#para; lessons in philosophy

[hiddenleafhistoriansdepartment]

Who was The Second Hokage?

The Second Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village was Tobirama Senju of the Senju clan.

The younger brother of First Hokage and founder of the Hidden Leaf, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama was born during the Era of Warring States. He knew violence from an early age, both because of the circumstances of the time period, where clans warred against each other constantly, and the Senju clan's unique position within the era. The Senju were one of the most powerful clans at the time and constantly warred against the Uchiha clan. That specific conflict hit very close to home for Tobirama; himself and his elder brother Hashirama were the only two out of the original four Senju siblings who survived until adulthood. His other two brothers, Kawarama and Itama, were both killed by the Uchiha clan. When Hashirama and Madara Uchiha's friendship was destroyed by their respective clans using it as a way to stage a surprise attack on the other, Tobirama was brought along. Eventually, Hashirama and Madara became the leaders of their respective clans and faced each other in battle, and Tobirama killed Madara's younger brother, Izuna Uchiha.

Later, Hashirama felled Madara and urged him to join the Senju and end the era of death. Madara gave Hashirama the chance to kill Tobirama or himself to show his dedication, but later stopped him from doing the latter. Together, Hashirama and Madara founded the Hidden Leaf Village. When Hashirama became the First Hokage, Tobirama played an important role as Hashirama's advisor. Indeed, it's evident that Tobirama held a lot of respect for his eldest brother, and he supported him throughout his tenure as Hokage.

Tobirama was a stoic and pragmatic man. In childhood, he found himself dragged into his clan's conflict, though he believed that conflict was needless and could be avoided by casting aside emotions and enacting regulations ("Naruto: Shippuden," , episode 367, VIZ media). He followed that philosophy through adulthood, remaining largely calm and rational in conflict and balancing Hashirama's idealism with his own rational and cautious thinking. He was also noted to be a sensory type ninja -- pretty neat!

After Hashirama's death, Tobirama became the Second Hokage. Though not as famous as his brother's tenure, Tobirama's reign is widely regarded as one of the most influential on the current state of the village. He founded many current institutions, including the Chunin Exams, the Academy, and the ANBU Black Ops, and establishing the Uchiha clan as part of the Konoha Police Force; the Reanimation Jutsu and the Flying Raijin Technique are also credited to him (Ronquillo, 2023).

Though he is often criticized for his treatment of the Uchiha Clan, it came from a long history. Having been born in the Era of Warring States and seen the Uchiha Clan's destructive power, it was not entirely without reason that Tobirama mistrusted them. However, that criticism is not unfounded; Tobirama advised Hashirama not to name Madara the First Hokage and later became one of the reasons why the Uchiha were physically and socially removed from the village. In my personal opinion, however, I find it possible that Tobirama was keenly aware of how Madara's dedication towards his clan could turn dangerous and kept that in mind going into the future. He may have been aware of the bitterness that Madara could be fostering, seeing as Hashirama got to keep his brother and Madara hadn't -- Tobirama himself killed Izuna. That's just a historian's conjecture, though.

Tobirama was killed by Kinkaku and Ginkaku during the First Shinobi World War, and he passed the mantle of Hokage on to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage ("Tobirama Senju," para. 8, Narutopedia).

Tobirama Senju is not the most famous of the Hokage, but his contributions to the Leaf cannot be underestimated. He saw the foundation of the village and later led it, establishing many of the institutions we've come to know today.

That's all for today's lesson! Thanks for reading!

[postersdecinema]

The Badger

(O Texugo)

IR, 2020

Kazem Mollaie

6/10

.

Quem sai aos seus...

Um thriller iraniano escrito e realizado por Kazem Mollaie que consegue manter o interesse do espectador do princípio ao fim e até terminar surpreendentemente, ao melhor estilo de Hollywood.

É um filme de género, cuja principal virtude é cumprir aquilo que promete, entretenimento e emoção para o espectador. Não há grandes lições ou filosofias a extrair daqui a não ser que há, de facto, características que são de família.

O cinema iraniano tem evoluído muito e este filme é a prova que também sabe fazer cinema para o grande público, não apenas para o circuito dos festivais de cinema de autor.

.

Family Ties

An Iranian thriller written and directed by Kazem Mollaie that manages to keep the viewer's interest from beginning to end and even finishes surprisingly, in the best Hollywood style.

It is a genre film, whose main virtue is to fulfill what it promises, entertainment and emotion for the spectator. There are no great lessons or philosophies to be drawn from this, unless there are, in fact, characteristics that run in the family.

Iranian cinema has evolved a lot and this film is proof that it also knows how to make cinema for the general public, not just for the circuit of auteur film festivals.

[187days]

Day Twenty-Two

This morning I chatted with my GOV students about our recent guests for a while, and told them how proud I was of them for asking great questions. Then I went back to the regularly scheduled program: foundations of American democracy. It was definitely The Me Show for a bit because I was giving an overview of federalism, but then I assigned some research on various SCOTUS cases that address the balance of power between the state and national governments and students worked collaboratively to understand the rulings and their implications. 

More on that tomorrow.

My World students did some reading, as they always do. At least, most of them did; there are a few whose stamina is starting to run out, so they’re trying to avoid it, but I’m doing my best to help them. And here’s a cool thing: even my most talkative and/or most reading-avoidant students stay silent for the whole twenty minutes so as not to distract their classmates. That awareness and respect for others was so lacking at times last year, so this is definitely a change for the better. I plan to mention it tomorrow when we reflect on the year so far.

But anyways, after students read, they had the remainder of the block to work on their Culture Projects. If they finished early, I told them they could do anything as long as it was legal and didn’t disrupt their classmates. Some opted to move onto the next assignment (peer review), some did work for other classes, and some just played snake or solitaire on their chromebooks. It’s all good with me. It’s time management practice, students learn it by doing it.

My Block 3 students started to get a bit restless towards the end of the block because they’d all finished their projects early, so I called for everyone’s attention and went over what we’ll be doing tomorrow and beyond. I mentioned we’ll be starting a new unit on religion and philosophy, and a student asked which unit was my favorite. I said they’re all cool, but that in this next one my friend, Mr. W, would come by and we’d do a karate demo.

Cue students asking me to show them karate moves.

I gestured at my high heels and said, “In these shoes?!” but then I obliged with some kicks (I had shorts on under my skirt) and knife hands. And I showed them one of my usual tricks: the unbendable arm. That blew a few minds. I have Star Wars fans in that class, so I said that I was using the Force, obviously. 

I can’t wait for rumors of my ninja skills to spread.

I joked with one of the paras that I’d just done wonders for my reputation, and he said I probably had. 

I spent my prep time plus about an hour grading Culture Projects, getting ready for tomorrow’s lessons, and a few other things that came up. I got an email from Mrs. Z canceling tomorrow’s PLC meeting, so I thought about leaving some stuff to do in the morning, but I was so close to done, at that point, so I decided to just stay and finish everything up. I’m sure I’ll be able to find other work to do in the morning.

[corsetedcurses-blog]

Lessons in Philosophy

The tap tap tap of her pumps echoed in the stone laden corridor, quick and confident. A walk with purpose. As the red-head rounded the corner, she arrived at her destination with precision, the wooden door before her being the last barrier to today’s to-do. 

She had encountered him in their shared philosophy lecture and had made it a mission to learn everything she could about him. Miles Richards. The name was so stereo-typically British that Madeline almost thought she’d made it up to suit her own narrative. But no-- he was very much real. And handsome as hell. Who better to help her in a class she needed no help in? 

She hesitates only for a moment, before delivering her knock on his dormitory door. 

[rhoge2]

first day

si maam maurillo ang aming teacher nag class officer kame kaya di nakapag turo si maam samin and then sa earth science naman nag turo si sir about sa theory, madami ako natutunan tulad ng mga bigbang, cosmic inflation and steady state theory ayan ung mga tinuro ni sir samin kanina tapos si sir mirabeles naman nag turo sa ict about sa convergent, technology and evolution of the web ngayon ko lng nalaman na 1963 pala na imbento ang internet madaming tinuro samin si sir about sa mga technology, next subject naman namin ay gen math una nag check muna sa assignment namin na naka 19.5/22 ako medyo mahirap siya pero kaya naman, tapos naman nag lesson na si sir about sa piecewise function, madali lng naman syang intindihin basta makikinig ka lamang ng maayos

Second day

nag lesson si maam p sya ay teacher namin sa philosophy nag lesson si maam about sa philosophy and nag groupings kame dahil may reporting kame at nag bigay si maam samin ng assignment na ang dami pero buti na lng next tuesday pa sya madame pang time para sya ay gawin, second teacher naman namin ay si sir mirabeles nag lesson si sir tungkol naman sya sa internet at online system tapos nag surprise quiz si sir buti na lng di daw sya recorded kase di ako nakasagot kakaunti lng ang nasagot ko gawa nakalimutan ko mga sagot, nag oral communication na kame nag turo si maam ng mga iba't ibang uri ng communication tapos nag check kame ng assignment tas nag sagot ulit kame pero sa friday na lng daw sya chechekantapos nag pre calculus naman kame dami ko natutunan akala ko nga mahirap ung pre calculus pero kaya naman pala basta makikinig lng ng mabuti kaya naman natama ko mga sagot ko sa seatwork tapos nag bigay si sir rull samin ng assignment pero di ko pa sya nagagawa gawa pag uwe ko inaya agad ako mag valo pero ako naman pumayag pero pag tapos naman namin mag valorant ginawaw ko na agad sya bago matulog

third day

thirday daming ng yare na masaya kase sa oral nag charades kame pero kewnto ko muna mga natutunan ko sa mga lesson first subject namin ay pe and health kay sir deblois nag turo si sir samin aboyt don sa pe mga sports then pag tapos mag turo ni sir samin nag lunch na kame pagtapos namin mag lunch si sir rull teacher namin sa gen math mahirap ung lesson namin ngaun pero medyo nagets ko naman siya pero mahirap nga lng tlga sya pag tapos naman namin sa gen math nag earth science na kame nag lesson si sir about don sa "system of earth" pero di namin sya natapos kase naubusan ng oras pag katapos ni sir komunikasyon naman nag turo si maam samin tapos nag bigay ng mga gagawin, bukas may reporting kame individual sya pero buti na lng nakagawa agad ako pero di ko sure kung tama siya at groupings naman next week pag tapos naman ng komunikasyon nag oral na kame nag palaro si maam ng charades tapos may na kausap ako na bagong kaklase pero sayang di ko natanong name nya, tatry ko tanungin name nya next week para naman makilala ko na din siya kame ung first don sa palaro ni maam kaya kame ung may plus 10 pag tapos naman ay pre calculus ulet pero ngaun madale na siya nag lesson si sir samin at nag bigay ng seatwork sobrang dali lng niya kaya tinapos ko agad at pinasa

[brazilianwitchy]

A PIRÂMIDE DA BRUXA

São basicamente princípios que as pessoas tem que ter em mente quando praticam a arte da feitiçaria.

Esse texto que eu vou botar aqui veio do site abaixo, achei importante registrar no blog, até para que eu mesma possa sempre tê-los em mente.

1. Conhecer: corresponde ao elemento do Ar, é o ponto da pirâmide que nos ensina a ter conhecimento sobre o que estamos fazendo. Pessoas que estudam magia precisam sempre buscar conhecimento, esteja sempre pesquisando coisas novas e mantendo a mente afiada.

2. Ousar: corresponde ao elemento da Terra, praticar magia é desafiar suas habilidades de aprender, você tem que praticar, tem que ousar fazer coisas novas e não ter medo de errar.

3. Querer: correspondente ao elemento do Fogo, envolve o seu querer, o seu coração quer mesmo isso? Você está comprometido com seu feitiço? É necessário focar nos seus pensamentos, visualize e trabalhe na sua energia. Você precisar estar disposto a assumir responsabilidades pelas suas tentativas e suas consequências.

4. Manter o silêncio: corresponde ao elemento da Água, NÃO SIGNIFICA TER VERGONHA DE PRATICAR BRUXARIA, mas se exibir para inflar o ego não vai te dar a balança necessária para praticar de maneira efetiva, discutir conhecimento com pessoas que não acreditam pode ser desrespeitoso e não leva a nada. As vezes até contar a alguém sobre um feitiço seu pode atrair energia negativa para o mesmo, pode atrair inveja e dúvida, por exemplo, e isso pode cancelar seus resultados.

Existe um quinto princípio que tem sua existência debatida:

5. Agir: acredita-se que corresponde ao elemento Espírito, significa que a bruxaria não é só um interesse que você possui, é um estilo de vida. Significa pegar esses 4 princípios e aplicar nos aspectos da sua vida.

[swiftlymoniquesblog]

You and Me and You- Winchesters x OC Miliana

Masterlist | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

A/N: Hi friends! I’m sorry I haven’t been updating anything in so long! Life has been crazy! Work was chaotic, I went out of town for my birthday last month, yes the one I was supposed to spend with the SPN cast :(, and I moved towns. I’m currently in a temporary living environment as my family searches for a new place! So yeah, I’m so sorry I haven’t been around. On top of that, the mobile app has been so freaking glitchy and it’s super annoying. I’m not on my laptop as much but it might be worth it to read more fics! I hope everyone is well and please, send feedback! 

Xxx Monique

Word Count: 2,420

Chapter 3- 1997- Miliana’s POV

It was just another day in high school for me. I didn’t think I was all that special, yet everyone wanted to be my friend. I tried to keep to myself since I wasn’t like any normal sixteen-year-old. No, I was raised by the infamous supernatural hunter, Bobby Singer. Yeah, that was a fun childhood. He was always in and out of the picture but he made sure to show me and tell me how much he loved me. It did help too when the Winchester Brothers would come to stay with me. They were good friends of mine but their Dad kind of went a bit crazy. He found one monumental case up in like Canada or somewhere, packed up all his things, including his sons, and off they went. It’s been six years since I’ve seen them. My Dad tried to stay local for all his hunts since he believed girls can’t and shouldn’t be hunters, and I guess that makes sense, considering a demon killed his wife, but still, I grew up in this life; I understand it. Jody and her friend Donna, who also is a Sheriff, would come by and bring some of the girls they would take in. Just to help them out, kinda like what Bobby did with me. They’d come around when my Dad had a case that wasn’t close to home and it’s not like I’m not old enough to stay at home alone; Dad just gets freaked out.

“So Miliana, you’re almost done with your sophomore year now. How’s that feel?” Jody asked me one day when she and Donna came to stay with me. They brought some girl, Jessica, to stay with us too but I didn’t like her.

“Oh, I’m excited but I’m also ready just to start junior year,” I admit.

“Why’s that, kiddo?” Donna asked.

“Well, there tend to be more ways to get involved in junior and senior year…” I trail off my thoughts, avoiding the real reason I couldn’t wait to be an upper-class woman.

“You mean there’s a prom once you become a junior?” Jody gave a knowing look.

Damn, she was good. Yeah freshmen and sophomores had dances but they were separated from the juniors and seniors and we didn’t get the same respect as they did.

“Well yeah,” I admit, sheepishly.

“That makes sense. Plus, you’ll feel older and feel like nothing is impossible.” Jody said, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

She was exactly right. I loved Jody like she was my Mother. She kind of was, given the fact that when it came to girl stuff, she would be the one I called. My Dad would just get all embarrassed and wouldn’t know what to do. You can probably figure out how my first period went; awkward.

“Hey, I have to get going. I’m on the planning committee for this year’s end-of-school-year dance, as they call it for us lower classmen. I have to meet before and after school so I won’t be home until late!” I yell as I’m grabbing my backpack and rushing out the door.

“Don’t forget to call before you leave school so I can alert your father! Jody called, as I scurried out the door.

“Yeah!” I yell in response as I run out the door and down the driveway to meet up with my friend, Sandy. She was already further in life than I was. Sandy came from a wealthy background; Daddy paid for everything. She had a boyfriend, was gifted a car on her sixteenth birthday, and was already planning to attend college. She would be turning seventeen the first week of June so she was already “older” than the other sophomores.

“Hi, Sandy!” I say as I throw my bag in the back and off, we went.

“So, you won’t believe what I heard!” She starts with the daily gossip that was floating around campus before we even get there! This was a routine for us. Sandy would come to pick me up and would tell me all the latest drama before we even get to school. She’s very into other people and for the most part, this school doesn’t do a lot in private.

“What’s up today, Sand?” I ask. I was the only one allowed to call her that. She hated being called Sand but for some reason, we’re friends and I can call her Sand. Normally, you wouldn’t think two girls like us would be friends, but I stood up for her when some other “popular girls” were getting in her face, so I threatened to give all of them high-calorie snack bars, and they all backed off. Oh, that’s another thing. Almost all the girls at this school are on a low carb, no fat diet. They mostly ate salads all the time and ate like rabbits, which is why Sandy and I became friends. We both have high metabolisms so we can eat like pigs and never gain any weight; all the other girls are jealous.  

“Jared Kingston and Carly Wright are having an extremely public break up on the quad; again.”

“Jesus, again? Isn’t this like the twelfth time they’ve broken up?” I ask. Jared and Carly were your typical power couple; Jared, football captain, Carly, head cheerleader.

“Thirteenth.” Sandy corrected me.

“Don’t they get tired of all the drama? And for the love of God, can they not be so public about it?”

“Well, you know how Carly is. She thinks MTV is going to walk in one day and do a reality show off her non-existent singing career.” Sandy and I laughed. You sing a solo in the seventh-grade talent show and suddenly, you’re a professional singer.

“Hell, if anyone is a singer, it’s you, Mills. Get it?” I just scoff at Sandy’s lame joke, playing off my last name being Singer, and before I knew it, we were at school.

We parked the car and began grabbing all our stuff when a real sleek classic black car drove up to the front of the school. Parked rather crooked, two young boys got out of the car and everything around me suddenly came to a halt. I knew that car. I didn’t get a chance to see them because there was a thrall of students surrounding the car. Jared and Carly’s break up long forgotten, as guys were impressed with the car and the girls were impressed with the boys who came from that car.

“Whoa, who do you think they are?” Sandy asked me, snapping me from my thoughts.

“No one worth our time. Come on.” I say, strutting off, but not before I got the feeling one person was staring at me. We got to homeroom Spanish and chatted away with all our friends before Mrs. Ramirez came into the room.

“Clase, cálmate (“class, settle down)!” Mrs. Ramirez had the philosophy to speak in Spanish and have us try and figure out what she saying until she ended up having to tell us anyway. Not sure this was a very useful way of teaching but this what she did.

“Buenos días clase, tenemos un nuevo alumno. Este es Sam Winchester.” (“Good morning class, we have a new student. This is Sam Winchester.”) My head snapped up; it couldn’t be.

“Saluda a Sam.” (Say hello to Sam.)

“Hi, Sam.” A very few students had bothered to say hello to the new student, who was ushered to sit down in the only open seat in the class; next to me.

“Hey, I’m Sam.” He says, sitting down, but not making eye contact with me. I didn’t know what to say so I just kept quiet, hoping he would remember me.

“Do you not…holy shit. Miliana?”

“Hi, Sam,” I say, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear.

“Wha-what are you doing here?” He asks me in surprise.

“I should be asking you the same.”

“You never left Lawrence?” He whispers/asks.

I shake my head. “You know how my Dad felt about a girl being a hunter. He didn’t want me to have to see that life once I reached high school. Said I needed every normal high school experience I could get.”

“Well Miliana Singer, you are far from normal.” He said, causing heat to suddenly appear in my cheeks.

“Sra. Singer, Sr. Winchester, ¿tiene algo que quiera compartir con el resto de la clase? (Ms. Singer, Mr. Winchester, do you have something you want to share with the rest of the class?).”

“No Sra. Ramirez (No Mrs. Ramirez)” We both said in unison, our attention now on the lesson.

“¡Bien, entonces ciérralo! (Good, then zip it!)” As the rest of the class went on, I couldn’t help but steal glances from Sam. He was exactly how I remember him but he grew! He must’ve hit a growth spurt somewhere in those six years since I saw him last because he’s a freaking giant now. His hair is longer now too. He occasionally would flip it out of his eyes and it would send a whiff of his cologne and his natural “Sammy scent” as Dean used to call it, my way. His eyes were a mix of green and brown, like the color of the trees right before they begin to change color for the fall. And his smile was a big and bright and contagious as ever.

“Señorita Singer, ¿le gustaría resumir la Constitución española? (Miss Singer, would you like to summarize the Spanish Constitution?).

“Um…” I trail off but a voice spoke up.

“España es una monarquía y trabajan para mostrar la importancia de la libertad, la justicia, la igualdad y el pluralismo politico. (Spain is a monarchy and they work to show the importance of freedom, justice, equality, and political pluralism.)” Sam responded in perfect Spanish, to which everyone in the room took notice of.

“Muy Bueno señor Winchester. (Very good, Mr. Winchester). To which Sam just winked at me. Holy crap, what was happening here? How has he gotten more attractive all these later? And what is he doing in tenth? Wasn’t he supposed to be a freshman? He’s fifteen after all! I don’t know what his game is but I’m going to figure it out and figure out why he’s back in Lawrence. He got out! Why would anyone want to come back here?

The bell rang, indicating the end of the class and the prime time to catch up with Sam. However, with him being so tall, once he grabbed his backpack, he was out the door in a flash.

“This boy!” I said in my head. Keeping up with him was going to be a struggle considering I’m only 5’6. Rushing out the class, I zig-zag through the crowded halls, looking for that floppy head of hair. Finally, on almost the opposite side of campus, there he was. He was lucky to have a top locker but I guess because he’s so big, it makes sense.

“Sam!” I yell, just a few feet away, but quickly catching up.

“Millie, hey.” He said smiling that perfect smile but using my nickname; the only my closest friends and family can call me. It was weird hearing him say it since he feels like a stranger now.

“Miliana,” I tell him.

“What?” He looked a bit stunned that I corrected him.

“It’s Miliana. Only my closest friends and family get to call me Millie and since you left…” I instantly regretted it when the words fell off my lips but there it was.

“Ah yeah, I guess I kind of deserve that, especially since we didn’t even get to say goodbye,” Sam said, slowly nodded his head as he understood why I was hostile.

“Yeah, no offense but your Dad is kind of…” I say but he interrupts me.

“A douche? Yeah, I know.” Sam said, knowing all too well how I felt about how his Dad just ripped him away from me. “How’ve you been?”

“Good, surprised to see you here. Actually, why are you back in Lawrence?”

“Well Dad figured to move closer to home for a while but Dean still loves the hunter life so he and my Dad go out on a lot of cases.”

“Are you left alone a lot?”

“Oh yeah, but I’m going to living close to your Dad. There’s a small little house that is just up the road from where you guys are so I figured I’d stay there.”

“So, you’ll be around more often?” I tried to hide my hopefulness but I knew Sam; he could tell.

“I hope to, at least until graduation.” He grinned at me and my heart fluttered. Stop it, Miliana.

“By the way, how are you a sophomore? You’re fifteen!”

“Oh that. Well, I’m pretty advanced for my age so they set me up as a sophomore.”

“I’d say you are pretty advanced; you speak Spanish fluently!” I comment, still being stunned that he spoke so effortlessly. “Why are you taking a Spanish class if you’re that fluent?”

“Eh, I needed it for credit so I thought it would be the easiest A I could come by. Plus, I have separate assignments than the rest of the class.”

“What?”

“I’m an in-class tutor. When Mrs. Ramirez can’t tutor students in need of some extra attention, she looks to me. Turns out, a lot of the class is struggling so we made a deal; I tutor and learn all her lessons, I get the credit.”

Okay, Sam was so much cooler than I remember him being. He is so sweet and caring and smart and, oh no, I can’t be falling for him. No way, no! We had one little incident when we were kids but that was it; we were kids! We didn’t know what love or crushes were then. I cannot be falling for my childhood friend.

“You good there, Miliana?” Sam said, bringing out me of my thoughts again.

“Yeah, I’m good, thanks.”

“You sure? You looked like you were thinking about me shirtless or something.”

That son of a bitch! “What? Pssst. You wish Winchester!”

Sam just chuckled and shook his head but grabbed some more books out of his locker and set them in his bag, patted me on the shoulder, and bid me farewell. Shit, I’m so screwed.

 (Reference for the Spanish Constitution because I don’t plagiarize: Smith, Carr, Spain. Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc. 2020 16 August. 2020 18 August. https://www.britannica.com/place/Spain)

Forever tags: @fandom-princess-forevermore @simpleb00x @juju-la-tortue @forever-trapped-in-my-dreams 

Taglist: @tlovescoffee @tykezparkerstark

Taglist requests open! Inbox open! Ask open! Requests open!

[pistiselpisagape]

Ikadalawaputdalawa

EXT. ROOFTOP. SUNSET

Tutal nabigyan naman ako ng panahon para makapag muni-muni, pagkakataong alalahanin ang mga bagay-bagay at nangyayari sa paligid (mula sa maliit yung tipong hindi naman big deal hanggang sa mga malalaking bagay na nagbibigay dahilan para hindi makatulog sa gabi), nagkaroon din ng chance na makapag-backread ng old notes sa phone, letters, convos sa chat, balikan ang memories sa google photos, facebook at gallery at iba pang makapagpapalala kung bakit at para kanino tayo gumigising sa araw-araw. Since 22nd birthday ko naman (hanggang proud pa ‘kong i-announce ‘yan) at higit sa lahat “YOLO, girl!”, naisip ko lang naman na i-type yung thoughts ko na binabasa mo ngayon.

“Ang buhay ay walang katapusang pagkatuto. Self discovery. ”

Araw-araw chance para matuto at ma-discover yung mga simpleng bagay tungkol sa sarili at paligid mo. Day by day, little by little...

Minsan sa paraang hindi direkta, gagawa at gagawa ng paraan ang universe para ipa-realize sayo yung mga dapat mong matutunan at maranasan. Madalas sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang circumstances, mas maiintindihan kung bakit kinailangang mangyari ang mga nangyari. Doon mo mas makikilala ang sarili mo at mundong ginagalawan mo.

Kumbaga sa pelikula may mga plot twist at challenges na magpapaganda sa istorya ng pelikula kung saan ikaw ang bida at kontrabida.

Kaya malaking tulong ang mga tao sa paligid. Kung gaano mo kayang i-tolerate ang sarili mo, tao sa paligid, nangyayari sa lipunan at kung paano i-maintain ang inner peace at hanggang kailan mo kayang magtiis. As we go age, we learn more and we grow.

“Ang bawat taong makikilala mo, may role at may aral na ituturo sayo. Pay attention.”

Lahat ng taong makikilala, makakausap at makikita mo ay may hatid na aral. Yung tipong nakasalubong mo lang o nakasama mo (mabilis o matagal), mababaw man o malalim ang naging usapan, bawat isa sa kanila may maaari kang matutunan. Pwedeng hahangaan mo yung brain cells, yung kanilang philosophy, yung kanilang dedication, wit at talent, kung paano sila magsalita, yung sipag, yung passion, yung kabaitan at kung ano-ano pa (either good or bad). Reasons para i-admire mo sila, gawing inspiration sa mga ginagawa at gagawin mo pa at magpapasalamat ka dahil nakilala mo sila. People come and people go, take those lessons with you.

"YOLO"

Kung isa kang millennial for sure alam mo ang ibig sabihin nito, You only live once. And I quote sa isang libro ni Paulo Coelho, “Accept what life offers you and try to drink from every cup. All wines should be tasted; some should only be sipped, but with others, drink the whole bottle.” “How will I know which is which?” “By the taste. You can only know a good wine if you have first tasted a bad one.” So, push lang. Piliin mong maging masaya at gawin yung mga bagay na gusto mo. Kahit masaktan ka atleast tinry mo at ginawa mo yung best mo. Be brave. Take risk.

"Be healthy, stay safe."

Alagaan mo sarili mo. Dahil kapag okay ka, mas makakatulong ka sa mga tao sa paligid mo lalo na sa panahon ngayon. Take vits. Drink water. Eat healthy. Be happy and love fully.

"Understand, forgive, be thankful and have faith always."

To be continued...

[makakalimutin]

THE 2019 YEAR END ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT

https://youtu.be/L8VyAzDA5so

It was the end of a decade, but the start of an age.

Yung unang plano ko dyan dapat powerpoint presentation eh HAHAHAHAHAHA tsaka pang-malakasan na yung mga title natin ngayon mumsh. So ayun po ano, welcome to my first ever vlog! De joke nga lang, collage lang kasi yan. Pero ipupush ko sa 2020 na thru videos na ako magpopost (waht). Hindi talaga kasi ako makuda sa harap ng camera so buhay na buhay pa rin itong blog na to. Pero anyway, mas mabuti kung panonoorin mo muna yung video bago magproceed sa entry na ito.

Accomplishments

Are we out of the woods yet? Last year puro iyak lang ang ginawa ko. O ngayon medyo nagkaroon na ng kwenta ang buhay ko (finally, I'm free!) Kung nakita mo naman yung video ko haha ayun, ang biggest accomplishment ko na siguro yung trabaho ko ngayon, at yung mga lugar na napuntahan ko. Kung babalikan mo yung mga posts ko dati, sinasabi ko lang na hala sana balang araw makapagtravel ako bla bla, it was a dream come true. Buong buhay ko nasa Cavite lang ako tapos hindi naman ako pinapayagan lumabas at magpunta sa mga ganitong lugar. Ganon pala ata pag may trabaho ka na haha hindi ka na pagbabawalan no.

Ang daming nasayang na panahon nitong mga nakaraang taon, kung nagset lang ako ng tama eh di sana mas okay yung kinalalagyan ko ngayon. Ayan kasi, wala namang kwenta yung mga pinaggagagagawa ko at mga pangyayari noon.

Character Development

Looking back to my previous years, masasabi kong walang kwenta pa rin yung buhay ko hahahahaha charot. Kung makikita mo naman, major shift sa buhay ko yung paglipat ko ng trabaho. Napalaban ng bongga yung kakayahan ko. Kinukuwestiyon ko araw-araw yung sarili ko kung talaga bang writer ako? Kasi hindi eh. Kahit patapos na ang taon na to, nangangapa pa rin ako sa mundong ginagalawan ko ngayon. Hala ang bobo ko, hindi pala talaga ako marunong magsulat. Ang blog na to ang dahilan kaya ako natanggap sa trabahong ito, nag-expect sila sakin na I'm good at this pero hindi pala talaga. Ilang beses ko nang iniyakan to kasi blanko ang utak ko, walang pumapasok sa isip ko. Paano ko tatapusin ito. Isa lang yon sa major struggles ko this year, na hindi lang pala ako sa climate change dapat nag-aadapt.

- Dati lagi akong naka shirt at pants, ngayon puro dress at palda na. Naalala ko nung nag EK kami, nagsusuot pa ako ng stockings nun kasi para hindi halata na mabalbon ako. Pero this year ko lang inembrace yung flaws ko wahaha na dedma na kahit makita ng iba, kasi wala namang pumapansin? Ako lang din ang insecure sarili ko.

- Dati hindi ako makangiti sa mga picture kasi ayokong nakikita yung ngipin ko. Ngayon dedma na lang din, kasi tinanggap ko na yung kapangitan ko? Char. Hindi na ako masyado nacoconscious sa kung ano yung tingin ko kaya kahit mukha akong patapon araw araw, okay lang nu.

Ayun, iyakin pa rin ako. Minsan may mga sadboi moments posts pa rin ako. Ilang beses ko na rin sinabing napapagod na ako. Pagod na akong mapagod para sa iba. Hanggang ngayon nakakaramdam pa rin ako ng anxiety pag gumigising ako sa umaga.

Pero alam mo, at least hindi na katulad dati na konting kibot lang, iiyakan ko agad. I have a friend na nasa ganong sitwasyon ngayon and nakikita ko yung sarili ko sa kanya a year ago. Sinabi ko sa kanya na sana maibalik yung ngiting nawala sa kanya. Ang hirap kasi hanggang ngayon yung ngiting ninakaw na yon sakin, hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin naibabalik. Kaya lagi kong sinasabi sa lahat ng posts ko na - whatever happens to me, hinding-hindi na ako magiging masaya.

Toxic Trait

Last year naalala mo, na-diagnosed ako na may Hyperthyroidism. Buti nga ngayon, hindi na gaano, pero ganon pa rin, may mga araw na ang lakas ko kumain, pero nilalabas ko rin agad. May mga araw pa rin na pag sobrang lugmok ako eh hindi na naman ako nagugutom. Pero ngayon, sobra ko pa ring tinitipid yung sarili ko. Hindi ako kumakain pag alam kong mapapagastos ako para sa iba.

At, sa lahat ng mga nangyaring magaganda ngayong taon sa buhay ko, ay hindi ako masaya.

Satisfaction

Naalala mo nung pinost ko nung taong 2016 ito: The Philosophy of Contentment. Eto yung proposal ko sa Philosophy class namin. Walang taong nakukuntento. Lahat tayo may desires para ma-develop yung well-being natin. Hindi yung ok ka nang hindi umalis sa loophole ng paulit-ulit na routine ng buhay.

Eh ako? Ano bang problema ko?

Hindi ako pinanganak para lang mag-aral > magtrabaho > magpamilya > at mamamatay. I want to do/achieve something na makabuluhan, hindi yung nag exist ka lang para sa wala. O e ano ngang problema ko?

Hindi ko na kayang maging masaya. Opo. Kaya lagi ako nagpopost dito sa blog ng mga achievements ko hindi para magyabang, kundi ipamukha sa sarili ko na eto na, eto na yung mga pinangarap mo noon, nasa harap mo na, bakit hindi ka pa rin masaya?

Self-actualization. Alam mo yung Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

I-incorporate ko na rin siya sa post ko para magets mo. Meron tayong basic needs na sa kabutihang-palad ay napupunan ko na. Yung psychological needs ay ok naman din, pero alam mo kung ano yung nakakapagpa-bother sakin lagi? Yung pinakatuktok ng triangulong ito. Hindi ko ma-achieve yung full potential ko, kasi, di ko alam. Parang may kulang.

Ito yung void na hindi mapupunan ng kahit ano. Nagkajowa ako, nakunsumi lang ako, hindi masaya. Nagkapera ako, hindi ako masaya. Nakapaggala ako, nung umuwi ako hindi na ako masaya. Napunta na ako sa iba’t-ibang church kasi baka kulang lang ako sa faith, pero hindi, hindi pa rin ako masaya.

Hindi ako marunong makuntento. Hindi sa 'gahaman' or naghahangad pa ako ng mas higit sa pangangailangan ko. Pero hindi ko na kayang maging masaya sa kung anong meron ako ngayon. Wait lang pang-ilang beses ko na to sinabi?

2017 nung grumaduate ako, punung-puno ng pangarap. 2 years after, wala na akong motivation. You mean goals? Yung sana after a certain period of time gusto ko makapagpundar na ako ng ganito ganun, magtatayo na ako ng ganitong business, nawala yung long-term goals ko. Asan na? Bumabangon ako na walang ganap. Hala sana ma-gets mo ko, yung fuel ng passion? Nasaan na? Tinamad na akong mag-aim pa ng mas mataas. Parang ako na yung tipikal na manggagawa na magtatrabaho na lang para sumahod, tas bigay kay ganito, kay ganun, tapos ako wala naman akong nafufulfill sa sarili ko. Hindi nila kasalanan. Ako mismo ang may problema. Wala akong balak para sa sarili ko at sa future ko. Pero joke lang, nagpost ako nung nakaraan na pag nagkajowa na ako, gusto ko pakasalan na ako agad (pero hindi mag-aanak), wala lang, baka sakali lang magkaroon ulit ako ng life goals. O di ba, alam mo di ba sinabi ko noon, hindi ako pinanganak para maging housewife. Eh ano to?

I started becoming the person I never wanted to be. Ang normie ko na. Kaya minumulto ako ng old self ko na hindi na daw ako honest sa sarili ko. May mga bagay akong nagawa at ginagawa beyond my moral values (playing with fire, dancing with a stranger). I become reckless. Ang sama na ng ugali ko na tipong when something inconvenient happens to her, ang masasabi ko lang, "Karma mo yan." Di ako to. Anong nangyari sayo Shaira?

I don't make plans. I am spontaneous. Kasi nga lahat ng pinlano ko para sa sarili ko, para sa amin char, naging drawing na lang. So ngayon, go with the flow na lang. Come what may. Kasi buti pa yung mga biglaang ganap nangyayari. Biglaang pagreresign, biglaang gastos. Ganun. Kaya tama na ang pagtatanong mo sakin kung anong plano ko. Kasi wala talagang pumapasok sa utak ko ngayon.

"Hindi ka tumanggap ng pension mula sa SSS for more than 10 years para lang maging walang kwenta sa lipunan. Hindi ka nag-aral ng apat na taon sa kolehiyo para lang maging low life peasant. You made this on your own. We've come this far. Wag ka nang bumaba doon sa level nila."

Eto ba yung tinatawag nilang existential crisis? So ano, dapat nga bang makuntento ako at maging masaya or wag makuntento and strive for more?

Lessons Learned

"We got distracted and caught up in unnecessary things sometimes and we forget that we are in a process and having things not working out is also a part of it."

Dati lagi natin sinasabi na "Pagdating ng bagong taon, magbabago na ako bla bla", pero isa lang din yan sa mga pangakong laging napapako haha. I've learned that kung gusto mo magbago, don't wait for a specific time at moment, kasi lagi lang nauurong at nauurong yan. Gusto mo nga magbago pero you keep doing the same old shit, what's the sense? You can't expect new beginnings if you keep holding on to old habits. Sabi nga, "If you want something, go get it now. Right now is the start of the rest of your future."

You get what you tolerate. Biggest blessing ko this year is I got people who loved me even at my most unlovable chapter. Kita mo naman last year napaka-patapon ko. Pero na-redempt ko yung sarili ko and now I'm here where I belong, thanks to you 💕. Yung kayang sabayan yung level of understanding mo sa mga bagay-bagay at hindi yung sasabihan ka na "masyado ka kasing matalino" "ayaw mo magpatalo" dahil lang sa ineexpress mo yung sarili mo. Instead na magsorry eh they will make you feel bad pa about it. Magrereflect pala talaga sayo kapag positive yung impact ng isang tao. You'll glow differently. Kaya always surround yourself with positive at masisipag na tao, para hindi ka na mahila pa pababa. Tsaka ikaw na rin mismo mahihiya na yung mga tao sa paligid mo ganon tas ikaw tatamad tamad pa rin, kusa ka na lang magsstep up. Kaya ayun ate girl, tigilan mo na ang pagtolerate sa mga bagay na di mo naman deserve. Tapos na tayo sa chapter ng white lies at kunsumisyon.

- Having the right one will help you reach goals you never dreamed of achieving.

- Not everyone will enjoy watching you succeed.

- Some people are there for you but only for favors. The more capable you are, the more users you attract.

Strategic directions for 2020.

A whole new decade is starting. This is the decade that most of us are going to get married or have kids, etc. We're about to enter the very beginning of a whole new chunk of our lives.

Imagine how many people we will meet and how much we're going to mature and how many people we may lose and how much the world is going to change everything we think about daily, like career or love, it will be probably be settled by then.

Anong plano ko for next year? Again. WALA. Kung matutuloy na ba yung printing shop business ko? Kung makakapag enroll na ako for grad school? Kung lilipat na naman ako ng trabaho? Kung matutuloy yung #Japan2020 sa April? Kung mag-aasawa na ba ako? Who knows? Again, as I said earlier, nothing excites me anymore.

Sa nakalipas na pitong taon ay naging saksi ang blog na to sa lahat ng aking pakikibaka sa buhay, lahat ng mga pinagdaanan ko, lahat ng mga pagbabagong nangyari, mga rason ng pagngiti at pag-iyak ko, at progress and development. Salamat sa patuloy na pagsubaybay. Ilang beses na rin akong nademotivate na magsulat, ilang buwan din akong nagla-lie low.

But still here we are. Sa loob ng isang taon ay napakarami na ring nagbago sa buhay ko, yung ibang kaganapan ay hindi pa rin at hindi ko na naisulat dito.

Pasensya na kung medyo mayabang ang dating ko lately, kailangan ko iboost yung ego ko kasi palagi akong nadadown sa sarili ko, at heto ang defense mechanism ko.

If ever this will be my last year, though lagi ko sinasabi na makakalimutan nyo rin naman ako/eto eventually, sana may maiwan akong magandang alaala.

"When a woman is loved the right way, she becomes the best version of herself." I'm happy that I ended this year with less pain than I had at the beginning of the year. I was lost but now I'm glad that I'm on the right path.

Thank you for staying with me this 2019.

Look how far we've come.

Let's make more memories ngayong 2020.

- Love, Shaira Mae ✨💕

[anastpaul]

Saint of the Day – 13 July – Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríguez Santiago (1918–1963) aged 44 Layperson, Apostle of the Liturgy, Catechist, Speaker, Spiritual Advisor – born on 22 November 1918 at Caguas, Puerto Rico – died on 13 July 1963 of cancer at Caguas, Puerto Rico.   He is the first Puerto Rican, the first Caribbean-born layperson in history to be Beatified.

Carlos Manuel Rodríguez was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico on 22 November 1918.   His parents Manuel Baudilio Rodríguez and Herminia Santiago, both came from large families with strong Christian roots.   He was baptised at the Sweet Name of Jesus Church in Caguas on 4 May 1919.   He was the second of five brothers and sisters.   Two of his sisters married, while another is a Carmelite nun.   His only brother is a Benedictine priest and was the first Puerto Rican to become the abbot of a monastery.

‘Chali’ as a six years old, experienced a terrible loss – a terrible fire destroyed both his father’s small store and the family home.   Having lost virtually all of their earthly goods, the young family moved in with Carlos Manuel’s maternal grandparents.   Carlos Manuel was thereby strongly influenced by his grandmother, Alejandrina Esterás, a deeply devout and holy woman.

Carlos Manuel’s father, Manuel Baudilio, endured the loss good-naturedly.   Hope and faith never left him until his death in 1940.   Doña Herminia not being in a house of her own, imposed upon herself and her children a strong sense of respect, to a point of inhibition.   This contributed to the reserved and timid personality of her children. Nonetheless, Herminia had the virtue of a serene happiness that was brightened up by her faith.   Her relationship with the Lord was nourished by daily Eucharistic encounters.

So it was that – at a young age and in the heart of his own family – Carlos received his first lessons in Catholic faith and life.   At the age of six he began his schooling at the Catholic School of Caguas, where he remained until completing eighth grade.   It was there that he would come into contact with the Sisters of Notre Dame.   He cultivated a special friendship with them during his entire life.   Under their tutelage – as well as that of the Redemptorist Fathers – he received his initial religious and humanistic education.

His reception of Christ for the first time in the Holy Eucharist would mark the beginning of a love that would last a lifetime.   He became an altar boy and began to experience the riches of the faith through the sacred liturgy of the Church.   It is likely that it was at this time that he felt the initial call to live a life entirely dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ.

When he graduated from eighth grade in 1932, he was first in his class and won a medal for his Religion.   He then went on to study at the public Gautier Benítez High School in Caguas.   But shortly after, he experienced the first symptoms of what would later become a severe gastrointestinal disorder, ulcerative colitis.   This illness would cause him much suffering and inconvenience for the rest of his life.   Nevertheless, it never undermined his commitment to Christ and His Church.

Carlos Manuel began his third year of high school (1934-35) at the Perpetual Help Academy in San Juan.   There he renewed his contact with the Sisters of Notre Dame and the Redemptorist Fathers  . His health, however, rendered him unable to continue studying there.   Thus back in Caguas, he worked for some time, finally earning his High School diploma, in both the commercial and scientific areas, by May 1939.

He continued working as an office clerk until 1946, when he decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) in Río Piedras.   However, despite excellent grades and his love for studies, illness prevented him from completing his second year.   The end of formal education, however, did not mark the end of his education.   As his friends at the UPR – who began to call him ‘Charlie’ would later recall – his studies really never ended.   He was a voracious reader and his interests were wide-ranging, including the arts, science, philosophy, religion and music.   In fact, although he only took piano lessons for a year, he continued to learn on his own, to the point where he was able to not only play the piano but also, the church organ.   The sacred music he loved so much!

Nature was another of his great loves.  As a child, he would spend summer vacations in the countryside  . He often made day trips to the river or to the beach with his siblings. As an adult, he organised leisurely hikes with his family through the countryside.   They would travel light – with modest provisions for food – and yet a great desire to commune with God’s creation.

Carlos Manuel worked as an office clerk in Caguas, Gurabo and at the Agriculture Experiment Station, which was part of the UPR.   There he also translated documents from English to Spanish.   He spent almost his entire modest salary to promote knowledge and love of Christ.   He did this especially promoting a greater understanding of the significance of the Sacred Liturgy.   Using articles on liturgical subjects which he himself translated and edited, Carlos Manuel began publishing Liturgy and Christian Culture, publications to which he dedicated innumerable hours.

Increasingly convinced that “the liturgy is the life of the Church,” (through proclamation of the Word, the Eucharist and the “mysteries of Christ” or sacraments), he organised along with Father McWilliams in Caguas a Liturgy Circle.   Later on, in 1948, he assembles along with Father McGlone the parroquial chorus Te Deum Laudamus.

In Río Piedras, where brother Pepe and sister Haydée were already UPR faculty members, Carlos was able to achieve his ardent desire to make Christ known, among professors and students.   As his disciples grew in number he moved into nearby Catholic University Centre and organised another Liturgy Circle (later called the Círculo de Cultura Cristiana).

He continued his publications and also organised his notable Christian Life Days for the benefit of University students who sought to understand and enjoy the liturgical seasons. He participated in panels on various topics and distinguished himself for his insistent emphasis on the importance of liturgical life, as well as the paschal meaning of life and death in Christ.

Carlos Manuel organised discussion groups in various towns and participated in societies such as the Brotherhood of Christian Doctrine, the Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus.   He also taught Catechism to high school students whose teaching aids he supplied from his own income.

He zealously promoted and stood for liturgical renewal, among bishops, clergy and laymen: – active participation of laity, the use of the vernacular and – most especially – the observance of his much loved Paschal Vigil, which to Charlie’s delight was restored to its proper time near midnight by Pope Pius XII in 1952.   Of note, all of Carlos Manuel’s proactive lay apostolic activity took place prior to the Second Vatican Council, thus a veritable pre-conciliar apostle towards approval of the Sacrosanctum concillium, at its onset.

Many a good number of people testify to their growth of a living faith thanks to his teachings, in conjunction with the integrity of his life and exemplary service.   Others testify that Carlos Manuel’s zeal for Christ awakened in them their vocation to religious life.   Those who sought him out in order to clarify their doubts — or seek to strengthen their faith –would never be disappointed.

To approach Carlos Manuel and to getting to know him was as if to approach a light that illuminated one’s perspective of life and its meaning.   His glance and smile revealed the certain joy of Easter.   An enormous spiritual strength transcended his fragile physical constitution.   The firm conviction of his faith allowed him to overcome his natural shyness and he spoke with assurance resembling Saint Peter’s on Pentecost.   Despite his failing health for so many years, no complaints ever clouded the joy with which he faced life.   He reminded us that the Christian must be joyful because he or she lives the joy and hope that Christ gave with His Resurrection:   VIVIMOS PARA ESA NOCHE – WE LIVE FOR THAT NIGHT – he would say.

His physical strength declined gradually but his spirit never failed.   He lived each moment quietly overcoming his pain with the profound joy of one who knows himself to be resurrected.   Following an aggressive “life-saving” surgery in 1963 he turned out to have advanced terminal cancer.   Near the end, he experienced the “dark night of faith”, thinking himself abandoned by God, a known mystical experience.   Yet, before dying, he rediscovered the Word he had lost and which had given sense to his entire life.   His passage to eternal life took place on 13 July 1963  . He was 44. “The 13th is a good day,” he had said a few days before his death, without any of us having a notion of what that meant.   Now we know.

Charlie’s Beatification Process was indeed a swift one!   Initiated in 1992, the positio on heroic virtues, lead to his status as Venerable as of 7  July 1997.   The miracle for his Beatification (cure of non-Hodgkins malignant lymphoma back in 1981) was approved on 20 December 1999 by HH St John Paul II.    Thus, a record-making eight-year span, a first for lay apostles!…Vatican.va

A school in Bayamón is named after him, with the blessed title.   The school was renamed in 2001: = Colegio Beato Carlos Manuel Rodríguez.   Staff from the school witnessed the Beatification ceremony.

Below are his tomb and Shrine.

Saint of the Day – 13 July – Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríguez Santiago (1918–1963) Saint of the Day - 13 July - Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríguez Santiago (1918–1963) aged 44 Layperson, Apostle of the Liturgy, Catechist, Speaker, Spiritual Advisor - born on 22 November 1918 at Caguas, Puerto Rico - died on 13 July 1963 of cancer at Caguas, Puerto Rico.   

[wheneunoiawrites-blog]

STORY TITLE: Grace

I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL WRITER. I just love to write for JESUS. I'm sorry for all the wrong grammars and misspellings. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

---------------------------------

PART ONE OF THREE

NOTE: Some sentences that are in italics are flashbacks. Please don't get confused. Happy reading! 

RUAH

"Wala akong anak na malandi! Lumayas ka dito!"

I cried so hard na parang ngayon na lamang ako iiyak. Isa-isa kong pinulot ang mga damit na hinagis ni Papa sa aking harapan. Mas lalo akong naiyak dahil sa patuloy niyang pang-iinsulto sa akin.

"Pinag-aral kita, binihisan! Saan ba 'ko nagkulang, Ruah?!" nasasaktang sigaw niya. Napatayo ako at hinawakan si Papa sa kamay at lumuhod.

"I..I'm sorry, Pa! I...I will leave, just please go back to your room at magpahinga ka po." umiiyak kong sabi. Masakit iwan si Papa. Palagay ko, hindi ko kakayanin pero alam kong dapat akong magpakatatag.

Nalaman kong buntis ako.

I failed him. For seventeen years of my existence, ngayon lang. Ngayon ko lang siya na-disappoint ng ganito. Wala akong utang na loob. Naging mabuti sila sa akin.

I was adopted. Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa kanila ni Mama Remy. But, Mama died because of cancer when I was thirteen. Si Papa naman ay may history ng heart attack and I don't want him to suffer more. Na pati siya ay mawala sa akin.

Tama ng ako na lang ang masaktan ng sobra-sobra kasi sobra ko silang mahal. Si Papa.

"I don't need your worry! Huwag ka ng magpapakita! Kahit kailan!" sigaw ni Papa ng buong puso bago ipinasara ang gate kina Manang Fely.

I breathe heavily. I breathe with all my heart.

"Pa, I promise, babalikan po kita." sabi ko at tumayo ng marahan. Sa huling pagkakataon ay pinagmasdan ko ang bahay na kinalakihan ko. Ang mga masasayang ala-ala. Ngumiti ako kahit patuloy sa pagpatak ang mga luha ko.

"Hindi ako susuko." sabi ko bago tumalikod.

SEVEN YEARS LATER...

"Thank you po, Pastora." ngumiti ako ng malapad kay Pastora bago ibinalik sa kanya ang kanyang libro na ipinahiram sa akin. Ngumiti siya bago ibinalik sa kanyang drawer ang libro.

"Siguro po, mahal na mahal ng asawa po ninyo ang trabaho niya noon." sabi ko kay Pastora. Nasa kanyang opisina kami dito sa church. It's a Tuesday afternoon. Ibinalik ko sa kanya ang libro ng kanyang asawa. Namatay na ito ten years ago dahil sa pagkaguho ng building na project niya sa Manila. He's a civil engineer. Ngumiti si Pastora Rosy bago sumagot sa akin.

"Sobra. Dumating sa punto na pinagselosan ko ang trabaho niya noon." hagikgik niya. Ngumisi ako. "Pasyal ka ulit sa bahay sa susunod. I can lend you more books about Civil Engineering. Mataas ang bookshelf ng asawa ko sa dami." Tumango ako ng sunud-sunod dahil sa narinig.

I'm a graduate of Civil Engineering and I am preparing for my board exams this coming May. Everyone in the church are very supportive that's why malakas ang loob ko. Ipapasa ko ito. At pagkatapos ay babalikan ko si Papa. It's been seven years nung nakausap ko siya. From Pampanga ay bumiyahe ako papuntang Manila. To start a new life. At sa church na ito, sila na tumulong sa akin. Habang nasa second year college ako noon, may nag-invite sa akin sa Campus Ministry. Doon, nilabas ko lahat ng hinanakit ko. Sama ng loob ko. There, I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. Hindi na ako natakot pa para sa araw ng bukas. Kasi kasama ko Siya. At alam ko, magiging okay din ang lahat.

Pero...

Medyo mahirap pa para sa akin na ipagtapat kina Pastora ang iilang mga nangyari sa akin sa mga nakalipas na taon. Hindi ko pa rin kaya. Pero, I believe na in God's perfect timing, may mapagsasabihan din ako. Minsan, I doubt my love for Jesus kasi bakit hindi ko pa rin makuhang magtiwala? Bakit hindi ko pa rin maipagtapat ang totoong sitwasyon ko?

Masayang nagku-kuwento sa akin si Pastora sa buhay-dalaga niya ng biglang may marahang kumatok sa pinto. Pareho kaming napatingin sa pintuan. Marahang nagbukas ang pinto at pumasok si Kael na may dalang mga nakarolyong plates.

"Kael!" maligayang salubong ni Pastora sa panganay na anak. Ngumisi lamang si Kael sa ina. Tumayo ako sa kinauupuan at tinulungan siyang ilapag ang iilang gamit na kanyang dala.

"Hi, Ruah." bati niya at nakipag-apir sa akin. Ngumisi ako at tumango matapos makipag-apir.

"Ma." tawag niya sa ina bago halikan ito sa noo. Napangiti ako. He's always a good son to his mother. Aside from being a civil engineer ay siya din ang Youth leader sa church. Napatingin ako sa mga nakarolyong mga plates. Hindi ko maiwasang humanga. Napansin yata ni Kael ang pagkamangha ko kaya lumapit siya sa mga plates at inilatag ang mga iyon sa drawing table niya na nasa opisina ni Pastora. Gumagawa kasi siya ng mga plates niya dito minsan.

"Kailan ang start ng construction?" tanong ko na mangha pa rin habang nakatingin sa perspective ng bagong building ng church na itatayo. Ang ganda!

"Next week." sagot naman niya habang inilalatag ang floor plan doon sa tabi malapit sa table ni Pastora.

"Tumawag si Minelle kanina, Kael. Hindi ka niya mapupuntahan ngayon, may tinatapos daw siya sa office niya. Tumatawag daw siya sa'yo kanina pero hindi ka sumasagot." balita ni Pastora na ngayon ay kinakalikot ang kanyang cellphone. Mabilis namang kinuha ni Kael ang kanyang cellphone sa bag na dala at seryosong kumunot ang noo pagkatapos makita siguro ang iilang missed calls ng kanyang Architect sa project na ito. Arch. Minelle is one of our youths sa church. She's a nice friend to me also.

"Tatawagan ko lang saglit po, Ma. Hindi ko napansin na naka-silent ang phone ko." paalam niya sa amin bago siya lumabas ng office. Bumalik ang atensyon ko sa perspective na nakalatag. Halos kumislap ang mga mata ko sa ganda ng bagong itatayong church. Napakaganda ng bawat detalye. I admire Minelle for this, really. Pero, halos yakapin ko ang katabing structural plan. Ang galing! Napakadetalyado! Napatingin ako sa ibaba ng plate.

Engr. Mikael Sartiga - sabi ng nakalagay.

Balang araw, magkakaroon din ako ng initials na ito. Hindi ba, Lord? Napangiti ako.

"Anong sabi anak?" tanong ni Pastora pagkapasok ulit ni Kael.

"Nagsorry lang po ako Ma. Susubukan niya daw dumaan dito mamaya. Busy daw po, e." sabi niya sa ina bago lumapit ulit sa mga plates.

"Kumusta ang review?" tanong ni Kael sa akin ng makalapit. Mula sa mga plates ay nakangiti pa rin akong tumingin sa kanya. Nakatingin siya sa akin.

"Maaga kaming nadismissed today, that's why I'm here." sabi ko at muling tumingin sa mga plates. Humalakhak siya ng mahina dahilan para mapatingin akong muli sa kanya.

"Why?" natatawa ko na ring tanong. Tumingin ako kay Pastora ng humagikgik ito mula sa kanyang upuan. Namula yata ang mga pisngi ko. Masyado yata akong halata na excited ng pumasa at maging isang ganap na Civil Engineer.

"I'm excited for you, Ruah." nangingiting sabi ni Kael. Ngumiti ako ng malapad at ibinalik ang mga mata sa mga plates.

Maraming professionals sa church and hindi ako maiwasang maexcite na balang araw ay magiging isa ako sa kanila. Don't get me wrong. I'm not about the title. I am about the capability and improvement. Alam kong kapag pumasa na ako, mas makakapagexplore ako sa field na pinili ko. And ang mas nakapagpainspire pa sa akin lalo is lahat sila--ang mga CPAs (Certified Public Accountants) namin ay voluntarily nilang hawak ang finance ng church. Ang mga LPTs (Licensed Professional Teachers) namin at mga PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy) ay maliban sa kanilang trabaho ay voluntarily nilang hawak ang Children Ministry namin and ang kanilang mga events like Daily Bible Vacation School every summer and gumagawa ng mga lesson plans. Ang aming mga Doctors and Nurses ay sa mga Medical Mission ng church sa iba't ibang lugar na sinasamahan namin ng Evangelism. We need to proclaim Jesus. This world needs Jesus kaya masipag ang bawat isa at nagtu-tulung-tulong. And ang mga Civil Engineers, Architects and also the Mechanical, Electronics, and Electrical Engineers namin ay voluntary ding tumulong para sa pagpapatayo ng bagong church building. And let us not forget the business owners ng church. Todo suporta sila sa mga gagastusin ng bagong building.

At madami pa. God is blessing them so much that's why they decided to bless every people around them. We are so blessed to bless.

Simula noong umalis ako sa amin ay nagtrabaho ako habang nag-aaral. Mabait ang boss namin dahil maluwag siya sa oras ko. Very supportive din siya. Para na siyang ina sa akin.

Two days before the exam ay sama-sama kami sa church for fellowship and prayer para sa aming mga magt-take ng board exams. Tatlo kaming magt-take this May. Ang daming pagkain na dinala ng iba. Pre-celebration daw! Nagtatawanan ang lahat habang naka-form kami ng malaking circle sa gitnan ng church. Youth na lamang ang natira dahil medyo late na din.

"Madadagdagan na naman ang mga professionals ng church!" maligayang balita ni Gavin, isang Mechanical Engineer. Pumalakpak naman kami. Yes. We are declaring it na! We have victory through Jesus!

"At madadagdagan na naman ang magsesettle down." panunukso ni Minelle, ang Architect na kasama ni Kael sa bagong building ng church. Humagikgik ang ibang youth kaya napaiwas ako ng tingin at napahigpit ang aking hawak sa tasa na nasa kamay ko.

"Ano, Kael?" baling ni Minelle kay Kael. Ngumisi lamang si Kael bago tumingin sa akin. Napainom ako sa kape na hawak ko. Halos masamid naman ako ng magtilian ang mga babaeng youth na kasama namin.

"Silent, children." pagbibiro ni Kael dahilan para humalakhak sila. Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko dahil mabilis na naman ang tibok ng puso ko. Hindi ko inaasahan na bubuksan nila ulit ang topic about sa amin ni Kael.

"Look, guys. Why don't we just close in prayer na? It's getting late. Huwag natin hayaan mapuyat ang mga magbo-board." sabi ni Kael pero dahilan lang iyon para magtilian silang muli!

"Ayaw mo lang mapuyat si Ruah! Dinamay mo pa kami, kuya!" pang-aasar ni Claire na kasabay kong magt-take ng board. Napayuko na lang ako sa hiya. Kinalabit naman ako ni Minelle kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. Ngumiti siya sa akin.

"You will make it." nakangiting sabi niya kaya marahan akong ngumiti.

"In Jesus' name." sabi ko.

Flashback...

"Ang lakas ng loob mo, ano? Kung sino pa ang mga ampon, sila pa malalakas ang loob!" sigaw sa akin Madeline. I thought they like me, I thought tanggap nila 'ko pero...

"Ano bang ginawa ko sa inyo?" naiiyak kong tanong habang hila-hila nila ako at hindi ko alam kung saan nila ako dadalhin. Inaya nila ako kanina paglabas ng school kahit gabi na. Inabot kami ng gabi dahil tinatapos namin ang research namin. We're graduating ng Senior High School.

Frats. Hindi ko alam na kasali sila sa isa sa mga frats ng school namin. I always wanted to feel that I am belong. Hindi nagkulang ang pagmamahal ng magulang ko sa akin. Mahal na mahal nila ako. Pero, hindi ko maiwasan na maghanap ng kaibigan paglabas ko ng bahay. Noong una ay pinakisamahan nila ako. Pero, simula noong magexcel ako sa school, sa section namin ay naramdaman ko na ang galit nila.

Ganun ba talaga? Kung kailan ka nagsisikap ng wala namang inaapakang ibang tao ay mas dapat kang maghirap? They started bullying me at mas lumala nung malaman nilang ampon ako. Every day of my life was hell.

"Sa palagay mo bagay kayo ni Vince? Gusto mong ipamukha pa sa'yo, e!" nanggigigil na sabi ni Madeline. Tumawa lang ang dalawang kasama niya. Kaming dalawa ni Madeline ang nasa likod at sa harap ang dalawa. Nagd-drive ang isa.

"Madeline, I told him na hindi ko siya gusto! I don't want to be in a relationship dahil mas priority ko ang pag-aaral ko!" naiiyak na sabi ko. Tumawa siya pero there's no humor in it.

"Huwag ka ngang pa-santa!" sabi niya.

"Saan ba natin iiwan 'yan?" tanong ni Kristie, ang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan!

Kinabahan ako ng sobra-sobra.

Pawis na pawis akong napabangon mula sa pagkakauob ko sa itaas ng mesa. Nakatulog ako sa pagrereview. Mabilis ang aking paghinga habang nakatingin ako sa aking maliit na orasan sa table ko. It's 2:18am in the morning. Nakuyom ko ang aking kamay dahil sa sakit na naalala ko.

Tears in my eyes didn't stop falling. Tumingala ako at tumawag sa Kanya na alam kong nakikinig at never akong iniwan.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" tanong sa akin ni Kael. The night before my exam, he called. Nasa veranda ako, nagpapahangin habang nagbabasa. Napatingin ako sa ibaba at kita ko ang kabusyhan ng mga sasakyan aa ibaba.

"Of course! More than ready." sabi ko dahilan para matawa siya. Ngumisi ako. "Nasaan ka?" tanong ko. Nakakarinig ako ng mga kaluskos ng ballpen sa kabilang linya.

"Sa office pa ni Mama, dito sa church. Tinatapos ko ang ibang detalye ng plano." sabi niya. Napatango ako kahit di naman niya nakikita. "Ganun ba..." sabi ko at napapikit ng medyo lumakas ang hangin.

"Ruah..." tawag niya.

"Hmm?" sagot ko.

"I'm still waiting." sabi niya na nakapagpatigil sa akin.

TO BE CONTINUED...

[riusugoi]

PRE FACE: Or How to Begin at the End - Amy Ireland

http://ah-journal.net/issues/01/pre-face-or-how-to-begin-at-the-end -   As in a woven image or pattern, the course taken from discrete threads to the emergence of a represented, recognisable object or product, is a nonlinear one. Once enough threads have been put into place, a motif emerges, but it is always in terms of a retrochronic legibility, premised on a process that is necessarily primary: the construction of the hardware and the programming of the software that execute the patterns of intrication presiding over the warp and weft of the threads which form the image. The lesson—one which would fascinate Plant—that can be taken from this is that recognition, conceptual identification and negation are always secondary. In this sense, the primary process of weaving is a future coincident with the present’s past. The moment of identification and appearance always arrives behind the functioning of the process which assembles it as its object—whether this is an industrial product, a historical phenomenon, or indeed, a self. Ada Lovelace’s writings testify to an intuitive apprehension of this fundamental delay. Rebuffed from admission into the Royal Society of London because of her sex, but convinced that her pioneering work would one day be understood for what it was, she did not even bother to append her name to the Menebrea footnotes, confiding to Babbage, ‘I do not wish to proclaim who has written it’.5 In both the conscious maintenance of her anonymity and her contribution to the technologisation of the processes of production that would link computation and weaving together, Ada Lovelace conspired with the primary process immanent to all representation—invisible, patient and quietly anticipating the long term effects of her work, lagging far behind their imperceptible, perpetually futural, initiation.

Women and machines, Plant argues, have historically shared the ghostlike position of the intermediary. They are nonetheless ‘the very “possibility of mediation, transaction, transition, transference”’.6 Man’s ‘go-betweens’, the ‘anonymous editors, secretaries, copyists, and clerks’, those who

took his messages, decrypted his codes, counted his numbers, bore his children, and passed on his genetic code. They have worked as his bookkeepers and his memory banks, zones of deposit and withdrawal, promissory notes, credit and exchange, not merely servicing the social world, but underwriting reality itself. Goods and chattels. The property of man.7

Apocalypse or salvation only appear as legitimate endpoints to a subjectivity premised on integral stasis and an inherently binarising logic that is dialectally subsumed into a temporal linearity produced via a double reference to an inaccessible origin and a fear of death (united in the word ‘matrix’), both of which must be appropriated, mastered and overcome. To usurp the position of authority and channel—through obfuscation, anonymity, intelligence and cunning, the weaving of a coded message or a riddle—the course of history, via the technology of prophecy is also, in its disturbance of telos, a practice of weaving time.

‘Women have always spun, carded and weaved, albeit anonymously. Without name. In perpetuity. Everywhere yet nowhere,’ writes Plant.11 To prophesy is to complicate, pleat, loop or fold time. One is said to ‘weave’ a spell or a charm, knotting a virtual future into the obscure unfolding of the present and its written past. There is a connection, emphasised by Plant, between weaving, magic, prophecy and secrecy, who notes (quoting Mircea Eliade’s Rites and Symbols of Initiation) that, ‘The moon “spins” Time and weaves human lives. The Goddesses of Destiny are spinners.”’12 When Eliade looks at the traditional tribal ‘seclusion of pubescent girls and menstruating women, often the occasion for the spinning of both actual and fictional yarns’, she continues, ‘he detects “an occult connection between the conception of the periodical creations of the world … and the ideas of Time and Destiny, on the one hand, and on the other, nocturnal work, women’s work, which has to be performed far from the light of the sun and almost in secret’.13

As the link between the ancient, feminised labour of weaving and the dawn of accelerating computation technologies, Ada Lovelace is a cyborg, and a prophet. She is in good company. Among such figures always, significantly, feminised, trans- or poly-gendered, are the many, mad monstrosities of mythology and cultural history. These pathologised and frightful seers arrive consistently from outside and approach Read Only Memory history simultaneously from what it understands as a before and an after, the past and the future, always and at once infiltrating from beneath and from afar, like the Sphinx, Tiresias, or the Eumenides that haunt the narrative of Sophocles’ Oedipus plays. The sphinx is a cyborg or a hybrid—part woman, part eagle, part lion—who dispatches a prophecy concealed in a riddle (What goes on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?) to which Oedipus, thinking he has solved it, responds with the answer ‘Man’.16 Tiresias, a transgendered prophet, figured in T.S. Eliot’s indictment of a tragic modernity, The Waste Land as ‘blind / throbbing between two lives / Old man with wrinkled female breasts’ is, according to a footnote, the poem’s ‘most important personage’.17 It is Tiresias who ‘perceives the substance of the poem’ (the seer’s role in the text emerges, interestingly, in relation to the scene concerning two feminised labourers: the secretary and the clerk), and who delivers to Oedipus, in Oedipus Rex, the terrible prophecy of patricide and incest that, precisely in trying to avoid, Oedipus unwittingly fulfils.18 The Eumenides, Erinyes or Fates, ‘daughters of the earth, of the dark!’ preside over Oedipus’ death or disappearance in the enigmatic final scene of Oedipus at Colonus in which, fated to expire in the Eumenides’ sacred grove, Oedipus vanishes, with only the king of Athens and a confused messenger looking on, the latter proclaiming as he returns from the mysterious site, ‘Oedipus is dead! But no short speech could explain what happened’, an utterance reprised moments later in the question of the Chorus, ‘What? What happened?’19 The Fates are traditionally goddesses of time and, infamously, weavers—like Ariadne who is connected with both the weaving and unweaving of the Athenian labyrinth, particularly enigmatically in Nietzsche, as Deleuze points out in Nietzsche and Philosophy, claiming that, ‘Ariadne is Nietzsche's first secret’, the double of Dionysus, who recursively completes nihilism in affirming the Dionysian affirmation.20 The etymology of ‘Sphinx’ in ancient Greek derives from the verb σφίγγω (sphíngō), meaning ‘to squeeze’ or ‘tighten up’ (Plant: ‘[K]nitting is a matter of making loops. At its simplest, it is done with a single, continuous thread, which loops around and intricates itself’) and as Robert Graves recounts in The White Goddess, ‘Sphinx means “throttler” … in Etruscan ceramic art she is usually portrayed as seizing men, or standing on their prostate figures’.21 The concept corresponding to fate in Anglo-Saxon culture is ‘wyrd’ (Shakespeare renders the Greek Fates as the—again, transgendered—Wyrd Sisters of Macbeth), its Norse cognate is Urðr, connected to the Norns, or weaving female deities who control the destinies of men, and both words are derived from the root wert, ‘to turn’, ‘to spin’ or ‘to wind’.

What is it about this fearful link between women, weaving, and temporal power that transforms them into such sick and monstrous creatures in the collective imagination?22 Is it the fact that they are always either partial or multiple—‘at least two’—and thereby intractable to the rules of identity, straddling both sides of being, the transcendental and its objects?23 Or that they index—for the identity that comes to reflect upon them—a primary alienation, from the 'matrix', matter or ‘mother’ that begets it? Representation is always in the thrall of something monstrous it cannot perceive. For Oedipus, for Babbage and his colleagues, for those who speak the language of history, the unrepresentable arrives first, but also last. These threshold beings of the future and the past, presiding over the fragile threads integrating life and death inhabit both edges of time and enfold everything within their trap, secreted in the present. They are at once the secret ‘origin’ of an obscure—because nonlinear—production, and the prophetesses of the ‘end'. ‘There are only two answers to the question “which comes first” and both of them are female,’ writes Plant, 'the male element is simply an offshoot from a female loop’.24 Zeros + Ones itself closes with the casting of a prophecy. Plant writes of the processes she has been describing that they are ‘a code for the numbers to come’.25

En "The Infra-World", un pequeño tratado sobre lo imperceptible en el arte y la cultura, François J. Bonnet resalta un raro fragmento en prosa titulado ‘Heracles 2 or The Hydra,’ encontrado en la obra de Heiner Müller de 1972, "Cement".

‘Heracles 2 or The Hydra’ narra las vicisitudes de su protagonista, guerrero y masculino, Heracles, a medida que se adentra más y más en una jungla desorientadora en busca de una bestia mítica y feminizada que habrá de confrontar y matar en batalla, la Hidra. Mientras persigue al animal que cree estar cazando, siguiendo un rastro de sangre, [...] el abundante follaje de la retorcida vegetación le impide ver el cielo, su única fuente para la navegación temporal, y se encuentra con repeticiones de configuraciones de ramas particulares que alteran y distorsionan ya por completo su impresión de estar avanzando en el espacio. Llevado por un sentimiento de creciente desesperación, Heracles acelera su paso pero no puede distinguir si camina más rápido o más despacio que antes. Peor aún, la jungla parece estar animada por algún tipo extraño de consciencia y él comienza a creer que está poniéndole a prueba. Se olvida de su nombre y comienza a disociarse de su propio sentido de auto-consciencia y de su sentido de integridad corporal.

A medida que el espacio de la jungla cambia a su alrededor "solo él, el innombrable, se había mantenido igual en su largo y costoso camino a la batalla. ¿O era aquello que caminaba sobre sus piernas en el cada vez más rápido suelo danzante también algo diferente a lo que él era? Todavía estaba pensando en ello, cuando la jungla, una vez más, lo atrapó".

[...] Lentamente, lo que queda de Heracles, se da cuenta de que el rastro de sangre que ha estado siguiendo es la suya propia, y que la bestia mítica que creía estar cazando no es otra que la jungla misma:

"No avanzó más, la jungla le seguía el ritmo… y él entendió, con creciente pánico: la jungla era la Hidra, hacía tiempo que la jungla que creía estar atravesando era la bestia, era quien le llevaba en el ritmo de sus pasos, las ondas del suelo eran su jadeo y el viento su respiración, el rastro que había seguido era el de su propia sangre, de la que la selva, que era la bestia, se llevaba buena parte (¿cuánta sangre tiene un ser humano?); y también entendió que siempre lo había sabido, aunque no pudiese nombrarlo".

[...] Mientras él intenta combatirla, se da cuenta de que los golpes se vuelven hacia él, en una confusión entre usuario y herramienta (la separación que permitía su maestría), la compostura y el control se desangran entre los restos en descomposición del suelo nauseabundo de la jungla. [...] Heracles se ha encontrado con la forma del secreto

[krnchinx]

Yoohoo, nalaman ko na magkakampanya pala yung dalawang partylist kaya merong isang subject ang di nakapag discuss at yun ay oral comm, sa buong pagpapakita o pagpapakilala ng mga partylist ay nagkaroon naman ng kasiyahan dahil yung ibang kakalase namin ay may posisyon na tinatakbo kaya nagtawanan nung kami na ang sunod na papasukin nila, nag discuss lang naman sa first subject namin at sa philosophy ay nagpagawa lang ng tig 10 na truth and opinion at kinulang ako ng lagay sa opinion kala ko need na ipasa di pala pwede mo pa tapusin eh wala napasa ko na. Sa precal nagpagawa si sir na hanggang today lang ang pasahan kaya nagmadali ako sa pag sagot dahil meron pang susunod na subject na kung saan may quiz rin, natapos ko na yung precal buti nalang kaso sa komunikasyon ang dami kong kulang na sagot, ang bababa ng mga quiz ko, need ko mag review on time dapat para di hapit kapag malapit na ang quiz at yun nga inabot na kami ng gabi dahil yung iba di pa pala tapos sa precal hanggang sa pinasok na kami ng ibang teachers haha nagtataka bakit di pa nauwi.

Lesson: Kung alam mo na mababa ang nakukuha mong score alam mo dapat kung ang gagawin mo para sa susunod di na bagsak ang score dahil ang goal nga nating taon ay makapasa, kaya wag kalimutan ang mga responsibilidad bilang estudyante.

September 14, 2022 (wednesday)

[healzylabs]

(English version below) Con este post iniciamos una serie de LECCIONES DE ORO de parte de personas de éxito a las que admiramos. Desde aquí les rendimos tributo y les agradecemos la gran inspiración que suponen para la filosofía HEALZY. "La genética tenía preparada que hasta los 25 años tuvierais fuerza. Pero a partir de cierta edad, o tomáis una serie de complementos, hacéis deporte todos los días, aprendéis a respirar y le ponéis pasión a la vida; o os moriréis" Emilio Duró @emilioduropamies #emilioduró #emilioduro https://youtu.be/nseLteyJbMk Minuto 2:05 Video recopilatorio de las genialidades de este maestro del desarrollo personal. Totalmente recomendable si tenéis 15 minutitos. Emilio Duró Pamies (Lérida, 1960) es un empresario, profesor y conferenciante español. Desde hace más de 30 años trabaja como consultor, asesor y formador para importantes empresas multinacionales. Únete a nuestro HEALZY lifestyle para más lecciones de oro como esta 🌱❤⏳ -------------------------------------------------------------- With this post we start a series of GOLDEN LESSONS from successful people we admire. From here we pay tribute to them and thank them for the great inspiration they represent for the HEALZY philosophy. "Genetics had prepared that up to the age of 25 you would have strength. But after a certain age, either you take a series of supplements, you do sports every day, you learn to breathe and you put passion into life; or you will die" Emilio Duró https://youtu.be/nseLteyJbMk Minute 2:05 Great compilation video of this master of personal development. Totally recommended if you have 15 minutes. Emilio Duró Pamies (Lérida, 1960) is a Spanish businessman, teacher and lecturer. For more than 30 years he has been working as a consultant, adviser and coach for major multinational companies. Join our HEALZY lifestyle for more golden lessons like this 🌱❤⏳ https://www.instagram.com/p/CdBq7ZHrOcD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ckfightlife]

Posted @ckfightlife • @ricksongraciejj (Portuguese bellow) For this #tbt I'm bringing you some great memories and also the 10 jiu-jitsu principles that can save your life. I consider these principles of the art as true philosophies to improve your life and even the planet. Study them and think about these and other lessons you learned on the mats, which can be decisive in your personal and professional trajectory, whether you're a doctor, a sales person or an elite sailor. 🇧🇷 Para esse tbt estou trazendo grandes lembranças e também os 10 princípios do jiu-jitsu que podem salvar sua vida. São princípios da arte que considero como verdadeiras filosofias que podem melhorar a sua vida e até mesmo o planeta. Estude-os e pense nestas e em outras lições que você aprendeu nos tatames, e que podem ser decisivas na sua trajetória pessoal e profissional, seja você um médico, um vendedor ou um marinheiro de elite. #jiujitsulifestyle #principlesofjiujitsu #bjj #ricksongracieschool (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbgf8gFJyIO/?utm_medium=tumblr

[scribblesofabeloved]

Greetings for surpassing your junior years!

Wherein you discovered lesser rest yet

Yet full or jeers

Now get ready to present your very best

Trust me to choose Humanities and Social Sciences

For you will overcome not just a paper, but even a life test

In here, creative writing can move you into different ambiances

This is also where counseling and social work collaborate

As well as Philosophy let you learn in few glances

If you’re also fond of participating in a debate,

Have fun in speaking and thinking critically

So take HUMSS now, mate!

WELCOME DEAR!

It’s my pleasure to be with you here in my so-called “hood”. So maybe you’ll gonna ask if what is this for. Actually, I was just busy jotting down my ideas until I realized that I have to quit wasting time since this is for a scheduled task. (Hahaha!)

Anyway, let me introduce myself first.

My name is Camille and I’m 17. I’m in grade 12 right now and taking Humanities and Social Sciences strand under the academic track. Be joyful kid, because I’ll be your “not-so-pretty-but-just-tall” advocate for this time!! But before anything else, I want you to be informed about this blog.

This isn’t about your favorite love quotes

This isn’t a site for online dating so stop browsing on my account!

We’ll gonna learn how to become a good student here. (Believe me)

This is a serious business so I’ll be letting you to grab your daily dosage of happy pill right now. Hurry!

Now count 1 to 10 and we’ll gonna start!

So, what is it?

Under the academic track there are four main strands, namely Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Accountancy and Business Management (ABM), Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) and General Acadmic Strand (GAS).

If you’re one of a kind having a deep passion towards literary, communication skills, psychology, counseling and law, well, welcome to the club! You’re maybe one of us–having creative minds, passionate souls and soft cinnamon hearts (the last word isn’t a joke!) because those things belong to HUMSS. Dealing with the subjects and lessons within this strand wasn’t difficult, neither easy too. All you have to possess are the following, in order for you to survive:

Two cups of patience (one for yourself and the other for your teachers (oops)

An abundant supply of papers and pens (those are tools for survival!)

ENOUGH self-esteem

A very courageous heart with a deep breath and an immortal soul

LOVE (since it conquers all. even your seatmate)

On the other hand, it is so enjoyable to study HUMSS since it really discuss about humans, society, politics and everything in it. Hey I’ll be sharing you some of my stories about being a HUMSS student for you to find out why did I choose HUMSS and why must you should do the same thing.

“Simula ng Huli” the making

I have the best pals

The first one was the called “best”

Next was only “pal”

In our Contemporary and E-Tech subjects, we had been given a task by our teachers to create our 10-minute short film. We decided to create something different since our fellow classmates agreed to come up with horror films. We made a drama out of a spoken poetry. We do not have dialogues instead we act the scenes that the poem portray.

Share some?

The story began when a Senior High School girl, Marisol, decided to step outside her shell. From an introvert, she made friends with some other people. Now, just like the usual scenarios, they made memories and shared struggles as well. But the sad thing happened then when many of her friends chose to part ways and everything about there friendship ruined. The story ended not in a blissful one, thus, remained melancholic.

The Sample Script

Pero siguro kailangan ko na nga talagang maniwala Maniwala na nasasaktan na ako at kailangan ko nang sumuko Dahil mahirap nang maibalik yung mga parte ng pinunit na pahina nitong bawat kabanata ng ating istorya Mahirap nang manatili sa isang sulok habang naaalala kung pano lang kayo nagparanas ng ligaya pero nagpalit din ng sugat na kailanman ay di na nga mabubura Pero Salamat parin, Salamat sa pagbibigay ng aral sakin na hindi lahat ng nagdudulot ng kasiyahan ay mananatili kailanman Siguro ito na nga ang panahon para matanggap kong ito na..

Ang Simula ng Huli

NOW, LET”S ESCAPE FROM REALITY!

Let us now talk about creative writing

What comes in your mind when hearing it?

Did you know that it is more of thinking?

Writing your thoughts might have spirit!

All you have to do is to hold a pen and sit

So you people with imaginations as high as a mountain’s peak,

Here is where you really fit

In the real world, let us come out and sneak!

It isn’t just about writing guys. It’s actually more on about thinking creatively and separating yourself from this world. And if you will gonna ask if what can I use to describe Creative Writing subject, I’ll just answer you with one word and would expound it..

AMAZEMENT! 

Now, ponder of what does being amazed means and you will be able to understand what message you’re intended to receive right now. Just kidding.

Creative writing subject is a break from the real routine of this world. Maybe in a newspaper, it is the feature page. It is the desert in a heavy main course. It is the apple of a pie and can be the water break of your practice. But it doesn’t mean that you’ll have to forget about your self and the society where you belong. No. Creative writing only wants us to breathe and pause amidst the fast run of a train. It wants us to have a short break while watching a long and annoying TV program. To sum it all, it intends to let us escape for a while in this real world through our own imaginations wherein we’re able to create our own world.

To share some, the most unforgettable moment during our creative writing subject was when we’re asked by our teacher to write our own ending of a particular story. Moreover, we wrote also our own short story inspired by a song. But it did not end there, because we usually ought to make a role play out of those stories. Amazing. Aside of those, writing or composing poems with different rhyme scheme is one of my favorite activities too. 

To learn isn’t just the goal of this subject, but rather, to make our experiences alive.

”Experience is the best teacher” as the cliche goes, because in my own perception it really gave us the grades. (HAHAHA!) I mean, our experiences and the emotions within those always lead us to a better piece of a story or stunning lines of a poem. This is the reason why many loves this subject. (including our teacher, yay!)

Oh, speaking of experiences, let me share you my great travel ever!

Three Days In the Paradise!

If you are lonely,

Keep in mind that you are best

And made splendidly!

Last June, I and the worship team members of our church had gone to a vacation. From San Jose del Monte Bulacan, it took us 4 hours and 20 minutes to arrive at Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. We spent our first day in Simple Life Resort.

The pool’s water wasn’t very strong with chemical contents since it came from the mountain brook. The staffs were very cheerful, the entrance fee was only 20php while the cottage rent costs 100php to 1000php and that made us stayed there until 7 in the evening. 

Simple Life Resort

The “Batanes of The East” and the Lighthouse in Aurora

After an enjoyable swimming and bonding, we headed our way to Dingalan Aurora. The travel time was only 1 hour and 5 minutes. That was the place where we’re really going to stay until the third day of our vacation. The people welcomed us in a certain beach resort  and they were very friendly. There, we had rented two cottages. 

The sea was so tidy  and the waves were very calm that’s why we almost lived there. Incidentally also, we’re fortunate to witness the opening of the town feast happened. The boats made up of flamboyant colors with patrons and bands paraded on the sea. 

I and my fellow youths together with our youth leader also did not let the day passed without even visiting the famous white beach resort in Dingalan. We did not actually went there for swimming, but for mountain climbing. It took us about 25 minutes riding a boat from the island where we’re staying in to the white beach resort, and so we’re welcomed by an abundance of jellyfish. It took us almost 30 minutes climbing the two famous mountains in Aurora. But even though my heart almost fell on my soles, the mountain view did not disappoint me. It actually made my breathe away! Believe me, my tears fell when I saw how beautiful and wonderful the scene was when we reached the peak of the second mountain (which was my favorite also), the so-called “Batanes of the East”. The temperature wasn’t that high that time that’s why we really enjoyed our climb. The mountain was still full of green tall trees and the ocean behind us was said to be a part of the Pacific ocean. I almost cry aloud when I thought how Great God is. The aesthetic made me realize that if God alone shaped these majestic things, how special we are, since we were the most important in all His creations.

Humanities and Social Sciences is perfect for your run, 

It isn’t as harsh as a bullet of a gun

But just as bright as the splendid sun

Now trust me because for sure, you’ll really have fun!

Hey! I hope that I inspired you and encourage you as well as you read through. If you’re still confused about the strand that you’ll be taking for your Senior Years, keep in mind that you have always to follow your passion. 

In HUMSS, maybe you’re not going to study numbers, but you will know the importance of those. You’re not going to balance an equation, but you will learn how to find equality and justice despite of the world’s realities. You’re not going to compute for a product’s value, but you will know how to value one’s life and the society’s products. So if you want to become a future world changer, having a passion for humanities and looking forward to a better society, be one of us! Choose HUMSS.