Mga Kabataan: Ang Susi Sa Kaunlaran?

Here is a speech I had done for our Filipino class which I had also presented in class. My opinion on how teenagers in the new generation should act, if they would really want to take on the responsibility of creating a better future for the entire country. 

Sa aking mga tagapakinig, isang magandang hapon sa inyong lahat. Ako ay narito sa iyong harapan ngayong araw na ito upang pagtuunan ng pansin ang kahalagahan ng kabataan sa ating lipunan. Ayon sa martir na si Rizal, “Ating pangalagaan at turuan ng tama ang ating kabataan, dahil sila ang susi sa ating kaunlaran”.

Totoo nga ba na tayong mga kabataa’y susi sa kaunlaran? Na kung saan man tayo tumingin, nariyan ang mga temtasyon at kahayupan? Mga kabataang nalulong sa droga, mga batang ina, mga taong hindi na pumapasok sa eskwela, mga taong maagang nagasawa. Sila ba ang tinatawag nating susi sa kaunlaran? Natatakot ako, na ito na ang maging katapusan ng ating bayan. Na ang lahat ng kahirapan na dinaranas ng ating mga ninuno upang ipaglaban ang ating kalayaan ay mapupunta lang sa wala!

Bilang isang kabataan sa makabagong henerasyong ito, gagawin ko ang lahat sa abot ng aking makakaya para sa ating Inang Bayan. Mahirap mang isipin, ngunit hindi ito ang dapat nating damhin. Dapat nating hanapan ng solusyon ang mga ganitong suliranin! Inyong tanong? Paano natin ito maisasakatuparan? Mga kabataan, walang problemang hindi mahahanapan ng solusyon pag tayo ay magtutulungan. Laging tandaan na walang mangyayari pag tayo lamang ay nagmumokmok at naguupo-upo lamang.

Sama-sama nating itama ang mga mali! Mag-aral ng mabuti at maging propesyonal, iwasan ang mga bisyo at magkaroon ng wastong pananaw sa buhay. Sa ganitong paraan, sama-sama nating patunayan na hindi pa ito ang katapusan, ngunit ito lamang ang simula ng isang bayang hindi lamang maunlad, ngunit makabago rin. Mga kabataan, sama-sama na rin nating patunayan na mayroong hinaharap ang ating bayan. Mayroon itong kanlungan, mayroon itong maaasahan at mayroon itong mapagkakatiwalaan. Hindi nag-iisa ang Inang Bayan sa paglalakbay na ito. Paglalakbay patungo sa maliwanag na hinaharap, ang hinaharap na naka kandado’t nangagailangan ng susi upang mabuksan ang munting maunlad na hinaharap. Tayo nga ang susi, hali na’t simulan na natin ang pagbabagong makabago!

Salamat, at magandang hapon uli sa inyong lahat! 

With the grace of God and enough sleepless nights, I had graduated as Valedictorian in high school, and as usual, the Valedictorian gives out a speech to the entire class and the guests during the Graduation Ceremonies. Here's my Valedictory Address, which put me into tears while writing it, because high school was really one hell of a ride. 

P.S. You could use my speech as an example/guide if you might need it to make your own. 

P.P.S. Please do comment for any questions and tips you might wanna know in making speeches. I don't bite hihihi

Our guest of honor from the Department of Education, the Toring family, the administrators, our school principal, members of the esteemed faculty, proud parents, awardees, fellow graduates, ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant afternoon to all of you.

　

Thank you is but two words with meaning beyond limits. Thank you is but simple words which is an understatement of all the blessings we, as graduates have received today in this very momentous occasion. For these two words are not enough to make known to you the utmost gratitude we feel in our hearts, let me, in behalf of my mates, express in beautiful words how we are thankful that through all the struggles of secondary education, we’d had someone we could always count on.  

Four years of essay writing in English, memorizing words for enumerations tests, class reportings on new topics, going home late at night to finish shooting movie projects for major subjects, practicing for school plays and dramatic monologues, surprise quizzes early in the morning, sleepless nights to finish long assignments, solving endless math problems, group studies on science in which we always get confused on, misunderstandings with each other when group projects seemed too stressful, and the celebrations we had in class when we succeeded in each project. Four years of all of that, and It may be hard to say, but all of those are part of high school, and high school is ending. Yes, you’ve heard It right, the doors of Indiana High school are closing on us, and we are yet to discover a new door that would be wide open for us.

I still remember my early years in Indiana Aerospace University. I was blissful to have been able to attend an institution such as this where we are not just schoolmates, classmates, and ordinary people we see every day. Here in Indiana, we are a family. A decade after that, now, as I stand here before all of you, I can still see how strong that family is. As I leave the portals of Indiana, I will miss this family. This family whom Ive grown to love and care for, this family who had supported me in times I felt nothing but pain, and this family, who, today, will share the success, we graduates have achieved.

It may sound cliché to say, “We would not have come to this point in our lives without the help of people who have been there for us,” but it is true. That should be the truest thing I could say to all of you this afternoon. Without our beloved teachers who have invested all their time, effort, patience, and headaches on us in times when we cannot be handled, we wouldn’t be here. Without our parents’ unwavering support both financially and emotionally, we would not be here. Without the presence and company of our dear friends, classmates, and schoolmates who have lessened the burden of going to school when it seemed too much, we would not be here. And lastly,Without the grace and mercy of our dear Lord Jesus, who have been there to guide us and bless us through all our imperfections, we would not be here.

I would also like to take this special moment and privilege to thank all of those people here today. To all the parents and guardians, as well as my own, this success is for all of you. we are wearing these dark blue & white togas because of you. To my parents, Mrs. Rosemarie Baladya and Mr. Ben David Baladya, words cannot simply explain how grateful I am because you raised me well. To mi abuela, Rafaela Salazar, who has always been there for me to care for me, Eres la mejor abuela del mundo!

To my dearest friends, Leslie, Rachelle, Patricia, and Jasmyne who I have shared a decade of friendship with, Rita, Steph, Kim, Chyra, Numer, Ellaiza, Angel, and Angela who have all been there for me when things got rough, France, Jason, Ken, Mar-Mar, Kent, Rensz and Mike whom I haven’t thought I’d be close with as school had ended, I will never forget all of you.

To the teachers who have stood by my classmates’ and mine’s side, Maam Janz, Maam Hazel, Maam Euly, Maam Joy, Maam Charisma, Sir Richard, Sir Arnold and Maam Dhimna. And to Maam Ryza, Sir Licen, Maam Longos, and Sir Mark. You have outdone yourselves. You didn’t just teach us things inside our four-walled classroom. You have taught us the reality of life and the courage we must obtain to survive this lifetime. You didn’t just become teachers for us, but you became second mothers and fathers whom we greatly needed in times of trouble and trebulations in school.

To my supreme student council family, as your SSC president, I am proud to be able to have served  with this council this school year. a big congratulations for everything we have worked hard for and have accomplished. It was great serving with you guys again this year, and may you always have the enthusiasm of service, rather than the pleasure of popularity and manipulism.

And last but not the least, to IAU who had entrusted me the name of the school as I had participated in several out-of-school contests, and who had given me the rare opportunity to participate in prestigious seminar-workshops that had honed me to clothe myself with knowledge. and lastly, for affording us quality education equipped with competent facilities and exceptional members of the faculty.

People who I've got to see everyday and shared the stress of school with every day, I will now only get to see once a month or even once a year, a few months from now. We would be going our separate ways, and we would each tread on the path we have been dreaming ever since we were in short shorts and pigtails.  Like I said during our Juniors-Seniors Promenade, all I wish is for all of us to achieve whatever we want to achieve in life. Do not underestimate yourself because theres always much more you can do than what you already know you can do. With our parting ways, there is but one message I have to all of you seniors, “Have courage, and be kind” because life might tear you down, but no one can ever deny a person with a pure heart.

As inspired by the movie, “The Fault in our Stars”, I had thought that only death was inevitable. But I was wrong. Falling in love, sharing precious bonds, and the ending of high school, these are all inevitable as well. Seniors, we are here. We have made it through everything. Congratulations to all of us!

This would probably be the last speech I would deliver in this institution as an aerospacer, nevertheless, as I would quote our very own CEO, “Once an Aerospacer, always an Aerospacer.” Indiana Aerospace University will always have a space in our hearts wherever we may go, and whoever we may become.

I hope you would ponder on the words Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

I can now hear what Indiana would say to us graduates at this very moment, “This is your captain speaking, I hope you have enjoyed your flight, and I hope you would fly with us again soon.”

Ladies and Gentleman, that would be all, thank you and good afternoon once again.  

Class Prophecy

During our Juniors-Seniors Promenade 0n the 14th of February 2015, I was asked to make a class prophecy-- A story which served as a little window for us, graduating students, to see who would we be, God-willing, in about 15 years into the future. I'd really love to share this in my blog because this prophecy is special for me and also my batch mates in Indiana Aerospace University. Currently, we are all freshmen (me, an incoming this 10th of Aug) and each of us are going in our separate ways, chasing the dreams we once had since grade school. 

P.S. I used the Visayan dialect in this entry.

CHAPTER 1

September 5. I needed a new inspiration for my editorial due next week and I had what they were calling a writer’s block. All the pressure in the publication was getting to me and all the comments on my “opinions column” in the newspaper were getting to me.　Being editor in chief of Sunstar is really a very hard job. I was having dinner with my best friend Leslie in a new korean Restaurant near the heart of Cebu City. We heard the food was great there, and we planned to try it out despite both of our busy schedules. We hardly ever see each other anymore after she opened her big time marketing company in the U.S. for social networks, and I can’t believe that she and Kimberly, a computer engineering major would’ve been great business partners, and were earning twice more than what Apple Incorparated was earning. Their partnership really clicked. After long chats, our food finally arrived. “Libre ra daw ni, walay bayad ana ang Koreano”. The waiter told us. “What?” Leslie felt confused as the waiter handed us our orders. “Kana siya ga ingun” the waiter said, pointing through a glass that seemed like an office where we saw a Korean guy. The charming gentleman got outside his office and was coming to our table. “Hey girls! Haven’t seen you for a while!” said the man we couldn’t believe owned this very world-famous restaurant. “Chan! Its you! You still remember us?” Kapoya sig english ani nila oy, ma nosebleed ko, I thought to myself. I tried my best not to feel too thrilled or overwhelmed because of his presence. He got uber tall now. More like a 6 footer. As we continued chatting and catching up, a customer across our table suddenly had a heart attack and all the other customers were panicking. “Don’t panic guys” a guy from behind our table suddenly said and went hurriedly to the customer having a heart attack. It was Daryl Silva, he was having dinner with a woman, and I think she was his wife. “Relaks lang mo! Doctor ko! Tawag mog abulansya!” Leslie laughed at the way he had said those words and we knew immediately the Daryl Silva we know is still there. Sige mig tutok ni Daryl, and kalimot mi manawag ug ambulansya mao to siya nalang nanawag. After the incident, We ended up having a mini-reunion. Daryl, leslie, chan and me.

CHAPTER 2

Early in the morning next day I received a call from my assistant that I was needed in a building constructed in I.T. park for there had been an accident that had happened, and as a news reporter I had to get fresh news. As I arrived in the crime scene it seemed like the scaffholdings had fallen from the 3^rd floor of the building and it was devastating news. Ambulances were arriving with me, and I can see panicked engineers all lining up in front of the building and in the crime scene. I hurriedly drove my Mercedes benz but it was no use because there was a traffic. A big bus full of tourists was infront of me. I suddenly recognized Chyra Prudenciado and Angel Alas standing inside the bus calming the Koreans and Chinese people down. They seemed very good in doing so because the tourists immediately went back to their seats and calmed down. Woah, these beautiful girls who were once enjoying selfies were already tourist guides and they sure look pretty good now. Last time I heard, silang duha naa nay boyfriends, and were both part time models in the Philippine Models Association. I beeped at their tourist bus and lowered my window to say hi. I didn’t have enough time with them for I was in a hurry to the building where I was going to go. Atlast the traffic has gone. I saw a police chief who was busy commanding his officers to atleast manage the traffic because of the accident. It was Noel Monin, ka galang-galang jod kayo iyang gi suot, naikog najod ko niya. I got off my car to interview some nurses in the ambulance. Some were busy attending to the construction workers who had been injured during the fall of the scaffholdings in the building. Two nurses caught my eye. It was Rachelle Alonzo and Stephanie Otic! They looked so elegant with their white uniforms, and you can really say na nag struggle jd sila. “Dae! Ang betadine!” said Rachelle. “Paghuwat dae kay ga lisud pang tuhod sa akong pasyente.” Replied Stephanie. These were the girls I spent high school with, and I didn’t regret spending every minute with them. “Hoy mga ebyang!” I shouted at them. They were shocked as to who would call them such but as they looked at me, I already knew that they knew it was me. They dropped all their medical tools, left their patients who were struggling and rushed to me, hugging me. Turns out my day was not going to be stressful anyway. Chika kaayo mi sa mga ebay, nakalimot ko nga naa pa deay koy sturya himuonun! I grabbed my pen and notebook ready to interview the engineers inside the building under construction. I was on my way up the ladders to the second floor where all the engineers were figuring out why the scaffholdings collapsed. I poked a woman talking to a man holding a paper wearing a hard hat. “Miss, ako deay si Stacey, naa ko diri para mu interview sa mga nahitabo diri ug kung ngano ni nahitabu.” Dugay kayo siya ni lingi nako na offend na nuon ko. Hahaha. Pag lingi niya “SAI!!!!” ni siyagit siyag kalit. “Hala jas!!” ni tubag pod ko niya. It was Jasmyne Salvador! She got so tall na! hahaha! “Uy Ken, si Stacey, Ken!” Jasmyne told the man who was facing back. Ni lingi ang kiki nya na shock pod siya. “Uy tangkag!” Hala oy, mu sturya pako? Hahahaha! Aweeee, Sila jud deay nagkadayun, and same pud sila engineer. How sweet is that!! I continued interviewing them until I got my headline story for Sun Star that day. “Asa napud sila kent, mike, rholly, patricia, ug farah?” I asked the couple. “Si Pat kay naa sa US. Dako na kayo iyang sweldo didto and daghan na siyag balay nabuhat.” Gi ingnan ko ni Jasmyne. “Si Kent kay ni undang ug trabaho kay nag manage na siya ug lima ka pungko2 dapit sa CDU. But he finished his engineering course and graduated as Cum Laude.” “Rholly also graduated as Magna Cum Laude. Pero naa ra gyapon to siyas Maribago, and he is already starting to build his very own resort because he planned to build one for his parents.” Wow kaayo ko sa akong classmates ug sa mga nahitabo sa ilang life. Grabe najod kayo and kanang wa lang jud ka mag expect kay sauna mga bugoy pa kayo sila. “How about sila farah ug mike?” I asked the couple. “Si Farah kay kuyog namo siya ani nga project ani nga building but she’s on vacation karon sa Paris, and si Mike kay on a family vacation siya karon. Siya ang nag plano ani nga building silang duha ni Rinsho. Mao ni siya nga building ang pinakataas sa Cebu. Mapildi ang Crown Regency ani. Mao bitaw support kayo mi ni Ken ani nga project. and wala lang jd ko ka expect nga maingani deay ang scaffholdings.” Jassy said, nga murag naguol jd siya. I continued interviewing them about the building until I decided to head back to the office. Good thing at the end of the day, wala ray naunsa.

CHAPTER 3

The next week I was called to go to Hong Kong for three days and two nights because I had to cover a story about teachers there. I was running late for my flight. As I arrived at the airport, I rushed to the counter, got my plane ticket and hurried for boarding because I was being paged already. Good thing ang airplane kay gipang check pa ang parts and gipa gas pa. I think something was quite wrong with the plane. I saw two Aircraft mechanics trying their best to open up a particular bolt behind the aircraft. As they both turned around, I ran to both of them. “Uy Otic, Onyok!” I shouted at them. It was Mark Jason. And neil abing. Puno kayg itom2 iyang nawng sa sgeg trapo2 sa mga hugaw sa iyang gipang’ayo. Wala na kayo mi nag chika kay late na lage si oka. As I entered the plane a woman who was 5 foot and 8 inches tall helped me with my hand carry. I couldn’t believe it was Rita! She fulfilled her dreams of being able to travel the world. Hug kayo ming duha nya nikalit ra siyag hilak, tears of joy kayo. I sat down my seat and she sat down next to me. Turns out ang akong tapad unta sa plane kay wa na dayun, so padayun ramig chika. “Cabin crew, please be ready for take off.” Sounded the speakers in the plane. “Hala murag familiar lage ron ang voice!” ni ana ko ni Rita. “Paminawa pa sai.” I continued listening to the speakers. “Okay good morning passengers. This is Jason Morgado, your captain speaking. Thank you for boarding in Cebu Pacific. We have clear skies today on the 14^th of July and we are looking forward to arrive in hongkong at 0400 hours. Please fasten your seatbelts now.” Nganga kayo ko! Wa jod ko katingug for 5 minutes hangtud naka feel ko proud kaykos akong migo. Nibarog na si Rita cause mag demonstrate na siya sa Safety Procedures during the flight. I took a video of her because I was so proud. 

CHAPTER 4

At 0400 hours I arrived at Hongkong. I was feeling very hungry so I decided to find a restaurant. Naay isa ka restaurant naka catch sa akong eye, Naay poster sa isa ka chef nga karon kay nay cooking show sa Hongkong. Gi tan’aw nako ang name sa ubos, “Lucky Faith Tampus, Celebrity Chef” WOAH WOAH WOAH! Nag dali2 kug sulod sa restaurant kay tayg makit’an jd nako si lucky. And to my surprise she was really there! She was having a live cooking show in her restaurant and she was doing great. I watched in awe and I felt like I really needed to eat already! So I found a table and I saw Jalaine Solibio, who was also in the restaurant, alone. So I decided to sit with her. She was shocked nganung nay nikalit ug atbang niya. “Stacey ni oy! Hi Ja!” Wa nay braces si Jalaine, limpyo na kayg ngipon. “Hi sai!” she responded to me. “You’re here staying in Hong kong?” nangutana ko niya. “Ouuu naa nakoy clinic diri, and ni pursue jod kog dentistry.” Ni ana si Jaja. “Kuyog pod mi ni Angela Monelar nag partnership mi sa isa ka dentistry institute” Jaja said to me proudly. Grabe najod akong mga classmates sah? Me and Jalaine decided to go shopping in Hongkong after we ate dinner together.

CHAPTER 5

The day of my interview for the Filipino teachers in Hong Kong has come. And I was very nervous for this story would end up in TV and I wasn’t that used in broadcasting, only writing. I arrived at the school, and I looked at the list of Filipino teachers I was going to interview. “Ritchie Igot, Deme Stephanie Ann Hinoguin” I excitedly read aloud. What a coincidence! I started interviewing the both of them. Ngiga jod! International teachers na sila, and they even know how to speak Chinese! I observed how they taught the children, and for me, they were the best at their field. Truly, pinoy pride. I made them the center of my story. I couldn’t help but still ask how my other friends from section B in High School were doing. “Kumusta na sila John Noel ug Earl, Dem?” I asked them. “IT man to ilang gikuha, naa sila sa US karon, cause they’re now professional computer programmers. Mansion natu ang balay ni John Noel. Lima na kabuok ang anak, nakit’an nakos Facebook.” Ni ingun si Deme. “Nya si Earl, Ritchie?” I asked Ritchie about earl. “Sila man ang nagkadayun.” Nitubag si Deme nako. Aweeee, Si earl jud ug si Ritchie nagdayun! “Pag sure chie oy! Congratulations ninyo ni Earl! Lisura sa Long Distance relationship uy.” I told Ritchie. “Okay raman Sai basta love jud nimo ang isa ka taw. Permi raman sd mi mag skype ni earl. I could see how happy Ritchie was. “Enough na anang love life oy”. “Sila Arnold, Vincent, Bavyjene ug Lemuel? how are they?”  “Si Arnold has a very big business now. He inherited his mother’s business in the Philippines. Vincent also took Business Ad and he is starting up a new business venture as of now and he and his family Migrated in the US.”  We proceeded with our interview.

CHAPTER 6

It was a long night for me so I hurriedly went to the city to check in a hotel. 8^th floor, room 899. I was in the 8^th floor’s hallway adoring their very beautiful photographs along the hallway. There was one photo that caught my eye. It was a picture of Pandas in the zoo where the mother panda was hugging the baby panda. Pandas were famous here in hongkong. I looked at the name of the photographer. Again, I was in awe. “Rench Nieco Tio, Nature Photographer” the header of the photo read. Sauna kay sige ranig katawa ssa hallway sa school but now, he is really good with pictures. I continued looking for my room. It was in the other side of the hallway. Atlast, I found it. I changed and turned on the TV. Well, I guess it was already FIFA season. And Real Madrid and Barcelona FC were playing. There was this guy who just scored a goal. I looked at the back of his jersey. It read “DIRCKZE”. I began cheering for his team! I cant believe Matthew is now a professional football player! I continued watching the game and Real Madrid won, and Matthew was the best scorer. I felt really proud. I was not yet feeling sleepy so I switched the channel. There was a fashion show and it was close to the end. Guess who I saw?I listened to the TV screen. “And now lets give a warm round of applause to Ellaiza V Marilao, a Filipino Fashion Designer for a successful fall and winter collection this year 2030!” Ni clap sad ko uy! Mau mani akong igsuon pag high school nya karon laysho na kayg mga designs. I hurriedly called up her number because I was too excited to congratulate her. She was very famous now o it was no problem finding her contact number. “Igsu!” I shouted in the phone. “HALA! Igsuon! Ikaw deay ni?” I congratulated ellaiza and we talked for hours. “Kumusta na si Numer?” I suddenly asked her.  There was a long pause in the phone then someone said, “Hoy sai!” It was Numer. I didn’t know they worked together! “Bayut kumusta naman kaaaaaa!!” I shouted across the phone. We talked and talked until midnight, the three of us having a conference. It was happy knowing both of them were very successful now, and they have successfully used their skills in their fields. Numer works as the Head Hair and Make-up Artist of Ellaiza’s models of her design collections, and they had their partnership since they graduated college. It was 2am and I dozed off to sleep.

CHAPTER 7

I was late for my flight and missed my plane back to the Philippines and my only way of getting back is through a ship. So I had to go to the pier at 12 noon. Again, finding my seat at the ship, I got to sleep because I was really tired. There was a buzz and the captain started to announce. Just like de’ja vu, there was another proud moment for me. In the speakers, I heard: “We are smooth sailing today because there are no signs of typhoons and or minimal low pressures. This is your Captain speaking, Dylro Mar Lompot, and this ship will be headed to the Philippines in a few minutes. Everybody all set now.” I was twiced as shock this time than my plane ride. Na successful jud si Mar-mar. Katung mag bilin2 lang sa iyang mga butang sa classroom sauna mau nay ga drive sa ship nga akong sakyan padung uli sa Philippines. There was suddenly a man looking 5”7 ft tall who sat next to me. He had big eyes, and was so thin. He extended his right hand to me attempting to shake my hand. “Sai!” Na shock k okay wa jud ko kaila niya. “Kinsa ka?” I asked him. “Si Lemuel gud!” Hala, na shock jod ko. Formal kaysha tanawn nindut na kayg hinapay pina Jose rizal dili na katung barug2 nga murag rooster. Hahaha! “Huy! Nag unsa ka dres hongkong?” I asked him. “I just had a scuba diving session here in Hong kong because I was observing their sharks. I am a marine biologist now.” Nagdugo jod akong ilong sa iyang English!! “Hala oyyyy, bow down najod ko nimo dong.” I told him while laughing. “Nya musta naman ka karon?” I asked him. “Happily married nako with Bavyjene. Naa siya karon sa Philippines. Successful na sha nga Physical Therapist karon nya 3 times a week siya mag travel. LDR mi pero okay ra, kay love man jod nako si Bavyjene.” Nga-nga najod kayko! Na spog ko nila kay naa silay love life! Hahaha!  As the trip was going on, there was a mere bump against the back part of the ship. I panicked because there was water coming inside the ship. People were now panicking and I was panicking as well. The rest of the happenings were a blur to me. And then I saw nothing. 

CHAPTER 8

I woke up in a hospital room. I was not alone in the room. There was a doctor checking my monitor to check my condition and how I was developing. “Doc, how am I?” gipangutana nako ang laki. He turned around, shocked. “Uy sai! Mata naka?” I was confused how he knew me by my nickname. “France ni uy!” Nakuyawa dayun ko. Tayg mamatay ko kay si France akong doctor! Hahaha joke ra bitaw. I responded to him with a smile. Wala pakoy kusug mo sturya. I felt so weak. I began to ask france. “Naunsa deay ko?” Mura siyag wa kayo malipay. Nya nakulbaan nako. “France, tubaga ko.” I asked him seriously. “You’ve been in a COMA for 3 weeks.” I was confused. I was in hongkong man dba? I started asking more questions. “Ha? Naa rakos Philippines karon?” “yes” responded france. “Naunsa deay ko?” “I diagnosed you under severe stress and heart problems. Naglisud naka ug cope up sa imung mga buhatunun. Nya pag September 5, kalit lang ka ni collapse sa imung office.” I was confused! Diba nag dinner man ko with Leslie pag September 5? Katu deayng scaffholdings nga ni collapse katung nagkita mi nila jassy ug ken sa IT park? Katung interview nako nila Ritchie ug Deme? Katung kasakay ko sa airplane ni Jason? Katung Kasakay ko sa ship ni Mar-Mar? Wala rato tanan? My mind was filled with thoughts of these. I began crying. All of those I saw didn’t really happen? Ngano man? It was the future all of us were waiting for. And wala ra deay to? “Ayaw ug hilak uy.” Gi ingnan ko ni France. “Binuang ra bitaw. You’re here because of your ride back to the Philippines. You passed out the moment the ship arrived to shore. Nag panic ka cause hadlok kas water. But you’re okay now.” Lami’a lage hapakon ni France karon dayon! Grabe kayo mangilad!  There was a knock on the door. Seems like I was already in the Philippines cause murag Chong Hua jud ni nga Hospital. “May we come in?” Rachelle’s head popped out. “Sud lang mo.” Ana si France. I thought si Rachelle ra ug Steph, cause I heard dinhi man sila nag work as nurses sa Chong Hua deay. But I was wrong. Mao deay “we” cause sila tanan naa. Ang mga engineers, Kent, Patricia, Mike, Jassy, Ken, Rensz, Kim, rholly, Farah. Ang mga tourist guides Chyra and Angel. Mga business men and women, Leslie, Arnold, ug Vincent. Ang mga Information Techonologists, John Noel ug Earl. Ang mga chefs nga si Chan and Faith. Ang Pilot na si Jason ug ang Flight attendant na si Rita. Ang Captain na si Mar-mar. Ang dentists na sila Angela Monelar ug Jalaine. Ang mga Teachers na sila Ritchie ug Deme. Ang mga Aircraft Maintenance Technologists nga sila Mark Otic ug Neil Abing. Ang police chief na si Noel Monin. Ang Fashion designer na si Ellaiza ug Professional Make-up Artist nga si Numer.Ang professional soccer player na si Matthew. Ang nature photographer na si Rench. Ang Marine Biologist na si Lemuel. Ang physical therapist na si Bavyjene. Ug ang doctors na si France ug Daryl.  They were all here. They were all here for me. Bisag nakuyapan rako they were all here. Kadako sa akong room nasulod silang 38 kabuok. They were all watching my haggard face in the bed. I was watching each of them. Each of them being professionals already. Each of them achieved each of their dreams. Each of them were happy and contented of what they have become. Each of them were once my high school classmates. The ones I had spent a quarter of my lifetime with. And here we are all now. Products of Indiana Learning Center. Wala gyuy nalikoy. I got teary eyed watching all of them around my hospital bed. “Thank you guys.” I silently said. “And thank you Lord.” “Karealize mo guys?” I told all of them. “We are here. This is what we’ve worked hard all the 10 years of schooling.” They were looking at each other. Kung ngano drama kayo ko. “Im just so proud of us right now.” And everyone around my hospital bed moved closer, and all of us were engulfed in a group hug, in the beautiful silence of success. 

"Walang Forever" Game Too Strong

Here's a poem I wrote in my last year in high school for an activity in Filipino class. It really has extreme "feels" and might let you think twice about getting into a relationship. Sorry guys, but I promise I was not bitter while I wrote this poem. Hahaha, here it goes 

PAG-IBIG NGAYON

"Pag-ibig nalang palagi ang bukam-bibig ng kabataan ngayon

Ngunit ang kanilang kaalaman sa pag-ibig na yan ay hindi naaayon"

"Hindi naaayon sa edad, hindi naaayon sa pananaw, at pati na rin sa galaw ng isip

Ayon sa kanila, pag-ibig na raw yan pag ang mga mata mo'y na sa kanya't sumisilip-silip"

"Ngunit ang hindi nila nalalaman, pag-ibig ay isang mundong puno ng kasakiman

Marami kang pagdadaanan at may dapat kang panindigan"

"Kung talaga'y ikay nagmamahal ng labis-labis

Kailangan mo talagang mag tiis-tiis"

"Ngunit ang dapat siguruhin, 

Ang pagtitiis ay hindi babasurahin"

"Kaya't pag nagmahal ng lubusan,

Pumili ng tao na hindi ka kayang iwanan"

"Isang taong marunong umintindi at hindi naghihintay ng kapalit

Ang kayang magparaya kahit gaano na kasakit"

Getting Started On Writing

So I am starting this whole new blogging experience for the sake of practicing my writing skills for college. A month and a half from now, I would be entering University of The Philippines Cebu, taking up Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications. Its a dream come true to be able to enter a school where only few are chosen because of the dreaded UPCAT and I am more than blessed to become one of the passers. Well, enough about me. I hope I'd entertain you with the different kinds of literature I might be able to share to you guys here. Languages I'd use are English and Filipino, and I hope through this, you'd enjoy visiting my blog. Comments are much appreciated. No hate please! Wish me luck, and please do excuse the amateur-ity hahaha, if that's even a word.