LONELINESS

l(a

le

af

fa

ll

s)

one

l

iness

The letters or syllables above constitute a poem written by Edward Estlin Cummings or popularly known as E E Cummings. As you would read the letters and syllables outside the parenthesis, the word “loneliness” is created. And when you read the letters and syllables inside the parenthesis, the fragment “a leaf falls” is formed. At first, understanding this poem is very difficult to do. There are no words formed in each line. There are no meanings of the syllables but as you reflect and observe deeper on the words loneliness and a leaf falls, you can detect that the word and the fragment is some kind of related to each other.

According to Mark Twain, “the worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself”. Being lonely means we do not understand our selves. When we are alone does not mean that we are lonely, we become lonely even If we have our friends around us but there is still something lacking in that very moment. Something or someone is still like missing in your heart.

When you see a leaf falling from its branch and lands to the ground, the leaf that fell would be alone in the ground separated from the other leaves. The leaf would be lonely and it would be uncomfortable on the ground that is why it flies with the direction of the wind and would be lost. The leaves that were left would also be lonely because they would miss the leaf that fell. Unlike when it is still attached to its branch, the leaf would not be lonely and would not be lost and so as the leaves that were still attached. The leaf could be related in our real life. When someone falls from its branch or dies or passes out in this world, the people around him would be lonely just like the leaves that were left behind the tree.

As what I have understood in his poem, Cummings is trying to convey the truth that when someone would leave us behind, there would always be a time when we would be lonely because something is missing in our life.

A WHITE HOUSE IN CEBU

The Provincial Capitol of Cebu will be celebrating its 69^th year of inauguration this coming June 14, 2007. The magnificent structure is standing for almost 70 years despite of its old age.

The history of this structure would trace back to June 27, 1936 where it all began. The building was constructed during the term of the late president Manuel L. Quezon. Cebu’s ex-governor Sotero Cabahug together with the ex-vice president of the Commonwealth, Sergio Osmeña Sr., led the cornerstone laying.

According to Mr. Roger Cerna, Juan M. Arellano was a nationally renowned architect from Manila who designed the magnificent structure. He was an American educated Filipino Architect who graduated from Drexel Institute of Philadelphia. The Capitol Building was an edifice of the White House in Washington, home of the United State’s president.

It was during the term of Cebu governor, Buenaventura Rodriguez when the completion of the building happened. The initiation of the building was attended by the late President Manuel L. Quezon which was held on June 14, 1938.

Unfortunately, the building was destroyed during the war but in God’s grace, it was mended and it was aided by the Americans under the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946.

Until now, programs concerning the beautification of the edifice still exist.

This Provincial Capitol of Cebu is relevant to the Cebuanos for it is the home of one of the leaders in Cebu, which was the Governor. With this edifice, the people would honor and respect the government. In connection to this, it would be a haven for the people for it is where they could ask help regarding on matters concerning their stay in Cebu.

MY SIGNIFICANT HUMAN EXPERIENCE

It was still four o’clock in the morning when a boy from the tourist class went out to the balcony of a boat to watch the sun rise. That boy was I. I was on my way to Butuan City to spend another summer vacation again with my cousins. I was very excited on the boat. I cannot even sleep. At last, after how many days of waiting for classes to end and for CWTS training to end, vacation has finally come. I slept on the boat at around 12 midnight and woke up 4 o’clock in the morning. I cannot really wait to see my cousins again.

First day of May 2006, I arrived at Butuan city. I saw my cousins and hug them tightly. I want to tell them everything I did before summer vacation. I want to tell them how much I miss them.

Everyday, my cousins and I play computer games together. We also joined a basketball summer league but unfortunately, we failed to make it to the finals. We play and practice basketball together everyday because I know we will be apart again sooner or later. I did not allow a day to pass without bonding with them. I always make sure that everyday is a nice day to remember. I did not even join the crash course in calculus because I was too busy playing and bonding with my cousins.

Did not notice that I was staying in Butuan for a month. I thought it was it was still a week. Time goes by so fast. I have to go back to Cebu because enrolment is going near. Inside my head, I kept on thinking on what am I going to do after I will arrive in Cebu? My life would be very boring and everything will change back to the usual like waking up early and ride 13C to go to school.

Then came June 3, 2006. Time to pack my bags and say my goodbyes. When I was at the car with my cousins while going to the port, everything was just fine and happy. It was like I was not going to leave. It was just like going to the mall with them. But when we arrived at the boat where I would stay again for a night, I realized that I would be alone again then tears fell in my eyes. I will not be seeing them again for a year but hey, I forgot I still have my friends in school. Even if I am no longer with my 3 cousins, I still got a thousand of friends and a my girl friend who is always there to fill up my lonely days.

My summer vacation ended fast but the experiences and memories I had still continues to grow in my heart. Then back to school again and I realize I do not only have 3 friends but a thousand of them and a special someone in my heart.

PHYSICS BEHIND LOVE: GRAVITY

“Gravity is not responsible for people falling in love” This quotation can always be seen every time you go inside the physics laboratory. Before, when I still do not know the concept of gravity, I always taught that this quotation is exact and logical. How could gravity have a relationship with how a person feels towards another person? Gravity is responsible for humans falling down on the earth’s surface but not humans falling in love.

But as I increase my knowledge about physics and the concept of gravity, I have learned that something is wrong in the quotation. I have a theory and I will share it with you.

According to Newton’s “UNIVERSAL LAW OF GRAVITY”, everything pulls on everything else in a beautiful simple way that only involves mass and distance. According to him, every mass attracts ever mass with a force that is directly proportional to the product of the two masses and is inversely proportional to the square of the distance separating the two masses. It is given in the equation: F = G(M1*M2/Dsquared) where G is the gravity constant which I would not tackle in my topic.

So as we can see, the force of attraction being represented by the letter F is actually LOVE. According to Newton, each one of us is attracted to another person with the distance closest to us. The smaller your distance apart from another person would mean greater force of attraction of love and the greater are your masses or weight, the more molecularly attracted you are with each other. But why is it that we do not fall in love right away with the person next to us? It is because our heart gets involve instantly in making our decisions if we would fall for that person or not. The heart right away interferes at this stage. It is not only gravity or the attracting force that is being considered when we fall in love but also ho we see that person inside and out. We love a person not because of his or her mass but because of his or her beautiful personality that attracts us more to that person larger than the attraction of the force of gravity.

So intelligently speaking, we are all molecularly attracted with each other and it is not wrong to say that gravity is responsible for people falling in love because in the first place, it is gravity who is liable for a simple attraction that would eventually lead to a greater, unimaginable love.

In Newton’s equation, the relationship of mass is directly proportional to force of attraction. But it is so ironic in my situation because I have a girlfriend who is thin who is attracted and in love with me, a skinny person but our force of attraction is so huge that we have loved on another for almost four years and just keeps on getting stronger everyday no matter how far our distances maybe every time we part ways.

In relation to physics, let me grab this opportunity to thank our physics professor, Mr. Jover Nuñez who explained us amazing things about physics.

LOVE, AN ACT OF THE WILL, NOT OF THE HEART

Funny it may seem that people all over the world, whether black or white, young or old are searching all their lives and spending all their time trying to search for that very one perfect match. But let me ask, how do you know if he is the one? Will there be signs? Signals? Symbols? Or whatsoever you wish you may call it to indicate that he is really the one? I have heard a lot of people say that you will know if he is the one when that special sensation called love is knocking at your heart one day and by that time, you will know then that he is the one. Sounds like convincing right? But let me ask again, how do you know if it is true love or just something else? Can someone tell me what love is?

What then is love? They say it is a feeling aiming straight from the heart. But is it merely a feeling? A sensation? A feeling of bliss or happiness you felt when that person is around and that as if your heart is beating so fast and so loud that he or she could almost actually hear it? Is it just a sense of admiration for the good looks and talents of that person? Tell me is that what you call love? Well, I do not think so!

One must be willing to accept the qualities of that man or woman in order for a person to experience the true meaning of love. For love means to accept the person’s darkest aspects and not just the qualities that are most appealing. It takes a great act of will and courage to do so. So you see, love is not just a feeling coming straight from the heart like what most teenagers say today but rather it is an act of willingness to accept a person for who he or she maybe.

MY BARKADA

According to Walter Witchell: “A friend is one who walks in when others walks out. As we walk to our journey in life, we meet unique individuals along the way. Then without our knowledge, these individuals eventually become our friends. We all have friends in our lives who cheer us up when we are sad, who carries us when we are tired of walking and who understands us whenever we are confused. I call my friends my Barkadas as what a friend’s layman’s term is. We all have our barkadas and I have my own too. I would like everyone to know who my barkadas are:

I would first introduce the best of all my friends, which is Nico Martin Eñego. This man was the only person who was been there with me in times when I was very down and depressed since I was still in first year. I share with him my darkest and most personal secrets. No doubt this man could really be trusted. He is also very good in giving advices with your problems.

Next is John Paul Catubig. Even though this guy has a flat nose, he could always smell if something is wrong is going on. He is a thoughtful and loving friend. You could always count on him in times of trouble and he is always willing to wait especially in going home.

And of course, David Aiello Zamora, the most handsome guy in our batch. Even though this guy has quite heavy hands, he always shares his stuff like powder, gel and perfume. He is never selfish in his possessions.

Then Melbert Ivan Mepieza. “The monkey” This guy does not really look like a monkey but we just call him a monkey. Actually, this guy is handsome and has a gentle heart and humble personality. We even had a group called “The Dream Team” where the members were me, Melbert and JP.

Then Neil Audrey Talolong. This guy is also humble and he has a very neat handwriting. He has also a kind heart.

And of course Reniel Pañares, “The Dreamer” this boy is fun of sleeping during classes. But even though he sleeps in classes, he could still catches up easily with the lessons.

Ralph Anthony Zambrano, this guy is very good in playing basketball and so with Joseph Esteban.

Byron Douglas Enriquez, the legacy of music, this boy really loves to sing while playing the guitar.

Then Janua Quilo, the bisrocker!! he is "the father of all dogs" in our group. And Bryan Salazar, "the small James Yap" He realy looks like James Yap.

And of course, Artsron Sumabong, usually the leader of the group. He is really not blessed with so much height but he is a very athletic player. He is the most experienced person in our group. He is called the “lolo” or old man in english.

We all had different and unique personalities but we all stand as one. These are the people who walked in my life and never walked out. These are my friends. These are my barkadas.

KILLER CANCER

Every time I am on my way to school or I am on my way home, I always meet beggars along the streets. I always wonder why did they become like that? They are so skinny and it seems like they are not eating every day. They look like a person with a cancer or even worse. Philippines as we all know is a growing third world country but why aren’t we improving? Why do poor people become poorer and the rich become richer every year? It seems like our government is doing nothing in fighting poverty in our country.

According to the latest PERC survey, our country ranked number one in Asia’s most corrupt country. I think I found out the answer to my questions. The cause of why the lives of the people are getting miserable everyday is CORRUPTION in the government! Corruption has existed since the start of civilization. It has been passed on from generation to generation and is becoming worse every year. It has devastated millions of people’s lives.

Corruption is a killer cancer that has killed millions of people since from the beginning of its existence. This disease is incurable. It is because man by nature is constantly wanting. He or she is never contented with what he or she has so when he or she has given a little power, he would really take advantage of it. You give them an inch, they take a mile.

When a poor official is elected, he or she would step down o his position rich and wealthy. This is very evident in the public servants of our country. Corruption could be clearly seen in our country today. I was very angry with our government officials when I learned about the extreme over pricing on the deco lamps that were used during the summit. Imagine, a post of deco lamp costs 80 thousand pesos and in Mandaue, it costs 224 thousand each instead of 15 thousand per post. Visualize the severe ness of corruption in our country. A thousand posts could have helped millions of helpless people and victims of calamities. After the summit, the deco lamps would be useless and the money of the people is just wasted. About 90 percent of their taxes are in the pockets of our government officials. I hope these corrupt leaders would realize the destruction they are causing to this nation.

How could they steal that large amount of money? They do not deserve to be called public servants. They are killing millions of feeble people who deserve to live a good life.

For me the only cure of this disease; Corruption is the society. if we would just only elect the loyal, humble and simple public servants who would serve us and help the less fortunate, then their would be no Cancer in the society and in the government and no people would be infected.

The worsening poverty of the people is just only one of the side effects of this very deadly and lethal cancer called Corruption.