CONVULSIONS

Up to this day, I’m still intrigued. I’m talking about the traditional pre-inaugural closed door meeting between two American Presidents (then President-elect Obama and outgoing President Bush).

Rumor has it that this special meeting is used by the outgoing president to divulge long-kept state secrets and other confidential matters to the incoming president. It is said that the things discussed in the mentioned meeting are so controversial that it could rewrite history or change its present course if they were suddenly revealed.

One can only imagine the kind of secrets that were divulged during that meeting. (e.g. Is there really an Area 51? What secrets did it keep? Is time travel already possible? Is there a new weapon more powerful than the nuclear bomb? Who really ordered the assassination of JFK? Heck! …even probably… Who really ordered the assassination of Ninoy Aquino?)

Any of our unanswered questions about history, life in this world and out of it, could have been discussed or passed on in that meeting.

These are secrets worth keeping secret because they are probably so overwhelmingly important that they become a source of power and of privilege of the person who keeps them.

So I think it is really very intriguing. The possibilities are endless. You can go forever pondering about what kind of secrets the most powerful mortal person on the planet is keeping.

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It doesn’t work the same way for your average- person secrets. They’re often trivial and they always tend to come out. It’s why I don’t believe in keeping them. I don’t have secrets.

Of course, if I did have secrets, I wouldn’t write about having them, or else they wouldn’t be secrets.

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We had a great team. During the regular rounds, we were beaten only once (and it was during our first game) and we lorded over the competition during the other games. We were only beaten again during the second game of the best-of-three championship series when the other team employed a pressure defense during the fourth quarter which caught us off-guard. But as we showed during the final game last Sunday, it was not going to happen again. Their defense was broken while ours was working like a well-oiled machine until the third quarter. Even when we led by only ten points entering the third, the other team already saw the futility. They did a Dela Hoya and just gave up. There was no doubt which team wanted to win more badly and which team had more heart.

The team had really good chemistry. Because of the special league rule that every player has to be given one quarter of playing time (except for the fourth where each team can field its best players), each team had to field five players for every quarter who could play effectively as an offensive and defensive unit for ten full minutes. We were able to do that for the first three quarters. Each unit for every quarter in our team was able to outplay their counterparts on the opposing teams. Then during the fourth quarter, our final five would always finish strong. It’s why we won lopsided victories.

Credit also goes to our coaching consultant Raymund Valenzona, (head coach of the NCAA champions San Sebastian Staglets). He taught us some simply-yet-effective plays that really helped make the job of winning games fun and easy.

My only hope right now is that the team doesn’t get disbanded and we get to play again together for the next season. Even if I might not be around for the next one, since we have plans of relocating, it would still be great to see the team stay together. The other teams, however early, are already calling for a reshuffling of players and redrafting for the next season. They know that if our team is given the chance to stay together, with our hearts and our pride, it would be a very simple feat to do a repeat.     

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Hans turned 7 last week... so now, I'm officially even more pressured to find a more financially rewarding career, or a source of better income. I'm getting old and I have to make our lives more secure and comfortable. I'm working on it. But these things are never easy. It's not like "instant noodles" for me.

But enough of me... it was Hans' week.


September 21 - Since Hans' birthday fell on a school day, my folks decided that we should celebrate a little in Obando with a cake, food and some presents.

September 23 - Hans' actual birthday was celebrated in a simple manner. We ate at Greenhills after school and we bought him a couple of new games for his psp.



September 27 - We had a small Star Wars themed party at the house in San Pedro. This was what he has been most excited about. Most of his friends from his current and former schools were there. He got the gifts that he wanted. It was really his day and he knew it.

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We were able to watch "The Dark Knight" in imax at SM Mall of Asia last Saturday. I initially thought this sequel can't possibly top Marvel's blockbuster hits this year. I was wrong.

The story is much darker and this makes it definitely better. The late Heath Ledger did a spectacular job of portraying a more twisted and sadistic version of the Joker. Christian Bale also plays the caped crusader convincingly well. Even Eckhart who plays Harvey Dent (Two-Face) does a very good job. The story is riveting. Unlike other  superhero movies which seem to leave you wanting more, this one satisfies. It's not "bitin" or it doesn't leave too much of the story hanging.

What I didn't like however was the ending. It's illogical. They could have just simply blamed the Joker and his minions for the killings perpetuated by Harvey Dent. They had to go for the more illogical yet dramatic ending of Batman being blamed for the murders. This is even when it was already established that most criminals (and the authorities) know that Batman has self-imposed rules. Still, it was a great movie. It's one for the ages. I'm definitely looking forward to watching this again on dvd.

On a more personal note: It was also my youngest son's first time to watch a movie. I think Hart enjoyed it.  It was fun to watch it in imax.  We watched it together with my dad. The boys loved it. Hart had a great time. It was only in the last 30 minutes of the movie that his being a baby kicked in -- he fell asleep.

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It's the start of a new week so I figured I'd jot down some of things from the previous week.

First is, of course, Hans' first week in school. It's a big adjustment for him to be in a totally new school, but we think he's handling himself well. Many things are different from his previous school and some of the changes are surprising, but we hope to adjust to all of it soon. He had a good week.


My week at work is a different story. I just don't know. I feel unsatisfied. The little things that didn't seem to bother me before bother me now, and the big things ... I don't want to start about that.

A good part of my week was last Friday, after the orientation in Hans' school, I was finally able to visit the old workplace - ILS. It's good to see the people there again. It was sad though to see that my old division is not what it used to be. I hope my good friend Kurt can still turn things around. I actually wouldn't mind working there again. I miss the work. I miss the writing. Actually, I'm itching for the writing. After I saw this one research paper briefly cite one of the old articles I've written, I realized how much I loved doing what I did then. May be somethings still need some changing like it did then when I left, but I see things differently now. Sometimes if you want change, change has to start from you.

The last post (in my friendster blog) prior to this one was basically about "Iron Man" the movie. Well, yesterday Hans and I saw "The Incredible Hulk"; and just like what I said... lo and behold ... before the end of the movie, Tony Stark (Robert Downey) comes out and mentions project Avenger.

The movie was great. One will forget the first "Hulk" movie even came out. The action was spectacular. The story was really good. You sense that it's going somewhere, and it does as it culminates with Bruce having more control and then there's the possibility of him either joining or fighting (or both) the Avengers. It's going to be the blockbuster of blockbusters. I can't wait to see what happens next.

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It’s a known fact that society regards teaching as a noble profession. Yet at the same time, society also looks down upon ordinary teachers. Being a teacher myself it’s hard to admit, but it is true. The crop or quality of the people currently practicing the profession (especially our public teachers) is a big reason why teaching is such an underappreciated profession. Part of it’s the fact that the supposed cream of the crop goes to other professions. Why? It’s because the other professions can offer rewards – such as prestige, wealth and more importantly, security. Bright minds naturally want professions that can make their lives better (with the thinking they can do altruistic ventures later). The less bright, they say, are the ones who become teachers. Though not everyone in the profession is like this, we can’t escape from the reality that a lot of our teachers are not as educated as we want them to be. It’s sad but true. What’s even sadder, is the fact that the country is still continually losing the already few astute teachers we have to better-paying jobs in foreign countries.

Teaching is just as difficult (or even harder) as other professions. Teaching, however, does not offer the same rewards. It is true that teaching can offer a sense of personal satisfaction – but all the rest – ZILCH.

It doesn’t have to be that way. I don’t understand why teachers have to be different. I don’t understand why some administrators (who are senior teacher themselves) are most of the time the ones who put down the profession by implying that teachers should limit themselves to a certain level in life. I have heard officials of very exclusive schools express this line of thinking- that if a teacher wants to be rich, he shouldn’t be a teacher at all. WHY?!? Isn’t it natural to aspire for a better life? Teaching is a vocation. Teaching is a noble profession. But the fact still remains that the teacher is human. It will always be a job. It should be a decent one, and to be “decent” also means it should at least provide financial security. It should be adequate to provide for the needs of the teacher and his family. There is the argument that teacher should lead a simple life. Who said so? Sometimes I think this argument is just used by private school administrators to justify the giving of low salaries. Teachers take no vow of poverty (at least willingly). I have heard the notion that teaching is a service and that you should not think about the remuneration. If all teachers were in far-flung areas of the country handling students from poverty-stricken families, I would understand this thinking. However, the one who passionately broached the idea was an administrator of a small elitist school. This local school charges a really exorbitant amount in tuition fees. Why ask the teacher to serve without thinking about proper remuneration when school itself doesn’t do the same?

Until progressive minds in government and in the upper echelons of society come up with a way to properly treat the teaching profession as it should (with a new degree of respect that includes a respectable amount of compensation), no one in his right mind will willingly want to become a teacher.


I confided to a colleague once that one of my minor goals in life is to create a story for children and have it published. To have an actual children’s book published is of course far better, but I’m realistic. I’ll probably be content with just a couple of pages in a local children’s magazine.

I already have some stories in mind. I already know of a potential publisher. One major problem, however, remains. I don’t have the time.

An even bigger dream, which will probably require more time and more “moolah” (so it means this will unlikely happen – but I’m writing it down nonetheless so when someone eventually does it, I can say I had the idea first), would be a re-adaptation of Jose Rizal’s “Noli” and “El Fili”. I know it has been done so many times before, but I want it to be different. I want it to be in a comic book form. This has been done before as well. In fact, the comic book adaptation in the past (I’m not sure, but I think it was by National Bookstore) which I read as a child is my inspiration. I want it though to be better. I want it to look like a modern graphic novel. Imagine a depiction of “Noli” rendered in a vivid artistic fashion like the works of comic icon Alex Ross. Imagine “El Fili” in a gritty Frank Miller-like style. We don’t even have to look abroad for such talent. We have tons of local artists capable of doing this.


Imagine a ground-breaking graphic novel like that. I think it’ll be a phenomenal hit, because not only will it tackle two great and relevant stories written by our beloved National Hero, it will be in a very popular pop media format. It will be easy to market. For me, the idea is so good, that if someone else beats me to making it (because it’s highly improbably that I can do something like this anyway), I’d still be glad. I really think it’s something our younger generations of Filipinos will appreciate.
 


Summer is officially over and I would have to say, it has been a memorable one. My family and I had a great time in Boracay. There is truly no other place in the Philippines as beautiful as Boracay. Everybody who’s been there can’t wait to go back. We are no exception.

Still, some people talk of other alternatives to Boracay. The Philippines is naturally blessed with other beautiful islands and beaches. Before the trip to Boracay, I had the chance to visit one such possible alternative. As part of our annual excursion, my colleagues and I went to Pundakit, Zambales. Part of the trip was to go to an island called Calawangin.

Calawangin Island is a testament to the fact that the Philippines is blessed with a multitude of beautiful scenic spots. The water was sparkling clear. The white sand may not be the powdery Boracay-like kind, but it still looked good. What’s remarkable is that the white sand was actually volcanic ash left from the previous Mount Pinatubo eruption. The beach was further made beautiful by a back drop of tall pine trees. Yes, there were tall pine trees. No one really explained to us how the pine trees got there (we usually associate pine trees with colder climates, so it was a surprise to find them in a beach), but they were there and they were a remarkable sight. The place has a lot of potential. It’s has the makings of a great tourist destination. They just have to organize the locals and clean up some parts of the environment. Though I don’t think it will achieve the same level of success and the same scale of commercialism they have in Boracay (which is, to a certain extent, actually a good thing), with the right people sporting the right attitude, Calawangin shouldn’t be left behind.

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He is now six (6) and turning seven (7) years old this coming September, and he still hasn’t developed anything close to normal speech. We are thankful that he can hear, but it is frustrating and heart-breaking to see and learn of other cochlear-implanted children younger than him who are now able to speak just a year after their implants were switched on. Our speech therapist told us that Hans’ inability to develop language skills despite being implanted already might be because of a developmental condition called Apraxia.

 
The road to our journey to a normal life for Hans has been a long and tiring one for me, my wife and our entire families. From the financial burden, to Hans needing behavioral modification and many others, we have met road blocks one after the other. It has not been easy.

 
When we heard of the miracles being performed by Fr. Fernando Suarez, my wife and I wanted to take the chance. I was what you might call a mind-over-matter cynic, but for the love of my son, I was more than willing to take the chance.

 
We already knew of the hundreds and thousands of people lining up for the healing masses. So on January 24, 2008, I, my wife and son, and my mother-in-law, lined up with more than a hundred others in the street leading to the National Shrine of the Miraculous Medal in Muntinlupa on January 24, 2008. We were there as early as 12:30 a.m., on the street and just under the stars. Vehicles had to be parked in designated parking spaces. So all we could do was to sit and stay lined up along the street. I had not slept or rested yet. (I had just come back from my second job and I was nursing a sore throat). It was one of the most uncomfortable situations you could find yourself in. The mass was supposed to start at 9:00 a.m. but we were already a very huge crowd as early as 1 a.m.

 
I cannot even remember how we made it through that day. We were among the last in the regular line to enter the compound of the church. Things just began to happen after that. Some people were kind enough to let us inside the church. After long hours of waiting, Hans had already become impatient. He was kicking and screaming and motioning for us to go home. Some kind people inside the church saw the difficulty we were having with Hans, so they helped us reach the altar. As I carried him with my tired shoulders through the crowd, the thought of all the hardship we have been through raced in my mind. We were doing this for Hans. We could be at home resting right that moment, but we were there sweating it out in the thick of a humongous crowd – this was for Hans. As Fr. Suarez came by he quickly placed his hands on me and on Hans. I shouted that Hans was unable to hear and speak, with my voice cracking and I found my emotions pouring and myself crying. In that brief moment, there was like a sudden calmness in my soul. Fr. Suarez went on to the other people to my right, but then came back to us and placed his hand upon me and my son again. This time he asked me what was my name. In the confusion and because I knew I was there for Hans, instead of saying my name, I mentioned Hans’ name. But then, he quickly replied and said he wanted to know my name. I said my name. He prayed over my head and then prayed over Hans. He blew into one of Hans’ ear and continued placing his hands on the others.

 
I can’t really describe it but when we left the church, it felt like we were re-energized. We were in high spirits. I no longer had a sore throat on the way home.

Hans is still dependent on his implant for his hearing and is still unable to speak in a normal kind of way. We prayed for a miracle of healing for Hans but I would like to believe God chose to strengthen my faith in Him instead. That experience made me realize that we shouldn’t stop asking Him for His blessings and His miracles. He will give the things we ask only if we remain steadfast in asking for them. The experience made me realize we should continue to be patient. There are people in a far worse condition than we are. I would like to believe that something special happened to us on that particular day; we are only “too human” to realize them just yet. Hans’ time for healing and for a normal life will come. We just need to keep on knocking.   

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