Bitter death for bitter budget

Another great alarm again had woke up the seemingly somnambulistic government with regards to the controversial budget given that Kristel Tejada, a 16 year-old UP freshman student committed suicide for being force to take a leave of absence in her studies because her parents failed to pay their loan and her tuition fees.

Tejada is a behavioral science student of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila. She died by taking liquid silver cleanser on March 5, 2013 at Tondo, Manila. She is just one of those who dreamed to be successful someday and her parents were just one of those who also believed that the college education of their daughter could lift them together from wallowing in the quagmire of poverty. With these thoughts of change for their lives, a life has been wasted; a life that could never be back again.

 The death of Tejada must serve as call for everybody and not only for the government to take it as a lesson in order to come up with a rethought life with its reviewed priorities and services. Let us not resort directly to any suicide acts. Everybody must think that life is just given to us and we do not have the right to take it away from us. Her death may not be a waste if the government would take it the way that the poor but privileged students took the challenge of the lesson to do more of their part, to ensure a bright future and to review its priorities. They must prioritize their lives on the first place. After all, everybody must think that killing ourselves is killing our dreams. Tejada is in the tertiary level of dreaming an abundant life. She should have thought of her chance of that and her chance of passing in a state university admission.

On the other hand, the government, who is leading us now, must have also consider Tejada’s death to review its priorities on basic services, the education as such and for the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to revisit their policies.

As an ordinary individual, perhaps, we would crucify everyone who matters of the death of Tejada. There are maybe flaws in the socialized tuition fee system of UP that is why they are now on the process examining it. The death of Tejada has just given an opportunity for university administrators to revisit what have been the implementing guidelines that are not applicable in today’s status quo.

Based on the Congressional Planning and Budget Research Department, the share of the SUCs now in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country now declined from 0.41 percent in 1991 to 0.29 percent this year. The Philippines has just represented 2 percent of its GDP which was far below from the 6 percent requirement of the United Nations. As for the need of every student now, the state must initiate a move for more innovative laws. These must be the laws that are for education and for the benefit of the students.

The death of Kristel Tejada must not be taken for granted. It must galvanize everybody that hopefully at last, there will be a constitutional right for better education. Her bitter death has just prompt the authority for a better budget.

  

‘The Grave Diggers’

Nothing but bones

Graves are creepy.

Corpse in the grave are frightening,

 but digger of corpse on the graves and the ghosts standing in front of me during the show somehow scared me.

On that night, I was just one of those who are curious about this play with the tagline ‘How low, how very low can a man go down?

They have a nice tarp, nice plot and a great venue for plays to be held but I say, I saw nothing but a Basic Ed. Classroom presentation. It was nothing but bones. I understand nothing but seeing pantaleon who looks like very me, the plot that they are on the cemetery and the thought of identifying the characters as diggers because they are bringing shovel.

Characters weren’t even sure of what they are doing. They haven’t yet completed and established their emotions yet on the stage and lastly, they didn’t prove anyway that they must pass the course they are taking by doing the play to comply with their requirements.

Nonetheless, it was an interesting night to meet my doppelganger. At first, I am very hesitant to accept that we really look like identical slice of an apple, but I am right of being hesitant to that. I still don’t accept it. I am much good looking than that ghost anyway, than pantaleon. To be not outcast to what they are talking about, I somehow play with them.

It was only because I and pantaleon have a similarly closer structure of face on that night. I can’t deny that. For my classmates sake, OK. Ma’am Jinggay said that it was like a reality show of “Orsino meets Pantaleon”.

Twelfth Night

-a Show of no less laugh

I know what they’re like (my fellow abeans most especially the ABEO Vanguards [freshmen], my classmates and all the other mates, my friends, my relatives, my family) – they’re proud! I’m proud saying that. Oh! I’m proud. I just can’t great it off. Some are born great and ABEO play house achieved greatness indeed with the Twelfth Night play- a play written by William Shakespeare.

I’m like very blessed having been tasked to portray the role of Orsino, a duke of Illyria. It was a very fascinating and exigent role. How could I imagine myself being a ruler of a place in the 16th Century who needs to be in love to a beautiful Olivia? As one of the teachers said during the critique night, I need to be passionate about my feelings for her. She can’t see the obsession and ardor on my eyes. With that, I’m challenged to dig onto my character. After then, the critique said in our gala performance that it pays to be harsh. And yes indeed! Many said that my personality was just very fit with the character of count Orsino.

At that night, at last, they said, I already look rich which seems to be very vague for me to happen during our practice and during the critique night. I didn’t even look like a duke with my suit on the critique night. Somebody said, I’m like Edward Collins because of the flawlessness of my face. I’m flattered J though behind the makeup is my never flawless face but instead mushroomed by moles and blemishes.

Anyway, the point is this, it is a must-watched play, I say. I felt pity for those who came late and turning themselves back to their places as the mini-theatre was out bursting with audience. Well, lucky for them because there will be a replay in the next school year and I heard it will be for ONE WEEK.

I really never expected for an overwhelming response or feedback from the people. I never expect that many wanted to be captured by the camera together with the noble Orsino. I now know how it feels to be an actor. I’m not as famous and heart-throb as Daniel Padilla but somehow, I once felt how to be like him when being yelled by the crowd.

With a production staff and Maria, the nanny

With Olivia (Joan) and Viola (Veronica)

The whole production team of Twelfth Night