THE QUEEN OF KANGKONG FESTIVAL

THE LUDICROUSNESS OF SCHOOLS AS CULTURAL(?) CENTERS

The government agency responsible for ensuring quality education in the country has changed its name as often as the confusion that results in the short term memories of students. When I was young, it was Ministry of Education and Culture. When I first taught in high school, it became Department of Education, Culture and Sports. Today, it is called the Department of Education, sans culture and sports. For whatever reason, I would like to believe that the change in name is supposed to reflect the thrust of the agency for quality education for all. However, when feast days in honor of our beloved saints come, Culture slowly creeps and reattaches itself to the Department of Education. I am referring to this not so stellar practice of converting schools (even for a week) into bogus, trying hard cultural centers at the expense of education quality (kuno!).

When fiesta comes in our place, we cannot do so much our share(!) in uplifting quality of education in the Philippines. Precisely because everyone is busy rehearsing for the nightly presentation of dances (which makes teachers look like trying hard tuods), never ending saga of street dancing (which makes our students look like slaves to insecure, reputation-challenged seasonal not seasoned festival choreographers) and countless requests for parades and rita-ritas to the delight of band trainers who learned music by belting out in cheap karaoke bars. These are all for the guise of social awareness, civic consciousness and cultural development. These are all in the sacrifice (He…he…he!) of education, quality education (Ho…ho…ho…u…bo!)

How should schools teach students culture – the appreciation of tradition and heritage? Is it by dancing in the street to the beat of oil drums? Or is it by declaring festival queens who unfortunately come in not so admirable titles? Can you imagine a queen of the Utanon Festival? She must be an achada! How about the Siloy Festival Queen? Does she reign over tikarols and buntogs and mayas and the yellow-breasted bulbol? I can only pity how a Pitlagong Queen smells – bahalina, dauat, or tungog? And how about the Banig Queen, Cabcab Queen, Bonga Queen, Tostado Queen, Bolho Queen, Sinulog Queen? Where are they now? Have they improved our understanding of who we are as people, as Cebuanos and as Filipinos? No! Nada…we are even going to teach Spanish next year in high school. Tu no hablaes Ingles? My gulay! Festival dancer ka seguro sa?

THE WINGLESS ASCENT

Reflection on Fulton J. Sheen's Why We Are Not Better

Saints are not born; they are made. Looking at the lives of our saints, we can see many instances which we may think disqualify them from sainthood. These instances are the deeds of killing, disrespect of parents, and even prostitution of our beloved saints. These instances prove that not all saints are good throughout their lives. In fact, the first saint is a criminal who was crucified together with Jesus Christ in Calvary.

Humans are born naturally good but it does not mean that we are immune to sin. The mere fact of knowing that we sin proves our natural goodness. Moreover, our innate goodness is responsible for us determining what is good from what is bad. This natural element in us already has allowed us to become saints.

However, this natural goodness would not help us attain sainthood if it will not shine out. It takes actions, not just one, to reveal to others that we are good. The inner goodness of a man can be seen in his good deeds.


Like our beloved saints, we are all good upon birth. Like them, anyone can become a saint through this natural goodness. Through good actions we can prove that we are worthy of saintly treatment. Although most of us today do not mind if we become saints or not, it is still best to do good work for us to be happy eternally. Hence, we are all called out to be saints!

This reflection is written again by Mark T, one of my better senior writers. In pictures is my brother Giovanni with some of his workmates taking a break in New Hampshire.

FILLED WITH TROUBLES...OVERFLOWING WITH SUCCESS

I hope in You, O LORD;
And you, O LORD, will answer me.
Psalm 38:15

Life is full of troubles but the flames of hope burn in the hearts of the troubled man. In his battle, hope shall never vanquish his heart. Hope remains as long as good people still inhabit the earth, as long as the good remains in us and as long as God is with us. Wars and troubles may plague the earth; however, hope will remain in the hearts of people. Consequently, a better tomorrow is evident.

Hope will never diminish as long as good people still exist. Hope likewise, is strongly present in this people. They are the promoters of peace and unity. They are the shedders of love and good will. With their presence, hopes won’t be useless and the chance of a better tomorrow is greater.

Another reason not to quit hoping is because we all know good always prevails over the bad. As long as we are fighting for the good, in every challenge we shall prevail. Good people are magnets of good things—things which are blessings from God for being good. Thus, we should never lose hope for God is forever grateful to good-hearted people.

Most of all, we should never lose hope because God loves us all. He didn’t send these trials to make us live like hell. Instead, he sent these trials for us to learn from them. These trials are great gains for us. It reveals lessons to make us stronger. Hence, we shall never lose hope for God’s actions all have a cause.

“The rainbow always comes after the rain,” as what they say to signify that for every obstacle lies a lesson for us to learn. As long as we’re with the right people, making the right decisions and possessing strong faith in God, we should not quit hoping for this lessons will make us stronger in facing our lives and their trials. Our lives maybe full of troubles; nevertheless, our hearts shall overflow with hope—the hope of a better tomorrow.

Manfred D.

WARM NOTE FROM MY BROTHER

You played a big part in my success. From the enthralling "Transformer" booklet way back on my first grade, to the choose-your-own-adventure when I was barely able to read, to that black venerable medical dictionary which I occasionally finagled on my way to school and eventually made me "Best in Science", you introduced me to the wonderful world of reading and sustain my fascination to it...

And when technical books are not enough to answer life's questions, you're always there to compensate their limitations. I may be your mentor on anything computers but needless to say that it all stops there.






For everything else, the role is reversed. And with that, I couldn't thank you enough.

Vani



(My brother in Chicago with his new light blue Scion cT.)

TWO TAKES ON SILENCE

WAITING IN SILENCE
Theresa Lora Z.

Silence is not merely the absence of noise. It is the home of our secret desires and goals. We aim for something we greatly desire but we keep it in ourselves. My greatest desire is found in the silence of my heart. I crave for their attention. I long for their love. I aim for my parents’ time. I just keep all the emptiness I feel inside me. I don’t want to force them to love me. Well, here I am ……just waiting in silence.

______________________________

THE DEAFENING SOUND OF ISOLATION
Manfred D.

Silence is the feeling of emptiness within. It’s the feeling of being alone. A silent heart is due to lack of a companion. It’s the isolation of oneself from his peers—like a bird away from its flock. No matter how deafening the surrounding may be, with the lack of belongingness, silence is still heard within. The only remedy for this pain is the creation of new friendship.

Rafael Antonio is my nephew, seen here when he was about five months old.

THE WAY, THE TRUTH & THE LIGHT

Why Our Better is not the Best

“It is our pleasure to serve you.” This is a common slogan we often see on some business establishments. They try to give their best service possible in order to attract customers. Of course, it is their pleasure to serve the people since the customers will pay them in exchange of the service. However, their effort to give the best service always comes out better only and not the best. This is also true to many of us. Like the business establishments, we try to help others but expect something in return. The true essence of service is not present in our work.

The true essence of service is to give the “best” that one could give so that everyone will benefit from the fruit of ones labor without expecting something in return. Despite the fact that we give something for others, if we do not do it for charity, then it is never the best that we could give. The best in our work only comes out when we do things for others and when we do it selflessly. On the other hand, when we try to help others and try to do our best, but expect something in return, that deed cannot be regarded as the best but rather only better. Our best only comes out when we do things in the essence of service. We can never do the best in our work unless we learn to do things selflessly.

Mediocrity is one of the reasons why we cannot do our best. Mediocrity in our work means we do our work but does it with a “just enough-pwede na ‘yan” mentality in order to pass a certain standard. If we will have such mentality then we tend to do things which are just enough for ourselves, disabling us to serve others. We can never serve others if we are doing things with a sense of mediocrity for a mediocre act is just enough for ourselves. Mediocrity can never benefit others but rather harm them. If our best can only be done when we serve, then an act of mediocrity hinders us from doing our best for it loses the essence of service. An act that does not benefit and help others can never be called our best.

Egotism is another hindrance for us to do our best. Egotism is to exalt one’s self or to think that one is of greater importance than other people. An egotist can never serve others unless he learns to humble down himself. He can never serve others for he looks down on other people and never reaches out to them. A person who exalts himself is full of pride and does not cherish charity in his heart. A person who does not know how to serve and exalts himself can never do his best, for serving others is doing our best. Thus, we can never do best in our work unless we learn to humble down ourselves.

Reservation is the last reason why we cannot do our best. Reservations are our blind spots – things about us only others know. We cannot see these attitudes in us because the reality that we possess them hurts us, and when others try to confront us about such attitudes, we try to be blind about the reality because it hurts us. Reservations separate us from the people around us. It separates us from the people who confront us for we cannot accept the truth and we do not want to change. We cannot serve other people when we separate ourselves from them and when we separate ourselves from the truth. Unless we accept the truth and we see our blind spots, we cannot serve the people around us. Hence, reservations hinder us from serving others and hinder us from doing our best.

Jesus Christ in the Bible is a great model of a man who does His best in His work. He healed the sick, fed the hungry crowd and made many more miracles; but he never asked something in return. He lived a life of service and overcame mediocrity for He has always done His every work with compassion. He has never been an egotist for He loves us all and He always humbled down Himself. He never also had any reservations for he accepted His fate and consequently saved us. Jesus was a man of great service whom we should follow. We should make Jesus Christ, therefore, our model in order to overcome our mediocrity, egotism and reservations to strive for the best in every thing we do.

The author of this essay, Jeff F., is finishing his degree in computer engineering at MIT. The impassioned guy in picture is Dick T. and his infamous Mark Anthony's speech. Both are my English students who graduated last March 2008.

SR. STO. NIÑO DE CEBU

A Little Boy with a Big Heart

Merciful and gracious is the Lord,
slow to anger, abounding in kindness – Psalms 103:8

Biology defines the heart as a chunk of flesh which pumps blood to the whole body; but is this the only definition of the human heart? Actually it’s not merely an organ but a big bag which overflows with goodness. It may be as big as the person’s fist but its true size is measured by the kindness it possesses and shares. The true size of the heart is not seen but felt.

A young boy possesses a huge heart of this kind. He’s from a craft shop in Belgium and survived several tragedies including a great fire that turned his skin into black. He’s a little boy who stands a couple of inches tall. He is Sr. Santo Niño. He’s a small kid who helps his people conquer their fear, inspires them to unite and provides them an undying hope for a better tomorrow. Although he’s literally small, the size of his heart is immeasurable. Truly, the Santo Niño is a little kid, who despite his small stature has helped his people in numerous ways.

Apprehensions are normal for us humans. One display of Sr. Santo Niño’s great heart is his ability to rid us of doubts. His believers possess great faith that everything will be in order in his name. They turn for him for the assurance of their travels, safety from calamities and healing of maladies. These heartfelt prayers are granted in exchange for the faith they offer. This is evident as his old believers remain devoted and their number has multiplied over the years. His believers feel secure in their daily lives because of his presence. Their great faith in him gives them the strength to face all their fears.

In our struggles today unity is the key for our success. Another display of Santo Niño’s grate heart is its compelling gift that drives us to unite. Every year a festival is offered in his name, the Sinulog. This festival not only shows choreographic grace but a great deal of coordination as well. A successful performance requires coordination. This is true to our lives too. If we attain coordination which is unity, we can achieve grace which is progress. The Sinulog festival does not only provide entertainment but an inspiration as well. When unity is apparent, his mercy will surely be granted and success will be achieved in any field. Through the Sinulog festival, Santo Niño inspires his people to unite.

Today people are bombarded by various problems. The best showing of Santo Niño’s immensely great heart is the hope he provides his people in times of these problems. With the emergence of various economic and political problems, it’s a puzzle how people survive. Some may find other reasons but it’s in him where his believers find shelter and hope. Their faith keeps them going on even with all the problems they face. They make sacrifices because they know that mercy will be granted for doing so. It is what gives them hope, the hope to go on. With Santo Niño’s presence, his people find the hope to keep living their lives even with all its miseries.

Sr. Santo Niño de Cebu plays a big role in Cebuano culture. He deserves this importance not only for what he has done but because of the fact that he is the child version of the savior Jesus Christ; this importance, however, is not visible in his small physique. If a stranger, who doesn’t know anything abut him, happens to see the small child, he would probably ignore the little boy. But if he’s told of his story, the stranger would be amazed by everything he has done. With this, one can really say that Sr. Santo Niño truly has a big heart. After all, the true size of the heart is not measured by what is seen but felt.

This speculative essay is written by one of my male student writers Manfred D. It pays homage to Sr. Sto Niño whose fiesta we celebrate every January. The accompanying pictures are Dalaguete's Utanon (Vegetable) Festival, a take-off of the Sinulog Festival.

UNSHACKLE ME: FREE AT LAST!

Why We are not Better

You and I are almost the same. There are no many differences. Only that we have different insights and expectations in life. If only humans have common mind that thinks as one, for sure we can come up with better lives. I do agree with the good Cardinal Fulton Sheen when he said that “humans cannot be better because we do not have the will to be better.”

Living life is fulfilling its purpose. But wait! Does living make its purpose be fulfilled? We tend to look onward to the positive side of life but still we cannot do better because we cling on the opposite side – the negative side. We cannot accomplish nor can we improve ourselves to become better. We set divisions among ourselves. We often think that others can do more because they are better. Well, what is now the difference among us all?

Nothing less and nothing more – that is human characteristics are given to us by God equally. We cannot say that they are better for they have more than what we have. We have equal characteristics. Only that we do not use them to their fullest.

Being true to ourselves makes us more realistic. Seeing life as it really is, gives us the chance to know ourselves well. It is true that we can lie to others but not really to ourselves. Being true to what we feel frees us from worries and burdens.

But we humans are often blinded by external factors. Even if we already see a solution to solve a particular problem, we pretend not to see it. It is also the same when we hear the truth. We prefer to be blind and deaf. We are all great pretenders.

We must therefore open our eyes to the reality. For when it is when we open our senses that we are free from the shackles that locked us from within. It is only then that we can start doing good, even going beyond and live real lives.

This didactic essay was written by another student of mine, Rochelle G. The flow of thoughts is sensible and reflects this young lady’s maturity. The pictures were taken during the search for Ms. Intramurals 2003. My student, Gladys, won the search. With her is John Rey, the reigning Mr. Intrams.

THE WILL TO CARRY ON

The Human Spirit

Humans, created in the image and likeness of God, are now in the peak of their evolution. Gifted with high intellect, adapting capability and strong sense for survival are the traits that give superiority to humans over other animals. If these gifts are our greatest advantage over nature, then we are no more than nature’s pawn.

I believe that what gives us power over nature is our innate spirit. Over the years passing by, nature has ingeniously crafted legions of species and that include us humans. There is a wide variety of critters of nature yet only one stands out to possess power over them. It is man with his spirit.

Human spirit is a strong asset to victory and yet it is also the weak spot of humans. Like everything else that has advantages, it also has disadvantages.

Humans, unlike any other creature, possess this fighting spirit which is essential to total victory in life. With our spirit, we are more formidable in facing problems and fixing errors. This spirit also contributes in our socialization with fellow human beings.

Yet this spirit is so fragile than glass. If broken and torn apart, it is more than hard to mend. It takes another spirit to show us not to give up and that is when healing comes in. We are the masters of our body and soul. It is in us that we survive; it is in us that we triumph, and it is in us now to recover from the wounds to stand and carry on!

This short essay was written by one of my students, Mark V. T. It is a mature, sensible reflection of the triumph of the human spirit. The pictures accompanying the essay were those of some candidates of Men Entice - Mr. Intrams 2002.

Unfortunately, this was the first and the last search for Mr. Intramurals. John Rey went down as the first and the last winner of this fun-filled, entertaining and life-changing experience.

LIFE'S JOURNEY

-A Journal of a Graduating Student

I am Manfred. Life to me is like an old staircase. After every step another follows. While climbing you may find broken steps. This represents hardships and obstacles in life. You must face and get through them to get to the next step. You must not skip a step or else you’ll fall. Like a staircase, life must be taken one step at a time and you must face all its challenges.

In this life, I am a typical teenager; that’s how I see myself. A typical teen who is striving to make his dreams a reality-a guy who is willing to face any challenge for his dreams. Another face in the crowd, they may say. I may not rise above all the rest but I’ll do my best to bring out the best in me and survive the challenges to make it to the next step.

My years as an elementary student were fine. Yes, it was quite a challenge and I was a bit irresponsible but I somehow managed to get through it. All of this changed when I got promoted to a greater challenge, high school. Instead of rising up to the challenge by improving myself, I degraded. I became worse than what I was before. My personality and the way I did things were inversely proportional to the challenges. The challenges became harder but I degraded. I did twisted things that didn’t contribute to my wellbeing. I forgot the value of time, the importance of knowledge. I missed what is supposed to be the foundations of my high school education. I wasted my crucial first two years. Mistakes I did in the past that I cannot take back.

My outlook in life only changed when I was in my middle stages of high school. It was in my third year that I learned the true meaning of friendship. I met friends who always wanted the best for you but never left when you were at you worst. They were friends who held together even in the darkest of days. They helped me in a very nice way that I was able to help others in need too. They made me realize that you can have fun while learning. I was able to get through the end of my junior year and entered my senior year with what they taught me. At the start of my senior year was a bumpy ride but I was able to make it until the last months of the school year.

My high school days are indeed coming to a near close. I can hear folks joke about the toga so near, they could smell it. This does not mean it’s the end of my journey. Next stop is a greater challenge, college. Here is where I’ll be polished more to become a better person. This time I’ll do my best to live up to the challenge. I’ll change the way I do things by being more responsible in contrast to what I did in high school. I’ll get through college’s four year span with the consistency of my new found wisdom.

Hopefully in the year 2011, the year for my college graduation, I’ll graduate with flying colors and face a far greater challenge, the true test of life, the outside world. I’ll be busy finding a job for financial security. Then I can help my parents and let them experience the luxury they sacrificed for me. I’ll be married then but only after I have set my priorities. I must find financial stability for my first family before I start a new one.

Every new beginning comes from some of the beginning’s end. As a chapter of my life ends, another one opens. Each and every time a new one opens, it imposes a greater challenge. Each and every time the challenge becomes greater, I’ll do my best to live up to this. This reminds me of a line I heard from a movie I once saw, “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, as long as you came.” It’s better to face the pains of defeat than to face the pains of forfeit. After all defeat has his consolation. The greatest gift of defeat is wisdom, wisdom that makes you a better person for the next upcoming challenges. I’ll strive even if I fail to achieve my dreams.

(This was written by one of my graduates last SY 2008. I like this work for its sheer honesty. The author writes with sincerity, a mature take of what life was and what it will be.)

FEBRUARY IS...THE PROM SEASON, SADLY

Never teach false morality. How exquisitely absurd to teach a girl that beauty is of no value, dress of no use! Beauty is of value – her whole prospects and happiness in life may often depend upon a new gown or a becoming make-up; if she has five grains of common sense, she will find this out. The great thing is to teach a child the great value of a new gown or shirt and a well-made up face or a well-combed hair; and that there must be something better under the make-up than a pretty face, for real happiness. But never sacrifice truth.

In the light of the present financial instability of the country where the exception of the rule is being opulent, what is the Turning-over Ceremony and JS Prom all about?

It is education. Being beautiful is not vanity but the truth; however, a very thin line separates the two and we are well-aware of the demarcation. The Prom is a continuing saga of our struggle to uphold the truth. I may sound so philosophical, so please do forgive me and indulge with me.

A Turning-over Ceremony and JS Prom does not just pay homage to beauty and poise but also to courage, leadership and talents. After all, education is supposed to be the intermarriage of good character, sophistication and survival.

But unfortunately, we do not have the JS Prom anymore for two years now. It is sad, so feast your eyes with some of the most colorful JS Proms the school ever had!

LETTER NO. 4 - THE LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST

December 29

Dear Jolly,

I would like to thank you again for the nice gift you gave me.

What stuck to my mind though was the message that came with it! I was humbled by the trust you gave me. I was sincere when I told you not to be afraid to flap your wings and reached the sky just like Jonathan did, because I would always be there to catch if you fall.

You have soared to greater heights in life today. You got almost everything. You are more than intelligent because you are educated. You are more than physically appealing because you are beautiful on the inside. Your manners and demeanor leave everybody wanting. You have been weighed; you have been measured and you have been found close to perfection.

I don’t want to call you intelligent because you are not. Intelligence stops at theories in life. Education commences where intelligence ends. You have survived college, and the hospital therefore, you are not merely a bundle of brain tissue but rather a complex of guts, brains and brawns. Only educated people can survive life because they are meant to. Intelligent people sometimes become the problem. Educated people have always been the solution.

You have also come to grow very attractive. It’s all in the genes, you may say. I know that. But more than just physically attractive is how beautiful you are within. You have a beautiful face but your heart is lot more beautiful. Your heart is as pure as your intentions. Today, what counts is not how you look from outside but how you appear from deep within. You are indeed one of God’s favored children.

Not only are your intentions as pure as your heart but also your actions. The way you move speaks of grace, confidence and good manners. Never have I seen you conduct rudely or impolitely. The way you carry on a conversation speaks of your respect for others.

For all these good things I have seen in you now, I know you have imperfections still. You are only but human therefore you have shortcomings too. You have problems too. You pained too. Never mind. These things will remind you of Him. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I remain...

Your good friend,

Sir Carlo

A THIRD LETTER TO MY STUDENT

Deciembre 30,

Do,

Nawad-on ko sa mga pulong sarang pagagamiton pagsugod niining akong hamubong sulat para kanimo. Unta ako nakahunahuna na man gani nga dili na lang kini pagasulaton ug hingpit ko na lang ipabati kanimo ang akong pagdayeg ug pagrespeto pinaagi sa maong card hain kining maong sulat nahilakip.

Usa lang gayud ka butang ang gusto nako nga ipaambit pinaagi ning hamubo kong pakigsandurot sa imong hunahuna ug balatian. Ako Do, perte nga pagkapilian kung ang pagatuki-on na gani mao ang panaghigalaay ug ang akong mga kahigalaan. Imo na seguro nga nasinati nga pagkamasud-ungon nako sa tanan. Maingon ta nga pagkamahigalaon nako nga pagkatawo. Tinuod nga maabi-abihon ako sa tanan pero niining mga tawo nga akong gisud-ong ug giilang mga higala, pipila lang ang giisip kong tinu-od ug bug-os. Usa ikaw sa mga higala kong tinuod ko nga gimahal, gidayeg ug girespeto. Kadtong mga maanindot nga pulong nga nahipatik sa balat nianang card nga seguro imo karon nga ginakuptan dili pagabiay-biay sa pagkatalagsaon mong mga hiyas, birtud, abilidad ug panag-ingnan.

Sa tibuok kong kinabuhi, tutulo pa lang ka mga tawo ang giila kong mas makinaadmanon kay kanako. Usa ikaw niining mga tawhana.

Ako wala ni gamay nga pagduda nga ikaw makinaadmanon. Ang imoha nga panglihok-lihok ang pakighinabi nagamatuod sa kadako sa imong kaalam. Usahay, babati-on ako ug dakong kabalaka nga basin unya ang akong mga ginabatbat ug ginatudlo kaninyo imoha nga gihatagan ug dugang pagtimbang-timbang sarang mapamalandong mo ang katinu-od ug kahusto niini. Hinuon nagatuo ako ug dako nga kung ugani aduna man kaha ikaw makita nga pagkulang sa mga magtutudlo, kini imoha nga pagahilomon sanglit ang pagbutyag niini ikahibutang man sa maong magtutudlo sa pagkamakapahiubos ug pagkamakauulaw nga sitwasyon. Tungod kini kay ikaw dili lang makinaadmanon kun dili ikaw matinahuron ug but-an pa gayud nga tinun-an.

Ako na lang upod nga pagapahimuslan kining maong higayon sa pagpasalamat kanimo sa mga pag-antos nga imo nang nasinati ug pagasagubangon pa isip gobernador sa atong tulonghaan. Ako nahibalo unsa nga sakripisyo imoha nga gi-antos aron lang nga ang matag-kalihokan ug mga kalamboan sa SMA mahatagan ug katumanan sanglit kitang tanan nagahandom man ug kausbawon para ning maong institusyon. Sa matag kadaugan ug maayong dungog nga sa tulonghaan ginaani ug gitagamtam, ayaw kaulaw pagsinggit sa katawhan nga ikaw nanahimo nga kapalaagihan sa pagkab-ot sa ingon.

Tungod ning tanan kung giasoy ug gibatbat, niining adlaw ikaw uban ang imong pinanggang mga ginikanan akong gibati ug usa na upod ka mabulahang bag-ong tuig. Ako upod manghinaut nga tagaan ikaw ug maayong lawas ug nga dili ka na unta magada-ot ning bag-ong tuig nga miabot.

Dinhi na lang ako kutob. Sa makanunayon pa…

Ang pagkamaambongan mong higala ug magtutudlo,
Sir Carlo

MY SELF-MADE YOUNGER BROTHER

(Vermont - Autumn Leaves)

Unfortunately, according to Dr. Alan Loy McGinnis, we humans tend to introduce ourselves by how much we have accomplished in life rather than who we really are.

I want to introduce to you my younger brother. This is to encourage everyone of us to try our best and make it successfully in life. My younger bro is a self-made man. He is a software engineer based in Florida; however he travels a lot. What is very interesting is that he has no formal computer education. All he did was read computer books and tinker with his PC. I hope the pictures I posted will encourage some of the graduates taking up Computer Studies to excel and be as equally successful as my brother.

He is our youngest brother among a brood of five. I come to know him ever since as somebody who really loves to read. I cannot call him the friendly type of guy but he keeps a small circle of acquaintances. He is dedicated to whatever he is working on and oftentimes becomes engross with what he is doing. He seldom smiles. He is too serious with life. I once thought he was autistic because he seemed to live in his own kind of world. But obviously he is not, for he turned out to be one of the brightest minds in the family.

He finished his elementary years way back in Dalaguete and pursued secondary education in the University of Santo Tomas. One of his greatest achievements in high school was landing in the Battle of the Brains Grand Finals in 1996. It was in high school when he discovered the electronic wired world of computers. In fourth year, he wrote a program that incorporated the coefficient of air drag or friction in the formula for solving equations for projectile motions. He pursued a bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science in Santo Tomas and continued his graduate studies in CISCO engineering at the same university. He passed the CISCO licensure examination several years ago. He was once connected part time with the UST College of Engineering. He also used to manage his own solutions provider company and internet café in Manila before he went to the US. He also tutored children and pre-schoolers on computer and the internet.

He was my first teacher in computer. From OS to programming, from the intricacies of the internet and the basics of computer elements, I learned from my brother. He is Giovanni, my very close friend and brother.