gryffindorian freak

[UP ALYANSA] SONA-WHAT? The Sorry State of the Nation

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:14:00 +0000

SONA-WHAT

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:20:00 +0000

Since this is a time for reflecting on our past and future allow me to share to you the Commencement Speech of J.K. Rowling, the famous author of the Harry Potter series delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association.

Original post by Christian R. in his Facebook page.

The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination

J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.

President Faust, members of the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers, members of the faculty, proud parents, and, above all, graduates.

The first thing I would like to say is ‘thank you.’ Not only has Harvard given me an extraordinary honour, but the weeks of fear and nausea I have endured at the thought of giving this commencement address have made me lose weight. A win-win situation! Now all I have to do is take deep breaths, squint at the red banners and convince myself that I am at the world’s largest Gryffindor reunion.

Delivering a commencement address is a great responsibility; or so I thought until I cast my mind back to my own graduation. The commencement speaker that day was the distinguished British philosopher Baroness Mary Warnock. Reflecting on her speech has helped me enormously in writing this one, because it turns out that I can’t remember a single word she said. This liberating discovery enables me to proceed without any fear that I might inadvertently influence you to abandon promising careers in business, the law or politics for the giddy delights of becoming a gay wizard.

You see? If all you remember in years to come is the ‘gay wizard’ joke, I’ve come out ahead of Baroness Mary Warnock. Achievable goals: the first step to self improvement.

Actually, I have wracked my mind and heart for what I ought to say to you today. I have asked myself what I wish I had known at my own graduation, and what important lessons I have learned in the 21 years that have expired between that day and this.

I have come up with two answers. On this wonderful day when we are gathered together to celebrate your academic success, I have decided to talk to you about the benefits of failure. And as you stand on the threshold of what is sometimes called ‘real life’, I want to extol the crucial importance of imagination.

These may seem quixotic or paradoxical choices, but please bear with me.

Looking back at the 21-year-old that I was at graduation, is a slightly uncomfortable experience for the 42-year-old that she has become. Half my lifetime ago, I was striking an uneasy balance between the ambition I had for myself, and what those closest to me expected of me.

I was convinced that the only thing I wanted to do, ever, was to write novels. However, my parents, both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college, took the view that my overactive imagination was an amusing personal quirk that would never pay a mortgage, or secure a pension. I know that the irony strikes with the force of a cartoon anvil, now.

So they hoped that I would take a vocational degree; I wanted to study English Literature. A compromise was reached that in retrospect satisfied nobody, and I went up to study Modern Languages. Hardly had my parents’ car rounded the corner at the end of the road than I ditched German and scuttled off down the Classics corridor.

I cannot remember telling my parents that I was studying Classics; they might well have found out for the first time on graduation day. Of all the subjects on this planet, I think they would have been hard put to name one less useful than Greek mythology when it came to securing the keys to an executive bathroom.

I would like to make it clear, in parenthesis, that I do not blame my parents for their point of view. There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you. What is more, I cannot criticise my parents for hoping that I would never experience poverty. They had been poor themselves, and I have since been poor, and I quite agree with them that it is not an ennobling experience. Poverty entails fear, and stress, and sometimes depression; it means a thousand petty humiliations and hardships. Climbing out of poverty by your own efforts, that is indeed something on which to pride yourself, but poverty itself is romanticised only by fools.

What I feared most for myself at your age was not poverty, but failure.

At your age, in spite of a distinct lack of motivation at university, where I had spent far too long in the coffee bar writing stories, and far too little time at lectures, I had a knack for passing examinations, and that, for years, had been the measure of success in my life and that of my peers.

I am not dull enough to suppose that because you are young, gifted and well-educated, you have never known hardship or heartbreak. Talent and intelligence never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the Fates, and I do not for a moment suppose that everyone here has enjoyed an existence of unruffled privilege and contentment.

However, the fact that you are graduating from Harvard suggests that you are not very well-acquainted with failure. You might be driven by a fear of failure quite as much as a desire for success. Indeed, your conception of failure might not be too far from the average person’s idea of success, so high have you already flown.

Ultimately, we all have to decide for ourselves what constitutes failure, but the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it. So I think it fair to say that by any conventional measure, a mere seven years after my graduation day, I had failed on an epic scale. An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless. The fears that my parents had had for me, and that I had had for myself, had both come to pass, and by every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew.

Now, I am not going to stand here and tell you that failure is fun. That period of my life was a dark one, and I had no idea that there was going to be what the press has since represented as a kind of fairy tale resolution. I had no idea then how far the tunnel extended, and for a long time, any light at the end of it was a hope rather than a reality.

So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged. I was set free, because my greatest fear had been realised, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.

You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.

Failure gave me an inner security that I had never attained by passing examinations. Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I had suspected; I also found out that I had friends whose value was truly above the price of rubies.

The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it is painfully won, and it has been worth more than any qualification I ever earned.

So given a Time Turner, I would tell my 21-year-old self that personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a check-list of acquisition or achievement. Your qualifications, your CV, are not your life, though you will meet many people of my age and older who confuse the two. Life is difficult, and complicated, and beyond anyone’s total control, and the humility to know that will enable you to survive its vicissitudes.

Now you might think that I chose my second theme, the importance of imagination, because of the part it played in rebuilding my life, but that is not wholly so. Though I personally will defend the value of bedtime stories to my last gasp, I have learned to value imagination in a much broader sense. Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathise with humans whose experiences we have never shared.

One of the greatest formative experiences of my life preceded Harry Potter, though it informed much of what I subsequently wrote in those books. This revelation came in the form of one of my earliest day jobs. Though I was sloping off to write stories during my lunch hours, I paid the rent in my early 20s by working at the African research department at Amnesty International’s headquarters in London.

There in my little office I read hastily scribbled letters smuggled out of totalitarian regimes by men and women who were risking imprisonment to inform the outside world of what was happening to them. I saw photographs of those who had disappeared without trace, sent to Amnesty by their desperate families and friends. I read the testimony of torture victims and saw pictures of their injuries. I opened handwritten, eye-witness accounts of summary trials and executions, of kidnappings and rapes.

Many of my co-workers were ex-political prisoners, people who had been displaced from their homes, or fled into exile, because they had the temerity to speak against their governments. Visitors to our offices included those who had come to give information, or to try and find out what had happened to those they had left behind.

I shall never forget the African torture victim, a young man no older than I was at the time, who had become mentally ill after all he had endured in his homeland. He trembled uncontrollably as he spoke into a video camera about the brutality inflicted upon him. He was a foot taller than I was, and seemed as fragile as a child. I was given the job of escorting him back to the Underground Station afterwards, and this man whose life had been shattered by cruelty took my hand with exquisite courtesy, and wished me future happiness.

And as long as I live I shall remember walking along an empty corridor and suddenly hearing, from behind a closed door, a scream of pain and horror such as I have never heard since. The door opened, and the researcher poked out her head and told me to run and make a hot drink for the young man sitting with her. She had just had to give him the news that in retaliation for his own outspokenness against his country’s regime, his mother had been seized and executed.

Every day of my working week in my early 20s I was reminded how incredibly fortunate I was, to live in a country with a democratically elected government, where legal representation and a public trial were the rights of everyone.

Every day, I saw more evidence about the evils humankind will inflict on their fellow humans, to gain or maintain power. I began to have nightmares, literal nightmares, about some of the things I saw, heard, and read.

And yet I also learned more about human goodness at Amnesty International than I had ever known before.

Amnesty mobilises thousands of people who have never been tortured or imprisoned for their beliefs to act on behalf of those who have. The power of human empathy, leading to collective action, saves lives, and frees prisoners. Ordinary people, whose personal well-being and security are assured, join together in huge numbers to save people they do not know, and will never meet. My small participation in that process was one of the most humbling and inspiring experiences of my life.

Unlike any other creature on this planet, humans can learn and understand, without having experienced. They can think themselves into other people’s places.

Of course, this is a power, like my brand of fictional magic, that is morally neutral. One might use such an ability to manipulate, or control, just as much as to understand or sympathise.

And many prefer not to exercise their imaginations at all. They choose to remain comfortably within the bounds of their own experience, never troubling to wonder how it would feel to have been born other than they are. They can refuse to hear screams or to peer inside cages; they can close their minds and hearts to any suffering that does not touch them personally; they can refuse to know.

I might be tempted to envy people who can live that way, except that I do not think they have any fewer nightmares than I do. Choosing to live in narrow spaces leads to a form of mental agoraphobia, and that brings its own terrors. I think the wilfully unimaginative see more monsters. They are often more afraid.

What is more, those who choose not to empathise enable real monsters. For without ever committing an act of outright evil ourselves, we collude with it, through our own apathy.

One of the many things I learned at the end of that Classics corridor down which I ventured at the age of 18, in search of something I could not then define, was this, written by the Greek author Plutarch: What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.

That is an astonishing statement and yet proven a thousand times every day of our lives. It expresses, in part, our inescapable connection with the outside world, the fact that we touch other people’s lives simply by existing.

But how much more are you, Harvard graduates of 2008, likely to touch other people’s lives? Your intelligence, your capacity for hard work, the education you have earned and received, give you unique status, and unique responsibilities. Even your nationality sets you apart. The great majority of you belong to the world’s only remaining superpower. The way you vote, the way you live, the way you protest, the pressure you bring to bear on your government, has an impact way beyond your borders. That is your privilege, and your burden.

If you choose to use your status and influence to raise your voice on behalf of those who have no voice; if you choose to identify not only with the powerful, but with the powerless; if you retain the ability to imagine yourself into the lives of those who do not have your advantages, then it will not only be your proud families who celebrate your existence, but thousands and millions of people whose reality you have helped change. We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.

I am nearly finished. I have one last hope for you, which is something that I already had at 21. The friends with whom I sat on graduation day have been my friends for life. They are my children’s godparents, the people to whom I’ve been able to turn in times of trouble, people who have been kind enough not to sue me when I took their names for Death Eaters. At our graduation we were bound by enormous affection, by our shared experience of a time that could never come again, and, of course, by the knowledge that we held certain photographic evidence that would be exceptionally valuable if any of us ran for Prime Minister.

So today, I wish you nothing better than similar friendships. And tomorrow, I hope that even if you remember not a single word of mine, you remember those of Seneca, another of those old Romans I met when I fled down the Classics corridor, in retreat from career ladders, in search of ancient wisdom:
As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.
I wish you all very good lives.

Thank you very much.

Vote Earth for Earth Hour 2009

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:48:00 +0000

This year, the world's first global election is taking place, an election between earth and global warming. It's not about what country you are from, but what planet you are from. Your light switch is your vote. We need one billion votes for earth, because our planet is worth saving.

Vote Earth by simply switching off your lights for one hour and join the world for Earth Hour. Saturday, March 28th, 8:30-9:30pm.

Official Earth Hour 2009 video. Earth Hour is on March 28th, 2009 at 8:30pm. More at http://www.earthhour.org

Support Earth Hour by making your own video and adding it to our Earth Hour Global group here:http://www.youtube.com/group/earthhourglobal

Earth Hour images can be downloaded and shared from our flickr photostream, including Shepard Fairey Vote Earth artwork: http://www.flickr.com/photos/earthhour_global

Bill O'Reilly Flips Out

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:34:00 +0000

My advance apologies for the profane words, but the videos are both shocking and funny. Featuring, Fox News Bill O'Rielly flipping out on live national television in his old show on CBS, the Inside Edition. The first video is the actual video with O'Reilly shouting at his TV crew because he can't read or understand what the teleprompter is flashing (ohh.. a PGMA flashback coming, hehehe...). The next video is the remix version of the video. Again, apologies for the profane words. Enjoy.

The other side of the coin.

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:38:00 +0000

From Rob Ty's Blog, I'm reposting this because I agree with the Senator's sentiments.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan's words, not mine. But I completely agree with him.

Let's one thing straight: We are not the victims here. She is.

We've never been raped. Never been exposed to an overblown media circus.
Never been agitated in court. Never been harassed by reporters, lawyers and embassy men.

So when someone like Korina Sanchez announces on her AM radio station that Nicole is a disgrace to Filipino women everywhere (translated from tagalog), you can't help but shudder.

So this is justice, this is hate.

It's no wonder she left the country.

We are not the victims here. Yet, we are the ones who cannot forgive.
Here we are, sitting in our armchairs, waving our nation's flags, our gender's hopes, our nurtured concepts of justice.

But the thing is, we did nothing.

We let people like Raul Gonzalez change the prosecutors of the case.
We let people like NSA Norberto Gonzales change custody of Smith in the dead of the night.
We let the US embassy exert pressure on Nicole by withdrawing her US VISA.
We allowed countless women like Nicole to be gobbled up by the system, by the politics.

So who are we to judge?
Who are we to cast the first stone?

Truth be told, we've already used her up.

We got the conviction - which allowed us to question the VFA in the Supreme Court.

We got the Supreme Court decision.
What more do we want?

Maybe just more blood, sweat and tears.

what can we do?

Right now, if you really care for Nicole, you will support the drafting of a disbarment complaint against Daniel Smith's lawyer.

Why?

At the time of the affidavit (March 12), Evalyn Ursua was still Nicole's lawyer. She was only fired last Monday (March 16).
Smith's lawyer violated a cardinal rule of legal ethics by talking to Nicole behind her lawyer's back.

Why is this unethical? The legal reason is that it undermines a fellow attorney's ability to handle her client's case. It's a form of disrespect for a colleague. The practical reason is to prevent people from being tricked since the best defense against the opposing lawyer, is your own lawyer.

In the case of Camacho v. Pangulayan, a UP law professor accused some lawyers of directly negotiating with his clients in order to obtain an amicable settlement.

In effect, they ignored him even though he was the counsel on record.
The Court agreed with the professor and said that the failure to inform opposing counsel is an inexcusable violation of the canons of professional ethics and in utter disregard of a duty owing to a colleague.
The erring lawyer was suspended from the practice of law for three months.

Fast forward to the present:
Smith's lawyer prepares a statement, has a junior associate (who, by the way, is a UP law graduate) notarize the document, and then asks Nicole to sign it as a condition for the release of her VISA and 100,000 pesos.
All this WITHOUT EVER consulting her counsel on record.

If Nicole had a lawyer, she might still have signed the affidavit. But it would have never looked this bad.

Take a look at paragraphs 6-10, which incorporate all the arguments the defense raised during trial.

ALL OF THEM.
And then take a look at the last sentence of the affidavit:
"I would rather risk public outrage than do nothing to help the court in ensuring that justice is served."

The sentence brings a whole new low to the legal profession. I admit I am ashamed of what we have become.

Nicole left everything behind so she could start anew, and I don't blame her.

Not one bit.

Watch the UP Premier of LUPANG HINARANG :)

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:21:00 +0000

Lupang Hinarang is a film in two parts about a fierce and deadly battle raging between farmers and landowners in the continuing saga of agrarian reform in the Philippines. The documentary opens with the tribal Sumilao farmers, Ka Rene, Linda and Bajekjek, who, inspired by Gandhi’s protest march, journey on foot for two months from their mountain village in Bukidnon to the presidential palace in Manila.

It is a gruelling 1,700 kilometer journey through scorching heat, rains, fatigue, and great uncertainty. After weeks of walking, the farmers reach Manila, rally at the corporate offices of San Miguel, confront the agrarian reform secretary and grapple with anti-riot police before finally meeting the President.

The second part tells the story of the sugarcane workers from Negros. When the landowner’s armed guards kill one of the farmers in 2007, Chay Lindy, Chay Gamay, and Chay Biray go on a harrowing 29-day hunger strike with other farmers on the steps of the agrarian reform office in Manila. The hunger strike results in victory for the farmers until the film ends in a shocking climax.

Lupang Hinarang is a timely documentary set against ongoing debates in Congress to extend and reform CARP (CARPer) or to kill it.

WATCH!
LUPANG HINARANG

When: March 12 (Thursday), 2009; 12nn - 2pm

Where: Malcolm Theater, UP College of Law Meet the farmers and the filmmaker in the open forum which will be held after the screening.
Text 09175345373 for ticket inquiries. Limited seating available so please come early. A minimum donation of P100 will be greatly appreciated.

Brought to you by the UP Law Student Government.

A Desperate Call!

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 05:06:00 +0000

CLIO! My Muse, help me!

I can't even start with my papers and worst I wasting my time doing nothing, so I have been reading about the Greek muses, and in the past writers/ poets/ lyricist were invoking them to give them inspiration.

I need it now! Clio please.

maraming salamat!

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Sun, 18 May 2008 09:06:00 +0000

Maraming salamat sa lahat ng naglaan ng kanlang oras, load at small speeches para batiin ako sa aking kaarawan kahapon. Sorry talaga kung hindi ako makapag-reply, pero ito na ang blog entry para sa inyo.

I'm looking forward for another great year with you guys. Hope I would enjoy my last year (hopefully) as an undergrad student. Medyo magulo pa ang mga plans for this year pero with God's help, I hope I could make it through this year. Again, maraming salamat!

p.s. sa mga gustong magpa-burger, tignan pa natin ha? :)

Ayan, para may acknowledgment sa lahat ng bumati narito silang lahat:
Sa text:

Kuya Floyd - siya ang early bird, unang-unang bumati, May 16 pa lang.
Lablab... sobrang enjoy ang every moment with you, Good luck sa LAW!
Carla-lu - kahit binibiro kita pa lagi, alam mo naman.... Labshu!
AJ Zara-te! - Unang-unang council mate na bumati, galingan sa pagmarket para sa mga freshies!!!
Abby - Salamat, dear Fin Com head :)
Buddy Carmelle - sana magkita tayong muli, Good luck sa life! :)
Marielle - our CSSPSC website developer, galingan mo sa Sally Salon ha?!, good luck sa website natin
GT - si vice! - oi, nabalitaan ko na na-dengue ka, migosh, magpagaling ka ha?! text text lang sa mga bilin para sa photoshoot, sa freshie welcome activities - i bet naghanap ka ng hospital na may wi-fi makapag-net ka lang hehehe... Advance HAPPY BIRTHDAY, last year's buddy sa buklod slate!
Mario - ano na?! galingan sa eduk at sana ma-balanse na ang acads at council life... good luck sa atin
Laya - ang Likasyan/ Anthro major/ UAAP player, galingan sa life. Miss you na.
Jez aka Alena - galingan mo sa Buklod ha?! :) Lagi lang kami nandidito :)
Dondon! - Belated Happy Birthday!, galingan mo sa PMS - Presidential Management Staff, sabi ko na pro-Gloria ka. Hahaha...
Meann - BUDDY!!! Salamat, galingan natin sa Pub/ SPT/ Council. Sorry kung medyo demanding ako, pero hayaan nyo magiging maganda ang end product ng mga gusto nating mangyari para sa CSSP
Grai - Ate Grai!!! Kahit nasa Ateneo Law ka na hindi mo pa rin ako nakakalimutan, amazing ka talaga!
Kat Taba aka Katganda! - Maraming salamat sa pagbati, para kang si Angeli, I always look forward sa pagkikita natin sa UP, it's always a blast with you!
Aiken - Salamat sa pagbati, sana hindi mo akong i-judge palagi. Hehe...
Halee - My Favorite Dept.Rep., galingan mo lang, wag kang mag-alala your doing great! :D
Angeli ulit... Quote naman, ang sweet mo talaga :)
Angeli ulit... Kulit mo talaga, pero nakakatawa yung text mo
Kuya Third - hehehe... naks USC Chair binati ako. Hehehe... salamat Kuya Third, idol kita!
Jorell - magparamdam daw ako, hehehe... :) classmate from Don Bosco!
Lester - salamat friend, for more sharing ha this year, naawliw talaga ako kapag kasama kita, at alam mo ba na ikaw ang standard ng aking pagka-pub head, naks!!!
Elans Phototudio - yikeee, nagpapaka-good shoot sila. :)
McDo! - ang ka-lokohan ko sa opis, salamat pala sa pagtulong sa LIKAS noong graduation, you rock!!!
Mark - naku, although yung last time tayong magkasama eh nadukutan ka, at least quits na tayo... hehehehe...
Kris - ang Socio dept. rep. at member ng Pub na super sipag, sobrang enjoy ka sa council office, Sana sobrang mag-next level pa tayo as a council, galingan mo! :)
Kuya Mike Lo! - my favorite Alyansa Chair, ever! :) Salamat sa lahat ng tulong sa amin sa CSSP SC, sa Buklod, at sa lahat... Galingan mo sa UPLB - ma-miss ka namin dito sa Diliman. :)
Kat V. - ang Pol Sci Dept Rep that breaks all stereotypes... Sobrang galing! Salamat sa B-day greeting! :)
Joseph - naks, USC Councilor naman. :), salamat Joseph, galingan sa Vinzons UPgrade. :)
Stephen - ang labo naman... hehehe... Salamat sa pagbati.
Mickey - ang friend ko mula sa APSM/ Pol Sci/ Buklod... salamat sa greeting! :)
Anna A - my favorite college rep. :) hehehe... salamat sa pagbati. :)
Nikka - my chair! :) good luck sa Ateneo Med... sana matuloy ang driving lessons natin... kailan kaya?! :P
Harmond - my best friend in college. hehehe... we've been through hell and back. hahaha... :)
Alvin - ang isa sa pinakamahusay na tao na nakilala ko... Advance Happy Birthday sa'yo Bro! Enjoy your Miriam stint :)
Kuya Adonis - hehehe... promis, magwhammy-whammy ako para lang sa'yo salamat sa greeting! :)
Winkle - salamat sa pagbati, kahit belated pero appreciate ko parin kasi smart ka. : hehehe...
09266809827 - sorry wala ka so phone book ko... hehehe.. sana makilala kita para makapagpasalamat ako sa'yo :)

Sa friendster/ multiply/ facebook:

Keith - salamat sa pagbati sa friendster at multiply :)
Daven P. aka Davenizer (ala Terminator lang) - naks, hanggang eng'g oh! :) salamat!
Ate Kat ulit :) - naks, mabati lang ako across all platforms :) hehehe...
Kuya Mark - salamat kuya mark, promis pumayat ka na! Galing ha?! :)
Sherry - USC Councilor, what can I say?! - sa pa-burger - see above ;)
Judith - mula sa IHMC, ang una kong school. salamat sa pagbati! :) see you soon. :)
Kaye :) - mula sa IHMC ulit, :) sana magkita tayo muli. :D

Again, maraming salamat sa pagbati. See you all soon. :D

Containing the C-RICE-sis

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:11:00 +0000

For the past weeks, we have seen the dramatic surge in the prices of local commodities, particularly that of rice, our country’s staple food. The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics recently stated that the price of Well Milled Rice (WMR) has rapidly increased from last week’s 30.64/kg to its current price of 32.18/kg. Furthermore, last year’s original price amounts to only 24.14/kg, hence indicating a sudden increase of 35.68% within the year. These numbers have translated into increased alarm and distress among the people, particularly among those who live with meager salaries and limited access to resources. Manifestation of such has been observed from private groups who dazedly hoard stocks for their own benefit, to families who continually crowd markets, in hope of availing cheap NFA rice. These, along with other imminent setbacks from the agricultural sector point that indeed, a problem exists – a point of conflict, which, if not given necessary attention, may lead to further political turmoil and deep social unrest.

The problem, although wide in scope, may principally be rooted in the ineffectiveness of our local institutions to carry out correspondingly viable solutions. While we acknowledge the far-reaching adverse effects of some global phenomena such as climate change and increased consumption, we must also highlight the problems of our local agricultural sector. The inadequacy of irrigation systems, the lack of commercialized rice seedlings and the alarming decrease in the number of fertile lands continue to persist. Moreover, the government’s inability to strengthen the NFA results to the perpetuating collusion of private companies, who monopolize the rice industry. These problems remain unaddressed mainly because of the fact that the agricultural sector, up to now, receives insufficient budget from the government.

We, the CSSP Student Council 2008-2009, believe that measures should have been taken to lessen the grave impacts we are suffering as a consequence of this rice shortage. On the local level, agricultural policies should have been implemented properly not only to sustain our domestic needs for food but more so to ensure the welfare of our farmers. Consequently, we call not only for a comprehensive agrarian reform program but ultimately, for a genuine agrarian reform law – one that will best serve the interests of the farmers rather than that of the landlords, who for years, have resorted to desperate ways to maintain hold on their properties. Also, government agencies must be sufficiently empowered in order for them to actually carry out their respective functions. Globally, we urge the government to review and evaluate existing trade agreements, along with the country’s current status with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. National interest must be the core consideration of our legislators, not the selfish motives and interests of the few.

The problem is not simply about having less food to eat, nor is it just about lacking a basic commodity; the problem is about how this issue has pervaded through the social, cultural and economic spheres of our society. As students of a college that prides itself in its long tradition of critical thinking and active involvement, we ought to take the crucial first steps towards awareness and participation. From the simplest deed of finishing our food, to the act of calling for a more responsible government, we can respond to the issue. By simply recognizing our roles as scholars for the country, we can make a difference.

1 Bureau of Agricultural Statistics <http://www.bas.gov.ph/ amsad_price1.php>

Note: For further reading on the issue, please visit
http://csspsc-educ0809.livejournal.com.

Our Sincerest Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:25:00 +0000

Gratitude is an understatement. We in Buklod CSSP are more than grateful for the overwhelming support you have given us. We do not only take this victory as a sign of your belief in the promise of the Centennial Council, but we also take it as a renewal of your belief in the formation's vision for the college - a vision we have shared for 16 years and that has constantly been evolving to adapt to both the constant and changing needs of the times.

We continue to be firm in this year's vision of a more participative studentry: a livelier college with students caring for each other and sharing experiences together. We will continue, not to hold the position, but to do the act of leadership. Such includes leading with you - making and enacting activities with you, involving you in various issues and making services responsive to you - consistent and in line with our vision: Kabahagi KAPP! We will continue to formulate and execute this balanced plan of campaigns, activities and services as all of them are important for the college.

The campaign is no different from the actual service in Council. If anything, what is manifested then bespeaks the formations involved. Our readiness and wholeness in the campaign demonstrate the same of our conviction, of our commitment to serve.

Integrity. We know what it means to lead. We have shown that integrity that leadership demands throughout the campaign. And now that you deem us worthy, we will go on. We will continue to lead with integrity this coming year.

And this is only the beginning of our expression of gratitude. We have the entire centennial school year to show our sincerest thanks.

We will continue to lead. Completely, with integrity.With you and for you.

BUKLOD CSSP in the CSSP Student Council 08-09

this time i'll be ready

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 08:30:00 +0000

pasukan nanaman. panahon nanaman ng mga exams, quizzes, papers, puyatan, bonding moments, etc. etc. ito yung walang katapusang stress pero walang katapusang pagkilala sa sarili at sa sariling potensyal (ala 'realize yer potential' lang).

technically di pa ako enrolled sa UP pero super excited na ako sa semestreng ito. bakit ko naman nasabing excited? narito ang run-down na aking semestre: although i didn't get my planned subjects for this sem (p.i. 100 at 2ng mst) 18 units pa rin ako: 9 units ng kasaysayan courses namely kas 199.2 (historiography), kas 100 (intro to world history) at kas 115 (diplomatic history of the philippines) at 9 units ng geography courses: geog 133 (geog of the tropics), geog 171 (political geog) at geog 151 (geog of europe). academically super busy na ako pero there's more. yes! dahil aside from my academic endeavors this semester, nakalatag na aking mga aktibidades pang-extra curricular tulad ng cssp student council, up likas, buklod cssp, at super marami pang iba.

siguro, unlike noong last semester, mas alam ko na ang mga haharapin ko ngayon. hindi magbabago ang mga gawain (malamang magiging mas challenging pa). mas marami pang problema pero mas maraming opportunity na maging mas mahusay at patunayan ang sarili sa lahat. (naks!) in short, this time i'll be ready.

what can i say? sabi ng isang koreanang artista... 'aja' na for this semester! go me!

at sa babasa ng blog na ito, alam kong may mga hamon ka rin sa buhay mo, kaya naman i say to you... aja!

happy second semester!

indiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:31:00 +0000

Coming Soon
2008

seperate but equal, friendly friends (baldeas, 2007)

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 10:19:00 +0000

dumaan na at natapos na GASC sa UP Los Banos at mahirap pa rin makalimutan ang mga nangyari sa taunang gawaing iyon. masasabi na birhen (virgin, first-timer, naive, alang malay, etc.) sa GASC. kahit na nakapanuod na ako ng mga balitak-takang kapareho ng GASC sa telebisyon, iba pa rin ang pakiramdam kapag napapanuod at nakikilahok ka sa live na live na debate at tagisan ng kuro-kuro, facts, life stories ng mga tagapagsalita, at madami pa iba at the side. first time ko nakakita at makilahok ang isang pormal na parliamentary debate (nagsalita ako para sa boto ng aming konseho) at nakilala si kuya "Robert" o robert's rules of order, ang 'bibliya' ng mga nakikipag-debate at sandigan ng kaayusan sa isang parliyamentaryo o plenaryo. higit sa lahat, sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon natutunan kong maging matatag at maging masaya sa pagkatalo. alam ko na kahit natalo kami sa mayorya, panatag kong masasabi na lumaban kami para sa reporma at pagbabago.

higit pa sa mga debate sa loob ng plenaryo ng GASC, nakabuo ako at ng konseho ng mga koneksyon... pagkakaibigan sa iba pang mga konseho sa buong UP ang tinaguriang 'friendly friends' (herrera, 2007). naniniwala ako na kahit ang mga konsehong bumoto laban o nag-abstain sa aming mga mungkahi ay mga kaibigan na natin sa paglilingkod sa mga mag-aaral at sa bayan. i hope that more than the GASC and the politics behind it, councils are bonded in the common goal of promoting students' rights and welfare.

pero kailangan nating ibalik ang pagtuon natin sa GASC at ang mga prinsipyo nito, ang pagbutihin ang pagpili sa rehente ng mga mag-aaral, ilatag at ipakilala sa mag-aaral ang prosesong ito, maging pantay ang pagtingin sa lahat ng mga konseho sa buong UP, at ipagtibay ang isang rehenteng tunay na titingalain ng mga mag-aaral. kaya naman, ipagpapatuloy ng aking konseho at ang mga susunod ng konseho ng CSSP ang pakikipaglaban sa isang tanggapan ng rehente ng mga mag-aaral na epektibo, episyente, at demokratiko.

again, i must manifest that CSSP rock the GASC!

for more planning and adventures 2007!

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 06:19:00 +0000

in sharp contrast sa aking buhay, nagkaroon ng mga semplanning ang cssp student council (CSSP SC)at ang mga komiteng kinabibilangan ko roon, namely pubcom at sec. for 4 straight days (minus sunday) ay nagkasunod-sunod ang mga meeting at planning ng konseho at mga komiteng ito. oktobre 19, ginanap ang planning ng pareho kong komite, ang sec sa umaga (8n.u hanggang 4n.h.) sa cssp sc office at ang pubcom nung gabi naman sa the legend villa sa pioneer, mandaluyong.

although seryoso dapat yung planning naging super saya at naging oras ito para sa mas maraming bonding with fellow councilmates. dahil sa maraming mga gawain sa bahay late na akong dumating sa planning ng sec pero syempre i make it a point na bumawi ako at maging participative sa planning. after ng sec ay diretso na ang mga pipol patungong the legend villa at sinimulan ang planning ng pubcom.

ngayon ko lang na-realize ang pagpunta sa pioneer mula peyups ay isang malaking adventure. dahil sa mga nangyari sa makati ng araw na iyon ay iniwasan ko at ng aking kasama noon na si missy g. (the sexy-gen ng aming konseho) na sumakay ng any public transport (MRT, bus et.al.) at dahil sa rush hour ng mga panahon na iyon nahirapan kaming maghanap ng masasakyang taxi... sa wakas ay nakahanap na kami ng taxi sa may shaw blvd. at tumungo na sa legend villa.

pangalawang beses pa lang akong tumira sa isang hotel/ villa/ residences at ang legend villa ang pinakamaganda at enjoy sa lahat. maliban sa air-con ang aming two-storey apartment type na kwarto mayroong wi-fi, 6 na beds, 2ng bathroom na may hot & cold shower at 'bidet' (not sure kung ano pero may idea na ako kung ano function nun... hihihi...) kitchen, at ang icing-ng-cake sa aming stay... card-access ang aming pinto! di ba ang saya?! matapos ang aming planning sa pub with butchy, det, me and lester na tumagal ng mga 2ng oras (because we're efficient and cool) ay nagbonding na lang kami with other councilmates habang nanonood ng PBB at habang nagpapamasahe si harmond. matapos noon ay nag-midnight snack kami at natulog at sabik na sabik na inabangan ang libreng agahan.

ang libreng agahan c/o ng legend villa ang pinakamasaganang aghahan ever, with unlimited rice, ulam, toast bread, juice, butter, etc. in short kumain kami hanggang mabusog. matapos ang agahan at pahinga ay nagtungo kami sa swimming pool upang sulitin naman ang hotel. normal naman ang swimming pool ng legend villa maliban sa isang feature... may alon! (joke!) may JACUZZI! hindi yung jacuzzi ng likas bro (wink!) pero ang jacuzzing may mainit-init na tubig, at bath soap bubbles. sobrang relaxing ang tubig at bula habang nage-enjoy sa magandang kwentuhan. haay... i wish na may slow-mo ang buhay ala click! para tumagal ang moment na iyon. pero all good things must come to an end. may check-out time kami ng 2pm kaya naman after ng isang quick lunch ay linisan na namin ang the legend villas.

maraming salamat, lester p., ang aming mahusay na pubcom head sa magandang accomodations na hinanda mo para sa pubcom. tayo na siguro ang may pinakamaganda at pinakamasayang planning sa lahat.

mahaba haba pa ang kwentuhan pero may gagawin pa ako... abangan na lang ang mga kwento ko sa second sem planning ng cssp-sc sa tagaytay!

it's all coming back

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:42:00 +0000

waaa... i must say.

nag-tsek ako ng e-mail kanina and guess what?! yung subject na malamang ibagsak ko ngayon sem ay nagskedyul ng final exam kaninang alas-4 ng hapon. akala ko naman... waaa... bad trip talaga, bakit ganoon ang twists ng mga bagay? habang nakikita ko ang mga kapwa mag-aaral kong subsob sa paghahabol ng mga requirements ito namang akong si gago, parang wala lang. haayy... bawi, bawi na lang... sana hindi matuloy ang worst-case scenario ko na bumagsak sa subject na iyon (don't ask, insulting lang kapag nalaman niyo), siguro i-email ko na lang yung prof., at tanungin kung bakit in-anunsyo ang isang alas-4ng exam ng alas-8 ng umaga sa pareho araw.

sige na nga... balik na muli sa pag-aaral, baka may ma-salvage pa ako sa semestreng ito, bukas ay mage-exam kami tungkol sa historiograpiya (3rd exam, at final exam na ata), ie-exam namin sina spengler, toynbee, annales school, post-modern historiography (nosebleed ito, promise!) at postcolonial a.k.a. subaltern school. good luck talaga.

after the hellish exams... sem-ender na... kaya naman, pulilan, bulakan nandito na kami! yahoo!!!

bakit nga ako nag-blog kung may exam ako bukas? ewan.

something must've happened.

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 10:10:00 +0000

matagal tagal na rin ako di nakakapag-post dito... nakakamiss din pero maraming ginagawa sa buhay. ano bang dapat sabihin? sa loob ng ilang buwan, ano bang ang masasabing highlight ng nakaraang mga buwan? matatapos na muli ang isa pang semestre. isang exam na lang ako (yung 199), at technically bakasyon na ako academically, extra-curricular wise, hay naku, hindi matapos tapos. at sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, kinakabahan ako sa mga grades ko. pakiramdam ko marami akong gustong i-prioritize (acads, pamilya, likas, council, etc.) pero sa huli mediocre lang pala ang kung tutuusin ang mga pinaggagawa ko. maraming nakaambang mga gawain sa susunod na semestre at gusto ko na lang magtago... pindutin ang 'pause' ng remote control ng buhay ko.

sige, kailan na muli bumalik sa totoong buhay... maglilinis muna ako ng bahay. madumi na dahil wala ng tumatao. siguro maya-maya balik na muli sa pag-aaral, aayusin ang mga priorities sa buhay, mag-iisip kung anong mga plano sa buhay... pero bago ang lahat... ano kaya mas magandang panoorin? superman returns o pirates of the carribean: the dead man's chest? so many choices, so little time.

USC statement on the death of Cris Mendez: Hustisya para kay Cris

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:36:00 +0000

HUSTISYA PARA KAY CRIS!

Ang buong Konseho ng Mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas-Diliman ay nagluluksa sa pagkamatay ng aming kasamahang si Cris Anthony Mendez, Kinatawan ng Pambansang Dalubhasaan ng Pamahalaang Pambayan.

Ang pagkamatay ng isang mahusay na lider tulad ni Cris ay hindi inaasahan. Lalo pa at isa itong manipestasyon ng walang kabuluhang karahasang patuloy na dumadaloy sa sistema ng Unibersidad.

Ang pagbuwis ng buhay ng aming kasama ay magsilbi sanang tuldok sa baluktot na patakaran at halang na karahasan sa loob ng Unibersidad.

Hindi hahayaan ng Konsehong ito na mabalewala ang sakripisyong ginawa ni Cris at manaig ang karahasan sa loob ng Unibersidad. Sisiguraduhin ng Konseho na mananagot ang mga may sala at mabibigyan ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ng aming kasama. Hindi kailanman matatakpan ng karangyaan, kapangyarihan, o kayamanan ang hustisyang dapat makamit ni Cris at ng kanyang mga mahal sa buhay. Isang hamon ito sa bawat Iskolar ng Bayan na maging susi sa pagkamit ng hustisya.

Bilang isang Konsehong nagtataguyod ng mga karapatan ng mga mag-aaral, nanawagan kami sa lahat ng mga isko at iska na supilin ang ganitong klase ng karahasan. Nawa’y magsilbing hamon ito sa bawat Iskolar ng Bayan na balikan ang oryentasyon ng pagtatag ng ating mga organisasyon: Ang paglilingkod sa kapwa at bayan, hindi karahasan!

Kasama ng pamilya at kaibigan ni Cris, nananawagan kami ng hustisya at kaparusahan para sa lahat ng may sala.

IKONDENA ang KARAHASAN!

HUSTISYA PARA KAY CRIS!

Blog.

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:32:00 +0000

ano ba dapat ang sasabihin ko? marami.

The UP Vote

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Fri, 11 May 2007 15:53:00 +0000

Here's the results of the mock Senatorial and Party List Election sponsored by UP Alyansa. Balloting was held at AS Lobby, Eng'g Lobby, CHK Gymnasium and Math Building and the total number of students who cast their votes numbered 1,183.

AKBAYAN na sa Kongreso!

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Fri, 11 May 2007 15:36:00 +0000

TEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR AKBAYAN PARTYLIST

A Vote for AKBAYAN is a vote for:

Truth. Firmly believing in honest governance, AKBAYAN has been at the helm of initiatives to ferret out the truth and demand accountability from government. From the "Hello, Garci!" scandal to the botched attempts to change the charter through unscrupulous and unconstitutional means, AKBAYAN has maintained its brave opposition without fear or compromise. Whether inside Congress our outside, AKBAYAN articulates the desire of ordinary Filipinos for honest leadership and truthful politics.

The youth and the future. AKBAYAN believes in the strength, energy and vibrance of the Filipino youth. Hence, in creating policies and crafting its legislative agenda for the them, AKBAYAN sees the youth not merely as recipients but as competent equal partners. At the centerpiece of its youth program is a reform-oriented educational system, with the end-goal of providing quality education that is accessible and relevant. Indeed, investing in the youth is investing in the future.

Gender Equality. AKBAYAN envisions a society where opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of gender. It has championed the rights of women and has recognized the various spheres of oppression that the Filipino woman is finding herself in – domestic violence, inaccessibility of reproductive health information, discrimination. AKBAYAN also has a strong lesbian and gay rights advocacy and it has championed the Anti-Discrimination Bill to penalize discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.

The voiceless and marginalized. Its strong commitment to the marginalized sectors – the farmers, the fishermen, the urban poor – is at the core of AKBAYAN's values. AKBAYAN sees these sectors as stakeholders, and thus tirelessly work for their integration and participation. Genuine agrarian reform and decent housing are but some of the advocacies pursued by the Party, whether through legislative measures or local government empowerment.

Health for all. There can be no denying the importance of health, and the imperative of coming up with a health care system responsive to the needs of all Filipinos. Believing that health is primary and should come before politics or profit, AKBAYAN is proud to author the "Cheaper Medicines Bill," which seeks to amend the Intellectual Property Code to bring down the cost of medicines, and to spearhead the breastfeeding campaign which will reduce infant mortality.

Decent work. Unemployment continues to be a problem hounding millions of Filipinos, and the unabated migration only reveals the incapacity of the government to provide jobs and livelihood for all. AKBAYAN's strong bias for labor is manifested in the initiatives it has made to uplift the condition working class – higher wages, better labor standards, stronger laws to protect trade unionism.

The environment and fair trade. A clean environment and a trade policy that revs up domestic industries instead of killing them are two of AKBAYAN's policy objectives, and in many cases these objectives intersect. AKBAYAN exposed the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement, which essentially allows Japan to dump toxic wastes in our borders and contains trade provisions onerous to the Philippines. We maintain that a robust economy can only be made sustainable by a fair trade policy and should always be backed by adherence to environmental regulations.

Good governance. Corruption is a malaise that could be found in virtually all levels of governance – from national to local. AKBAYAN has never blinked or flinched as it exposed corruption scandals in government, and called for accountability from and prosecution for the wrongdoers who cheat the Filipino people. AKBAYAN remains to be an example of a political party with program-based politics and a solid platform. Our local government leaders exemplify these ideals in their own areas of governance.

Peace and Human Rights. A peaceful, pluralist and democratic society that values human rights is AKBAYAN's vision. Then as now, we have consistently condemned all forms of violence and oppression, whether from the State or the Armed Left. Our track record in the field of human rights is beyond question; most notably, AKBAYAN's authorship of the Human Rights Compensation Bill for Marcos victims.

Integrity. Dignity. Honor. In one word, dangal. AKBAYAN represents and articulates the desires of nameless, faceless, voiceless Filipinos struggling to live and believe in the future amidst a crisis of faith and a poverty of choices. There is no integrity in corruption and trapo politics. No dignity in hunger and poverty. No honor in unjust wars and human rights violations. A vote for AKBAYAN is a vote for genuine, empowered and participatory democracy.-- a vote to reclaim dangal for ourselves and for our children.

RE-ELECT AKBAYAN PARTYLIST

bagot at bulalas

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 14:07:00 +0000

bagot. Weekend, April 14 '07

Sa mga babasa ng blog ito may gusto akong i-share sa inyo:

Una: Medyo na-upset lang ako sa mga panyayari noong mga huling araw ng nakaraang linggo. Buti na lang nagkaroon ng overnight/ bodning/ movie screening/ many more ako kasama ng mga orgmates ko sa LIKAS at dahil dito medyo okay na rin ako. Gusto kong magalit pero irrational naman kung wala ka namang kagagalitan diba? Siguro medyo down-time lang ako this nitong nakaraang linggo (kahit SUUUPPEEEERRR nakakapagod ang enrollment ngayong Summer Term sa UP), basta super weird at ayoko ko itong feeling na ito. :(

Ikalawa: BACHELOR LIFE is soooo overrated. Okay sana kung may pera ka and all at kung may magmementina ng tirahan aka "Bachelor Pad" mo... kaya lang kung ikaw lang talaga ang mag-isa sa bahay, nagiging boring din. Then again, Tamad kasi ako eh ayokong kumilos kahit OC naman ako sa kalinisan pero burara naman ako. Which brings me to the next part na aking sharing. Context? Mahaba eh, basta mag-isa lang ako sa bahay, buong linggo.

Ikatlo: Walang kaayusan ang buhay ko. Pakiramdam ko sobrang sabog ng mga iniisip ko sa buhay. Kailangan ko ng kaayusan. Please help.

Ikaapat: Kailangan ko na talagang harapin ang mga alinlangan ko sa bahay. Nito nakaraan na mga araw. May iniiwasan ako gawin, pero nalalapit na ang araw ng paghuhukom(???), sana handa na ako dun.

Ice-cream na nga lang ako.
Ayon, kapag nababagot ka na talaga hindi mo talagang mapigilan ang mga bualalas.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:56:00 +0000

Reaching new levels of vainess!

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.

May kamukha akong dalawang artista. dalawang babae, dalawang hapon na di ko kilala, isang newscaster ng NBC at huwag ka, kamukha ko ang Presidente ng isang Bansa (Georgia ata.)

Salamat Nikka sa site! Oi, i-link mo na me! Hehehe...

Pleasures

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:38:00 +0000

Simple lang ako tao. Pakainin nyo lang ako ng masarap (subjective ito) na pagkain, itabi niyo lang ako sa mga kaibigan ko, o papanoorin nyo ako ng Grey's Anatomy o CSI sa cable tv, solb na solb na ako. Bakit ko naman sinasabi ito sa inyo? Wala lang. Kakain ko lang kasi ng Choco Mousse ng Goldilocks at SOOOPER SARAP! Na-appreciate ko lang yung cake kasi haggard lang kasi itong linggo na ito... Papers. papers. more papers. Weird wala lang talaga akong masabi. Babaw. Wala kasi puwang ang kababawan sa mga academic papers or sa buhay for that. Kaya naman nilalasap ko na ito, last slice ko ng Choco Mousse dahil mamaya kailangan na maging seryoso ulit.

Arrghhhh!!! Matapos ka ng Semestre ka! <---- Galit?

Salamat

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 16:16:00 +0000

Wow, ngayon ko lang napagtanto na tatlong buwan na pala akong hindi nakakapost dito sa aking blog site. Kaya isa namang kahihiyan ko hindi ko ito mamimintina ngayong medyo lumuwag na ang aking HECTIC na skedyul.

Bakit naman naging HECTIC?!

Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa, Tumakbo kasi ako sa pagiging Kinatawan ng Departamento ng Kasaysayan (History Department Representative) sa aming Kolehiyo kaya naging SUPER haggard ang nakaraang tatlong buwan sa akin. Nagkaroon kasi ng training at orientation ng mga bagay-bagay (wala na detalye... dahil sobrang dami :D) at inabot yun ng halos isang buwang mahigit... at ang pinaka as in PINAKA nakakapagod sa lahat ang Campaign Period at ang mga sumunod na pangyayari... Well to make the LOOOOONG story short, Nanalo ako kasama ng 16 kong mga kasama minus our Chair { super sob... } at dalawa pang Dept. Reps. Kaya medyo nanunumbalik palang ako sa mga bagay-bagay.

Pero bago pa matapos ang Election hype na ito... Hayaan nyo muna ako magpasalamat sa mga mahahalagang tao at institusyon tumulong sa aking marating kung nasaan ako ngayon. Okie?!

Sa lumikha sa akin. Kay God, alam kong pasaway ako pero I will try to make ammends.
Sa pamilya ko. Kahit medyo half-hearted ang suporta, basta naging masaya kayo sa pagkapanalo ko okay na lahat sa akin. :) ... Sori pasaway din talaga ako sa pamilya ko.
Sa UP LIKAS. Grabe SUPER supportive ang pinakamamahal kong org from the moment I decided to run hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin pumapantay sa kanila. Wala na akong masasabi baka maiyak lang ako... :D
Sa BUKLOD CSSP. The training, the educational discussions, the campaign... made me a stronger person... I'm so grateful for that.
Sa BUKLOD Slate 07 - 08. Mga kasama ko sa walang tulugang training, at sa HQ, aka the sauna. Sa isang taong pagsasama at paglilingkod sa Kolehiyo. Mabuhay tayo!
Sa mga Kas Majors. Maraming salamat sa pinakita nyong suporta sa aking pagtakbo. Huwag kayong mag-alala hindi ko kayo bibiguin.
Sa Maki. Sa inyong kaalatan. Hehehe... Mahal ko pa rin kayo. :)
Kay Nikka Hao. My Chairperson. Basta inspirasyon ka ng buong Slate.
Kay Sir Atoy. Isa kang haligi at institusyon ng ALAYANSA at BUKLOD. Ikaw rin ang nagparealize sa akin na kelangan kong mag-seryoso sa kampanya. Hindi kakalimutan ang mga aral sa HQ and beyond. :)
To my special someone. Naks! More than anyone, sobrang na-appreciate ko lahat ng mga efforts mo. Salamat talaga. ÜÜÜ
Sa lahat ng sumuporta, nakipag-puyatan with us, sa mga nag-alat sa amin, kasama namin sa pag-RTR, nakipag-kamay sa amin, sa mga nag-heckle sa amin, basta sa lahat... Maraming, maraming, maraming SALAMAT!!! :)

Siguro yun na muna... Grabe haba na eh...

Balik Real World ulit! Redundant...

noreply@blogger.com (magnificent drew) — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 09:08:00 +0000

Pasukan nanaman sa makalawa... Back to normal ang lahat.
Handa na ba ako sa pasukan o sa mga bagay na darating?
Hopefully?
Bakit ba laging akong umaasa? ...

Galing noh? Ang bilis ng oras. Alas-5 na ngayon sa bahay... Matatapos nanaman ang araw.

Iba talaga kapag nakikinig ka ng Afterglow ng bandang Inxs... Para kang lumilipad. hehehe....

Yun lang.

Happy New Year ulit!