The Philippine Flag

An excerpt from the Declaration of Independence as read from the window of the Aguinaldo house in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898:

It was resolved unanimously that this Nation, already free and independent as of this day, must use the same flag which up to now is being used, whose design and colors are [as follows]...the colors Blue, Red, and White commemorating the flag of the United States of North America, as a manifestation of our profound gratitude towards this Great Nation for its disinterested protection which it lent us and is continuing to lend us.

-101 Stories on the Philippine Revolution
By: Ambeth R. Ocampo

This was contrary to anything I was taught in my schooling years. There I was, grasping to terms with the fact that the flag, which we so reverently respect, was designed and conceptualized to express our gratitude and trust towards a country which inevitably wasn't worthy of either. Lest you forget, Ambeth Ocampo began the article by refreshing us on the "traditional" symbolism of the Philippine flag:

We were also taught the symbolism in our flag: the three golden stars representing the three geographic units Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the eight rays in the sun, the eight Luzon provinces that answered the call of the Philippine revolution; the white triangle standing for purity, the blue for peace, and the red for bravery in war.

This only goes to show that we, as a nation, have much to learn about history and, as I'm reading Ocampo's book on the centennial celebration of Philippine independence, I just have to express my gratitude for the effort and time this historian has invested in correcting and redefining the annals of our history.

Now, let me just finish this book.

Musings About Work

"His grandmother used to beat him regularly, which explained his early penchant for playing in goal in street games: there was less scuffing of the shoes in goal, and if there was one thing that set grand-mère thrashing it was scuffed shoes. But there is something appropriate about a philosopher like Camus stationing himself between the sticks. It is a lonely calling, an individual isolated within a team ethic, one who plays to different constraints. If his team scores, the keeper knows it is nothing to do with him. If the opposition score, however, it is all his fault. Standing sentinel in goal, Camus had plenty of time to reflect on the absurdist nature of his position."

- From a Telegraph article

I found this excerpt from an article celebrating the 50th death anniversary of Albert Camus, one of the world's most influential philosophers (Although I find it hard to accept why such a philosopher had trouble reconciling absurdity and theism, I, nonetheless, still admire his works. But I'm not going to delve into those, am I?).

Now, I can't help but resonate with what the author had said about Camus, the goal keeper. In my current job, that's exactly what I feel. Just to give a brief background, I'm currently working in the loans department of a local bank somewhere north of Davao. It's pretty hectic right now with me trying to catch up on some backlogs and it sure feels like I'm the "goal keeper" of sorts. If clients complain about anything, it's technically my "fault" and if clients get what they want, I don't have anything to do with it because I'm not in charge of booking. It's pretty difficult to explain but that's how things work for me right now.

I think the only bright side about this experience is it has allowed me to delve into other people's experiences and to see the absurdity of the whole picture. And I can't help but be amazed at how everyone resembles Sisyphus in their own small ways, that in the midst of the inevitability of death and the doomed nature of any human enterprise, people still struggle to create a certain sense of meaning and purpose.

People apply for loans to purchase or create houses that will soon crumble to dust. People apply for loans to get money that is essentially worthless. Finally, a lone dude tries to make sense of his work by tying it to a higher mission.

The absurdity strikes me with extreme clarity. But I can't help but smile at our defiance.

Text Messages 14

I know some faith declarations here are corny to most but it does bring some comfort that there are some people out there who proclaim their faith openly.

Someone asked me: "What makes me weak?" I answered, "If I lose hope, if I lose inspiration, if I lose faith, if I lose comfort...in short, if I lose Jesus!"
Ate Cathy, January 11, 2010

The best way to walk each day is not by walking with new shoes but by walking with Jesus.Walk not only by faith but walk with faith.
Ate Cathy, January 10, 2010

What is love? Kanang nag-text siya tapos nagpa-load dayon ka. Haha. Sa maigo lang.
Kit Loma, January 9, 2010

Pick-up line ulit:
Kung ikaw ay bola at ako ang player, mashu-shoot ba kita? Hinde. Para lagi kitang miss. Naman!
Unknown number, January 9, 2010

Life can never be free of pain but God will always give you the means to endure and survive. In the rush of events, you will see that He's holding your hand at every moment.
Ate Cathy, January 9, 2010

There are a lot of quotes being passed around but this is the strongest of all, "Love the heart that hurts you but never hurt the heart that loves you."
Ate Cathy, January 5, 2010

"Aanhin pa ang gabi, kung wala namang katabi."
May nakarinig:
"Anong silbi ng may katabi kung wala namang nangyayari."
May humirit:
"Ano naman pag may nangyayari kung wala namang nabubuong baby."
May affected:
"Paano may mabubuong baby kung parehas kayong lalake!"
Kit Loma, January 3, 2010

Nothing is difficult if the heart has love.
Nothing is possible when the heart understands.
Nothing is heavy when God is in the heart!
Ate Cathy, January 3, 2010

Boyfriend and girlfriend walking around the mall when a flirt comes rushing towards them.
Flirt: Hi handsome, I'm Trish and you are?
Boyfriend: I'm hers.
Unknown number, December 28, 2009

"Do you ever wonder why I don't use my power to make people do what I want? I want a real relationship with you. That's why I gave you free will. I want you to have the freedom to choose me. If I had to force you to love me, would your love mean as much? Sometimes you will make the wrong choices. But I'm willing to risk that, because when you finally choose My plans for you, I know it will be your decision."
Ate Cathy, December 28, 2009

"I pray that happines be at your door. May it knock early and leave the gift of God's peace, love, joy, and good health behind. Happy new year friend!"
Edwin Gutierrez, December 27, 2009

Sa isang court hearing:
Attorney: Inday! Pwede mo bang i-describe dito sa korte ang taong nang-rape sa iyo?
Inday: Maitim, panot, tagyawatin, pango ilong at bungal...
Suspek: Sige! Mang-asar ka pa!
Unknown number, December 27, 2009

Christmas daw is not just about how many gifts we receive but how many times we give. I might not have given you the most priced gift, but I hope I was able to make you feel that you are special. Merry Christmas.
Mary Ann Andicoy, December 24, 2009

Amo: Yaya, bakit namatay ang aso?
Yaya: Pinaliguan ko po ng laundry soap.
Amo: Nakakamatay ba yun?
Yaya: Ewan ko po. Pag off ko ng washing machine, patay na.
Edwin Gutierrez, December 12, 2009

Finding a good friend is like fishing. You have to sit patiently for a long time to catch a nice one. Just like how I caught you. Better stay nice or else...isugba ta ka. Hehe.
Edwin Gutierrez, December 8, 2009

The art of being happy lies in the power of finding joy in ordinary things. Life does not force us to be the best, it only asks that we try our very best as we possibly can. Remember this old Italian wish: "Vive bene, spesso l'amore di risata molto" which means: live well, love much, laugh often.
Unknown number, December 7, 2009

Bagong sagot sa tanong na:
Kumusta love life?
"Postponed till further notice, updates will be posted once available."
Unknown number, December 6, 2009

To Sir Bong

Hello Sir Bong,

Sorry this took so long. I was thinking of doing this earlier but I figured out I'd need at least an entire year to finally realize your legacy.

Do you remember January 9, 2009, Sir Bong? Yep, I hope you do. That was a fateful day, to say the least. I remember feeling uneasy back then when you didn't return to your desk. You had a meeting then with the President and CEO and the Vice-President for HCM. I had thought that you were finally getting regularized but it seemed odd that you didn't return after the meeting to tell us the good news.

By next week, we had all heard the news. You were getting axed. So much for our plans for 2009.

Looking back, I guess it was for the better good and I'm sure you also felt the same way. But it still makes me sad thinking about what could have happened to us if you didn't go away. Perhaps, the Marketing boys would still be in the same company. Perhaps, we could have made a difference in 2009, considering that we've cleaned up almost all our backlogs. Perhaps, we could have justified our existence then if we had been given the chance. Perhaps, we could have made a difference.

I remember getting frustrated then because, in all honesty, you were the only reason why I chose to stay. And, by seeing you go, I knew none of us three would last long in the company. You were the glue that kept us together and, without you, it was difficult to see a future in BT.

Coincidentally, I happened to read back then an email article for employees. One item in that article told me that it was wrong to leave the company because of the people. Now, I could confidently say that point is definitely wrong. Leaving or staying in a company because of its people is a perfectly legitimate reason and, in this light, allow me to honor you and to thank you for being my mentor and for being a foster father while I was there in Manila.

Thank you Sir Bong for all the encouragement you've given me so far. You were by far the greatest encourager I have ever known and probably the best boss I will ever encounter in my entire career.

I remember the many times that we had let you down (Remember Gian? Hehe.) but what simply amazes me was that you were always on our side. I also remember the many times you delegated work to us with a resounding "Kaya mo yan, dude!" as if you truly believed that we actually knew what had to be done. I remember the times when you looked so vulnerable but wasn't ashamed to hide it from us.

You are a very special man, Sir Bong, and I'm deeply glad that I saw you in action: always motivating and always encouraging other people to greatness. Maybe, in the future, I can be more like you as I'm trying to do now with my colleagues and friends.

Happy new year, Sir Bong. And, like the one leper who returned to Jesus after he was healed, I'm making it known to you that I'm very grateful. Peace out.

Popular Architecture 2

An excerpt from a Boston Globe article:

I spent a year working for this architect in Sri Lanka who made wonderful buildings, using pieces of other buildings that had been demolished and putting them together in different ways, and they always looked as though they were just about to fall apart. They were very carefully maintained to give this illusion that they were just about to be swallowed back into the jungle….And it struck me that buildings are always like that really - they’re always about to slide into ruin or fall to pieces or do something. They never just sit there, doing what we want them to do.

- Edward Hollis, Architect

I am always fascinated by buildings shaded by humongous trees and embraced by vines, shrubs, and a plethora of leafy plants. They give the illusion that, sooner or later, nature will have overcome them, dragging these buildings back to the ground where they belong.

That's a sharp contrast to what architects would like their buildings to be. As man-made marvels, buildings generally stand out from their surroundings: aliens amidst landscapes of green and blue. They are built always to appear "new" and "formidable".

For me, that's easy to do. It is easy to make a building stand out. All one has to do is remove all the surrounding vegetation and that's it. But I guess it takes more skill, and certainly more time, to make a building "disappear", to make a building a seemingly organic part of the horizon, to make it blend with the foliage.

One doesn't see landscaping plans incorporated in building plans. That's probably because architects don't think that's still part of their work. But perhaps - maybe in the future - a new architectural movement will come to change all that. I'm crossing my fingers.