Social Contract

It was March 23, 2009 that marked the day of our graduation at Ugnayang La Salle at our beloved alma mater, De La Salle University - Dasmariñas.

Graduating from college was one of the few gifts that you could dedicate to those people who supported your studies thru out the 

years. Thanks to my parents, to my beloved foster father (may you rest in peace) and to my beloved tita. Thank you very much for giving me a wonderful Lasallian Education.

Just some thoughts.

Today is the graduation day of loving girlfriend, Dawn, from Doane Baptist Seminary. And she will now embarking on an adverture of 

a lifetime, she will be making some decisions for her future. And I will be with her along the way. What I can do is to support her and 

give her my outmost udnerstanding.

It is also funny to have a bonding moment with Lhot, Lendl, Ralph, Jen and Rey at Lendl's dorm as I used Hiyas' gift, Ice Breaker. It 

was fun getting to know them better and sharing some lessons I have learbed thru the years. It was funny that I gave Lhot's group 

advises for their thesis. Lendl remarked that I can now teach at college.

Also, graduating from college and being unemployed for the mean time is giving me the chance to spend time with my High School buddies and with my family. It is fun having them again and just talking about our HS experiences. Also congrats to my HS classmate and friend Peniel Banelga that will be graduating from Pamantasan ng Cabuyao for the degree of BS Accountancy. Kudos.

Right now, I am looking for a job, or a career to start with. And while doing this, I am realizing a lot of things in my life. I thought those people that i shared my life with, will know somehow who is jackner. But i was wrong. Not all. It was painful, but i guess it is part of life. I still love and care for them. Nothing changed.

Here is a spiller.

I believe i am not alone with this sentiment. I know this happened a week ago, but it was one thing that we will not forget for we 

gained shame and dissapointment. before I hit the bird, let me tell you a story.

It was March 2008, when a professor asked us to do a project for his subject. It was part of a final requirement. In my case, and maybe to the entire batch, part of it was for the grade. I don't want to look like a hypocrite here. But the main reason why we are doing it is for the senior class to feel and look back of what they have did for almost for years of their stay at the academe. It was a night giving JUST recognition and going back to memory lane. Having full of ENERGY and LIFE that gave the glow to the graduating class. It was an event that gave recognition, not only to the graduating students but also to the faculty and staff that they DESERVE. It was not only for the grade, it was mainly for a TRIBUTE for the graduating class, for they DESERVE that. It was PANGALAY2008.

For this years PANGALAY, it was a different story. I will not elaborate the programme itself or even the pre-program preparations. 

But it was really a different story. I would like to shorten it by saying, WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED WHAT WE DESERVE. It was obvious that the graduating class for this year was not impressed or even gratified of what was presented. We are DISSAPOINTED. 

For me that know the story behind it, i know mostly the people who are responsible of what is needed to be done. But how about to other people that doesn't knwo about anything. The initial reaction would be the entire batch of 20**.

This event, in its significance, happens only once in a lifetime. But it was remembered, not by its value, but how it was presented in a louzy way.

We gave the graduating class before us what they deserve, and we expected something equally or more than what we have done for those ahead of us. But instead, we received something that WE REALLY DON'T DESERVE. I hope that there is HEART, 

PASSION, SINCERITY on whatever that will do for others, most especially if they deserve it.

One Month in The Making

This blog is one month in the making, one month that kept me away from finishing different things. One month full of lessons and moments worth remembering.

(February 19, 2009)

And today, the day that twice in my life made me anxious. This time, not anymore. But I felt nervous for the people that I know deserves to be declared as winners at the end of the day. Today is the first day of the election. When I ran for the first time for a student council office, I won, in a hard way. Majority vote is the key to be at the end of the light, and yes I had the light, thanks to the 10 votes advantage over my competitor.

And last year, was a different story. Three of us knew each other before the elections. Three of us know each other, and at the end of the one was declared as the winner. Lessons learned, thoughts was heard. But you cannot turn back time now, it was a history that is hard to forget and can be painful sometimes.

This elections, I appeal to the entire student body, PLEASE VOTE THOSE WHO DESERVES IT. I am frustrated with some events that revolves around this year's elections. And who am I for people to listen to me? I am a student, A student that has been there, Lost to the race and hopes for the best for the studentry.

The positions at stake is more than it looks like. It is decorated with responsibility, liability and accountability. It is more than glitz and glamor, it is earning blood and sweat for the students.

I appeal to the students of DLSU-D, GO OUT AND VOTE for the student elections. As I always says during my 2007 campaign for CLASC presidency:

"Walang Karapating Magreklamo ang Taong Hindi Bumuboto"

Go out and let your thought be heard, talk to those who are running for the student council and exchange point of view. It is very helpful for them to know what you need and want. What are

your interests and ideas for future projects.

By these, we can reduce or even end passivity within the realms of our school.

Personally, I don't want the student leaders to experience again what I had experience during the 2008 Student Elections. Approximately, 1,800 students voted during that elections out of 10,000++ student population.

Painful? Yes it was. I had this thought of additional votes can change the course of history, and can prevent further problems.

I am hopeful that when I wake up on Sunday, the declared winners are those who are elected by the students of DLSU - D that deserves to serve for the benefit of their fellow students.

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(February 7, 2009)

Indeed, life it too short to waste time. It was a heart warming conversation with him. During that time, he is not a thesis teacher, nor a faculty of the Communication Arts Department. Rather, he is a son that longing for his father.

"Lagi siyang nagmamadali...kita mo, umalis siya ng hindi nagpapaalam..."

Thursday, was the day when the incident at Trece Martires happened. As of the publish of this blog, 11 are confirmed dead.

But it was more than that. Later that day, students heard something from our department. A very loud sound, someone is crying. That person is really hurt. It was our thesis teacher, and he was crying because his father past away during that day. It was a very heart breaking news when i heard it. I don't personally know his father, but the stress and fatigue that he experience from work is something not good when receiving that kind of news.

And last Saturday, BA and me, decided to go to the wake of his father. Upon reaching the place, we asked Mike to accompany us to go to the chapel inside UPLB. Going there, i am thinking what will be his reaction. Hoe are we going to approach him.

Then, when we the chapel, our teacher was sitting, talking to someone. And, suddenly he gave me a look and utter the words:

"Nasaan na ang thesis nyo?"

I was right. He will going to ask about it. And that really gave me the guilt, not only that moment, but also during the past days and upon hearing the news.

It was a joke that gave the moment a light approach. And then we headed towards the coffin and looked at his father. He was very peaceful, calm and serene. I guess, he was happy seeing his children being successful on their own fields.

During the night, we listen to his story. His travels abroad and wisdom that he taught to his children, especially to our thesis teacher. It was like listening to a student telling the lessons that his professor inculcated to him in the subject called life.

He is coping to what happened. A vulnerable man that shows smiles despite challenging times.

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(January 13, 2009)

And then the fairytale was halted for a little bit..she is again far away but near to my heart.

It was one of the most memorable day in my life. She made me fell things that I haven't felt before, when she was in town.

It was nice to meet new people, this time from the Program Committee of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines at their National Headquarters at Ermita, Manila.

It was nice talking to them and talking about how do I meet dawn and everything that goes around it. And of course,some reminders to me.

Thanks to all of the people at Program Committee. Ma'am Ginnie, Ma'am Febie, Ma'am Charmay and Ma'am Lay, and the Girl Scouts that are special to dawn's heart, you know who you are.

Thanks to Neil Lim, the President of the National Youth Parliament, for accompanying and getting a cab for us. Thank God she was able to get on her flight.