YOUNG VOICE
Now Showing: 2010
Back in grade school there were those whom I consider as my “fun” teachers, those who did away with the usual chalk-screeching boredom. They applied new innovations in child-teaching that they acquired from yet another book publisher-sponsored seminar. There was the quiz bee, the field trips, meditations and my favorite, the film viewing. I had then grew fond of making movie analyses, deciphering behind the scripts and plots of flicks, from films featuring a talking pig lost in a city to a blue fish with a really bad short-term memory. At the end of every movie analysis was the immortal question, “list down the moral lessons you have learned from the movie.” Not to brag but, I make a mean list; others make some three or four items while I made ten or twenty. I must have watched more Hiraya Manawari and Wansapanataym episodes than my classmates did.
Nevertheless, I discovered my talent of giving expounded definitions for small and seemingly insignificant scenes, finding GMRC on every inhale and exhale of the characters. (Oh, heaven forbid lightning to strike at my oozing arrogance.) Don’t believe me? I remember enlisting that we should all learn from the determination of Dory the fish, that despite her mental incapacities, she succeeded on helping save a struggling relationship of a father clownfish and his son through recalling the address P.Sherman 52 Wallaby Way, Sydney.
Need more proof? I decided to view 2009 as one huge blockbuster film and thus it needs another movie analysis, just like what I used to have in grade school. Be amazed at my impeccable talent *cough* of finding moral lessons from my rollercoaster ride on board 2009. I hope you’ll be able to learn from them to.
- There are more important things in life than blueberry cheesecakes and chocolate mousses. Oh yes, that would primarily be blood sugar levels and a flabby belly. Kidding aside, these two desserts were gifts given by my friends on my birthday last year since they and the rest of the world knew about my addiction to these two sweet, mouthwatering, heaven sent delights. Yes, there are things sweeter than chocolate mousses, things creamier than cheesecakes: a shared 12-peso spaghetti at the cafeteria with a friend during a 15-minute lecture break or a comforting hug from a classmate after realized you failed on a 20-item unannounced quiz.
- Not all gorgeous and hot guy doctors who smell like Musk are husband material, not even boyfriend material. Need I say more, Hayden? Beauty, popularity, wealth and even brains, they become worthless if your principles and morals are cheap and tainted.
- Philippine politics is (I hate to say it) hopeless. Well, unless a less dirty leader will be voted to sit on the throne. Come on, you’ve been president, the numero uno Juan, for about a decade and then you’ll go running as a congresswoman because you can’t let go of public service? Our politics kills, literally. How much more innocent blood will be spilt? The Maguindanao massacre is the cherry on top of our stereotype.
- Spiderman’s uncle was and will forever be right. After I was capped as a student nurse, I bowed to Ben Parker. With great power comes great responsibility, even though the world’s ears might be tired of listening to this more than abused quote, it still remains as true and as crisp. And now that there are simply semesters away from forming myself as a professional 2009 made my weights heavier and I felt the burden. But alongside I appreciated my course more. I began to realize that after some eight hours worth of shaking nerves from NGT feedings, hourly urine monitoring and intimidating remarks from clinical instructors, a simple thank you or a gentle smile from a patient makes it all worth it.
- Mother Earth is having tantrums. I’m not really well-versed in the twists and turns of ecology but common sense told me, told all of us, that our planet is gradually losing its patience with us. The typhoons that flooded the hopes and lives and the earthquakes that shattered dreams and possessions, aren’t we getting the message? It’s easier to understand than first grade math. Our world is sick. Help her.
- Being a prodigal daughter or any act of rebellion for that matter is a total “jerk” thing to do. Before doing so, think about the several hours of pain-staking labor your mom went through to push you out not to mention the several years afterwards. Before doing so, think about the years of selfless dedication your father put in into his job hunts to buy you some haviannas. Last 2009, I gave my parents quite a scare when I went through an entire day not communicating with them. I stayed at my mamang and papang’s, my grandparents’ house without them knowing. Later that night, I learned how my tatay circled the entire city looking for me. I learned how my nanay spent the entire day regretting our little argument. It was a stupid thing for me to do. I have given them much pain already. To all would-be rebels, trust me, seeing your parents all sweaty and crazy looking for and concerned about you, my friend, you’ll simply die of your bothering conscience. Let’s love and respect our parents.
- Scarring your sibling just because for some petty reason ain’t worth it. I welcomed 2010 with a deep scar just above my left eyebrow. I blamed my younger brother for transmitting his flu virus to me (he did actually). Our petty argument ended up in flying hairbrushes and me losing some 30ml of blood. Sibling fights may be a common experience; it’s a route all sisters and brothers have to pass through life. But, the fights are not worth the moments when he begins to brag about how good of a sister you are to his classmates, when he begins to hug you tight after offering him some help on an algebra assignment. It’s like what my parents say, “In the end you might not know, kamo man lang na mabinuligay sang utod mo.”
- ’ll never be a math wiz. I’ll never be a dancer. I’ll never have flawless skin. I’ll never be John Lloyd’s girlfriend. Oh yeah! Hit me hard my dear sarcastic reality. Yes, I have to accept them and a lot more of my frustrations. But I should not dwell on them. Bo Sanchez said to focus on what is right, on what I have, on what I’m good at. I’m a writer. I’m good in school. I’m good in making moral lesson lists. I’ll be John Lloyd’s wife.
- The world needs volunteers. To be a hero, you need to be a volunteer. A few people nowadays will serve for free. Most will ask for something in return, most will let their ego dominate. I realized that since our world is being run by purely economics, by gaining digits in bank accounts and by the infamous crab mentality; we need to start a new race of volunteers. We can’t do anything about the current generation, their roots are too old and stingy to mold. Modesty aside to the grown-ups, but that means the youth should step-by-step take the lead to become heroes, to become selfless, to become volunteers.
- Love. Yes, above all the lessons I’ve learned from this one blockbuster hit entitled 2009 it is love that entwines with every other lesson there is on the list. Love for self, love for others, love for country, love for the world. It is love that will save us from all that is evil, the Bible says so.
It is love and this I hope should once again be found in the list of moral lessons in 2009’s sequel, 2010.
Speaking about love, a Happy 20th anniversary to my Nanay and Tatay. I wish you more years of love.
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