



HARDWORK
Since the very first day of entering the college I engaged my whole self studying every lesson our professors imbuing in our class. Education, from the very first time I learned alphabet and numbers, has been the most precious thing I can be proud of. Since then, I became achiever. I was the class salutatorian during elementary in
PERSEVERANCE
Henry Austin once said that genius, that power which dazzles mortal eyes, is oft but perseverance in disguise. Perseverance is the act of trying everything you dream of so hard and continuously despite any obstacles or difficulties. Students with vast determination to realize their dreams possess this attitude. I can say that one of those students is me. I do try hard to make my dreams come true...to become a reputed doctor. Taking up nursing is my stepping stone to this goal. And so, I am striving very hard not just to imbibe knowledge but appreciate the knowledge as well as values instilled by me, and put it into action. Instilling knowledge rooted inside the four corners of the classroom and the professor as its main paragon. Indeed they become part of it as they are the ones motivate me to persevere. Thanks to them!
EMBARRASSMENT
Vexation is my greatest forfeiture. I never thought it would happen...that someone would create my greatest forfeiture. Way back November 2008, a pretty good Thursday, we had our first quiz in a certain subject. We checked our papers just after the examination. We were annoyed in the way our professor acted upon us which we had realized since the very first day, but had been too much that very day. We were maybe just overreacting but out of nowhere she became irritated and lost her temper saying, "Who's the teacher here? I am the law! You're just my student." I think that's not the right thing to say in front of the class. We quoted that line, "I am the law!" In that afternoon, I got home and as I always do I updated my friendster and blogs as well. With nothing in mind except for that certain line my professor uttered that gravely encrypted in my mind, I posted it on my Friendster Bulletin. I emphasized that line she said, "I am the law!" I mentioned the subject not her name. I did not have anything in mind but to express what I ought to express not intending to hurt anybody or one's dignity. Then that day ended peacefully little did I know that would be the day of perplexity. The following meetings in her class became more and more complicated. She seems like no longer interested teaching in our block. I did not have any idea or strange feeling on her about this but we just taken this for granted. We still participate and did what a student ought to do inside a class. Days and weeks and months had passed, the class was still the same.
"That stuff I posted on my bulletin?", I immediately answered.
Finally, it was confirmed, she read it and I was the one she mentioned few months ago as far as I remembered. "Yah. What do you mean by that? To whom was that?".
"None!", unconsciously I answered. I was shocked. I never expect she would confront me as if I did a crime. She, with her sternful look and sarcastic smile and I, with a vulnerable heart and uncontrollable emotion. Upon regaining my consciousness, with a lump on my throat I answered, " I just exercised my freedom of expression, we were annoyed that time so I posted that stuff, that's all. I did not mention any name. I did not intend any harmful thoughts against anyone. All I posted there was true, anyway." She did not approve my reason but in my heart that's all sincere.
"Ahh! So, totoo lahat! Di mo italam sako ang bagay na dai nagluwas sa kimot ko. Pigagibuhan mo ako ang istorya. Dapat palan dai ka na nag-nursing, nag-journalism ka nalang nganing makagibo ka ng mga haka-haka mo."
That was the most offensive thought I received from a person who did not even know who the hell I am. She judged me as much as that. I insisted that all I posted there was true more especially when she said, "Siya ang batas!", but she never accepted it. Most of my classmates heard and can testify when she said that, and I honestly can tell it. I heard it all-ears. But still, she said in her derisive tone, "Alam ko. Dai ka man talaga maamin, sa personality mong an. Matagas ka eh. Kadinali mong mag-judge. Estudyante ka pa
Those shimmering eyes of yours entrance
This less ordinary heart;
Encapsulated with genuine emotions,
Occupying my senseless path.
Irrevocably, you’re more than ordinary,
Thoughts of you impeding in my memory;
Like haunting my easy caption too far
From scary story.
This strange man I met, with intelligence
To match his brawn.
He can’t read minds as Edward but
He can decode it on his own.
One glance from him, beware, it
Might kill you!
This is his secret weapon unconsciously
He doesn’t know.
Terribly amazing living in his classic world,
Like his quest for the Golden
Fleece as Jason did in his word.
On seeing right through his heart,
You’ll find peace and serenity;
With residing love to please
That makes him oh so dearly.
Nevertheless I’ll say, really,
You are amusing.
Whenever you’re near,
You make my heart singing.
It’s a pleasure in my pride to be
You’re friends in time.
And the assurance as you said,
I can count on you at all times.
Oh yes, to end this ode, it’s a timeless
Thank you;
I’ll be forever grateful because
I have you.
i myself is a victim..
we're done...
--sent by one of my friends; it's his most embarrassing moment...
Politics is dirty. Engage in it and your end up losing. That was the very pieces of advice that my father was always admonishing me. My family in our barangay is one of the highly-esteemed for we never accept bribe from TRAPOS in exchange with our sacred votes. As the trend of politics become dirtier and dirtier, the notion of entering to politics became nuisance for me. Though it was my dream to contribute for the betterment of our barangay by being a Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman, I was greatly dissuaded to be exposed with politics, besides, I’m a novice and have no idea what is it all about. As the local election time approached, rumors came to us that the son of my father’s best friend who happened to work for us was running for the position under my uncle as the Brgy. Captain. The incumbent S.K. Chairman then was the brother of the son of my father’s best friend. The incumbent Brgy. Captain was my uncle who sought for reelection. Our family rallied together to talk about the matter. Questions aroused what a 3rd year student who happened to be one of the students of my mother can do for the amelioration of our barangay. We pondered on the fact that his brother wanted reelection but on the virtue of him. No one attempted in our barangay to file their candidacy for the position of S.K. chairman. And so at that very moment, we decided that I will run for the position. I knew then that our family will be tainted with issues. Rumors grew that why should I run when both my parents are professional with high salaries. Why not gave the post to those who are need. I was greatly astonished. Logically, it was clear that there intention for running was not serving but for the money the post could offer. It was only the beginning. For after I’ve won the election there was more to come. My father’s best friend was angry with us. I reckoned that it’s because of envy. They grew indignant to us. But one thing I did not expect as well as my family is about my uncle. He sided with my brother’s best friend in exchange of their votes. He risked his integrity just to win the election only to find out that he won only by 1 vote. His own vote. It was a very close fight. There were 3 candidates for the post. My uncle got 38 votes and his two opponents 37 and 36. When we coincidentally met on my way to the barrio, I was happy to shake hands with him for we’ve both won. But I was surprised the way he looked at me. He gave a stern look. I never thought that beginning from that day he will be my worst enemy. I never thought in my life that we, his close kin, will be betrayed by him. I never thought that my father who had been his avid supporter during his previous administration will be exasperated to him greatly. I never blamed my mother for being indignant to him ever since because of his bad manner. When we held our first Brgy. Session, he said pompously with vigor that we must bury into oblivion everything that happened before. “Limutan na an kolor pulitika” as he always stressed in the session. He said that we must strive for the betterment of our barangay. And so all my doubts to him only during that time subsided. I thought that he was sincere. Few months had passed and I was busy managing my student life. Every 1st and 3rd week I have had to go back to our barangay for the session. Sometimes in the month of June, it had been the talk of the town who will be the next Brgy. Secretary since the previous one resigned for unknown reason. It was rumored that the sister of my father’s best friend’s wife will be appointed by my uncle. My family disagreed with the idea of appointing her for she is not capable of the position. I was in Virac that time and I don’t know the happenings in our barangay. I never expected that my uncle will rush to my boarding house just to let me sign a document. He said that it was for the honoraria of each and every one of us for the month and it was a pressing matter so I must immediately sign. And so I signed. A few days later, my father went to boarding house very furious with me. I don’t know the reason why. “Why did you sign that document you fool!” he said to me with resentment. Don’t you know that it was for the concurrence for the appointment of secretary! What will the barrio folks will say to us? That we are on the side of our enemy! You Fool! That was the first time I’ve suffered the wrath of my father who happen to be a very patient person. I was greatly shocked. I cannot stand firmly. I wanted to cry out loud and hurt myself for my foolishness. I was on the hard side. If I’m going to admit to the barrio folks that I was victimized by the subterfuge of my fraudulent uncle I’ll forever have a slap of shame to my face. They’ll brand me to be an educated fool. It’s difficult to accept on my side. I told my father that we should file a case to my uncle for his unruly deed. On the contrary, my father rejected my opinion. He said that I should accept my foolishness. Beginning from that day I’ve learned a great lesson in my life. Though I bear heavily a great anger with my uncle, my father cautioned me to take heed of controlling my anger. I should not let my own emotion ruin my own conviction. “There will come a time that his wrong deeds will go back to him” my father told me.