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.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
LESSONS FROM A TRAGIC MEMORY
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…
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…
Friday, June 5, 2009
breaking silence...
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?
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?
Monday, September 22, 2008
pag-aaral, mahalaga pa ba?
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.
Friday, May 23, 2008
sagip pilipinas...
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?...
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
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...
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...
Thursday, April 17, 2008
children are the future: let's help them...
“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.
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.
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