Graduation is coming in full force. Its not that it has not come yet in the last days but this time, since everything is basically done for me, the graduation on the 17th has totally occupied my mind. I can just think of the preparations that I have to make like the billeting for my visitors, the preparations of my family going up. The attendance on the different activities lined up for us and many other things. I am also beginning to be very sentimental about everything that happens to me from point on as a cadet. Even now that I am here in Manila for the Corps Magazine's Graduation issue, I can just think of the so many things that I should be doing in preparation for my graduation. As you can see, my blog entries are not the usual ones as these are just thoughts that come to my head as I count the days...
Forgive me for being the blogger that I am these days, my mind is still not into the blogging world as I am being distracted by many other things...
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Graduation jitters
I just finished my last Final Exam. That would be the last academic work that I will be doing as a cadet, I can't believe that it was actually the last... the last after four years.
These, days the feeling is more of nostalgia and fear. Although I am really really excited to graduate, the feeling is very difficult considering that this institution has somehow changed the kind of person that I am. With this blog as my witness, I could say that I am a better person and PMA did nurture me to be a better person that I first entered here. I also fear the fact that I am about to go into the unknown world of being a soldier in the actual playing field. The reality is already settling in but the uncertainty is there and the fear is somehow coupling itself with the excitement I am feeling as the graduation nears. Somehow I could say now that PMA is not that very different to any other learning institutions. Although most people will see us marching around in our uniforms and all, we actually feel the very same things that everybody feels when they mature, they grow up and of course when they graduate. The feeling becomes more glaring when we listen to the perception of people about us and the expectations that they have set... the great things that people are relying on us to do. The greater feeling that I have now is the feeling of being humbled by what I am expected to be outside the Academy compared to the person that I can offer. I am humbled because I am beginning to understand why I will have to believe in myself and have faith in God as I embrace my role for my people. Yes, I am sounding very ideal, very promising but then that is the reality of why we are being trained at the country's premier military institution in the first place. I guess the point I am driving at is that the country's money did not go to waste. Come March 17 the 223 members of my class will graduate and will let history judge us. I hope that you pray for us....
Cheers to the many men and women who have in one way or another assisted in the development of the cadets who will soon become young lieutenants and ensigns of the armed forces.
As we say here.... Para sa bayan... Thank you everyone...
These, days the feeling is more of nostalgia and fear. Although I am really really excited to graduate, the feeling is very difficult considering that this institution has somehow changed the kind of person that I am. With this blog as my witness, I could say that I am a better person and PMA did nurture me to be a better person that I first entered here. I also fear the fact that I am about to go into the unknown world of being a soldier in the actual playing field. The reality is already settling in but the uncertainty is there and the fear is somehow coupling itself with the excitement I am feeling as the graduation nears. Somehow I could say now that PMA is not that very different to any other learning institutions. Although most people will see us marching around in our uniforms and all, we actually feel the very same things that everybody feels when they mature, they grow up and of course when they graduate. The feeling becomes more glaring when we listen to the perception of people about us and the expectations that they have set... the great things that people are relying on us to do. The greater feeling that I have now is the feeling of being humbled by what I am expected to be outside the Academy compared to the person that I can offer. I am humbled because I am beginning to understand why I will have to believe in myself and have faith in God as I embrace my role for my people. Yes, I am sounding very ideal, very promising but then that is the reality of why we are being trained at the country's premier military institution in the first place. I guess the point I am driving at is that the country's money did not go to waste. Come March 17 the 223 members of my class will graduate and will let history judge us. I hope that you pray for us....
Cheers to the many men and women who have in one way or another assisted in the development of the cadets who will soon become young lieutenants and ensigns of the armed forces.
As we say here.... Para sa bayan... Thank you everyone...
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Ending the diaries
I realized that this blog is coming to an end. I mean not in the literal sense but some kind of an end to a chapter and a beginning of another one. In less than a month, I will have to end my diaries from the Melchor Hall and begin blogging outside of the Academy. I can't believe how time flies so fast. Imagine I have blogged a total of at least 5 years. Meaning, 5 years of my life is in cyberspace.
The first Ang Munting Bukayo appeared sometime in 2003. I did not know blogging then and I was plainly writing my thoughts and publish it in the web. I did not plan on doing it continuously and just enjoyed writing. In April 2004, I stopped blogging to devote my attention into coming back to PMA as a plebe. Through, a project in an IT subject, I resurrected this blog in January 2005 and had it hosted at blogspot ever since. I also attached the phrase: "Diaries from Melchor Hall" to mean that the blogs were written while I was a cadet. Again, I just kept on writing. I realized now that my blog has become somewhat of a diary of how one person copes up with cadetship and training inside the country's premier military institution. Every now and then, I read my previous blogs and feel that my life has been so exciting and rewarding in my own right. I guess the best teachers in our life are our experiences and the way we handle it.
Today, marks the last remaining days of "my diaries from Melchor Hall." Whether I like it or not, I will have to move on and embrace my incoming role as an officer in the Armed Forces. I do not think that I can stop blogging as of this time. I am still exploring what to do next once this blog ends. For sure, I will keep on writing.
To those who kept on coming back to this blog, I hope I have done you a little good by sharing my life in the same way that writing it has been very fulfilling. You can view the whole blog through the archives below.
The first Ang Munting Bukayo appeared sometime in 2003. I did not know blogging then and I was plainly writing my thoughts and publish it in the web. I did not plan on doing it continuously and just enjoyed writing. In April 2004, I stopped blogging to devote my attention into coming back to PMA as a plebe. Through, a project in an IT subject, I resurrected this blog in January 2005 and had it hosted at blogspot ever since. I also attached the phrase: "Diaries from Melchor Hall" to mean that the blogs were written while I was a cadet. Again, I just kept on writing. I realized now that my blog has become somewhat of a diary of how one person copes up with cadetship and training inside the country's premier military institution. Every now and then, I read my previous blogs and feel that my life has been so exciting and rewarding in my own right. I guess the best teachers in our life are our experiences and the way we handle it.
Today, marks the last remaining days of "my diaries from Melchor Hall." Whether I like it or not, I will have to move on and embrace my incoming role as an officer in the Armed Forces. I do not think that I can stop blogging as of this time. I am still exploring what to do next once this blog ends. For sure, I will keep on writing.
To those who kept on coming back to this blog, I hope I have done you a little good by sharing my life in the same way that writing it has been very fulfilling. You can view the whole blog through the archives below.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Why I like Obama to get the Democrat Nomination?
I really do not write much about political issues in this blog. Not that I do not have a clue of these issues but I feel safer not writing about these things as I am a member of the Armed Forces and there are certain restrictions on how I should express my opinions especially on anything political. But then again, I think I am the first person that should have a concern on our political affairs. So for this blog I will write something political without necessarily compromising my being a member of the Armed Forces.I have been following the news lately. Not because I am so interested with the brouhaha that is clouding our political arena, but more particularly, because I am so interested on who gets to become the Presidential Candidate of the Democrats in the US elections. In this entry, I will explain why I am giving attention to what is happening in the United States right now. In one end of this electoral contest is a wife of a former president and probably the first woman to reach this far in the race. On the other, is an African-American, whose popularity is so amazing in a country that almost went to civil war because of racial discrimation 40 years ago. I try myself to update with what is happening, reading facts about the candidates but the real reason why I can't get myself to ignore what is happening is the fact that I feel that I am witnessing a major change in the maturity of how America is holding its electoral process. I feel that this maturity is something that we Filipinos can learn from.
Last summer, I went on an On the job training in the different Infantry Batallions in Central Luzon. Going there, I had to pass through Pampanga, and I was so amazed reading all the good things people put up in front of their houses in support of their now-governor Panlilio. Again, I do not know much of the credentials of this priest but coming to think of it, a province actually voted for a priest who had no Political claims before he ran for office should tell us that something very good is happening in the maturity of these people. In the next months that we were a witness to, it seems to me that the Kapampangans were correct. Somehow, I pray that this will start a fire in the political consciousness of our people.
Being here in the Academy, many of the issues I read in the news can be confusing. Firstly, because I do not have all the time to really read all the details about certain issues leaving some holes when I try to digest the facts about it. And secondly, because I am not with the people to actually experience and get a good grasp of how these issues affect my countrymen in general. But then, in here, I am bombarded with subjects of nationalism, love of country and many other virtues that, in my young mind, to give up on this country is like committing a deadly sin deliberately. And so, every now and then, news that mark maturity and improvement delight in a way that I can not imagine. I am delighted because the society that I will be serving in a few days time is showing hope. I am delighted because there is hope for my people.
Now, with all the things that we find in our news right now, one can be distracted with the many revelations (or lies) that are thrown by one party to another. People complain about why so and so is like this and like that. But I would like to think that although some of the news that we see or read may not be that promising, the people on which this consciousness is being delivered are becoming mature in choosing what to believe in and realizing that their role is important in our democracy. I believe that we are in a period where the Filipinos are more discerning and more nationalistic. In some distant future, I am confident that we will become a better nation and everything that we hate about this country will just be remembered as nightmares of the past.
I like Obama to get the nomination (and hopefully become president) because in the history of the United States, this seemed to be impossible yet democracy is making it possible. I do not have a clue on how different he is in terms of policy with any other candidates but I know that if he wins, it will be setting a benchmark that I hope our country will emulate.
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