Another Gawad Kalinga story

In the past four sundays, I have been going to the Gawad Kalinga site here in the province. It was the same place that I went to about October of last year (see this blog). This time though my involvement became more of wanting to get involved.

We have recently forged an informal alliance with other schools in supporting this Gawad Kalinga site and I am looking forward now to a fun filled year ahead of me working for the project. So what is it that I realized?

You see, for someone like me, who although had a rough time growing up emotionially and all the problems in the family, I did not have much experience in how is it to be poor. My family is not well-off but we definitely have food (good food at that) everytime we need it. To understand the state of my countrymen who are below the poverty line, I will have to get that from another experience not of my own. What is it that people like me will get from building houses and doing things that we've never done before?

As I was talking to the other people in the area earlier, I realized that more than just building the houses it is in fact a social responsibility. It is our role to be part in solving the problems of our countrymen and not criticize them because of their state. To give a person a house to live is not just providing him shelter, it is actually giving him back his dignity. Just imagine this, someone who has a place he calls home will not only want to keep it that way but will want to take advantage of that opportunity. By giving a person that spark of hope, we are telling them that life is not that bad after all and there is a way towards our dreams and the dreams of their children. More than the simple act of kindness that we were doing, it was a revelation to understand that in each person is that intangible chance of doing good and making great wonders out of it. It becomes an experience that allows a person to understand his role in the bigger context of a society that seeks to move itself forward. Looking back at the simple things that we do for others, it becomes a worthy investment that does not only get things done but moves the spirit of the people we touch. To understand that is to catch the true spirit of simply helping out.

In an e-mail I wrote to a friend earlier, I told her how my head is spinning with ideas of the things that can be done. For quite sometime, I find myself going into something that has found a special place in my heart, giving me a great way to do things that matter. In all this I am amazed, I am truly blessed...

Philippine Prison Reenacts Michael Jackson's

I know this has been so popular but I still want to post it for more people to see... This is unity in action

Goal or the Process?

My greatest enemy now is impatience. In the last few months, I have been counting the days wishing that I can do the things that I wanted to do. I thought I have already learned patience but I guess learning it never ceases.

Yesterday, I realized that it was the last day of July. The month is going to change again and it was a good feeling knowing that the time really is moving. As I was trying to fill up my PRT (as in Physical Readiness Test, its a monthly thing to monitor physical readiness), I had to do some push-ups and sit-ups so that I can comply with what is written in that form. If I wait for it then I will never be able to fill up that form truthfully. As I was doing the exercises, I suddenly understood how time flies without me realizing it. I thought that once the date changes, I will never be able to put it back in the same way that I will never be able to fulfill the requirements of the form I was filling up.

The same is true with so many things in our life. At one point we want so many things to happen in an instance and then when we finally get it we want to get back to the time of dreaming. I just realized that when we want things we forget the whole process of getting it. I wonder now if the goal is more important than the process?

As I said I get impatient a lot these days. Like this entry, I hate that the words do not seem to coincide with how I feel. A while ago I started taking another of my long walks. When I get emotional, everything appears to me in a deeper way and I almost wanted to cry thinking about all the things that have happened to me in the place that I was seeing. The truth of the matter is, the reason why I am feeling all this nostalgic is because I suddenly realized how lonely I am (again). I realized that I have been trying my best in the past days not to think about the things that I wanted to do and suddenly all the emotions that I have been ignoring came crashing through me. I found myself dreaming again of the things that I could not have at the moment. This morning, I received an e-mail from one person that I like to receive one. Reading it made me so happy that I hated the fact that I was here. That plus certain events that happened.

Again I ask the question, what is more important: the goal or the process?

Death in Deathly Hallows: A review of Harry Potter Book 7

Harry Potter have indeed grown. In the Deathly Hallows he was finally the Hero that most of his fans have wanted. The bold one and as the book would put it: someone who would do things for the greater good.

From the sad conclusion of Book 6 with Albus Dumbledore dying and Voldemort in the rampage, everyone knew that the last and final book was to have the answer to all the mysteries that plague the series of books about the young wizard. As all Harry Potter books do, it begins at the Dursleys, Potter's Muggle family.

Harry is already aware of the danger that he was to go into. He knew particularly well that the task Dumbledore left him before his death was not easy and it was the time to do it. The Order of Phoenix being his sole protector was in his defense when he had another encounter with his nemesis while being transported to the safety of the Weasley's Burrow. This very incident led to the first death in the book. This was to be the start of being the hunted as Voldemort siezes power in the Wizarding world and begins a reign of terror.

The first half of the story seemed to drag on the plot of hiding from Voldemort and finding the other Horcruxes. I feel that it took a while for J. K. Rowling to put direction to the quest of the three heroes (Ron, Hermione and Harry of course). I also think that it was because she was trying to explain all the mysteries that she left unanswered in the previous books. This was added by the new idea of the Deathly Hallows which also has to be explained. Harry travelled from place to place discovering things and getting answers especially those from his parents. The thing with all the travelling and moving was it seemed to dwell too much on issues about Harry's personality which was a bit boring. But then again, he is Harry Potter so the magic and the anticipation of getting the answers to all the questions I had kept me glued to the book.

The Battle at Hogwarts was, I should say, a redeeming part of the book since it gathered all of the characters in one place to make their stand against Voldemort. It was a fitting finale that allowed all the characters to show what they were really made off. Like the end part of the Book 5 where Dumbledore's Army fought with the Order of the Phoenix, magical duels really are fun and that covered up for the earlier part that seemed to exclude all of them.

It dragged again when a whole chapter was devoted into explaining the real score about Snape. I do feel that Snape had to be redeemed only that I do not agree with how it was done. I feel that his redemption should have been scattered throughout the whole book. I also feel that the explanation was done "forcefully" (read the book to understand what I mean).

Finally, Harry and Voldemort's duel was not as fantastic as I thought it would be. Although it was good that for the first time Voldemort was found out to have weakness, the duel was just not how I expected it to be.

The book could be over rated if I may say. Its release came at the exact playdate of the movie of its 5th installment. Also, there was just too much mystery to explain and it had to be done in the final book. Some say that the explanation of all the mysteries was the way to weave all the seven books as one story. I do agree with that, but then again, I still think that it would have been better if it was not done forcefully. I also think that there were so many deaths that was a bit uncalled for. I feel that those who died would have been elevated if their death was chronicled in such a way as to portray nobility (like that of the elf).

I still am a Harry Potter fan but I just have to say that I am disappointed with the final book. With an epilogue that happened 19 years after, I do not think J.K. Rowling will have a chance to redeem herself for not sustaining the magic of Harry Potter.

Anyway, I also have other questions: How did the Sword of Gryffindor came into the possession of Neville?

The dreams that we live

After my class today, I decided I do not want to stay inside my room anymore. I figured if I went back to reading Harry Potter (yes its Book 7 hehehe, I had it the day it was in the stores) I will not be able to do anything productive anymore, so I said I'll go on "pasyal." My "pasyal" took me to the library and amazingly in front of the computer (its not like PMA has a lot of "pasyal" places). Catching up with people through the net (since I am totally detached from the cellphone) I realized that it is the birthday of a very good friend and that another friend will be leaving for the States tomorrow for a scholarship. So I will tell the story about this two people. They are in fact special people in my life.

At a time when I did not know what to do with my life, we were dreaming together. One would wonder how the three of us became friends. I was a person with a lot to say about things, another one was a scientist who can lecture you about the composition of the DNA and another is a beautiful girl who is definitely a head turner. The thing with the three of us was that we met at a time when we were just trying to figure out what to do with our lives. We were at a point in our life when life was uncertain.

For me, I eventually got what I wanted. I went back to PMA and here I am now counting the days until I'm done. The beautiful girl has also found a place of her own. Although I know how she hates being analyzed, I can sense in our little interactions that she is happy where she is. And finally, the Dexter's apprentice, she's leaving the country to pursue her dream.

That realization lead me to think about the things that happen in our lives. The path that we take even during the times when we were not very certain of the future. Thinking about all of it reminds me of the beauty that this life has to offer. The graciousness of God that never fails to touch us as long as we wait. In the 5 years that I have known these people. Much has changed and with the way things are going on in our life now, it seems that it will be a while before the three of us will be gathered in one place and talk about the things that have happened since the day we became friends. But I guess in all of it, the best thing is the realization that indeed life will turn out fine we just have to live it and deal with it.

To those who are at a point of finding out the direction of their life, the key there is to just live it and continue to trust.