The Dream Agenda

Another school year have past and another school year is about to live into. It is also a time for our president Fr. Antonio Samsun pave his way to his beloved school the Ateneo de Davao University. We have already got aware of who will be taken the position ( Fr. Tabura). But before this event occur let me ask you this hypothetical question, “If you were given the chance to take the position of being the president of Ateneo de Davao, what are your agenda?” As this question is address at me, I will present to you my 3 agenda. First, immediately at the first quarter of my service I will implement no uniform policy. This decision is based on my dilemma every time school days are going on. I usually have two partner of school uniform, every night of wednesday I find hard time to wash my uniform, since I have to entertain my assignment and notes for the quiz tomorrow. Not to mention, I have many sets of civilian clothes in my cabinet; I usually acquire it from my friends and siblings as a gift. It always sinks in my mind about the no wearing of uniform. Another would be, buying of uniform every semester is a waste of money for our parents, since the buying of casual dress is every body’s hobby, it is practical to maximize the use of this resources as being official school dress. Second, 12:00-12:30 should be declared as official time for student to attend the regular mass in the university chapel. We are catholic institution who embodied the teaching of God in everything we do including the regular attending of mass. If the school give this opportunity to the student or even to the teacher, it is easy for us to fulfil the challenge of becoming Gods likeness and image and soon unconsciously convert ourselves into living saints. Moreover, this policy also influence by the present condition of our world nowadays; let nature take its own course that nature is only becoming responsive to man’s injustice treat towards environment like Tsunami and Earthquake. With these circumstances, we are called to repent with our sins, since the rumour that entails world destruction make us people anxious. Lastly, being a non-profit institution I will declare a decrease in tuition fees without sacrificing the standard of teaching of the school this will be realize through removing all the unnecessary expense that the school is omitted like the use of internet Library. Now days everyone can already own a laptop or PC, putting of internet library is impractical. It is an added amount to the tuition fees. According to Atenews, the school is spending 10 million worth of internet subscription. Imagine how many students shoulder these costs. Instead, the improvement of wifi in the vicinity of the school is a very good idea. So that it can cater a number of Laptop users. Indeed, if all these agenda will soon to be put into realize, an educational privilege in Ateneo is everybody at hand. An education that is affordable, free for all different walks in life without sacrificing the quality and standard of teachings.

Alternative Ways of Celebrating Valentines Day

Love is in the air! February 14 the most a waited day for lovers, couples, girlfriends, boyfriends and the like to give important the relationship they keep over the past years they had shared together. A day where flowers and chocolates in the store are being sold, a day where restaurants and Bars are being full of customers wanted to have a place for candlelight dinner. But the question comes in my mind, do Valentines Day are being made only for those who are in love, couple, lover etc.? My answer is not! Valentines Day are made not just to fill the yearning of this people, but the purpose of Valentines is to show or to give important the universal love which the love of God to us through sacrificial love of Jesus and Mary. Manifest in the love of our parents, siblings, relative and friends and this are alternative ways of celebrating Valentines Day. A family dinner in the house or restaurants is ideal celebration for family this Valentines Day, a simple giving of cards and Flowers or if you don’t have budget words of ‘I LOVE YOU” coming from your mouth is enough to celebrate the Valentines Day. For people who are parents and family not around the best way of celebrating Valentines Day is to have group dating or an out of town gathering. Since I have no girlfriend and my family is not around I celebrated the Valentines Day with an out of town engagement. The glee club which I belong was invited to sing in Kalsangi Club in Dole Philippines, Polomolok. The whole member was excited to hear the news. The two weeks preparation that causes short sleeps was replace by a great experienced we had in Kalsangi. We are all excited because at last we will be bonding with the alumni of the club which we are all miss since they had graduated and separate from the club. Long talks, sharings, laughing and reminiscing the past while in our way to Kalsangi is what everyone treasured. It add to the experience the very successful performance we had in Kalsangi that audience hold there claps for about 20 seconds just to express there appreciation. The show was about to finished where everybody take all photos from every corner of the Clubhouse, wearing smiles and funny pausing. After the performance the celebration was continued inside the quarter that every body fined the place like a five Star hotel. When the night continued to cover by its darkness, the talks sharing and laughing also continued covered the atmosphere of the house over the bottled of beer, vodka and Brandy. It was an unforgettable Valentine celebration that happened in my life. Indeed, Valentines Day is everyone’s day young (ones and old ones) expressing the universal love given by our God to the mankind.

Three Hopes in this an Added Life to Live

Life is a gift received from God. Putting another years on it is a thanksgiving that everyone should posses. We are called not to be a destroyer of this gift, but instead encourage to become a defender of this grace. Every year we come to certain point that we look as life as a turning point of our existence which is the birthday. I am able to celebrate my birthday last January 23. I look at my birthday as a renewal of my existence, life and faith to our God. I was able to celebrate together with my family, relatives and friends which I long to experience when my birthday is about to come. But the most awaited part in celebrating my birthday is my hope in this precious moment of my life. For this year there are three wish prepare not for myself, but for the welfare of my co-species being. First hope is a safe place to live. These include the returning of our environment on its real beauty, the prevailing of peace within heart for those among people who are separated hostilities and confrontation. A place where there were no war between 1st world countries because children are the most affected by this misunderstanding. Second hope is there were no people especially children would experience hunger. These include financial prosperity between those families who are starving for food, and shelter. Every time I encounter street children I am always disturb by their condition and move my heart to help them by giving small amount of monetary. But I realized that instead of giving them monetary direct convert to food is better. Another is education for those who are out of school youth. With this move they are able to uplift there life condition and able to send their siblings to the school. Every time I look at myself in Ateneo I am fortunate that I have this gift given by God through the instrument send which is my parents. I want also others to experience or to share this gift because I want every child to defend their self from life obstacles. Last hope in this birthday is may almighty God touches everyone broken hearts. That God be the center of family’s battle for problems brought by life. May the love of God be the inspiration for other who is perceiving life as no reason to live in. Indeed, looking birthday as a time to replenish all the short coming we had and put away those things that make our life miserable.

Searching for Historicity Being-existence

Another year has come in our life. A new page of being is about to inscribe in the history book of man existence, containing new challenges, new adventures, new indulgence and new noble work. Man is capable of making history as Albert Dondyne said to his article entitled Historicity. We are the bearer and actor of history because of our characteristics of being history making- existence. Even though we are granted by this kind of qualities as the counterpart we are accountable, but as I observe in our surrounding man failed to carry out his responsibility. Man abuse this gift coming from up above. However, as what the article said this is all the consequence of what we are done in the past, rather we should work hard in order these circumstances in our life not to replicate again, as what the line said “You cannot step into river twice”.

A start of year means start of new beginning by imposing resolution in our life we are able to make an extraordinary history. As this year has come I entail set of resolution in myself. First, form now on I will become frugal in a way that is appropriate for a student. There will be restriction in terms of going into drinking sessions and night parties. Moreover, I will be controlling my self in buying of unnecessary things that would absolutely drain my weekly allowance and as a result my money in the bank is getting fade away. Second, the start of the year is also the start of losing weights. Its about 8 kg I was extracted in my body last year and it is alarming. I began to experience hard time in maneuvering my body especially in times of rushing and immediate actions in school. I am subject of tease by my classmate and most especially friends. Because of this encounters I promise to myself that this year is my chance to prove to them that I will take there challenge to losing my weight. Lastly, this year is the year of totally changing my study habits. A very grades committed from prelim is a wake up call. It will be a shame in my part if would not take action to this situation. My scholarship might lose and most importantly my family’s trust will be nowhere to be found. Indeed imposing resolutions is the answer to man’s search for true meaning of being and existence. These are ways to develop and make a good historicity that will be written in the book of history and soon will be read by the future generations of man.     

Filipino Attitudes Toward Environment

Environmentalism is become fashionable to every Filipino. Everyone loved to be called environmentalist. The largest polluters and consumer is the industrialized country having displayed affection towards the environment through lips work. For example the food industry likes Jollibee, McDonald, and KFC etc. There effort towards environmental campaign is very much appreciated, but the real thing is, they are the main contributor of waste in the country. Corporate giants like chemical industry continue to hide behind their so called social responsibilities like environmental programs, but they continuously dumping into Pasig River declaring their support to the effort to revive the river.  The destruction of mother earth is not only the works of these industries, every single Filipino have contributed a lot in these very much problem of our country in this time. The little activities of many Filipino creates a huge impact in our environment some of them are first “Kaingin System” refers to the burning of trees for cultivation proposes. Kangaroos cultivate the area until such time that the soil is no longer good for planting. Then, they transfer to another area and burn forest again. This kind of practice is still prevail in some part of the Philippine that the available technology for farming still not introduce to them. I think to stop this people from continuously doing the said activity is to educate them about new approach in farming. Second the use of fertilizer and pesticides in growing agricultural product. Most of our farmers are very much aggressive in increasing their by the help of fertilizers and pesticide. The effect of using these means to farming soil is losing its nutrients that make the plants healthy and harmless to those people tend to eat with it. Third, Filipino is m said to be poor in managing there own human waste. The dumping of garbage in the river and having no comfort room in their respective houses contaminate our rivers and lakes. Fresh water creature continuously died and even the marine creatures. Fourth the Filipino practice of dynamite fishing and “muro-ami”. This inhuman ways of catching fish in the sea creates a great impact in the our coastal and marine ecosystem; species of fish begun to lost, the destruction of coral reefs starting to threaten through the red tide and decreasing of fish in the ocean. Truly environmentalism must go beyond lip service. It is not just about planting tress, saving the remaining Philippine eagle or segregating garbage. Filipino attitude towards environment should be understanding the cause of the forest destruction, the death of rivers and lakes and the poisoning of the soil.    

The Importance of Attending Retreats and Recollections

In the line with the mission of every catholic schools like Ateneo to mold its students spirituality. The schools make its effort to root this kind of grace coming from God by simply organizing annual  retreat and  recollection. But what is this retreat and recollection  mean? It  is  the practice of every school most especially in Catholic Christian School, buy simply confine its student in a retreat houses and conduct different session that  put spiritually awareness among the students. It usually done per  course , year and sections  As Ateneo under the congregation of Society of Jesus wanted to imbibe to each and  every students the Jusuit education  inspire by the great Patron Saints St. Ignatius de Loyola. The teaching towards academic excellent, man  and woman for other and cora  personalis these are all the guidelines of  the school  in their attempt of building  spirituality awareness among each  students. The importance of recollections and  retreat lies in the need of the students in creating difference in their  life in general. First retreat and recollection is a opportunity for every students most importantly for Catholic Christian school because not all students is given this kind of chance. So students are expected to have a great silent in their  heart, mind, and soul in order to let the holy spirit enter  in their life.  This is for the student to feel the presence of God that not usual felt by  everybody while in school. It cleanses student’s conscience to have more concern not only in humanity, but also to the totality of God’s creations.  Moreover , retreat and recollection is a chance for the student to repent for the sins and temptation happening  in  their life. The many  times of  letting the wicked  presence ruin their life and mind, the many rejection of God’s presence in their life, this is has been assessed by their beloved facilitator and also this would not be possible without the spirit of willingness among the  students . Another, retreat and recollection bring every students into reality of life through the works of deep reflection. Students may find the meaning of their existence and the reason  of the many life’s  struggles  if they have peace in mind and soul. Lastly, recollection and retreat is a break from  the daily routine of  student’s life ( house to school, school to house) . The time to relax and unwind so that they become prepare not only for the schools, but preparing their self for the acceptance of  Jesus Christ in their life. Truly, recollection  and retreat move the person to  become true human in  the humanism of religion. It is part of  Christian ethics that everyone  should be practice, not only addresses for the students, but this Christian practice should be observe  by everybody in order to live life in harmony with our Lord Jesus Christ.   

The Youth of Today's Generation

As being apart of this generation, I myself being a young ones and considering as the hope of the father land it will never an easy task to become what suppose to be expected from us by the olders. We tend to live life inresponsive to the calling of being an ideal youth nowadays. Becuse it is natural for human to commit sins and encountering many instances of temptation that reflects the natural comings of human in this world. The youth of today's generation become more and more worst as the time goes by. To give justice to my insights here are many circumtances that makes the proves my opinion. More youth today are experiencing peer pressure, a concrete example of this is in the context of schools or classroom most especially if the student is enrolled in prestigious school. The tendency is student wanted to be fit or in to other students like in the way of dressing the self, this is to feel that the students is accepted and appreciate his or her presence in the classroom. Another is, the influence of many cultures, because of this factors that affects the behavior and minds of the young generation, we forgot the concepts of good and bad, rigth from wrong. Believing that all this activities are recognize as acceptable and nothing is wrong about it. Also this next issue addressing the youth is very much popular to everybody. The issue on immoral act of the youth in the society. To live in moral life is to become fully human being according to the humanism of religion. but the problem is how to live a morally appropriate in the context of the youth life. the answer is live life according to the teaching and work of God, manifest in the life of Jesus Christ because Jesus sends by God to help  and save the peole from the hands of the evil one. Rest assure that  all this things aret the only hope of the hopes' in order to live and to imbibe the true essence of being a youth today. Indeed, the future of the youth lies not only to there hands but the great part is in the guides and the wisdom of the old.