The Power of the People

Finally, the last communication journal to scribble!

Though I know that I’m well capable enough to write whenever I need or whenever my demon whispers behind my inner god of doing so, writing is still a boring activity and writers are naturally born lazy. So, what a perfect combination!

…

10: 30 a.m.

Everyone seems so busy, trying to be part of those blessed person that could have this special privilege to present their work before the LCD projector.They queue up for their turn. In the back of my mind, I’m lucky that I had already presented my work, that all I need to do right now is just to relax and lounge, feed my eyes with everything that will be served to us.

One by one, like any other days with our visual journalism class, presenters made it impressing as they introduce the product of their own hardships before protruding their finger to start their own show.

12: 00 p.m.

Another session ended. I’m searching for my thoughts as I walk out of room MC203. Thinking of what had sunk in to my ganglias for today’s continuous bombardment of myriads of information. Yes, I think I’m battered.

But after a blink of my eye, I’m quite enlightened. There’s a swift flash of memory that reinvigorates my heart beat. There is a flash of hope, thank God! I have something to share for my last communication journal.

The Power of the People

In the beginning, God had already ordered humanity to supervise among all things that He had created. Together with this responsibility is a privilege that every human share and this is the superiority and power that is exclusive only to the mighty race of the thinking animals.

The video that was presented by Roselle marked me a lot. I imagine myself as the one who walks like the king, the supreme supervisor, the can- do- all- things man, that on his very journey in life, do nothing but to unleash the greatness of earth for his own pleasure, use the power being given by the one who created him just to satisfy his cravings, to ease all his life undertakings, and to find comfort out of everything not thinking whatever consequence he may face afterwards.

At the rear end of the journey of that stick man used in that life- changing infographics, all he has is a throne over the tip of the mountain of rubbish and junks, the product of his selfish wastage all throughout his life.

This just shows that we could not always be the king of our own universe. There will always be a limit for everything. There is no absolute freedom, that is why for every privilege comes along with due responsibility.

Our fate is in our own faith. We must always submit ourselves with the one who send us here, the one who gave us this divine chore to supervise the world. Knowing that someday in our lives we are going to be judge according to what we had accomplished.

…

Finally, I finished the last entry for this journal. Mission accomplished.

Liturhiya ng Isang Sanggol ng Panulat

“Alam nating simula pa man noong una, na tayo ay isinilang upang sumulat.”

Ito ay isang translasyon sa nakakapukaw na bahagi ng sanaysay na tila ba nakapagpabago ng aking pagtanaw sa larangan ng pagsusulat, ang “Why I Write” ni George Orwell.

Ako ay sanggol ng panulat.

Alam kong ako ay iniluwal upang sumulat, ang kumatha ng mga makakabuluhang babasahin, ang magsatitik ng aking bawat hinaing at nasain, ang dumhan ng tinta ang bawat dahon ng papel, ang maghumiyaw gamit ang kagila- gilalas na kapangyarihan ng nakalimbag na letra, ang magluwal ng masiglang pagbabago, magpunla ng progresibong kaunlaran at magtanim ng hanghang na kaligayahan gamit ang halimuyak ng aking retorika.

Ako ay sanggol ng panulat.

Sariwa pa sa aking gunita, una kong pinangarap ang maging isang inhinyero. Gayunpaman, ito’y pangarap na ibinulong lamang ng aking mga magulang bilang kahingian sa aming gradweysyon sa kindergarten. Ni hindi ko pa nga alam noon kung ano ang ginagawa ng isang engineer, kahit pa ang is-pell ito.

Bago pa man ako makapagtapos ng elemetarya ay naging punong patnugot at manunulat na ng editoryal ng aming pampaaralang pahayagan. Sa edad na labing- isang taong gulang, nakapagyari na ako ng mga kuru- kuro na siyang naging puso ng aming papel. Gayunpaman, hindi pa rin lubusang naaarok ng aking bumbunan ang kapangyarihan ng bawat salitang ipipinta ng aking musmos na isipan.

Naglaon ang daluyong, nakarating ang aking kakayahan sa pagsulat sa iba’t- ibang dako ng Maynila; samu’t- saring seminar, mga pakontes at mga malalaking kumperensiya.

Bago pa man ako makapagtapos ng high school, muli akong naging punong patnugot at ngayon ay bilang isang manunulat ng mga makukulay na mga lathalain. Noong mga panahong iyon, dinarang ng mga mapanrahuyong balani ang aking simbuyo sa bawat kurot ng mala- palamuting silaba na aking nadidibuho.

Ngunit sa aking pagtahak sa kolehiyo, pinilit kong alisin sa aking landasin ang pamamahayag. Sa halip, ninais kong ipagpatuloy ang kagustuhan ng aking mga magulang noong ako’y nasa kinder pa, ang maging engineer, na sa pagkakataong ito ay alam ko na ang ibig sabihin, pati na ang ispeling.

Ako’y isang dukha, anak ng pinakaitang lipunan. Hindi lingid sa aking kaalaman na hindi ganoon kaganda ang karera ng journalism pagdating sa usaping pamimilak; di makabubuhay ng pamilya, ika nga nila. Kung kaya’t tulad ng iba’y sinubok kong pumasok sa isang kursong in- demand, tulad na nga lamang ng Inhinyeria.

Bagama’t sinubok kong talikdan ang aking tadhana, tila yata’t ang kapalarang iginuhit sa aking palad ay ang aking pagpapatuloy ng journalistikong pag-aaral.

Salamat PUP! Kung hindi dahil sa pamatay na cut-off ng slots, disinsana’y di ko matutuklasan na ako’y isinilang upang sumulat, na ako’y hungkag na sanggol ng panulat.

Oo nga. Ako ay sanggol ng panulat.

Ako ay sanggol ng panulat na pinapasuso ng Politeknikong Unibersidad ng Pilipinas upang maging dalubhasang manunulat. Ang maibalangkas ang mga kaisipan na naaayon sa konteksto, tamang timpla ng gramatika at makulay na organisasyon ng ponema. Ako ay hinuhulma sa anyo ng isang ekspertong maalam sa lahat ng pasikot ng industriya ng Komunikasyong Pangmadla, dalubhasang di matitinag at nag-uumapaw sa kasiningan.

Ako ay sanggol ng panulat.

Ako ay sanggol ng panulat na pinapasuso ng Kolehiyo ng Komunikasyon upang maibsan ang aking kagulumihanan. Marami akong gustong isulat, marami akong gustong isiwalat. At ikaluluwag ng aking dibdib kung ganap ko nang mapapalaya ang aking mga bagabag at kinikimkim sa tanging moda na aking nakasanayan.

Tunay ngang malikot ang utak ng isang writer, kaya’t habang may panahon pa’y kailangan maipiit ng hintuturo sa dulo ng pinsel ang harayang sa anumang sandali ay maaaring kumawala matapos kumislap.

Ako ay sanggol ng panulat.

Ako ay sanggol ng panulat na pinapasuso ng Kagawaran ng Journalismo upang matutong sumulat; pagsulat na may paninindigan, may talino at kapangyarihan. Gusto kong makapag-impluwensiya ng mga kaisipan. Nais kong makapagbigay ng katanggap- tanggap na mga opinyon sa mga isyung kinasasangkutan ng lipunan, mga bagay na esensyal sa pag- unlad ng sambayanan. Mithi kong makapagtuwid ng mga kabuktutan at gayundin ang makapagturo ng katwiran.

Sa ganap na kapanganakan ay nabuksan ang aking kamalayan ukol sa mga sistemang umiiral, higit sa pagbabalita at pagkukuru- kuro, nais kong maipakita ang kagandahan sa bawat kasalimuutan.

Bilang isang feature writer, mas higit kong ninanasa ang makapagbigay inspirasyon, makapaghatid ng pag-asa sa aking mambabasa gamit ang mga istorya ng iba’t- ibang mukha ng mga nilalang na sa mga susunod na panahon ay mithi kong makadaupang- palad.

Ako ay sanggol ng panulat.

Ako ay sanggol ng panulat na pinapasuso para sa aking pamilya, ang maiahon sila sa kahirapan tungo sa pedestal ng kaginhawaan. Bagamat ang pamamahayag ay di trabaho ng pagpapayaman, naniniwala pa rin ako na sa pagtitiyaga at pagkamatatag, samahan pa ng katapatan at kadalubhasaan, ay may kapalit na higit pa sa aking mga kinakailangan.

Tulad ng ibang sanggol na pinapasuso ng isang ina, ako ay kinakalinga upang lasapin ang bawat sustansya ng karunungan, upang lagukin ang linamnam na naidudulot nito, at ang simsimin ang kalusugang esensyal sa aking pagkatao.

At sa aking ganap na paglaya mula sa kanlungan ng kamuwangan, mula sa kandungan ng aking ina tungo sa mundong puno ng pakikipagsagupaan, aking itataguyod ang aking mga natutunan; susuklian ang inang nagtaguyod sa sinapupunan sa uhaw at tigang na sanggol ng panulat.

Beauty in Men

credits: http://iammeg.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/day2-sm-mens8.jpg

It is a truth that perception of beauty in humans is so feminist. Whenever we get to talk about beauty and all its facets, we always first assume of women and their tantalizing eyes. But how about the race of men? Could they not be beautiful?

If there is this feminine beauty, there must also be this masculine beauty.

However, I have no personal hatred with Angela Casco, the presenter of the infographics entitled “Beauty in Women”, for being one-sided and more focused on the part of the female race. She’s my friend and I deeply understand if she quite became bias from that point, after all, it’s her privilege.

Being born as a male, like females, we also have this awareness on how others might perceive us base on the way we look. We are also conscious on the effect of a single pimple, the unruliness of our hair, growth of unwanted beards, and /or even on some sort of vanity and personal hygiene.

Though man have much fewer concerns on beauty than female, much fewer take on fashion and styling; it seems like man, in respect with women, have much more confidence in showing off their manly beauty and even boasting it.

Based on Angela’s presentation, as shown by the social experiment executed by a private company, female sees themselves lesser in quality compared to what they actually appear in reality.

In relation to their weak nature, they have lesser confidence with themselves, in other words, they are much concentrating on their imperfections rather than their best assets.

Lately, my attention was caught by another meme posted by one of PUP’s university humor page, PUP Memes, were a fantasy and reality was merged in an edited photograph.

The meme is consisted of two- picture split in mirrors: one which is a hot, sexy, beefy, good- looking hunk posing like Johnny Bravo which represents every man’s fantasy; while the other is a thin, dark, short, bad- looking guy posing the same as the opposite portion, which obviously symbolizes the reality.

That meme just show on how males are pre-occupied by the thought that we look good despite of imperfections. Unlike females, man focuses on their best assets rather than those impurities that even though how evident or distracting to other people, seems like unnoticed.

Though females all have this thought of improving their beauty but in reality, just few of them possess the required courage to utilize and show it off. Males, though lacking in aesthetic necessities, have this guts to have a fashion hair- cut, wear things a la mode, and proudly flaunt it.

Gentlemen, being dominant in nature, have this perception of beauty among other, that based on Angela’s report, is lacking on women. This is the beauty not on what others actually see but on how you see yourself as a beautiful creature as it is.

Men are also beautiful, in fact, much beautiful than women.

The Youth of Today

“Youth is generalized as the wild, violent, and lackadaisical portion of the society”.

This is Peps’ introduction on his presentation entitled, “Identity of Youth in different Perspectives”.

My inner self wants to ravage against the thought. I, as a part of the younger generation, disapprove with the way the populace looks to us. It seems like we are perceive as rebels hard to be accepted and is just tolerated patiently by the older folks.

The youth are ones thought as the fair hope of this fatherland and I gladly thank Jose Rizal and his fellows in today’s time who are steadfast on believing that there is something to long for from us.

Though I know that some of our adolescents are wildly engage on stuffs such as premarital sex, crimes, drug addiction, thugs and turf wars, and different unfathomable activities, still, they are just a few but most are still busily scribbling their way to success, flaming up their thoughts and advocacies to engage on the much serious issues of the elderlies and above all, studying hard to fulfill the ideals and aspirations of the nation.

After his talk, I just felt quite cognizant on how other people might think of me as an individual. Are they perceiving me as one of those hopeless young, wild and frees, or those who walk against such flow and live this young, must- carefree days with due diligence in preparation for a fruitful future?

In our youthful days, there are many trends and popular pops that many teens want to engage to. In some point of our life, we forget the goal we are set into just to make ourselves feel the belongingness with the major clad.

In order to be “in” with what’s trending, there is this mask we wear to pretend to be a person whom we think is much acceptable to the society. We thought that they will like us more if we are the ideal person that they will admire, but still is not really our unique identity.

When the presentation asked, I remember, are we going to go with the flow or against it?

I doubt for a second.

It’s quite hard, but I don’t really think that we need to abandon the flow because I deemed to accept that we have this ‘social need’. What’s important is to choose the socialization that is appropriate for us, that is beneficial for our being; the socialization that will accept and respect our true identity, even without the mask worn on our face.

We don’t actually need to be the darling of the crowd, a party animal, a drunkard, a famous personality, a cigar man, or that wild, easy- go- lucky man to be accepted. With just being who we are, there is definitely a circle of friends predestined for us whom we don’t need to pretend and hide behind a mask.

Asking myself, who am really I in the rear of that veil?

As what Peps had said, it is not on the very achievement we gain, not on every thought on how others perceive about us, not on the way we want us to be but on how the one who created us want us to be identified.

And that is being the son of Him, made by Him and for Him.

A Time travel around Three Generations

The three presenters made us wander across different time space. Yesterday, today and tomorrow collided in one day of discovery and learning in Visual journalism.

GLIMPSE OF THE WORLD’S MOST SORROWFUL YESTERDAY

We learn from our past experiences; that is the main purpose of history. Of what we have today are products of continuous refining and sifting throughout our glorious story. One of the main events in world history that could have taught one of the most unforgettable lessons in every people of the planet is the horrific age of holocaust.

Adolf Hitler’s dream is a nightmare for the race of the ancient Jewish people. The vast mass killing is indeed a very barbaric stuff in our time. But without the holocaust and those people who offer their lives, the world may not have been awakened on the essence of equality among races and the relevance of peace and unity for developmental progress among intercultural nations.

The most important point is that holocaust is now a part of history. And when history inevitably repeats itself, we now know and now better equipped with the proper procedures to execute from what we have learned from the past.

THE CRISIS OF TODAY

The advancement of media platforms correlates to the high exposure of people to different information. Kids do even saturated themselves on toddler- oriented programs such as animes and cartoons.

And through an expository type of presentation, the reporter bared off the negative effects of those fancy shows to their young minds. It’s quite surprising that those kiddie programs which ones had been part of our childhood have bad implications to our present attitudes.

The youth, which Rizal considers as the fair hope of our fatherland, is in danger of growing not uprightly because of these stuffs. We, therefore, need to take concentration on their viewing habits and refocus them on much more essential elements for their growth.

FUTURE PERFECT

We never know what the future holds but there will always be a future we can hope for. And the hope we ever long for are the youth that would eventually dominate the country beyond the horizon.

The question that keeps on resounding behind my ears is that whether this generation could gratify the expectations of the people in their future subordinate.

First, I feel doubt upon thinking of those adolescents who, in their early age, are already engaged with crime and activities below moral standards.

But their number compared to those who prove themselves worthy fires up my belief that there is a bright tomorrow that waits.

I’m confident that being a part of this future in the making, the people have something big to expect from us. Upon watching the said documentary, the fire inside of me was stirred up and was reminding me that I’m playing a vital role in this country, that I shall do my best to satisfy everyone’s vision.