Pastilan! Living the dog-eat-dog world of a Global Pinoy!

I don’t know about you, but every time I watch a Filipino play, I am usually expecting the traditional drama, story line that is unique to Filipino culture and the long-established approach to stage design that is unmistakably Pinoy. Which, of course, I like. So is “Ako si Ninoy” another Filipino play filing under those category?

No, not this show.

Ako si Ninoy, a Filipino musicale play about the heroisim of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Martial Law era went a little less traditional. The story did not revolve around the tell-a-biography style of relating what have happened to Ninoy and his family. Director and Librettist Atty. Vincent Tañada made sure the youth today would relate to the sufferings and martyrdom of Ninoy. The action packed scenes (mostly are heartwarming) and the visual impacts that definitely cater the taste of young audience alike while assuring those who have actually witnessed the events during the martial rule could truly appreciate the re-enactment of the scenes the way it happened.

The skillful interplay of modern syllogism and the as-a-matter-of-fact telling of Ninoy’s life is a feat. It created a unique experience where all people from all walks of life, regardless of age and political beliefs would truly understand why Filipinos today should learn the heroism of the couple Ninoy and Cory.

I went to watch the show for the 2nd time with my Filipino-American friends who were born and raised in the states. Since majority of them are not capable of understanding Tagalog, it came as a surprise to me when they were crying, laughing and clapping on many scenes that were outstanding. It made me think if the play has actually transcended the barriers of language to express the emotion of Ninoy and Cory through proficient theater abilities of the actors. We ended up discussing the play and they were thanking me for bringing them to the show, they said it helped them understand the political struggles of the Filipino people during the tyrant era of martial law which led to the advent of modern democracy through Cory Aquino.

What I like best about the play is its call to action. It actually creates a deep impact on every man’s heart that you don’t need to become Ninoy to become a hero. Heroism is not just about the grandest martyrdom or dying for someone or our nation, heroism is an individual ability of each of us to become useful, to help our society through our own capabilities, through simple and small kindness to others and having the desire to become a better person.

I salute the men and women of the show, you have enriched the lives and character of thousands of young people who marched to your venues to witness the valor of our modern day heroes and the birth of modern movement to be a hero, we may not be Ninoy but we know we can do something good for our self, family and our society.

Me: "U wanna come along to Pangasinan for Medical Mission?"
Feeling: "Ano mapapala q jan?"
Me: "Kung wala ka mapapala sa pagtulong sa mga mahi2rap, d wag ka sumama."
Feeling: "Kaen tau cake, Red Ribbon." (the nerve)
Me: "Kaya pala wala ka mapapala pa red ribbon red ribbon ka lang."
Feeling: "Uu ah. Nabubusog ako.Hahahahaha"
Me: "Bkt nga pala cnbi mo anu mapapala mo sa medical msion sa pangasinan eh
lam mo naman pagtulog sa mahihirap un. Matapobre kb?"
Feeling: "hahaha. D ako matapobre.. un lang base mo para sabhan aq matapobre?
Hahaha. Nagtanong lang ako. Masama ba? :p
Me: "Masama kc un para skn. Kc parang nakakainsulto ka sa mga
nagpapakahirap ngaun para 2mulong sa kapwa. At isa q dun sa mga
nagtyatyaga 2mulong. So parang ask m anu mapapala q? Nag eenjoy ka ba
pag iniinsulto ka? Ngaun mo ask kung masama ba un? :P
Feeling: Wala ako pake. Geh kaen muna q guava. Hehe

Now tell me, is this one of the reasons why are youth today is so corrupted cuz like that friend of mine, she is just seeded with idiotic mind, totally lacking wit and uncaring... I dunno if I could actually say more.

News always fascinates me. Writing is a challenge and one of those passions included in my very short list of things on my bed spread. The problem with news, it should be straight that I ended up spending so much of my time being vigilant so that the truth is not bent, that honesty shall prevail and for fraud to surface. The good news is, in the College of Nursing, there is not much bad news and it is good to me. But in the long run, it is practically impossible that good news is constant. In the words of Napoleon Bonaparte, he warned that, “Never awake me when you have good news to announce, because with good news nothing presses; but when you have bad news, arouse me immediately, for then there is not an instant to be lost.”

It is the bad news that excites me. I actually loathe at it. But just like Bonaparte, there is not an instant to be lost when presented with it. In my short stay in the University of Baguio, I have met spectacular personalities, worked with different types of people and rubbed elbows with the amazing and the simple. The culture was extremely unfamiliar to me, I learned a thing or two and bruised me big time in the process but at the end of the day, I hit the bed with a smile, that at least, life has never been less interesting. I even pray for it. Hoping that life be a constant opportunity to beat the bad news, that bad news never stays the same. It churns the optimist in me.

Being a chunk in the arena of student leadership, I want to emphasize two things. First, there is a need for all the students of the College of Nursing to sprint and be “bold and daring.” Secondly, everybody must do the same. When it comes to what is considered as bad news, it is when change is introduced. That of course is a sign of lack of understanding that change would improve us all. Another is often the news that would involve participation and time. Time is what we make of it. It is just frustrating to hear complaints about certain issues but only the few would put effort to be a part of the solution. The majority would flee from involvement, so it elates me to see students reading what is on the bulletin board. That is a sign that at least their visual gift is not actually wasted.

I dare everyone to be bold and daring. Be bold to stand for what is right and to uphold the truth. Be bold to accept our roles as student by respecting our Clinical Instructors, administrators and those who are in authority. Be bold to accept that our mentors are not omniscient and only through constructive participation and sharing that true symbiotic relationship shall exist. Be bold to respect individual differences and promote tolerance. Dare to be part of the solution, but if you are oblivious to bother, try not to add to the problem. Be bold to go beyond your potential. Do not be satisfied with what is just being presented within the boundaries of the classrooms, the world is so vast, we can actually drown with its vastness and yet, we are still ignorant of what the world has to offer. Dare to make a difference. Dare to acknowledge that all the persons we meet in this university have its own purpose, be nice to everyone even if others are not. Do not be too traditional. Life changes and together with it is the demand of the time compelling everyone to be more creative, to be assertive of our rights and to be more participative. Be bold to remain a person of character and virtue.

Student life is not without end. This part of our life shall be reduced to memories but what would be left is our ability to withstand the real battle waiting for us after graduating from this university. What lies ahead is the true test of our character, our virtue and our strength to win the real challenges of life. Take advantage of this chance, when we are still allowed to falter because of our naïve disposition, when we can still fail because it is understandable, be wary of this opportunity to be care free for at the end of the day, when we are no longer under the responsibility of our instructors and administrators, we shall be by ourselves. We shall be the person based on the choices we made during the time when we are still being prepared to travel the journey they call life. Let us all be careful of what we pick along this journey, for what may break or help us is what we did or did not choose.

Life will be a constant skirmish of good and bad news. It will not change but it does not matter, what matter most is who was left standing. Who fought the fight, who made the difference, who were the bold and the daring.