Unfolding

  I was told to not bite the hand that feeds me because I was giving raw data of actual students’ performance during the implementation of distance learning amidst the pandemic. I know that I must be considerate. Since the finals are not here yet, whatever grades that I gave were undeniably temporary because I was still hoping for those students to catch up. I mean no disrespect to the institution, but I would not lie to the system and pretend everything is fine. The problem is present, and it must be confronted. And the hand that feeds me is not the cash disbursing agent of the institution, rather it is those who are taxed. The institution simply reallocated the funds, but as to one feeding me, it is the people via tax. Thus, it is my duty to serve them well by maintaining honesty at all cost. I am at lost being a recipient of an outdated paternalistic pretentious adage of subservience. I know that our students are experiencing a huge toll and burnout in this pandemic. This refl...

    Being a philosophy major has immersed me in the world of thoughts and thinking. And undeniably I came across a magnum opus such as Kant’s “Critique of Pure Reason”, Marx’s short but meaty “To Make the World Philosophical – Ruthless Criticism to Everything Existing”, Sartre’s voluminous “Critique of Dialectical Reason”, Marx’s essential “Critique to Hegel’s Philosophy of Right” and the list goes on. Even without the word critique in the title, philosophers still give critiques within their works. You can have Nietzsche’s critique of Europe and Christianity which you can find in his “The Anti-Christ” or any of Kierkegaard’s books critiquing Hegel. Critique has made it possible to help reevaluate anything under its gaze which can even lead to new thoughts, realizations, or even creates new perspectives with the goal of achieving truth. However, critique is scorned upon by those who mistake being criticized as being insulted.     Hurling insults at someon...

               Ignorance is a disease, and from it, is a curse bearing more fruits. Lies, deceit, confusions, misinformation, disinformation, and manipulations are all part of the produce. Add that with a huge missing chunk, or if not, no brain at all from the Filipinos, and you have the perfect mix of idiocy, incompetence, being lost, and plain stupidity. And as a devoted educator and thinker, this terrible situation is alarming and is the reason why I continue to talk.               Thinking, dissecting facts, doing research, and reading a lot are noble things to do. However, a majority do not have the luxury. And the worst is that others have the opportunity but are misguided. With more emphasis on obedience than thinking even in a typical family set up, duping the people or getting duped is a piece of cake. Include a culture of discouraging thinking, and all the means to ge...

              I have been reflecting amidst my isolation from the teaching profession, and I have nothing but meager social media posts and quick conversations that can help me assess my profession’s impact. As much as I poured my heart out to the call, much of the people I came across after their meager time with me in the classroom was more of heartache rather than reaping fruits. Thus, for them, their time with me was just a passing phase in their privileged or desperate academic life. Designing minds cannot be done in a classroom because the school is just a fraction of a student’s time. A student imitates and learns more from the environment he or she is exposed to. Whether it be at home, community, or the virtual, to where they spend most of their time influences them a lot. Moreover, schools, which are synonymous to education, are but a requirement to have a job. And only a rare few can see the value of its enlightening potential.  ...

I never thought I got to see you up close as you walked out of the airport’s terminal exit. I never thought that I got to hold your hand last Friday, neither could I believe that we hugged and kissed as we went to our friend’s car. Your voice never felt so real, and never felt so up close for a very long time. I could not believe the ride to the hotel, hearing you laugh, lending me your handkerchief as I was still sulking in disbelief. Your hands felt so real while you were pressing them hard as I was still emotional. It felt like bliss when you ate your first chicken joy meal in 7 months while getting shocked seeing the cake with a small bundle of roses. You told me that you felt like a woman, and that statement rang in my head because I successfully made you feel like one. And I took a photo of you with your advanced birthday presents. Just 6 days ago, we made love after a long 7 dry month period. Your hugs and kisses were not any more fantasies, but realities. I could not believe ...

I went over my newsfeed, and I saw countless Teacher’s Day posts. I saw cakes, presents, and surprises made or given by students. Moreover, such a day is about venerating the teacher as someone “important”, but how so? Forgive me, for I am not always in a festive mood. There are two things that I would look into. First, I dare question the teacher’s high felt gratitude and sense of dignity because he or she belongs to the "noble profession". Second, what is this phenomenon of students giving trivial gifts to their teachers? Just because it is a day of celebrating the crucial profession in society, should such things happen? Did both really celebrate what being a teacher truly means? I have taught for 7 years, and I have seen the crisis in our education system from within. We have school systems infiltrated by business interests and a proliferation of a decadent culture. I saw my participation in the education lobby as a fistfight against all evils. Although I may have d...

I knew her before as a person who engrosses herself in self-pity. I understand because she told me her history of tragedy. I was even a witness to it. She was trying to fly even before we met. But circumstances pushed her to confusion. A confusion so great because she has not yet found her bearing. She was still caught between the crossfire of religion, family, and personal aspirations. With so much negativity, her weary heart cannot take the blunt hit and chose to rebel without a compass. She ventured to worlds unknown even from my standpoint. She rarely heard praises because her environment was more of cutting her wings to fly. Her environment was more of following a doctrine which was more like of a cult rather than the authentic one they proclaimed. There she lost her compass. When I met her, I saw her as fragile. Easily she cries and weeps. She was not yet confident in any decisions she was making, yet she chose to love me.   When she made mistakes, it was like she was t...

              I wake up every morning and pretend that you are just beside me. In my dreams, I hugged you, but as I opened my eyes, it was just a pillow. Never mind the morning breath, although it is warm, as long as it yours, then I am happy with it. Sad to say, the only warm thing that greets me in the morn is just the sun. It would have been better if it was your thighs pressing my hips. I would feel an itch on my face and it could have been better if it was from your messed up hair. I would have loved the smell of fabric conditioner on our pillowcases, but it was better with your dried drool. The same thing I would say of the sheets, and you know what scent is stuck there. I may have your clothes  and the very articles that make me tingle, but it would be better if those had your scent. I would never mind having those washed for a far long time. It is boring at times that I am just washing my own clothes, and I do not want to be stupid to ...

Struggle is everywhere and the stress that comes along with it is inevitable. One is caught between the duties of being an employee and the beholder of truth. But what is real and strong factor that affects the profession is its being a job. There are many young teachers who are energetic about education but most of the times are pegged down by systems that are not healthy for their growth. Anyhow, if they just want to be paid, then a job is what they need; but those who want a job whereas at the same time serve ideals ends up pushed towards the brink of expulsion or far worse, already booted out by the system. Instances arises when ideas clash but it is understandable if the degree of worth is equal. Contending ideas are welcome and it is a matter of producing such that needs careful attention. Although the internet is already dispensing and storing a lot of valuable updated information, it is also a prerogative to know and discern which sources are reliable and where to find th...

I have heard this line oftentimes and for those who do not speak Bisaya, let me translate this in English: “It is work that you are looking for eh?” This has been used to motivate people those who are sick and tired with their jobs and used by those who are helplessly fatalistic about the dreaded situation. Although this might have an existential bearing, it cannot be denied that such statement favors exploitation. Even though a person may try to find himself or herself in the job one is doing by saying these words to one’s self, but such linguistic expression is an expression of the modern day slave drivers and I would gladly point out somethings to unveil the messages that are carried over. Through the statement, a job is the only reality there is that can help one succeed in life. The assumption of looking for a job is always tied to finding means to survive as jobs guarantee an income that can support basic needs and if the jobs are paying off good, then a bourgeoisie lifesty...