File

SM LAUNCHES
fashion for babies
Babies are just so cute, and many of us have this
Mommy Andi discussed just how much she loves
secret wish for them to remains babies... forever if possible.
to dress up her little fashionista as she shared how they
Pink ribbons, tiny polo shirts and blue shoes make them look
celebrated her rock star-themed first birthday. Andi recount-
even cuter and many parents have developed the hobby of
ed how cute baby Elle looked as she donned an Alice in
taking photos of their little ones to immortalize their cute
Wonderland costume they found in the department store.
moments.
This pure adoration over babies was highlighted in
the recent launch of SM Department Store’s babies’ apparel,
SM Babies.
Fourteen beautifully lit pictures of Metro Manila’s
loveliest moms and their little angels taken by photographer
Pilar Tuason graced the wall of the Conservatory in Manila
Peninsula in a photo exhibit called “Special Moments.”
“Special Moments” highlights the priceless bond
between mother and child featuring SM Babies collections
for bedtime, playtime, baptismal, and party time.
Model and TV personality Lexi Schulze also shared
her fascination with SM Department store’s collection of
beautiful clothes for her young one.
“You could spend half of your day at the department store and still be amazed how convenient it is. All that
you need in one place,” Mommy Lexi said.
“Special Moments” was put together by the same
team behind SM Kids’ Fashion as they wanted to give it its
own identity and focus on a complete line of apparel that
caters specifically to children up to two years of age.
The team handpicked all the moms who par-
A behind the scenes photo montage was presented
ticipated in the exhibit which also included TV personal-
on-stage showing just how much fun and bonding moms like
ity Nicole Hernandez-De Los Angeles, society moms Marta
celebrity Andi Eigenmann and radio jock Delamar Arias had
Araneta, Isabel Olondriz-Murd, Maia Martirez-Hing, and Grace
with their babies Elle and Cooper while posing and smiling
Barbers, as well as sisters Emilie Montenegro-Yupangco and
for the camera.
Rose Montenegro-Boonpongsa. Model Georgia Schulze-del
Mommy Andi, along with fellow SM Babies ambas-
Rosario, blogger Tin Dychiao, and make-up artist Angela
sadors Lexi Schulze and Amanda Griffin-Jacob discussed how
Yeo are also featured alongside designer Rosanna Ocampo-
convenient it is to dress their up babies with the new SM
Rodriguez and magazine editor Juana Manahan-Yupangco.
clothing line. Former VJ, model and now supermom Amanda
talked about the fun and excitement in dressing up her little
guys at an affordable cost.
http://fitandfabmanila.com/sm-launches-fashion-for-babies/
filipino student leaders attend
NCR YOUTH HOURS 2012
Over a hundred empowered Filipino students recently
gathered in an annual youth forum that served as a venue for
the exchange of ideas and for the discussion of issues affecting
the youth today.
The NCR 2012 Youth hours held at the Far Eastern
University (FEU) in Manila last month gathered 130 student
leaders from De La Salle University, Don Bosco Technical
College, FEU, Jose Rizal University, St. Paul – Manila, University
of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines.
Under the theme “EDGE: Every Day Great Examples
for Nation Building,” the young leaders engaged in workshops
on leadership, academic excellence, social responsibility, and
school administration. Youth hours was organized by the
Outstanding Students of the Philippines – Alumni Community
(TOSPAC).
“Young people are a crucial segment
of a nation’s development”
“It has been said that we are the hope of the future,
yet this world has plenty of wide sea of obstacles trying to
block our path, misleading us. The hope lies on the heart of
leadership, a heart which the youth of today should have, for
them to be called a genuine youth leader of future’s hope,”
Marko Matibag from Quezon City Chapter of Scholars commented before the start of the forum.
Youth Hours 2012 called for the youth’s empowerment through a clearer awareness of self, a deeper appreciation
of one’s calling and commitment to serving others, and stronger
ties with fellow student leaders.
“Young people are a crucial segment of a nation’s
development,” said International Resource Panel of the United
Nations member Dr. Anna Siriban-Manalang.
Youth Hours 2012 covered important topics such as
Youth Empowerment, responsible citizenship, the role of the
National Youth Commission and the Prospect of the Filipino
Youth with regards to Nation Building.
http://fitandfabmanila.com/filipino-student-leaders-attend-ncr-youthhours-2012/
ROCkwELL’S ROCk THE CiTY
HALLOwEEN:
a truly unique one
All the little ghosts, witches and monsters in town gathered with cartoon characters, superheroes
and royalties for a hundred percent rocking Halloween hit at the Rockwell Tent. It was a sold-out family
affair, and nobody dared to declare boredom.
The room was filled with friendly and bright-colored decorations so as not to scare the little ones.
And as soon as the registration started, boys and girls alike excitedly fell in line to bewitchingly get their
face painted, hair sprayed and nail arts done. Others opted for a harmless tattoo to add spice to their glam
get-up.
Music was performed by MCA artists and YouTube sensations Krissy and Ericka. Rockwell’s own
rock band also added excitement to the event.
There were acrobats that enthralled participants and a magic show that made everyone’s hearts
pound for excitement.
Kids also enjoyed balloon twisting acts and a Trick-or-Treat session in different stores inside the
Power Plant Malls.
The whole family enjoyed games such as ‘Name that tune’, ‘Name that artist’ and the Gangnam
style dance-off.
The event was a blast. Laughs and smiles were let out as pictures and videos were taken, prizes
won and candies collected. As Rock the City came to an end, new treasures surfaced: a sack full of loots and
a bag full of memories.
http://fitandfabmanila.com/rockwells-rock-the-city-halloween-party-a-truly-unique-one/
pOiNTiNg
fingers
Reports have been most intriguing
after the Incident Investigation and Review
Committee (IIRC) presented its final report
on September 21 to the President recommending about 13 people that may be held
accountable for the Quirino Grandstand hostage fiasco...what’s intriguing, and even more
dismaying and disappointing is the fact that
members of the press are as well recommended to be held liable for the tragedy.
Earlier reports stated that President
Benigno Aquino III claims full responsibility
for the mishandling of the August 23 hostage crisis that claimed lives of eight Hong
Kong tourists. But of course, the wind blows
on another direction, changing sails and the
names of who’s to blame.
Press freedom is at stake here as
Erwin Tulfo of TV5 and 3 Media Networks
(ABS-CBN, GMA 7 and TV5 - with the exception of the special case of GMA 7) are being
pin-pointed as partly responsible for the
gruesome outcome of the hostage taking
incident at the Luneta Park that claimed
lives and criticisms all over the world. The
incident reflected and affected the country
in such a terrible way. The media, of course,
is involved in the case, being the respondents and messengers during the crisis, but
Justice Secretary Laila De Lima said that
sanctions have been issued against the
media because they violated their Code of
Ethics. Now, is there really a clear basis on
this recommendation for lawsuit, or are they
just trying to hold the press people liable for
putting in their best efforts to communicate
news and information with accuracy, timeliness, brevity and clarity? What’s gone so
wrong? Why are they putting the blame on
the media?
It is very unreasonable. To think
that after covering a very newsworthy event,
the people who have presented it as part
of their sworn responsibility to the public
are now being considered as “the bad guys”
who have led to the tragic event. And if
they’re so sure about it then, they should’ve
found a way for media people to not get in
the way when the hostage crisis was taking
place. Although it is true and justifiable that
the media may have affected the flow of
negotiation and the outcome of the incident,
it is unduly suppression of public information when they’d point fingers at the media,
especially since they (the government and/
or the persons-in-charge) have not released
any order for media black-out... meaning
that they have allowed for the media coverage to begin with.
It is, perhaps, an essential argument to point out whether the media had
observed the highest degree of professionalism in broadcasting the hostage taking, but
is this a strong basis to charge them with
criminal cases? I suppose not. It is extremely
unfair to charge broadcasters of both radio
and television who covered the tragedy,
otherwise, no one would be brave enough
to once again report to the public what is
entitled for them to be aware of because
the media will be threatened that a lawsuit
might, once again, be waiting for them at the
end of their broadcasts and reports, as well
as it could also be implied that the government is denying the public their basic rights
in the field of information and communication.
Talking about professionalism?
Well, it is maybe due to the fact that the
press had broadcasted internationally how
well-untrained our “should-be professionals”
are in handling a crisis such as the Quirino
Grandstand hostage taking, putting the face
of the administration, the police district and
maybe even the entirety of the Philippine
islands to shame and feeling both guilty and
sympathetic to the Chinese republic.
The media should not be held
responsible for these “should-be professionals” incompetencies, negligence and lack
of ethics and discipline in working on their
jobs efficiently, so what’s the real point of
the criminal charges? They have not set
clear guidelines as to the limitation of press
coverage and even if what they’re accusing
the press community is true - that they have
violated some of the norms of the Kapisana
ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), then
shouldn’t it be the KBP sanctioning the
media personalities involved. Now, what they
(the government and the IIRC) are doing is
like shifting guilt to the media, condemning
and criticizing them on how they’ve handled
the case, when all the more they are simply
doing their jobs - providing the public with
information at its best that they deserve and fulfilling the responsibilities designated
in line with their professions.
So I think that the IIRC recommendation of filing lawsuits against the members of the media is a form of suppression of
press freedom and a threat to the industry of
open news and information sharing. Where’s
the democracy fought for by the President’s
mother if he’ll tolerate this open suppression of the freedom of the press and the
right for public information?
Now, as the floodgates of media
oppression and press freedom suppression
swing wide open, the issues of establishing
and creating clear guidelines as to covering
crimes in progress should be given sufficient attention and clarification. No lawsuits
against media men would be possible if
there is a profound boundary that separates
media right to information and responsibility
to inform from breach of justice.
SCHOOL UNifORM
an idea that doesn’t fit
The interest in outfitting public school students in uniforms
is no longer a new concept. And it is a very common spectacle that
at the beginning of every school year, many calls for the abolition of
school uniforms. And it can all be summed up in one word: equality.
The DepEd order no. 45 states that all public elementary
and high school students will no longer be required to wear uniforms, as Education Secretary Jesli Lapus announced before classes
started last June to purportedly save the typical Filipino families
money on clothing expenses... but good thing the people thought
about it twice before convening with the order.
Designer brands, flashy clothes, shorts, mini-skirts, blouses
with plunging neckline and tight-fitting dresses are all a big no-no
for Philippine schools. And it is definitely not right to allow a degree
of informality in school dresses even if it is subjected to certain limits that schools can lay down.
First and foremost, a student’s outfit should reflect respect
for the school as an institution for learning, meaning, students are
not in school to project or to walk in runways. They’re in school to
learn, prepare for their future and face the real world.
Yes, it is indeed true that wearing various garments to
school might promote individuality, creativity and self-expression
but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they should be worn to school.
Students should look and act like responsible youths of the nation
and not like they’re going to party someplace else.
And yes, the DepEd order also states that students with
existing uniforms can still wear them if they so desire, but would
any student of today’s generation want to wear a school-mandated
uniform when others wear fashion-oriented clothes? It is in no way
possible.
Aside from permitting excessive, immodest and provocative clothing, this order would have also allowed students to wear
baggy outfits where they could easily conceal dangerous weapons, if
not to make trouble, then possibly to hurt others. And since students
love to wear fashion up on their sleeves, peer pressure and other
discriminating factor would only trigger them to ask their parents to
buy them sets of clothes every so often. Now, where’s the equality in
that?
If the department and school administrations allowed
the students to go in schools wearing whatever they want to wear,
then the students will be more exposed from unwanted elements
in the society, and would have allowed discrimination and as well
as school-related incidents to occur more. And while they think it is
for every poor Filipino family’s good not to require public education
to have a cost, the more it is fundamentally flawed for the Filipino
youth has their own sense of taste and style when it comes to fashion... which can cost four times more than any uniforms do.
What students wear does matter for it helps them develop
a sense of self-respect and responsibility. And without a mandated
school dress code, students will be wearing whatever they want to
wear with more chances of unruly outsiders coming in and out of the
school without guards or teachers checking out their outfits, giving
them more chances to cause trouble. It’s not like it appeals to the
eyes to see students walk to school in havainnas or look at them
eye-to-shades while wearing DC eyeglasses. It’s not acceptable.
Every school is in spirit of a learning environment, and it’s
better to leave it that way. Therefore, every school is in need of a
mandatory school dress code to help ensure every student’s safety
and protection through identifying who’s who.
hopes for
RH BiLL
One of the raging issues in the country is undying arguments on Reproductive Health Bill and in a time where food security is inadequate, crime rate is soaring and people are continuously suffering. There’s not much thing to do for them but to dream. And the dream for a
Reproductive Health Bill is still hanged up without any possibilities of bringing it into the public.
Penniless, jobless, and underprivileged, that’s what many impoverished Filipino families living in squatters and sluggish homes
are, where 6-9 children are living in a small house where both parents got nothing to do but multiply, more like the rabbits do. They strive
to make it through each day with hopes for sufficient food to put in the mouth of their hungry children. No money and little space lead to
nowhere but coupling. And what does the
government expect? A progressive nation? Or more hungry mouths to feed?
It’s not a joke to call typical Filipinos broke and empty-handed. The state should make a move so as to uphold parenthood and consider promoting responsible, informed birth spacing and respect for life. And ensure job opportunities, education and even life so that they
may be educated and got things a lot of better to do than to reproduce.
Times have definitely changed. Many young Filipino students are multiplying out of curiosity. A simple Biology
project won’t hurt, but not reproduction. Just imagine how many young lives will be destroyed and the fact that it’s not even in the curriculum
— it’s just alarming. But, a solution from the Health Bill could help; Sex Education could really help teach the Filipino youth the process and
importance of life and its consequences. Not out of curiosity or by experiment, but by showing them the aftermath of young parenthood. And
with teenagers involved, many diseases may be infectious and passed such as HIV, AIDS and STD and many maternal deaths shall be recorded
as teenage pregnancy continues to happen, and even more fatalities will be reported.
Another thing, if families continue to expand, the Philippines would blast in a full range in the next 5-10 years. Therefore, the state
should guarantee access to medically sage, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information that hold women and children’s need in priority, especially among the underprivileged sectors.
Hope Reproductive Health Bill is not just a dream. That somehow the government will wake up from their own unscrupulous ends
to realize that the nation is in need of stabilized people. That the people should be given enough knowledge about how to bring life and
keeps it going.
It’s time to give life and motion to the dream that once was just so far away to even hope for.
Be twe e n the
fo ld s
o f a no te b o o k
Beware! What you are actually reading is not a good example. Mimicry is unacceptable, so don’t you
dare do this!
This is more than just mere fabulation but an opus from a fascinated point of perspective.
A painful frown wrinkles all over my face. Ink is dripping, flecking and marking my paper rubbish, but
words... words aren’t written. And flow, I’m clearly wondering why a different color is flowing, smothered in
my piece.
I walk through the campus every now and then, and lessons taught are scribed in my notebook... but not
all. There are many folds in my notebook which are product of lousy times, like now (our teacher did not attend
the class because of a pilfering incident), I open my marginal half-revealed to sketch fantasized illustrations,
write giant- lettered words, but now I decided to put my thoughts into words.
This time is not any different (or maybe I just got used to them). I see aggressive behavior everywhere I
turn. My classmates are signing their facebook addresses and mobile numbers in their wooden seats in search for
regards and text-mates right before my very eyes; when I turned to my left, I imagined how cool it was for the
person beside me to get to have his own ridiculous world, hanging his head like nuts; while the group behind me
is making a commotion as they pass around card — playing cards; good thing I have the great big wall of lucid
stillness beside me (hut just don’t look closely, it too, has its own marks of hooligan blemish).
The bell rang. I stepped out thinking that I could escape the delirious place, but I saw more... I saw war
rage between cliques, students put to test, discriminated and bullied, others croon behind their friend’s back,
some sneaks to shoot booze stored in fruit juice containers, while all the more, they’re forced to be the person
they’re not to be more than “in” —- more cool to hang around with. Then I realized how horrible this place has
become.
Schools should be free of any dangers, hut how come the huge flag of violence is raised, waving right in
the very heart of it? How come we are all left exposed in a world like this?
No more buts, no more excuses, and definitely, no more acts like this are needed. Well, just maybe a
move to get us out of here. Now, if you still find it hard to believe me, just try and look around you. You’ll see
what I mean.
But then again, something colored is smothered on this paper and I don’t think anybody could ever read
or understand this for I already hurt myself. Blood... blood is already painting this piece. I’ve cut through my
wrist and now I know, as my blood oozed, leaked and dripped that just like my ink, blood will ran out and soon,
I’ll finally he able to gaze, flee from this turbulent spot.
This might all probably be far-fetched, my hand is already trembling but before I put a period on this
paradox (and perhaps to my life as well), I shall speak to the world and hope that you all see through my eyes;
that somehow they’re all just points of a dream expressed, conveyed and written between the folds
of a notebook.
Fro m the
na ils o f
Injustic e
No one can forget by merely trying.
The world is so mean to me — having so many human hardships, failure and struggles which in the end
leads me to guilt, anger and damnation.
Since I was a kid, I never even
once complain about my life and all that surrounds it. Never did I
try to blame destiny nor fortune, neither life about the way I feel towards this world that keeps on tormenting
me.
I am used to saying I would rather go down in defeat of a fight instead of cowardly surrendering. That,
even in the face of physical and mental adversity I win in a moral, and, therefore glorious victory...but it seems
that the world is conspiring against me and that no matter what I do, makes me think that I’ll lose in the end,
even without giving me a gallant fight
As everybody could see, I’m the one who suffers most. I am the one who has been — and still being —
deceived and cheated. Not only they took away my rights, but they too, took away almost everything from me.
Though, I, myself have traveled across the centuries, visited many lands, met many faces, and felt their feelings
on the vital issues that confronted — and still confronts — mankind.
It may be a bit odd or peculiar, but I think it would be a lot better if they just thrust a knife into my heart
or shot a gun into my head and get all things done, so I would perish quickly... without pain or suffering nor hurt
in me.
Earth is indeed filled with violence. It appears to me that everything is going down hell and as though,
my life is turning into my worst nightmare and I have no idea what to do next. Because apparently, everywhere I
turn I see fearful sights of my horrible tragedy.
From that day on, I’ve been terrified to look in the mirror, having the doubt and the beastly feeling of
being hated by almost everyone that I knew of. Because, honestly since all these, I became a pariah, my friends
are leaving me and my family pushing me astray. Then all that’s left to me is no one... but myself.
Actually, I thought I could ignore it, keeping myself deftly and un-breakingly away; without any connection to this issue. Convincing myself that I’m no longer human enough to face the fact that I am really and
evenly weak — to let go and go on. After all, all that it ever brought me is a clear and profound discourse that
crushed my intact humanity apart and left my entire dignity destroyed.
I sure do look like a fool, trying to write it all up — the feelings, the anger, the hatred, and much more
the hope to get everything back to normal. I may lack of understanding and am really saddened by this improper
desire of mine, but I can’t help it, it looks like it continues to disturb me with all these protests rising within me.
And I certainly don’t think that I can take it anymore.
Ever since all these happened, I could no longer obtain enlightenment, as that would help me obtain confidence, faith, and hope — even joy — in my daily existence. And it really hurts deep down inside beyond all
saying. I apologize, but I felt as if I no longer hold the presence of my life.
I seem to always ask myself “Could I ever find my way out of the sight of this yesterday that still haunts
me and my tomorrow? Or should I just cry myself to death?” I really don’t want to pity myself but I really feel
terrible that I think I cannot make it to tomorrow.
Every night I cry my eyes out to sleep. And though it is shameful of me to see only my pain and therefore, pay no attention to others’ suffering, I don’t wish others to suffer for me as well as I don’t want to hurt
even more because of them.
Before I go, I just want to say something — being right is so important, so don’t ever refuse to be the
correct one, though sometimes reality itself hurts, just don’t play the victim because it may look like everybody
is working together for you but they’re not. Others just pretend to be considerate — or at least tries to be —
even when they’re not, and you may just end up regretting and hurting yourself.
By the way, the line appears to be busy, but in case that you’re wondering, I am the Victim of Injustice
and Crimes on Earth, others call me VOICE. And since early times until now, I am trying to contact, and am
wondering how could I get in touch with the Justified, Unprejudiced and Sustainability Towards Independent
and Creditable Explanations, which is also known as JUSTICE.
I have so many questions to ask, so if you happen to know where it is please give me a call. It will be
much appreciated.
Ag e ne ra tio n o f Ba s ilio
in a time o f
Riza l
We have long been inflamed by the skirmish battle that the Spaniards first launched within the country.
Coalitions are built and then destroyed. And now, the conflict continues as problems after problems stays and
confronts each and every one of us.
Our noble national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal once said, “A man in the Philippines is only an individual, and he
s not a member of a nation,” this is what GMA-7 host, writer and broadcast journalist Kara David stretched out
during the opening of the 2008 Division Secondary Schools Press Conference last Oct. 15.
The dynamic novel, El Filibusterismo (also known as ‘The Subversive’) helped shape a new nationalist
identity and sparked a reform movement in the Philippines since the last years of the 19th century. As a sequel
from his 1886 novel, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not), Rizal once again introduced the character of Basilio,
son of the lately-gone-insane Sisa and brother of Crispin who both died at the final part of the first book.
Basilio, upon return to the Philippines after taking up a degree on Medicine in abroad, was persuaded by
the jeweler and filibuster Simoun to join the coalition against the power exercised by the Roman Catholic religious orders in the country and demand political rights and equality for the Filipinos (then referred to as Indios).
But when asked, he appears to have lost in his mind the ruthless and brutal acts that the Spaniard did to his
mother and brother, that in some way he responded, “I’m a doctor, it is not my obligation to engage in an alliance. I’ll help and treat the people. I am — and have been — helping my family. I abide by the law and I guess
that is duly enough to call me a good Filipino.”
There are lots of Basilios in our world today; diligent, hard-working, productive, family-loving and
law- abiding citizens of not only the Philippines, but of the world. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with
that. But to a country like the Philippines, which is in need of a lot of changes; where the gap between the rich
and the poor is a long way off, where the people aren’t in stable condition and only a few withholds power. We
shouldn’t be contented with Basilios — we need more than him.
Kara David shared with us what the great historian Renato Constantino, who happens to be her grandfather said, “We need not be a nation of Basilios, we need men with social conscience, who have the limitations
and the obligations to do more than just give opinions. We need a ‘nation of Rizals.”
And as Ms. David speaks for and with compassion, she said that the Philippines is in definite need of citizens who are more than willing to sacrifice, who has sympathy for the suffering nation, who has the courage to
help more than his own family, who has the desire to help his fellowmen, whether his blood-brothers or not. We
need men of compassion. And compassion is more than that. It is more than sympathy. Compassion is more than
pity. It is more than feeling the need to help but is acting to give help. It is more than mercy because you too are
involved, you too are hurt that you are moved to relieve others’ pain, ease their broken hearts and serve to alleviate the burden they carry.
Compassion is when you see a child sleeping on the sidewalk and you feel like the kid is just like your
son or your daughter, or like your brother or your sister or somebody else that you know, then hurt, pain and
struggle strikes you in the heart and you ask yourself ‘how can I change the situation?’ or ‘Is there something I
can do to reduce this kid’s agony?’ And then you act on your words — that is what compassion is all about. And
it is contagious, it is infectious and most of all, it is communicable.
And as communicable as compassion is, you write, you act and you work to spread it, until it is passed around
and until it affects change. Change starts from within (that’s what I’ve learned) and with it goes our love for our
motherland, our country.
There’s a little bit of Rizal in each of our hearts, with courage, with dedication, with love and with compassion
for the country. The only question is, has that little bit of Rizal remain to grow or has it been swollen by Basilio?
It’s not too late...and never will it be, to turn the generation of Basilio into an era of Rizal.
Re mind Me
I am writing this specifically for you. Others may be confused that this is for them, but no. this one’s for you.
Why, you ask? Well, I found time and was reminded of you. It got me thinking, then thoughts became words, and words
became sentences, and here I am writing it all down.
Let me tell you something I hate about memories, it’s that they have the possibility to be forgotten. I’m not sure if
it’s true but we cannot really remember everything, can we? We filter everything we see, hear, feel, smell, touch or taste
whether they’re worth the space in our memory banks or not. And those minute details we’ve chosen to disregard became
mere ghosts of what they used to be... and that’s when we need to be reminded.
With your generosity (and perhaps even sympathy for my memory capacity), I ask that you consider helping me
remember when things get a little bit out of hand. I need you to remind me of these things because just the thought of forgetting alone is already unbearable, what more if it’s already happening?
When I seem to forget, remind me. Also these:
•
•
•
•
•
Whenconfusedwiththepathslifehaslaidin
frontofme, remind me that dreams may be chased,
replaced or erased. That I cannot greedily pursue
impossible goals, all because I can humbly achieve
all things possibly attainable.
Whenhopeless(or maybe even hopeful), remind me
that ALMOST is not as good as the word that comes
after it. That “almost there” is not there yet; “almost
done” not done yet; and “almost better” not close to
really being better. Remind me to aim for the
word next to ‘almost’.
Whengrumpy,annoyedorjust
doesn’tfeellikesmiling, remind
me to be glad that there are people willing to spend portions
of their lives with me. That
they chose to share their
lives with the likes of me.
That I should value their
efforts in reaching out to me
by being thankful that they
never make me feel alone.
Whenbeingnumband
shallow, remind me that people have feelings and reasons
inscrutable to the uninitiated. That
feelings are intangible, so it’s pointless to try and refute them. And reasons
sometimes only make sense and to be of value
only to their owner, no matter how petty they seem
to me.
Wheninundesirablesituations, remind me that
complaints won’t get me far. That speaking, or more
appropriately whining, about matters that make
circumstances less bearable would only instigate
negativity. And negativity only suggests lack of
productivity.
•
•
Whenbeingloudanddificult,remind me that it’s
beneicial (for me, and others as well) to keep my
mouth shut. That silence is most advisable when I
have nothing of signiicance to speak of. And that it’s
unpleasant to say things only to provoke adversary or
create confusion. Remind me to think before I speak.
Whenmistaken, remind me that it’s progress lacking appropriate effort and actions. That there are
corresponding repercussions to the choices I make.
That other people who got things right just understood them earlier than I do. And that they can
be source of inspiration instead of being
an object of envy or self-pity. Remind
me that some lessons are well learned
through mistakes.
• Whenlostwithoutdirections
toacertaindestination,remind
me that there are some people
expecting me to get there, others
following me, and there are these
people who patiently await my
safe return. That no matter where I
end up (whether I chose to be there
though I get lost in the way or chose
to turn back) there will always be
people who will readily welcome me in
or let me back in their lives. That there are
people who accept me just as I am.
Whenconfrontedwithmisunderstandings,
remind me that sometimes I need to engage in
arguments to prove my point. That there’s nothing
wrong with speaking up for my ideas since speaking
and defending them are the only ways to stop them
from being just that – ideas. ‘Cause maybe then,
they could become objectives for something better
than what’s already spoken.Remind me that I have a
voice.
“ALMOST
is not as good
as the word that
comes
ater it.”
•
•
•
•
•
Whenagonized,remind me that I’ve experienced
and now am able to recognize joy because I overcame – and still am overcoming – pain. That despair is just a phase I’m passing through while healing and recovering where I meet people I have the
chance to inspire through my bruises, wounds and
scars. Remind me to be strong amidst sufferings.
Whenconfrontedwithtasksandrealizations,
remind me that I need to do things to actually get
them done instead of just sitting around, dreaming
about doing them. That I cannot dream for the rest
of my life because they’re made real by actions,
dedication and effort. Remind me to give my best to
make them so.
Whenuncertain, remind me that worry is a product of distrust. That I did not work hard for proving that people can trust me only to doubt myself.
Remind me to be reliable.
Whenfeelingsuperior, remind me that I have to
fear to be human. That I have to fear hurting or
losing others. That being fearless does not signify
•
•
•
strength, but rather proves how weak my understanding is that I cannot even put other people’s
feelings into consideration. Remind me to fear being fearless.
Whenbeingstupidanddoingthingsridiculously, remind me that I’m supposed to mend and
maintain, not make them worst. That I can only
dare to ix and enhance, not intentionally break and
destroy.
Whenbeingcareless, remind me that it’ll take me
nowhere but destruction. That I need to be mindful
and careful for there still are people that need and
want me around.
We all are writers of our own stories. Whenwriting, remind me to use the permanence of ink
responsibly and with value in mind. That whatever
words I put together should mean to inspire, motivate or simply make the reader smile. To feel that
I’m extending my presence long after everything’s
written that even my temporary absence cannot
erase.
For all the things I forgot to write, I offer no excuse good enough to qualify as an actual excuse other than
negligence (for ignorance implies some sort of effort to forget something exists). I cannot always remember all sorts of
things, and my mood and feelings can sometimes get the best of me and alter my temperament, but I know I have YOU
to always remind me of the things my memory fails to point out to me. And maybe in turn I can remind you of yours.
Through the heat of
burning coal
There’s something about the heat of burning coal that got me that day.
We may not be totally aware, but somehow we are making differences
even with the littlest of acts we commit. And as I’m writing this piece, there’s this
part of me that is eagerly hoping that what you’re reading will somehow trigger a
change in your thinking. But then again, there’s also this part of me that is living
in reality, knowing that you may just be reading out of intrigue or interest, but
not out of compassion - unwelcoming the idea of the power you have to think and
act for the better, stopping and moving on to the next material that you’re likely
to find.
It was a Saturday, October 20th, together with the FEU Tamaraw
Volunteers and some students from the Institute of Nursing, I’ve brought my sister with me and joined Project PEARLS’ Saturday Feeding Program with probably one of the most prominent thoughts I have when attending volunteering events such as
this - I’ll be able to help make yet again some sort of difference. It may not be colossal so as to tip the cosmic scale or as profound
as to change the lives of these children forever, but still a difference - a much needed, worthy difference. But now I’ve realized I
thought wrong…
Yes, there’s a difference that was made, but not by me or through me, but within me by these very children I primarily
thought I was helping. The visit got me re-evaluating myself as if I was touched by the burning coal of realization at the tip of my
fingers.
I was beginning my interview with the kids. I’ve brought a pencil and a notebook with me that I barely got to use. As it
turned out, I really didn’t need them. Well, that was after they were excitedly taken away from me by little hands from the faces
of little angels trying to get my attention so that they could show me, while practically beaming with pride and joy, how they are
now able to write their names. I know I was smiling as these children take turns giving me their autographs, but at the back of
my mind I was saddened by the fact that they’re boasting about something as basic and simple as just writing their names. And
then I thought, while many people my age are trying to mock the education system, these children hang on to it for their lives
and future depends on it - their one way ticket out of the dark, smoky place that is the slums of Ulingan.
The actual feeding came as a rush. It ended just as soon as it started. No wonder about that, for we have been told that
the kids were already there as early as 6 in the morning. Though still hyper as they were, they’re pretty much waiting for the
food. Some kids were spotted asking for plastic bags where they’d place, probably not their leftovers but, what they thought to
be their family’s share of the meal.
The brain booster activity was to make Halloween masks for their little party the next Saturday. So we made masks,
cut eyes, nose and mouths out of disposable plates. The sheer joy and excitement out of those children were amazing as we’ve
helped in coloring and decorating their masks. So imagine my surprise when I checked and saw that my sister’s been stressing
(or more like panicking) about the mask she’s helping with. The girl she’s helping wanted to add too much detail to their craft.
Then I decided to try and help them for I’ve realized even kids from an impoverished place such as Ulingan have their visions,
and as much as possible they’d want to attain them.
And the metaphor of life just continued to add on. One kid was crying, telling me somebody took her mask (well technically we’ve taken their masks to choose best design). She told me she wanted to keep it placed in her face. And you’d have to
wonder why she wanted that, but then again, maybe she wanted a different identity. A face that could be anywhere but there or
maybe, just a hypothetical over imaginative maybe, she wants to protect her little fragile self from what she has yet to comprehend and hide behind the exterior of an ever smiling, happy face.
Before the program ended, it was like the songs Gangnam Style and Call Me Maybe were in the loop, continuously playing
while the children and some of the volunteers danced to them, all smiling and ever so energized. But a closer look would tell you
a different story, these children who wear boots (some were barefooted) to get here, were still hyper up to the point of dancing
to the nth time maybe because of the food, but then, maybe not. They were so used to working to make coals despite their young
age that dancing could be thought of as a privilege to them – an escape from what their delicate bodies are used to doing.
When we were leaving, some kids cling on to my sister, asking if they could go with her. Hearing such is heartbreaking in a way
for by then you’d know these children would probably do anything to leave the place. Nobody wants to stay there, but then again,
it’s not like they were given choices on the matter.
With just one visit, I knew a lot more than I thought I already did. The lesson took the shape and form of the volunteers
and children of Project PEARLS. They may not be totally aware, but they ve created a significant difference within me.
Coal is an important resource of heat. And now, by sharing the experience, I am somehow hoping there’d be something as beautiful as a budding heat of compassion and difference in you too. Make it bloom; kindle it with your actions.
There’s something about the heat of burning coal that day… it melt my heart into compassion.
Where have all the
Good Manners gone?
The problems of modern life demand certain changes in the form of living (as written in the
introduction of Emily Post’ Etiquette, 1922,p. 4).
Where have all the good manners gone? Courtesy, politeness, etiquette, civility, respect, common sense...good manners - look around you. Can you see them, feel them, or perhaps sense their
presence somewhere? Or are you simply confronted by the devastating truth that the society has
already turned cold and dropped these words from its vocabulary?
Good people. It is possible that they still exists, but they’ve became very rare, extinct up to
the point that you have to dig deep to find them. What used to be etiquette or social grace is
sadly fast disappearing. We have rude receptionists, front office staff, strangers, colleagues, friends,
students and children.(Ling, 2010)
Has it ever came to your attention that we are facing such a huge dilemma when it comes to
the youth - our children - who are undergoing a major breakdown in manners and courtesy because
of even more complicated challenges than previous generations. And then we tend to ask ourselves
why our children have no conscience, why they can’t distinguish the right from wrong, and why it
never seems to bother them to act rude and hurt others.
According to pop culture expert Dr. Mike Brody, our society is now faced with the per-
fect storm -- a lack of civility promoted by all media and an entitled celebrity culture. The psychiatrist believes a culture that highlights reality TV with its rejection and humiliation, promotes
incivility(Richard, 2009).
In his Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1960), John Locke asserted that the human
mind is under the state of tabula rasa at birth, meaning a blank slate... no knowledge, no ideas. It
is only upon birth that we begin to acquire knowledge, and from that time forward, our mind develops, passively obtaining ideas and images, and then processes links between those principles
to develop knowledge. (Rodgers, 2005, Uzgalis, 2007). And that’s what we should hold ourselves
responsible for. We are held accountable to fill these empty slates with the best that we can offer.
Patsy Rowe, an etiquette coach and author once expressed her absolute horror by the lack
of manners shown by some children and points the blame to parents – It’s like having body odor
she said when no one wants to tell you, but everyone avoids you. (Critchley, 2010). Maybe she is
right. It’s either parents don’t know, don’t care or they just don’t have any idea how to correct it.
In a world where we seemed to have been overwhelmed by stupidity, invaded by ridicule,
and where it seems that there’s just no escape, we have to look at ourselves in the mirror and
hate what we see because we know that deep down inside of us there’s something wrong. We
need to set ourselves as examples. We shouldn’t just talk and order our kids to do this or that;
we can’t control them any way we want. And rather than trying to do so, we should ask ourselves can our children learn any good manners without seeing any? What happened to our
well-ordered society where people recognized the difference between polite behavior and sheer
rudeness? Perhaps traditional courtesies are disappearing because we live in an increasingly
frenetic and complex world. If we’re not dashing for that train then we’re stressed out at work;
if we re not fighting our way round the supermarket, then we re late to collect the kids (Bryant,
2008)
Growing up, children do as we do. We need to raise polite children despite these impolite
times. Despite all those tragic scenes that they could have been seeing within the screens of our
television and despite of being surrounded by people who have gone mad, turned flat out rude,
and seems to have lost their sense of sanity. We need to help our children understand varieties
of situations, how these circumstances affect others, and teach them the respectful and considerate thing to do.
The expression Where are your manners? is such a cliché, but it still makes sense. When
we fail to make a better person out of ourselves, we also fail to raise well-mannered individuals.
We should be ashamed of calling ourselves human beings and yet act like not. Yes, it is a father’s
responsibility to make a gentleman out of his son, a mother s to raise a refined lady, but it is our
sole responsibility to educate ourselves how we should act towards and under every circumstance, without letting anybody get punished for our own mistakes.
During the past 30 years, we have witnessed a profound shift in public attitudes, says
former U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett. He refers to polls showing that we Ameri-
cans now place less value on what we owe others as a matter of moral obligation; less value on
sacrifice as a moral good, on social conformity, respectability, and observing the rules; less value
on correctness and restraint in matters of physical pleasure and sexuality—and correlatively
greater value on things like self-expression, individualism, self-realization, and personal choice
(as quoted by Robert Bork in Slouching Towards Gomorrah, 1996, p. 65).
People nowadays became more elusive than ever with their ‘mind your own business’
mode, but we have to let them know that such manners will not be tolerated. That we cannot
simply isolate ourselves in our very own me first attitudes, for we have as great a responsibility
into honing and shaping the future generation into a civilized world. Where people respect one
another and treat others fairly with proper manners and better judgment.
We want to raise well-mannered children, but for many teens, manners are to be disdained. They believe that good manners are not genuine. Many of the same teenagers also feel
that manners require a level of effort they simply would rather not expend (Wolf, 2009).
Libby Tweeddale, a mother, started teaching her children good manners as soon as they
began to learn speaking. She believes that it is never too early to start teaching proper manners
for, the kids that don’t have nice manners are those who push and bully in the playground. And
no one like them (Stewart, 2010).
Courtesy, politeness, etiquette, civility, respect, common sense...good manners - look
around you. They’re still around; we just got to keep on digging – looking within ourselves, so
that when we look at ourselves in the mirror, perhaps we’ll be able to look at the face revealed
with respect. Respect that we have done – and still are doing – something exemplary to affect
change, maybe not for the world, but for the society that will live in it for the future.
The world has obviously evolved, therefore, we cannot apply the same standards that the
previous generation used as basis to compare what we have – and also perhaps what we don’t –
but if we just stop brawling and start treating people in decent ways, and if we conscientiously
practice and set ourselves as examples for our children, then the most probable scenario would
be that good manners would be present everywhere... living and affecting lives.
Good people. They still exist, and it is possible that they’re not extinct, but they’re endangered... and it’s up to us whether we’ll destroy or save their species.
Bibliography:
Post, Emily, “Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage,” 1922, p. 4
Bork, Robert, “Slouching Towards Gomorrah,” 1996, p.65
Critchley, Cheryl. “Rude kids taught a pleasing lesson.” News. Herald Sun [Australia]. 17 February 2010; page 19
Bryant, Jo. “How did we get so rude?”News. The Express. 20 September 2008; page 34
Wolf, Anthony. “Manners aren’t just for phonies; Be persistent in teaching your teen that a little politeness goes a long way in this world. Just do it politley.” Globe Mail
[Canada]. 19 July 2009. Globe Life Column. “Uncivil Liberties: No Please, No Thank You” L3
Richard, Joanne, “WTF: Egotist entitlement behind the rash of rudeness.” Lifestyle. The Toronto Sun. 20 September 2009; page 40
Ling, Koh Soo, “Where are our social graces?” News Straits Times [Malaysia]. 14 March 2010; page 32
Stewart, Frances. “Children never too young to learn manners” News. The Advertisers [Australia], 1 February 2010; page 9
Parker, Wayne, Mind your Manners, <http://fatherhood.about.com/cs/discipline/a/mind_manners.htm>
Hatch, F.W., & Maietta, L. (1991). The role of kinesthesia in pre- and perinatal bonding. Journal of Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology & Health