Earlier, I wrapped up my all my thoughts and decided not to be emotional alongside with my repartee on the last leaf I have with me. Thus far, I made myself believe that perhaps this time I could take both yacht. That is expressing my eventual ideas while being touching at one end.
By a hair’s breadth, I recalled the childhood storyline I encountered in my primary studies entitled The Last Leaf. It’s all about a little boy who suffers from cancer. Every morning he stares out the window and looks at the verdant leaves on the trees. As fall season draws closer, its leaves dwindle until he saw only one left hanging. As he waits for the leaf to fall, he recalls every little piece if his life, both side of the coin. Just the same, he pledged to himself that the stay of that single leaf on its twig goes with his hope to courageously struggle to live. Providentially, one painter painted a leaf on the wall next to the tree. It followed then that the boy hoped for another lifetime.
Like the typical Filipino stories, it ended well. And perhaps, I think it is but obvious that my story as ‘object d’ art’ (product) of Spectrum goes the same way. Cancer is cancer. It ends life. But it doesn’t apply in ‘I hope’. That story flaunts that hope may be synthetic and may befall from the initiative to motivate.
I’m reminded of my first Spectrum article entitled “Kung Mabuhay akong Muli”. It tackled about my choices then would be my same choice for another lifetime. Upon submission, it was rejected and stayed unpublished until a year or so. In lieu of it, I didn’t dishearten myself. Its part of being ‘new breed’ in the publication, said I.
And truly, there’s a time and a space for everything (as what my best friend, Josephine Oma’a, my B2, told me way back on my high school days).
In 2000, I never anticipated myself of being the layout and graphics editor of the publication. I learn by heart when I decided to resign then because Engr. Joseph Davidton Cadag, my EIC then and now IT Director of Region V modified my layout without prior notice. It wasn’t long when Joseph and I managed to fix it up.
In 2001, I assumed the highest position. Being young and juvenile, I think the youngest in history of Engineering, it was tough. Bloody. My headship was tested by my constituents when I stood against the controversy inside the College Consultative Board, that time under the chairmanship of William Artita. And above all, my integrity and character as leader was challenged by impeachment case sleeved by so called ‘strident minority’, my contemporaries per se. I thank god, I endured.
The following year, this time my second term in post, ‘forced resignation’ was insisted by some of my colleagues on the ground of alleged ‘misconduct’. Again, I endured.
I cried many times, countless times. But it didn’t make me half a man. Not even once. I proved to stand with what I presume is right regardless of the contention of other people. I learned to defend my principles in life amid being human, student and journalist.
On another end of the rainbow are upbeat episodes of my get-up-and-go. Like the little boy suffering from cancer, I have untold cheering tales, too, that make me smile for once in a while. Not off-putting all the time. They are lighter edges, more than wounds and damages, more than tear-jerking myths. And it’s healthier to just let the history tell all these. They are here, proven, anyway.
Of course, just like the little boy, I want to thank the painters who colored my life- people who sketched and tinted my fate. I thank my family for all-out support and motivation for me and for all the people who taught me to live in world of principled leadership, truth and courage.
I never pictured working gladly in Malacanang with the Technical Assistants to the President for youth affairs. I thank Hons, Ian Barcelona (NCR), Tricia Feliciano (Luzon), Edwin Monares (Visayas), Jenny Elmaco (Project Director), Ate Leah and of course our team leader, Mark Castrodes (Comissioner-at-Large of NYC). Mind you, we work for to make new Filipinos in a far different Philippines through rediscovery of the best in young leaders.
It’s great that at 20, I managed to head a group creating the network of campus journalists of the Philippines. My ground: I share the sentiments of other campus writers in the remote areas. They need help to grow and mellow.
As I look back at the footprints I had for the past two-year leadership, I see my importance while serving my purpose more than the call of my duty and responsibility. I acted on the basis of volunteerism without fear and reservation. As I evoke the diary of my tears and joy, I come to terms with the basic context of altruism-to die for others to live.
Just like the little boy, there will always be a last leaf. It is everywhere. Or it is in everybody. When the painter tinted the last leaf, new hope was created for the boy. As I look at the tree of my sacrifices and perspiration, I see painters in my successors. They will, and will always, color our tree with naturally full-grown fruits. I recognize the next in line that they, too, will have the capability to dream big dreams and have the will and power to fulfill them.
My works are more than credit on my part. They are motivations for you; like me, you can. Like me, you should and you will. They are more than privilege on my part. They are inspiration; you, too, can start making difference- not in a overnight, of course. Big things come from small packages. My legacy is more than self fulfillment. It’s fulfillment for others.
There always exists black and white. In business it refers to document. Personally, I see it as my complexion and attitude. In deeper essence, it is the subsistence of the good and bad, the rise and fall, the happy and sad, the moan and joy; the opposites. What made me use this column? I want to make a difference—to discern the right from wrong. You, too, should.
“Hasta La Proxima Vez” is a Spanish way of saying “Til We Meet Again”. Perhaps, “in another lifetime”. That is, “Kung mabubuhay Akong Muli”
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