Don't Get Me Wrong

September 21 -the  day of the Declaration of the Martial Law. The day when our government has put our freedom to rest.

Although several decades have already passed since its declaration in 1972, the time won't excuse us from dismissing thousands of human rights violations committed by our government during those years. I can still remember my politically-active college days when we always handle “Never again to Martial Law!” placards on the streets. Those scenes were supplemented by public film showing in the campus about Marcos regime. We were proud. We were brave. No Marcos loyalists or historical revisionists can make me tired of educating the public about remembering that horrible mistake in the past. 

We realized that an autocratic rule has never been a popular decree. Had it been admired, then EDSA 1 would never happen. There could be no blood spilled on the Philippine soil.

Today, we enjoy the fruits of the labor of our relatives who fought against the Martial Law. We benefit so much from the consequences of our countrymen who sacrificed in the People Power. We are now blessed with so many freedoms. We are nobody but caretakers of it. Do we need again to shed more blood if we take away the freedom bestowed upon us? Let us not waste what our history has offered us.

When we talk of history, we always have to connect it to what is happening at present. I make it a point that history is not just about memorizing names, dates, and places, but rather understanding how history shapes the present and predicts the future.

I am a history instructor and currently facing a potential serious problem in the academe that most in the workplace cannot fully see. Even if this article is for public consumption, I hope that people won’t get me wrong.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Aren't we?

On this age, I see the rise of new Marcoses who love censorship and curtailment of rights. I was once told to take down my post concerning a potential debate over school policy. Since when did the social media prohibit the public from discussing critics? Everyone is free to express their opinion as long as it does not injure the rights of others. I appreciate those who create discourses over different avenues like facebook, twitter, blogspot, google plus, and many more. If only some people in the academe where I am teaching knew how twitter and facebook liberalize oppressed societies in the modern world, then they should not self-impose autocratic rule over these networking sites. Funny that I am referring to respected people who are masters of their own fields and expected to be well-versed on societal issues but remain to be parochial.

More than that, I am quite disappointed on how the horrors of our history are coming right before my eyes. I cannot afford to listen how simple critics towards the administration correspond an immediate expulsion. Why do we deprive the student of his right to education on the basis of his being critical, vigilant, and brave? Where is our mandate to introduce a pool of debates and dialogues when we repress the others from expressing what they want? The mandate of the university belongs to  the students. The absence of the latter does not create the former. I just hope that the “student-leaders” take some time to contemplate on their roles and responsibilities.

Why is it too difficult for the people in the university to just accept the formation of thesis and anti-thesis? The society will always be a spectrum of conflicting values. Why are they so sensitive in dealing with constructive criticisms? The last time I checked, the word "university" means a place where people exchange ideas. 

This writing might put me in the bad light. At least, I allow the school to rethink of itself and repair its internal problems. To my university, let us not bring back the past. We are over with the Martial Rule.

Why Teaching Happened To Be My Choice?

Before me are selected Junior High School Japanese students at the Philippine National Youth Commission main office on August 3, 2013 as I share to them my experiences as a student exchange grantee in Tomakomai, Japan 

“What made you decide to teach?” Most friends ask me this question repeatedly.

Teaching is not the profession I prepared in college. I never dreamed of teaching. When I was a kid, my parents used to ask me what will I become when I grow up. It seemed to be the most difficult question asked by my parents. I cannot immediately respond on what really interests me. Instead, I always recite to them the dangers of every professions I know. My siblings and parents would laugh when I used to childishly expose the misfortune of an engineer if his building collapsed, the danger of a seaman if his ship sank, the mishap of a police officer if he gets killed, the danger of a pilot if his plane gets crashed, and the teacher's misfortune of developing a high blood pressure in the course of disciplining his students. So I ended up with no distinct answer about my future.

UP Diliman Asian Center Building.

Early this year, I had a spectrum of choices. I just need to decide what’s best for me. I already had the ticket in pursuing my MA in Asian Studies major in China Studies after passing both the examination and the interview in UP Diliman Asian Center. I already had the ticket to work at the Philippine Tariff Commission after recognizing all my documents sent to their main office, where I believe to be my step in entering the Foreign Service Institute at the Department of Foreign Affairs. All of these were just series of attempts. Still, no regrets.

Back then, June was fast approaching and I got no more time to decide except to pursue my Master’s Degree. However, I still have a lot of preparations to consider. I was on a dilemma. I began weighing the costs and benefits of every possible options that come to mind. Suddenly, I thought of teaching in a State University in our province which my mother also gladly considered.

So here are my thoughts before I conclude my decision: I was sickly way back in college. In fact, I was lucky enough to manage myself in attending our Graduation rites despite many days lying on bed.  I never attended any rehearsals or even our graduation mass. In my long absence, I never had any chance of bonding with my closest batch mates. I even showed at our graduation venue a minute before the processional starts and left after joining few groufies with my batch mates.

Naval State University. A premier state university
 in our hometown where I finished my secondary.

Being seriously sick legitimizes my decision to stay in our hometown. By then, I prayed for the acceptance of my intent to teach at Naval State University. I submitted my letter to defer my enrollment in UP Diliman and called the office in Tariff Commission about my decision not to pursue working. I laid out my explanations and sighed after closing all my doors in all possible places to work or study. Of course, my mother was happy to look after me after four years of being away from home. I remember when I was in first year college when I just visited our hometown only on sembreak, Christmas vacation, and summer, and I always remember how my mother reacted about how strange I look every time I return home.

Time just flies and June arrived. I cannot forget my awkward moments in NSU. Actually, I really felt that I wasn’t accepted in the first place because I have never received even a single call after I was told to wait for the result of my application. A friend, who is already a faculty member in NSU informed me that I need to show up at the Dean’s Office. I was excited, thinking that I might be personally told to teach. As I enter the office, I saw a lot of people conversing and only to find out that there will be a faculty meeting. There was no turning back. Anyway, maybe I was intentionally called to attend that meeting. I just sat silently. I believe the Dean was surprised of my presence considering that I wasn’t called for an appointment and yet I am already at the faculty meeting. That was very awkward! I already blended in the crowd and maybe the Dean's hands were tied to send me out from the room. After the meeting, I was told that my documents were not  yet sent to the President’s Office. I was then assisted to see  the President for an interview. It was too unusual that in my case, I attended the faculty meeting first before I was formally hired. It was the most embarrassing moment I had in life. 

Moreover, teaching can easily be appreciated. I was never into this but now that I am in the academe, I always make it a point to give something new for my students. I may not have education units but I know this does not make me less effective, though it's natural to feel inferior since I lack the knowledge when it comes to strategies and all those teaching jargons.

The road was unclear for me after my graduation, but no matter what, we decide to who we become. Let us just be brave and make decisions to which road are we going to take.