’t ask why.

“End of story. Goodbye. The end.” – Prof. Alastor Moody

***

It has been almost ten months since I last visited my Facebook account. For the past time, I realized how the said social networking site suddenly became part of the daily lives of every Filipino. Since I deactivated my account, I even came to a point when people tried to look at me as if I was a big sinner for not having an activated account while the rest of the world was enjoying all the benefits that it has been giving.

Yeah, I also experienced all of them and I won’t say that Facebook never really helped me in being able to connect again with my previous schoolmates and workmates. I enjoyed Facebook as much as everyone. I hadn’t experienced being hacked and this world seemed like a smaller place because you could easily reach out to anyone, even those who were on the other side of the globe, and interact with them as if they were just on your side. This has been the beauty of Internet and social networking websites that bombard the virtual world.

Now, my decision to leave Facebook was more of a personal reason. I’m not saying that I will forever not log in again to the famed website, though it could be a possibility. As of the moment, I am still being overwhelmed by the nature of friendship that is being offered way beyond the said social networking sites; where people would reach out to you not because you’re online but because they really need or miss you; where people would greet you because they are updated with you and they really know the special occasions that you celebrate and not because they see it while scanning their homepage.

I don’t hate Facebook. It’s the hypocrite people who are still in Facebook, which I abhor. Though my hate is only part of the total reason why I left, I don’t really want to offend others and it would only be fitting that I just leave instead of committing sins against those people who I once considered as friends.

***

6:38pm

Requiem for my lost phone

(First published online on October 29, 2011)

Seldom do I lose something, that's how valuable I look upon all of my things. When I consider something as my personal belonging, rest assured that I will keep it with my life. But yesterday, I was struck by the immediate turn of events that later than expected, I just realized that my phone was already missing.

The last time that I checked and found it in my pocket was when I was inside the LRT train going to Monumento station. We were on our way to the Malabon Zoo to share some time with the animals. Sadly, I was disappointed with the place. They shouldn't call it as a zoo in the first place since you can only find few animals behind the bars. After visiting the Baluarte in Ilocos Sur and after being satiated with Manila Zoo, I was quite dismayed at our tour to Malabon. I was somehow expecting an ambiance of the wild life only to find out that my money donated to the animals (if that is really the case since it is what's posted in the cashier) was not worth it at all. A piece of advice, if you want to be in a real zoo, be at the Manila Zoo. However, if you want to see few of the country's endangered species (which again, I believe should not be located inside those uncleaned cages) you may take the risk and visit their 'zoo' in Malabon.

Okay, enough of that place. This tribute isn't for that 'zoo' anyway.

If my recollection serves me right, the last time that I lost my phone was in 2007 when I was using an old nokia model, which I forgot the type, and that was in Ultra Stadium. Since then, after I replaced it with another Nokia phone, handed down to me by my brother, the SIM card that I had been using was the same SIM that was in my latest phone, before I change to postpaid. However, due to necessity of that contact number since that was what I was using in my resume', I had to keep it along with another SIM of another telecommunication company. The second SIM was two years old since I only bought it to replace the SIM card that I lost during my long journey on the havoc of Typhoon Ondoy, way back 2009.

To accommodate the two SIM cards, I bought a dual SIM, Torque-branded TV Phone, which I could use during my trip to follow some of the shows that I am watching.

It was only some few months ago since I bought that phone and it had been with me during special news coverage, particularly when most cable TVs were down. I had been using the same phone as our radio since it has a built-in stereo when we had boring or quiet times at the office. Like most things that I bought out of my personal money, I had already been satisfied or contented with it.

But of course, (here we go again with the psychobubble bullshit) not all [good] things last. One minute you have it, the next minute it's already gone. Same as my phone, I thought it was just inside my pocket then all of sudden, it was already lost.

The truth is that I don't regret the money that I paid to buy it. What disappoints me is that I was beginning to hold on to it, but just like a bubble that burst, it was quickly gone. Right now, all I can think of is how will I change all my contact numbers on those business dealings that I have engaged myself into? How about all those meaningful, valuable and interesting messages that I kept in the inbox of that phone. How about all those music, images, files and documents that I failed to save in Champ or in my other phone. Just like the fierce wind that blows in and out of my room, it is all gone now. 

I don't like to think that someone did steal it from me but whoever has it now, may the good Lord or Buddha bless and guide him/her to use it for good.

I do believe in in the philosophy of karma that whatever has been taken from you will be given back if not same, better than what you used to have.

Just like that. I will just try to sleep, try again to hide or bury the depression and wake up with another morning of believing that life must go on. Keep moving forward as I always say upon myself.

Bye Torque, Bye 0917***0860 and 0932***3530

From the 'Boy who Lived' to the 'Boy will live'

(First published online on July 11, 2011)

 

Last year, I came to watch the premiere screening of the first of the two-part finale of the Harry Potter series. As always, I did find time to enter it on my busy schedule since it’s one of those films that truly entertain me. However, instead of being entertained, I felt sad after watching the Death Hallows; sad definitely not because the film was not good but because after almost a decade of being a die-hard Potter fanatic, the time that I would have to say goodbye to the film is coming.

This week, curtains will finally close on the story of the boy wizard. But before it closes, let me first share how the book and also its film adaptation influenced my life for the past years that I was aging.

My passion accidentally started in 2003 when I was looking for a nice channel with a good show. We still had cable back then and I was a type of person who was not satisfied on one channel alone. As I scan every station, I found out that in GMA7, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (first installment) was being played. I was not yet a Potter fan then and the market of HP was just growing. On the other hand, HBO telecasted their premier of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second installment.

It occurred to me that in just one night two parts of Harry Potter was being shown on television so I stayed for a while and watched for myself what the fuss was all about. It was like a eureka moment for me that I said to myself; hey, this was a one damn good story. It might be for children and back then, I still considered myself as one of the so-called ‘kids’.

I also found out that in two days, its third installment, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban would be released in theaters. That suddenly sparked my curiosity that I easily became hooked on the story.

After watching the third part, my addiction bloomed. From then on, I began reading the novel. I also started collecting HP novelty items like mug, pins, towels, posters, t-shirts, news clippings, magazines, etc. And like what they always say: the rest is history. 

I am not used to crying everytime I read a book or watch a film but perhaps as I watch its final installment on Thursday, surely, tears would definitely pour before my eyes for it’s like saying goodbye to the one that you truly love. It will never be easy but you know that you have to move on.

It’s hard but all you can do is just go on with your life and use the things that you have learned to be a better individual.

Perhaps, I’m exaggerating but the mere fact that I was just reading some reviews (thanks, by the way to PDI for a very wonderful supplement or tribute), and it already made my eyes moist, I think it would really be hard for me.

For all I know, Harry Potter is not just a simple story or novel to me. It’s not also a simple addiction that after few treatments, you can already wash it away from your thoughts. For me, Harry Potter has been part of my life.

For the past decade, I was like anticipating every summer or every November for the installment.

For the past decade, I was acting gaga collecting even the smallest stuffs connected to the franchise.

For the past decade, my heart bounced that I never realize, the happiness that I was feeling towards the novel and the films would come to an end.

Harry Potter taught me not only certain things about good versus evil. Its greatest contribution was teaching me how to live my life more meaningful.

It was in Harry Potter that I learned how to value my friends. It was in the story that I learned how to focus on my studies but not letting go of my social life. It was in the series that I found out the different important things that sometimes we overlook in life.

I don’t know how or why other fans had been addicted too on the story, but to me, it’s a matter of giving life to what didn’t know before.

Truly, the magical world of Harry Potter became my escape from the bitterness or darkness in life. I may not be in the real location of the story, but I was like in the middle of every scene asking for help from the main characters.

For the past decade, Harry Potter served as my antidote to the illness facets of this muggle world and saying goodbye is like detaching your physical body from your shadow. It is impossible.

Once you’ve been struck by the power of the magic wand; the world that you knew, the world that was shared to you by J.K. Rowling will surely live in your memory.

The book of the bespectacled boy who lived perhaps will be put to its last chapter but its story will remain. Just like what Sirius Black mentioned in the third installment, we must not be worried for the ones that we love will never really leave us, we can always find them here in our hearts…

Harry Potter lives.

P.S.

Thank you Johann Kathleen Rowling for sharing a part of you that helped our lives be aligned with what is right.

Ode to friendship

(First published online on June 28, 2011)

I have been meaning to write an article about friendship, but due to unimaginable schedule that I have imposed upon myself, I was just able to do it just last Sunday.

It’s also been awhile since I wrote a blog and there’s a lot of topic to cover now, so why about friendship? Perhaps I’m not in-love or rather; I’m in-love with the concept of friendship; that’s probably why I did this.

Ever since I found out how meaningful life is, I never hesitated on looking for people that would be part of my little world. Upon opening this multiply account; my very first blog post was about my limited set of friends. I mentioned how important they were back then to constitute an article from me. I wouldn’t waste such a time if they’re not that valuable. Sad thing, I’m now thinking of other people. Others who opened my mind to reality that it’s far better to laugh till you drop even if you no longer have some funds to pay for your fare, rather than spend your time on people whom you only profess as your bestfriends even if they’re not treating you as one.

I’m currently happy that perhaps I can go on with my life without thinking of having a wife and kids, which has been one of my life-long dreams, as long as I’m with these people. In my earlier recollection, I thought that friends are those people who will become your aid; just those who will assist you in times of need but will continuously remain out of your life. If one managed to help, you’ll consider him/her as your friend immediately. But right now, I believe that it’s not just that.

Sometimes, if you need a hand, those bastards that you consider your real friends would laugh at you first until all their happiness had been poured out before they will help you. Sometimes, you would no longer even need their help since you already managed to help yourself, though you won’t be mad at them since what happened to you would also make you laugh until you realize that you no longer knew why you’re still laughing. In short, friendship is stupidity, but from this stupidity, happiness which can hardly be attained in life comes so natural that you can’t let it go.

However, much as you want to be with them, you won’t since everyone has their own lives and you also have to devote your time on other practical things. And since they already became part of your life; to be whole again, you have to get rid of them and make yourself believe that you managed to live back then without their existence and right now, you can still be if you’ll be the first to say goodbye.

But that’s not always the case. Even if it hurts, even if it makes you feel lonely every time, even if it haunts your dream, you’ll just have to stay. Because friendship is also a relationship; you have built it based on trust and you already invested most of your time just to sustain it. Let others leave for perhaps there are more important things that they have considered, but as long as there are people who will remain with you, treasure the moment.

# # #

Dear reader, if you are not yet bored, I would say thank you for reading this rumination. But believe it or not, I had to end this post and erased other data for it became too personal that you would no longer find it reflective on your part.

# # #

Honestly I just did this to acknowledge the new people that bring color back to my life. Even if there are times that you indirectly hurt my wholeness, (of course, you know who you are) I still did this to show how important you are in my life. I just pray that no matter what happens; our bond will remain intact.

Thank You!