Music and ME
Sa taglay mong lakas, di ka matitinag
Sa pagnanais mong maibahagi ang saya
At kapangyarihang taglay ng musika,
Di ka maliligaw. Kung alam mo kung
Para saan at kanino ang musika mong taglay
— Kuya Mel
When I was a boy in the midst of being a big brother, I was learning how to dance. I listen to the music and try to jump around dancing, but my feet keep tangling just as my life became tangled with another boy which is my brother. I cannot follow the beat of the steps just as I cannot follow and understand the sacrifices I have to give for him. The responsibility that was given to me was just like the dance I was making, for it couldn’t be called a dance, it was unacceptable for me. Just when I was just a boy, I was a brother to no one and a dancer to no tune.
I gave up understanding the whims of a child but not seeing the whims I make was just like the first. I gave up dancing and turned to singing. In the days of my life when speech and communication in our home is more subtle than the chit chat of mice, I tried to reach those notes with my voice. The higher the note the louder it got but with no luck, it went from bad to worse. As I try to recall, I’ve hit more flat and unnecessary notes than I’ve said my please and thanks. I’ve tried more to reach higher notes than I’ve tried to say I love you to Mom and Dad. With my throat now dry and voiceless, I refrained from singing; maybe there is still something else.
Fitting into music was just not for me. Pretending that I love it wasn’t even close. Why fit in when I can make my own. I picked up a guitar and tried so hard to play it. As those strings embedded blisters and calluses on my fingertips, I learned the value of hard work, as I practiced my chords on a ruler (for I have no guitar) I learned the lesson of contentment. I practiced to be better before I bragged a little, I learned how to be patient, I was applauded for the first time and I learned how to appreciate and be appreciated. This was the music for me… the music that I will love and I will wield.
Now I’m in college and I went back home to take a look. I looked at the music I thought I didn’t fit into; I looked at the things I ran away from. Turning on the music on the radio, I followed the beat and took a few steps, I took actions on my responsibilities as a brother and as a son and I learned how to dance. I opened up my voice to the family and God, we became closer than ever, and I learned how to sing. This was the music I thought I could never love bur here it is, Music and life loving me more than I loved it.
As a new verse in my life unfolds, I understand my music more. It’s not just the piece that people shower with applause, but the way I plotted every note just as I learned every value in life I needed to know, the way I danced to the beat just as to follow my responsibilities, and the way I voiced out the way I sing those songs. The notes, the beat, the voice, it all added up to a piece. That was me, I know now why I am here, and I know now why my music plays.
AGAPE: Her Gift of Acknowledgement
This should have been written a lot earlier but after some months of delay, it’s done already.
It was summer then and I was alone in the studio waiting for the new students to come and have their pictures taken. This was the least fun part of my work as a student s assistant in the Information technology Center for I have to sit in that little room the whole day until someone arrives. After a few minutes or so, I’m back to talking to myself and listening to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 over and over again, it’s the only music installed on the PC I am operating.
I decided to clean up a little when I found a book. I saw that book a few weeks earlier in the office of the author herself. I found out that it was a Biography and I was kind of hesitant to open the book then because after all, it was her office and I was just there to fix her printer. So seeing the chance to satisfy my curiosity, I browsed through the pages.
Written in glossy paper, I presumed that there were only a few copies of that book, looking at the graphics on the cover, made me think of a regular book with a regular content. I opened it and saw pictures, after a few minutes of browsing something caught my attention… believe it or not, after catching it, it failed to let it go.
"Judging a book by it's cover really pays."
Aside from being a biography, it was also a love story like no other, a love story bound by restrictions and hindrances that the weak of heart dare not to cross. The words I read become realistic scenes at the back of my head as I read along. This was one story different from the others and definitely she was one person different from whom I first knew. From the school personnel who she used to be, calling for help after work hours in Saturdays, she became a favorite personality of mine. From her experiences I was touched, the controversies I was intrigued, her search for herself made me wonder if there are things left to do for her. Yet at the back of all those she still is a daughter to a loving mother and a mother herself to her son.
Finishing the book, I found out that it was morning already. I lipped the book in my bag and hit the bunkers but the excitement is still there. I want to talk to her, ask questions, ask for more stories but how.
A year later I found her on a social network in the internet, added her up and just waited for an opportunity to do some interview. A week later she was online and we were able to have a really short conversation.
I told her my feedback on her book, that I was touched and all but her comments were far more touching. After that she had to go and the next week after she arrived in the Philippines. I saw her on the corridor, greeted her the way I used to and was shocked to know that she remembers me. It was an enlightening experience for me, to be acknowledged like that.
It was nice finally seeing her and meeting her for the first time, even though we have always seen and met each other before.
Up to now, I’m still hoping for that long conversation.
Thesis Mode
There will come a time in every fourth year student in our course that he/she will go in the battle field against three notorious panelists with only documents and an output system as arsenals. Yup, this is Thesis Defense, and we are now running here and there just to finalize our strategy to win this war.
The first battle already began and the three of us were stunned in answering the panel’s questions, even so, we defended our problem and documents with flying colors. We were the first one out that battleground and we did not know what to expect. Throwing them English explanations for our problem was the hardest part… loosing ammunition in speaking English is the worst dead end one can ever encounter.
The battle went on with the other groups and in my opinions, me and my group mates were victors. And we wish the others the same victory and glory we reached.
The battle has ended, still there is a war we have to win… next stop, CMS Mode.
___________________________________________________________
HRTDOTNET: AN ONLINE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
FOR THE HEART PUBLICATION
Omar Joseph Luces | Ralph Russel Rafael | Lubert Roxas
Sa Riles
Naglalakad ako sa riles na katapat ng aming bahay, kauulan lamang kaya amoy na amoy ang mga basang uray at damo sa mga taniman ng gulay. Maya maya ay tumambad sa akin ang mukha ng pamilyar na mukha ng isang dalaga, maputi, nakangiti, at ako’y tinatawag. Kilala ko sya sahil nakasama ko sya sa opisina, matagal tagal na rin bago ulit kami nagkita at sa sobrang kasabikan a niyakap ko sya at binati. Inimbitahan ko sya sa aming bahay at inalok ng makakain, sya at ang kanyang kasamang dalaga rin. Buong araw kaming nag kwentuhan kasama ng aking pamilya at napakasaya talaga ng aming muling pagkikita.
Nang humupa ang tawanan ay akin syang tinanong, aalis ka pa ba? ang ngiti sa kanyang mukha, hindi man nabura ay nagpahiwatig pa rin ng kalungkutan.
“Kailangan ko pang mag lakbay, marami pa akong dapat gawin at tapusin, nagpaalam lang ako sa iyo.”
Matapos ang mga katagang iyon, siya ay nag ayos, tinawag ang kanyang kasama at nagsimula nang lumakad sa riles kung saan ko siya muling nakita.
itutuloy…
palab0y.wordpress.com 