Checkmate!

Winning a chess game requires unique or perhaps old but tested strategies in playing the game. The objective - winning - must be clear to the player, and he must understand the different pieces on the board; what each represents, and what each can and cannot do. One has to be mindful of not just his own moves, but of the moves of the opponent. It's either you win by reacting to the moves of the opponent, or by making the opponent react to your moves. But whatever you do in a game, you keep in mind your own strategy.

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Just like playing chess (or any other game perhaps) a socmar campaign's success would rely greatly on the strategies used. Thus, formulating the strategy to be used would mean thorough analysis, planning, analysis, planning, analysis and planning. In doing so, all aspects of the campaign would be looked into - purpose, target market, objective and SMART goals, barriers and benefits, 4Ps, budget, monitoring and evaluation. Whew! Long list, huh? But of course! Socmar aims to change the society. It aims to achieve development. So it needs a careful planning and implementation. If well-thought, though, this may beat the social problems (opponents) and finally win the game. Ooops! Checkmate! ;)

Because We're All Different

Know your audience - this is what we, speech comm majors, had always kept in mind whenever we had to deliver a speech or present a performance. Something that I consider parallel with one aspect of socmar planning. If public speaking and performance have the audience, then marketing has the market. The target market would always be important in any marketing strategy. Knowing how to identify and segment them would be very helpful as we try to formulate our goals and objectives, and the entire campaign as well. Knowing who to benefit from the campaign would keep us focused and aligned with all other aspects of the plan.

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But more than just identifying, I believe that a socmar plan also requires understanding of the target market. Just like in speeches, it's not just identify the audience, but KNOW the audience. The market has several characteristics, individual and group behaviors that might affect the entire socmar campaign. For instance, certain age groups may have different reactions towards a certain campaign (teens reacting on anti-smoking campaign negatively). Keeping this in mind would help us know what to expect from our market.

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Our group have by the way come up with a name - THE Press. Makes sense with our DEPRESSION awareness campaign. ;) So far, the group has been working on the background of the campaign, formulating its objectives and goals.

Overwhelmed

We have come to that part where we have to apply what we have been learning so far - in our own social marketing campaign. And as I started reading the materials for module 4, I was overwhelmed on the things that have to be done for a socmar plan. :| 

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I just don't consider myself good in planning. I feel that I do something better when it's impromptu. :D But stuff like this COULD NOT be done in one sitting.; COULD NOT be implemented overnight. A thorough and careful planning should be done before a such campaign gets implemented. And so the task begins..................................................

Sooooo social

Correct me if I'm wrong, but these days, when you say SOCIAL, most probably you would think of these......

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But there's more to SOCIAL than just social MEDIA or social NETWORKING, and that's SOCIAL MARKETING. Yet, only few probably knows about it. Perhaps, some would even think that it's marketing on social networking sites,  like the growing number of products available on Facebook and Multiply. 

This social marketing thing may be a new concept to some, but it has been around for so many years already. DF 3 has made this concept clearer to me. People still remains to be the very core of this concept. Social marketing happens because there are certain issues that we want to address. Issues that involve us, people, the society. Everyday, everywhere we go, anywhere we look at, we see so many issues that we people face. But we remain looking at this issues and have learned to live with them, and by them. Socmar wants to change this; it wants to us to change and be the change we need to achieve a better life. But this is not as simple as it may sound. Socmar requires a framework, a plan carefully thought of before it is implemented. And more than that, it requires a heart for doing so.

.................
Our group has started working on the topic we have voted for - depression. In our first chat meeting, we shared several articles and studies on depression. We also discussed the different concepts that we would be dealing on, primarily the causes, symptoms, signs of depression, and the different ways to seek help.

Comm for De.... what?

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So we want to be involved. Fine. Actually, we HAVE to be involved. After all, this development thing is for US. So who else should work for it, right? But here's the thing. How many of us actually gets involved with a total knowledge, understanding and awareness of what we are getting involved in? Of what all these are for? Of what we are doing?

Just like the text on the picture, where some parents would want to get involved in the development, and, well, life of their children (of course!), yet, sometimes they don't really understand what they are doing (Oooops! Sorry parents!), community participants in C4D sometimes don't understand what all these are for, and what all these are. Why? Because we Filipinos are fond of this so called mob mentality. Yeah, I may sound too negative, but I just wanna point this one out. We go with where the majority goes. We want what the majority wants. Even if we don't like it, even if we don't understand it. Just look at the rallies and protests happening around. You'll see kids holding placards of protests, which they can't even read. (Well, yeah, they are most probably paid protesters, like claques, but still, the point is, they don't understand what they are in to) You'll see people tweeting R.I.P. Rowan Atkinson just because it's 'trending'. And so on..

Communication for development requires community involvement - it requires people who are directly affected to be part of the problem solving. More than just going with where everyone else goes, it requires these people to understand their situation, look for possible solutions to their problems, have a voice to speak them out, and collaborate with others to be able to help the entire community. Sadly, there are still some people who just say yes to what the majority says yes to. OR they just follow what the higher authorities say. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. The people involved should have a total understanding of their situation and the things they can do to change it. Involvement requires individual and collaborative decisions. If not, then C4D would be pointless.

The World in Our Hands

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WE are in a never-ending quest for a better life... for all of US.

What basically sums up my most important learning in Module 1 is the function of we and us in grammar - We and Us are FIRST PERSON, PLURAL pronouns. We DOES the action; Us RECEIVES it. 

1. First Person


Social problems occur because we, humans, see them as problems. We are the FIRST PERSONS to know about it, we are the first ones to see it. Whatever does not satisfy us pushes us to change it. As we strive to change our current situation, it is still us, who first look for the solution, and not anyone else. It is us who knows best what to do about it, because we are part of it. To identify a social problem means to feel that there is something disturbing about it. We don't just listen to others saying that there's something wrong; WE feel that there IS something wrong, so we strive to make it better.


2. PLURAL


A society is not just about one person; it consists of MANY people as its members. Development would not be possible if only one person wants it, or if only one person works for it. One is not enough to move a mountain built by many. A problem would not be solved by only one mind thinking, and one pair of hands working. Change would not happen if we would rely to few people to do the change. 


3. DOES and RECEIVES the action


No one will do the work much better than the people directly involved in the problem. WE are the ones to act about the things that we deem needed to be changed, after all, it's for US. Whatever good or bad that we do, the endpoint would be us.

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In the near future (yes!) I would take part in (and hopefully initiate) a social marketing/ social mobilization program. I am currently in the academe, and any educational issue is really close to my heart. Keeping in mind the importance of the "we", I would have a clear analysis of my audience first, and I would see to it that I get them involved in the program, making them realize that the better life they had always been longing for, lies in their own hands.

Because old brooms know the corners... :)

You know those friends whom you have known for such a looong time, and have not seen for quite a long time,too but the friendship still seems so fresh and so exciting? Those whom you can talk to about anything and everything (literally), like jumping from one topic to another? Those whom you pay a surprise visit and would always make time for you wherever they are? And those who make you wait for a couple of hours (because of their long time of travel) and make you complain but still make you feel really happy as they arrive? Well, luckily, I have them.

Le, Robert and Ronan at the UP Lantern Parade, 2007

Last Friday was an another faculty development seminar in Batangas City, for BatStateU's 11th Charter day celebration. It was a whole day seminar but I had my final exams the next day so I just went to Manila straight from Batangas City. I didn't know it would just take me almost two hours to get there so I basically had plenty of time to spend that afternoon. I went straight to UP, stayed in the library and studied for my exams met up with Robert and Ronan, ate somewhere in the Shopping Center, and talked and talked and talked. :))

We spent like four hours (including the almost one hour of waiting for Ronan) of nonstop walking around the campus, eating and talking. Politics, impeachment, devolution, media, plans, virginity, relationships, boyfriends, girlfriends, students, high school, prom, former teachers, allergies, food, Maginhawa, Moon Leaf, (oh,this is an endless list), I mean, everything. As in EVERYTHING. :))

That was a refreshing conversation with them. I can actually spend the whole day talking to them, for we never have dull moments. We talk about anything that pops out our minds, and everything that slips out of our tongues. We can be serious, hilarious, ridiculous, spontaneous. And I love it. They are the kind of friends whom I don't see that much but seem to know me from head to toe. They're those who know the Le, and not just the Val. They're those whom you can have the craziest, most senseless, but still most senseful conversation ever. 

Well, that's a very good night-before-a-torturing-final-exam, spent with two of the most INTELLECTUAL (naks) friends I've got. :))

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And here are the tweets after that meeting:

'Til next time!! :))

B day after V day

This is not a usual Valentine post like everyone else’s. In fact, I don’t celebrate Valentine’s. After all, it is just a “day”. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not celebrating it not because I’m bitter that I’m single. (I soooo love being single).  It just so happened that it has always been an ordinary day in my life. But the days before and after it are not. The 13^th and the 15^th are always special. The former is my Dad’s birthday, and the latter is a day my friends and I started celebrating around five years ago.

Benjamin Benson Logronio. Benson. 

It’s Benson’s day.

Joicee had the most creative letter that day. :))

It’s a simple story of a man who had his heart broken on a Valentine’s day. And since we, (Cindy, Jelly, Joicee, Le, Mikol, Tasha) also didn’t find the Vday a super duper extra special day (plus the fact that we were all single that time, I think), we all decided to celebrate the day after, and call it Benson’s day. :)

We prepared simple stuff to express our love for everyone. They were mostly letters, short but sweet ones, written on a yellow paper, a piece of paper detached from a notebook, a one-half-crosswise stationery, and a special paper which I don’t know the name. But Kuya Benson’s was different. Though he had a letter, written on a brown paper (one letter generally for everybody), his love for us was expressed through toasted breads, sautéed sardines, butter (aka margarine) – a surprise breakfast very early in the morning that woke all of us up with a smile and tears in our eyes. It was love.

Unfortunately, Friendster is not so friendly to let me keep the photos of the letter, the food, and everything on that day. Well, this is the best I got:

Benson's letter

 The years that followed, we would fill our house with cut out of hearts. . .

Hearts,hearts,and more hearts :)

. . . and let it stay there for the rest of the year (I don't know if it was symbolic of our love for each other or we're really just too lazy to clean them up. :D)

We didn't get to celebrate that day together after college,but for sure, we'll have the opportunity to be together again to celebrate Benson's day. :))

Statement of Purpose

I just thought of posting it. I am honestly not so sure if I got it right, but hopefully I did. =)

When I was filling up my application form for UP some years ago, just like most high school students, I couldn’t decide which course to take. I was in front of the television that time watching the news, and I suddenly thought I wanted to be a newscaster. I wrote the following courses as my choices: BA Broadcast Communication and BA Speech Communication; BA Development Communication and BA Communication Arts. I honestly didn’t have any clear idea of what Speech Comm and Dev Comm were. I just wrote them down because they were communication courses. I didn’t know where my interest on communication came from that time especially that I knew that during my younger years what I wanted was to be a teacher. I ended up taking BA Speech Communication as my undergraduate program. During the first semester, it still wasn’t clear to me of what Speech Comm really was. When I took my first major subject in Communication, I learned how broad my chosen program was. It was like a little of everything about communication. Many think that communication is just about “talking” and that there is not so much about it that should be or could be studied. I often received comments like “Anong pinag-aaralan nyo dun? Anong trabaho nyo after?”  Because of these, my interest in the study of communication got deeper. I thought that as a communication student, I should seek answers to these questions. I was able to look at the deeper sense of communication, not just the speaker-message-receiver concept. I was able to see and examine the complexity of its process. Towards the end of my college years, when I was asked the same questions again, I answered, “Madami. We study the relationship and importance of communication in arts, science, psychology, sociology, anthropology, linguistics, economics, history, management, and politics and vice versa. We can be teachers, managers, writers, call center agents, newscasters, and many more.” The answer might be broad and superficial for some, but this is what I got from studying communication.

My desire and love for teaching still didn’t get suppressed. I thought of shifting to an Education course but I thought it was too late. Besides, I knew that I could still fulfill my dream of becoming a teacher even if my degree was in the field of communication. In fact, I thought that being a communication student would be a great help for me as a teacher soon, and it really is of great help in my current job as a college instructor, at the same time, it also helps me cope with the new job I am assigned to do – as Human Resource Personnel. My knowledge in interpersonal communication, intercultural communication and organizational communication has helped me in performing my job as an HR personnel well.

As an Instructor, I want to be of help in elevating our people from poverty through education and I believe that my knowledge in communication and other related fields can be of great help in the fulfillment of this dream. The use of communication effectively for the development of our society and country as a whole is something that is worth focusing on. This is why I want to enroll in Master of Development Communication. I strongly believe that through this program, I can gain more knowledge and understanding, at the same time more skills in using communication as a tool for development. I would want to focus on the use of communication in education as well as the educational system of our country. It would be worthy to look at the role of communication in the betterment of our current educational system.

I believe that the University of the Philippines Open University is an ideal place for me to continue my education. The promotion of distance education as an innovative way of learning helps in receiving quality education despite the distance.

After completion of my Master’s degree, I plan to pursue a Doctoral degree. Because I am currently in the academe, my eventual goal is to be a professor where I can continue doing researches on communication, and at the same time help my institution in delivering quality education to students.

Tatak TIBAK

TIBAK - Tibak is a play on the Filipino word, aktibista (activist), and generally refers to activists and street parliamentarians. (http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Tibak:_University_of_the_Philippines_Activists)

Activism, I believe, is not what most people think it is. When we, UP students try to express our thoughts and opinions on matters that are socially related, or even in simple discussions and we try to defend some points that we think are right, we are almost always quoted as “tibak”, with matching line, “taga-UP ka nga, aktibistang aktibista,eh”. If you come to think of it, it’s kinda offensive for us UP students, or UP people that we are called activists just because we came from UP. Yes, we are activists, but not the activists that they think we are. There is a misconception that activism is just about going out on the street, marching to Mendiola or Malacañang, holding placards and shouting their complains against the government. I remember when I was in first year college, one of my professors, (Philosophy 11), who admitted that he was a “hard-core” activist (who joined rallies every now and then), told us that if we want this country to be better, (just like what most “raliyista” want), we should study well. He told us that instead of going out on rallies, we should just give focus on our studies. In that way, according to him, we were already helping the country to be better. I could never forget that.

After that day, I thought I wanted to be an activist. I started being more vigilant and more socially-aware and concern. I shared my opinions and stand on issues in and out the campus. I started gaining information on matters that concern not only our university but the entire country as well. I started reading materials about society. I started having a “say” on what’s happening. I started to be critical. I started to be an activist. I never went out on rallies though. I never shouted on streets. I never held placards. I never marched to Mendiola or Malacañang. What I did was I finished my studies. I worked to earn money for my studies. I performed on streets. I delivered speeches in class. I shared opinions on my advocacy on quality education. I graduated without distinction but I still graduated without failing any subject. I was an activist in my own way.

Now I am teaching in a University. I am still an advocate of quality education. I try my best to give my students the best of me. I give them whatever I am capable of giving just to ensure that they get the kind of education I believe they should have for them to succeed in life. I fight against hunger, poverty, illiteracy. So I teach. I am an activist.

The term “tibak” now has a deeper sense to me.  It’s simply, generally about fighting for what you believe is right, in any way you can. It’s about being aware of what’s happening around you and doing something to solve it and not just complaining about it. Those prominent and ordinary people who go out on streets to express their protest against the government are activists. Students who study very hard to help their families afterwards are activists. Reporters and media men who give their time and risk their lives just to deliver the news accurately are activists. Doctors and medical practitioners who dedicate themselves to ensuring good health to the Filipino people are activists. Agriculturists who spend their days ensuring the quality and quantity of food supply for the country are activists. Janitors who clean the surroundings are activists. People who give alms to street children are activists. Those who turn off the light when not used to conserve energy are activists. We, in one way or another, are all activists.

Comfort Women

This was one of the papers I submitted for my Fil50 (Panitikan ng Pilipinas) class when I was in 4th year college. After reading it again, I suddenly remembered the time we were with Lola Regina, and now I wonder where she is. =(



Si Lola Regina

            Madami na akong napag-aralan tungkol sa mga “comfort women” mula sa iba’t ibang aklat ng kasaysayan mula pa noong bata ako. Masasabi kong maswerte ako dahil bata pa lamang ako, kahit hindi pa man naming pinag-aaralan sa paaralan ang tungkol sa mga nangyari noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig, ay marami rami na akong alam tungkol sa mga pangyayari noong panahong iyon. Sundalo noon ang aking lolo at isa siya sa mga Pilipinong sundalong nakipaglaban noong panahon ng Hapon. Madalas niya kaming kwentuhan ng kanyang mga karanasan sa giyera. Kaya naman kahit ito ang unang pagkakataon kong makapanayam si Lola Regina, na naging ‘comfort woman” noong panahon ng hapon, ay hindi na din bago para sa akin ang mga naikwento niya sa amin. Bukod sa mga kwento ng aking lolo ay mayroon na din akong nabasang mga aklat na nagkwekwento ng buhay ng mga “comfort women” noong nag-aaral pa ako ng Kas1. Marahil ang masasabi kong bago sa akin, at, para sa akin ay siyang pinakamahalagang bahagi ng aming panayam, ay ang mga personal na karanasan pagsubok na pinagdaanan ni Lola Regina bago, habang at matapos ang giyera.

            Hindi naging ganoon kalinaw sa akin ang ibang detalye ng kwento ni Lola Regina dahil na din sa madami kaming mag-aaral ang nakikipanayam sa kanya, at hindi na din naman kaya pa ni Lola na lakasan pa ang kaniyang boses. Gayunpaman, madami akong natutunan sa kaniyang kwento, lalo pa’t sa edad na 78 ay malinaw pa din sa kaniyang isipan ang mga pangyayari sa kaniyang buhay, at handing handa siyang ilahad ang lahat. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, trese-anyos siya noon nang dukutin ng mga Hapon at dalhin sa isang lugar sa Pampanga. Ayon sa kaniya, hindi pa siya dinadatnan noon ng regla, at wala siyang kaalam alam sa mga pinaggagawa sa kaniya ng mga sundalong Hapon. Ang alam lang niya ay “Hayop talaga ang mga Hapon noon, kahit batang Hapon, mga walang puso.” Saksi siya sa pagpaslang ng mga Hapon sa kaniyang mga magulang, kapatid, at iba pang kaanak. Sa murang edad, sa isang iglap, naulila siya, nawalan ng pamilya. Nang dalhin siya sa isang bahay ay sinimulan siyang pagpasapasahan ng mg asundalong Hapon. Ayon sa kaniya, sa silong ng bahay kung saan siya pinagdalhan, habang ginagahasa siya, ay nakikita niya ang iba pang babaeng ginagahasa sa itaas ng bahay. Wala siyang magawa kundi ang umiyak. Araw-araw ay hubo’t hubad siya sa silong. Pagkaalis ng isang grupo ng sundalong gumahasa sa kanila, ay may kapalit na naming isa pang grupo. Ito ng naging buhay niya sa araw-araw hanggang sa maitakas siya ng isang gerilya. Noon ay muli siyang literal na nadamitan. Nagkaroon din siya ng bagong pag-asa. Sa pagsama niya sa mga gerilya at pagiging kasapi ng HULBALAHAP ay natuto siyang lumaban laban sa mga Hapon. Natuto din siyang humawak ng armas bilang sandata. Puno siya ng galit noong mga panahaong iyon. Nang patapos na ang giyera, at unti unti nang umaalis ang mga Hapon sa Pilipinas, unti unti na ding naubos ang mga gerilya. Isang araw nang makakita siya ng isang Hapon ay pinaghahampas niya ito sa sobrang galit. Hindi niya sinabi kuna napatay ba niya ang Hapong iyon ngunit ayon kay Lola ay halos hindi na makatayo ang Hapon sa sobrang pagkabugbog.

            Matapos ang giyera ay sumama siya sa iba pa niyang natirang kamag-anak sa pag-aakalang pag-aaralin siya ng mga ito. Ngunit sa edad na kinse, kung tama ang aking naaalala, ay ipinakasal siya ng kaniyang mga kamag-anak. Hindi natuloy ang sinabing pagpapaaral sa kanya. Ayon nga kay Lola, ni hindi niya alam isulat ang kaniyang pangalan. Bata pa at wala pang alam sa buhay may-asawa si Lola Regina, ngunit gayon pa man, ay pinangatawanan niya ang pagiging isang asawa at ina sa anim na sanggol na naging bunga ng kanilang pagsasama. Ngunit dahil na din sa hindi naman nila mahal ang isa’t isa, ay naghiwalay din sila kinalaunan. Mag-isa niyang itinaguyod ang kaniyang mga anak at buong pagmamalaki niyang sinabi sa aming napagtapos niya ang mga ito. Kitang kita kung gaano ka-proud si Lola habang kinukwento niyang napagtapos niya ng arkitektura ang isa niyang anak.

            Naging matahimik naman ang buhay niy amatapos ang giyera, at pinili na lamang niyang ilihim kahit sa sariling pamilya ang mga pinagdaanan niy anoong panahn ng Hapon. Masakit pa din sa kaniya ang mga naganap at hindi pa niya kayang ilahad ang mga ito. Ngunit isang araw ay hinikayat siya ng isang kaibigan na ilahad ang kaniyang kwento sa telebisyon. Matagal niyang pinag-isipan ito hanggang sa magdesisyong makipanayam kay Mel Tiangco upang ilahad ang kaniyang kwento. Noong panahong iyon lamang din nalaman ng kaniyang pamilya, particular na ng kaniyang mga anak ang kaniyang karanasan. Nakaklungkot dahil bukod sa pagkagulat, ay nagalit din ang ilan sa kaniyang mga anak dahil daw sa ‘ginahasa pala siya ng mga Hapon’. Paliwanag lagi ni Lola, “Hindi ko ginusto iyon. Hindi pa kayo tao noong nangyari yun.” Gayunpaman, hindi naglaon ay iniwan na din siya ng kaniyang mga anak.

            Naging aktibo si Lola Regina sa paglilingkod sa simbahan. Ayon sa kaniya ay malaking tulong ang kanyang paglalahad ng kaniyang kwento, at ang pagsisilbi niya sa simbahan upang unti unting maghilom ang sugat na dala ng digmaan. Hindi naglaon ay tuluyan na niyang napatawad ang mga Hapon. Ayon sa kaniya, habang kinukwento niya nag mga karanasan niya noon, ay wala na siyang kahit anong sakit na nararamdaman, patunay ng kaniyang lubos na pagpapatawad sa mga nanakit at lumapastangan sa kaniya. Hindi daw madali ang proseso, ngunit dahil sa kaniyang pananalig sa Panginoon ay natutunan niyang magpatawad at lumimot.

            Aminado si Lola na noong mga panahong ginagahasa siya ng mga Hapon ay hindi lang minsan niya hiniling na mamatay na lang. ngunit nawalan man siya ng pag-asa, ni minsan ay hindi daw niya sinisi ang Panginoon sa mga nangyari, dahil alam niyang dumating man siya sa puntong nawalan siya ng pag-asa at hirap na hirap na siya ay iniligtas pa rin siya ng Panginoon. Ang kaniyang pananampalataya ang siyang tumulong sa kaniya upang malagpasan ang bawat araw na pinagdaanan niya noong panahon ng Hapon, at magpahanggang ngayon.

            Alam man ni Lola kung nasaan ang kaniyang mga anak, ay wala na din daw silang gaanong komunikasyon. Nakakalungkot isipin na ganito ang naging reaksyon ng kaniyang mga anak. Ngunit marahil nga ay may plano talaga ang Panginoon.

            Nang tanungin naming si Lola Regina kung mayroon pa ba siyang nais hilingin sa Panginoon, ang sabi niya ay wala na. Ngunit dahil makulit kami, pinilit pa din naming siyang humiling. Ang sabi niya, hiling lamang niya ay ang magkaroon pa siya ng malakas na pangangatawan at mabuting kalusugan sa araw-araw upang mkapagsilbi pa sa kaniyang kapwa. Masaya na daw siya sa kaniyang buhay ngayon, at masaya siyang maibahagi ang kaniyang kwento sa mga kabataang tulad namin.

            Sa pagtatapos n gaming panayam, pinayuhan kami ni Lola Regina na pagbutihin an gaming pag-aaral, at huwag na huwag makakalimot sa Panginoon. Sa simula pa lamang ng umaga, pagmulat ng ating mga mata, ay nararapat lamang na magpasalamt tayo sa isa pang araw na ibinigy Niya sa atin.

            Masaya ako na naging bahagi ako ng pagtitipong ito nina lola. Wala akong kinalakihang lola kaya naman tuwang tuwa akong makita si Lola Regina at ang iba pa niyang kaibigan. Nakatutuwang isipin na sa kabila ng lahat lahat ng hirap na kanilang pinagdaanan noon ay heto sila at patuloy na nakakangiti at nagsasaya. 

Doon sa Dako Paroon

Grabe lang si Anjo, na-inspire ako magsulat, kahit pa alam ko na hindi ko naman talaga hilig ang magsulat, at hindi naman ako ganun kagaling magsulat, sige lang. Practice ko na ding mag-type na hindi tumitingin sa keyboard.
O, sige na-inspire ako. Pero ano ba talaga ang isusulat ko? Dapat siguro isulat ko muna ang lahat ng laman ng utak ko, malawak man, madami man, o magulo man. Basta kung anong laman nito. Kesehodang pangit ang pagkakasulat. Kesehodang hindi kasing creative ng ibang nababasa ko. Kesehodang hindi ko sundin ang “essentials of writing” na itinuturo ko. Basta makapagsulat ako. Maipahayag ang nasa kaloob looban ko.
Kaya eto na. Dahil ang isinulat ni Anjo (Salamat UP) ang inspirasyon ko, susubukan ko ding mgsulat ng tungkol sa aking buhay estudyante, pero medyo kaiba sa nilalaman ng kanyang akda.

Nang nalaman kong pumasa ako sa UP, hindi lamang basta saya ang nadama ko. Ang una kong nasabi sa sarili ko, “Buti na lang pumasa ako.” Bakit? Dahil nakakahiya kung hindi ako papasa. Hindi pa man ako pumapasok sa school, tingin na ng mga tao, pagkatalitalino ko. “Ang swerte mo sa mga anak mo, ang gaganda na ang tatalino pa.” – isang linyang tumatak sa isip ko, isang linyang kinalakihan ko na. Hindi lang yata sampung beses kong nadining ang linyang ito, mula sa mga kaibigan ng nanay ko, sa mga teachers ko, at sa mga taong wala na lang talaga sigurong maisip na ibang komento. Maganda at matalino. Kasalanan to ng Ate Anna ko, panganay. Sya ang nagsimula ng lahat. Bibong bata, laging 1^st honor, 1^st place sa mga contest, 1^st councilor, 1^st child, 1^st sa pila, at lahat na ng 1^st. Nung grumaduate sya ng elementary, halos maputol na ang leeg nya sa dami ng isinabit na medalya sa kanya. Lahat na ba naman ng contest sinalihan nya, lahat ng contest na ginagamitan ng utak at ganda. Mabibilang mo sa kamay ang pagkakataon na hindi sya nanalo. Akala ata ng mga tao eh duplicated ng tatlong beses ang utak ng ate ko, pinagtig-isahan naming tatlong sumunod sa kanya. Kaya tuloy lahat ng sinalihan ng ate ko, gusto nila salihan din namin, dahil nga naman, “Bakit si Anna….” Pero hindi nga kasi ganun. Hindi ako galit sa ate ko, hindi din ako naiinis. Hindi naman nya kasalanan na nakuha nya lahat ng award nay un. Ang nakakainis lang kasi, hindi maintindihan ng mga tao na hindi porke magkapatid, pareho na sa lahat ng bagay. Kahit papano naman eh magkaiba kami ng fingerprint. Che! Magkaibang tao kami, tapos. Hindi lahat ng kaya nya, kaya ko. At hindi lahat ng kalaban ko sa contest ay hindi kasing galing ng mga nakalaban nya. Hindi ganun yun. Pero paano ko ba naman isisigaw at ipapamuka yun sa kanila? Kaya sige, panindigan. Kahit papaano naman, may mga natanggap din naman akong award. Naging 1^st honor din naman ako sa halos buong taon ng pag-aaral ko ng elementary at high school. Nananalo din naman ako sa mga contest na hindi ko man gustong salihan eh, gora pa din ako. Naging councilor din naman ako ng school. At lumaki na ang nasa isip ko ay magaling ako. Matalino. Sabi nila,eh. Naniwala naman ako.

Kaya nang kumuha ako ng exam sa UP, (tulad ni Anjo, dito lang din ako kumuha ng entrance exam) hindi “Bro, sana pumasa ko dahil dito ko gustong mag-aral” ang dasal ko, kundi, “Sana pumasa ko, nakakahiya po kasi kung hindi.” At kahit na alam kong ang chaka ng hinihiling ko, pinagbigyan naman Nya ko. Pumasa ako. Hindi man sa kursong gusto ko, pero basta, pumasa ako, masaya na ko dun.
Muntik pang maudlot ang pagpasok ko sa UP. Wala kasi kaming pera. Tulad ng nakararaming Pilipino, ang pamilya ko ay isang tipikal na pamilya na dugo’t pawis na itinatawid ang pang-araw-araw na gastusin. Pero naisip ng nanay ko, sayang, UP yan. Kaya gora na din kahit mahirap, kahit umutang, kahit pa ang dala ko sa dorm ay isang backpack na damit lang dahil yun lang naman ang matino kong damit na pwedeng ipamasok, at kahit pa makisabay sa kaibigan kong may kotse paluwas ng QC para makatipid sa pamasahe. Sayang naman, UP yan,eh.
Pagtungtong ko ng UP, dun ko naisip na hindi lang pala ako ang magaling, at hindi lang pala ako ang matalino. At ang masaklap dun, bukod sa madami kami, mas madami palang mas magaling at mas matalino sakin, (not to mention, mas maganda din!).
Nag-Kalay din ako, isang linggo, until magdecide ang Mama ko na magsama na lang kami ni Ate Anna sa dorm sa España, tapat ng UST, habang nagrereview sya para sa board exam. Isang oras (o higit pa) ang binabyahe ko araw-araw papuntang school. Samantalang nung high school ako, naglalakad lang ako pauwi. After ng isang sem, lumipat ako sa Balara, at bago pa man ako lumipat finally ng Makati kasama ng mga kapatid ko,eh, tumira ako sa apat na bahay sa Balara.
Hindi ako scholar. Kung magkano man ang binayaran ko sa apat na taon ko sa university, hindi ko na din alam. Sinubukan kong maging scholar, pero dahil may cellphone ako(na bigay ng tita ko) at ang mama ko, at CPA ang ate ko (kahit pa nung mga panahong iyon,eh, kakapasa pa lang ni ate at wala pa syang trabaho), eh, hindi ako natanggap. Sinukuan ko ang scholarship. In the first place, ayoko naman talagang maging scholar. Hindi dahil hindi ko gustong tulungan ang nanay ko, kundi dahil ang gusto ko,eh, magtrabaho, at pagtrabahuhan ang perang ipapagpaaral ko sa sarili ko. Nagtatrabaho din naman ang mga scholars, puspos sila sa pag-aaral para sa maintaining grade na kailangan nila. Ang kaso, tamad nga kong mag-aral, naisip ko, hindi para sa akin ang scholarship.
Struggle ang unang semester ko. Tamad kasi ako mag-aral aminado ako. Unang exam ko sa PanPil 17, tumataginting na 5.0. Bukod sa puro essay, hindi ko nasagot ang isang tanong. “Bakit popular ang blogging?” Takte, ano ba ang blogging????? Sabi ng prof ko, kung di daw kami pamilyar sa blogging, Friendster na lang. Tumango ang mga kaklase ko, naintindihan na nila ang tanong. Pero ako, hindi ko din alam kung ano ang Friendster. Ni hindi ako marunong mag-internet. Dahil ba ako lang ang 1^st year sa klase namin? Hindi siguro dahilan yun. Kaya yun, bagsak ako sa exam.  Sa huli, naipasa ko naman ang subject na yun. Dos. Pwede na, pasa naman.
Hindi tulad ni Anjo, naging mailap sa akin ang uno. Kahit pa may mga prof ako na mahilig mamigay nun. Wala ata akong bulsa nung namigay sya, at butas ang kamay ko kaya di ako nakakuha. Buong kolehiyo ko wala akong natanggap na uno. Kahit pa may mga subjects na talagang pinagpuyatan ko din ng husto, pinaghirapang gawin lahat ng requirements. Wala talaga,eh, hanggang 1.25 lang ako. Pero hindi ko naman dinamdam yun. Dahil sabi ko nga, “Pwede na, pasa naman.
Nakaranas din ako ng masalimuot na 3.0. Hindi naman sa Math 2 na ayon nga sa iba ay “unoable” (kahit hindi din naman ako nakakuha ng uno). NatSci2 – Biology at Geology. Ayoko ng nagmememorize. Mahina ako dun. Ang dami daming concepts at terms ng subject na ‘to. Lagi pa kong late,o absent, wala tuloy akong notes. Ang dahilan ko lagi, traffic (kahit pa naka-MRT naman ako mula Makati hanggang Q Ave). Ayun, 3.0. Fourth year na ko nung makuha ko ang una, (at salamat dahil huli na din) na 3.0 ko sa UP.
Gaya ng lahat halos ng studyante, may mga paborito din akong prof. Mga hindi ko malilimutang tao. Hindi man kami naging close pero iniidolo at pinasasalamatan ko sila. Kahit pa sa tantya ko eh hindi na nila ako matandaan dahil hindi naman ako Bibo Kid sa klase. Sa department, idol ko si DocLa (Dr. Patricio Lazaro), thesis adviser ko. Kahit pa ayaw na ayaw ko ng usok ng sigarilyo ay tinitiis kong kausapin sya habang nagyoyosi sa labas ng PH132 dahil gustong gusto kong nagcoconsult sa kanya. J Ang galing nya kasi. Ang dami kong natutunan sa kanya, hindi lang sa paggawa o pagsusulat ng thesis, kundi sa buhay na din. Madaming takot sa kanya. Kahit ako noong nalaman kong sya ang thesis adviser ko,eh,gusto ko ng magdrop o magshift na lang ng ibang course para lang matakasan sya. Buti na lang, nanghinayang ako sa perang pinang-enrol ko. J Nang malaman nyang gusto kong magturo pagka-graduate ko, ang sabi nya, “Tamang tama, ikaw ang magiging pioneer ng Speech Comm sa BSU. Dadalawin kita dun.” Siguro hindi na nya natatandaan yun, pero, tuwang tuwa ako nang sinabi nya yun.
Si Dean A (Dr. Josefina Agravante). Sino nga ba naman ang makakalimot sa kanyang “Hmmmmm..” (rising intonation) J Takot akong magsulat ng thesis noon dahil feeling ko hindi ko kaya, parang ang hirap hirap. At, hindi nga ako sanay magsulat (kahit pa sandamakmak na papers na ang naisulat ko sa UP). Pero nung maibalik sakin ang first draft ng Chapters 1-3, at makita ko ang comment ni Dean A na “Good start!”, naisip ko na kaya ko pala. J Ang galing galing nyang magturo. At kahit pa ang mga sumunod kong draft,eh, punong puno ng mga corrections, still, kaya ko pala. J At kahit pa hindi kataasan ang grades ko sa mga exams sa 199, keri lang, kasi kahit papaano, maganda naman ang kinalabasan ng Chapters 1-3 ko. Sakto lang.
Si Ma’am Antee (Dr. Antoinette Bass-Hernandez) na kahit gaano kahirap ang trabaho,eh, parang ang dali dali sa kanya. Parang walang araw na  nakita ko syang hindi nakangiti. At pakiramdam ko, lahat ng ginagawa naming magkakaklase,eh,naa-appreciate nya.
Si Ma’am Ianthe de Leon, isa pa din sa mga kinatatakutan sa department, pero isa sa pinakamababait na prof na nakilala ko. Nung maging panelist ko sya, madami syang matatalinong komento na talaga namang nakatulong sa improvement ng thesis ko. Ang galing galing.
Si Sir Anril. Hindi ko sya naging prof ng matagal, pero hindi ko makakalimutan ang bonggang linya nyang “I want this beautiful lady here to be Wendla” Kahit pa hindi naman ako magaling umarte, gora na din. Hindi ko naman sya naging gusto dahil lang sa tinawag nya kong maganda (though reason din yunJ) pero dahil ang husay nyang magpaliwanang ng analysis nya sa mga play na dinidiscuss namin. Minsan, kahit hindi ko naman talaga naintindihan yung thought ng play, na-appreciate ko pa din dahil sa galing nyang mag-analyze at magpaliwanag.
Sa hindi naman taga department, si Sir John Hudson Go na bukod sa crush ko (hehe) ay ang galing din magpaliwanag ng theories. Si Sir Felipe Jocano,Jr.  (Anthro) na laging nagjojoke sa klase, at parang memorize ang laman ng libro at kahit gaano kahirap ang isang konsepto ay pinapadali nya dahil sa galing nyang mag-explain.  Si Ma’am Dina Delias at Sir Jaime Naval (SocSci) na dahilan kung bakit na-appreciate ko sina Plato, Socrates, Machiavelli at iba pa. Si Sir de Villa (Philo) na napakaintelektwal sumagot, na para bang pag dumepensa ka ng sagot mo ay kayang kaya nyang baliktarin ang dahilan mo, at sasang-ayon ka na din sa sagot nya. At bukod syempre sa kapaligiran ko, sa kanya ko din unang natutunan ang pagbibigay kahulugan sa konsepto ng aktibismo.
At kahit hindi sya prof, si Kuya Lem. J Ang kuya ng department. Wanted sya ng lahat ng nagrereport sa klase. J Pati na din ng mga kailangang gumamit ng radio lab, o kaya naman kaming mga wala lang matambayan. Hindi ko malilimutan ang moments na nagkwekwentuhan kami tungkol sa aming buhay buhay. Si Kuya Lem na lagi na lang nakangiti. Kaya naman kapag napapadalaw ako sa UP ngayon ay hindi pwedeng hindi ako dadaan sa PH132 para batiin sya.
Napansin ko na ang dami ko palang paborito/gustong prof, siguro na-appreciate ko lang talaga sila dahil tulad nga ni Kris Aquino, “I love teachers.” Kaya sa lahat ng naging prof ko sa UP, (at lahat ng naging guro ko sa loob at labas ng silid-aralan), salamat.
Tatlong taon din akong nagtrabaho, bilang student assistant, at bilang tutor sa mga Koreano. Bukod sa Call Center, eh, pagtututor ang isa sa pinakamadaling pasukan ng mga taga UP. Try. Pera din yun. Tatlong taon kong buhay ang pagtututor. Pagkagaling sa school, derecho sa bahay ng students, hanggang gabi na yun. Minsan, mas madalas pa kong magbasa ng lesson ng student ko kesa sa sarili kong lesson, siguro dahil sabi nga ng high school teacher ko, “Pag ikaw kasi ang teacher dapat ikaw ang magaling ikaw ang bida”. Nakakahiya nga naman kasi pag tinanong ka at hindi mo alam ang sagot, lalo na at feeling ng ibang mga Koreano ay dapat alam mo lahat ng sagot sa tanong nila. Pero sana naiintindihan din ng iba na hindi naman nasusukat ang pagiging magaling mong guro sa pagpapaliwanag ng konsepto, o pagsagot sa tanong, o sa pagbibigay ng facts, kundi sa kakayanan mong maituro sa mga studyante mo na turuan ang kanilang mga sarili, at gabayan sila tungo sa pagkatuto.
Grumaduate ako pagkatapos ng apat na taon. Hindi man ako naging Cum Laude, Laude lang (title ng mga graduates na may grade na mas mababa sa grades ng mga Cum Laude), naging makabuluhan naman ang apat na taon kong itinigil sa UP. Hindi man ako nagkaroon ng ganun kadaming parangal, distinction, at kung anu ano pa, sapat na ang lahat ng natutunan ko at naituro sa akin ng aking mga guro, kaklase, kaibigan, mga janitor, taxi driver, manong guard, jeepney driver, waiter at waitress sa CASAA (na hindi ka pa tapos kumain,eh,binabantayan ka na, at pagkasubo mo ng huling subo ng pagkain mo ay bigla na lang mawawala ang plato mo), sa KATAG, mga pulot kids (mga batang namumulot ng plastic bottles), mga SSB sa sunken garden, tindero ng monay, kwek kwek, footlong, half-long at isaw – mga taong nakilala ko nang minsang mapadpad ako sa UP.