Looking back: 2012

Me and Pearl during her 18th Birthday Party

January: Beginning

The beginning of the year, kicked off by a special debut of a special person in my life - my Best friend Pearl. It was a month of beginnings and first. I was looking forward to a great 2012... and I did.

February: Defeat

Claiming by "Most Naning" Award

The infamous defeat and most painful failure in my life - losing to the position that I have aspired the most. I look up to this day as the most blessed one of 2012. Despite pain, I saw who really cared for me and believed in me. Among them were loved professors and Fine Arts friends.

March: Direct

The Trio and Prof. Ligaya Rabago- Visaya

Never in my wildest dreams did I intend to direct a video production, but I did. Twice, to be exact. I finished the second semester winning two best director awards for two films. One from UPelikula awarded the month before and from the zoom in, zoom out film festival.

April: Write

My first weekly column in The Freeman came out during the month of April. At first it was scary while I held my apprehensions but it turned out to be a good avenue for me to speak in behalf of the youth. Exciting!

The Casipong sisters, students for 2 years

May: Recital

One of the joys of being a teacher is when you are able to see the fruit of your labor onstage. The month of may was filled with performances and practices that made me very proud as a music teacher. 

June: Win

CAMS 2012 election

The sweetest downfall also yields the sweetest success. After a year of being in the Cebu Alliance of Mass Communication Students (CAMS), I was elected this year as the President. Being the leader of the entire organization was a big challenge but a challenge so sweet that every endeavor is a joy to me.

July: Believe

Goofing around with Kara David and fellow officers

Probably the most unforgettable CAMS event in my life is the I-witness Documentary Festival. The officers were privileged enough to spend time with the four hosts - Kara David, Sandra Aguinaldo, Jay Taruc and Howie Severino.

August: Celebrate

Feeling like a true reporter inside the ABS-CBN Cebu's TV Barn

In celebration of TV Patrol Central Visayas' 24th anniversary, we kicked the mechanics of the annual campus patrol live broadcasting competition. It was a milestone for CAMS to co-organize two big events in two months. Amazing! This here is also my most liked profile picture. 

3rd Best Director award for 2012

September: Grow 

One of my favorite Cebuano plays, Ang Mini, was bought to life by my very own classmates. We won Best Director (me), Best Actress (Rejzl Awit), Best Supporting Actress (Angela Naval), Best Set Design and BEST PLAY!

Scene from "Ang Mini"

October: Performance

Teacher's recital, Chu un Temple 

Even if I haven't been teaching that much anymore, I was still invited to perform during CMLC's teacher's recital. It felt s good to still be able to sing and play the violin in front of an audience. Well actually, I kind of miss it. I miss playing the music.

November: Heights

Flying high sitting on preferred seats

Out of 800+ students who applied to be part of the country's prestigious leadership training, Ayala Young Leader's Congress (AYLC), I was called to fly to Manila for the final panel interview. Little did I know that I will be on the high heights of Makati's skyscrapers being with fellow young leaders across the nation and talking to top executives of great companies. Another great privilege, indeed.

December: Family

The most meaningful month of the year is spent well with family, bonds that are beyond blood but bound by cherished moments and friendship. December may have been the last month but each day has been filled with wonder as I wake up realizing that 2012 hasn't been that bad at all.

My cousins in Manila, 6 years after

College family: B&B Productions!

Moving on: 2013

2012 was not that bad at all! So, 2013, what have you got for me?

Miss UP, AYLC 2013, ABS-CBN Cebu and The Freeman internship and more!

Thank you Lord for this gift of Life. What is your 2012 story? =)

Hugs and love,

Feanne

**PS: Watch out for Verbal Variety's new look on 2013!

Tragedies before merriment

Just a week to go before the celebration of Christ’s birth and the spirit of the merriment is dying by the second.

Last Friday, my female classmate was assailed by two men, one if which pretended to be her husband. One of the assailants publicly declared that people should leave them alone because he has a personal business to settle with my classmate. The man’s sidekick, meanwhile pulled my classmate’s bag with mighty effort. Good thing a female vendor of Christmas lights identified her as a student, causing the assailants to flee.

The following day, a shooting occurred in Connecticut killing 20 children and six adults. Unlike the stories of gunmen tearing down a high school building, this shooting spree happened in an elementary school posing threats to nearby towns and the rest of American nation. More than a hundred children in Sandy Hook Elementary School are traumatized and scared of what will happen to them as they go to school.

Is there still a safe place in this world? That I ask myself amid the traffic and Christmas parties happening left and right. With the increasing number of crimes and innocent victims day by day, the answer to the question seems vague. There is too much darkness and evil in the hearts of men. Even the most friendly-looking face could be the next thief as soon as you turn your back.

We live by the moment. And every moment we do, there is somebody out there who is robbed of, assaulted, abducted or raped. It is a sad reality that we submit ourselves to. In the first incident I mentioned, the men have been identified by the police as notorious, committing crimes for countless times. The sad thing is the police cannot arrest the men because no one is brave enough to file a case. So their happy tripping goes on and many are becoming victims as of this writing.

The Christmas season is not only about enjoying and spending time with friends and family. It is also about caring and extending a hand to those who have been aggrieved. There were many people who witnessed my classmate being attacked but no one helped, except for that female vendor and a friend. Her plea for help fell on deaf ears despite many onlookers.

The world is, indeed no longer safe.  But I know a place where we can still be safe – our hearts. It is where we hide ourselves, our fears, struggles, and where we hold on to the belief that a baby boy born in a manger will save us from all the harm.

I pay my respects to those who were killed in the Connecticut shooting and I have to admit I am angry at those who harmed my classmate. But I rest in the truth that the miracle of the baby boy will make our hearts at peace.

An advance Merry Christmas to all the readers!

**Published in The Freeman newspaper on December 18, 2012

Of Cebu and storms

“You are in the eye of the storm,” my journalism teacher used to warn me whenever I encounter unfortunate events. I didn’t really understand what that meant every time she said it. Even so, she added that one could always get out of the storm.

Apparently, the word storm is a life metaphor for problem, conflict or a difficult undertaking. It could be very destructive but just like any phenomenon, it goes away and the challenge is to rise again.

storm clouds hovering over UP Cebu

As of this writing, super “Pablo” is somewhere between Visayas and Mindanao threatening the islands with its heavy rainfall and strong winds. Public storm signals were raised and residents were advised to evacuate coastal areas.

But despite the threat, I can say that Cebu is ready for any storm, literally or metaphorically.

Cebuanos have faced difficult challenges – killings, robberies, political rivalries, poverty, hunger. The rains kept on pouring hard but the Cebuanos showed strength, still standing up after every challenge.

What is it in a Cebuano? There is a long list of how we are as a people, of how, as part of the Philippine race, we managed to help keep the country afloat.

Cebu is a colorful place. According to marine biologist and notable host Jude Bacalso, Cebu is where the lines of business and leisure meet. It is home to the world-class guitars and sweet mangoes.

Cebuanos are incomparable. In times of storms, we stick together like a sturdy tree. We have kept our humility throughout the years being the birthplace of Catholicism in the country. The first war in the history of the Filipinos was done at the shores of Mactan, Cebu.

We have the best hotels and resorts that tourists from different parts of the globe frequent. In fact, Cebu was nominated as one of the best cities in the world. It is a place of intellect, culture and history.

The Bisaya was portrayed as “bakya” before. But it cannot be denied that the Cebuanos are world class. Just recently, we pulled of a national event, the National Thanksgiving Mass for the new Filipino saint, San Pedro Calungsod, who is Bisaya.

My professor believed in me when she said I could survive the storm and I managed to. The Cebuanos are a strong people who can survive any storm.

**First published in The Freeman Newspaper on December 5, 2012 

Minding manners in public

Long ago, cellular phones were not objects of necessity. Back when beepers were more convenient, mobile phones were bulky and a hassle to bring. Life was easier then. Everybody knew what privacy was.

The right to privacy is the inherent right on an individual to be let alone. However, with the advent of technology, this concept is constantly blurring by the moment. It is now easy for individuals to invade your privacy with a trusty gadget, which we all know by the name of cellphone. A majority of its models include a camera feature with optimized lenses bearing an adequate number of megapixels amounting to photos and videos with high resolution.

Its add-on may be music to the ears but it may be dangerous to one’s space.

We all know the story of Paula Salvosa, more popularly known as “Amalayer”. 

For days her infamous squabble with the lady guard at the Santolan LRT station flooded the news and the internet. Months back, we witnessed how a driver berated a traffic enforcer along Capitol Hills Drive in Quezon City. Both were bullied and harassed by netizens judging from the comments we read. The former testified how the humiliation destroyed her life. She chose not to go to school and is still afraid to go out alone.

photo from elysplanet.com

The public has eyes that can see very well. People watch you from a distance and talk about you in an instant. All these events fell into the hands of the public because of how fast technology runs.

But if we take a quick backtrack on the reason behind their public shame, we come to a common denominator - manners. Both did not manifest good manners in public 

places.

We all have our reasons for losing our temper especially when on the run. For all we know, the two came from a stressful turn out. Or maybe they could be running late for class or work. We do not really know what they went through before it all happened. Yet, this does not give them an excuse to echo their stress to other people.

Salvosa lost it, Carabuena did too. It was all because they were not patient. Their manners were all over the place.

People around you are just as worthy of respect as you do too. No matter how shabby, old, young, degrading or even below your status in life, they are people too so show respect.

Furthermore, English is not the basis of your wisdom and educational attainment. Language comes from the mouth but words do not. You cannot belittle someone and tell him or her off just because you went to school.

Lastly, when you are about to lose it, keep it to yourself. The eyes that could defame you do not know how to collect all the sides of the story. If you keep on invoking your rights to scream, shout and squeal in public, you have also stepped on the rights of others to stroll in public peacefully.

Remember, when you go out of any big door you share the same air and road with the other citizens of the Philippines.

**First published in The Freeman Newspaper on November 27, 2012