Giants

On yesterday's chapel, the speaker reminded us of this quote "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants" (Newton). Here are two of the giants who offered me their shoulders and more. Audacious authenticity. Thank you and we love you Kuya Ed and Ate Page!

Salamat, Tita Cory.

This small yellow banner was tied to my head. Rommel wore a Cory shirt, Rio had a yellow balloon, and I some yellow beaded bracelets. Yellow was the new black, as in mourning. But yellow has also become the new green, a symbol of hope for the Philippines.

Only selected guests were allowed inside the Manila Cathedral for the final funeral mass. It did not matter. Crowds of people still went to pay respect. Some on top of the adjacent buildings, others in front of the church. We chose to stay connected through a big screen in the parking lot just outside. Rain was heavily pouring and typhoon Kiko's angry wind was pounding on our umbrellas. The rain-gears were quite useless, and we would end up drenched in tears anyway. Walang kaso.

When Lea Salonga sung Bayan Ko, we were singing just as loud.

It was a sad yet heartwarming day. Some friends from Canada, US and Malaysia were texting me -- they were watching from TFC or CNN. One asked me to sign on the message wall on his behalf. Indeed, even in death Tita Cory united the Filipinos around the world.

May this national awakening be a reminder to us all to guard our freedom and exercise our responsibilities. May it drive those who abuse power to humble themselves in repentance and seek real transformation. A long shot, but nothing is impossible.

1993 to 2009 -- a life well-lived. Thank God for you, Tita Cory.

The Art of Being Misunderstood

Four months in grad school (may have) provided my most valuable lesson for the year --- the art of being misunderstood.

Coming to AIM on such short finances earned me differing reviews: crazy, brave, faithful, careless, courageous, carefree, unwise, obedient, stubborn. Suffice it to say that to date all these labels are still hanging around waiting to pounce on me once an "i-told-you-so" moment presents itself.
----
Well, baby, the situation in the classroom and around it is not entirely different.
----
Be a female, be misunderstood. Be young, be misunderstood. Be Filipino, be misunderstood. Be a foreigner, be misunderstood. Talk much, be misunderstood. Talk little, be misunderstood. Be nice, be misunderstood. Be naughty, be misunderstood.

And so on and so on and so on.
----
Perhaps this is what we pay so much for, in institutes of higher learning such as AIM. To learn this delicate art. Making a difference at the risk (and certainty) of being misunderstood.
----
Be Rizal. Be misunderstood.

Be Mother Theresa. Be misunderstood.

Be Gandhi. Be misunderstood.

Be Princess Di. Be misunderstood.

Be Benazir. Be misunderstood.

Be Jesus. Be misunderstood.
-----
Go ahead and make a difference, anyway.
-----
Understood?

high tech conference

Today I had the rare opportunity to participate in an international video conference of young leaders from 12 ASEAN countries. Sponsored by the World Bank Knowledge Resource Center, this videoconference enabled us to glean from the wisdom and international experience of ASEAN Secretary General H.E. Ong Keng Yong and WB VP for East Asia and the Pacific James Adams.

Find out more at the Catalyst of Change (Philippines) blogspot.