ME AND MY FLAWS

Me and My Flaws

“My Present”………

Lately, I realized how often I talk about my share of achievements not really knowing that it already irritates a number of people around me. This significant realization left me pondering on a lot of things—-which prompted me to write this entry. I do not know why I have been acting this way. It’s as if I just want to be on top—praised, acknowledged, and recognized. But, what do I get out of these? Will I be really worthy of praises if I have already offended others?
Trying to grasp the reasons behind my actions, I tried to reflect in the most honest sense ever possible. I think I was used to being the center of attention way back in high school. And now, I am forgetting that this is not the same world I used to live in. I am no longer The One but rather I am just like anyone in this world trying to be heard— trying to be different. But, now I am convinced that I was never really The One. It was just an idea: it was just an illusion I unconsciously created when I was blinded by the applauses I have had heard.
I should start making companionships while keeping the old real ones. I should learn how to adjust. There is nothing to wait for if I would plan to wait for the things around me to change just to please me. I may be generous but I am still selfish. I may be polite and respectful but I am no longer the humble man they say I was in high school. I may be wise but often times I am actually stupid. I ask for forgiveness and yet I do not let go of grudges I hold in my heart. I may look happy but I am empty for real. I emptied my own life by loving myself too much. With this, I became The One—the one who was born and never really lived.
Before dreaming of having a good life, I should learn to dream for a “life”. I do not know if I should be sorry for being the way I am now but God knows how much I want to be given the chance to fix things I have long left broken. I should remember that more than what I am now, I am a human—a human just like any other being I meet everyday. So, all these realizations made me appreciate and value more the people I have now. They are the ones who came and never left. I can be with them at my best and I know that they will be there even at my worst.
The people I have lost—I should thank them. It is thru them that I learned the lessons brought by endings and goodbyes. I wish them the best and I hope that by the time our paths will cross again in the future, I will be a better man worthy to be valued and kept. For now, I should start living. It has been eighteen years of existence; I want my next years to be years of living and giving. For a boy becomes a man when he learns to face responsibilities amidst downfalls and a prince becomes the king once he learns to bow before the people and accept his flaws.

ENDINGS

Endings

“A tribute to the past”…

As I am sitting on my grandmother’s bed here in Cavite (my third home province), a question suddenly popped into my mind. Why is there a need for things to end? It appears to be simple and yet, more and more people are in dire need to seek for themselves why stories end when they feel like everything just started to be right. What complicates things more is the fact that endings usually come as a surprise—a surprise which will leave a scar somewhere in our anatomical composition. And no matter how hard we try to ignore or even deny the shadow which gives us the glimpse of what had transpired, we still find ourselves looking for the pieces we have lost— the moment that very bitter ending came. And there goes our pride—we ought to act as if it did not mean to us. But what our own mirrors project is a totally different us. This fact, we could not accept. Perhaps, we can never accept that we are changed by the circumstances which have betrayed us. We want to preserve our self-worth so we begin to be critical. At some points, we attempt to be very rational, thinking that it could help lessen the burden of the want-to-be-forgotten-yesterdays. But, little do we realize that it is the anger, it is the fear, and it is the denial caused by our closet’s horrors that challenged us to fit in after surviving (if I may say) from instances we wish not to have happened. But the question remains to be unanswered. One can never give even the best approximated answer why things end. If we should really be happy of endings the way we face new beginnings—new chapters we are bound to explore. Maybe it is not just possible for songs not to end. But it is important to note that though a song’s melody and rhythm end every time it is played, a song can still live. It may live as something which you long to hear everyday of your life, or it may live as something you want to be forgotten—something you just want to die and be buried in the deepest of memories a person can have. It all depends on how we want it to be remembered. Let endings be the new milestones of starting to spread your wings again no matter how dark the horizons may be. This entry ends here but the memories of a person which inspired me to write this will always have a place within the core of my humanity.

BEST OF FRIENDS

When I entered U.P., I really wanted to have my own set of close friends.
Perhaps, I needed to grow as a social being with a distinct kind of
independence. Upon knowing that I will be living an independent life here in
Manila, I knew that I had to make necessary adjustments to the new world
and life I was about to delve into. During the first week of class way
back in first year, my closest friend among my blockmates was Paulo Fontilla.
However, he got ill the next few weeks which was the reason why I became
close to Cleve Arguelles. We became the closest pals for about three days
(laughs). He just told me that we were too different from each other and
that we do not match to be the best of buddies. To be precise, he
metaphorically compared us to chemicals of different composition. Chemicals
which can never be mixed up. And so comes Richelle Ugalde. She became my baby sister. She was very supportive and until now, she remains to be one of my
four confidants. We even became dorm mates. But thenshe left the dormitory
and so I then found my college best friend—Lei Martheen Dela Cruz. We had the best of times together. What amazes me the most was when she took me
to the hospital when I got badly sick. She has been a loyal and trusted
friend. She LITERALLY knows everything about me. I am so blessed to have
her. Lei and I also became part of the coolest barkada on Earth—–TUKS.
(Cleve Arguelles, Ashley Astibe, Christina Fabito, Jeryl Maniulit, Mariel Quiogue,
Des Santos). We definitely rocked the streets with our noises and with
the ever-unexplained phenomenon we create. At present, Lei happened to transfer to UPD to take up
ACCOUNTANCY. (1.00 grade niya sa Math 11). I did not opt to transfer
because I wanted to go home to Sulu immediately. And so my best friend
is now away. But, life for sure continues. I made A LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS
this school year as a sophomore student. But, I am very grateful because I happened to gain new friends—great ones.
Joshua Bersamina and Mark Panganiban are my closest pals today.
We sing together a lot, we play the guitar, and we share tons of stories–
be it rational or not. We enjoy each other’s presence.
I gues I will be forever thankful to have met these guys. On August, we will be part of a 2-day event in Rizal. We can’t wait to be together again.
I also became close to Robert Go, Dien Castillon, THE MAROONS, POLIS, AMS, and CYA. Hopefully, BATINGAW din.

=)

TOP TEXTERS VOLUME 2

HERE IS THE TOP TEXTERS LIST FROM JUNE 28-JULY 12:
(2,622 messages were received from over a hundred texters during the period indicated)

1. Chuhima Julkipli & Jainab Julkipli (181)
2. Maria Lourdes Santos (170)
3. Ada Bulon (168)
4. Ayessa Youzra Hailid (164)
5. Cleve Kevin Robert Arguelles (146)
6. Lei Martheen Dela Cruz (137)
7. Jeryl Jermaine Maniulit (109)
8. Maria Consuelo Davila (107)
9. Mariel Quiogue (87)
10. Jamie Ortiz (69)
11. Nazelle Ashley Astibe (67)
12. Trisha Echegoyen (65)
13. Honey Sharlotte Que (63)
14. Megz Datiles (52)
15. Jeryeana Abam (43)

OTHERS: 994

FOR TRANSPARENCY’S SAKE, HERE ARE THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF MESSAGES LAST JUNE 12-JUNE 27
2,285 messages were received from 80 texters

1. Ada Bulon (239)
2. Chuhima Julkpli (217)
3. Ayessa Youzra Hailid (172)
4. Jan Robert Go (141)
5. Lei Martheen Dela Cruz (124)
6. Jainab Julkipli (75)
7. Richelle Ugalde (74)
8. Jamie Ortiz (73)
9. Honey Claire Felizardo (65)
10. Honey Sharlotte Que (64)
11. Maria Lourdes Santos (55)
12. Megz Datiles (53)
13. Cleve Kevin Robert Arguelles (52)
14. Khumaidy Tan (48)
15. Zanshevar Shammah (40)

OTHERS: 793

MY FRIENDS ARE MY SECOND FAMILY

MY FRIENDS ARE MY SECOND FAMILY

PINOY MEDIUM BROTHER

Kasaysayan:
Nabuo ang barkadahang PMB sa kalagitnaan ng taong 2005 nang nasa second year high school pa kami noon. Ito ang unang barkada na kinabilangan ko. Nabuo kami ssa panahon ng kasikatan ng programang Pinoy Big Brother sa telebisyon.

Tambayan:
Sa bahay ng isa namin kaibigan na si Honey sa may Serantes, Jolo. Isa itong apartment na ubod ng laki.

Mga miyembro (17):
1. Mudir Estrella
2. Emran Hailidani
3. Kevin Dantes
4. Romard Concepcion
5. Zanshevar Shammah
6. Fahd Tan
7. Morgan Salcedo
8. Mickey Tulawie
9. Jeryeana Abam
10. Sheila Caberte
11. Melanie Limpalan
12. Chuhima Julkipli
13. Honey Que
14. Edz Egera
15. Hadzra Bayani
16. Niza Sakandal
17. Zerikho Timbreza

Masaya ang naging barkadahan. Batang bata pa kami kung mag-isip nun. Tinatawagan naming parati yung FM hotline para bumati at magrequest ng PINOY AKO habang sabay sabay kami sumasayaw at kumakanta kahit wala na kami sa tono. Ang saya, naroon yung pagmamahal ng bawat isa. Marami din mga naging kalokohan. Nariyan ang madalas na pag-aaway nina Zanshevar at Honey, and madalas na tampuhan na namamagitan kina Jeryeana, Sheila, at Edz. Nagkasabay din nanligaw sina Mudir, Kevin, at Emran kay Jeryeana nun habang nanligaw naman si Romard kay Sheila. Nakakatuwang sariwain yung mga nangyari. Mga musmos pa kami kung maituring ngunit nagsilbing gabay ang pagkakaibigan naming sa wastong pag-unlad ng kaisipan namin at paghubog ng aming mga pakatao. Ngunit sa laki nga naman ng barkada ay nagkahiwahiwalay din matapos ang dalawang buwan

GIMIKEROZ

Kasaysayan:
Nabuo kaming Gimikeroz, grupo ng mga magagala, sa pagtatapos ng samahang PMB. November 12, 2005 nang kami ay nagging pormal na Gimikeroz.

Tambayan:
Bahay nina Romard
Bahay nina Mudir
Bahay nina Kevin
Bahay nina Zanshevar
Capitol
Maubuh Beach
NDJHS-K BAMBOO SITE

Mga Miyembro (10):
1. Mudir Estrella
2. Emran Hailidani
3. Romard Concepcion
4. Kevin Dantes
5. Zanshevar Shammah
6. Suodi Muhalli
7. Bismar Damsani
8. Fahd Tan
9. Morgan Salcedo
10. Zerikho Timbreza

Gala doon, gala dito. Kay saya ng mga trip ng Gimikeroz lalo na’t halos lahat kami ay may kanya kanyang motor. Si Fahd or si Mudir yung madalas nananalo sa karera. Mayabang nga lang yung dating ng naging barkada pero talagang nabuo yung tunay na pagsasamahan. Araw araw pagkatapos ng klase ay tatambay kami sa kung saan naming magustuhan. Dito na rin nahubog yung kaalaman naming sa musika kaya naman ay nakabuo kami ng sarili naming banda. Mahilig din kami maglaro ng Basketball at kung anu-ano ang ginagawa namin pag nagiinternet. Alam niyo na yun mga tol. Karamihan ng mga magulang namin ay magkakaibigan din kaya naman pinapayagan kami magsama sama. Madalas din kami mag-overnight. Either kina Romard, Mudir, or Kevin. Madalas nga lang nagkakabangga ang ilan sa amin. Mdalas nag-aaway ang magbestfriend na sina Mudir at Zanshevar. Hindi mo rin pwedeng pagsamahin sina Zanshevar at Suodi. Madalas din kami mabadtrip sa tagal ni Romard magbihis.

ULTIMATE DANCE FOUR

Kasaysayan:
Nabuo yung barkadang ito dahil madalas kaming apat ang sumasayaw pag intermission sa school. Akalain mo yun? Kasama ako.
TAMBAYAN:
Bahay nina Mudir
Bahay nina Jeryeana

Mga Miyembro (4):
1. Mudir Estrella
2. Jeryeana Abam
3. Emran Hailidani
4. Chimz Julkpli

Yun nga, dahil madalas kami sumasayaw sa school, madalas din kami nagkakasama sa practices. Extracurricular din yun. Madalas nga lang ang nagiging awayan sa pagitan ng apat.

CHICKCHI

Kasaysayan:
Nabuo sa tapat ng bahay nina Kevin ang barkadang ito na hanggang ngayon ay nagkakausap usap pa rin. Napakalaki ng grupong ito sapagkat halos isang daan ang miyembro.

Tambayan:
NDJHS-K CAFETERIA
LABORATORY STAIRS

Mga Miyembro:
Lahat ng students ng 404 at 403 batch 2007-2008

Madalas man nagkakanya kanya ang mga miyembro ay hindi pa rin nawawala ang pag-aalala para sa bawat isa. Long Live Chickchi. Ang yaman yaman ng grupong ito. Alvin, asan na ang pera? Loko lang. Ilan ulit din nagparty ang grupong ito. Miss ko na kayo.

FAME

Kasaysayan:
Nabuo nung 4th year high school na kami. Hango sa pangalan namin ang FAME.

Tambayan:
Bahay nina Adz
Bahay nina Evan
Bahay nina Mudir

Mga Miyembro (4):
1. Fahd Tan
2. Adz Abing
3. Mudir Estrella
4. Evan Madjilon

Lahat ng mga magulang naming ay magkakaibigan lalo na’t nasa iisang clan sina Fahd, Evan, at Mudir. Si Adz naman ay nasa kabilang clan pero hindi yun issue sa amin. Ang unique tungkol sa barkadahang ito ay kahit sino ang ipareha mo sa bawat isa ay close pa din. Magbestfriends nga daw kaming lahat sabi ni Fahd, ang kuya ng grupo.

TUKS

Kasaysayan:
Ito ang natatangi kong barkada sa kolehiyo. Nabuo noong Oktubre 2008. Mahirap talaga i-trace kung paano nagsimula ang lahat kasi ang dami ng connections na mabubuo. Nagsimula sa lima, ang mga indayog trainees ng block 4, hanggang sa mapasali ang iba pang tatlo (kasama ako) na malapit din sa mga indayog. At ngayon ay siyam na kami dahil napasali na din ang naging sobrang close sa mga tuks na naging FBCs.

Yung pangalan pala namin, hango siya sa kinakain na TUKNENENG. Imperfect yung shape niya sa labas pero perpekto ang hugis at laman nito sa loob. Ganyan ang TUKS.

Tambayan:
Bahay nin Ash
Bahay nina Des
Bahay nina Jhei
Bahay nina Cleve
Robinsons

MGA MIYEMBRO (9):

1.Cleve Arguelles
2.Ashley Astibe
3.Lei Dela Cruz
4.Mudir Estrella
5.Eks Fabito
6.Levi Lomuntad
7.Jhei Maniulit
8.Mariel Quiogue
9.Des Santos

Maraming pangyayari sa buhay ng barkadahang tuks. Awayan, barahan, daldalan, aralan, reviewan, tampuhan, iyakan, partyhan, kampihan, at ang pinakaimportanteng phenomena na hindi pa rin naming maipaliwanag hanggang ngayon ay ang BILUGAN. Nakakamiss nga lang ang mga taong ito dahil magkakaiba na yung schedules namin tapos si Lei naman ay lumipat na sa Diliman. Busy na rin kasi yung ibang tuks sa pagiging FBCs nila pero nagmature naman yung karamihan.

Cleve Kevin Robert Arguelles

-Siya ang pinakamay leadership sa group. Ayaw niyang magkamali at hinding hindi niya tatanggapin na may mali siya. Pero paraan niya lang ito para maging strong yung personality niya. Maraming hindi nakakaintindi sa kanya pero kapag nakilala mo naman siya ng mabuti, masasabi mo na nagkamali ka ng unang pagkakakilala sa kanya. At present, nagmature talaga siya lalo na naging co-chair siya ng FBC.

Ang Manila Science High School ang naghubog ng kanyang kritikal na pag-iisip. Ang bestfriend niya sa tuks ay si Ashley, sa FBC naman ay si Trisha. Madalas niya rin nakakasama sina Des, Mariel, Levi, Eks, at Jhei.

Hindi rin siya natatakot sabihin kung ano yung mga nasa isip niya. May mga oras na naiisip kong baka vulnerable din siya sa loob pero yun yung side niya na hinding hindi niya ipapakita.

Nazelle Ashley Astibe

-Ang fashionista ng grupo. Pilosopikal din siya mag-isip. Galing siya sa San Juan at may sarili siyang grupo sa pagsasayaw.Si Ash ang tipo ng taong ipagtatanggol ka talaga lalo na kapag nararamdaman niya na kawawa talaga yung kaibigan niya sa isang sitwasyon. May mga jokes at banat din siya. Matatawa ka rin naman sa kanya.

Si Cleve ang bestfriend ni Ash, magkasundong magkasundo sila sa halos lahat ng bagay lalo na sa paborito nilang color—GREEN..

Timatamad parati si Ash mag-aral pero nakakakuha pa rin siya ng mga matataas na mga marka. Kagaya nung Chemistry naming nung First Year, on the spot na siya nag-aral pero siya lang ang nakakuha ng perfect score. Galing.

Lei Martheen Dela Cruz

-ang nilalang na inuuno ang mga subjects na hindi kauno uno. Inuno ba naman ang College Algebra. Siya ang batang gapo naming. Lumaki siya sa lola niya pero nagtransfer siya sa Maynila nung 2nd year high school. Valedictorian siya ng Malate Catholic School. Orange ang kanyang paboritong kulay at siya ang tao na binabagayan ng kahit anong isuot niya.

Si Mudir ang bestfriend niya pero yun nga, nasa Diliman na ngayon si Lei kasi ACCOUNTANCY na yung course niya.
Napakalakas ng boses niya at strong yung personality niya. Mahirap din baguhin yung mga pinaniniwalaan niya lalo na kung hindi ka makapagbigay ng rational reasons. Pero nakakamiss talaga siya—ang lahat sa pagkatao ni Lei.

Maria Christina Fabito

-Ang pinaka-artistic sa tuks. Ang ganda ng mga drawings niya at siya rin ang bahala pag pafvivideo na ang usapan. Isan kaibigan na talagang matatakbuhan at makikinig sayo. Galing siya sa North Caloocan. Magaganda ang mga pangarap niya sa buhay niya, at madalas ay iniisip niya muna ang kapakanan ng ibang mga tao.

Si Des ang bestfriend niya. Imposibleng iwan niya si Des dahil true friend talaga si Eks.

Trabaho kung trabaho, on time kung on time. Ganyan siya ka-professional pagdating sa mga assigned tasks sa kanya. Mapagmahal na anak at kapatid din si Eks. Alam niya rin yung mga kahinaan niya at hindi niya kinakaila pag may mga bagay na gusto pa niyang matutunan.

Levi Lomuntad, Jr.

-Una siyang nakilala bilang EMO ng block naming pero ngayon ay isa na siyang masayahing tao. Loyal na kaibigan din siya. Actually, marami silang things in common ni Eks. Responsible din siyang tao at siya ang tipo ng tao ma pa gang usapan ay 9 a.m, asahan mong 6 a.m pa lang ay mapupuno na ng messagews yung cp mo dahil andun na siya.

Sina Des, Cleve, at Eks ang closest friends niya. Madalas niya rin nakakasama sina Rafael, Steven, Paulo, Tessa, at dati pati si Angelo na nasa Diliman na rin ngayon.

Maaaring hindi pa siya ganun kamature kumilos at magsalit apero good thing about him is that tinatanggap niya pag may mga pagkukulang siya at alam niya kung ano ang ginagawa niya. Madalas man siyang martyr, kontento na siya sa buhay niya ngayon.

Jeryl Jermaine Maniulit

-Ang taong puno ng TALENT. Pasayawin mo, kahit anong klase ng sayaw ay kayang kaya niya. Pakantahin mo, kahit pang-ilang octave ay abot niya. Paactingin mo, kahit anong role kayang kaya niya. Si Jhei ang taong hindi nauubusan ng energy at rason para maging masaya. Siya ang taong magaiging masaya ka parati pag nakasama mo.

Si mariel ang bestfriend niya.

Si Jhei din ang taong ayaw may nakikitang malungkot sa mga kaibigan niya. Hindi siya nauubusan ng jokes, Korny man o hindi, bumebenta pa rin pag siya na yung nagjojoke.

Mariel Quiogue

-Nakita niyo na malamang si Dora sa telebisyon. Eh di nakita niyo na rin si Mariel. Siya ang mahiwagang dora ng grupo. At siya ang makikipag-away para kay sponge bob. Makulit na tao si Mariel pero ang galing magadvice. Siya din ang parating naguunite sa group lalo na pag namimis niya na mabuo yung bilog.

Si Jhei ang bestfriend ni Mariel.

Talented din sumayaw si Mariel. Pwede rin kumanta (comments?). Basta, kapag pinagsama mo sila ni Jhei, isang malaking kaguluhan ang magaganap. Yung tipong akala mo sampung tao yung naguusap usap.

Maria Lourdes Santos

-Ang chinitang cute galing sa mabahaing lungsod ng Malabon. Magaling sumayaw at kumanta. Si Des ang pinakamalambing sa grupo. She speaks her heart out. Siya lang ang hindi nagsasabi na mayaman siya. Bili ba naman ng bili ng biglaan. Ayaw niyang may nasasaktan dahil sa kanya kaya she tries to make adjustments parati. Yun nga lang, since kilala ko na talaga siya, alam ko pa din yung mga nasa loob niya kahit tumatawa siya.

Si Eks ang bestfriend niya. Si Cleve ang Yats niya. Si Mudir ang beb niya.

Madali lang naman mapasaya si Des eh. Yun nga lang hindi kasi lahat maiintindihan siya kapag may mga oras na talagang sabaw ang isipan niya. Si Des din ang pinakamagaling pagdating sa literature.

Masayang kasama ang mga taong ito. Ikaw? Ano ang kwento ng iyong barkada?

THE OCTAVE

The Octave
By: Mudir Estrella

I looked at the pictures of our yesterdays,
Remembered how great our days were,
The shared stories, laughter, and tears,
An Octagon filled with a splendid friendship—that’s what I felt,

I looked at the pictures and looked at her,
She’s now far away, who’s now left for me?
I think about her, does she think of me?
As I hear her voice in the silence of a hush,

I looked at the pictures and looked at her,
Remembered how cool and fashionable she is,
I looked at her, looked at her tightly,
She parties hard, but she never forgets,

I looked at the pictures and looked at her,
Remembered how she loved him, and I was there,
She smiles a lot now, but I always see,
The tears in her heart reside in every smile she fakes,

I looked at the pictures and looked at her,
Remembered how she makes me laugh,
Make her sing, make her dance,
Sure I miss her, how great she is,

I looked at the pictures and looked at her,
Explore her world, what a happiness it gives,
A good daughter, a good daughter,
She makes me smile, even when things are changed,

I looked at the pictures and looked at her,
We never said a single hello,
I saw a new picture, in the cold we’ve made it through,
We now share stories, and even jokes,

I looked at the pictures and looked at him,
He’s now a leader, and yes he’s changed,
Perfection was what he wants, and in reaching that,
He finds new friends, and yes I’m now a jealous one,

I looked at the pictures and finally looked at him,
Remembered how he hit the notes,
From expectations, he needed to be serious,
And later changes for the love of friendship and fitted in,

I looked at the pictures and looked at them,
The weirdness they have is a common thing,
I looked at them, looked at them tightly,
A mirror of true friendship, that’s what they make,

I looked at the pictures and looked at them,
I now realized how great an octave is,
Without a single note, it wouldn’t be okay,
And now I feel the pain, one has to endure,

I looked at the pictures and looked at them,
The greatest memories, I will forever treasure,
The once in a lifetime kind of friendship,
Built by eight people who now live in separate worlds,

I looked at the pictures and saw how nice it was,
I had them all, I had them all,
And now all I can say to them,
Is good luck to you all,

I looked at the pictures and I’ve been thanking God,
In my fate he’s written, to meet these friends I have,
They served as my family in my quest alone,
When will those hugs be felt by this lonely man again?

I looked at the pictures and told myself,
In silence I will love them,
In prayers, I will seek for them,
In my dreams, oh yes in my dreams, I will be with them,

For when those dreams come true,
Oh God you may take me, take me as you wish,
I need them, I need them back,
For without the other seven notes, a single one would never not last…

PARAISO

Paraiso, one of the most realistic songs ever written in Philippine Music History. It never fails to touch the core of my humanity every time I sing it so I decided to post its lyrics. Years have passed but the message is still relevant as it was.
Unfortunate are those who are homeless, and yet, there are still some of them who never chose to steal given the fact that we are in a world full of pain, greed, and hatred.
AKO MISMO ang patuloy na magiging mulat sa realidad ng hindi pagkapapantay pantay na hindi maitatangging kumikitil ng buhay ng mga inosenteng mamamayan..
Ikaw? Anong magagawa mo?

PARAISO
Return to the land called PARAISO
a place where dying river ends
No birds dare fly over PARAISO
No space allows them to endure
The smoke that screens the air
The grass that’s never there

And if I could see a single nird
What a joy! I tried to write some words
And create a single song to be heard
By the rest of the world

I live in the land called PARAISO
In a house made of cardboard floors and walls
I learned to be free in PARAISO
Free to claim anything I see
Matching rags for my clotes
Plastic bags for the cold

AND IF EMPTY CANS WERE ALL I HAVE
WHAT A JOY! I NEVER TRIED TO TAKE
SOMEONE ELSE’S COINS AND LIVE WITH FEAR
LIKE THE REST OF THE BOYS

PARAISO, help me make a stand
PARAISO, take me by the hand
PARAISO, make the world understand
That if I could see a single bird
What a joy! this tired and hungry land
Would expect some truth and hope and love from the rest of the world…

THE ODDS IN LEARNING HOW TO USE THE INTERNET

THE ODDS IN LEARNING HOW TO USE THE INTERNET

I came from a rural area—very rural one. Though the place where I came from is already set to embrace the modern world of internet socialization, I was one of those who literally hate to engage themselves into the world of computers until I studied here in Manila. Well, way back in high school, I only do stuffs with the help of computer DURING computer classes as a fulfillment of my requirements in school. I could not totally appreciate communication by means of such device, though I had a friendster account Amade by my cousin. Perhaps, it was like a need to have a friendster account because in every meeting or conference I attend to, new friends would probably ask for it.

I find it really boring to sit for hours while surfing the net. I would rather talk to someone for hours. However, things change just like people do. My current crave in using computers is perhaps brought by social pressures. I belong to this particular group in which I was the only one of the eight of us who does not consider blogging or other computer activities enjoyable. There were even a couple of funny instances at the period when I was trying to learn how to make use of the internet on my own.

One afternoon last year, I was already done with my reaction papers—COMPUTERIZED ONES— when I just all of a sudden wanted to open my friendster account. I tried to browse other people’s accounts and I could not help but notice that my account lacked pictures. No problem, that’s what I confidently whispered because I had my picture files in my USB. With a sense of arrogance, I immediately inserted my USB into where it is supposed to be inserted (laughs). It was only then that I realize that I DO NOT KNOW HOW UPLOAD PICTURES into my account. What a mess… Oh no!… What will I do?…God help me…. These were repeatedly running in my thoughts. In short, I was already panicking. Good thing that computer shops have employees whom I consider computer geniuses with respect to my own share of knowledge in using the computer (as if). She asked, “sir, is there a problem?”. Do you know what I asked her? Well, I asked her if it is possible to upload pictures if my files are in my USB. Oh well, the person beside me laughed out loudly. But then again, it was still a success because from that day on, I ALREADY EARNED THE KNOWLEDGE OF UPLOADING PICTURES. And since I consider myself as a good individual, then, it’s not only knowledge. I gained THE WISDOM NEEDED TO UPLOAD PICTURES (ayos ba?).

The second incident happened when I was chatting with my ONLY COLLEGE BESTFRIEND—Lei Martheen Manalo Dela Cruz thru YAHOO MESSENGER (akalain mo yun? Nag-yym na din ako). Okay, shall I continue? Here it is. While we were chatting, I happened to open the website address of the provincial government of our province. I was very excited to tell Lei because I had pictures there. AGAIN, with a distinct sense of arrogance, I immediately requested Lei to open the site I wanted her to visit. And so the problem came in when she asked me to send the link. WHAT THE HELL IS A LINK? HOW AM I SUPPOSEDTO DO IT? These were boggling my mind during that particular moment. Oh well, I had this MORAL DILEMMA OF MINE. Am I going to ask Lei how to send a link? Or Will I ask the computer shop’s employee to assist me? Oh no, that night I was wearing our school’s lanyard. It would surely be a shameful act to ask for assistance in such, I consider, A CRITICAL SITUATION (laughs) especially I can be identified as a student of U.P. So, I chose to ask Lei’s help. IT WAS ANOTHER NIGHT OF SUCCESS. I just happened to acquire the knowledge of SENDING LINKS. But, what good a knowledge is without further application right? That same night I was also chatting with a close friend— Nazelle Ashley Bondoc Astibe—it was therefore the PERFECT TIMING OF WISDOM APPLICATION. I immediately told her this: “HEY ASH, I WILL SEND YOU A LINK”. Anyway, she did not know that it was just a new acquired skill of mine.

When I went back to Sulu for my summer vacation, I really practiced a lot—and finally mastered the required skills, knowledge, and wisdom in using the internet. As you can obviously see, I AM ALREADY A BLOGGER—PROUD AM I TO BE.

Lesson: Not all great things can be acquired immediately. One needs to learn it through chances, sometimes, through awful ones. It does take time to learn. One might encounter painful and often funny sharpening to be properly molded. Oh well, I know right.

TOP TEXTERS

Actually, I count and record the text messages sent to me daily. I decided to
post the top fifteen list.
From June 12-27, 80 people have texted me out of the 407 people in my
contacts list.

HERE ARE THE TOP 15:
1 Ada Bulon (10.46%)
2 Chuhima Julkipli (9.50%)
3 Ayessa Youzra Hailid (7.53%)
4 Jan Robert Go (6.17%)
5 Lei Martheen Dela Cruz (5.43%)
6 Jainab Julkipli (3.28%)
7 Richeele Ugalde (3.24%)
8 Jamie Ortiz (3.20%)
9 Honey Claire Felizardo (2.84%)
10 Honey Sharlotte Que (2.80%)
11 Maria Lourdes Santos (2.41%)
12 Megz Datiles (2.32%)
13 Cleve Kevin Robert Arguelles (2.28%)
14 Khumaidy Tan (2.10%)
15 Zanshevar Shammah (1.75%)

Others(65 of them) 34.69%

MUDIR=)

TOFI AND ITS CONSEQUENCES CURRENTLY FACED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES SYSTEM

TOFI AND ITS VISIBLE CONSEQUENCES CURRENTLY FACED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES SYSTEM

University of the Philippines, as the National University in the country, is expected to consistently set the standard of Philippine Education. As it is known for excellence, the responsibility of producing the best-molded students and critical thinkers is tapped on U.P. Yearly, thousands and thousands of senior high school students aspire to be part of the U.P system by taking the prestigious UPCAT. For years of its existence, the university has never failed to deliver the kind of excellence expected from it; thus, it produced most of the bar and board examinations top notchers, most of the country’s presidents, national scientists, national artists, and top caliber public servants.

As I can see, DIVERSITY is the secret key of U.P to ensure its spot as the top university. It promises outstanding performances from students by making a collective effort of selecting the country’s top students from all over the archipelago. Everything somehow began to change when TOFI, or the Tuition and Other Fees Increase was approved by the Board of Regents in year 2007. Unfortunately, I was one of the students who are affected by the 300% increase in educational payments.

At first, the effects of such “scam” were not felt, until visible consequences have been distinctively noted. One of these negative consequences is the quality of students U.P admits. Since most of the University’s regular qualifiers are classified below middle class families, most of them did not pursue their admissions because of the financial burdens caused by TOFI.

In a few years time, other top universities like Ateneo De Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, and Silliman University may have a good chance in displacing U.P from its current spot. It’s a sad fact to admit but the kind of students admitted in U.P has drastically changed. This is a serious threat to the University’s credibility and prestige. I just sincerely hope that the U.P Administration will seriously think of reconsidering the approval of TOFI.