A brave new world of Reading

I bought this edition of Brave New World
a year ago for Php20 only from
BOOKSALE, a book shop in the
Philippines that sells relatively
low-priced unused and previously-owned
books and other publications.
Call it pure luck. 

After putting this book down for a long time, I pulled this out of my book case again last Sunday. It was too difficult for me to understand, so instead of turning the pages, I closed the book and forgot about it. I also forgot about reading for quite some time because of the increasing demands of being a graduating student and a schedule made busier by an exhausting part-time job. It was only until the end of the semester when I embraced reading again.

I just finished reading George Orwell's 1984 and I wouldn't say that I thoroughly and fully understood the book but I did get a good grasp of the classic dystopia that the author portrayed. And currently, I am halfway reading through 'How to Read a Book: A Classical Guide to Intelligent Reading' by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren. It is a practical book on active and effective reading and it has taught me so much, so far. While it has made me realize how lousy and ineffective I was as a reader, it has also challenged me to be better one.

So maybe what prompted me to read Brave New World all over again are these previous reading engagements. Primarily, my goal is to understand its content but I am also hoping, without external aid, to make a comparison with Orwell's 1984 since both are Dystopian literature and this:

"What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions". In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us."

This is syntopical reading and although I still lack the skills, it wouldn't hurt to try. I'm sure no attempt is futile.

So when I checked out the book, the bookmark was left halfway through the pages already but I could barely even remember what the book was all about. This is because a year ago, I was a complete ignorant of this book's greatness and significance (not to mention its controversies) and it has only been lately that I got myself informed of its status not only in literature but in other fields of discourse as well (social, political, etc.).

Anyway, let me share with you the first paragraph of Aldous Huxley's foreword in this editon of Brave New World:

“Chronic remorse, as all the moralists are agreed, is a most undesirable sentiment. If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you can and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time. On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.”

This kind of effort could be applied similarly in my pursuit of becoming a better reader.  

8/3/2008

In that envelope was my test permit. 

Four years ago, I took the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT).

After
It was the last day of our senior retreat when the results came out. And just like that, I lost all the calmness in my body and soul. I was shook and freaked out! It was the next most important day to graduation day. It was today-your-future-unfolds day. So it's either I make it or break it; I go or I stay; I succeed or I fail.

As soon as I got home, I ran with all my breath straight to the computer. And then fudge, internet's down. My next move was to text my closest friends to kindly see if my name was on that goddamn list (I was mad already). Finally a friend replied.

That photo was the result of her reply. When she told me my name was not on the list, well I guess what happened to me is pretty obvious in the picture. Passing the UPCAT meant the whole world to me. Good thing that before I passed out crying, I received another text from a friend saying I did pass. UP Los Baños, Communication Arts. 

During

Did you notice the bracelet that I was wearing in the picture? I think it was a rosary-bracelet, something very holy and religious. I also wore a red-colored shirt because back then I considered red a lucky color plus it was a collared shirt - fit for the occasion and I was really comfortable in it. Every detail seemed very significant and delicate at that time - from the Mongol No.2 pencil I used, the what-brand-was-it eraser, that two-holed (doesn't sound right) sharpener, my healthy snacks, the prayer books, the Holy Rosary, St. Peter's robe I slept on the previous night, the mind-booster breakfast, and the list goes on, including all the churches I went to and prayed at. Heaven knows how desperate I was to pass the UPCAT. 

Big day came, I did what I had to do. Pass the exam. ☺

Before

The thing is, from the moment I heard about UP being the No. 1 university in the Philippines, I built my dreams around it. I had no plan B. Why, is there a UP version 2.0? It had to be UP or my future is good as over. Call me mad and crazy, but maybe I was. I dreamed the biggest, wildest, and most insane dreams, and I still do. But if there's one thing dreaming has taught me, it is this: Dream with your eyes open, not closed. 

─

Tomorrow, it's my sister's and cousin's turn to take the UPCAT. I don't want them to go through the same pressure I went through (even though I know they already are) so all I'm gonna tell them is this,

"Just do your best. May luck and God's grace be with you." 

Dear Freshman

Welcome to the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Whether it is your first choice of campus or not, welcome to your destiny. And congratulations, of course. Why, you passed the UPCAT and that's glory. But not for long, kid. Not for long.

Soon enough you'll realize that you can't be proud enough because you passed that dreaded entrance examination or because you are now a bona fide student of the number one and most prestigious university in the country (as we claim it to be). A true Iskolar ng Bayan knows that real pride and glory lies in adding a positive and significant contribution to our nation. This is what we're here in UP for. Neither do I want to appear as too uptight and boring nor do I intend to make a sermon on nationalism, but the truth is that the reason why the Philippines is a poor country is because its people lack nationalism. This fact is not just coming from me, mind you, but from many of our great personalities in this country. They are writers, professors, businessmen, visionaries, and leaders of course - social, political, and even religious. Putting them in one category, they are the influential and powerful people in our country. Unfortunately, hypocrites are also aplenty in this bunch whom we esteem and regard so much. Quoting F. Sionil Jose,

"Look, we are a very unstable nation. And part of that instability comes from the absence of real nationalism. The Spaniards have no problem with nationalism at all. They are proud to be Spaniards. How many Filipinos are proud to be Filipinos? There are so few who are proud to be Filipinos. And how do you instill that pride? That’s another thing. Because I’ve said it again and again, the flight of Filipino capital is due to the fact that these people who have the money have no loyalty to this country. And they are not loyal to this country because they are not proud to be Filipinos."

Kung tutuusin, they who are powerful and influential have all that it takes to instill that pride, that sense of nationalism that I am talking about here. They have the power, they have the money, and they have that charisma to set us on foot to follow their footsteps, but towards where? Instead of directing us to appreciating, supporting, and believing in our own, all we ever learn from them is embracing foreign influences. Then there's the excuse of globalization. It's the lamest excuse. Simple lang yan: 90% of Filipinos are poor so that means 108,000,000 (120 million Filipinos X 90%) wanting, dreaming, and dying to be part of that 10-fucking-percent composed of our elites. That 90% tries very hard to live the ways of the 10% and that 10% set the trends! The West is the trend. Again, let me quote F. Sionil Jose from his article 'A memory of Japan & WWII',

"Yes, General Ricarte was right in admiring the Japanese, in wanting Filipinos to emulate them. But he was wrong in depending on them; he should have depended on nothing else but the Filipino spirit, in the same sense that it was wrong for us to depend on the Spaniards, the Americans, and on our elites like Marcos. We should end once and for all time, our mendicancy, our reliance on others and build this nation with the Filipino spirit like the Japanese did."

The UP spirit is supposed to be the Filipino spirit. Fellow Iskolar ng Bayan, you should know this first and foremost.

So, it's been a month of your college life, of your UPLB life, how are you keeping UP? I bet some of you are still hung over high school, some are battling with home sickness, some are in denial that they already are in college, but I bet, again, that all of you are in the fun and exciting process of adjustment trying to figure out the whats, hows and whys of the new culture you are in. Well take your precious time in warming up because soon enough, this race will become serious. Well it should be. It will try your mind (acads can be pretty stressful, esp during hell weeks), your body (kids, drink moderately and responsively), your heart (a professor once said, "college is the perfect time for you to meet your mate in life"), and your soul (liberal education can be pretty liberating so watch your soul out). Nicholas Sparks said something really worth keeping in mind, let me share it with you,

"Just when you think it can't get any worse, it can. And just when you think it can't get any better, it can."

Dear Freshman, a lot of things and people will come your way but remember that all of them happen for a reason. It's a cliche, but it's true. It's all character-building. There is no better time to prepare you for the real world. That's why college exists. So please don't rush! College is the most apt time for you to learn lots and lots and lots of things, not the time for you to make baby/babies. Sure, drinking booze, smoking (marlboro only, not pots okay?), partying, they're all part of the experience, but do not drown yourself in these vices. You have a long life ahead of you, be gentle to your body organs. And think about your future family, your kids. Someday, they will look up to you, they will need you. So save yourself.

Everything has its own time frame. Stop acting childish or immature because you are not anymore. Don't act like an adult either because you aren't yet. You're in the prime of your life, in your youth! It's the best part of life, savor each moment. Your only responsibility is to study, so do it and be good at it. When you were just a little earthling, you had no responsibilities. When you become an adult, you will have many. This is why I am telling you to live in the moment. You are college student now, so be one.

You will fail. Like a lot of times. But with one step down, take two steps up. That's the spirit! And take this motto, "This too shall pass." It helped me and my friends get through weeks of hell weeks. Nothing is permanent. Things change. People grow. So if bad things happen, or if worst things happen, just hold on and remember that tomorrow is a different story, a different view. Don't be too harsh to yourself. You'll get over it. Probably not now, but eventually you will. It's really all about the right attitude!

Now you probably are asking who am I to say these things anyway. In 8 to 9 months from now, these things will be over for me. So maybe I just want to leave these words. And I want you, kid, to know that the road you are about to take have been trodden down before and that we made it. So you too can.


Stay fresh!
Your Senior ☺

Done and Documented (Internship Photos)

May 15, 2012 : Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Population Development [Cainta, Rizal]

 May 16, 2012 : K Channel Channel Guide Shoot

 May 19, 2012 : DepEd-DTI Inspection and Monitoring of school supplies in Divisoria

 May 19, 2012 : Coverage of Locus Redux [Yunchengco Museum] and BEAT [Lopez Memorial Museum]

 May 20, 2012  : K-NOW Episodes 62-63 Studio Shoot

May 21, 2012 : Launch of Brigada Eskwela [Justo Lukban Elementary School, Paco, Manila]

May 21, 2012 : Ms. Portia Baluyot and Isabelo Garden Restaurant [San Roque, Marikina City]

May 22, 2012 : MadScience Funworks Inc. [New Manila, Quezon City]

 May 23, 2012 : K-NOW Episodes 62-63 Studio Shoot of Student Correspondents

May 28, 2012 : Avilon Zoo [Rodriquez (formerly Montalban), Rizal]

May 29, 2012 : Manila Water [Lakbayan Center, La Mesa Dam, UP Sewage Treatment Plant]

 May 30, 2012 : League of Corporate Foundations CSR Expo 2012 [Ayala Museum]

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Education is our hope. 

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