Once A Bookworm Always A Bookworm.

I have wanted to read other books aside from the law books that are filling up all the shelves in my place. In fact its law books all over the place; other than the books of Tolentino, Herrera, Reyes, Regalado, De Leo, etc. on the book shelves, there were stocks of red, maroon, blue and green hard-bound books on the sofa, on the computer table and on my bed. On the dining table there were, likewise, couple of soft-bound books accompanied with machine copies of the pages of SCRA and a hand full of notes. My house is really that mess most of the time but that is my life during school period. There were clatters everywhere giving an atmosphere of a chaotic world. Organizing and arranging these books are out of the question because it is very hard to manage my time squeezing in both my work load in the office and my studies in law school.

Aside from these law books I have likewise in my possession other books. I am a fan of numerous authors whose manuscripts are best sellers. I like John Grisham’s works and I have two of his books. I have read several of his books but I could not afford buying my own copies because my resources are all channeled in my schooling. Such that most non-law books that I have read were either borrowed or gift from friends sharing the same passion in books. Other than my two Grisham books there were other books in my shelves that remained unopened. The famous trilogy book of The Lord of the Rings which was given to me as gift by a good friend before the second sequel of the motion picture is shown in the movie theater remained stocked in my shelves fragmentary read until now collecting dust and maybe mites. There were also books of local authors which were given to me as birthday present that I have merely collected and have not dared to open as yet. Stupid that I am, I borrowed the latest, well at that time, of the sequel of the Harry Potter series, The Half-blood Prince, from a friend during the last semestral break hoping that I could read it. However, I have neglected my reading and came the school season and my purpose has not been realized. Coming this July the last of the sequel of the Harry Potter will be released on bookstores, The Deathly Hollows, and I have not even started with the former. How certainly stupid I am, huh?

Hence, in addition to my law books, which I have thoroughly read, there were other books that keep on filling and stocking in my place. Unfortunately, they remained just like that, filling and stocking, without me having them opened and read. So last Saturday, I made a vow, I promised before my towering stock of books, that I will not watch TV. The pledge includes the undertaking that I will not watch television until I have finished reading at least fifty percent of these dusty books. What a bookworm! I have been wanting in reading other kind books but that purpose seems to have become a distant reality. My eyes are giving up on me every time I start to read they involuntarily shut down even before I finish a single chapter. Worse, my thoughts were hovering away from my mind flying towards the world of sleep and dreams, you know what I mean. Then finally, i decided to slow down in reading and find another way in relaxing my mind.

Alas, last night I sat in front of my TV set and spent the evening watching movies and shows. To my dismay nothing caught my interest. All that I saw in the cable networks are re-runs of movies and shows which I have already seen before. There was nothing new, with few exceptions of some series of shows in AXN channel. Aggravating the feeling of dismay, my sister, who was then around, sat beside me in front of the TV and browsed the local networks. There I had again glimpses of the political campaign ads of the candidates this coming poll frequently interrupting the local shows. It was terrible, like what I had stated before in my previous blog post, the ads are more of nuisance than informative. The campaign ads were absolutely unsubstantial and certified junk. It is such a shame to realize that these politicians wasted substantial amount of money for nonsense ads defiling the air waves and agitating viewers. These strengthen my resolve to ban the TV and read good books instead. I came to a realization that books are better stuff than TV. What a book worm indeed. Haaaaahahahahahahahahahaha!

Text Message From Heaven

After a long time of emptiness I am once again filled with happiness.

Yesterday afternoon my cell phone made a familiar beep notifying me that a message was received. To my surprise the message came from a person that I thought had forgotten me. When I pressed my phone's interface button accessing the message just received I was surprised to see that familiar name again "love ko". The message reads "Hi! Kmusta k n? D nman ako galit syo tampo lang ako nun pero kalimutan na ntn yun. How r u?" After reading it I was dumbfounded. Surprised of the unexpected message. I held my cell phone tightly as if I was holding my girl's hand. My prayers were finally answered, I was forgiven and not forgotten I told my self.

I told her, "I was doing good but I can't get rid of that sadness that keeps on haunting me every time I am alone specially at night" I was confused when she gave this reply through text,"=(", so I immediately texted her again, "When you left a void feeling occupied that room you left empty in my life". Then she replied "Talaga?Alam mo miss n rn kta". After reading that I immediately dialed her cell phone number and talked to her. I said a million sorries and I pledged my whole loyalty to her. She said to me that my apology is accepted and She hopes that I learned my lesson well. "Absolutely" I said. After our conversation I said to my self, "finally! I can be happy again".

I did not expect this to happen but it did happen. Indeed good thing comes to your life unexpected. It just come bangging on your door without any notice. That was really the message of all messages, the message sent from heaven.

You too can be happy! just pray and wait patiently for the answer. No prayers are left unanswered. God is good.

I love you my luvs.

Cool Voters Don't Give Away Votes They Loan Them.

Yesterday, the 4^th of March 2007, I visited my tita Luz in Santol and she was so happy to see me again. After we made exchanges of pleasantries she offered me merienda which I, of course, gladly accepted, who you're kidding, that was free.

While I was having the merienda my tita sat beside me and asked “Kompleto na ba ang listahan mo sa senador?” (Is your list for the senatorial candidates complete already?). I replied “Hindi pa po” (Not yet). Then she said to me that at her age and with the choices of candidates she felt she is no longer interested to vote. “Di naman kawalan sa bayan ang nag-iisang boto ko, diba?” (My single vote is not a lost for the country, is it?). She asked me. Immediately, after hearing her sentiment and her question, I felt a chill. It isn’t a good feeling. I said to my self “what is she thinking.” My mind was shouting and berating the old woman, but, I could not just say what is wrong with her statements and scold my auntie. It is not proper. There was silence; my tita was staring at me directly on my eyes searching for the answer. However, no words came out from my mouth.

After a long pause the silence was broken by my auntie’s own follow up statement. “Sayang lang naman and boto ko sa walang katuturang eleksiyon na ito.” (My vote would only be wasted in this nonsense election). My tita was truly burned up. All her hopes are gone and from her words, her faith to the system and the institutions had vanished. She commented further, “ayaw ko nang ibigay ang boto ko.” (I don’t want to give away my vote anymore). After hearing the last statement, I started to dissect each word she said and ascertain the logic of her opinion.

Initially, when my tita was telling me not to exercise her electoral right, I was furious, but upon hearing her predicament, I started to look at situation through her mind. I could understand her thoughts more clearly already. According to her, after she cast her vote in favor of a candidate who would be then elected to office, the once powerful electorate like her would have to succumb to the powers of that elected official past the Election Day. Her conclusion was very disturbing, according to her, the official elected to the office now wields power beyond contestation. Even if the elected official will go beyond his mandate the poor electorate would have no more right to question him and is left with no recourse but to swallow the evil actions of the said official. With second thoughts, I started to think that my auntie’s political thinking is correct.

“How then could I convince this poor old lady to go to the electoral precinct to vote on election-day?” I asked my self. I wanted her to vote because the future of this nation depends on the voters, then a spark of thought came to me and I remembered a slogan which was very familiar to me. “Do not give away your votes, instead, loan them to the candidates that you have chosen.”

The said slogan was the very slogan used by a friend and classmate, Joseph Balang, on the campaign for the election of the school body held in FEU during my Poli Sci years.

I told my tita to think that when she cast her vote she is not giving it away. Instead, think of it as a loan to the candidates. The principle would have to be like this: when you gave away something based on pure liberality you do not expect any return or consideration. Hence, when you gave away your vote, you thereby had given no right to expect something in return. You are not in any way having the right to demand good governance. On the contrary, when you loan your vote to the candidates, you merely lend them your vote and the candidates are expected to give something in return. The candidates seeking enough votes are hereby obliged to render good services and governance if elected. I told my tita Luz, “If you come across a candidate during the campaign period, you tell him that you loan him your ballot and that you expect services commensurate to your vote.” Then my tita Luz smiled at me and said “you clever animal, that might work”.

The next time an ambitious candidate for an elective position comes to you, and asks for your vote, be not merely a listener of his agenda and propositions. Speak your mind and give him a peace of it. You will vote for him on the condition that you merely lend him the vote and that you expect him to make good of his promises. You make reservations, that should he fail to give what is expected of him, you have the right to make demand of the pledges he owed you and the public. Make your words heard and collect the returns of your investments from the vote you loan to your elective officials. That is a cool, thing to do.

Don't give away your votes but loan them instead to the candidates of your choice. This may not be my original yet its resurrection is very relevant at this point in time. Remember, during the polls it's cool to loan your votes.

Old Movie

"My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." -Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks)

Darn, I' m late again this morning in going to work. I sleep late because of an old movie. I was rummaging my old stuff last night when I came across an old VCD of Forrest Gump. I watched this movie a hundred times already but somehow I never get over it. I don't know why.

After I found the thing that I was looking for I immediately placed the old vcd inside the player and I spent the remaining time left for my sleep watching Forrest Gump. After viewing Forrest I contend my self with a meager sleep of about one hour and twenty-five minutes to be exact.

It was fun watching the movie again though. The movie may have been old but for unknown reason it refreshes me. It is really surprising how it relaxes my rather pre-occupied mind from so much worries and stress. Many thanks to Tom he is a good actor. Life is indeed full of surprises.

Byng Was Indoctrinated.

"Splendid", "very comprehensive" and "enlightening". These are the adjectives used by my friend referring to my post. Wow! I am deeply touched. I received a text message this morning and this good friend told me she was indoctrinated. Whahahahahahahaha... another person has been natzinalized. Bravo! indeed.


An educator, this friend is very insightful. You would not run out of any topic in a conversation if you're with her. Good conversant and listener. Bravo to you too.


Thank you Byng for taking time visiting and reading my blog.