MOMMY!!!

How I call you when I was little,

For you knew that I was very brittle.

Calling you for a task I cannot do,

And there you came to do so.

When you heard my little cries,

Running you was to give me a

sweet lullaby.

And when I stop to take a rest,

You did not leave me

But rather gave me much caress.

And now that I have left our loving abode,

to follow His voice on this very road.

I still remember you very ways of loving and caring for me.

And the only words I can say for you,

Thank you and I love you, Mom.

A Reflection

“A requirement turned ENRICHMENT”

Watching movie this Saturday never came to my mind because of so many requirements that I have to do, so during that day, I planned already which I have to do first among my list, and I saw my requirement at World Folklore, our class with Kuya Juvelan. And I have decided to do it first. After our lunch this day, I saw written on the board these words, “VTR: Freedom Writers, Highly Recommended”, and below it was these, “3^rd year Creative Writing students are required to watch.” Seeing those words, my plans for this day were shattered and adjusted. I felt bad by it but I said to myself, “its alright changes do come.” So upon letting it happen, letting those changes goes, questions streamed into my mind such as, what kind of movie is that? Who were the characters? What’s the story all about? Is it related to our subject?

Seeing the title, it gave me a hint that its all about writers and writing, but what kind of writers? I told to myself. And that’s my last question for that movie.

VTR (movie watching term in the seminary) time came and we went to Tanghalan (seminary’s all purpose hall). I placed myself behind the crowd, seating near Enzo, Whil and Del. When everyone’s settled, we immediately started the film. And I focused on seeing it.

The film started with chaotic scenes such us guns shooting, flames and smokes. Chaos, real chaos was depicted at the start of the film. And it was followed by a job scene interview. And from there the story pf the film started to flow.

The film was all about a new hired English teacher who has a class filled that all her students were gang members. So during the start of her classes, chaos always happens among her students. Seeing that, she started breaking the groups in her class and challenged her self to make her students united, and to know her students, these guys outside the classroom. And one day, she started giving off journals to her students and instructing them to just write, write everything that they want to write about. And asking them to put it in a cabinet if they want it to be read by her. At the beginning it hard for her and the students, but one night when she checked the cabinet all of her students’ journals were there, and seeing them, she started reading it one by one. Through these journals, she came to know them one by one for they write more about themselves and they opened their selves to her (I really like how they depict that part of the movie while she was reading each journal, as if they were talking to her). And through this method, she was able to capture the hearts of her students until they developed much affection to her and even to the point that they even don’t want to have another English teacher besides her.

The film, for me, was really superb. The story was awesome, as it focused on the teacher-students relationship and how the students became neophyte writers. I really admire the teacher as she courageously face this kind of students and harnessing them to become better and turning them into FREEDOM WRITERS.

I was able to relate on the story as I find myself writing poems and prose right now. Some maybe requirements but most of them were my enrichments.

After the film, I said to my self, I also was a FREEDOM WRITER – writing freely to express myself, to bring out that creative being inside of me. And as I write, I want it be read by those people concern or just want to know about me, just like the students did.

An Interview to a friend

The Voice that calls within…

Seminary is a place where future clergies are formed. This is place for discerning God’s call. It is house for some people. And for some it is a piece of heaven here on earth. But why some people enter the seminary? This is a common question for all. So to have an answer to that question and some other questions, I interviewed a seminarian from Don Bosco College Seminary Canlubang.

Our interviewee has graduated from Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati. He is a former Don Bosco Youth Center member in the same school. He is fond of playing basketball, soccer and mostly billiards. He was a former soccer player of Don Bosco Technical Institute. He is now in the seminary as a junior seminarian. And he is Ryan Lorenzo Singson.

I interviewed him about his life in the seminary and asked some questions about it. I asked him, “Why did you enter the seminary?” He answered it with a smile on his face and said, “I believe that I entered the seminary for a purpose, but for some the reason is not acceptable.” He stopped and added, “Like a child, I’m here to fulfill my dreams. A dream to be a superhero; to save souls.” Then I asked him about his motivation his to enter the seminary. He said that at first, he just want to fulfill his dreams but realizing it’s not enough and not accepted by some. He continued to enter the seminary. Now he is more motivated by the companionship of the other seminarians because even though there were hardships, he was able to surpass it with the aid of his batch mate and fellow seminarians. After that question, I asked him, “Are you decided to finish this journey?” Then he thinks and answered, “No, by now I’m not decided, that’s why I’m here to discern. But for me, I would really like to finish this journey of priesthood.” My next question, “how do you find the seminary?” He answered it with gladness and then told me that it was great, he enjoyed in there even if there are lot of hardships, he like in the seminary. Then I ended my interview with this question, “What is your message for those who want to enter the seminary?” He think of it silently and said,” Follow your dreams, listen to what your heart says.” Then quoted a line from a song saying, “Follow the voice that calls within…” And concluded by these words,” The only thing that matter is following your heart and eventually you’ll get it right.” With that we I end the interview.

It is really good to know what make a person decide to enter the seminary. And I hope with those answers of that seminarian, you were inspired. And then someday, you are also sharing those words to other person. Or might be answering those question with a great smile in your heart.

As silence fills me

It was the most silent part of my life,

As my family and I traveled the road

that leads to a new site.

With my things placed in such bags,

And questioning my self,

“What’s with our stillness?”

My mom was quite.

My dad stares at the road serenely,

And me, at the back of the car,

filled with questions and silence.

I do not know why,

I do not know what.

Only one thing I knew and felt

this will be regretful.

As silence filled the car,

we continued this journey,

ending up in front of a wide gate,

through a place surrounded by walls.

And passing through this gate we did,

as new faces went to meet us and greet.

Took and carried my belongings

to lead me into my new dwelling.

Silence was still in me as I explore this very place,

But a word shattered that ear-breaking stillness,

and brought me much sadness.

“Goodbye”, my mom uttered

as tears fell from her weary eyes,

while giving an embrace as sweet as her lullaby,

for now I take the seminary as my new life,

and taking it entails a sweet GOODBYE.

A precious gift

A precious gift I have received,

from someone who has many to give.

For this gift I have is not just a thing,

but rather a spiritual bliss.

It was a gift I doubted to receive,

for I know it will take everything what I’ve live,

and hardships and trials are entailed with it.

But this gift was not a surprise,

For it was kept in our treasure chest.

As it was kept,

Years I take to give its first breath.

Free at last,

To take the seminary as its path.

For this gift I have take was the vocation of mine,

which was my reason at this very time.

And through God’s invitation,

Seminary, I found as my destination.

Now, it’s been 3 years since I have this gift,

Praying out to God is the strength for it.

For this was my very precious gift

I have received.

He calls...

A little lad I was,

and serving at the Mass was my favorite task.

Never thinking of my future was,

just letting the work of His mighty hands.

As I grew and continue this task,

God’s mighty hands were still at its work

on my life.

But one day,

a shift He made in my life,

calling me to follow His very path.

And upon responding to his call,

I find myself with I the seminary walls.

He calls.

I respond.

And in this place I was fond.

Now thanking Him for His guiding hands,

That made me chose this rightful path.

The end

Light shines out
in a huge white room,
filled with cries and murmurs
of the people around my sight.

In my front,
lamenting people were gathered,
encircling a white-colored
casket.

So I stood to see
who's inside?
I saw my grandma
asleep so tight.

I asked my mom,
"Is she dead?"
She did not utter
but nod her head.

Seeing this,
I stopped for a while.
Then tears flowed
from my eyes,
telling myself,
"Death has put my grandma
into the end."