Another Starfish

I am flattered to be invited once again to facilitate the Leadership and Teambuilding Seminar of the Junior Beda Law Circle- the organization that I have loved so much as it meant almost three fourths of my extra curricular life in College. I was president of the organization for a year, and I served as its internal vice president twice. I can say that I am proud to what the organization has become. Its members are more eager to serve their immediate community.

Being Legal Management majors we carry the motto " We are slaves of the law so that we may be free!"- and in every single endeavor we carry this in our hearts and the tradition lives. As long as there is an activity bannered by the group, it will all be for this noble cause; guided by the school's thrust of producing competent individuals who are fully human, wholly Christian, truly Filipino and globally competetive.

Another humble cause realized. Another starfish thrown back into the ocean!!!

Jake

My clothes are soaking in blood- and the pungent stench lingers on...

Involuntarty contractions has made me vommit blood from the deepest
abyss of my organs- orchestrated to make me weaker and idle until my death.
This is nature and none can ever stop it from wrecking havoc until my body
gives up to the sickle that shall smite me- Pluto's will at hand momentarily

Lines for YOU...

19 June 2008

The squal has blinded my view of the vast horizon,

But i can see through it not only with my eyes but

with love that endures time and distance.

20 June 2008

My twilight abode is pulling every sense of conciousness

I afford to make.

Made more difficult to resist is the bask ambiance of this

poorly lit room. Gathering erstwhile thoughts I resume

back to life eager to realize what present there is to unfold-

hope, trust, faith and love.

I live another day because of such presents and such remain

true because I live.

O.S.B. ( Old School Beda)

The good thing about working in an international school is the fact that you get to have so many rest periods during vacations and holidays. Having been left idle with nothing to do as it was summer break, I got the chance to resume to the routine that I so much enjoyed doing when I was still in college- staying up late and watch dvd as long as I want, read books by authors I so much admired, sleep without ever thinking of the next thing to do and go anywhere my feet take me.

During this past two weeks, I frequented my alma mater to catch up with friends ( most of them are in law school) and follow up a certificate from my college office. Despite the stories that I have heard about the changes in my school- nothing has really prepared me in seeing them first hand. I was happy and both sad as I marveled at what is San Beda today and what it has become.

One's miliue is defined by the generation that molds it. Like the changing palatives after every elections in the country, the campus embraced every single transfomation that its new administration installed as if its impetus was to subtly erase things that reminded the community of how things were during the erstwhile generation.

Like any imposition in a support based unit, the initial reaction to these changes was resentment. This is expected in campus as the bureaucracy is quite central to the wisdom of the elite few chosen by the abbott-a trait that has endured any Benedictine institutions for hundreds of years. While change is inevitable because of this- there are so many things that are left unclinched and unfathomable no matter how an average reasonable stakeholder like myself put it. Or even, are these changes really necessary for the greater majority or is there an intention to malign certain sensitivities for the long term survival of the school as based from the exalted wisdom of a few?

The students rallied, members of the community did their own form of protest(ever wonder why processing things are slow?) as it was witnessed and felt by the world within and outside Mendiola. The point is nothing can ever make the decision makers ever bow down to the whim of a voiceless majority. Not only will it hurt their ego, but it is a poor management style to retract decisions previously made. Even before San Beda is your's and my school- it soley belongs to them and they can do whatever they want in this side of the universe.

Yes they can do whatever they want. Armed with their legion of sentinels of the law in their side so as to make everything well grounded. They can impose lousy unattractive uniform for the students; they can remove the publication fee to marginalize the school newspaper; they can fire staff members under the cloak of insubordination; they can abolish departments and remove the most intelligent, wise and brave of faculty members; they can repaint the campus red and make it look like Sogo; they can install new departments no matter how impractical and unecessary; they can cut funds of organizations; they can be practical and have the canteen consigned to outside entities to earn more profit; they can deliberately increase tuition fees even if the economy is failing; they can control student rights and the list goes on and on.

I can only hope for the best as I am now outside the school. I could have braved the odds in my own way should these things happened during my generation. But I can only do so much. I am only an alumni who once passed this institution and has yet to prove anything worthy like the one's in the walls of our alumni office. My one peso worth of advice or word will only be left unheard and unnoticed. Whatever happens, the present generation of Bedans are in the most convenient and proper foot to creatively do something. This is their milieu and they decide what their generation will do.

I miss old school San Beda. The school that I will always be proud of. No matter where life takes me- I owe so much to this school that has molded me academically for more than a decade. I miss the brotherhood, the academic environment and the people. I am both happy and sad. I am sad because things will never be the same and what is left in my school are the shadows of what it was during my stay. I am happy, because somehow there is change no matter how uncalled for and unexpected they maybe. Change signifies life and so does it go on.

Bujoy and Toni

Some of the greatest love stories would not have been complete without the protagonist who bridged the gap between the two lovers separated by untoward instances. Their roles in movies and in books are less appreciated but to my mind they bear the most cumbersome of roles. They stand witness to the most romantic of love stories, filling their hearts with all empathy and making real the moments that were once held by the flicking negativity of the plot.

Things are easily said than done. I have to confess that I have my own- "Bujoy" in my own love story. She is the most understanding of all people that stand witness to the love that I share with my special someone. If mine was a part of a movie tandem, she would be my number one fan- updated about any premiere that I am to make. Likewise, she is the accomplice in my efforts to make my love felt as it will be close to impossible for me to act in wanted proximity to my lover. The theatrical production is fully orchestrated by her for our play to begin, signalling music to queue and for each curtain to rise- and at the middle are the stars. Indeed, it is my love story. While me and my lover are elated to nirvana she is left to the mundane-unnoticed.

Although this is her role, the Bujoy of my story- definitely is not less appreciated. I owe her my happiness and the success of every premiere that I make. If all that I have is a blessing in having to love and be loved in return- I wish all that I cherish be blessed with the same bounty. I refuse to call her" Bujoy" but I'd prefer her to be called "Toni". I know you are capable of believing in the magic of cupid, his bow and arrow.

To Bujoy/ Tony- you deserve to have your own happines and love. Never shy away from love when it knocks unto your door. To experience it all is worth every ounce of whatver sacrifice you bear. To love is only for the strong and so be brave- for the weak can only do so much when they fall inthe pitfall of insanity after not being able to climb back to reality after any broken love. It is fatalism. Invest to trust not only based on your own benevolence but also on your own conviction of capability. Eventually make such transcend to faith. This makes any love story eternal- as romances only last a lifetime, the spirit of their romance is forever.

Night with the Saturday Group

It is nice to meet new acquaintance once in awhile especially on a lazy Saturday. With a long weekend coming in, everything seems to stand still even though the spirit of the city seems to maintain its fast paced run in catching up with reality.

I ended up calling a friend. I asked him if I can drop by to catch up. I needed the break and his presence. I also felt that he needed the company. He has been long overdue in looking for a job and is desperate to have company. Yes, I took advantage of his need of a companion. I really cannot tell who needs it more between the two of us. But it doesn't really matter. I went to his apartment building and later on invited some of his other friends that I befriended just a month ago.

Although road tripping is the usual itinerary of their Saturdays, the group was into something that is quite unorthodox to their usual turf. I was in for a surprise. Before I knew it I was collecting every single penny that I have in my wallet that has seen better days. Tonight is Bingo night! Yes B.I.N.G.O- Bingo!!! The game is usually seen played on the streets, in the malls and during charity events. A game for the old and the ones who simply want to kill time for whatever cause they have in mind.

We started taking turns in rolling the wheel as the Bingo set that we have has its own wheel and cage. Everybody started laughing and was at the same time were anxious and excited to know who won in each round as if the prize at stake was really worth a fortune to begin with- eager to be their turn to shout" BINGO!" and win. With enough pizzas and stories to share and go around, we enjoyed each others company in what was supposed to be a common boring Saturday for city dwellers like us.

In the end, I did enjoy myself. Life in the city can be very routinely and one really has to sort out ways to creatively make things enjoyable and fun. All of us in that apartment that day had one goal in mind and we were able to convince ourselves that life is never about a game of chance like Bingo. Life is what we make of it. Chance makes life more challenging and like Bingo it is also worth it to take risks- only if you know what you are risking and you know what the consequences of you actions can bring.

The afternoon frolicking stretched till the night. We could have left the turn out of our weekend to chance and be bored. Some lose and some went home a little richer that night. But we were all happy- controlling a part of our lives to make sure we had fun and we played risk with a little game of chance. This and more can also be said true when we turn to the other chapters of our lives- relationships, family and career. To love is a choice, and it is a choice of being open to a lot of risks and vulnerabilities. Family is not choice.It is an inherent part of one's self- to deny it or be open to being independent and free thinking is the choice of taking risk against what your family believes in as it is a unit existing based on mutual support. Your career is risk based on making informed choices and decisions.

What's in for us next Saturday or the Saturday after that? It' s too early to tell what will be the next convention is. We might again gamble, go on a road trip or maybe just slack in a coffee shop while we exchange stories about how life in the city has made us love life more. There is only one thing sure. We will do ourselves justice and make the most of what life has to offer- never becoming victims of situations and leaving certain things to chance if we can afford it and if stakes are worth it. Losing and winning are not legitimate options. The options lies with the choice of succumbing to taking risks and not completely leaving anything to chance.

SnapShots of APEC 2006

VIETNAM FULLY INDUSTRIALIZED BY THE YEAR 2020

Interview with Vice Minister Do Huu Hao

Ministry of Industry
Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Do Huu Hao is the vice-minister of the Industry of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. During the past decade the ministry has been deeply committed to international integration and the market-oriented economy. The ministry espouses the goal of industrialization and modernization that should be achieved through improved competitiveness of the national economy.

After becoming the newest member of the world economic table by joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) on November 7, 2006, Vietnam prepares its economic framework for becoming fully industrialized by the year 2020. Vice Minister Do Huu Hao stressed this point during his speech at the Students’ Gala Dinner for the Voices of the Future Program held at the Hanoi University Guesthouse courtyard on November 16, 2006. Speaking in front of different international students and educators from APEC member countries, Mr. Do Huu Hao believes that conditions such as economic and political stability, sufficient government support, and the creation of friendly diplomatic policies are vital for the success of Vietnam. Given the previous conditions, the Ministry of Industry is set to implement the strategies that will springboard the country’s industrialization pace.

The economic growth rate is expected to increase from 33% in 2005, to 38% in 2010, and to 40% by the year 2020. This will be realized through proper emphasis on developing high technology and labor intensive industries, socio-economic development, and infrastructure. Streamlined implementing guidelines to actualize this vision include proper market orientation, technology transfer from other economies, and the creation of strategic financial center in different key areas of Vietnam. In this manner, the economy can focus on its competitive advantage and fix its human resource strategy, an area that a lot of economic experts and investors are concerned about.

Mr. Do Huu Ho explained that by moving some industries (textile and shoes) from the urban to the rural areas, this will help the Vietnamese people who live in the rural areas, because they will not have to expend much money on transportation and accommodation. Vietnam is working with other economies such as the ASEAN countries, the US, Japan, and the UK, who will help Vietnam realize its goal to industrialize the country. When asked about the foreign direct investment opportunities in Vietnam, he said that there are various kinds of opportunities in different sectors from the service sectors of hotel and restaurant services to the heavy and high-tech sectors of steel and computer production.

As a result of our interview, we felt it is important to address these issues because the lives of the Vietnamese people are affected by the expansion of Vietnam’s economic system. In today’s era of globalization it is important for Vietnam to cooperate with other economies in exchanging information, goods and services to make the lives of the Vietnamese people better and by making Vietnam a player in the world’s economy.

Written By: ( November 2006, Hanoi Vietnam)
Luis Voltaire D. Formilleza- Philippines (Left)
Ak Abdul Ba’asit Pg Hj Yahya- Brunei Darussalam (Right)

Red Starfish

As an alumnus of the Ayala Young Leaders Congress, I have always admired the analogy of what I can do as a person to initiate change with the starfish story that was told to every single alumni of the congress year after year. The story is about a man who was walking by the sea seeing a strange figure by a far doing something. As he went nearer to the figure, he saw a person, patiently picking up the starfishes washed ashore by the waves. To his curiosity the man asked the person, “What are you doing?” The person replied, I am throwing back the starfishes to the ocean or else they will die. Surprised by the answer that he received, the man replied,” well, you can’t possibly make any difference. There are thousands of starfishes in this coast extending over a mile”. But the person simply smiled at the weary man, picked up another starfish, threw it back to the ocean and said, “I made a difference with that one!”

Over the years, the credo of the AYLC is to enable the empowered youth of today to make a difference in their respective communities. It was in this light that I realized the potential that I have to share my skills and talents to my immediate community and the country as a whole with the hope that in my small act, I am able to make a difference and inspire others to do the same. It was with utmost humility that I share this personal pride to my school. Making it to the short listed 79 students to attend the congress in 2006 out of hundreds of nominations from all over the country was an astronomical feat that is not easy to reach. More than my personal achievement I also share this feat to my program (The Legal Management Program) which was then tagged as the department whose students were devoid of values. I went to the congress in representation of the many Legal Management majors like myself, who never had the opportunity like mine but nonetheless are playing a vital cog in the community in the field of music, social advocacy, sports, writing, leadership, organizational development, and social legislation. As the pioneer batch of Legal Management students, we etched our own mark in school and we are all eager to do something to initiate change for our country.

Two years has passed after the congress and I continually encourage and give hope to students to live up to their vision of change and join the congress like I did. It was not to be treated as a prize or as special credential that you can brag in your resume. It was an impetus to live a life of service, humility and nobility. It was a sad reality on my part to hear that my very own school has hindered some of its promising students to join this year’s congress because, there grades was simply not good enough to make the cut off. This is tantamount to saying that they lacked the qualities to become the epitome of a true Bedan student leader. I never thought before this that one’s character and capabilities can be translated into numerical averages that can be calculated and ranked. Of course, as a proprietary institution, our school sets standards for itself. After all, we are mere stakeholders of the school and we are only carrying its name wherever we go. Call it a classic case of tokenism this time, but as far as I can recall, most of the significant students from the school who made it to the congress were not Latin honors or recipient of coveted school accolades. In fact, most of them are student leaders, who does well in academics (not complete scholarly sycophants) but are excellent movers of communities because of what they can do while being plain students. They are risk takers, sacrificing points of whatever grade they lose in every absences they make in lieu of heeding to the call of service. In the end, my article won’t make so huge a change for the community to whom I dedicate this article. But just like the man who threw starfishes back to the ocean, I am hoping that I can make a difference. To my fellow student leaders, keep the fires of idealism burning in all of us. It’s what makes us who we are. Let not the day comes when people will ask themselves; where have all the starfishes gone?