words from the wise

snagged without permission but with utmost respect and admiration from butch dalisay's blog. it was an outline of a recent speech he gave to graduates. so full of insights! i just love the guy!

1. You can blame poverty only so much for holding you back. Instead of using it as an excuse to do nothing, use it as a reason to do all you can. Don’t waste time grumbling, or feeling embittered.

2. Those of us who are poor simply have to do more to catch up. The only thing we have is our intelligence and resourcefulness, and no one can help us best but ourselves. Find ways of compensating for your shortcomings (in my case, this was through reading and, later, writing).

3. Education is the great equalizer. Don’t waste this chance when you get it. Have fun learning, and learn to have fun, but stay focused. Your richer classmates can afford to bum around, but you can’t.

4. A good school is a great help, but a good mind is even more important. The best school can’t help a lazy mind.

5. Learn how to write and to speak well—it really helps. And read, read, read. Read things beyond your immediate interest and competence. Nothing you read is ever wasted.

6. Be engaged in the issues of your time. Some things are more important than personal prosperity and success. When you succeed, give back. UP’s “iskolar ng bayan” and Ateneo’s “a man for others” suggest the same thing: we study to serve the people, not just ourselves nor our families.

i just love it. thanks sir butch!

butch dalisay in the flesh

i was wandering about in powerbooks trinoma last saturday when i saw they were having a presentation of sorts. i then heard a man with a deep, solid, confident voice explaining something. ( i too caught up with the velvety voice to actually listen) hehehe. i kept on wondering who is he? is he a political figure? a media practitioner? i was not really sure, but having his talk inside powerbooks, he definitely has something to do with the written word. so i kept on hovering about. after a few more minutes, the talk was over, and the moderator introduced the mysterious speaker as the distinguished mr. butch dalisay.

i was in awe. i have one of his books. i read his article in the newspaper. he is a writer advocating the art of writing. my kind of guy!

too bad, that i made a sad realization. i think i am too shy to ever be a writer. in my mind i kept on kicking myself... why didn't i approach him? take his picture? talk to him?

how can i ever get into writing when i am too shy? how will i get stories? interview sources? argh! so frustrating! shyness is an occupational hazard i have to get rid of.

too bad. i hope i meet him again. probably by that time i would've read his book.

love at first sight

do you believe in love at first sight? i don't. i don't believe you can look at somone from across the room and know that the universe wants you two to be together. there is just no logic. lust in first sight, sure. love? i don't think so. you see an attractive person, you size him up, you look at his eyes, his skin, his rippling muscles... and you let out a sigh... gawd! i'm in love! YEAH RIGHT!

it takes time to know a person... let alone develop friendship with him. that is what i strongly believe in... start as friends. get to know each other. know him when he is happy, get to know him when he's not. study him when he's not aware that you're looking. find out how he is when he is drunk, sober, stressed, hungry, horny, angry, bored... GET TO KNOW HIM. this will take time, and that is what's good about friendship. no pressure. no time frame. you grow, together. then when the time is right, when the stars are aligned. when the fates are smiling down at you... you slowly find yourself swirling... falling in love. believe me, it is the sweetest feeling. more precious than that abrupt feeling you feel in your gut when you see someone goodlooking. that's not love. that's a knee jerk reaction from your body looking to procreate with the best of the species to improve your gene pool. that is genetics. that is biology. that is definitely not love.

two-faced

earlier today, a friend and his colleagues working in a service-related company were harassed by a aggrieved customer. shouting orders here and there. shouting expletives. demanding unreasonable service. then my friend introduced himself. you see they are both members of the same charismatic community. suddenly, a change of expression from this guy. smiles for everybody. bright as sunshine.



two-faced *&^@#...!