Wala lang...

When I was in HS, one of our teachers asked us what our fave shape was, I chose triangle then she gave her interpretation to each of our chosen shapes. Now I realized, I didn’t chose an ordinary shape. Here's why:

For the historians, that shape is important in finding out why egyptians prefer that to honor their pharaohs, y not spheres?

For political analysts, to know why our society has that structure.

For artists, to know its importance in their paintings and structures.

For engineers, why its better or worse than columns in holding up bridges.

For mathematicians, to know the use of this in deriving formulas.

For a person like me kaya? how will this shape that i have chosen 4 years ago will eventually change my life? .... exciting ito. (thanks to Mr.Isagani Cruz columnist, The Philippine Star and his article "Educating for life", Feb 3rd issue)

Rationale

With the outburst of media’s capability to reach out even to the remotest areas and the most isolated individuals, we also need to take into consideration the details that most of us tend not to observe-its asymptomatic effect.

In medicine, a disease is considered asymptomatic if the patient is carrier of the disease or an infection yet experiences no symptoms. This is also known as ‘clinically silent’ (Wikipedia). AIDS is an asymptomatic disease as it doesn’t show any signs and symptoms until the person will take the test and will found out that the root cause started 10 years ago.

Media has an accumulated effect (aside from being asymptomatic). A person will later on realize that her day is incomplete until he can to watch his favorite basketball game. A wife can’t complete her day without watching her favorite TV talk show or a child cannot eat if not in front of a television. Now these are accumulated effects. Did this happen overnight? No. But how come there are certain individuals that cannot ‘live’ without being sustained by there every habit related to media.

Filipino women have fair complexion yet media reflects that for a woman become prettier, you need to have a skin as white as snow that will make stand out in the darkest area of our society. Now what makes many of us embrace this belief? Because most of the time, media tend to tell us to overcome the notion that we must be regular. It tells us that it takes us the chance to become extraordinary and leads us to become the mediocre.

But let’s put off the limelight on media’s negative effects, let us also take into consideration how media greatly help us in our everyday lives. Because of media, a common man gets a flash report in just a “flash” on his screen. Distance is no longer a barrier, as discussed earlier, media can now be considered as the new, “faster than a speeding bullet”, let’s see if superman wont get insecure of how media has evolved, hope he has realize that he also has to change as everything around him does – by putting on the underpants the way it should, be but who cares? Media says it’s totally fine.

This contradictions are also the same on how media works in every each of us. It has the capability of influencing us in everyday of our lives, with every possible means and also taking into consideration that we are in the 20th century where everything is connected to – digital such as digital communication, transportation and the like. Everything works thru wires, satellite and other ‘high-tech’ devices. Things that at times we tend not to put attention to its ‘asymptomatic effect’. But like what the famous saying goes, Ignorance is no excuse. Every each of us needs to learn how to be equipped with the knowledge that could give us the capability to distinguished “real” information versus information from the “reel”. And how can one be equipped of this knowledge? Through Media Literacy.

Media (or Cine) literacy is a repertoire of competences that enable people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres, and forms. Education for media literacy often uses an inquiry-based pedagogic model that encourages people to ask questions about what they watch, hear, and read. Media literacy education provides tools to help people critically analyze messages, offers opportunities for learners to broaden their experience of media, and helps them develop creative skills in making their own media messages (Wikipedia).

Being media literate, we will be able to distinguished what’s “hot”, what’s “not”. What are substance and what are just sub-stance. We always need to bear in mind that, WE ALL HAVE THE ABILITY, THE DIFFERENCE IS HOW WE USE IT.

Gloc Mine

korus: napakaraming mga agents dito sa atin, ngunit bakit parang walang natiraaa…nasa waive na silaaa…nasa waive na silaaa… (aku din huhuhu)

korus: napakaraming mga agents dito sa atin, ngunit bakit parang walang natiraaa…nag-floating na silaaa… (ako soon huhuhu)

napakaraming mga agents dito sa atin, ngunit bakit parang walang natiraaa…tanggal akawnt nilaaa..tanggal akawnt nilaa… (akawnt namin un huhuhu)

korus: napakaraming mga problem dito sa atin…ngunit bakit parang ako ay masayaaa… (2x)

- Kasama ko SIYA, Kasama ko Siya…

“Pag-ibig sa Maykapal”

“Pag-ibig sa Maykapal”

ni Ma. Luisa B. de Veyra

[i]

Dakila ka sa tanan, Panginoong Jesu-Cristo;

walang makasusukat sa kapangyarihang taglay mo;

‘kaw lang may tangan sa kalawaka’t sa mundong ito;

kami nama’y likha, mga abang tagapaglingkod mo.

O Diyos! tunay ang iyong kabutihan at katapatan;

Sa dugo mong inialay, nakamit ko ang kaligtasan;

May mga pangyayaring hindi ko nauunawaan;

Pighati ng nakaraan, takot sa kasalukuyan, pangamba sa kinabukasan;

Ngunit sinabi mo Panginoon, ano nga ba ang aming dapat pag-alalahanan?

Gayong mga mumunting ibon nga’y hindi mo pinababayaan.

Panginoon kong nabubuhay, puso ko’y pakinggan;

Sapagkat pag-ibig ko sayo’y walang mapagsidlan;

Ang aking pastol, tuwing buhay ko’y nasa kalituhan;

O Diyos sa piling mo ang nais kong maging hantungan.

[transitional verse]

Kailanman kami ay hindi mo pinabayaan;

Mula sa ‘ming mga ninuno, ika’y laging nariyan;

Iba-iba man ang kaugaliang aming nagisnan;

Di mo alintana pagkat puso ang iyong tinitingnan.

[ii]

Ang buhay ng tao’y parang bulaklak sa kaparangan;

Nawawala’t nalalagas kapagka nahanginan;

Subalit tayo’y mapalad, si Bathala’y naririyan;

Ang ating moog, natatanging may hawak sa tanan.

Ang agwat ng lupa at langit, akin mang sukatin;

Di sapat upang batayan ng pag-ibig nya sa atin;

Kung gaano kalayo ang silangan sa kanluran;

Sya ring magtatanghal ng pag-ibig nyang walang hanggan.

Makapangyarihang Bathala, nawa iyong tanggapin;

Pag-ibig sa puso ko, sayo ay nais kong awitin;

Buhay ko’y iaalay upang ikaw’y mapaglingkuran;

Upang ika’y makapiling sa malawak mong kaharian.

[transitional verse]

Ika’y nalulugod sa mga nasa iyo ay may takot;

Nasasaktan naman sa ‘twing kami’y nasa daang baluktot;

‘kay dapat sambahin sa bawat sandaling kami’y nabubuhay;

Hanggang sa sandaling ikaw na ang sa ami’y nakatunghay.

[iii]

O Kristong Dakila ikaw’y aking iniibig;

Mula umaga ‘gang takipsilim, kaw ang nasa isip;

Sa kapangyarihang taglay mo, walang makahihigit;

Ang buong Iglesia’y walang sawa na ika’y pupurihin.

Ako’y hindi karapat-dapat sa anumang biyaya mo;

Subalit binigyan ng pagkakataong mabuhay para sa iyo;

Balutan mo ako ng iyong kabanal-banalang dugo;

Upang maialay buong buhay sa paglilingkod sa iyo.

Sa gitna ng pagsubok, ang salita mo ay lakas ko;

Sa panahon ng karimlan, iniligas ang tulad ko;

Panaghoy ng aba mong lingkod, palagi mong nadidinig;

Bag’mat ang maiaalay ko lang ay aking pag-ibig.

[transitional verse]

Bulag man ang mundo at bingi ang mga tao;

Para hindi masaksihan ang kadakilaan mo;

Ang tulad ko sana ay gawin mong instrumento;

Maging buhay na saksi ng kabutiha’t awa mo.

[iv]

Allaahu Akbar, ang Diyos ay tunay na dakila;

Sya ay nag-iisa lamang at tanan ay likha nya;

Sa kabutihang taglay nya, sino ang mag-aakala;

Tulad ko’y pinagkalooban, buhay na pinagpala.

Pag-ibig ko sa kanya’y parang kawayan sa kagubatan;

Hinding-hindi matitinag anumang unos ang magdaan;

Parang bituing nagniningning sa gitna ng kalangitan;

Na mas lalong tumingkad sa gitna ng kadiliman.

Parang tubig sa batis na patuloy na dumadaloy;

Dandeliong namumulaklak sa tabi ng dalampasigan;

Noong espiritu ko ay nagmistula nang palaboy;

Ang pag-ibig niya ang syang nagsilbi kong kanlungan.

[transitional verse]

Sinumang nilalang na mayroong suliranin;

Panghihina, pag-iisa o nasa alanganin;

Ay may katiyakan na iyo ngang hahanguin;

Basta’t pananampalataya ay nasa sa amin.

[v]

Ang aking pag-ibig sa ating Poong Maykapal;

Idadaan sa awit ng pusong nagmamahal;

Batid kong dinig nya mula sa kaitaasan;

Hiling ay pagpapala mula sa Naliwanagan.

Namo Amida Buddha;

Ang pag-ibig ko sa iyo ay nag-uumapaw;

Tulad ng buhangin na nasa dalampasigan;

Pag-ibig ko sa iyo sadyang walang sukatan;

Nang dahil sa iyong pagiging mahabagin;

Patuloy na pinagpala ang katulad namin;

Na bagamat nagkakamali, nariyan ka pa rin;

Pag-ibig kong alay nawa ay iyong tanggapin.

[closing verse]

Iba-iba man ang denominasyon ng ating pananampalataya;

Iisa pa rin ang ninanais naming ipadama;

Pag-ibig sa nag-iisa, sa siyang pinakadakila;

Sa Maykapal na sa lahat, Siya lamang ay may likha.

The Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier

If you think God is not answering your prayers, think again...He has Better plans than yours.

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things.

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy.

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

Blissful Lamentation

Have you ever felt being a failure? Ever thought that the things that you are doing right now is not worth it? Was there a point in your life which you became bitter of other’s success thinking that you also deserve it? Was there a time in your life which the battle is within you – You against Yourself? A German proverb says, “Better an empty purse than an empty head.” But, what if these are just “some” of the questions that always go around your head all the time, would you still agree with that or would you now prefer having an empty head instead? This might seem funny but, what if it happened to you, will you still have a chance to just laugh on these things?

I have been a working student since my father abandoned us. But I have accepted the reality that there are things that are beyond the delegation of authority that life gave me. I can’t instruct my father to be a responsible head of the family but I can control my life to be responsible child. I have utilized that opportunity to be one. I studied hard, gave all my best in every chances at hand and I always look for opportunity to show everyone that I can stand on my own, it encourages me to do more every time I’ll learn that I became an inspiration to others. It sounds good isn’t it? It’s a typical story of someone from a broken home who strives to be a successful person one day.

At first, I was able to manage both work and studies at the same time. Aside from that, the money that I acquire from work really helped us to survive life’s challenges. I thought everything has been going well – family, studies, friends, money, what more can I ask for? I am a simple child with simple dreams. I always believe God will help me succeed. But not until I failed two of my subjects in the early years of college. What hurts me more is the reason why I failed which someone may think that it could’ve been avoided. This started to make me a bitter person when I learned that once you got a failing grade, though your general average is on its highest peak that it could go, still, you will never get the chance to graduate with flying colors. I really felt as if all my dreams were shattered into pieces, I lost my reason to strive for more.

Where is God? Has he locked Himself away in His celestial castle? Why doesn’t He just bless me this one? These are just some of the self-centered questions that I always bear in mind after that. Then I’ve attended a service which I firmly believe that God spoke to me directly and said, “I will not give you the things that you ask for if I know that you will not be fruitful if you have it.” I started to ask God for wisdom to understand that things that happen are according to what He planned for. I realized that indeed, that plans of the mind belong to me but the answer is from God. I started to realize that I have been worshipping myself, that “I” became my idol. During the times when I though that I do not need anyone at all because I can manage things myself, I realized that it was the most dangerous thing that ever happened to me. Thank God he saved me from the dangerous pit that I have been digging myself. I can now imagine what could have happened if life’s failure did not come to my life, I could have been the proudest person ever lived.

I often think, am I really an optimistic person or these are just my ways of reinforcing myself – by reframing the situation. Who knows? What is important is that I was able to accept that someone has been with me through all these times, who has been my greatest provider, unconditional lover, and patient teacher - God. It’s about having faith in Him that he is always in control. By Faith, it allowed me to go beyond what my eyes can see. Like John Maxwell said, faith is trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse. A lot of failure happens in our life but this is to recognize and believe that many unexpected events are not just disturbing interruptions of our personal plans, but the way in which God molds our hearts and prepares us for His greater plans.

Now, which ones better then? An empty purse or an empty head? Who said YOU HAVE TO make a choice? God can provide everything, nothing is impossible with Him. He can make both my purse and brain full but I’d better have nothing in this world - but never with an empty heart and an empty spirit. We are never alone, God is always beside us. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Disappointment

There came a time when I longed for someone to be with. Someone that will make me feel that I am Special. Unique. Valued.

Someone to make me feel that I am:

A special "Person" not just an individual,
When I smile.

A blooming “Flower” not just a plant,
When I’m tired.

A bright “Sky” not just a cloud,
When he is in gloom.

A heavy “Rain” not just a mist,
When he’s life seems dry.

A shining “Moon” not just the night,
When he’s life is in dark.

A distinctive “Constellation” not just a star,
When he is inspired.

A bright “Sun” not just the day,
When he is blissful.

A soft “wind” not just an air,
When he is at peace.

There came a time when I met someone who made feel that I am…

his option, not a choice.
his yoke, not a gift.
his his laughter, not his joy.


I expected the Right thing
But he did the other.


People will disappoint you.
Friends will too.
And so as the one you thought is “someone”.

But God will not.

Now is the time when I met someone who made me feel like I never felt before…
Jesus.