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Please Comment on This Parable: "The Kind King and the Two Neighbors"

2007-12-12T15:48:00.000-08:00

In a land ruled by a kind king, a dispute between two neighbors arose. One night, a man, in his uncontrollable greed, stole his neighbor's cow, slaughtered it that night and sold all flesh, meat and parts to the market the early morning. That afternoon after spending all the money from the sales proceeds of the stolen cow, he suddenly felt a disturbing guilt for what he had done. He felt so deeply sorry. However, he could not go directly to his neighbor to ask pardon, mercy and forgiveness in fear of his neighbor's rage and possible curses. To liberate himself from his guilt, he went forth and submitted himself before the king, told the whole story, and asked for pardon and forgiveness for what he has done. He vowed before the king for this thing never to happen again. The king was deeply touched by the man's confession. He pitied him and asked an assurance of conversion. He embraced the man and let him go. Hours later, his neighbor marched before the court of the king demanding justice as he reported the unfortunate incident on how his neighbor crashed into his house that night, stole his prized cow and sold it to the market at his greedy neighbor's gain. The king told the man how his neighbor came to him hours earlier confessing the very issue. He told the man how sorry he was and how he vowed for this thing not to happen again. The king told the man how he believed in his neighbor's promise of conversion and how he took pity and pardon his offenses. With the intention to settle the dispute and propose peace to the two neighbors, he then asked the miserable man whose cow was stolen to simply forgive his neighbor, to forget about the unfortunate experience, and to support his neighbor's conversion. The man fell silent.

In this simple story, if you are that man who has been asked to forgive, to forget and to support, how would you have felt and acted after talking to the king?

What advice could you give that man?

wala lang...

2007-10-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

wala lang magawa. walang ma-blog..

The Twilight Zone

2007-09-18T18:02:00.000-07:00

Sunrise
"A group of college students unleash an Aztec curse that plunges the Earth into darkness...and they must sacrifice one of their own to bring the Sun back."

Host: (opening narration) five close friends looking for a last good time before graduating college and going their separate ways. But their light-hearted search is about to take a dark turn. For the cave they're exploring isn't an ordinary cave, it's a passageway leading directly into The Twilight Zone.

This is a story five close friends who was having a kind of game which is 'treasure hunt' but accidentally found a chest of ancient Aztec civilization. They found out that the chest contains a cup of blood that is about more than 500 yrs old and unbelievably still fresh. Accidentally one of their companions spilled up the blood and suddenly the light was gone. They went out to check what happened and they found out that the sun disappeared. I an instant the temperature went down, they felt the cold which after a short time, it is still dropping. They found out thru the radio that the whole world was having a problem about the sudden disappearance of the sun and the decreasing temperature. They realize by them selves that they are the cause of the catastrophe. They agreed to have a lottery in order choose who will be that human sacrifice that will replace the blood that they spilled up. It was breath taking scene when they, pick the stick that will choose their destiny. In the end one the ladies was the one who got the shortest stick and forced to be the one who will be the sacrifice. The next thing happen when they brought back the chest to its place, the sun shone again and seems to be normal again. The sad thing is that they hear again from the radio that the scientists were able to discover the reason for such change in the weather and they said that the earth passed thru a plasma field.

Host: (closing narration) the sun has returned and the grateful world is warm again but for these four survivors, a bitter chill remains. Haunted by uncertainty they can find no peace of mind, no escape from the shadows of doubt, no light to guide them out of the murky depths of The Twilight Zone.

Source: http://www.tv.com/the-twilight-zone-2002/sunrise/episode/242703/summary.html

While watching, I am imagining if we were the one’s who was in that situation. It will be an unforgettable experience to us. The questions at the back of my head were, ‘who will be our sacrifice?’, ‘is there no other way?’, ‘can we just fill the cup with blood without sacrificing anyone?’. Oh my that will be a real pressure and a decision of a lifetime.

Ka-ilyan

2007-08-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

F. Sionil: agpadi ka mat laeng? a?

me: sir?

me: Indyak ammo.

me: Padpadas…

me: Padpadasek…

F. Sionil: Whawhawha…

F. Sionil: I-di ubing ngak pay, kanayon ibagbaga ti inang ken tatang ko ko; gag-gagaet, an-anos.

F. Sionil: Gaget, gaget, gaget. Anos, anos, anos..

F. Sionil: Aglalaing ka ngarod ah!

me: Wen sir!

Got it? Maybe not; this conversation took place when we had a chance visit F. Sionil Jose. He is famous writer not only in the Philippines but throughout world. His native town is in Rosales Pangasinan. And he is a fellow ilokano speaking like me. This is my short conversation with him while he is signing the book that I bought. He is still a lively person I think despite of his old age. Let me translate our conversation:

F. Sionil: will you become a priest? Huh?

me: sir?

me: I don’t know

me: trying

me: I’m trying

F. Sionil: Whawhawha…

F. Sionil: when I was still a child my parents always tell me persevere and patience

F. Sionil: persevere, persevere, persevere. Patience, patience, patience

F. Sionil: be good then! Do your best!!

me: yes sir!

Ka-ilyan is the ilokano term for 'kababayan' in english fellow citizen. Last august 11 together with my classmates and our teacher visited the great Filipino writer F. Sionil Jose. He is I think 82 yrs old who is still full of passion man. He gave us lectures about starting to be a writer. There are many thoughts that struck me but the most unforgettable phrase that he asks us, “Have you read me?” This phrase tells me one thing; your work should be a representation of you. Simple ideology but very hard to stand at.

identity mixed-up

2007-08-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

i'm a man
i'm student
i'm a friend
i'm a son
i'm a traveler
i'm a believer
i'm a player
i'm a sinner
i'm a worker
who am i?

Angel of Satan

2007-07-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

you angel of Satan
as if so mild so calm
but deep inside,
the devil drives you!

every time you pass by
you always wear your sweet smile
but your smell,
tells me how bitter you are!

go back to hell! you angel of Satan
because you bring no good to anyone
beware to you my brothers
because he might be at your side
at any time.

death is sure

2007-07-16T16:40:00.000-07:00

don't be so loud and proud because,
death is sure.
don't be selfish and greedy because,
death is sure.
don't lynch a fellow because,
death is sure.
don't be afraid to die because,
death is sure.
live life happily and cheerfully because,
death is sure.
live life ti the full because,
death is sure to come.

o powerful waters

2007-07-10T20:50:00.000-07:00

water is blue
water is free
water is clear
water is pure
water is calm
water is power
water is life
but when angry
water is "DEADLY"

plain

2007-07-04T17:22:00.000-07:00

when the sun is risen
the people are moving
to the fields, they went.
from there you could feel
the wind so soft,
the sky so mild,
the field so green.

the day is just started
and a new day, it starts.
i hope with words
i could say,
Welcome to my home.

Virtual School =The Old Fashion Way

2007-07-03T00:06:00.000-07:00

The article “online classes: opening a door to primary education” by Paul Korzeniowski made me think and reflect that this “virtual school” even though it is so advance in nature and technology but for me it is the same as the archaic manner of educating.

We all know when and how the education, classroom and school started. In our foundation of education class, discussed that is the early age when man started to realize the importance of knowledge; the students and the teachers are having their informal classes under the trees, at the forests, in the fields and in the temples sometimes. They don’t have formal teachers and classrooms to meet. From that time onwards, the conceptualizations of the classrooms are started. So talking about “virtual schools” program; I think it is just the same as the primeval way of educating. The people behind this virtual school program just change the name of the style of the class and the gadgets that are to be used.

I believe that the learning is not only happening in the four walls of the classroom but most of our growths as a human being are taking place in our own schools. I believe that our schools and the classrooms we are staying are not only aiming for our intellectual growth but rather our growth as a whole person. As Don Bosco says, “to students I wish that they, in their search for profane knowledge, do not forget the science of the saints.”

"What I Want to Write About"

2007-07-03T00:02:00.000-07:00

What I want to write about is actually writing about something I can’t write about. Why? I’m not sure. Maybe because I dint know what to write about. It is not that I don’t know how to write but it’s a little bit hard for me to write about something. I think it is because I am not used to write and I’m nit confident with my ability to write.

Every time I write about something, I’m very hesitant to acknowledge or to commend it; simply because I feel that it is not a good piece. So there are times that I feel so burdened when I need to write. But it’s not that bad neither, there are also moments that I enjoy what I’m writing about. Finally I think that this writing about something thing is actually part of writing your life, and I am very willing to write the letters of my life.

Why do I write?

2007-06-30T02:37:00.001-07:00

From hindsight, I can honestly say that personally, to write is one of the things I can’t claim as mine. Often, I ask people “why do you write” and “how are you able to write?” From them I get to hear various answers. Some said it is a way of expressing one’s self. Another said because it is about their life story. Others still, because it is their passion, it’s a requirement to accomplish, it’s a need, it is a way to earn a living and many more other reasons. But despite these reasons, still I don’t find an answer on why should I write. Of course, I know how to write and why I am writing. However, I can feel that there is something missing a lacuna somewhere hidden from within my grasp. Actually it is not just a part but a very big part is missing. I do not have the urge even just the simple holding of a pen. Much more to articulate my ideas and turned it into a literary piece. I don’t find the enthusiasm or the drive from within to write. These are reasons affecting me whenever I am asked to write on something. Writing even becomes more a burden on my part if I do not find the topic interesting. Its a very discouraging experience indeed.

Reflecting on my experiences and feelings regarding my difficulties in writing, I gradually feel the desire to write. Hence, I started writing steadily until one day I just realize that writing became part me. I experience writing everyday. I do it often, in the classroom, in the study hall, in the chapel, and in the computer room. I realize that to learn and to start writing add color to my life for I was able to put words to what I experience and how I feel. Yes, I admit that at first, I dislike writing. But the more I dislike it or the more hate it or the more I avoid it; the more I am drawn to it, the more I grow in my interest and love to writing thus, I always look forward to write even about those simple ideas.

There is a multitude of noble reason why people write. For me, I write to explore the meaning of everything. This is the force within or the motivation that facilitates my desire to write.

technology in education

2007-06-26T00:08:00.000-07:00

In our present times the use of gadgets and equipment are part of daily lives. Now a day’s most of the people in local and international setting are using gadgets and equipments for different purposes. Of coarse we are in the technology age. In my personal point of view these gadgets and equipments are part of human lives; part of work, part of studies, and part of living. And I believe there people who cant live life without these things, maybe I call them geek and/or nerds or worst techmaniacs.

I don’t know anyone, on my age level that haven’t seen a computer, surf the internet, used a mobile phone. Even the ones we call “poor” have access to the tech world. There are times that I ask myself and people around me that, why do some “less fortunate” people want still to afford to have access in media and technology? And I found some simple answers, these are: first, the world or people now is just one click away. We can explore the world now with the use of internet. We can communicate to other where ever he is with the use of mobile phone. And second, at least they can call themselves “in” even though they are poor at least they are “in” in news, showbiz, and others.

In school setting having the media and technology resources is an advantage in teaching; because it helps the instructor to present the lesson in such a way that the students can understand him better. But it doesn’t automatically mean that the quality of education is better than the others who don’t have. The way it is being used is the more important thing to consider. For me it is better to teach the old fashion way (board and chalk) than to use the new technology improperly.

I think the major hindrance why the Philippine educational system is lagging compared to the foreign educational system is that it is not given the proper priority. In our constitution it is stated that the education will be the priority of the whole budget, but unfortunately it doesn’t work like that. It should have the biggest part of the budget but in reality it is only the second priority. I can see it my self that our system is too far behind the educational system of the other countries especially on the field of technology.

Marshall McLuhan is right when he told that the technology can bring about division and even discrimination, a gap between the poor and the rich, a divergence between the technologically literate and the ignorant. Because as I previously stated that the proper use of the technology is more important than the technology itself. Another is that too much of anything is not good, so too much of technology will disturb the balance or the status quo and there is a big possibility of creating a division.

identity mixed-up

2007-06-24T18:46:00.001-07:00

i'm a man
i'm student
i'm a friend
i'm a son
i'm a traveler
i'm a believer
i'm a player
i'm a sinner
i'm a worker
who am i?

the end of the beginning

2007-06-24T17:52:00.000-07:00

Together we learned how to read

Together we learned how play

Together we discovered our prowess and skills

Together we shared our dreams

It was just like yesterday

When we first knew each other

The sense of farewell is hard to accept

But someday our roads will meet

Now its time to move on

It’s not yet the end but a new beginning

Now we’ll start a new start

And we need to separate to face the world

The mem’ries we’ve shared are worth to be kept

And I just want to say

Thanks for everything

And we’ve waited all our life

For this moment to arrive

To reach for our longings and show the world

And we must part our ways

Hard as it may seem

‘Cause the friendship has conquered us all

Everything will eventually fade away

I hope all the mem’ries will stay

Now its time to move on

It’s not yet the end but a new beginning

Now we’ll start a new start

And we need to separate to face the world

The mem’ries we’ve shared are worth to be kept

And I just want to say

Thanks for everything

Now its time to reach more

The roads maybe tough but we have to go on

Now we need to part our ways

To conquer our fears and to stand out among all

The laughter and the tears are worth to be kept

And I just want to say

We’ll see someday

smile

2007-06-19T18:24:00.000-07:00

smile to color your morning
smile to brighten-up your day
smile to sweeten your week
smile to conquer your month
smile to be happy in life