Looking at the future with prophetic eyes

I am not a seer or prophet. I do not have the ability to look farther than the myopic eyes of a 50+ year old person. But I believe that given the number of years that I’ve dealt with people of all ages, nationalities, socio economic backgrounds and demographics I might as well lay on the line what I think about the future of a bunch of young people who practically occupied my sights in four years of teaching. I couldn’t imagine how one faculty remarked that if those young women and men were to finish their academic degrees in Journalism (this March 2008) they will be majoring in “Maaliw!” Gosh, that was indeed a compliment. But kidding aside what do we have here?

It is now but a couple of days before the first batch of Journalism students at the University of the East, Manila will earn their diploma – hoping, in my heart that they earned something that not only sharpened their skills but also increased their love for humanity.

There is always a funny guy. So let me start with Lemuel. As a freshman student, I noticed this young man to be quiet with a very reserved smile. I can recall that he probably didn’t smile at all during that time. He was one of my class biddles in that computer class way back in 2004. Well, there was nothing remarkable about what he did in that class. Not much though. During subsequent semesters after that, Lemuel slowly but steadily showed how he can handle the requirements (at that time, he was frequently partnered with Brooke). At a certain point, he also brought in a Dawn staffer, Rob, who since then decided to stay in our journalism classes. Then, pretty Aiza came into the picture. What a lovely couple they are. Being a serious student with a sense of humour, I can see Lem becoming a successful sports writer in a major daily. He would have to work hard at it though, cuz I also can see that somehow he would have to facechallenges coming up from his editor. He can also be a good teacher. His class reports have generally been instructive. I can also see that Lem will build a family together with Aiza and they will live happily ever after.

Also a guy who began as some quiet person was Eleazar. I can still picture that young man with the big round eyes, beatle hair style, who didn’t really talk much in class. But I saw in him a serious purpose. He always tried to do his best in most school work. And he punctuates this with his loud voice. His whisper is even louder than my lectures! He’s a master of the disappearing act – being in class when the weather is bad and out of it when the weather is good! Though I haven’t seen him do so, I was told that he comes all the way from Bulacan not to attend class but to spend his dough in computer games and smokes. I liked his positive outlook. Imagine his wordpress article already dreaming about graduating this March! Looks too presumptuous. But watch out. I see this guy being busy with a career that combines his knowledge in journalism, research, and computers (cuz he is an on line game addict). This career is in teaching probably and I guess he will be successful in it.

Those were the two macho boys. Now let’s talk about the pretty girls.

Babylene came a sem late in the batch. She was a shiftee from an accounting degree. But I am happy that she is here and blended well in the batch. Like most of the other students, Bebs loves music and she is a member of an alternative band. Beb’s quiet personality belies a quick sense of learning – quick to pick up lessons that are only explained once. She is quite adept at writing short but substantial articles as shown in her class outputs. I can see Beb become a writer and critique of a music magazine. As a working student, I can see her also handling a full time job in her profession and also a full time job nurturing a family. Bebs has a relaxed disposition and this trait will be part of her future success in journalism.

Farrah was an original 2004 student. From a mixture of broadcasting and journalism students in that computer class, I did not imagine that this young girl from Isabela would want to be a journalist. Okay, we’re all guilty of stereotyping but I thought, Farrah would have taken a course in the medical field! But I was wrong. I learned soon enough that she can’t stand the sight of blood. Well, there is no immunity from this fact, I once told her, cuz a reporter’s beat can bring one to crime scene or a maternity ward. During the past four years, I saw in Farrah a kind of seriousness in whatever it was that she was doing – whether it’s going on vacation, romance, or school work. This aspect I confirmed when she finished off several shots of liquor and red wine and was able to walk straight. I admire Farrah for that. After March 2008, Farrah will probably take a break in her hometown. But I am sure, she will come back and become a counsellor of romantics in trouble. I can see that writing cases and resolutions about relationships is what Farrah will be doing and I encourage her to take a graduate degree in psychology. If and when, she gets fine with her long time boyfriend, she can become a good mum and despite adversities – she will walk straight ahead.

Riza was in my computer class too. Like most journalism students who I knew from way back, Riza is a quiet and serious student. One vivid incident that I can recall was when she tried to say goodbye to UE and journalism by becoming a lady cop. Imagine, she was set to go the police academy. While I did not discourage her to pursue her dreams, I admonished her to think well about her decision. I was happy when she relented and resumed her goal of completing the course. Now Riza, with her quiet ways, has shown a steady improvement in her class outputs. And that went on consistently throughout. Her ability to pick up lessons well had been evident. I can see Riza becoming someone who will be helping her family as a successful journalist in the scientific field. She had been adept in expressing her thoughts in the science and technical writing classes and I am sure she will be successful in with that. With her love of family, Riza is all set to become a good mum, too.

Khem, usually the last in the alphabetical list, was actually not the last in terms of charm and performance. She is the counterpart of Lem, being the comedienne of the class! She takes everything in stride thinking positively that things will work out well in the end. Despite being teased frequently, I have not seen her lose her cool or become sensitive to the point of feeling sorry for herself. This was evident having suffered from life threatening health problems in her childhood and overcoming them with flying colours. Khem’s smiling face and happy disposition always rubs off in class and (together with Lem and Eleazar) they can enliven the class (and social events) with their spontaneity. I can see Khem taking up further studies since she had been a consistent Dean’s lister. This bright girl with the ready smile can become a good trainer. Her personality and ability combines well for a human resource type of work. I can also see her become a mother of twins or triplets some time in the future.

And Joba the svelte girl with the strange name but alluring personality had been the student who showed much energy and vitality. I never saw her in low bat mode! Most of my early recollection about her was her consistent request to be excused due to athletic practice or competition. I believed in her because despite her multi tasking activity, she has also been a consistent scholar. Now, she has a part time job teaching young adults in linguistics. In the computer class, I remember her approach me several times about her schedule and asking permission to be excused. From the beginning I admired that attitude – to be open and to be happy with whatever life is treating her. Her behaviour, fashion taste, organizational sense, and attitude, I once told her, are standards that she can use to adapt well in other countries. Having said that, I don’t think that Joba is the marrying kind. She will be “married” to her profession while enjoying a life of travel and top level socialization. I can see Joba as a writer or editor of a fashion or women’s magazine. She can also be in the foreign service – as press attaché. Or she can become a world renowned literary writer. She already has the requisite qualification – an avowed coffee addict (with or without alcohol!) and a good taste of fine wine.

Well, I can actually go on. But let me take a pause until the next article. Good luck and God bless to everyone. Do not forget those of your batch who have lagged behind or given up along the way.

Recalling college days

It is almost 30 years since leaving the University of the Philippines in March 1978 with a bachelors degree. Not many memorable, weird, funny, forgetable and shameful events before that can still be remembered. But let me share with you some of them.

1. Being a freshman in an “activist” and “pseudo nationalist” setting has its downside. Imagine the idiotic thing I did when I tried to express and idea in a freshman english class orally in tagalog?!? The teacher, then, who was an avowed licensed terror of course said, ” I don’t understand you!” Alright, so much for being a newbie in a rather ambiguous setting.

2. As a Philippine Collegian staff, a cat and mouse game seemed the favorite at that time. Pictures, captions and stories were withdrawn from publication whenever any or all were deemed “subversive!” That was the most popular tag anyone can get at that time particularly in the University — it can cost your life! It was not unusual for innocent looking articles to be censored. And they’re not even articles that covered events at that time but only some criticisms of facilities in the campus.

3. I was part of the musicians (playing the percussion) in the play Marat Sade – an adaptation of a play written by a French playwright about characters during the French Revolution. Sade is the count who brought his name notoriously in the enlish language, i.e., sadist – experiencing pleasure when inflicting pain on another person. That was 1973, just about a year after the infamous Martial Law was declared. At every performance, there were constabulary soldiers outside the Abelardo Hall Theatre. They were called the Metropolitan Command or Metrocom for short, the dreaded group whose model could have been the German Gestapo or the Japanese kempetai. Up until this time, I am unaware how the script of that play could have incited a small group of audience to rebellion!?!

4. The adolescent years were not lost, though. There were crushes and return crushes left and right and also time for learning. During one out of town trip by a group of journalism students in a huge house with a private pool in Los Banos owned by the family of one member, one of the crushes tagged along. After everyone had changed into their two pieces and trunks, I was the one left in the bedroom that was turned into a temporary ‘changing room.’ I was then trying to get into wading mode when the crush came in. The first thing she did was to ask me, “do you want to see me change into my bikini?”

5. The Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) was a requirement in college. In UP, during the medical exam, a student was asked whether he is interested to enrol in the 4 semester course or be exempted if found with a flat foot, eyeglass grade of 500 or over, myopic, and other so called disabilities that now may not be classified as such unless it interferes with normal life. Much to my regret, I was recommended for exemption because of myopia. Well my elder brothere was not exempted and he went on to finish the advanced ROTC course as a cadet officer and member of the UP Vanguard fraternity. I didn’t miss the fun though cuz my brother always asks me to document activities of his platoon, company, battalion, etc during parades, bivuoacs, camp outs, range shootings, etc.

From 1979 to 1983, I enrolled and finished a graduate degree in communication research. But let that be discussed in another topic.

Crazy weather

There were two typhoons that passed the country in the past two weeks. Luckily, Metro Manila was spared. They could have provided some cleansing of the dirty cities in the metropolis! On the other hand, the mud that will settle once the floods drain themselves into the clogged estuaries will add to the dirt and grime of the city. The dirt and grime, of course, are exacerbated by the dirt, mud and grime already being thrown at one another by shitty and good for nothing politicians!

Too cocky

Here are excerpts from a news report on a statement of a politician turned government agency secretary –

“BAGUIO CITY — Global warming and urban decay cannot be blamed on overpopulation, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said here Saturday.

Atienza made the assertion during a tree-planting activity at the Camp John Hay forest reservation to jump-start a counter-global warming campaign.

He said good resource management would correct anomalies that have spawned homelessness and poverty, and should be enough to address the hole in the ozone layer.

The United States had raised the matter of overpopulation to justify its decision not to ratify the protocol, which was pushed by former Vice President Al Gore.

It argued that the restrictions should also cover China and India because of their big populations.

Although many equate overpopulation with climate change because of the subsequent increase in motor vehicle emissions and heightened industrial expansion, population has never been a serious condition to draw the interest of world environmentalists, Atienza said.

The Philippines need not alter its climate change policy because it does not contribute as much greenhouse gases as developed countries do, he said.

Atienza said overpopulation should be embraced and not feared by cities.”

Well, here comes another person assuming different roles in governance without really thinking first of things said in public. This is really sad. For the past two decades since the publication of “Our Common Future” people (not just “overpopulation’) has had a role in the disposition of the environment. How else can the environment be in the shape it is in now? Aren’t all the changes done by people? How much more if there is “overpopulation?” We have to make a definition of what this means, though. For example, Manila can hold only 1 million people scattered comfortably in the land of a thousand square kilometers (figures are not accurate, given only for comparison). That’s not overpopulation. But if these same 1 million is concentrated in an area of a hundred kilometers, then that is “overpopulation.” Which means that the way the city is laid out population has become a problem.

The situation is bad enough but when local bureaucrats take pot shots at other countries environment policies that’s a little too cocky given the bad reputation that this country already possess in the international community. The bureaucrat should also quit commenting and making generalized statements such as “population has never been a serious condition to draw the interest of world environmentalists.” It sadly shows the very limited abilities of those governing this country. At the least, it also shows the lack of good background reading and research.

The point here is that we all need good resource management, (which includes human resource) as well as a good population distribution, more service oriented governance, and less personal politics.

Reckoning students

Its been four weeks since the second semester at the University of the East began. Immediately, there are differences that can be observed between freshmen and senior students comprising the communication and journalism courses that I handle.

I guess it has to do somewhat with maturity. The first year students usually have the following characteristics:

1. there’d be at least one male and one female class comedian (aka “the life of the party”
2. there’d be some who will instinctively laugh at their antics
3. there’d be students who will surely chat or mumble despite the teacher lecturing in front or a fellow student doing some oral report
4. there’d be students who will tinker with the computer games and ignore a more active role in class

Senior students though are more introspective and there’s a look of anticipation of an impending graduation from a four year course. The comedians will always be there, though, but only to a lesser degree.

Oh well, so much for being a professor in UE Manila!?!

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