Filipinas

Pagsusuring pampelikula:

FILIPINAS

Napakaganda ang pelikulang Filipinas na mula sa panulat ni Felipe Iglesias at ginawang isang obra sa direksiyon ng batikang director na si Joel C. Lamangan.
Ang naturang peikula ay tungkol sa isang pamilya sa makabagong panahon na kung saan ang kanilang ina ay isang guro na may anim na anak. Ang mga magkakapatid na ito ay may kanya-kanya ng buhay. Nagkataong ikakasal ang isa sa kanila kaya nagsiuwian ang lahat sa kanilang lumang tahanan upang magtipon. Ngunit sa kanilang pagbabalik ay dahan dahang nabuksang muli ang mga sugat ng kahapon na hindi pa rin tuluyang naghilom. Bunsod na rin ng iba’t ibang pananaw ay nagtatalo ang magkakapatid hanggang umabot sa sukdulan na kung saan ay nasuntok ang kanilang butihing ina at dinala sa ospital. Doon lang nila tinigilan ang kanilang mga pagtatalo. Hindi na nila pinairal ang kani-kanilang mga prinsipyo at nagkabuklod-buklod silang muli.
Maihahanay natin sa mga piling-pili at natatanging pelikula na gawang Pinoy ang obrang ito ni Joel C. Lamangan. Kung sa uri ng pelikula ang pagbabasihan, tiyak ito ay nabibilang sa drama o para maging tiyak ay family-drama. Maganda ito dahil ito ay nagtatalakay sa pamilya kaya marami ang nakaka relate. Maganda din ang ginawang uri ng paglalahad ni Lamangan sa pamamagitan ng flashback. Ito ay nakakatulong upang magbigay linaw sa mga pangyayaring naganap sa pelikula. Maliban pa dito mabisa din ito upang magbigay ng mas magandang epekto sa takbo ng mga pangyayari.
Meron ding mga parte ng pelikula na kung minsan ay gumagamit ng mga matatayutay na pananalita ang mga tauhan. Hayagan itong ginamit ni Florencia, ng kanyang kaibigang pari, at ni Yolanda. Ang kanilang mga sinasabi’y nagsasaad ng mga katotohanan tungkol sa buhay at iyo’y nagsasalamin sa kanilang mga damdamin at pananaw sa pamaraang makasining.
Tungkol naman sa takbo ng mga pangyayari, naging maganda naman ang naging resulta. Sa aking pag-aalala’y walang mga sandali na ako’y nabagot sa kapapanood dahil maganda at kapana-panabik ang takbo ng mga pangyayari. Ngunit napansin kong medyo minadali ang takbo ng mga pangyayari sa bandang hulihan ng pelikula. Mas mainam siguro kung ginawa ito sa normal na takbo at hindi medyo mabilisan.
Kung sa tauhan naman ang pag-uusapan ay masasabi kong maganda ang naging kinalabasan. Lalong laolo na sa katauhan ni Yolanda. Talagang nagampanang mabuti ni Ms. Maricel Soriano ang kanyang papel bilang Yolanda. Talagang isa syang batikang aktres at talagang makukumbinse ka sa kanyang pag-arte. Kaya hindi natin maitatanong kung bakit sya nanalong Best Actress sa pelikulang ito. Maganda ang kanyang papel bilang panganay na anak ng pamilya Filipinas. Maraming beses syang naging duwag na magsalita para sa katotohanan dahil mas pinairal nya ang kanyang pagmamahal sa kanyang pamilya na kahit sarili nyang kaligayahan o buhay pag-ibig ay kanyang isinakripisyo alang-alang sa kanyang pamilya. Kung sa bagay, maganda at kahanga-hanga ang ginawa ni Yolanda ngunit nakalimutan nyang di nya dapat pasanin mag-isa ang mga suliranin ng kanyang pamilya. Nakalimutan nyang sya’y tao rin na marunong masaktan at magmahal. Kaya, nainitindihan ko ang kanyang naging reaksyon sa mga panahong nagkagulo na ang lahat. Bagay lamang na ipahayag nya ang kanyang tunay na saloobin imbes na ibaon ito sa limot at kawalang bahala. Ang kanyang katauhan ay nagpaala-ala sa akin na dapat nating harapin ang mga problema sa buhay at lutasin ito sa lalong madaling panahon upang hindi lumala at bago pa maging huli ang lahat, lalong lao na kung ito ay may kinalaman sa ating mga pamilya.
Wala akong maitulak kabigin sa mga nagsipagganap. Nabigyan nila ng buhay ang bawat katauhan na kanilang ipinakita. Ang naturang pelikula ay tinampokan ng mabibigat na bituin tulad nina Richard Gomez, Dawn Zaulueta, Aiko Melendez, atbp. Maging ang kaliit-liitang ekstra ay magaling din sa kanilang pagsipagganap.
Dahil sa pelikulang ito ay napagtanto ko ang kahalagahan ng pamilya at mabisang komunikasyon sa loob ng isang pamilya. Dapat magkaroon ng diskusyon kung may mga suliranin sa loob ng pamilya ngunit dapat itong gawin sa pamaraang mahinahon at iwasan ang pagiging mainitin ang ulo para sa katahimikan ng lahat.
May mga punto ring ako’y lubusan natinag sa takbo ng mga pangyayari lalong-lalo yong pagkakataong ipinabulalas ni Yoly ang kanyang mga hinanaing na kanya lamang kinikimkim sa loob ng mahabang panahon. Kasi, minsan ay ginagawa ko rin yon. Isa din yo`ng naglalakad sya sa gitna ng ulan matapos malaman na may iba na pala ang kanyang mahal na hindi nya nagawang ipaglaban noon.
Higit sa lahat, marami tayong aral na mapupulot mula sa pelikula. Una dito ay huwag na nating hintayin pa na mawala ang ating mga mahal sa buhay o may mangyaring masama sa ating mga magulang upang tayong mga anak ay magbuklod-buklod sa pagmamahal at magbibigay ng kapatawaran. Sa banding huli, pamilya pa rin ang tinitibok ng pusong Pilipino.

interesting conversation

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy speaks to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD, The ALMIGHTY.
He asks one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .
Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So you Believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD Good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him. Most of us would attempt to Help Others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD Good then ? Hmm ?
( Student is silent ) Professor : You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella. Is GOD Good ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from ?
Student : From . . . GOD . . .
Professor : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make Everything. Correct ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil ?
( Student does not answer )
Professor : Is there Sickness ? Immorality ? Hatred ? Ugliness ? All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, who Created them ? ( Student has no answer ) Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD ?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD ?
Student : No , sir.
Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD ? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter ?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM ? Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son ?
Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor : Yes. Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.
Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat ?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as Cold ?
Professor : Yes.
Student : No sir. There isn't.
( The Lecture Theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events )
Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or No Heat. But we don't have anything called Cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as Cold. Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat. We cannot Measure Cold. Heat is Energy. Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.
( There is Pin - Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre ) Student : What about Darkness, Professor ? Is there such a thing as Darkness ?
Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness ?
Student : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the Absence of Something. You can have Low Light, Normal Light , Bright Light, Flashing Light . . . But if you have No Light Constantly, you have Nothing and it's called Darkness, isn't it ? In reality, Darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you ?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is Flawed.
Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how ?
Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought. It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing. Death is Not the Opposite of Life : just the Absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you Teach your Students that they Evolved from a Monkey ?
Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir ?
( The Professor shakes his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument is going )
Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and cannot even prove that this Process is an On - Going Endeavor, are you not Teaching your Opinion, sir ? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher ?
( The Class is in Uproar )
Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever Seen the Professor's Brain ?
( The Class breaks out into Laughter )
Student : Is there anyone here who has ever Heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, Touched or Smelt it ? . . . No one appears to have done so. So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have No Brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir ?
( The Room is Silent. The Professor stares at the Student, his face unfathomable )
Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student : That is it sir . . . the Link between Man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that Keeps Things Moving & Alive.
NB:
I believe you have enjoyed the Conversation . . . and if so . . .you'll probably want your Friends / Colleagues to enjoy the same . . . won't you ? . . .Forward them to Increase their Knowledge . . . or FAITH It turned out later that the student is Albert Einsten

Realizing one's potential and becoming an achiever (a public speaking piece)

“I am only one but I am one. I cannot do everything but I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”
Ma’am Tess, brother seminarians, a pleasant afternoon to all of you.
The great philosopher Aristotle affirmed that all of us have the potency for something great. Who knows one of us here will become the next bishop of Basilan or maybe one of us here will be the future Executive Vice President of Sara Lee. Nobody knows. Nobody can tell but it is very much possible because Martin Heidegger said that as long as man exists his potentialities can never be exhausted.
However, the problem with most of us is that we are contented with what we are. We seem to settle for less. If our academic dean would tell us to study harder and push beyond our limits, you may ask – Why should I study harder? What for? For grades? Grades are just numbers and numbers does not measure and define me. Yes! You’re right. Numbers cannot define you but they tell something significant about you.
A person who does not realize his potentials is like a bird that dies without ever having the chance to sing its most beautiful song. If such thing happens to you, you will be full of regrets as you look back at your past because you have not done the things that you should have done. Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside of us while we live. It is said that for all the sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest ones are these: “It might have been.” It might have been successful if I did my best. It might have been better if I push beyond my limits. It might have been wonderful if I believe in myself.
Friends, are there times in your life that you fell that you are bound in chains? Chained from your past, from your shyness, or from your inordinate fears? Are you afraid to be labeled as a second rate trying hard copycat? Are you afraid to fail? Well, try asking yourself: “How is one to know what one can accomplish unless one tries?” There’s no harm in trying. Right?
Then, you need this key. This key will help you unlock those chains and will open the door leading you to greater heights, enabling you to blaze new trails, venture into new frontiers, and hopefully discover broader and wider horizons. This key consists of few tips so that you will b able to realize your potentials and become an achiever in the future
And that is the topic I wish to impart to you today – “Realizing One’s potential and Becoming an Achiever.”
As you can see, I have here three balloons of different colors. Somehow, in our life there are things that we need to get away with things that somehow qualify as those of our comfort zones. Things like laziness, mediocrity and hatred. These three balloons that I have represent these things. And what I’m gonna do with it. I’m gonna prick it with a pin and have it burst. Now, anybody of you would like to demonstrate how to prick a balloon using a pin? Yes, N____. Please do the honor. (The balloon is pricked) thank you N____ for your cooperation. But oh! Can you see this? There is a paper contained inside the balloon. Let me read it. Read to widen your horizons.
This is the first tip in order to realize your potential and become an achiever.
According to Richard Steele, “Reading is to mind, what exercise is to the body.” If you are very much conscious about your health and figure, that’s why you g to the gym and have some exercise, then you should also have to let your mind do the exercise simply through reading. Reading does a lot of marvels to a person. With reading, one can e well traveled and well- informed. One can have something to say about anything under the sun. And these will be one of your passports towards achieving you dreams in the future. Yu know very well that in this modern and competitive world, one needs a wining edge in order to be an achiever. And reading is a very great help.
Researchers show that a house full of books gives youngsters the richest start of all. A love of reading is more important for children’s academic success than their family’s wealth and class. Children from deprived backgrounds performed better in tests than those from more affluent homes if they enjoy reading books, newspapers, and comics in their spare time. The study which covered 31 countries found encouraging children to read for pleasure could compensate for social problems that would usually affect their academic performance.
Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once said, “Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a destiny”. Psychologists say that it takes 21 consecutive days to form a habit. So whether it be forming a bad habit or a good one, the same process applies. If I were you, choose to form a good habit ad I’m sure the fruits will be sweet. Cultivate the habit of reading and you will see marvelous results.
I myself can testify to it. The only reason I could draw why do I easily get the lessons I studied is because of my early training of reading during my childhood. My mother had taught me how to read at the age of four. Since then, I’m always reading anything that I could grasp. As a matter of fact, I have read a total of 87 novels to date excluding non-fiction books, textbooks, magazines , and other reading materials. The result my vision has become blurred but my mind sharpens. I don’t care even if I will become blind because I read much. Anyway we have now the technology that would great wonders in bringing us our sight. Isn’t it? If such thing happens then I am somewhat on the equal footing of Jean Paul Sartre, a great existential thinker who got blind because of reading too much. Then I don’t have to worry. Who know I would have a Simone de Bouvier who would do the reading for me. Thus I would heed what Fr. Dongdong had said, “Read, read and read until you can’t read anymore.”
Og Mandino said that love of books is our pass to the greatest, the purest, the most perfect pleasure prepared for us by God. It endures when all other pleasures fade. It will support us when all other recreations are gone. It will last us until our death. It will make our hours pleasant to us as long as we live.
That’s the beauty of reading. Indeed it widens our horizons.
Now prepare for an explosion of the second tip on realizing one’s potential and become an achiever. Here we go (Prick the balloon.) As usual there is a paper that said Don’t settle for less.
Those who reach the top are the ones who are not content with doing what is required of them. They do more, they go another mile. And another. The measurement of their recompense never enters their mind. They know that eventually they will receive their rewards.
There is but one certain method of achieving one’s goals and that is through hard labor, both mental and spiritual. If I am not willing to pay the price of distinction I should be prepared to resign myself to a future of tears and poverty while I beat my chest in self pity over the futility of a life void of smiles and rewards.
Always do your best. What you plant now you will harvest later.
Go another mile.
The only certain means of success is to render more sand better eservice than is expected to you. No matter what your task may be. This is a habit followed by all successful people since the beginning of time. The surest way to doom yourself to mediocrity is to perform only the work which for you are paid.
The very reason why do I choose no to have my scholastic records uncredited lies on this philosophy. For the information of everybody, I have already studied for a period of 3 and a half years outside the seminary, specifically at University of Bohol. But I choose to retake all the subjects because I want to know how far I can achieve if I do my best.
Had I have my units credited, I would be one of the millions who settled for less, aspiring nothing but a passing grade. But I dare to make a difference.
Think not you are being cheated if you deliver more silver than you receive. For there is pendulum to all life and the sweat you deliver if not rewarded today will swing back tomorrow, tenfold.
Hard work and rewards are like cause and effect, means and ends, seed sand fruits, these cannot be separated. The effect already blooms in the cause, the end pre-exists in the means, and the fruit is always on the seed.
What is the best thing for a river? It is to keep moving. If it stops, it stagnates. The best thing for me is that which keeps my currents flow. Our life must progress and we should not limit ourselves with what we are now. Man’s reach exceeds his grasps.
Never again will I fail to go the extra mile or render less than my pay deserve.
I will do my work, henceforth, with all the intensity I can put forth. Not just my work and no more, but a little more. That little more which in time will be worth all the rest. And if I suffer, as I often will and I’ll doubt the value of my efforts, as I must on occasions. I will still do my work. I will put my heart into it and the sky will clear and from out of the very doubt and suffering will born the supreme joy of life then I would sing either “I can live. I can love. I can reach the heavens above.” Or “I can go the distance. I will search the world, I will face its harms. I don’t care how far, I can go the distance. Till I found my hero’s welcome waiting in your arms.”
I will take every risk and embrace every opportunity that may provide a better life for me. I will despise myself if I look back on my life and realize that I had the talent and the ability to do great things but could not find the courage to try. I know that I can do, and I know how little have I done I have tittered away my opportunities. Take a look at these sand. I let its grains fall through my open fist. When in fact, I can hold it. But I do believe that it s not too late for me, for you, for us. We can still shape a future of success and happiness. We are capable of great wonders and now we know that our achievements will never rise higher than our faith in ourselves. We have new faith. We were made in the image of God. We are not created to fail. Defeat? Possible. Quit. Never again.
That holds the second tip of realizing ones potential and becoming an achiever. Just for a recap, I have already given two simple tips: Read to widen your horizons and Don’t settle for less.
Now, it’s time for the last tip that I could give regarding my topic. May I call another volunteer from the audience to prick this last balloon tat I have? Yes N______ Thank you. Now the third tip is to Love what you are doing.
Reading a lot of things and pushing beyond our limits would not be possible and would be a burden to us if we have not loved doing such things. Love can make wonders in our works. Have you tried working on a certain job with a heavy heart? How do you feel? Personally, I can attest to it because when I do things just out of obligation with a heavy heart, the work becomes a curse and a burden to me. But when I learned to love even those menial jobs, it makes wonders deep inside of me.
You see this? I got these medals and citations because I love what I am doing. Studying my lessons and living here in the seminary are just some of the thing I have learned to love. As a result, good outcomes flow on naturally.
As John Lennon and Paul McCarthy said in their song, ”All you need is love.” To make great things out of simple ones.
Thus whatever my job may be, let me perform it with love and I will not fail. . Henceforth when my days work has ended, I will surprise the world. I will remain at my task, just a little longer, and put love on my work. I’ll let that extra effort be an investment in my tomorrow. Wit such attitude flavored with love, so rare in this selfish worked we inhabit I know I cannot fail.
So there you have it. Three simple tips on realizing one’s potential and becoming an achiever in the future.
Let me close my speech with a short story that follows:”
A 7-year-old boy named Kenny, moved to a county and bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. The next day the farmer drove up and said “Sorry son, but I have some bad news, the donkey died last night.”
Kenny replied” Well then, just give me my money back.” The farmer said, “Can’t do that. I went and spent it already.”
Kenny said, “Okay then, just unload the donkey” the farmer asked, “What you gonna do with him?”. Kenny: “I’m going to raffle him off, sell it by lottery, draw a lot to a group of people each paying the same amount for a ticket.”
Farmer: “You cannot raffle off a dead donkey.
Kenny: “Sure I can, watch me. I just won’t tell anybody he’s dead.” A month later the farmer met up with Kenny and asked, “What happened with that dead donkey?”
Kenny: “I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at $2 apiece and made a profit of $898.”
Farmer: Didn’t anyone complain
Kenny: “Just the guy who won, So I give him back $2”. Kenny grew up and eventually become the chairman of Enron Power USA.
Friends, I hope you don’t get me wrong. I don’t suggest you to cheat but my point is to be an achiever, aside from the tips given, one must have an attitude. A positive outlook towards life amidst trails and adversities.
I know that many of you here can be great someday if only you realize your potentials and I’m confident that you will.
Thank you so much and have a nice day.

CLASS WILL AND TESTAMENT
Senior Class 2008-2009

DEAR JUNIORS, few weeks from now, we will be leaving the portals of our beloved Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. Next school year, you will be called “Seniors” which will mean to you a great opportunity, a big responsibility, and a challenge.

There are many things that we are supposed to do this year, but only the less we have done. We’ve been through lots of trials and thank God, we have survived. We long to stay more in this institution because we cannot afford to leave you. We still want to be around to guide you as your elder brothers but time is so short and we still have to move forward because life is fast that we should always keep our pace with time. There’s nothing left to do except to say goodbye to you… but with this goodbye, you need not to worry because among you are brilliant-minded people who have the will and the guts to continue the work that we have started.

An on the occasion of this JS Prom 2009. WE, the dynamic SENIORS of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Class 2008-2009, who firmly believe the will of God, do hereby proclaim and bequeath to our heirs – the JUNIORS of Class 2008-2009 this CLASS WLL AND TESTAMENT.

The leadership of Waldemar Castino to Ryan Montealto and Ruben Cuizon Jr. The mathematical abilities of Zairus Canales, Reymon Virtudazo and Waldemar Castino to Melvin Tajale and Jovanie Leones. The English proficiency of Richard Busaco, Zairus Canales, Emmanuel Gamana, Ismael Magadan Jr. and Waldemar Castino to Melvin Tajale and Jovanie Leones. Garry Nathaniel Guiritan, Ismael Magadan Jr. and Mark John Manatad’s specialty in Arts and Letter Cutting to John Paul Credo and Francis Malikse. The dancing prowess of Garry Nathaniel Guiritan, Carmelo Tandugon II and Reymon Virtudazo to Angelo Salaas, Bonifacio Tariga and Adrian Surigao. Waldemar Castino, Ismael Magadan Jr. and Richard Busaco’s gutsy speaking ability to Jovanie Leones, Jose Abregana, Jeric Daguplo , Melvin Tajale and Adrian Surigao. Floricel Bongay, Josie mar Gudes, Gregorio Duterte Jr. and Ismael Magadan Jr.’s skill in handling guitar and other musical instruments to Angelo Salas, Jay Buno, Adrian Surigao, Francis Malikse and Christoper Aupe.

The athletic ability of Floricel Bongay, Exequeil Paredes and Carmelo Tandugon III to Adrian Surigao, Richard Pongase, and Jay Buno.

The efficient way of handling finances of Garry Nathaniel Guiritan to John Paul Credo. The art of flower making of Jovic Bonior, Garry Nathaniel Guiritan and John Rodel Ceballos to Ryan Cadenas and Jovanie Leones.

Given to John Philip Manlangit the ever-ready-to-help attitude of Darwin Gitgano, Garry Nathaniel Guiritian and Mark John Manatad. Debonair Jovic Bonior, Zairus Canales, Richard Busaco and Floricel Bongay to Melvin Tajale, and Angelo Salas. The religious qualities of Darwin Gitgano and Ismael Magadan Jr. to Richard Pongase. The humble attitude of Darwin Gitgano and Garry Nathaniel Guiritan to Christopher Aupe, Medardo Jumamoy and Richard Pongase.

We are handling down to you these assets for a more successful year to come.

At this point, in behalf of the Seniors, allow me to express my sincerest thanks and appreciation to all the people who are art of our college education.

To our dear Alma Mater, IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY SEMINARY – htanks so much for the good teachings,. To our administrators, Bishop Leonardo Medroso, D.D., Fr. Martin Lupiba and Fr . Crisolito Geangan; to our class adviser, Fr. Absalon Florenosos; to our priest formators, Fr. Irvin Garsuta, Fr. Claverlito Migrino, Msgr. Jess Ligason, Fr. Dong2 Estafia ; to our teachers, Maan Natz Alvardo, Maam Tess Concha, Maam Zia Managaytay, Maam Ann Babera, Sir Oj Cinio, Sir Eddie Managaytay, Sir Tito Cempron, Maam Husain, Fr. Morge Amora, and Fr. Jose Cecil Lobrigas. To our dear parents, benefactors, friends, textmates, schoolmates, and loved ones, whose smiles cheer us up when the road gets rough. Most of all to our Almighty Father, who is the last one to approve our plans.

And to you my dear JUNIORS, thank you too. With your company, our journey becomes more meaningful and enjoyable. Keep up the good work. Continue the task that we have started to do. Be good in your studies and most of all follow the seminary rules and respect our formators. Go on spending one more fruitful year with our Alma Mater.

Lastly, let us pray for one another. We may be walking in different paths soon, but hopefully we will all met in one point all crowned with laurels of success.

In testimony hereof, we affix our signature on this 24th day of February in the year of our Lord two thousand and nine at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Taloto District, Tagbilaran City.


Signed:

SEM. WALDEMAR B. CASTINO
President, Ingenuosus Class
S.Y. 2008-2009


SEM ZAIRUS O. CANALES SEM. EMMANUEL R.GAMANA
Vice-President, Ingenuous Class Secretary, Ingenuosus Class
S.Y. 2008-2009 S.Y. 2008-2009

An Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living

When I was young, my parents trained me to become a God-loving child. They taught me the prayers and the right manners. Consequently, I had a very nice childhood. I was the favorite of my parents as well as my grandparents simply because I was cute and good. Furthermore, I could never forget when my grandmother told me that she wanted me to become a priest in the future so that someone will pray for her dear soul when God will withdraw her borrowed life. Right then, I had always wanted to become a priest. But when I was in high school where I was introduced to the marvelous world of computers, my dream of becoming a priest seemed to subside because I yearned to know more about computers. So instead of going inside the seminary to study, I took up Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at the University of Bohol.
As I go over my college days, I found out that I just ventured into this new frontier hoping to discover broader and brighter horizons. Discover, I did but it seems to be that I don’t know where my life was heading.
My college life has been a mess. I have learned a lot of bad things including skipping classes and drinking liquors among other things. I was afraid that one day I’ll be seeing myself all filled up with mundane happiness and my soul will be malnourished as I go with the trend. Moreover driven by circumstances such as problems in financial matters, I was pushed to reflection about my life. I was thinking what things really matters and what are those things that can really make me happy. Gradually, I found out that I should use my God-given faculties for the greater glory of God and not for bad things so that I may able to attain peace of mind which I consider to be utmost essential. I also found out that what really makes me happy is to make other people happy most especially my dear family and God. So I decided to pursue my childhood dream of becoming a priest. As a result, I am already 25 years of age and still a third year philosophy student of IHMS. Somehow there is a room for regrets on my part. Had I entered the seminary directly after my high school, I might be an ordained priest next year.
These things make me realize the value of reflection in ones life. It seems to be that I lacked the proper reflection that turned me to be a rolling stone who gathered no moss. When we are so much occupied with mundane concerns, we fail to appreciate the things that really matters. As a result, we’re heading to an unknown path, without future and direction. Thus it is essential to reflect in some points of our lives so that we will be guided and we could keep ourselves tracked with the passing of time.
We should also consider that God has his own way of telling us what his message is for us. We only need to be sensitive enough to distinguish these messages in form of signs so that we will be able to live our lives well. We need to reflect on every pages of our history so that all the opportunities are grabbed and feelings of regrets are lessened. Moreover, we need to pray to God to open up our understanding regarding the things that happens in our life.
Life is indeed a mystery. We will never exhaust the reality of life even if we will encounter death. But what really matters is that we did to our best in pondering the messages of God through reflection wherein we love and we have loved and we spend most of our time in doing things that brought more meaning to our lives.

Lights, Camera. Action

Most of us want to become popular because it is nice to be known as somebody. That is why many want to become an actor or an actress. This is the shortest way to fame because all you have to do is to give your best in acting.
Acting is derived from the Latin word agere meaning to do; this is precisely what acting is. In acting an actor suppresses or augments aspects of his personality in order to reveal the actions and motivations of the fictional character he portrays within a particular moment. Thus, the actor is assuming the role of another, usually for the benefit of an audience. Aside from benefiting an audience, acting can also bring a sense of art satisfaction on the actor because it helps in expressing the aesthetic sense of a person.
For me the very first thing you must do to be effective in acting is to develop an interest on and love on it. Without interest and love, acting will come out strained and artificial. With love and interest, acting will become spontaneous and satisfying both to the actor and the audience. Once you learned to love and to develop interest in acting, you cannot do it without passion. You will be passionate enough in justifying your character and many will notice you for your exceptional acting prowess.
The next thing that you have to do is to read the script. In reading the script, you should try to understand the story behind it. Then re-read the script, and this time try to focus on the role assigned to you. It is not important to memorize your lines word for word. What is essential is that you understand the flow of events. You can even inject adlibs as long as the situation allows you.
Then go on internalization, the process of putting up all your emotions and imaginations to the scene. You should consider that acting is a work of imagination. If you are rich in imagination, wonderful things will come out. Thus it is an edge if an actor has a well-developed imagination. Moreover, an actor should also have the ability to analyze and understand dramatic text so that he will be able to justify his character or role. To do this, true feelings and true objectives must be involved.
During the acting proper, an actor must retain the same level of concentration and emotional intensity from one shot to the next. He must be able to recall, in minute detail, the exact sequence of the character’s emotional response, often at a moment’s notice. This requires enormous concentration and mental coordination.
In acting, actors are generally expected to possess a number of skills, including good vocal projection and clarity of speech. These would give an actor the advantage to be better than his contemporaries. You have to consider that a well-delivered speech in acting would lead to an easy comprehension and clarity of the message the story tries to impart. Other things that an actor should possess are physical expressiveness, a good sense of perspective, and emotional availability.
If an actor has the capacity to express physically what the scene asks for, he would become very effective. Good sense of perspective would also help the actor to be professional even if he will commit mistakes. An actor should be very innovative and should have the guts to make wrong things right. Moreover, he should also have the emotional availability, which would allow him to show a specified emotion fitting to a certain scene. Emotional availability is very important because it enables the actor to do his role with justice. Acting is having the emotion that best fits the scene. A good all-round actor is able to convey a wide range of emotions, with the development of movement and vocal skills.
On the other hand, a very important thing that an actor should learn is the principle of leaving and living. He should have a total abandonment of his own personality and should live with the new personality his character requires. Thus to become a good actor, he should have no awareness of self. He must not allow himself to go back to his past because it leads him to be aware of himself.
Well-rounded actors are often also skilled in singing, dancing, emotional expressiveness, imitating dialect and accent, observing and emulating, and performing classical texts such as William Shakespeare’s. Many actors train at length in special programs or colleges, which have a wide range of different artistic philosophies and processes to develop these skills.
Thus it is essential for an actor to be equipped with all the necessary principles so that he will be confident enough when the director shouts, “Lights, Camera, Action."

Making a Difference

Many of us lose our identities because we tend to go with the flow. We cater to what is popular and we are very much conscious not to deviate from what is normal as dictated by the society. As a result, many of us become dishonest simply because many are dishonest.
It is very discouraging to note that many are shocked by honesty and a few by deceit. We are shocked when we hear stories like a taxi driver returning a big amount of cash. Some of us might say, “Is he out of his mind? He is not using his brain. He should be practical.” Such remarks uttered by those in the mainstream society suggest that most of us are willing to sacrifice honesty in exchange of personal gain. On the other hand, when we hear politicians doing electoral frauds and deceits in the government, we just act as if nothing happens; our response to such event will not be a shock. Some of us might say, “That is not NEWS. It is normal because many people are doing that.” We fail to realize that what is popular is not always right and what is right is not always popular. If such mentality and line of thinking continues, what kind of future will we have? Probably, things will worsen to its optimum and we will find ourselves living in a society where dishonest people dwell. What a disaster!
Dishonesty is very rampant in our society. Many of us become dishonest because we tend to look after our own welfare only and thus we become selfish. What matters to us is our own interest and needs that somehow push us to do injustices.
Dishonesty is common among politicians. They have lots of promises during the campaign but they always forget all of these when they already take their seats in the government. These people are supposed to act as good models because they are the leaders of our nation. And as leaders, they must catch the confidence of their followers because a leader cannot be one unless he has followers. Leaders should also consider that the only way to have their followers’ confidence is through their unquestionable integrity. A leader must keep his word. He must fulfill his promises to the people. He must do what he has said and must stand firm in his decisions no matter what. But it is sad to note that only a few of our government leaders are able to maintain their integrity. If only all of our government leaders have integrity, our nation might have resurrected from poverty which prevails in our society.
It is sadder to note that dishonesty is not limited only in our government. Even the Church has its own share of dishonesty. Some clergymen are excellent in their homilies; they can even make their parishioners laugh and cry. They are like saints in the pulpit that could touch one’s heart. But when they live their own personal lives, their actions do not anymore reflect the words they utter. Some of them are so strict that they almost forget the Christian virtue of compassion. Worst, some of them are living scandalous lives.
The only consolation I could draw as I look at this reality is the fact that the Church is flawed only because the people composing it are flawed and imperfect. However I think that we must not try to justify our misdeeds and lapses by our nature as imperfect beings. We must try to make a difference by staying firm with what we believe and by doing according to what we say.
Yes, words are powerful. But actions speak louder than words. Actions are more emphatic; they convey a message that cannot be contained in words. Words are always deficient because of the limitations of our language. It cannot capture the innermost yearnings and longings of our souls. We should always remember that well-done is better than well-said. Thus words and deeds should be complementary, congruent, and united. If that is the case, we will become persons of unquestionable integrity and we will be making a difference.
Though in making a difference we will encounter oppositions and negative feedback from the mainstream society, we should still stand our ground with the belief that we are just doing what is right. We should maintain our integrity and should be honest even if others are not, will not, and can not. Had not Jesus Christ made a difference by dying on the cross for the salvation of mankind, then we could have been eternally damned.