"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common that unsuccessful men of talent. Genius will not... the world is full of uneducated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race." -- Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States
A dream, or a goal is like one big jigsaw puzzle. In a jigsaw puzzle, pieces have to be put together, in proper order and formation, to form an expected figure or picture. People who are talented will never feel fulfilled solving a puzzle that will not challenge them at all. This also goes for people of genius. A sense of fulfillment is important because, without it, no dream would have been persisted on in the first place. Therefore, people never dream of being what they can be at the press of a button. They dream dreams that seem unreachable at first, dreams where the end can only be imagined, but not attained unless a great amount of will and painful persistence is exerted; dreams much like jigsaw puzzles.
But why do we fail?
People fail because they do not plan well;they end up losing precious time and before they know it, they're dead.
People fail because they give up.
People fail because they are afraid.
People fail because they do not have the right mindset while trying to achieve their dreams.
People fail because they are distracted.
People fail because they cannot distinguish which piece is which.
People fail because they work for something detrimental to everyone, and therefore they do not feel good working for it, because humans are essentially good.
People fail because they look up to the wrong people (we become the people really look up to).
People fail because they they take a road too often trod on that they feel that they are doing nothing new.
People fail because they end up feeling tired.
People fail because they do not know what to do at certain situations.
People fail because despite all the encouragement, the philosophies, the wisdom, the strength, the bravery, they still choose the wrong way to solve one puzzle.
The only way, however, to solve a puzzle, is to solve it step by step, piece by piece, and pattern by pattern. There is no other way. This is the hard part, since we want things to happen instantly many times. This is also where persistence comes in.
We were born for higher things, things even more challenging than jigsaw puzzles.
However, come to think of it, as children, we had a passion for solving every puzzle we get our hands on. Why do most adults now get tired of puzzles, when as children they were passionate about them? It speaks a lot about how most of us deal with our dreams and goals.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
Paumanhin
Really really sorry to Ala Paredes for that irresponsible and dumb first entry. I erased that entry already and I figured that posting her comment to it would be best. Thanks Ala!
"Mali ka :-) Hindi ko sinabi na gustong-gusto ko umalis ng bansa (may kopya pa ako ng episode na iyon dito, kaya alam kong hindi ko sinabi iyon)
I think I even expressed more than once that I'm a bit wary over leaving the country because I'd like to stay and strike while the iron is hot.
"Sana ay sa pagbalik niya sa Pilipinas ay makita at maranasan niya ang mabuting pagbabago."
Kung nakinig ka din ng mabuti, ang pagbabagong tinutukoy ko ay ang pagbabago ng aking sarili. Hindi ba't sarili ang dapat unang baguhin bago makaranas ng tunay na pagbabago sa bansa?:-)
Wala run akong sinabi na nawalan ako ng pag-asa sa bansa.
"Subalit kapag isa kang mayaman na elitista na huling maaapektuhan ng pagtaas ng presyo ng gas at bilihin, huwag mong gawing dahilan ang pagod sa bansa upang makaalis dito at manirahan sa ibang bansa. Napakakapal ng mukha mo."
1) What makes you think our reasons for leaving are economic?
2) Di rin ba napapagod ang mga "mayayamang elitista" sa korupsyon, coup de etat, at kung ano man pa? Dahil lang ba'y mayaman at elitista ang isang tao ay bulag siya sa mga realidad na ito?
3) Mayayamang elitista pala kami. (Is it because I'm Atenista as you said? ):-p
Tama ka, hindi mo nga kami kilala, at di mo rin kayang malaman ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit kami umalis ng bansa mula sa isang 15 minutong segment ng "Pipol".
Pero sa susunod, makinig ka ng masmabuti. :-)
Alam kong hindi ka galit sa amin. But let me answer your question anyway.Ano ang tinatakasan ko?
A society and culture that will always put me on a pedestal and will never let me grow up and experience what it is like to strive and work hard for something. I was born a member of the "mayayamang elitista" after all. When I feel like I've grown up, then I can contribute something good to my country.
Many of our national heroes spent time abroad (I am not a national hero, but time abroad must've done them good, and I'm hoping the same will happen to me).
Lovingly yours from Australia,
Ala Paredes"
"Mali ka :-) Hindi ko sinabi na gustong-gusto ko umalis ng bansa (may kopya pa ako ng episode na iyon dito, kaya alam kong hindi ko sinabi iyon)
I think I even expressed more than once that I'm a bit wary over leaving the country because I'd like to stay and strike while the iron is hot.
"Sana ay sa pagbalik niya sa Pilipinas ay makita at maranasan niya ang mabuting pagbabago."
Kung nakinig ka din ng mabuti, ang pagbabagong tinutukoy ko ay ang pagbabago ng aking sarili. Hindi ba't sarili ang dapat unang baguhin bago makaranas ng tunay na pagbabago sa bansa?:-)
Wala run akong sinabi na nawalan ako ng pag-asa sa bansa.
"Subalit kapag isa kang mayaman na elitista na huling maaapektuhan ng pagtaas ng presyo ng gas at bilihin, huwag mong gawing dahilan ang pagod sa bansa upang makaalis dito at manirahan sa ibang bansa. Napakakapal ng mukha mo."
1) What makes you think our reasons for leaving are economic?
2) Di rin ba napapagod ang mga "mayayamang elitista" sa korupsyon, coup de etat, at kung ano man pa? Dahil lang ba'y mayaman at elitista ang isang tao ay bulag siya sa mga realidad na ito?
3) Mayayamang elitista pala kami. (Is it because I'm Atenista as you said? ):-p
Tama ka, hindi mo nga kami kilala, at di mo rin kayang malaman ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit kami umalis ng bansa mula sa isang 15 minutong segment ng "Pipol".
Pero sa susunod, makinig ka ng masmabuti. :-)
Alam kong hindi ka galit sa amin. But let me answer your question anyway.Ano ang tinatakasan ko?
A society and culture that will always put me on a pedestal and will never let me grow up and experience what it is like to strive and work hard for something. I was born a member of the "mayayamang elitista" after all. When I feel like I've grown up, then I can contribute something good to my country.
Many of our national heroes spent time abroad (I am not a national hero, but time abroad must've done them good, and I'm hoping the same will happen to me).
Lovingly yours from Australia,
Ala Paredes"
Ang Kabataan ang Pag-asa ng Pilipinas
We have heard for at least ten times in our lives that "I believe the children are our future; teach them well and help them realize." We are definitely sick and tired of these kinds of lines. Admit it, these lines have been repeated generation after generation, to every kid in every goddamn home, and yet, after centuries and millenia, good change for the future has not come out in great magnitude. Whenever someone hears lines like that, he is bound to think, "What if they're not children anymore?"
Based on what we are seeing, once the children are not children anymore, they end up saying "I believe the children are our future; teach them well and help them realize." They just pass the burden on to the next generation. Because things just get worse over time, the next batch of children grow old and again end up passing on the heavier burden. This is just sad.
Maybe there's something wrong with the line. It only refers to children; children of no specific time period. I have a feeling that adults think they are exempt from being the future of the world. They do have a point though; dumb assholes.
They fail to understand that children are the future because they have a lot more to learn, and they have not yet been polluted by evil thoughts. They are our hope because they still have a choice to be good, to work for the better. That's what we fail to understand.
So now it's our choice. The ball is ours already. The really heavy ball. It could have been lighter if our dads and moms made it so. Are we gonna let our children blame us too? They're the hope too, along with us, and that's what we have to remember.
Damn. That just makes the song sound so irresponsible, which is good.
Based on what we are seeing, once the children are not children anymore, they end up saying "I believe the children are our future; teach them well and help them realize." They just pass the burden on to the next generation. Because things just get worse over time, the next batch of children grow old and again end up passing on the heavier burden. This is just sad.
Maybe there's something wrong with the line. It only refers to children; children of no specific time period. I have a feeling that adults think they are exempt from being the future of the world. They do have a point though; dumb assholes.
They fail to understand that children are the future because they have a lot more to learn, and they have not yet been polluted by evil thoughts. They are our hope because they still have a choice to be good, to work for the better. That's what we fail to understand.
So now it's our choice. The ball is ours already. The really heavy ball. It could have been lighter if our dads and moms made it so. Are we gonna let our children blame us too? They're the hope too, along with us, and that's what we have to remember.
Damn. That just makes the song sound so irresponsible, which is good.
Bakit nga ba?
Why do you call yourself "pogi," or "guwapo," or "maganda" or pretty all the time? Why do you always have to be reminded that you are such? Do you really get something out of praise? I don't know. I'm also guilty of this.
But come to think of it? Why? Why do we have to be reminded? What is the use of self-esteem?
Why be praised? I know for a fact though that praises have the power to keep us going, whether they praise action or appearance. Why do we have to wait for praises from people? In an ideal setting, we can just keep on going without praise, never getting tired. But that would only work when we know what to work for.
What do we work for? Who do we work for?
"Center all you do, dare and dream around what lasts."
Go figure. Good luck.
But come to think of it? Why? Why do we have to be reminded? What is the use of self-esteem?
Why be praised? I know for a fact though that praises have the power to keep us going, whether they praise action or appearance. Why do we have to wait for praises from people? In an ideal setting, we can just keep on going without praise, never getting tired. But that would only work when we know what to work for.
What do we work for? Who do we work for?
"Center all you do, dare and dream around what lasts."
Go figure. Good luck.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Mga Duwag
Dun sa sanaysay sa ibaba, may nakalagay:
"When we went to Pasangjan, I forced my parents to take a boat because it would be fun. However, they were not happy after taking a boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they were sympathized the boatmen, for the boatmen were very poor and had asmall frame. Most of people just took a boat and enjoyed it. But, my parents did not enjoy it because of love for them."
Katarantaduhan ito.
Ang kahit na anong sakit na nararamdaman mo ay hindi mo maaaring iwasan. Ang magagawa mo lang ay ang alisin ito nang tuwiran. Kung hindi man, makakain ka nang buhay ng sakit na ito, maging kasinliteral man ito ng sugat o kasintalinghaga ng damdamin.
Kahit nasasaktan ang damdamin ng mga taong ito dahil sa pagmamahal sa kapwa, ang tanging paraan upang mapawi ito ay ang pagkilos upang matanggal ang sakit. Ang pag-iwas sa mga taong nangangailangan, lalo na kapagka nakahalubilo mo na sila at naramdaman ang nadarama nila, ay walang sakit na mapapawi at magdudulot lamang ng mas malaking sama ng loob na hindi mawawala hanggang sa kumilos muli upang labanan ang sakit.
May dahilan kasi ang sakit na nadarama. Sa agham, ang kirot ay dulot ng pamamaga, na senyales ng paglaban ng katawan sa impeksyon. Nasasabi rin ng sakit na may nangyayari sa iyong katawan, na may impeksyon ka. Ang sakit sa damdamin ay senyales ng impeksyon sa lipunan at paligid. Ikaw ang gagamot nito.
"When we went to Pasangjan, I forced my parents to take a boat because it would be fun. However, they were not happy after taking a boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they were sympathized the boatmen, for the boatmen were very poor and had asmall frame. Most of people just took a boat and enjoyed it. But, my parents did not enjoy it because of love for them."
Katarantaduhan ito.
Ang kahit na anong sakit na nararamdaman mo ay hindi mo maaaring iwasan. Ang magagawa mo lang ay ang alisin ito nang tuwiran. Kung hindi man, makakain ka nang buhay ng sakit na ito, maging kasinliteral man ito ng sugat o kasintalinghaga ng damdamin.
Kahit nasasaktan ang damdamin ng mga taong ito dahil sa pagmamahal sa kapwa, ang tanging paraan upang mapawi ito ay ang pagkilos upang matanggal ang sakit. Ang pag-iwas sa mga taong nangangailangan, lalo na kapagka nakahalubilo mo na sila at naramdaman ang nadarama nila, ay walang sakit na mapapawi at magdudulot lamang ng mas malaking sama ng loob na hindi mawawala hanggang sa kumilos muli upang labanan ang sakit.
May dahilan kasi ang sakit na nadarama. Sa agham, ang kirot ay dulot ng pamamaga, na senyales ng paglaban ng katawan sa impeksyon. Nasasabi rin ng sakit na may nangyayari sa iyong katawan, na may impeksyon ka. Ang sakit sa damdamin ay senyales ng impeksyon sa lipunan at paligid. Ikaw ang gagamot nito.
Pagmamahal
Regine mailed me this essay and i thought it would be a good to post it. It's by a Korean and it's about Korea and the Philippines. Read it. You just have to. Please.
MY SHORT ESSAY ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES
Jaeyoun Kim
Filipinos always complain about the corruption inthe Philippines. Do you really think the corruption is the problem of the Philippines? I do notthink so. I strongly believe that the problem isthe lack of love for the Philippines.
Let me first talk about my country, Korea. It might help you understand my point. After the Korean War, South Korea was oneof the poorest countries in the world. Koreans had to start from scratch because entire country wasdestroyed after the Korean War, and we had nonatural resources.
Koreans used to talk about the Philippines, forFilipinos were very rich in Asia. We envy Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well off likeFilipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My father & brother also died because of famine. Korean government was very corrupt and is still verycorrupt beyond your imagination, but Korea was able to develop dramatically because Koreans really did their best for the common good with their heartburning with patriotism.
Koreans did not work just for themselves but alsofor their neighborhood and country. Education inspired young men with the spirit of patriotism. 40 years ago, President Park took over thegovernment to reform Korea. He tried to borrow money from other countries, but it was not possible to get aloan and attract a foreign investment because theeconomic situation of South Korea was so bad. Korea had only three factories. So, President Park sent many mine workers and nurses to Germany so thatthey could send money to Korea to build a factory. They had to go through horrible experience.
In 1964, President Park visited Germany to borrow money. Hundred of Koreans in Germany came to the airport to welcome him and cried there as they sawthe President Park. They asked to him, "President,when can we be well off?" That was the only question everyone asked to him. President Park cried withthem and promised them that Korea would be welloff if everyone works hard for Korea, and the President of Germany got the strong impression on themand lent money to Korea. So, President Park wasable to build many factories in Korea. He always asked Koreans to love their country from their heart.
Many Korean scientists and engineers in the USAcame back to Korea to help developing country because they wanted their country to be well off. Though they received very small salary, they did theirbest for Korea. They always hoped that their children would live in well off country.My parents always brought me to the places wherepoor and physically handicapped people live. They wanted me to understand their life and help them. I also worked for Catholic Church when I was in the army. The only thing I learned from Catholic Church was that wehave to love our neighborhood. And, I have loved my neighborhood. Have you cried for thePhilippines? I have cried for my country severaltimes. I also cried for the Philippines because of so manypoor people. I have been to the New Bilibidprison. What made me sad in the prison were theprisoners who do not have any love for their country. They go to mass and work for Church. They prayeveryday. However, they do not love the Philippines. Italked to two prisoners at the maximum-security compound, and both of them said that they would leave thePhilippines right after they are released from theprison. They said that they would start a new life in other countries and never come back to the Philippines.
Many Koreans have a great love for Korea so thatwe were able to share our wealth with our neighborhood. The owners of factory and company were distributed their profit to their employees fairly so that employees couldbuy what they needed and saved money for thefuture and their children.When I was in Korea, I had a very strong faith andwanted to be a priest. However, when I came to the Philippines,I completely lost my faith. I was very confused when I saw many unbelievablesituations in the Philippines. Street kids always make me sad, and I see them everyday. The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, but there are too many poor people here. People go to church every Sunday to pray, but nothing hasbeen changed.
My parents came to the Philippines last week andsaw this situation. They told me that Korea was much poorer than the present Philippines when theywere young. They are so sorry that there are somany beggars and street kids. When we went to Pasangjan, I forced my parents to take a boat becauseit would fun. However, they were not happy aftertaking a boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they were sympathized theboatmen, for the boatmen were very poor and had asmall frame. Most of people just took a boat and enjoyed it.
But, my parents did not enjoy it because of lovefor them.My mother who has been working for Catholic Churchsince I was very young told me that if we just go to mass without changing ourselves, we are not Catholic indeed. Faith should come with action.
She added that I have to love Filipinos and do good things for them because all of us are same and have received a great love from God. I want Filipinos to love theirneighborhood and country as much as they love Godso that the Philippines will be well off.
I am sure that love is the keyword, which Filipinosshould remember. We cannot change the sinful structure at once. It should start from person. Love must start in everybody, in a small scale and have to grow. A lot ofthings happen if we open up to love. Let's put awayour prejudices and look at our worries with our new eyes.I discover that every person is worthy to beloved. Trust in love, because it makes changes possible. Love changes you and me. It changes people,contexts and relationships. It changes the world. Please love yourneighborhood and country.
Jesus Christ said that whatever we do to others wedo to Him. In the Philippines, there is God for people who are abused and abandoned. There is God who is crying for love. If you have a child, teach them how to love the Philippines. Teach them why they have to love their neighborhood and country. You already know that God also will be very happy if you love others.
That's all I really want to ask you Filipinos.
MY SHORT ESSAY ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES
Jaeyoun Kim
Filipinos always complain about the corruption inthe Philippines. Do you really think the corruption is the problem of the Philippines? I do notthink so. I strongly believe that the problem isthe lack of love for the Philippines.
Let me first talk about my country, Korea. It might help you understand my point. After the Korean War, South Korea was oneof the poorest countries in the world. Koreans had to start from scratch because entire country wasdestroyed after the Korean War, and we had nonatural resources.
Koreans used to talk about the Philippines, forFilipinos were very rich in Asia. We envy Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well off likeFilipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My father & brother also died because of famine. Korean government was very corrupt and is still verycorrupt beyond your imagination, but Korea was able to develop dramatically because Koreans really did their best for the common good with their heartburning with patriotism.
Koreans did not work just for themselves but alsofor their neighborhood and country. Education inspired young men with the spirit of patriotism. 40 years ago, President Park took over thegovernment to reform Korea. He tried to borrow money from other countries, but it was not possible to get aloan and attract a foreign investment because theeconomic situation of South Korea was so bad. Korea had only three factories. So, President Park sent many mine workers and nurses to Germany so thatthey could send money to Korea to build a factory. They had to go through horrible experience.
In 1964, President Park visited Germany to borrow money. Hundred of Koreans in Germany came to the airport to welcome him and cried there as they sawthe President Park. They asked to him, "President,when can we be well off?" That was the only question everyone asked to him. President Park cried withthem and promised them that Korea would be welloff if everyone works hard for Korea, and the President of Germany got the strong impression on themand lent money to Korea. So, President Park wasable to build many factories in Korea. He always asked Koreans to love their country from their heart.
Many Korean scientists and engineers in the USAcame back to Korea to help developing country because they wanted their country to be well off. Though they received very small salary, they did theirbest for Korea. They always hoped that their children would live in well off country.My parents always brought me to the places wherepoor and physically handicapped people live. They wanted me to understand their life and help them. I also worked for Catholic Church when I was in the army. The only thing I learned from Catholic Church was that wehave to love our neighborhood. And, I have loved my neighborhood. Have you cried for thePhilippines? I have cried for my country severaltimes. I also cried for the Philippines because of so manypoor people. I have been to the New Bilibidprison. What made me sad in the prison were theprisoners who do not have any love for their country. They go to mass and work for Church. They prayeveryday. However, they do not love the Philippines. Italked to two prisoners at the maximum-security compound, and both of them said that they would leave thePhilippines right after they are released from theprison. They said that they would start a new life in other countries and never come back to the Philippines.
Many Koreans have a great love for Korea so thatwe were able to share our wealth with our neighborhood. The owners of factory and company were distributed their profit to their employees fairly so that employees couldbuy what they needed and saved money for thefuture and their children.When I was in Korea, I had a very strong faith andwanted to be a priest. However, when I came to the Philippines,I completely lost my faith. I was very confused when I saw many unbelievablesituations in the Philippines. Street kids always make me sad, and I see them everyday. The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, but there are too many poor people here. People go to church every Sunday to pray, but nothing hasbeen changed.
My parents came to the Philippines last week andsaw this situation. They told me that Korea was much poorer than the present Philippines when theywere young. They are so sorry that there are somany beggars and street kids. When we went to Pasangjan, I forced my parents to take a boat becauseit would fun. However, they were not happy aftertaking a boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they were sympathized theboatmen, for the boatmen were very poor and had asmall frame. Most of people just took a boat and enjoyed it.
But, my parents did not enjoy it because of lovefor them.My mother who has been working for Catholic Churchsince I was very young told me that if we just go to mass without changing ourselves, we are not Catholic indeed. Faith should come with action.
She added that I have to love Filipinos and do good things for them because all of us are same and have received a great love from God. I want Filipinos to love theirneighborhood and country as much as they love Godso that the Philippines will be well off.
I am sure that love is the keyword, which Filipinosshould remember. We cannot change the sinful structure at once. It should start from person. Love must start in everybody, in a small scale and have to grow. A lot ofthings happen if we open up to love. Let's put awayour prejudices and look at our worries with our new eyes.I discover that every person is worthy to beloved. Trust in love, because it makes changes possible. Love changes you and me. It changes people,contexts and relationships. It changes the world. Please love yourneighborhood and country.
Jesus Christ said that whatever we do to others wedo to Him. In the Philippines, there is God for people who are abused and abandoned. There is God who is crying for love. If you have a child, teach them how to love the Philippines. Teach them why they have to love their neighborhood and country. You already know that God also will be very happy if you love others.
That's all I really want to ask you Filipinos.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Kapirasong Tela
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:46:26 PM): or you can write about
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:46:26 PM): this
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:46:38 PM): my class got into bigr trouble because
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:46:51 PM): people started laughing and making faces during the national anthem
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:47:05 PM): the people singing the anthem badly weren't making fun of the anthem
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:47:07 PM): but of each other
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:47:21 PM): and everyone realized a lot of things about how they were
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:47:30 PM): i realized that as much as i love my country
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:47:54 PM): i don't sing my anthem and i just stand there to respect it (which according to james isn't really respecting it)
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:48:12 PM): i just stood there
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:48:28 PM): i didn't tell my classmates to shut up
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:48:48 PM): well, i was taught not to move or talk while the anthem plays as a child
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:48:52 PM): so all i could say was
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:48:54 PM): mga gaga
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:48:56 PM): so there
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:49:01 PM): what is your reaction to that?
We can look at our very own president and see if she sings the anthem or just stands there. I definitely have seen her just stand there respecting the flag. I'd like to believe though that just standing there is still a sign of respect to the flag, not only because I have seen the president do it, but because I know that when I do it, I still respect the flag.
Respect is very subjective. It all depends on how people like it expressed or on how people see it. We consider someone disrespectful when he sits while everyone stands and sings the anthem, while at the same time, we cannot blame a man with no legs for staying seated. Also, we can never blame a mute person for not singing.
If there were real strict rules for respecting, then we'd all be shot dead. There would have been no way we could follow each rule, for we're all different; and do not underestimate how different we all can get. There are no such rules, a testament to the fact that respect depends on how people look at it.
Whoever really said that not paying attention to the national anthem was disrespecting the flag? Older people said that, and they probably got that from much older dead people. Where did the dead people learn what and what not respect is? They learned it from how they felt, and I believe that though respect is very subjective, that no one should really scold you for respecting in whatever way you want, the "rules" we follow now also stemmed from the perception of people, and those "rules" would not have been passed down all the way down to us if they did not speak at least a grain of truth about how people see respect. So the rules are not all that bad, and I believe that most of us, not all, would agree that the rules agree to how we feel about certain matters in general, especially the national anthem.
The Ateneo High School uniform was chosen by the students. Before having uniforms, the students were required to wear their IDs, since there were great security threats brought about by wearing casual daily. About a decade ago, the students were given a choice by the school. The school asked what they wanted for their uniform, and meetings were held. Definitely, at this point of transition from casual clothes to cool blue polos, there were temptations to bend the uniform rule. So Father Caluag, then principal, announced in a general assembly that while the rules are about to be changed, there are still standing rules that have to be followed. As long as there is a rule, follow it, and now that there will be changes, follow the present rule until it is changed. It makes perfect sense to me.
Respect is subjective, but there are still rules. Rules have rich backgrounds. Maybe we should follow them while they are there. Change will come appropriately.
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:46:26 PM): this
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:46:38 PM): my class got into bigr trouble because
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:46:51 PM): people started laughing and making faces during the national anthem
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:47:05 PM): the people singing the anthem badly weren't making fun of the anthem
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:47:07 PM): but of each other
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:47:21 PM): and everyone realized a lot of things about how they were
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:47:30 PM): i realized that as much as i love my country
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:47:54 PM): i don't sing my anthem and i just stand there to respect it (which according to james isn't really respecting it)
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:48:12 PM): i just stood there
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:48:28 PM): i didn't tell my classmates to shut up
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:48:48 PM): well, i was taught not to move or talk while the anthem plays as a child
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:48:52 PM): so all i could say was
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:48:54 PM): mga gaga
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:48:56 PM): so there
Regine Miranda (3/11/2006 9:49:01 PM): what is your reaction to that?
We can look at our very own president and see if she sings the anthem or just stands there. I definitely have seen her just stand there respecting the flag. I'd like to believe though that just standing there is still a sign of respect to the flag, not only because I have seen the president do it, but because I know that when I do it, I still respect the flag.
Respect is very subjective. It all depends on how people like it expressed or on how people see it. We consider someone disrespectful when he sits while everyone stands and sings the anthem, while at the same time, we cannot blame a man with no legs for staying seated. Also, we can never blame a mute person for not singing.
If there were real strict rules for respecting, then we'd all be shot dead. There would have been no way we could follow each rule, for we're all different; and do not underestimate how different we all can get. There are no such rules, a testament to the fact that respect depends on how people look at it.
Whoever really said that not paying attention to the national anthem was disrespecting the flag? Older people said that, and they probably got that from much older dead people. Where did the dead people learn what and what not respect is? They learned it from how they felt, and I believe that though respect is very subjective, that no one should really scold you for respecting in whatever way you want, the "rules" we follow now also stemmed from the perception of people, and those "rules" would not have been passed down all the way down to us if they did not speak at least a grain of truth about how people see respect. So the rules are not all that bad, and I believe that most of us, not all, would agree that the rules agree to how we feel about certain matters in general, especially the national anthem.
The Ateneo High School uniform was chosen by the students. Before having uniforms, the students were required to wear their IDs, since there were great security threats brought about by wearing casual daily. About a decade ago, the students were given a choice by the school. The school asked what they wanted for their uniform, and meetings were held. Definitely, at this point of transition from casual clothes to cool blue polos, there were temptations to bend the uniform rule. So Father Caluag, then principal, announced in a general assembly that while the rules are about to be changed, there are still standing rules that have to be followed. As long as there is a rule, follow it, and now that there will be changes, follow the present rule until it is changed. It makes perfect sense to me.
Respect is subjective, but there are still rules. Rules have rich backgrounds. Maybe we should follow them while they are there. Change will come appropriately.
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