Dear Youthful Arrogance,
When the world was young, it thought the sun revolved around it. Everything revolved around it. But as the world grew older, it discovered that it was the other way around. The world realized that it was just a tiny speck in the middle of the vast universe.
I think that just sums up how it goes for the youth and the grown ups. Rebellion and faking independence are too easy. Accepting responsibility and owning up to your actions are rather underrated.
The young put too much glamour in anarchy and deconstruction. But what they don't realize that before you can destroy, you must first learn how to create. And creation requires mastery and grace, which sadly, the youth will never have.
8 Reminders For Scholasticans Before Reacting To The Pugad Baboy Comic Strip
A few days ago, I was on Facebook talking to high school friends when I stumbled upon the controversial Pol Medina Jr. comic strip.
This reminded me of two things I am proud of about my high school self: One, that I was a Pugad Baboy fan. I collected all Pol Medina Jr.’s books. I tried to copy his facial expressions and mimic his clean inking style. I repeated his jokes to my friends over a three-way telebabad.
And two, that I was a Scholastican.
The president of St. Scho released a statement. Yes, they were definitely offended. They even threatened to file a lawsuit if Philippine Daily inquirer does not do something about it.
I understand why they have to do it though. The school president together with the academe are expected to be representations of the school’s and the Catholic order’s supposedly infallible ideas. It’s just right for them to be sensitive and take offense. After all, they have to be righteous.
Luckily for me, I don’t have to be a walking, breathing translation of St. Scho’s mission-vision statement. But still, my school spirit got awoken. I am a Scholastican after all. With that said, before I get offended or form an opinion, I thought of 8 things I learned in St. Scho, that should inform everyone about this issue:
Just like the intimate act of farting, the funniest things are taboo but all-too-human truths. I think what makes the comic strip funny is not the lesbians in St. Scho, but the very existence of people who still cannot accept homosexuality and actually think it evil. What actually offended me was the statement: “Wala kang makikitang magandang Kulasang walang girlfriend.” Not true. How about all the heterosexual Scholasticans...like me. (I joke.)
Read the rest of the list in www.8list.ph
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Voices
One third of our lives is probably spent searching for that one elusive thing referred to as voice. This even gave birth to the well-celebrated theme in pop culture - the coming of age. As for me, I was Dorothy, Holden Caulfield, Toru Watanabe and William Miller were my Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion. We’re all off to see the Wizard who’s supposed to make us braver and more clever, but not necessarily wiser.
But as I accumulated birthdays, the pastiche of pages from my teen magazines saying “Be yourself.” (in red Futura Extra Bold) wore out of its potency. The recent years were of shock, struggle and eventually, acceptance (some may see it as giving up) that real life is a long winding road made of bricks of compromise.
I came to realize that having a voice is not enough anymore. Sadly, sometimes, my voice can work against me. And no matter how brilliantly Dave Grohl defends me, the Christina Aguileras, Adam Levines and other American Idol judges (I’m mixing my references, aren’t I?) of real life will still find my flaws and “immaturities”.
Thank God for music though. Thank you, Fiona Apple and Zooey Deschanel. Constantly listening to both of you guided me to the answer - modulation. My voice is too valuable for me to just throw away (I’m not as stupid as Little Mermaid!) so I’d rather learn how to modulate it. As much as I want to stay Machiavellian, I’m figuring it’s less painful to get to the end you want with a well-modulated means. Sometimes, singing your life song in soprano sounds like a whine.
I’ll be singing in alto from now on.
***
But let me thank one of my heroes, Dave Grohl, for making growing up more exciting though sharing with you these free iPhone and desktop wallpapers. Spread the inspiration!
Musical Time Machine: After All This Time by Itchyworms
I always believed that just like how water refracts light, that is how the heart perceives time. The heart doesn’t recognize chronology, it may only knows two things: stability and brokenness. And we don’t realize it, but the heart could be the time traveling vehicle we’ve all fantasized all along.
Even just by hearing the intro of Itchyworms’ new single After All This Time, I can’t help but get transposed to my vague memories of the 80’s. (I’m born in ’87 but I’ve lived vicariously through John Hughes’ films. Some Kind Of Wonderful is my favorite.) But this musical DeLorian just didn’t take me back to the 80’s, it took me back to the most painful heartbreak of my life. And it’s no aged film, every memory is Blu-ray clear.
But every thing (and every person) has its limits - even heartbreak. After all, a heartbreak is just a memory. Yes, you can come back to it any time you want but there’s nothing you can change about it. You can only navigate your life now and the decisions you will make, pixels that make a clearer picture of the future. Like what Ely Buendia’s character in the movie San Lazaro said:
Thus, make art.
Make art that could possibly get used for your favorite band’s new single.
Nakakakilig, it’s available in the iTunes store, all ready and easy (and affordable) for download.
Thank you so much, Itchyworms, especially Jazz Nicolas. You don’t know how much happy this made me, it actually glued together some of the cracks of my heart!