to bored philo students/fresh graduates (classified ads)

I am in (desperate) need of 2-3 ENCODERS who are

- willing to do VOLUNTEER work.
- capable of beating the 8may2008 deadline for 3 sets of spanish article (to be typed with proper accents)
- can work under my supervision till 30april at the jp2-rces office (at 3rd flr. tarc, 10am-5pm), the articles can be taken home should you wish to work in the evenings and from 1-8 may 2008.
- "happy" to be compensated by:
a. unlimited office coffee (brewed eto, don't worry.. hehehe) or halo-halo/ice cream (negotiable)
b. minimal transpo allowance (let's talk about this.)

Interested people may contact me through my mobile number. You can also pm/hit the comment box at my multiply account.


Thanks.

berso sa metro

Matagal na rin akong di nakakasakay ng metro mula noong lisanin ko ang dating kuta sa Ortigas. Dati kasi, apat na beses akong sumasakay sa isang linggo. Madalas, hindi magandang karanasan ang pagsakay ng tren – hindi yata masayang magmadali papuntang istasyon, upang habulin ang pinakamaagang biyahe; makipila sa mahabang linya ng tao sa token machine (salamat sa stored-value card), tumayo (ng nakahigh-heels, karay ang bag, envelope, at kung mamalasin – ang higanteng laptop), bumalanse sa bawat preno; makipagsiksikan sa pagbaba upang lumipat sa isa pang tren, maranasan ang parehong bagay at maglakad ng pagkalayu-layo – (habang karay ang bag, envelope at kung mamalasin – ang higanteng laptop. – hmm, pwedeng gawing kanta)

Masalimuot ang pagsakay sa tren maliban na lamang kung maluwag, pwedeng maupo at mabibigyan ng pagkakataon na bumunot ng libro para magbasa.

Kanina papuntang Ateneo, nakasakay muli ako ng metro. Naswertehan kong di siksikan sa tren dahil maaga pa. Gayunpaman, pinili ko na lamang na tumayo. Sa maikling biyahe mula Pureza hanggang Katipuna’y nagkaroon ako ng panahon magmasid sa paligid. Nahagap ang aking atensyon ng mga nakasulat doon sa taas na bahagi kung saan madalas nakalagay ang mga print ads,

¿Què es la vida?, un frenesi?
¿què es la vida?, una sombra, una ficciòn,
y el mayor bien es pequeno:
que toda la vida es sueño,
Y los sueños, sueños son.
- Pedro Calderon de la Barca, La Vida es Sueño

HINDI KO NAHULI ANG SALIN. Pero subukan natin: (errhm, effort)

Ano ang buhay? Isang paglinlang?
Ano ang buhay? Isang panaginip, isang ilusyong
mas mabuti ang higit sa maliit – (pwede ring: mas higit ang mabuti sa kasinungalingan)
Ang buhay ay isang ilusyon
at ang ilusyo’y mananatiling ilusyon.

***

Ríete de la noche,
del día, de la luna,
ríete de las calles
torcidas de la isla,
ríete de este torpe
muchacho que te quiere,
pero cuando yo abro
los ojos y los cierro,
cuando mis pasos van,
cuando vuelven mis pasos,
niégame el pan, el aire,
la luz, la primavera
pero tu risa nunca
porque me moriría.
- Pablo Neruda, Tu Risa

SALIN:
Pagtawanan mo ang gabi,
ang araw, ang buwan
Pagtawanan mo ang liku-likong
landas sa isla,
Pagtawanan mo ang torpeng
lalaking ito na nagmamahal sa iyo,
Ngunit kapag bubuksan ko
at isasara ang aking mga mata,
Kapag ako ay umalis,
kapag ako ay muling bumalik
Ipagkait mo na sa akin ang tinapay,
ang hangin, ang liwanag at ang tagsibol,
Huwag lamang ang iyong ngiti
Dahil ito’y aking ikasasawi

***

Si alguna la vida te maltrata
Acuerdate de mi
Que no puede cansarse de esperar
Aquel que no se cansa de mirarte.
- Luis Garcia Montero, Habitaciones Separadas

SALIN:
Kung sakaling malupit sa iyo ang kapalaran
Alalahanin mo ako
Dahil hindi mapapagod sa paghihintay
itong walang sawang tumitingin sa iyo..

***

Nabighani ako sa mga tula, lalo na sa mga salin. Marami pa akong nabasa dahil umuusad ako sa bawat hinto ng tren. Kung nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na kunan ng litrato ang mga ito (bagaman bawal), ang saya-saya siguro. Hindi bago sa akin ang pagbabasa, ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, nagising ang aking nahihimlay na pag-ibig sa panitikan.

Masaya ako dahil nakakita ako ng tilamsik ng sining sa loob ng isang lugar na kung saan madalas magmadali ang mga tao. Nakakatuwa, isa pala itong promotional material for reading ng Instituto Cervantes na nagmula noong October 2007. Sana lang, maraming tao ang magkaroon ng panahon upang magmasid.

Sana magkaroon ako ng panahon upang sumakay muli ng metro. May mapagkakaabalahan na sa biyaheng Recto hanggang Santolan. =)

Deus Ex Machina

· It has been almost a year when I got rid of our broadband subscription. After eight months, we are again wired (sorry, dsl eh) thanks to Mama’s prodding (aba’y akalain nating…!). Yes, and again I have all the means to be online, but perhaps it won’t be like how it was before.

· While I thought that I can bum around this summer, I was again very wrong. It could be true that busy is already an understatement. With all the tasks to be accomplished, her haggardness could only wish that she will be able to finish at least two chapters of her real project.

· I’m thankful that things are pretty much lighter now as compared to the past three weeks. Sure I’m still dealing with many other things, but these are way bearable now. I couldn’t forget how the gradschool gang helped me specially during the National Conference. Their help and company truly made a difference. I owe each of them bigtime.

· You can still be surprised about things that are expected.

· The mind can’t contain everything and so one can’t be arrogant of being capable to troubleshoot just about anything. Not that man becomes a miniscule moron in front of an integral cosmic put-up, but the infinity of possibilities sometimes prevent us from seeing what could truly be at hand. Hehe, I’d like to believe that St. Thomas’ generic final solution is just apt, “a cold shower, good sleep, and just letting the problem solve itself.”

· When you seem to have assumed a burden that is not actually by your own doing; and that nothing else can be done because you’ve already given your all -- don’t worry, you have all the right to just leave it all to the hands of another: to God, fate or any cosmological principle. In the long run, things shall fall into place. DEUS EX MACHINA – perhaps, just like how writers kill the noble-contrabidas.

· Breathe Altez, Breathe. =)

to the slackers

Seeing the UST AB Philo Class 08 graduate yesterday made me recall how I started. Tempus fugit! I remember my first rollcall to this class during their Introduction to Philosophy class as a substitute teacher for Sir Reyes – I asked each of them, “why philo?” Then after everybody has answered, a welcome address, “welcome to hell.”

Hehe. Somebody confessed that they hated me for that, but perhaps they’re just too young then to realize that it was also a self-welcome address. But now I ask, had it really been hell for them? Had it really been hell for me?

Perhaps yes and no.

Why yes? I’ve walked out from this class for a couple of times. Maingay ang klaseng ito. I’ve called them “slackers” which was eventually converted as a term of endearment. There was a never schoolyear when I was not assigned to be their teacher at least in a subject. I thought that I could get away when I refused to be their research coordinator (kids, read: refused – hehe, I have my dissertation). But the truth is, my conscience bugged me. I should not have done that, and perhaps any close observer would know the repercussions. (no pun intended) Good thing, they’re blessed with good people to help them. Nonetheless, I was assigned to teach Aesthetics and then Existentialism. I never got away from them.

And why no? Because we have shared so many things while growing together. Because in that process, I’ve learned to love them. We’ve seen each others’ struggles – I’ve seen them grow and try hard to pass every subject, while they see me running around classrooms, libraries and research offices (my advisees must have already memorized my hideouts!). We must have already listened to each others’ heartaches, laughed, cried and drank together.

Now I shall miss Paeng’s lectures, Joey’s announcements, Joel being haggard and harassed, the athletes (being late), the ex-OPs who are seemingly silent (pero ang ingay pala), the right column girls (Nina, Paola, Tetay, Andee), Gino’s noise, Mark’s business deals, the Paeng-Shane rivalry/loveteam, Gozi’s multimedia, Margrein’s questions, Gay my little girl from Narvacan, Aina the Artist, Jang and her panic attacks, Rubelo and Jireh's jokes, Joachim's grand entrances. Hayh. Mamimiss ko rin pala. Hahaha.

I must have been too busy to miss so many things but I hope that they’ll bear in mind that I’m always with them. May their idealisms and aspirations never falter, and may they always remember the values that we have learned together out of the little things that we have discussed. The world outside the baccalaureate realm is harder and even if I know that some would still opt to pursue an academic life, be tough because life won’t be easy from this day on. Be strong, graceful and virtuous.

Like a parent who must give space to his/her child, carry on the task that you have imbibed. You do not have to give back, since it would be better if you give it to others. Should you decide to return, perhaps for a little rest, or perhaps to grow more, or fine, if you would really like to give it back to our Alma Mater – you’re always welcome.

See you soon, and hopefully at the Graduate School.