Akong Kinaagi sa First Semester 2011

Sa dihang maghinapos na ang kining akong unang semester sa 3^rd year college dire sa UP, dakong hinam-hinam nako nga himuan ug storya ang akong mga naagian nga kapait ug kalipay dianing semestera. Sayang intawn kung makalimtan, dili baya basta-basta lang kining mga akong naagian na kahimtangan.

Sa kadto ning Miting de Avanci last
February 28, 2011. Nakadaog baya kog
ka Vice Chairperson gikan sa Pulso Party

Buwan sa Hunyo naining tuiga, dos mil onse, sama lang ako sa laing estudyante diha-a. Excited ba. Third year na baya! Gimingaw la gad pud kog swela. Kinsa bay gusto magdugay sa akong bakasyon nga hastang boringa. Mamati napud kog utro sa mga maistra, maestro, magdugay ug katog sa kadamo sa tun-anan ug sa uban pa nga mga buluhaton. Bise president baya daw kuno ko sa Student Council ug Secretary- General sa Debate Society. Di gad ni angay ipanghambog ue. Maayo raba ug lalim ning mga trabahu-a.

18 units ra gihapon ko dianing semestera pero di jud ni ma-ihala kay mga hastang lisora. Kung buot sabton damo gad ug vacant, pero mura raman ug wala. Meeting didto, meeting dire. Group study didto, group study diri. Library permi. Ambot ue, ma-o jud tawn na! Naka schedule halos tanan himuonon ug sa dihang mura ba kog robot ba?

Wa man ko mangandoy na ma college scholar karon nga sem. Syempre, kay naglisod baya ko sa akong mga subjects. Mura ba kog nag suicide ba nga nagkuha pa kog BA 161 nga subject sa mga Accountancy para free elective nako. Sige lang, naka 2.5 man pud. Better nalang. Mao man pud akong expected grade. Pasar gad ko sa midterm ug final pero siguro, mejo maot man jud akong recitation. Dah, basta damog nahibaw-an, okay na uy! Atleast, mao diay to ang experience pag nag skwela nakog Law puhon.

Sem-ender namo sa Macroecon didto
Botanical Garden

Maayo man pud akong Macroeconomics. Wala jud ko kayo nag effort pag advance-advance ba. Kahibawo baya ka nga mas maayo gud kung mag advance reading sa mga lessons. Maayo man pud akong Microeconomics. Mejo kulba-kulba lang. Igo ra jud ko makapasar kada Long exam. Atleast! Kaysa sa mahulog. Anyway, may pagka confident gad ko sa major nako kay syempre, double effort. Basta kung may effort, may maayo baya nang resulta. So mejo expected gad pud nako ang mas maayo na grado. Thank you Ma’am Lim and Sir Talde sa tulo ka subjects sa Pol.Sci. nga inyong gitudlo sa amoa! Mejo kahadlukan gad kay duha kay Ma’am  Lim, terrorized gamay.

Sa dihang nag interview mi. Unsani ba
nga mitugpa man ang manok sa akong likod.

Okay na ang academics… storya napud tag lahi bi. Ahmm. Di gad to makalimtan among field trip sa Tubabao. First time jud ko maka puyo ug layo nga isla nga hastang mingawa. Wa juy mga sakyanan wala lay labot sa pumpboat nga sakyan padung Guiuan.

Pinobre ra gad to didto sa Tubabao. Pero maayo pud to kay permi damog pagkaon. Kapoy baya mag alog-alog ug tubig para pagkaligo sa CR sa skwelahan kung asa mi nangatulog, ah kay ang akong gibuhat, manumbay nala ko didto sa ilang Kapitana. Maki-kaligo. Dili pa hago!

Orange nga mga payong gikan nila
Manny Villar! Siya baya sponsor pagpakaon
sa amoang first day lunch time.

Naa puy dinato nga field trip namo. Syempre, Embassy Tour jud to sa Manila. Usa ka simana kahuman sa among Tubabao, nangadto mi ug Manila sa among tibuok klase sa Comparative Politics. A courtesy of Philippine Airlines, Meyers Mansion, ug Vacazion Travel Agency baya to. Nakangadto nako ila Villar. Nakaabot napud kog Chile, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, ug Sri Lanka. Kutob ra gad mga Embassy nila pero okay na to! Murag di na baya jud ko mubalik didto puhon.

Pero sa tumoy sa kalipay kay may nag abang jud nga kapait. Naunsa ba ni nga permi man ko masakit karong semestera, permi nala pasakit ning permi ko hilantan. Wa jud intawn ko naka apil sa among Opening sa Sportsfest. Muna-muna baya jud kog practice sa among sayaw ato nga i-present sa opening. Sa third day nakos Sportsfest nabanhaw. Pero bawi pud ko uy, second jud mi sa sepak takraw, first sa Kawatay Bulad nga ngadto na ko nakahibawo sa duwa sa mismong duwa na, first sa Last Suffer nga abi nakog kaon-kaon nga di man diay! Unsani batong mag pasa-pasa man hinuon ug mga kendi, saging, tawong, bread stick, etc. gamit ang baba! Second to the last pagud ko out of ten players. Haha! Proud pud ko ato sa among Patintero kay first pud mi! Namawi jud ko sa duha ka adlaw nga wa ko sa UP sa Sportsfest kay napugos ko ug pahuway.

KASAMA sa UP! Mga officers na sila gikan
UPV Miagao ug UPV Iloilo

Interview namo kay Kawayan Mayor
Gerry Espina, Sr. Alams na kung unsa
na siya ka imba! :)

Na contact person pud ko ug ahat sa All Leaders Conference sa Visayas-wide nga  Kasama sa UP. Kapoy jud to kaayo kay akoy nag Head sa among student council ato. Nauwaw napud ko kay naka utang mi sa Office of the Student Regent para sa registration. Ambot lang ani! Wa pa jud ko mitungha sa second day ato kay nangadto mi ug Kawayan kauban nila Mark, Kim, Jude, Fionna, si Milay na nahimong photographer namo ug si Maville nga murag tour guide ba. Hehe. Syempre pasalamat ko ni Mama nga maoy naghikay sa among panihapon ug pamahaw inig ka ugmaan. Sa Chona’s Boarding House man sila ga star, nindota man jud didto ba.  Na interview jud namo si Mayor Gerry Espina, Sr., ang banggiitan na ngan sa pulitika sa Biliran. First time pud ko kaabot ug Kawayan ato ug first time nakakita atong mga langgam, tiger, buaya, magkadilain nga has ug sa kadtong bao nga ikaduha sa pinaka kusog mupaak sa tibuok kalibutan. Didto man to sa Zoo nila Espina sa Caray-Caray ug mga pila nalang to ka minuto usa mi manglarga pabalik Tacloban.

Mejo proud ko aning tungura ba! Hehe... Syempre.

Kapoy kung huna-hunaon ano? Pero worthy baya tanan kung mahibaw-an nimong Top 3 ka sa inyong Batch sa UP. Na tingala jud ko diato nga kadtong gipa apply mi para Ayala Young Leaders Congress basta apil sa Top 20 sa over-all since First Year First Semester sa UP. Maayo unta ug madawat ko. Amisyoso ra. Haha.

Syempre halos tig dugay nako maka uli sa boarding house karon nga semester. Makatog man jud ko sa kwarto ba, wa na hinuon koy ma studyhan kay magsige nalang ug katug. Tapad ra man gud ang higdaanan. Ako ra mang usa pud tapos mingaw baya kaayo. Effective pud baya tong mga group study nako sa Zilog nga mga tig alas sais na sa buntag maka uli. Mao nay overnight nga walay tulganay. Damo na pud kog mga di makalimtan diha sa Zilog ba. Makakita mga pok-pok nga halos bisag si kinsa la nga lalaki ang kauban kada kaon pag kadlawon, mga muduol sa imo para mangayog kwarta, ug uban pa. Pag katugon na gane, mag lakat lakat sa karsada sa downtown, muagi ug Dunkin didto dapit sa Jollibee nga tua pud didto ang mga uban nga kaila namo nga na bugbog pud ug study. Maglakat-lakat lang jud intawn mi usahay kauban nila Lois, Kim, Mark, Pamela, ug Glecy. Maabot mi ug RTR Plaza mga alas singko na sa kadlawon kahuman sa downtown tapos manguli na diretso sa tagsa-tagsa sa boarding house mga mag alas sais na tapos andam para klase sa alas dyes. Pasalamat nalang naka College Scholar gihapon ko! Yes! Mas dako pa gane akong GWA karon kumpara last semester.

Kini! Murag klaro ko diini. Hehe
Lipong baya ni sa ulo aning tungura

Ika usa nga mga alas kuatro mi nanguli kadtong pila ka adlaw nalang kay mag pista na ang Tacloban. Nangita man mi ato ug Freestyle nga concert sa Balyuan. Maayo man sab diay sila. Mga pol.sci. gud to akong mga kauban. Red Horse dayon ue. First time baya to nako. Nalipong baya jud ko ato. Wa pa ma kontento nga nag baktas pami padung i-ref. Ngadto man na sa ubos sa traffic light didto mismo sa eskina dapit Gabrino ug Zilog. Storya –storya ra man to ba. Jamming man to kauban nako mga ka kurso nako. First time siguro to namo. Damu-damo man pud mi ato ba.

Naa pay iba. Di ka malisang nga naka emcee na baya jud ko. Ikaduha man to sa Kapihan nga gi pangunahan nako nga event sa Student Council about sa SONA ug usa sa kadtong tri-sectoral forum about SONA gihapon. Nalipay napud ko nga damo ang nangapil atong rally namo against budget cut. Dakong pasalamat nako ila Ma’am Ana, Ma’am Rosianette, Sir Galang ug Sir Dakila sa pag apil ato nga rally sa downtown.

Planking! Mao na pag budget cut pa sa education! Tuo
ninyo ug musugot ra mi? Dili no?! Shock lage mo.

Iapil pa nato ang kadtong nabalita mi sa Bandila nga gi hostan ni Ces Drilon sa ABSCBN tungod lage atong rally laban sa Budget Cut. Ang planking man to sa covered walk ang na kuhaan sa camera sa balita. Syempre niapil ko ato ug hapa-hapa sa covered walk. Damu-damo sab baya mi ato.

Zip line sa Agas-agas bridge sa Southern Leyte!
Di ka malisang ana?
Ako diay nang naa sa left nga naka helmet ug white.

Kadto tanan dugang pa ang kada gabie nga practice sa debate namo kay hasol gad kung huna-hunaon ano? Pero na manage naman la gihapon. Wa ko kahibawo kung gi unsa to nako. Niagi nalang tong mga adlawa nga nakaya man. Naa pud gad lipay-lipay. Labi natong laag nila Sir Jethol, George, Roniel, Mera, Maville, Aina, ug Rose didto sa Agas-agas. Syempre uban ko! Naka zip line najud ko didto. Perti bayang habuga ug perting kulbaa!

Mga halos lima ka buwan nga kasakit ug kalipay. Mao na akong natagamtam. Salamat nalang sa akong mga igsuon nga nag finance sa akoa. Dako jud na kaayo nga tabang. Maayo unta  ug malipay sila sa akong mga nahimo nga kaayuhan karon sa college. Atleast naka one-time university scholar ug consistent college scholar ko. Namention pa jud baya na sa pag introduce sa akoa didto sa symposium namo about Al Qaeda ni Representative Walden Bello sa UP. Nag reactor man jud ko ato on behalf sa mga youths. J

Sa diha nga gihatag sa akoa ang akong certificate
nga naka frame na daan. Kadto man ning nag reactor
ko sa event ni Rep. Walden Bello :)

(Reaction on Maritime Terrorism)

A Reaction Paper on the Symposium on “Asia Pacific Security,

Maritime Terrorism and Spratlys:

Issues on Asian Politics”

The over-all performance showed between Prof. Rommel Banlaoi and Dr. Aileen Baviera were so commendable for being highly informative.  Though it was a struggle for me to be early in school for catching up the opening program because I had encountered a problem on my laptop that needs further time to get fixed at downtown area, I felt that all those in-a-hurries were worth in relative to the vast of knowledge that I learned on that Saturday.

There was no electricity to begin with. So I pondered upon the ceiling in my room on what it might create to the awaited symposium at the 3^rd Floor Library inside UPVTC. I began scanning my cellphone with messages of my classmates asking who went ahead in the venue. So much for the electricity problem, grumbling stomach craving for food, I also carry the problem of my laptop not operating well on that day. With all these bits of burden, I went to the campus and joined all the students in semi-formal wears. Well, that was good enough to set an atmosphere of a formal discussion between intellectuals.

Though the program started late, I think it was forgivable given the failure of LEYECO for not giving prior notice of the said brown-out. I saw how busy the organizers were from the registration booth to the sound system adjustments and up to the serious mitigation of braving the road given the formal attire in buying gasoline for sustaining the generator. Anyway, I see myself in them. I know a lot of fora, symposia, and things alike that awaits our efforts when we turn to be seniors next year.

            In few minutes around 10 in the morning, I knew it was relieving to witness the coming back of electricity. Immediately the program started. I had a thought before that the venue cannot give as much as satisfaction when it would otherwise be at the AS Conference Hall. Well, I proved myself that my assumptions were all wrong. It was relaxing to be seated on the chair at the 3^rd Floor Library given the fresh air that comes from the nearby trees and the good feeling that the venue was wide enough to comfortably fit a number of students, and so much for that…

            Moreover, with all the contentment, I knew that the issue on Maritime Terrorism is rarely met. I was just fortunate to be seated on the second row where the speaker Professor Banlaoi was standing closely. It is already a privilege to diligently pay attention to his lecture and witness him for he had already this experience of talking to the world’s feared people- the terrorists. His expertise on maritime terrorism which comprises the economically motivated piracy and politically motivated terrorism gave the dichotomy of terms well understood and cleared.

            In his discussion, we had gladly clarified our confused idea on the matters regarding Spratlys. This particularly deals on what are the names of its few islands and islets, who owned those, what are being built among those islands, and how are some of the Islands in Spratlys that of which owned by China be compared to those owned by Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Philippines.

            I think his photography efforts in capturing the beauty of Spratlys creates more words that are self-pondering. The images of the islands owned by the Philippines are too far in comparison to what those of China’s, Taiwan’s, etc. These countries built concrete runways and concrete buildings on the islands that they claimed. But the sad reality is the face of the Philippine Government looking weak in claiming the islands. The arid runway, igloo-like structure, and some bamboo fenced establishment built on some Philippine owned islands reflects the level of competitiveness of the Philippines over other Asian countries that continue to contest some of the believed rich islands.

            To add up the wisdom, Professor Baviera’s macro-political view in the name of the international community, the superpowers, and the rising China was very enlightening. It firstly gave me an answer to whether or not I should regret the rise of China. Moreover, her facts and analysis were all striking. I find it remembering to see USA as democratic internally and undemocratic internationally with relative to China being undemocratic but acting democratically in the global arena. Though the number one factor that lessens the discussion on the burden proof was the time, I think all the details that she bombarded were all enough to formulate an individual analysis on the rise of China in Asia as a superpower globally.

Seated on the left wearing a polo shirt with a blue pen on my
left hand, we were gathered together with my
Political Science majors. :)

            Given all the beauty offered by the symposium, I think what makes me to regret too much is the wasted chance in asking both speakers. I had questions in me to both speakers which were left hanging on my mind. Perhaps I just lack the reinforcement and courage to bravely stand on the microphone and speak with the guests.

            Anyway, it was fun. It was fun equivalently filled with knowledge supplied by experts. I had a good time with my batch mates during the wave of presentations that began after the all the presentations of the guest speakers.

            Over-all, the symposium was pretty good. I just hope to actively participate on some other gatherings that happen to be also like that. I am hoping to learn more from expert individuals on their specific field in politics. Furthermore, it was just self-fulfilling and worthy to experience in attending such gathering.

More than Fun

Before, I never know the pleasure of doing it. I cannot comprehend what makes some of the men in the campus created a fan page on Facebook proudly publicizing how they delicately do it on the rooftop, on the stairs, on the hallway, on top of cars, and wherever I believe they find unusual.

Just lately this semester, I find it cool scanning pictures in the internet showing how youths planked braving the foreseeable injuries that they might get when balancing gets over. I’m talking to how “plankers”, as we call them, perfectly portrayed unemotional and stationary planking on a rooftop that which is inclined. Well, I find it attractive! I mean, it transcends me an image of a misplaced dead body. So unusual. For the safety issue, well, I leave it to them, I had this prior idea that these rational youths know what they are doing.

But what does it really signify? What one can get from it remains to be contested.  Well, if some legislators’ head aches when planking issues flashed on television, I don’t care the worth of their effort in crafting the anti-planking bill. I just want to leave that matter to them, I mean to our over-acting legislators. Perhaps, they are just bored.

This all the more interests me to plank. Yes! I’m seriously justifying the idea that it is more than fun unlike to what legislators narrowly see as to why “plankers” do it.

When news stations reported the unending protest on anti-budget cut, the crowd of students gave way to highlight the planking moment. Again, it transcends me to another picture. I see an image of people massacred in vain where hopelessness and fear is painted out. I know that planking is meaningful. I know that it gives a deeper meaning. I know that it is used as a sign of protest.

As enrolled in a regional UP unit, now on my junior year, I know how students of left-leaning parties show sentiments in public. I feel how heart is being crumpled when issues protested are denied by some apathetic authorities. If rallies resorted to consciousness to some other students or even to “tambays” on streets as well, I think the rise of planking gives equivalent effect, if not, creates much more impact to some other lives. You may be silent and motionless incomparable to that of a noisy and “wild” protester in rally, I do believe that both costs way the same for a greater benefit.

I have been into rallies. I felt stinky, I get wet, and still, I continue to learn. The burning passion continues to fight for everyone’s right. I learned not to be silent. I should have opted to live normally as a student that involves to none of any organizations and that programmed to school-boarding house- school- boarding house lifestyle. But instead, I want to get involved. Yes, I had my rallies, now, I had my planks.

May it be sound funny how I felt in love with planking on a meaningful way; I felt that it is even inspiring on how my friends too viewed it on the same manner.  I remember last 24 of September this year when the whole UP system asserts for a greater state subsidy and expressing anti educational budget cut, I historically had my first ever public planking. It was inside the campus. It was along the covered pathway. Although it takes too much courage to do so, my friends’ enthusiasm in doing the act pushes me more to do it and joined the chain of planking in the covered walk. I know people see me awkward. Who say so that planking is not for serious people? Some of my schoolmates usually tag me as a very academic student. I cannot forget my classmate in the university when he classified me as a person that once known to public that I drink, that I smoke (something which I honestly never tried yet), then my image will automatically be destroyed in the eyes of some other people. I am undeniably seen as an eternal sinner if I happen to do more of such normal male stuffs. My personality is not for planking as what some commented. Am I really molded this way?

As long as this remains to be legal, for no reason at all to put anti-planking bill into law in the first place, I continue to fight. We the students continue to shout our rights in the public through our silent protest. We continue to catch everyone’s attention that after all shall challenge the audience’s mind on what keeps planking alive and prominent.