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.

WHY SHOULD THE FILIPINO YOUTH VOLUNTEER?

Why? Do we really need to answer this question? Is it really a pre-requisite? It is mandated, not just by God, not just by the laws of man, but by the heart inside us. We should volunteer!

If you will still insist that I should answer the question, well, I might just have to say that Filipino youth should volunteer for it spreads the spirit of Nationalism and Hope. Hope that a person can see through aiding each other – in which they will realize that we can uplift lives just by giving a hand.

Let’s ask ourselves, what change can it create by having volunteerism? Look around us. What do we see? What do we hear? Poverty is everywhere. No matter what direction we look, there is a presence of that grotesque figure of the society. Nude malnourished kids roaming around the streets of Manila to beg as if they are playing  “patintero” with Death and living out their entire young lives in the putrid estuaries beside the bridges. Undeniably, pollution exists. It is everywhere. Consuming vast areas and spreading diseases to succumb lives.  Corruption. Oh, yes, corruption. It is the worst enemy of the nation. It is the scum of the society. It is a cancer that proliferates so fast. It rules the government making it look as if the senate and congress are the biggest criminal syndicate in the country.

I hate myself when I speak foul of my own country but it’s the truth –the ugly truth. There are many more of that for me to say but I don’t want my readers to puke because of the horrifying and gory tale I have in my mind while reading my work so I have decided not to write it anymore.

Now, having known of some of the greatest problems our country is facing, can change be possible? Of course, it is. No matter what kind of struggle there is, change is inevitable and what we only need is a force that can push us to move forward and that force is Bayanihan.

We should remember that our country is the mother of People Power and that its roots are instilled deeply in the hearts of the filipinos. Through volunteerism in 1986, during the EDSA revolution, we have defeated the dictating ruler. We have proven that we, filipinos, can be as solid as rock. Again, it happened in EDSA DOS and also, EDSA TRES and it can still happen.

Volunteer work is the physical form of Hope, Nationalism, social responsibility and awareness. By doing so, we can prove that change can happen anytime we want it. As youths, we are the catalysts that bring progress. Unity in heart creates hopes and success. We are the formidable force that the society needs in order to ignite freedom and peace in the lives of our fellow countrymen.

Poverty, Pollution, Corruption, Unemployment, Illiteracy are problems that still beset Filipinos. It is an imperative – a necessity – for us to bring down these issues. In order to achieve it, we must first look at them as challenges – obstacles which are also aimed goals – that we need to set and finish.

This is the goal. We want to bring down the worriment to start the betterment of the nation. Volunteer work encourages others to aid, not only other people, but the nation itself. It helps us take part in the nation-building. By combing talents and skills, we can create a difference. We can create a change. If we can all push one domino, others will follow. We just need to join our hands together and walk toward volunteering. We need to influence others. It’s just a matter of time before we can actually reach what we want.

We should volunteer, not only because it is a pre-requisite as a man, not because it is our duty as Filipino, not only because it creates hopes, encourages change, ignites nationalism but because it is the an act of love that everyone should show.

TELEVISION CAN MANIPULATE [Trend]

            Media is a double-edged sword. It can hurt the opponent and the wielder himself, but of course, why would the wielder let he be hurt? He would use it in his advantage in any possible way no matter what.

source: infiniteunknown.net

We all have seen how Television Media had grown so big in the past 15 years. It bloomed from being a simple Entertainment Industry into a booming Public Service Company. Only a few Filipinos have a set of television and it just used to be a jester to us, making us laugh from sitcom jokes and a simple reminder, informing us about what is happening in the society, no more and no less.

On the contrary, today, Television Media’s presence is very ubiquitous. Whenever you turn your head, there is nobody who doesn’t know and who doesn’t have a television or even a radio. Most of us spend about a third in a day watching and tuning to them. Even children spend more time with media than any other activities. Television Media has dominated every single Filipinos lives. Nobody can deny the effect it has given in our personal perspectives and outlook in life. Believe it or not, it can even dictate you what to believe and what’s not to.

Television Media can also be a manipulator of our minds, if not used properly. Yes, information are important and should be delivered to us but are we even sure of its credibility. It is easy to deliver information but the source can always distort facts into bogus and fabricated stories per se. We all have seen how from an entertainment approach towards a Public Service-Political approach, it developed. Television Media climbed many steps just to reach out people and gain ratings for their shows, whatever the shows were. It gained its own power over us just by providing us entertainment and information because we made it a total necessity and thought that we need them because they can give us freedom of information (which is our right as citizens) that we need.

Do we have a choice? Because they are the most capable of giving thorough and quick response for information-gathering, we will let them do so. But of course, we should be wary and aware of it. We still need to know how much reliability, validity and credibility there is to them. Seek for second opinion on whatever is being spread. Confirm facts so that we will have a straight mindset. Well, their viewers are their power so we should just be wary of what is being disseminated to us. We should remember that 

SORRY, THANK YOU, GOODBYE [Memoir]

This is actually a story written way way back a few years ago but let me just retell this tragic story.

Written on [Saturday, September 22, 2012, 1:56:13 AM]

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"Why is there a person who can't move on? Why do they stay attached in a hopeless emotion? Why do they still let their love and devotion flow for a person who just spilled everything away and broke their virgin hearts? What do those persons possess to keep on loving them even if in reality, there is nothing left for them. Nothing...

...Is it satisfying? Does it bring them blissful feeling to stay holding on to the string where no one is holding on the other end? Do they not think that it is just foolish and ridiculous? Where is their brain? Is it functioning well? What they are doing is illogical. Nonsense. Crazy. Deranged. Outrageously insane. What other reasons do they have? They still love them? But they are not loved anymore! Martyrdom or just being masochist?"

These are the words that I say to my friends when they are at that certain point in a relationship where everything is falling apart and there they are, crying in front of me. They go to me for counsel and I give them a lot of words. Be like this, Not like that, Do this, Avoid doing that and many more. These are "words of wisdom" when it comes to love and relationship and in the end, I can't even apply these principles to myself. It was my turn. Finally, I was put in that situation.

I have spoken so many things yet I can't even use them. In the end, I was the one who was an idiot and hypocrite. I can't stand on my own words. It was true. We cannot always walk our talk. The one who always speak was also the one who's actually weak.

I remember when I first knew her. It was the warm month of June - beginning of a new chapter in life -start of college days. Her name is Ella. She is not really beautiful. You should say that she is rather cute. She's just a small petite girl. Her eyes are big but fits perfectly with her round face. It struck me. She is a living proof of what this certain french painter named Carlotti said. He said that beauty is summation of parts working together in such a way that nothing is needed to be added, taken away, altered or changed. It is her. You won't ask for more because she is already complete.

Actually, I haven't really liked her yet. I already have one whom I have utmost admiration. I already have a crush, idol and love and that is just one person. Wherever I look, she is always the one I see but everything changed. I began liking Ella. I felt I betraying my first love.

Was I played by destiny when this sudden change of heart began?

We became closed friends. We were actually seatmates. Our surnames are consecutively arranged and I was put next to her seat and because we're seatmates, we always talk, have a little chitchat, teasing, pinching crack half-meant jokes and other silly agendas. We always have time to talk. Sometimes, I ask her to massage my tired hands with her soft palms. It was heaven. It's as if we are in our own world - not caring on other people. Just us.

Months had passed and we haven't expected that this certain hi-hello relationship will grow into something bigger - something special. After we spent some time together, creating a world within our tete a tete, talk about the dramas in our lives, exchange of beliefs and ideals, debates on principles and philosophies and sharing our hopes, dreams and aspirations, we thought that what if there is something special that waits for us. Then, it turned to me. She is already part of my dream.

A few months passed and I told her I like her but not in the way one could imagine. You might say that it was improper but this is how it began. 

We were writing scripts for a film project. We were at our friend's house. The three of us were working on it. We were actually just chaperones. The script was really my friend's sole work and we just went with him to kill time after class. My friend was writing the script while Ella and I are resting on a bed chatting and flirting with each other. Since our friend is focused in his work and he can't see what we are doing on the bed because of a thick curtain parting the room, we kissed. We were looking straight at each other. The space between our faces are getting smaller and smaller. As the distance decreases, the heartbeats increase. My hands are tied with hers. I filled the spaces between her fingers as her lips filled my lips and the silence was defeated by the beats from our chests. It lasted passionately. It ended as I kissed her forehead. 

We slept afterwards while the music of Johann Pachelbel plays across the room. Our friend was also tired of working and he eventually slept tightly. Unknown to him, part of the history of their house is a kiss between two strangers.

It was my favorite music back then. Canon by Johann Pachelbel - famous for the korean film, My Sassy Girl. I was in awe realizing that I have found my own sassy girl. The romantic melody of the music made me ask for her hand for a dance. We danced as the tune glides in our ears. I slide her waist in my hand and I wave her in the floor in finishing the sway then suddenly, we kissed again - only this time, everything is much more hyped. I dragged her behind the cabinet to make thing more discreet and not wake our sleeping friend. It gives us more time to spare for this certain bliss our thing brings. I asked, "Is this forever? I hope this does not end".

It was sweet and romantic. Nevertheless, it was also bitter, thinking that everything that undergone were wrong. We are not in a relationship. We stopped as we thought of this as a mistake. Was it really a mistake? I was hoping it was not. All I know is that it wasn't right and wasn't wrong either. I just kissed her on her red cheeks before bidding goodbye. This moment should end for now but I have to make sure that this something special we are feeling should grow.

Days have passed. She ignored my texts. She declined my calls. She prevents herself seeing eye to eye with me but those didn't stop me from reaching her again. It was time to formally court her. I should ask for her hands in a cultured way where a man respectfully woos a woman.

A man strives to gain the trust of a woman. A man seeks for that certain yes to the most important question. I got her yes. I was the happiest person in the world.

 But this doesn't stay too long. The turn of events is yet to come.

With her, I tasted the sweetest things in the world but also with her, the most bitter things are brought. I was about to taste the vile side of love. A bitter end awaits me.

After all those sweet memories shared, those sweet nothings transformed into nothing. Just nothing. Things eventually became paler and paler. The colorful story was turning grayer and grayer and the dark emotions grow. I can't tell what real from fake anymore.

I asked, " Is she getting tired of being with me?" But that's not all, there is more to it. I care not to tell any more details, at least to pay respect to her.

We all know how gossips have certain truth in it. Stories from many people emerge. Chat here, chat there. Story here and there. I don't know what's real and what's not. All I know is that it hurts me. It is hurting me. I can't explain the pain. All I know is that it is much from what I am expecting. The end is not yet the end.

I only had a few romances. She had many. She may have been used to what people think. Being numb might already be mastered by her. She knows how to escape this kind of labyrinth but me? I cannot.

We decided to just end the relationship. This is to at least fulfill the bitter expectation I have of what end could we have. Just a simple ending. Even though it is against the will of my heart, I let her go. I know I can't bring her happiness anymore.

I realized that we are really different. That's the truth. We play different game. We live on different worlds. She wanted to stay in a complicated while I prefer the simple one. I am like the sea. I go back to the shore where I belong. Unlike her, she is a river that flows. She come and go. She just came and gave me a taste of what love can be.

Now, I can really understand my friends. To love is something great. It is our decision and choice if we still want to continue loving and be called a martyr. I just learned to love her so much. So much that it almost killed me. I am proud that I did love her so much. At least, I can say, I did not lack.

I stayed loving her. I stayed for her because I knew she still needs me. Is this obsession? Yes, maybe, I don't know. To the eyes of someone loving, this is just love. Whatever happens, I support her. Whenever she needs me, I am just one call, one text away.

To those person who think and judge that I am a fool. I don't use my brain. I make myself look pathetic. Thank you for your concern. I don't need them.

To those who know the art of letting go, teach me how. I don't know how to escape from this kind of love. Teach me so that I can finally tell her Sorry, Thank You and Goodbye.