Jeepney Rides

My jeepney rides are always the best venue on hearing various stories from the different walks of life. It ranges from the most serious up to stories which I label as purely gossips. My jeepney rides are always the best way to eavesdrop and swear some best stories fitted for a telenovela could probably be developed.  

This makes my everyday trip fun, varied and full of learning. I got to hear stories from experiences, plans, ambitions and even surprises. My everyday encounter at some point redefines my personal views on things around me. II got to be enlightened but at any case I also feel irritated. Well there are people who could talk with sensibilities but of course on the other side there are people who talk none sense. At least I got to enhance my skills on identifying those who can walk the talk and those who just purely talk.

The one hour travelling time is somehow eased by the stories I got to hear and the people I got to know.  It gives me a wider perspective of life in general. At the end of every trip, eavesdropping somehow is not bad at all. My jeepney rides will always be a remarkable journey. And I'm looking forward for more of it.

Fascination

 Tibet and the Dalai Lama

Lately I have been discussing this with some friends. Ever since I have this ultimate fascination with the life of the Dalai Lama up there in Tibet and now being an exile in some mountainous village along its border with India. Beyond the golden yellow and the maroon colored robes, I always associate the Dalai Lama with one of the pillar teachings of Buddhism which points out to Nirvana. A state of inner peace of mind. A liberated soul from the fires of desire, aversion and delusion. 

Other than the Dalai Lama it's the dream of being in Tibet. A nation nestling in the towering mountain ranges of the Himalayas. Someday, I hope to pay homage to the Dalai Lama and step on the soils of the Tibetan Plateau.

A jet pilot

This is one extreme fascination. More than the dream of flying a jet I really get caught by the  avionics, the technology they make use of . I would even think that in my past life I could have been in the aircraft industry perhaps later than those works of the Wright brothers and the accomplishments made by Amelia Earhart. This explains why I take time observing the airplane's take-off and landing during my flights. And I always seat near those windows when I'm on board, feeling every movement, delighted and fascinated !

Exits

There she was standing beside the exit way.

I was on my way up, panting and trying to catch some air after enduring multitudes of steps up the train station. She was in her usual smart cardigan on top of her immaculate white blouse. And one thing new about her is the eyeglasses she had been wearing, a thicker one; different from the one's she wore the last time we met. We said our usual greetings and then we went down the station through the same stairs. This has been memorable, the climbing part is not an easy task, but the excitement I have in pushing me to continue with the reward of seeing her at the top. The going down experience was a little bit kinder, the excitement has subsided and it was replaced by the sheer joy of being together again. While trimming down the steps going to the sidewalk, we enjoyed our usual fast-paced walk.

This is one opportunity of seeing her once in a while when I was at the Metro for some official business. This is one consolation I'm getting from the loads of work attached to every travel I have. Plus the spending I will surely be sorry after since I managed to use all my money, including my allowances for the next week. 

I'm not usually the same animated talking master when we are together, actually she does the talking parts and all I have to do was to nod or even grunt with my distinctive monosyllabic responses. She does not fail to show up my maturity without losing my childish sensibilities. We talk about things from the most mundane to the serious ones. It all ranges from career, academics, past experiences, memorable dates, relationships, love, marriage, childbearing and life in general. 

Yes, she was special to me, perhaps the next special woman after my mother of course. She does not fail to bring the best in me. Being with her is having no dull moments at all. Even the silence after our conversations seem to become interesting, with the eyes doing all the talking.

We have somehow formed a special bond of trust. At some point it has created connections only the both of us knew. There might be no explicit conditions, but it is something we only knew beyond reasons.

It was time for her to go, and she told me something I have been teasing her before. And despite the smile I managed to display her revelation struck me with the intense amount of pain I tried to hide at the back of my head. Every second and minute passing by seemed to be tormenting on my part. I tried to flash a fake happy face with some congratulatory words, even if it meant a double-edged sword drawn through my hopeful soul.

We climbed again the daunting stairs up to the train station. The climb was even harder that time perhaps I lost the motivation I had before. Perhaps I lost the excitement I used to bear every time I climb those stairs. And it’s now becoming painful not just for my legs and sole, but I’m feeling it inside.

There she was at the entrance gate waiting for the train. She said her goodbyes.

I started to take the exit point and straddle as fast as I could. I want to forget what has transpired. The pain is becoming unbearable. Perhaps I will no longer have the same feeling I used to have when seeing her beside the exit point, standing and waiting.

Perceptions of a Perpetrator, a Victim and a Public Servant

My apologies, for I have been a perpetrator! I have been the contributing culprit, creating divisions over what men and women can do. I have been raised to believe in all these stereotypes, where there are institutionalized delusions, delimitations and walls dividing each gender.

I hope you will understand, for I have been a victim of those culprits, suffering from the barriers that separate each gender; establishing animosity, and alienation among them; judging on their capacity, involvement and contributions in the society.

This time, allow me to share some of my thoughts as a young public servant.

At 21, I was given the opportunity to work with the government and enjoy the privilege of being at the front row of public service. This included a fulltime show of the dynamic interchanges of the social struggle of men and women as they redefine themselves in the era of gender-responsiveness as an answer to the outrage over gender-discrimination.

It remains a challenge for us public servants to walk the talk of delivering gender responsive, courteous, accessible and effective services. We all succumb to despair and anxiety as we overcome our personal demons---our biases.

My apologies again, that even behind my head I can’t do away traces of my own prejudices. As a perpetrator, I used to believe that being loud and vocal are feminine traits. And again I caught myself unguarded by believing so, because I am loud and vocal. I used to believe that being passionate with the dramas of life is a women thing. Yet again I offended myself because I enjoy dramas a lot! These thoughts had made me realize that after all we don’t have to choose blue over pink to show that we are men or pink over blue to show that we are women. And that there can be things both men and women can evenly do! Again it hurts my being a perpetrator but a celebration for my being a victim and a triumph for my being a public servant. Avoid biases and stereotyping. We should always value the different ways of working; focusing on the result rather than who did it and how it was done.

As a perpetrator, I always believe that men have the ultimate right to speak first and be heard first—no matter what! Again it hurts, for I love listening to women when they speak, I enjoy their dauntless capacity to elaborate. But then I would refute that men had the first great speakers in the history. Think of Plato and Aristotle! But then again, I would believe that women have the same privilege as the men do. So my resolve is, as a public servant it helps to practice active listening and develop effective communication skills. Our clients range from the most conservative up to the feminist and chauvinist masochist! Who in return will drive us crazy and perhaps we will have second thoughts over our ideals. So it pays to talk and listen at the most sensitive and gender responsive way.

Perhaps one more thing, develop conflict resolution skills. Conflict is an integral part of our system. The most sensitive one is on gender issues; again my apologies for the following statement. Men may be more silent compared to women when it comes to conflict engagement. So we have to be keen enough to develop strategies that will surely be useful in handling different forms of conflict especially when it involves gender indifferences.

Simple rules as they may appear, but I believe it has to begin small just like any other journey. It hurts at some point as a perpetrator, but it is liberating for a victim and essential for a public servant. It is a transformation on my part---this may not be overnight but I’m doing it at least and I’m willing to share! 

From a perpetrator, a victim and now a public servant, I hope to contribute in ensuring a gender responsive, accessible, courteous and effective public service.

These are all my perceptions, hoping to create ripples and break the barriers that haunt men and women on their way to access public service.

May my being a perpetrator rest in peace and the bondage of being a victim be broken as I continue the call of a true Lingkod Bayani!

So what keeps me away from free TV?

Flooding the airwaves are the political ads from aspiring politicians this coming May 2013 elections. What makes it irritating is the fact that these commercials are trash in nature and form. Highlighting nothing but the dependency of every candidate from their predecessors, ancestors, father, mother, aunt, uncle, brother, cousin and the list goes on for their credibility and name recall.

We are hearing and seeing nothing but auditory and visual mockery of our sensibilities as voters. We are being offered with the usual narratives of election campaigns;trash talks, personality drama and all those testimonials from their paid artists.

So, despite the good dramas and shows available on free TV, I might switch channels from time to time. Well, at the end of the day I hold the remote control.

Investing in today’s generation, redefining tomorrow’s future

Wayback in elementary, the most often question I used to answer is “What you want to be in the near future?”  And I am always so eager to respond that I want to be the President of the Philippines. At a young age, I was awed and struck by the immense opportunities and privileges attached to the presidency; having to ride a black limousine, presidential security escorts, countless travels here and abroad and other perks and benefits fit for a head of state.

The ignorance that I bear dispelled the risks and responsibilities a president have inline of his performance of duty.  I did take into consideration perhaps the obligation to more than 100 Million Filipinos. Knowing so would perhaps change my answer.

Today most of you would have to figure out or are figuring out the answers to the same question. It is necessary that at this point, we are clear and sure enough of what path we are taking in the future.

However, today’s scenarios compel us to make decisions far from what we believe we can be. It has been hard for us to set the directions we want for ourselves. We end up failing to lead our individual ambitions.

The challenges we bear today require us of the new breed of leaders coming from our ranks. The young people of this generation should believe and work for the betterment of this nation. It will always be difficult along the way, fighting with our personal demons; vices, negative influences and character. Our desire to change beginning with ourselves should not end up from answering the question “What I will become in the near future?” It has to be lived and in order for us to succeed we have to work the hardest way. A leader is measured not by how high he rose from the rank but how much he worked for it.

(Close your eyes, and raise your right hand after this question)Who among you here are leaders? (Now open your eyes and look around you)

Being a leader begins with our acceptance that we are. You need not to be the president or any other position in that case for you to be called a leader. By that simple acknowledgement that you are makes a difference.

So what kind of leadership are we looking for?

Leadership with Humility

We are in times when leadership positions are adhered as something grand and powerful, filled with the vast expectation that a position is such a maneuvering factor. That those who seat in the position are as divine as the Gods of the Olympus, that they shall be worshipped and adored with outmost reverence.

We need today leaders who build in to the character of humility, acknowledging our vulnerabilities as human without underscoring others’ capabilities. We lead to serve rather than lead to be served.

Leadership with Passion and Commitment

It is important that we have the dedication in all things we do. This measures the success and the fulfillment of our desired outcome. 

Leadership with a heart creates a significant spark in every decision that we take and in every endeavor that we envision. An attitude that we do it because we love to it not because we are force to do it, the results would always be different.

So what do we have today?

Leadership and Relevant Education

Building our attitude towards positive leadership is best accompanied by the simulated learning we have in school in our community and with ourselves. The introduction of the K-12 Program in the Basic Education Curriculum enhances our position as the future leaders of this nation.

K-12 Program  which seeks to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment and entrepreneurship is necessary to ready you for the challenges of today and of the future.

This is an investment made by the government to insure that we will have the best people ready to take the lead in the future of this nation. We need not to be in those high ranking positions. You need not to be the President I dreamt to be one in order for you to help this country. We have our distinct roles to play in the society. We have our own responsibilities to take care of. It has to begin by being good children to our parents, good students and mindful and conscientious citizens of our communities.

Leadership and the Nation’s Future

What lies ahead in the future of this country depend on how we take actions today. Be informed. Education shapes our future as Filipinos; it is our duty to be aware of reforms in basic education that will move our country forward. The K-12 program is just among the mechanisms sought to improve the quality of life of this nation. It is an investment sought to reinvigorate our demand for quality individuals who would soon be the front-runners of the country.

These young individuals will not just be alone in their quest to be the future leaders. The parents have to take in the responsibility of providing guidance and support. It will not always be the money and the socio-economic status, we have to go beyond it and persevere.

I came from a family who has no stable income then. My father is tricycle driver and my mother is the best housewife ever. But our lack of money did not hamper us from pursuing our dreams, from taking the lead and become what we want to be. Our parents had paved the way for us to dream big and aim high—sky is the limit. Dear parents, we have to be the leaders first for our children, our outmost wisdom and guidance is very critical in the formation of these future leaders.   

Close your eyes and think again of the question “What will you become in the future?” Are we ready to show them that we are leaders in the making? Now open your eyes. Tap the shoulder of the person next to your right and say “congratulations this country had its hope again!”

(A speech delivered during Miagao National High School's Parangal 2013 last March 18, 2013)