Ma philosophie sur l'amour (My Philosophy About Love)

                                                                                 (courtesy of:  Google Images)
I was reading one night when I came across an interesting question in our Logic book wherein it says, "What is your philosophy about love?"

Well of course, the primary concern of Logic is man's ultimate reasons and their principle about things. And then LOVE, a feeling that almost all individuals could not resist.




I asked myself, "Do I have principles concerning love and have I got reasons to show love for others?"

And as I pondered over the thought, I found myself answering the all the doubts that I have with me.

Yes, love is a great feeling, something that most of us just couldn't deny, something worth the wait and something that could probably shape us as better individuals. But looking at the deeper side of the context, I guess love comes with the right time, with the right understanding, with the right person and with a ready mind and HEART. Love is not a want but a need. It is not acquired just for practicality purposes but as a source of "defined" happiness. Love comes with respect, and indeed, the feeling should always be taken care of. Love is a debt that we always have to pay, something that we should consider  as a thing(of personal ownership) that when borrowed, in time, should be returned. And lastly, like an equation, love SOMETIMES has an end point, love dies. It may be so hard for us to accept but we should.

Why?

Because for me, love is a borrowed time, a time we have all borrowed from God. It is for the reason that, as soon as we learn to love others, we sometimes tend to forget that there is a God whom we should all be giving our love. But as death comes, I know that along with the numbness of our body, OUR LOVE FOR OTHERS SUDDENLY DIES, and all that's left is our love for God, who's been there waiting for us to give ourselves back to Him.

The Devastated dream.

"MANILA, Philippines – Students and faculty members of the University of the Philippines have not only condemned the murder of a third year student whose body was found near the campus earlier this week but have also banded together in cyberspace.

Cebanico’s body was found last Tuesday, sprawled in a canal along the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) Road, Barangay Putho-Tuntungin, near the boundary of the university campus and the International Rice Research Institute, police said.

Authorities believed that the victim was raped before being killed, detailing that her hands were bound behind her and her mouth was gagged with a handkerchief and covered with tape. They said she had bruises, a stab wound in her back, and sustained a gunshot wound to the head, said Cruz(http://ph.news.yahoo.com/uplb-community-mourns-slay-victim.html)."

I personally feel anxious about this recent news not just because Ms. Given Grace Cebanico was raped and killed but also because all her dreams were suddenly put to waste. I know how hard it has been for a student like her, given that she's studying in the prestigious University of the Philippines and that she's about to graduate in a few years time. It has never been easy to understand why it had to end that way and why she had to suffer from the hands of men who want to get satisfaction from women. I can imagine how  narrow-minded the suspects are for not thinking about the life they destroyed and the big dreams they've shattered. I mean, what if that happened to their daughter whom  they have invested so much money and effort just to provide all their needs and fulfill all their dreams, would that make them anxious too?

JUSTICE FOR UPLB STUDENT GIVEN GRACE CEBANICO.

My promise.

     When I was in high school, I have been so excited about the future. All I wanted to do then was to imagine how college life goes, how can I cope up with the life in Manila, and how exciting life must be when you're far away from your parents. In short, I made myself busy with my dream of getting the best freedom a person could ever have after finishing high school. And yes, at some point I was able to get what I want. But you know what, I didn't let all my plans destroy me, I did not abuse my freedom, I made it sure that my purpose of studying in Manila would be fulfilled. Besides, it would hurt my mom badly if I won't fulfill my promise of finishing college with flying colors and of course getting the title: ENGINEER JEROME C. PAMINTUAN, REE. And so no matter how hard my subjects are, no matter how stressful college life is, no matter how heavy the emotional stress I would face, I am willing to give it my all just to finish the race that God has prepared for me. I know it would not be easy for me, and I would have to be ready for everything. And so I leave this promise to my parents, friends and loved ones: "I will graduate on time, no matter how long and hard it would take. No matter how difficult the challenges would be. God is with me, and I know I can do it." Five or six years from now, meet me and I am sure, you will meet the person who at first craved for freedom, did not abuse what has been given, and made a way to fulfill his dreams. And so as to fulfill what I have written here, I leave all the rest to God.

Pagbabago (a short speech for Filipino Class)

Isang taon matapos ang pambansang eleksyon sa Pilipinas, malaki na ang pinagbago ng ating bansa. Kung ating napapansin halos lahat ng paraan upang mapaginhawa ang buhay ng mga Pilipino ay ginagawa na ng ating gobyerno. Binigyang solusyon nila ang problema ng mga drayber sa gasolina, nagpapatupad sila ng programang makakapagbibigay ng puhunan sa mga mahihirap upang sa ganoo’y makapagsimula sila ng magandang buhay. Ngunit, isang tanong ang gumugulo sa akin, bakit kaya kahit anong gawin ng pamahalaan ay hindi pa rin makuntento ang mga Pilipino?

                Siguro nga ay nagkaroon ng kaunting pagkukulang ang gobyerno kaya mas nagiging mahirap ang pamumuhay dito sa bansa. Pero isipin natin, hindi ba dapat tayo rin ay kailangan kumilos upang mas mabilis nating maramdaman ang pagbabagong ating inaasam. Hindi ba dapat na tulungan natin ang pamahalaan imbis na lagi tayong nagproprotesta sa daan sa bawat kamaliang ating napapansin? Mahalaga ang oras at hindi natin dapat ito sinasayang, tayo ay magkapit-bisig ng sa ganoo’y dumating din ang ginhawa sa buhay na hinahangad ng bawat mamamayan. Pasasaan pa’t sayo rin naman nakasalalay ang pagbabagong hinahangad mo.

Reproductive Health- A big deal.

    Recently, the Philippine President Benigno Aquino was invited as the Commencement speaker of the University of the Philippines. And in his speech, he shared his view of the Reproductive Health Bill and gave his support on the bill. And as expected the Catholic Church opposed with the president's statement. However, Mr. Aquino stood firm upon his statement and said that he would be ready to face the challenge of excommunication due to his support for RH Bill.
   Along with this controversy, many members of the House of Representatives gave their insight about the latest development for the said issue. Many of them thought that it was a good news to hear because with the pursuance of the bill, the country would no longer face the issue of HIV Epidemia, Irresponsible Parenthood and Informal Family Planning.

    As for my opinion, this bill should really be properly dealt with because it involves national and spiritual aspects. We may say that Mr. Aquino was very brave of his conviction. Well I guess, he really is, and I support his stand. I believe the real reason of his support for RH Bill is to really promote Responsible Parenthood and to really keep the Filipinos away from penury and misery. Admit it, because of the growing population, our country could no longer afford to give the rest of the citizens a good life. And by the RH Bill, we don't  promote abortion but we would love to post a warning to others that it is not always good to just enter any sensual activity without thinking of the supposed outcomes of what you would do. I guess, with RH Bill we would just drive any Filipino away from any unnecessary disease that an unclean sexual activity may post unto a person.

  However, the representatives and the president should also consider the stand of the Catholic society for always it would be the citizens decision on what would be the outcome of a certain issue. If they are not in favor of it, let them be. Sooner or later if realization comes, any decision that they have with them has the possibility to change.

  Above all, we should just leave all the rest to God's hand. He will surely provide an answer.

Learning How to Breathe Again

If you would ask a grade 4 student about the definition of love, what do you think would be his answer? Most probably, it would be " Love is Blind." But now that we, students, are teenagers, perhaps, we would have learned of the best definition of love.

Let us all look back at how things used to be before we felt the ever famous problem of students--LOVE. When we were still a child, all we asked for is the love of our parents. Whenever, we receive a gift, and hear them say "I love you so much", we would jump and appreciate what they did. In school, most probably during break time, girls would gather in a certain place and talk about their ultimate crushes. One girl would even say, " Ay, grabe nag-hi siya sakin kilig to the bones talaga!" But the time came when we felt something unexplainable, something that you've been dreaming to happen--to meet the one who would make us feel loved and deeply appreciated.

But, what if beyond all the happiness, your studies would suffer and would start getting very low grades? Are you willing to sacrifice love for your future? What if you brake up and you're finding it hard to move on? That's when you need to come into realization and learn how to breathe again.

Many people would ask me how is "Learning How to Breathe Again" applicable to young students like us. My answer is, it would help us learn the best lessons in life, open our eyes for the future and encourage everyone to pursue studies without any interference.

I have two tips to help students get back what they've lost, and achieve what they were not able to, when they were still blinded by love.
{1} Be able to see what the future can do to you. Open your eyes, concentrate on your studies because it would help you see the best things the world has to offer.
{2} If it's not meant to be yours, then let it be. Love can wait, you are still young! enjoy what you should enjoy and focus on the things that would bring you success.

Indeed, there are things that are meant to happen in the future but would suddenly come and ruin your goals. But being determined in life would hinder those things to happen. Remember this, if you really love a person, you are willing to wait even how long it would take. Thank you for listening and have a great day!

Fidelity over Will: An enormous distinction

                      (photo from: Google images--http://www.google.com.ph)
     The face that launched a thousand ships, the beauty that killed untold thousand of souls, the charm hailed as the center piece of Greek myths, the woman reputed as the most beautiful in the ancient world--Helen, the queen of Sparta (http://fjkluth.com/helen.html).
     Helen is a daughter to Leda and a sibling to Clytemnestra and Pollux. She was married to Menelaus before she met Paris, the prince of Troy. This prince, however, detested the unscrupulous treatment of the Spartans to women. And for this reason, he eloped with Helen and brought her to their kingdom, Troy. This elopement brought about the Trojan War, killing thousands of people and bringing Troy's entirety into fire.
     Aside from Helen, another woman made a remarkable significance in Greek literature--Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, King of Ithaca. Penelope has been a faithful wife to Odysseus, she kept her suitors at bay in the long absence of her husband (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penelope). Though she has not seen Odysseus in twenty years, and despite the pressure the suitors placed on her to remarry, Penelope never lose faith in her husband. Although her love for Odysseus was unyielding, she responds to her suitors with some decisions. Her astute delaying tactics revealed her sly and artful side. This notion have cleverly bought her time and thus, brought both of them in unity (http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/odyssey/canalysis.html).
     If you were to analyze both characters, two women with great differences, two lives with different convictions, you may have thought of emulating one and letting the other serve as a lesson. Looking into Helen's perspective, you may have pondered over the sense of Helen being an antagonist in the story. This is due to her defiance to faithfulness for she chose to run away with Paris even if it may harm thousands of lives. On the other hand, if you would look into Penelope's perspective, you may have pondered over her marital faithfulness, patience and unyielding love for her husband. In this unfathomable understanding, you may have seen two phases of a woman: a woman of fidelity and a woman of will and conviction.
     In comparison, you might enter into a deep conception that, being faithful is better than seeking freedom and fighting for happiness. For in the face of life, unending love and faithfulness have been associated with happiness and sound togetherness. On its other side,it has been a dark reality that we face, that some humans choose to pursue freedom and seek their own happiness not knowing that it would cause anxiety to may.
     Hard to admit, however it is true, that between fidelity and will, there is a great DIFFERENCE.

Unfolding a New Chapter

As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
From whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever

                                        (photo courtesy of: Ms. Noveras and Avie Concepcion)
    God has been so wonderful to everyone of us. He made 73 lives meet in one spectacular school, our Alma Mater, Taytay United Methodist Christian School. What a long road we have all travelled, and I cannot even imagine that in a span of one month we would be leaving the school and would be entering a new chapter of our lives.
   4 years ago, we entered the school, clueless, of what High School life would offer all of us. We were all behave then, we don't usually win competitions. For as they say, we are still beginners and there are many things yet to discover about High School.
    Time passed, and so, we became competitive, we started winning, started the race to win the prize. We have shown everyone that we can and we will, if we try. However, we weren't united. We act as if we don't know each other and we live as if we have different worlds.
   Until the time came when the school decided to unite everyone of us. Shocked and displeased, we weren't excited of what our Senior life would offer. We made things complicated with ourselves and honestly, we started a tough race.

                                                             (photo from: Ms. Noveras)
    IV-Solomon, the ever-quiet and loved section. Some teachers describe this section as the one where the intelligent and excellent students come from. Most teachers would choose staying in this section, for with them, you would find peace and tranquility.

                                                  (photo from: Bernadette Buenaflor)        IV-David, the mean ones, the naughty students. Some teachers love the way they participate in class activities. Always attentive, however, they sometimes fail to give respect to others. Always noisy, but can manage to maintain silence if there is a need to.

    Combine these two and you would come up with IV-SOLID. The batch that mattered. May not be the best but would not fail you with what you expect them to give. They would give all their best to give glory to the school and most of all with God.

   Four years we have been nurtured and molded, we thank our teachers for what we have become. And now that we are about to say goodbye. Let the memories that we have given and the words we have delivered be a source of inspiration to everyone-- teachers, graduates and schoolmates.

           WE WILL MISS TAYTAY UNITED METHODIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL! :'(

May tomorrow,

be a perfect day,

may you find love and laughter

along life's way

may God keep you,

in His loving care

'til he brings us together again...

In Pursuit of Happiness

                                                         ( photo from:Google images)
     In this beautiful world, people always find a way to be happy. Some say gaining the wealth that you have been dreaming of is the gateway to happiness. Some say getting all the luxuries in life is the only way to experience contentment. But I say, it is the love in our hearts that we experience true joy. The love of God, the love of oneself and the love that we constantly give to others, these makes a man happy.

     But if barriers come on your way and problems arise, should a man give his love up or should he pursue what has been 'his' in the first place?

                                                           (photo from: Google images)
     This question is depicted in the series, "Helen of Troy". Helen, daughter of Tyndareus, is paradigm of a woman's beauty. One day, the gods gave Helen a birds eye view of her future husband, and when she saw it, with all her heart she had a belief that one day the two of them would meet and would someday write a beautiful love story.
    Helen was right, Paris, Prince of Troy, came into their kingdom to speak to King Menelaus, who was then Helen's husband. It was too late, however, time made these two hearts meet. Paris saw the inhumane treatment of the Spartans to women and thus, this made him take Helen into their kingdom. This "abduction" of Helen became the root of the Trojan War and was referred to in history as the "beauty that launched a thousand ships".

     The question is, if you were Paris, would you bring Helen to Troy even if it may cause so much distress in your land? Would you pursue loving Helen?


    Love has always been the source of hope and peace unto man's heart. Love has been the reason why we live and stand firm here on Earth. If I were Paris, I would still bring Helen to Troy and pursue loving her until the day I'd die. It is for the reason that, I would not let anyone treat the one I love with so much disrespect and cruelty. I would not let someone ruin such beauty given by the gods, for I have always believed that such beauty should be given much importance and love; and it is with me, that she will find comfort and get all the appreciation that she wants. For with her, I will continue to breathe, live, love and laugh.

    

On Fairness and Camaraderie

"Fairness is not an attitude. It's a professional skill that must be developed and exercised. "
Brit Hume

     It has been 26 years of unending grace, passion and ministry for the Taytay United Methodist Christian School. Its foundation has always been one of the greatest thing that happened into the lives of many students. The school never failed to meet the expectations of the church, the parents and of course, God.
     Just two weeks ago, the school celebrated its 26th Founding Anniversary. Students then, were so excited about the things that the school, in partnership with the a High School Student Council would offer them. Everything started out with a prayer for safety, divine guidance and the evidence of FAIRNESS and CAMARADERIE. Then, it was followed by the Oath of Sportsmanship and Parade. The school has also prepared a pageant for this year's Mr. and Ms. Intrams where the funny and confident girl, Carissa Jasmin Delgado and the mysterious orator Jeff Francisco were hailed as the winners.

                                                          (photo courtesy of Ej Figueroa)
     A few moments later, the field demonstration of all the year levels started. Everyone was so excited about the performances of each group and how each routine would be executed.

                                             
                                                  (photos courtesy of Mary Kate Marcelo)
     The Cheer dance Competition was dominated by the Juniors, the defending Champions. They were able to leave a remarkable performance into the eyes of the audience and to the judges.

                                               (photos courtesy of Mary Kate Marcelo)
      The Seniors never failed to meet the expectations of their CAT Commandant, officers and batch mates as they danced their hearts out and dominated the Modern Dance Competition. The Seniors had been constantly winning several Modern Dance Competitions and was even invited by AMA in their Streetdance Competition during the Foundation week.

                                              (photo courtesy of Mary Kate Marcelo)

     The prowess of the Juniors in executing their fierce and powerful routines made them dominate the Ballroom Dance Competition. They were able to execute the routines perfectly and with poise.

     The following days were used for the ball games wherein the students were able to show their physical prowess. The sun's hotness did not stop the students from fighting for their section's name and their team.
     The Juniors dominated the Volleyball and Basketball game while the Badminton games were somehow dominated by the Seniors.
     As the ball games continue, there were issues raised on scoring, illegal hitting, dirty playing and many others leaving many Senior students with eye injuries, sprain and deep wounds. What was alarming then, was the issue thrown against the Seniors on unfair scoring and cheating. They say that the Senior scorers were not honest enough in giving the opponent a score and that the Senior players were one of the contributing factors why the championship with the Juniors suddenly became a 5-set match. Imagine and analyze, why do we need to place a referee in the game and let him decide on certain things, to make fairness evident right? Why do we place a committee, to officiate on the official scores and not on the scores listed down by the Seniors right? So, any discrepancy in the scores, the Seniors should not be blamed.

     Above all, let us all acknowledge the spirit of fairness and honesty evident into our being. As stated in the latter part of my post, fairness is a professional skill, once you develop such, anyone could not steal it from you. Let this attitude be developed into the hearts of young men, so that, when you are to face the real world, the lesson imparted by the institution would be seen into your being.