prologue

starting last january 26, our school (don bosco-canlubang) started to celebrate its 44th foundation week, which would last until the 31st of the same month. i am a member of the head committee, or as the term goes, "steering committee", and mind you, its really not a piece of cake.
for one thing, i am the only representative of the college students, and even though i have some teachers of the department with me, communication with the students was never easy. also, i am under the supervision of my professor (for both cosmology and political philosophy), who is also acting as the chief organizer of the said event.
i would really like to take down all the things that transpired from the start till now, but i really am tired right now. from the beginning of the foundation week, never have i experienced that ill be sleeping because i feel sleepy. instead, some of these nights were sleepless (as in i never slept at all), and also the fact that from the 26th till the day i post this blog, i only eat one meal (breakfast) for each day....
tired...hungry...sleepless...
but somehow happy, relieved, and blessed, nonetheless...

ill post my exhaust of the foundation week next time, but till then...

GOD BLESS EVERYONE!

What's...

What’s the meaning of doing things out of no reason?

I thought everything’s going on with a purpose or reason

If there is no reason, why do it at all?

Is it because one thinks of nothing, so as to do something out of nothing?

Or it is just because one is too lax not to take to mind one’s reason of doing it?

I think that when one does something with no reason, that’s the true reason at all

What’s to love if you don’t have something or someone to love?

I’m done loving myself, but until now, I do not know who or what to love besides me

Is it that I do not know, or is it I refuse to know?

Love cannot be contained to oneself; it must be directed towards another

If love can’t be directed to another, it is useless…

What’s to live if you have no reason to live at all?

Some say one lives for the other, but when will come a time that one can live for oneself?

Others say one lives for the self, but when will come a time that one can live for the other?

Would it be a waste if one lives for nothing at all?

I don’t say that I feel this way, it’s just I might be able to…

What’s to choose when you have nothing to choose from?

If you only have one, you don’t need to choose anymore

Because when one has to choose, one gets one, and leaves the other

But when one only gets one, one needs not to leave the other, for there is no other to leave in the first place…

But, what’s the point of asking for things to be expressed by reason alone that cannot be answered by reason alone?

Believe…

haay...

i had the usual day at school...
start of class by 7:30 in the morning...3 hours of contemporary philosophy
proceeded next to 2 hours of cosmology
had some time to have a break from 1:30 to 3:30
had my class at religion by 3:30, and filipino for the next hour...

but, i just, realized...what's important this day.

i remembered you...as i always do.

though we were not able to see or talk to each other for this day, i am hoping and praying that you are okay...

i love you so much...

A good thought to remember:

“God gave us freedom, one of which is the freedom to love Him. But God wants, not forces, us to love Him freely”.

God’s Foreknowledge and Human Freedom

One’s knowing of the future doesn’t mean that he controls the future. I think that’s the case with God. He knows the future, and to be particular, He knows my future (and everyone else’s). But it doesn’t mean that he is the cause of that future that we place upon ourselves.

I would like to take the position of my classmate, who saw God’s foreknowledge this way: He said that whenever we decide or choose, God already sees all the facets or faces of the decisions we made. And in this case, he knows everything that resulted in our decision. So, he knows our future. But still, because of God’s gift to man (human freedom), he does not cause the future to happen. It is us. And He just looks on…

This is not a weakness, I believe. It is His choice. And, this is His Power, and what he gave to us, His Gift. Use it well…

For those who think that they are restricted by God’s foreknowledge, and thinks that everything is already predetermined, think again…

God Bless everyone!

Saint Agustine of Hippo said: “knowledge can come only from belief”

I understood this as: I believe that everything I know exists, that is why I was and am able to know them. But it doesn’t mean that I entirely believe in what I know. Some may be that I believe in them in the fact that they exist, but the others, maybe because I believe in them in full.

A wise teacher told me: “The moment I stop thinking and learning is the same time as that of I stop living”.

Sometimes it’s just hard to think about things as you really want them to be, especially when the case points out that I won’t ever be…

Simple Life…Funny Life

Jokes and jokes…too bad I just knew some of it lately. Would that mean that I am short of having a “happy” life? Just last January 14 and 15, I am treated with so many jokes from not only one, but with the whole family! And I can’t believe that I reached the age of twenty without even hearing those…silly me.

Well, I better share these jokes online, rather than having it said by me, coz I know, I wouldn’t look funny, and wouldn’t sound funny as well. Anyway, here it is:

How would I put an elephant in a refrigerator in three steps?

Simple. Open the fridge, place the elephant inside, and then shut the door of the fridge.

Now, how would you put a giraffe in a refrigerator?

Open the fridge, take out the elephant, place the giraffe inside, and then shut the door of the fridge.

Now, Simba (from the Lion King) called for a meeting, and every animal is asked to attend. Guess who’s not coming?

The giraffe, because it is inside the ref!

Then again, considering that you and your mom live in the jungle with a pharmacy on the other side of a shallow river. Your mother got sick, and you have to cross that river, which is full of crocodiles. What can you do to cross the river?

Just go across. Remember, Simba called all the animals for a meeting, and that includes the crocs!

After some time, you decided to go and stay for sometime in Japan because you won a round-trip ticket to that place. But, your plane had some technical problems (due to overloading) and is bound to crash. What will you throw first to lighten the load and save yourself?

Simple. The giraffe. Its still inside the refrigerator, remember?

I am really sorry, but I have to admit, I totally lost my composure laughing my heart out because of these. Am I that shallow to just laugh about simple things?

That’s the point. For the longest time I know, I have been trying to focus on things that I can see as deep and worthy of my time and efforts. I think that’s why I lost track of the simple things in life that I can still enjoy. Could I have been too late? Nah, I don’t think so.

What I learned from the jokes that I heard? Simple. Life is really not that complicated for me to forget that there is still time for me to take it easy, sit for awhile, and spend some time laughing and enjoying the simple things life, and especially God, gave me. Also, I realized, the next time I go to that place, I must have some jokes in my pocket!

Movies…

Patch Adams

This is one of the movies that I liked from then till now. And there are times when I ask myself why I like it. Is it because somehow, I am longing for something that I see in it? Or is it because I see myself in one of the people in the movie? Well…I am not sure until now.

When I watched this movie the last time (when I had my retreat last September), I decided to have a scholarly approach in it. I approached the movie in a manner that I looked for things that can be or worthy to be noticed and remembered. I got many, but here is some of it, of which I subject to my reflections.

• Look beyond the problem, see the solution
• See the world anew, life is not so bad so as not to see the goodies in it
• Helping others makes someone forget about one’s own problems
• Anything worth doing is difficult; none great is achieved easily
• Think potential!
• Titles distort one’s vision in life
• Look beyond what is seen…
• We can never be someone without the sweet and better past…

Life is Beautiful

Although this movie is of another language, the message is clear: it is about love that goes beyond life. And for this movie, it is the love of one man towards his family. From this movie, I got some interesting and remarkable thoughts that I can see as relevant not only for me, but for others as well.

• Life is indeed beautiful
• Lying to save? Is it possible? Does the end justify the means?
• Life is what you make out of it…
• There are bad and sad things that happen in our lives. What comes out of it, as well as the road where it leads us depends on our choice.

Pay it Forward

I’ve been hearing lots of things about this movie, and when I had been given a chance to watch it, why not? Very well then, these are what I picked up from the movie:

• Generosity between strangers, is it possible?
• What does the world mean to someone?
• What if the world is just one big disappointment?
• The realm of possibility exists in each one
• Things may be hard, but not impossible
• Think of an idea to change the world and put it into action!
• Ideas are not altogether making someone idealistic
• The power of the will and the choice…it matters
• Reality check: things don’t always go the way we want them to
• All is said and done, but what’s more important is what you do next
• Some people don’t want to see what they need to see. Rather, they only see what they want to see
• Change is need not to be seen, but felt.

people have the right intentions most of the time...
its just that what they do to have those intentions known and done that are questionable...

Cha...Cha...Cha

I think this is the usual talk of the town not so long ago…Cha-cha. However, I am not a really fanatic either for the government or anti-government. And I decide not to dwell not so much of the issue. Its not that I don’t care, its just that I think, before we think of doing this Cha-cha thing, we opt to think about another Cha-cha (that which is the topic of this blogpost)…Character Change.

First of all, I am someone who thinks that foundations are vital to everything that is founded on them. Without them, how could something stand strong? For example, an educational system with no strong foundation, may it be philosophical, visional/ mission, or structural; is sure to be down the drain. Also, a company with no strong foundation, may it be competent managers or strong workforce, would surely be hurling itself in failure.

Now, back to our topic. Character Change.

Why Character Change?

Simple.

How could people strive and hope for a good government if they themselves are rotten, sometimes to the core?

The system has nothing to do with the failures and inadequacies given to the people; it’s the people running the system that restricts the full capacity of it. In an analogy, its like: “Its not guns that people, it’s the people who kill people with it.”

I have to admit, I think people are not absolutely evil. And vice-versa. They are not also absolutely good. However, they are torn between good and evil, as well as right and wrong; all throughout their temporal existence. And in between life and death, we are also faced with the dilemma of knowing whether what we are doing benefits us or not; moreover, if it benefits other people or not.

Whatever system we have now: government, social, private, and everything that somehow needs and strives to connect people in one way or another, is undeniably imperfect. Why? Could something perfect come out of imperfection?

Anyway, the imperfections of whatever system we have now must not stop us from achieving whatever good is left in those systems. However, it seems that the people handling these systems are questionable. Well, who isn’t?

Ok, ok. Back to our topic.

I see that character formation has a vital role in whatever society asks from people. People cannot guarantee the society and whatever system it has, and even themselves, their full capacity and potential for service and action. Besides, the society is composed of the people, isn’t it?

Somehow, the question is, of which I’ll leave this blog as an open matter, is: “Who decides or who ‘dictates’ that which is and must be followed in character change?”

Ideas on Relationships (for the bf/gf type...pwede na rin sa iba)

I really cannot say that I am an expert in relationships. I admit, I never had one yet. I know things either because people tell me their experiences, or somehow, I just know. I cannot really brag knowledge about it…as I say it: “wisdom comes from experience, and experience comes in age. Therefore, wisdom comes in age” Logically correct, but…is it materially correct? If it is, then why some people in relationships doesn’t learn from it?

I am writing this to present my realizations about relationships. Others may see this as relevant; others may see this as rubbish. As I say it again, I never really had any formal relationships, thus I haven’t really proven this as generally applicable. However, for those who are still starting with their relationships, here it is:

1.) Partnership, not possession.

I see relationships as partnership, not possession. I always say to my friends: “Do not treat your gf/bf as a commodity or property; treat them as partners”. Why? First of all, they are like us. Being in a relationship does not mean one owns the other. And in this patriarchal society of ours, we cannot deny the fact that most of the time, we see the man above the woman. There is the bond of commitment, indeed. However, that bond must not be a bond that restricts or confines one or both. Rather, it should be a bond that permits freedom. After all, love given by both and received by both is free, it was not forced. I say, if you feel that you are somehow restricted or confined in your relationship, think twice…

2.) Respect of Individuality

In line with what was said in the first idea, treat your gf/bf as partners. Well, you cannot be partners with yourself, right? Thus, I speak of the individuality of those involved in relationships. Remember, your partner cannot be you, and you cannot be your partner as well (well, not absolutely…). Though bound by commitment and love with each other, it still is a fact that the two of you involved in the relationship are still two different people.

One cannot force the other to think, act, speak, feel etc. like oneself. Rather than forcing ourselves to our partners, let them understand us, and in progress, have ourselves also on the road of understanding them. Being in relationship, one of which is the bf/gf one, requires understanding between the two, along with the feeling of love and care, respect and trust.

One sad fact in relation to this is, we cannot force them to still love us, even when the love is already gone…

3.) Two-Way Learning

Since both of those included in a relationship are human beings, they are capable of learning. And also, since we are changing, there are unlimited possibilities of learning from and with each other. Try to learn from each other, and in progress, understand them as well. How can you possibly love something or someone without knowing it? It says that: The one who knows more, loves more.

Indeed, the reality is this: you cannot love absolutely everything about the other. There will be instances wherein we become sad of the fact that our partners have their iniquities and inadequacies. Well…reality checks again: so are we. Yet learning from each other helps us see those that would fill those that lack in us. Love. Learn. Understand. Accept. Love even more. I believe, that when this cycle stops, the relationship is worse than dead and dry.

Some say that what one knows about the other is enough to love the other….But, why would you stop in knowing the other? Do you fear that somehow, something would cause you to stop loving the other? Just asking…

4.) Happiness of Both

Just checking…Are you still happy with your relationship? Is the other? Both of you? I see this as this…staying in a relationship also asks that the relationship is grounded on love; love that seeks the happiness of the other, even over one’s own. I have to admit, and we have to admit that: Our lives are not all happy. So is our relationship. But would that stop you from searching happiness for the one you love? And even more, searching happiness with the one you love?

I think happiness in relationship lies in the decision of both inside that relationship to see the good things in life, in spite of all that had, may, or will come in their lives. The fact that both of them stayed through the times are that their relationships progressed and still grow. When both see happiness in whatever their lives and relationship bring them…that relationship is sure is to grow.

5.) Look at the Reason

Can you still remember why you are in that relationship the first place?

If not, why stay?

If not, why don’t you try to remember?

Was it Love? Impulse? Want? Need? Caprice? Lust?

A building with strong foundations is sure to stand the test of time. And in relationships, I believe that the strongest foundation would be love. Love your partners. Make them feel that they are loved. Love for the other is useless unless expressed and felt. Don’t regret it when it is already lost.

6.) A hand offered, not a chain tied

Imagine…treating your partner like an animal, tied with you. Does it feel good for you? How about the other? What does the other feel? As for me, I see relationships in the image of a hand.

Why hand? A hand, I believe is a great sign for relationship. It opens, closes, gets a hold of something, and it also lets go. The choice of both inside the relationship can be seen in the hands. They hold one another, rests one over the other, gets a hold of things and matters between them, and it sometimes asks to let go. If these are restricted in a relationship, I think that relationship is going down.

Each one involved in a relationship has a choice…to remain, to rest for a while, to stay, and to let go. Don’t withhold them. If one loves the other, one strives to see, feel, and understand the other’s happiness.

These are only ideas unless lived and used...