LOVE IS A WAR

We are all in a battle, amidst the time and space, although it is not the battle we commonly think of.

Sun Tzu is a great strategist, tactician philosopher and military general. He wrote one of the greatest book in history - THE ART OF WAR. It is a compilation of many strategies devoted in the field of warfare. Little did people know, this book also applies on the complex world of Love.

風林火山 or Furinkazan literally means Wind, Forest, Fire and Mountain. It is the popular version of the battle standard used by the Sengoku period leader Shingen Takeda. The banner he used during his time quotes the four phrases from Sun Tzu's Art of War.

A passage of the books states the following:

"Be as swift as the wind,
 Be as silent as the forest,
 Be as fierce as fire and
 Be as unshakable as the mountain."

Literally speaking, it sounds as if it is about warfare -  a war towards death but as we repeat it, we can think of other instances where this can be applied. The tone also changes as we think that they are scenarios which exhibits the words of the passages.

BE AS SWIFT AS THE WIND - in Love, sometimes, we need to hurry. We need to show affection. Other may come first and you'll be left and instantly lose that game. Sometimes, to fight for Love, it requires the eradication of our shame and patience and suggests we increase our courage in a more frank manner.

BE SILENT AS THE FOREST - this may suggest that we should move quietly or maybe also, we should become patient. Patiently move towards Love. It may look like it negates the Wind adage at the first line but truthfully, it just compliments it. We can say that the two comes with each other. There are times that we need to be frank and times when we need to stay put for awhile.

BE AS FIERCE AS THE FIRE - Fire beats fire more than water. This time around, courage requires more exposure. Disregarding shame and saying directly what you feel may be the start of putting up courage.

BE AS UNSHAKABLE AS THE MOUNTAIN - Any form of hindrance shall bow down on you. You bombard every single one which comes your way trying to put you down, discouraging you from reaching your goal. You put on your mindset that nothing beats you because you are already invincible.

To prove that this passage summarizing the art of warfare is also quoting Love, let me give you some quotes from other literature which tells that Love is also a War.

"I've fought so many wars in my time. Some I've fought for land, some for power, some for glory. I suppose fighting for love makes more sense than all the rest." ~ King Priam (Troy, 2004)

and...

"Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up." ~ James A. Baldwin

We are all part of an unseen battle called Love.

A SIMPLE ONE CENT ONLY

If you are in a relationship with someone, always remind yourself that it is not for having title or label, satisfying oneself solely for earthly pleasure or having trial and experiment for yourself until you think you are mature enough for the real thing. Don't waste time and feelings. They are meant to be cherished.

just found this on my pic files. forgot the source.

Reduce Reuse Recycle Read books to teach you how [Nature]

source: Youtube.com

It has been a necessity for humanity to reverse everything they have done to their own planet. Due to the advancement of technologies, its effects has also increased. The most evident effect of urbanization if the wide range invasion of the greenhouse gases. The world has been, needless to say, destroyed so here are some ways to reduce the damage done.

1. Reduce Waste
 The more waste produced, the more we need to know where to dump or how to eradicate it. It is either we dump it in a garbage sites.Methane gases are produced in dump sites, anyway. Other way is to incinerate. Of course, we know what happens in an incinerator. Both shall be creating gases which will contribute to the accumulating heat on our ozone layer.

2. Use less heat and technology
 The more we rely to technology, the more heat is created. Since humans started relying to technology that requires heat and releases heat in the 1850's, earth has become warmer.

3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
 Reduce waste, as I've said earlier but also we must couple it with reusing things and recycling stuffs. We are creative beings so it is not really that hard to imagine what we can make from junks that most people consider useless. We must not leave more litter. The earth cannot always swallow and disintegrate them. Some takes hundreds of years before they are totally decomposed.


4. Simply Plant Trees

source: redbubble.com

 Nothing has been much simpler to eradicate the accumulating heat than planting trees. We all know the stuff we learned from Elementary Science that plants reduces and consumes carbon dioxide and releases oxygen which is good for us, human beings. Oxygen helps our world become cooler.

Let's just say that the more heat the earth's atmosphere have, the more there is a tendency to have floods and typhoons. The polar ice caps and permafrost will melt and lands will be flooded. Due to the everchanging weather, climate will also become unusual and the shifting patterns shall have drastic changes. The supplies for human necessity will decrease and there will become inadequacy. People will struggle for more demands and there will be war and looting.

I know I sound quite biblical and prophetic but science proves it is true. Let us not let other humans degrade our own home. There is only one planet Earth.

COMING SOON [Politics]

The Boss thingy going on with President Aquino is quite old and rusty. Most filipinos are actually tired of believing that his proclaimed "Tuwid na Daan" would happen. We might as well call it "Gasgas na sa pandinig" the term "Kayo ang boss ko!".

We all have seen the dramas in Aquino's political world and it is evident that he had done measures against the scums that lingers in the society. He had done such a drastic move bombarding the issues and persons involved in the Pork Barrel Scam but everything turned into a pause when his name came up. Well, I am not surprise. Every politicians, once good, becomes dark as they rule. They all have dirty secrets.

This time around we shall be seeing another tale of unprecedented and astutely shocking circumstances in the history of Philippine Politics and Governance. Another "coming soon" sign in our heads pops up as we heard about the suggestion of another six-year term for his administration. Wait. We shall review a little. In the Philippine Constitution, any president elected are only given one six-year term. It would be deemed unconstitutional if he shall continue with this move on term extension.

He was clearly implying that he himself is in favor. Yes, we can't be certain of what surprise he is going to do but if something is unconstitutional, it should not be done. Further pushing this suggestion into action is the same as having dictatorial tendencies.

Well, we only have one safe thing to do now. Watch how the curtains shall be unfolded in this big screen movie called "Political Reality".

COMPOSE POEMS

I searched for two poems and analyzed the rhyming scheme and metrical pattern then I challenged myself making poems using the same scheme and patterns.

Emily Dickinson is an american poet who became popular post-humously because of her poems that mostly discusses about flowers and gardens, confessions on life and love, morbidity or death, exploration and gospel. But despite those prevailing themes, one that is unique on Dickinson's work is the use of iambic pentameter pattern.

This is one of her poems bearing the iambic pentameter.

There is no frigate like a Book

To take us lands away

Nor any coursers like a Page

Of prancing Poetry.

This Traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of Toll -

How frugal is the Chariot

That bears a Human soul.

I made my own poem using the same iambic pentameter pattern.

Life is so Great and you should know

Not to cry and cast away

Life is there so find it now

To some girl in the town.

This challenge may each one face

No prejudice among all

How cheap a man so coward

Not facing his own Fate.

Robert Frost is also an american poet whose main theme is his prolific poems are rural life and nature. In his poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay", he used rhyming couplet schemes in iambic trimeter pattern.

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

I tried to follow his schemes and pattern.

Her face so soft, so great,

Her beauty great to rate

I want to dance with her

But she want me never.

My love for her then fades

Wasted all efforts made.

Care not to ever try

So now I bid goodbye.

MY ROLE IN THE NATION-BUILDING

I am an education student and I believe that to educate is to become a person that can contribute to progress.  It is a circular process that improves through time. I believe that the responsibility of educators is to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in academic, business and personal arenas. My teaching principle is based on the belief that education is a solution to many social problems. Education gives the materials needed to make proper decisions, synthesize concepts, and critically evaluate significant issues and enjoy life. Pursuing knowledge and improving my skills as an educator are among my highest priorities.

As an aspiring educator, I will strive to encourage excellence in my students and myself. I feel that I can encourage students to seek new knowledge and explore their own ideas by an enthusiastic presentation of both what is and what is not known about subjects. When appropriate, the classroom setting should be expanded to include experience in the field.

In my interaction with students, I will strive always to be respectful, especially when dealing with differed opinions that may arise as product of scientific and rational thinking. I want my students to learn to think critically, not merely to accept my ideas and opinions; my drive to pursue higher education was due  to several teachers who inspired catalyst on other people's conscience.

As a youth- a young adult, striving to become a professional someday, I have proven myself to be a good follower and a leader. I was once a Supreme Student Government Officer, a writer, and now I am an education student aspiring to become a teacher someday. What I have dreamt is to share knowledge to young generations. I want to provide them the knowledge that they need in order to serve their purpose in life. I want to leave something good in their hearts that would encourage them to do the same to others. I want to leave a great mark in their lives that someone in their life had encourage them to make a change in their lives and to make a difference to others.

I can never be much happier than to give and contribute what I can for the betterment of our country. I want to create linkages that would connect one to another in order to strengthen the bonds of filipino brothers and sisters. I want to be part of the bridge that we use present progress. I want to be part of those people who not only connect lives but also fulfill dreams that others have long been awaiting.

Like creating a house, I want to be one of the bricks used to create it. I want to be one of those that is used to build a strong foundation.  I’ll gladly accept the responsibility of giving aid to others. I believe that volunteer work is a key to nation-building. Showing love to others in many ways we can is giving them encouragement to perform the same, as well. Nothing beats the cliché “ The More, The Merrier”. The more people that hold hands together, the stronger the bond, the greater success waits.

THERE IS HOPE FOR OUR GREAT NATION

With everything that;s happening, there is no more hope for the Philippines. Agree or Disagree?

Have you ever tried to ask a displeased Filipino about why would they love to leave the country and they will absolutely blabber so many bad things about Philippines. They’ll say that this country has none while the other has one. They’ll say that the other country has better this and that. Everything there is better compared to what we have. We can’t blame them for belittling our country but try to ask them again if they have done their purpose as a Filipino citizen. I’m sure they can’t say anything that is really accountable for change.

Well, there is hope. Only the dumbest and hopeless person would say that there is no more hope. Being pessimistic is not an answer. It is actually an act of proving defeat. With everything that’s happening like the frigging Pork Barrel Scam, the shambling educational system that still faces the same problems over the years like no classrooms, less books, the creepy look at the streets populated by goons and prostitutes, the illegal settlements, the clogged canals and polluted air and masses of waters like the rivers, the monopolization of greedy companies and, of course, the crazy colonial mentality of the filipinos themselves, there is still hope.

Every issue our country faces is just a challenge to us. We know we are in a third world country but that doesn’t mean that hope does not exist anymore. The Philippines has long been besieged by problems of all sorts for decades and it still stands. It has just proven that it can pave its way against hindrances.

Before we look at the negative side, why don’t we try to reflect the unseen side of the country? Can anyone deny the fact that we are rich in natural resources? Can anyone disprove the high literacy rating of our country? No one can answer those questions.  Our country already has what it needs to improve but we know for sure that something is still lacking. Something’s needs to be done.

Poor social services, poor educational system, poor, poor, poor, poor everywhere. If one would look in that angle, our country will be stagnant on where it is right now. Did it help when one looked at our country in a miserable side? It’s a big No. We are just looking at the wrong side of the mirror.

The decayed system is what pulls us back from progress. Our beloved country is still in perplexity because of the foul stench from people who never did a good thing for our country. Take it from the crooks that had been well-educated in prestigious universities, garnered the title of being honorable and having the privilege to rule the country yet they abuse the power vested to them for their own benefit. Analyzing it, what difference do people who only complain and do nothing have from these corrupt pigs? None, both of them did nothing to improve the lives of their own co-citizens.

We can overcome all these downturns if we have Love. That is all there is to it. Love is the key. It comes in many forms. We just need to open the hearts of people, spread them by showing it. We can unite and solidify the spirits of filipinos as one. We can touch the hearts of others.

Trusts can be restored. Transparency, equality, peace, freedom, unity can all be achieved again. We are once called as a great and rich nation. We can still retrieved that long lost title of ours. We have the work force to bring it back.

We should remember that we have done people power many times before and we can still do it again. We can still awake the hero inside every citizen. We are formidable if we combine our wisdom and determination. We are invincible if we mix our efforts and aspirations. If we are dedicated enough to create change, we can reach progress.

I never did lose hope for my country. I still dream of something better to happen. If one will say that there is no more hope, I’ll lend him my hand and say, “Come with me and I’ll show you that there is”.  Even in the day, stars are there in the sky, we can’t see it but we know it’s there. Just like hope, we just need to believe and prove that there is. We are incapable? I think not.