On Leadership: A Discussion using the Mother Tongue

Ang pinuno ay pinuno upang pumuno.

Ang katagang ito ay sumasalamin sa samu’t saring diskurso na napaiiral tuwing binibigyan ng kahulugan ang mga alituntunin at tungkulin ng pagiging isang lider (sa diretsahang salin). Kung bubusisiin ang padron na sinusundan ng mga namumuno sa lipunan, ito ay maoobserbahang napakalaki nang iniaaambag ng lipunan, o sa madaling salita, ng mga pinamumunuan sa pagsalin ng sipat at sulat sa makabuluhang gawain. Nagsisilbing langis lamang na nagpapagalaw sa barko ng pamumuno ang mga makabagbag-damdaming kataga at nakapupukaw na mga parirala. ‘Ika nga sa isang pamosong awitin, ang pamumuno ay “more than words” o higit pa sa salita. Kailangan ng aksyon sa pagpupuno ng kawalan, hindi lang sa ekonomikal na paraan (na puwedeng matugunan sa tamang polisiya), kung hindi sa paraang espiritwal na ang paghatid ay mula sa puso (para sa namumuno) na tiyak na sasagad sa buto (para sa mga pinaglilingkuran).

 

Ngunit, upang tuluyang maging instrumento ng pagbabago ang isa sa kanyang lipunan, kailangan din ng sapat na kaalaman, dahil ang pamumuno ay hindi lamang nagiging obligasyon sa sarili, isa rin itong sining na dapat ipinayayabong at ipinalalawig sa kapwa mamamayan. Mahirap humati, humimay ng teorya, sitwasyon o prinsipyo kung ang isipang patalim ay purol sa bulag na katotohanan. Ang hindi pagsasatama ng nakagisnang mga pagsasaakala o nosyon ay kakalawangin na tulad ng isang poste ng gusali na makadudulot nang pagkabagsak ng ipinundar na tiwala’t karanasan. Ang pagpuno sa isip ang siyang kapangyarihan at susi sa pagpupuno sa lipunan sa pamumuno.

 

Marahil, kung pagninilayan ang pinakaunang kataga ukol sa pagpupuno, mapaiisip ang ilan sa mala-Atlas na pagdala ng kamunduang problema sa proseso ng pagpupuno. May anggulo ng katotohanan ang pagdala kung ika’y magpadadala sa agos ng panahon na walang pinatutunguhang pagbabago batid ng kawalan ng pag-asa o pagtiwala sa lipunan. Ngunit, kung titignan ng pinuno ang maiaambag sa mamamayan, nariyan nga talaga siya upang pumuno ng pagsasaalang-alang sa kalagayan sa pagtungo sa kagustuhang pagbabago. Ang kagustuhan na manggagaling sa mismong sambayanan batid ng hikayat ng indibidwal na kaalaman at pagpapapuno sa isa’t isang nagpapapuno.      

 

Sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, ang kaalaman ay ang nagiging sandata ng bawat isa sa pagpupuno ng paninindigang ipinanganak ng inihandog na kalayaan sa napakaraming aspeto mula sa kauna-unahang hakbang sa naturang intitusyon. Hindi maiiwasang sumapi rito, sumali roon  sa paghahanap ng sarili. Lider ang bawat isa sa tao na kaharap niya sa salamin. Sa lakas ng kasalukuyang ipinaiiral na tradisyunal na pananaw na batid ng mga nakagawiang diskurso sa Unibersidad, hindi mapipigilang bato-balaning dumikit ang paninindigan sa teorya, o kung minsan, “crash culture” na inihahatid ng mga nasabing maitutukoy na liderato. Sa halip na tumingin sa sarili at pansinin ang mga pagkakapare-parehong pananaw, sa kaibahan pa rin nakakahon ang karamihan. Kaya puwede ring sabihin na ang kalayaan pala mismo ang naglagay ng rehas sa braso. Kung ibabalik sa pamumuno, kailangang malaman ang paktor ng pagsasabuklod ng bawat isang sekta o organisasyon, opisina o kolehiyo. Magiging posible ito sa pagsasapuno sa pag-unlad ng kaalaman ng bawat isa sa isa’t isa. Himayin ang mga pagkakaiba. Gumawa ng paraan sa pagpuno sa mga alinlangan. Tiyak na ang unibersidad ay isang nagkakaisa.

Kaya, kung titignan ang sarili, lahat tayo ay namumuno kahit hindi lingid sa karamihan. May sining din ang pamumuno sa taong kaharap mo sa salamin. Sa dinami-dami ng mga babasahin ukol sa pagiging isang “life leader”, hindi agarang magaganap ang metamorphosis sa lahat ng aspeto (marahil, sa espritwal may pokus). Kailangan ng mataas na antas ng pagmamahal sa pamumuno’t paglilingkod upang ang basong puno ay umapaw, sa oras ng mismong pamumuno. 

Poetic License

A poem is like a song that serves as a panacea to a wounded soul, a wishsong for the late dreamers, a past for the sailors staring at the monotonous amplitudes of the sea.

Allow me to breath through these passages using our local language (a convolution of the whole)

Limot/Laya

Isang libong nilibot na kurot

batid ng pighati't pagkalimot.

Nakamit, dumamit sa sundalong

namihasa't nagngalit sa hindi

pagkamit.

Isang libong nilibot na kurot

batid ng pighati't pagkalimot.

Pinilas ag kasunduang tugon

hatid ng pag-angat, posisyon

Nakasagi, tumama sa batang

Nagahasa't binalahura bago

ang buhay kinamit.

Isang libong nilibot na kurot

batid ng paghati't pagkalumot.

Himala sa New York Street

Binaybay ng barkong SUV

ang kahabaan ng dagat semento

Masigasig na hinawakan ng pagkamulat

sa mg kadalasang sulyap, iglap

ang mga uwak na tumatangis.

Ang dala'y ligayang matumal

magarbong, kagampang pighati

Bumabatingaw, nililindol

ang sikmurang kumakahol

Napuno ang blanketang kalawakan

mga salita't titik na pinakalatasan

ng kalapating parangal

na sa pagtagos ng puso'y batid.

Hindi naging hadlang

kabilaang businang unos,

sa pansamantalng pagdaong.

Minunihan, pinakalawalan

ang kalapating kalong.

Sinamantala ang paglipad,

pagkagawi kasama ng mga uwak.

Pagbalik, inaasahan ang pagkalisan

at pagkawala ng unos, isang dagta,

isang mensahe ng pagmamahal.

After the magician wields his wand, everything subsides. Silence breaks in.

Hush.

Burning the Midnight Oil

Sleep tight, little child.

Unearthing nostalgic tendencies, we yearn to keep our childhood intact by our personal desires and dependencies. We look far, even overboard, to express the whimsical thoughts that we have in the middle of the battle of complexities. In the case of most readers here, whether we like to admit it or not, complexities caused mainly by the personality-gaining, gear-turning, stomach-lurching, habitat-forming, habit-inducing tasks we do in school.

We yearn to be in touch with our inner selves since preoccupation is the name of the game in the hype-driven hustle-and-bustle of strained lives immersed in the academe. Seeking to be admired by the external, positive forces, we place our attention in scrolls of self-help information to gobble up the changes yearned as much as we want. Feeling helpless, we seek for other's approval if indeed a changed man was born upon devotedly following the parameters set by the self-help experts.

From effective clock management to fraternal leadership, truckloads of suggestions are dictated in such a way that the paradigm being set deliberately would be followed. A checklist will be made to be stared at like a hawk ensuring no rule will this soul of yours fall short of. Everything, with your expectations laid out, will be straight A's if done with perfection. You continue to conform like being controlled by a Barnum & Bailey puppeteer.

Burnout. To faint is the only outlet available, to get out of all this conformity. Yet, you wake up again devouring all these information. You walk, and you go up. Little you realize, your soul is going down.

As we grow up a notch in life, we set more expectations to our mortal selves. This enables us to conform to these thoughts and penetrate the natural process by yearning to transform as quick as possible. We burn our midnight's oil in a grand proportion, there's nothing left for ourselves. We act as though every opportunity is our obligation to seize. Acting somewhat insecure. Dependent on the opportunities as though this is the only to be reinforced.

To alleviate the rising tide of this pandemic of burning, one suggestion still remains to be effective:

Sit down. Pray. Meditate. Exercise your thoughts. For self-help is helping yourself to unlock the peak of your thoughts. There is more than in your mind than what you think. Think on thinking. Widen your thought horizons. Take deep breaths, Feel. Revive.

You will realize that there are more opportunities than the physical ones.

Pockets of minutes per day of such treatment shall unearth your full potential.

Indeed, upon taking the suggestion, you have sucked the marrow out of life.

Now, like your magnanimous mom would say, nature says:

Sleep tight, little child

Speaking about Time: IE Department Seminar

June 16, 2008, Tuesday, 4PM -As the chosen speaker to represent my organization, I was tasked to speak about time management using whatever devices in whatever means necessary. I thought maybe this wasn't the right topic for me since I have been somewhat tardy in some of my classes (no but's and if's). But, in my stash, so to speak, I have some accumulated insights to share with the rather confused freshmen. So, I said 'yes' and went for it even though there was prick of hesitation in my conscience.

The title of my presentation was "Beyond Chronos", referring to time management as something beyond the solid concept of time. When it was my turn to speak in the stage of the Engineering Theatre, I instantly felt comfortable since everyone seemed to look so interested to listen (or so i thought...kidding).

Well, to jumpstart my speech, I asked everyone first to do a breathing exercise (like what chorales do in their practices). When everyone's settled down, I started my 20-minute lecture aided by my Powerpoint Presentation.

"C.E.N.T.S...balance...timeless tips...multitasking...picture of tigers"

After it was done, I congratulated the freshmen for a job well done.

Hopefully, they have enjoyed as much as I've delivered it.

Wavelength: Radio Guesting in NU 107.5

June 2, 2008, Monday - Going to Ortigas riding an open bus alone was such a big hassle. Thinking that I was really late for my appointment with the producer of NU 107.5, I literally felt sick to my stomach in emotional agitation. It was 7:15 PM. One of the officers texted that my appointment would be at exactly 7 PM, and I'll be having a radio guesting for a new university segment at 9-11PM. Though I wasn't that prepared to say the categorically right words. I just said to myself, "Let's get it over with! Not everyone has this opportunity". So, facing the clean transparent glass door of the station office, I entered the threshhold and went inside absolute sound resonating paradise.

Upon entering, I saw a radio component barking on empty blue chairs. Oops, I didn't see Mr. Security Guard on the right side staring at me in suspicion (looking as though I'm there for self-destruction with all the sweat of stress and exhaustion pouring all over my body). Then, I heard someone murmuring the exact words heard on the radio.

Presence of ghost whisperers...

Certainly not. Right behind the glass pane, I saw the radio desk with the lady disc jockey playing all the hyperventilated, high octaned, almost no holds barred rock music. With a crystal clear voice, she seduced her listeners to rock-and-roll high and foot stomping mayhem.

Very contrasting to her operator-worthy manner of speaking.

I thought the producer was already in the vicinity. But, unfortunately, I have to wait for an additional hour. So, speaking about my conversation with Mico Halili, the producer of the station, he made me feel very assured and comfortable in dealing with some of our sponsorship demands. It went to show that he knew how to treat and converse with people well especially when there is a serious matter to be discussed. He was willing to give all out for station promotion.

How generous!

Anyway, at exactly 9 AM, the show had started. The title is U-ROCK, a show catered to university concerns and events, hosted by George Rocha and another female DJ. Luckily, I wasn' t the first one to be interviewed.

In the show, the first one was Ms. Tolentino from the UP Centennial Organizing Committee advertising the first-ever Oblation tableau-like formation. She said that 100 male models from different countries preferably UP alumni would pose like the Oblation (yes, I know what you are thinking...get the idea) in front of local and international media such as CNN and Reuters. It will happen in June 16. The DJs had so much fun looking at Ms.Tolentino's presentation in her laptop.

The second one was a female, Atenean Junior who has an onling fashion business. I forgot the exact name. All I knew was she was forging her way to the top.

Kudos.

The third one was a lady from a laser game store wherein painless team games synonymous to paintball can be played.

Zap.

The fourth one was a Bedan cheerdancer who had invited people to come to their performances in their school and had told about their group's rigorous practices.

Cheers.

Now, as I waited after a certain college rock song for my turn, I was holding tightly to my so-called script so that I would know whatever it was I would be saying. Upon stepping in front of the microphone, I knew it was my time.

10:30 PM. I glanced at my watch hoping that people would still be listening to me at this time.
Like in initial committee meetings and family reunions, I had unhesistatingly introduced myself. Then, thinking that I've had enough of introducing myself since the time of my conception, I thought of going directly to the discussion of the FOPC Freshmen Week activities. My mind was wandering aimlessly as I had long moments of explanation (and national airtime) of what specifically these activities were. I was just daydreaming of this in the past but, now, I was right there feeling right at home while being asked by random questions.

Not the forbidden ones, so to speak.

The DJs were surprised that our activities had been scattered within a four-month duration culminated by the Freshmen Week. From Capoeira to UP bands, descriptions and advertisements were made here and there. Also, I was given the chance to plug the FOPC party (PUMP UP @ 100) happenning in an immediate date. In the end, I had the opportunity to greet some of my folks (FOPC members, friends and DAD).

After me, the floor was given to a couple of Ateneans who were also promoting their incoming Orientation activities (ORSEM). By the way, I had talked with them before my time and they knew some of my batchmates there.

11:15 PM. Leaving the radio-soaked den, I eagerly went back home still hearing the resonance of my semi-stuttering voice in the radio.

Cellphone blinking (due to the silent mode option), people said it was all fine and good.

Well, after all, it was indeed good...



...night for me.

Gawad Tulong-Dunong

Kuya, hindi ko makakalimutan ang legacy mo.

For the last 5 weeks, I have taught some 4th year scholars from Ateneo, Miriam and St. Scholastica a very interesting subject (Physics) with a class period beginning at 8 and ending at 9 in the morning.

Last Friday, May 23, 2008, I was given this art-filled award made by my students in recognition to my teaching duration. A lot of work was done in the process of making it by the way it was constructed. 25 rolled notes made of 1/8 construction paper were placed inside a glass with some art sand. A monkey stuffed toy was placed right on top of an improvised lid with my nerdy picture on top of its floating,extended aluminum tail.

I was deeply touched by what Gary, one of my students had said about yours truly.
It is written on top for your reference.

Teaching is such a noble profession. So noble that I would do it free even for the rest of my life for such noble people.

P.S. My personal condolences for Alvin Espinosa, one of my first students, who had died last year due to a terminal illness

FOPC Fund Run (the event)

Last Saturday, May 25, 2008, FOPC held its highly anticipated fund run in the academic oval. The fund run proceedings ran from 6 to 11 in the morning. Representatives form different member organizations ran number of laps following their collected pledges. At first, it can be seen that it was pretty difficult for some organizations to finish with the pledges ranging from 10 to 40 exhausting laps. Even though they can the work with the presence of multiple org representatives, the stress level still ran high as the sun's blistering heat drained the most out of every runner. Several organizations finished first as early as 7 in the morning, but for some, 4 hours were not enough because of the lack of presigned runner.

Fortunately, very generous sponsors from Burlington and 100 isotonic drink gave out free merchandise (through a raffle) and free refreshments respectively for the runners once they had signed up. It really wasn't an easy task if you consider the maximum human physical capacity to move around the oval even though one valid lap in the oval equates to two credited laps for the run (AS to NEC building/one lap, NEC to AS/one lap). Everyone was made to wear a rubber band corresponding to each lap that a runner had undertaken.

For the record, in the duration of the run, one man actually had 20 rubber bands in his wrist by the end of his session.

How's that for a pledge run? A marathon perhaps.

The event ended in a very peaceful manner with just 2 organizations left running for pledges (and several boxes of isotonic drinks left untouched...gulp). Hopefully, friendships were made and perhaps, reinforced in this event.

With asphalt-stomping, sunlight absorbing, isotonic drink drowning, rubber band accessorizing, and perspiration bath glory, we can say that UP students truly immortalized the saying mens sana, corpore sano meaning "a sound mind in a sound body".

Note: Better watch Chariots of Fire for more inspiring quotes on running.