LASER POINT WORLD

"Many consider street children to be
trash, blight on our society. They say, if we let them grow up they
will become criminals. Should care for these children not be one of the
goals of each local church and Christian? If 90 Boeing 747 planes
carrying 400 people each
crashed every day, the governments of the world would take action; but
an equal number of deaths (36,000) occurs daily amongst children
throughout the world, but there is little comment!"

Doug Nichols
http://www.actionintl.org/

His
name is Marlon. At the age of 9, he’s one of those street children
roaming around the vicinity of the University. He can’t read, write nor
even tell time. He said he ran away from home because his father wanted
to kill him. It’s no surprise at all if soon, Marlon will become a
murderer himself.

Everyday
in my life as a USLS student, I pass by La Salle Avenue and I would
usually see these begging street children. They beg for a couple of
coins from students enrolled in an institution that is trying to
live-up to the "School for the Poor" ideals.

We
attempted to do a documentary story for these children. Seven of us in
the Mass Communications Department who believe that CHANGE is necessary
identified these begging street children we encounter everyday as
problems others would ignore. I am not sure if the Lasallian Brothers are simply unaware that there are street children just within their vicinity waiting to be educated and nourished or they just prefer to ignore them. In any
case, I am deeply disappointed by the eagerness of our administrators
in increasing the tuition every year, while still staying indifferent to the out-of-school youth just outside.

Our
production group talked to them. We found out that some Korean students
are teaching these street children everyday at 2 pm. They teach these
kids basic English, the alphabet and counting numbers. How ironic it is to think that foreigners who stay
in the Philippines to learn English can actually afford to spare time
and show care for these neglected members of the youth sector while
majority of us would rather do something else. And yes, these kids are willing to learn.

Well, we have forgotten that the poor children are the ones St. John Baptiste de La Salle wants to educated.  We fail to acknowledge that these street children are also the future of the Philippines.

We
aim to bring this issue into the limelight through our
minimally-budgeted TV Production and in the long run, effect favorable
change. A lot of things hindered our 7-man team to produce the story
about these street children. But it’s a story worth fighting for.

Ainic Thinking

For
some reason, let me call it Ainic thinking. I define it as a socially
irresponsible, apathetic, selfish and shallow way of thinking. An Ainic
thinker believes that using bad words in national television is good
journalism for as long as they are used to describe criminals. An Ainic
student does everything for grades. Ainic thinkers are also apathetic
and never concerned about social issues.

In our broadcasting
class, we were tasked to produce a television program via a local cable
channel. My group that used to be a 15-man team decided to produce a
documentary-newsmagazine TV program that aims to present issues and
feature topics with youthful perspectives. One of the topics that were
considered was about the begging street children within the vicinity of
the University, specifically along La Salle Avenue. To dissect how
these children live their lives through the years, present the response
of the School for the Poor, investigate the efforts of the University
to help these children, if there are any, and to use the opportunity to
actually create a change were among the apparent objectives of our
group in doing the story.

It was an idealistic approach to
education on our part as Mass Communications students. However, I was
disappointed at how some of my former groupmates secretly reacted to
the proposed story.

"Anong labot ta sa street children? Wala."
"It’s just a project. We will do this for the grades."

Knowing
that such statements came from Lasallian communications students made
me feel downhearted. As a student journalist my ideas are shaped to
believe in the power of media and communications. As MassComm students,
we are the future of the media industry. And if by now, we are socially
irresponsible, what kind of future do we hold?

I’d like to
emphasize that if our education system is ineffective and if we hate
some of our teachers for teaching us poorly, we are partly to be
blamed. These two problems feed from our Ainic thinking.

Are we really here in this University for the grades? Are we doing practical projects because they are required?

I
envy Nursing students for doing their best to learn how to inject
intravenous liquids and master the practice of assisting doctors during
operations, in real life situations. I can’t imagine these nursing
students doing all of those merely for the grades.
It’s even
harder to believe why a MassComm student can’t do projects, such as TV
productions for the sake of learning, for the experience and for all
the opportunities that they give.

Lastly, I remember my
classmate, fellow campus journalist and good friend Aries Cariño asking
me to shift course and leave the department. Well, if it isn’t too
late, the reasons are enough for me (and for others who hold the same
idealism) to do so.

I found this in one of the testimonials of a friendster friend. Hehe.

CORNY CORNY CUTE. Hehe.

> hey pa-picture tayo
> para ma-develop tayo.
> mapa ka ba?
> kasi i’ll be lost without you.
> ice ka?
> crush kita, ayos lang?
> exam ka ba?
> gustong-gusto kasi kitang itake home.
> alam mo ba na scientist ako
> at ikaw ang lab ko.
> excuse me, i forgot your name
> can i call you mine?
> kumakain ka ba ng asukal?
> ang tamis kasi ng ngiti mo.
> ikaw ba may-ari ng krayola?
> ikaw kasi nagbibigay-kulay sa buhay ko.
> naniniwala ka ba sa love at first sight?
> o gusto mong dumaan ulit ako?
> minamalat na naman puso ko
> pano kasi laging sinisigaw ang pangalan mo.
> kung ako businessman,
> lahat ng tao bebentahan ko ng mura, ikaw lang hindi
> dahil sa’yo lang ako magmamahal.
> feeling ko, mouse tayo.
> you know, we just clicked.
> di lang pala heartbeat ang sound na napo-produce ng puso ng tao.
> napatunayan ko ito mismo sa sarili ko..
> nang marinig kong sinisigaw nito ang pangalan mo.
> nung minahal kita, daig ko pa natrapik sa EDSA
> i can’t move on.
> may eraser ka?
> di kita mabura sa isip ko.
> may lahi ka bang keyboard?
> type kasi kita.
> papupulis kita!
> ninakaw mo ang puso ko.
> are you a dictionary?
> because you add meaning to my life.
> i’ve lost my number.
> may I have yours?
> film ka ba?
> sana oo para magkadevelopan tayo.
> dictionary ka ba?
> kasi you put meaning in my life.
> magaling ka ba sa puzzles?
> kasi ang aga-aga binuo mo na araw ko.
> kuto ka ba?
> cause i can’t get you out of my head
> pagod ka na ba?
> kasi kanina ka pa tumatakbo sa isip ko.
> mukha ba akong switch?
> cause you turn me on
> bangin ka ba?
> nahuhulog kasi ako sayo.
> my butas ba puso mo?
> kasi natrap na ako sa loob! i can’t find my way out.
> anong height mo?
> pano ka nagkasya sa loob ng puso ko?
> alam mo ba, hindi tayo tao, hindi tayo hayop at hindi tayo halama…
> BAGAY TAYO! BAGAY!!!

Hey, when you submit your comment, no BAD WORDS please. Thanks.

Whoao! The preceding blog entry was so far the most
controversial. At least for me.

It started when one person, who by the way lacks politeness,
called me "moron" and "ass" in his comments to the blog entry. I had to delete
those.

I’m not sure though why he hates me so much. If he wanted to
refute my hate list, then that would be fine. I would be more than willing to
talk to him over a cup of coffee or be with him in places where he could prove
me wrong. That would be great.

The following day, a bunch of "HATERS" commented on the same
blog entry. I’m not sure though if they really know what they were doing or if
they were in the right context. Or maybe they were influenced by someone else.
USG President Jason Parcon is one of them. Hello. Before you criticize my being
a journalist, lihog CONSULTA anay sa students ang CULTURAL FEE and I hope you’re
not being the Admin’s mouthpiece. Hahaha.

Anyhow, I still can’t figure out why they’re so concerned
about me hating underground music for some reasons.  It’s in my personal blog. And I didn’t say I
hate them for LOVING underground music. What if I’ll say "I LOVE UNDERGROUND
MUSIC NOW BECAUSE A BUNCH OF HATERS HATE ME FOR NOT DOING SO" ? Will that make
them happy? Hahaha.

Come on. If you don’t like my write-ups, don’t read them. Am
I forcing you? Haha.

It’s your choice. You preferred to read it, deal with it.

Now, if your politeness battery functions again, I’m just a
friendster message away. And yeah, I’m very happy knowing that there are
actually people who read my blog.

—

Soon, I’ll be deleting my friendster blog. Just visit www.laserb0y.blogspot.com… Very Soon.
Thanks.

—

And no, I am not perfect and I am not living to be. I am
struggling in every step of the way to learn. If you disagree with some of my
ideas, you’re free to do so. I’m just asking a little politeness and I am not
used to "bad words." Godspeed.

—

To those who weren’t pleased, sorry. I wasnt born to please you.

The List! (Cut due to space constraint. Hahahaha)

Hate List:

1. Working with Mass Comm students who don’t know the
functions of media and who can’t identify good journalism

2. People who don’t acknowledge social responsibility

3. Mass Comm students whose sole reason of enrolling in the
department is because the course has less Math.

4. People who cant think "out of the box".

5. People who stand in the middle ground, just in between
two conflicting sides.

6. People who cant make a simple choice. Black or White?
Left or Right? Lest, they have forgotten, there is no way they can’t be caught
in the crossfire.

7. Cueshe and Hale

8. Fake friends\ pretentious people

9. Overly zealous liars

10. USLS Security guards and their second gate rule.

11. Apathetic members of the youth sector

12. Judgmental people

13. Those who are fond of labeling and stereotyping

14. Tactless and insensitive people

15. People who are so inconsistent

16. The Spectrum Haters

17. Filipinos who don’t love the Philippines

18. "stick-to-the-status-quo" mentality

19. Students who go to school for the grades, not for the
learning and the experience

20. GMA-7

21. ABS-CBN Reporter Nadia Trinidad

22. Bitag and the Tulfo Brothers

23. ERAP and ERAP Supporters

24. TV Patrol Bacolod

25. ABS-CBN Bacolod

26. Underground Music (the COPYCAT, EXTRA-TRYING HARDS, COPYRIGHT INFRINGER basta ang mga FAKE. [now, if you’re band is all original and never a copycat, why react badly? If you think your brand of underground music isnt a breeding ground for piracy and copyright infringement, why react that way? Oh, politeness please).

27. Rap

28. USLS for wanting to increase tuition fee every year and
yet staying indifferent to the out-of-school youth, the begging street children
just within its vicinity. School for the Poor?

29. People who can afford to tolerate the "bads" of their
peers.

30. Teachers who view the giving of grades as a tool to be used
against their students.

31-1000000000000- Etc.

I Love:

1. Probe, The Correspondents and I-Witness

2. CNN Presents

3. CNN

4. ABS-CBN-2

5. Soft music

6. Worship songs

7. Sincere friends

8. ABS-CBN Reporter Mariton Pacheco

9. The Spectrum

10. Friends who know Sincere friendship

11. People with sense: of nationalism, social
responsibility, humor, respect, among others.

12. Just for Laughs, Wow Mali and other Reality Comedy shows

13. Sony Ericsson

14. The entire production staff of The Scope Team

15. Ms. Maria Ressa and other advocates of excellent
journalism

16-1,000,000,000- Etc.

Yearend (Personal) Blog Entry

 First quarter of 2006: It was a weekend afternoon when I
happened to actually try to play a KONAMI Machine that is popularly known as
DDR or dance revo. It was some new found friends who encouraged me to try. I
tried and could hardly react while seeing the arrows in the monitor. I thought
I could never be a
n expert in this kind of game. Nine months later and passing
Sakura in Heavy mode became a dream come true experience.

 It’s a stuff that I do that is not my stuff. Or at least,
that is the usual reaction of my classmates and Lasallian teachers who are
seeing me dancing in the dance pad. I’m usually into academic activities,
co-curricular events, writing, and other stuff which are usually confined
within the borders of the academe. But here is JEPOI, playing Dance Dance
Revolution.

Thanks to this game. I became one of those who are trying to
destroy the "stick-to-the-status-quo" principle. I realized that that if ever I
see Maria Ressa singing in a decent videoke bar, I must not be surprised. Hehe.

 May of 2006 was when I happen to go back to Manila after almost four years of just staying in this stocking-shaped island. It was
when I joined the National Lasallian Schools Press Congress hosted by The
Benildean Press Corps of the De La Salle College of St. Benilde. I met a lot of
established personalities in the field of journalism and writing. After that
3-day conference, Spectrum editors, Kimee and Arjay wend back to Bacolod
without me since I decided to stay for a while and experience Manila once again.

 I stayed in my cousin’s house near Market! Market! at Fort Bonifacio Global City for a couple of days and
visited my other cousins’ house in Quezon City.
It was a great experience, seeing my cousins who used to be my childhood
playmates, after almost a decade. We’ve grown a lot of course. Well, I was only
18 that time. Some of them already got great jobs and some are happily married.

I stayed in Manila until the 21st of May and it taught me a lot of things.

 It was my first time to ride in an MRT train, to arrive
safely and shop in the famous Divisoria alone, to play DDR in places where I
was completely a stranger and impress a strange audience, to visit SM Mall of
Asia, to play arcade games at TimeZones, to see ABS-CBN headquarters
face-to-face, to see the disappointing size of the Pinoy Big Brother House, to
go on mall hopping (at least 4 malls in a day) and fly with Cebu Pacific, among
others.

 Whew!!!

 It was May 28 when I got to play DDR for the first time with
Christian. I did not know he would become my best friend and he would be part
of an organization I dearly love, The Spectrum.

 August 14, I turned 19. (SOUNDS LIKE no?) I thought I could
just ignore the fact that I was already 19. Well, I really ignored that fact and
didn’t bother to act older. My looks and attitudes are so secretive they’re
hiding my real age. Jowk. I bought a cake for The Spectrum staff to enjoy and
had Christian and Jan in a Jollibee dinner and street walk-a simple birthday
celebration but filled with extraordinary feeling.

 October came and I went to Manila for the Inkblots: the 8th National Journalism Fellowship sponsored
by the University of Sto.
Tomas’ The Varsitarian. It was again another opportunity to interact with
fellow student journalists nationwide and actually learn from the country’s top
media personalities. It was my first time to meet Maria Ressa, former CNN
Southeast Asian News Bureau Chief and the present head of ABS-CBN News and
Current Affairs who happened to be the event’s keynote speaker. It’s certainly
way better than just meeting Leilani Salem-Alba. Hehe. Kidding.

Three days later and I got Ms. Ressa in a one-on-one
interview at ABS-CBN Newsroom, Mother Ignacia St., Quezon City. When I went to ABS-CBN’s
Newsroom together with Arjay and Neslie, I saw Henry Omaga-Diaz, Sol Aragones,
Pinky Webb, Dianne Garcia, among others in the flesh. Hehe. They were so respected in the
newsroom. They were seemingly the bosses there.

 By the way, we went to ABS-CBN via MRT. I realized how hard
it is to be a journalist. I learned a lot from my interview with Ms. Ressa. It
shaped my idea about JOURNALISM. The interview was published in the December
issue of The Spectrum Newspaper.

 November 22 was when I went to Makati,
together with my classmate Carrie, my good friend Jesse and three other Lasallians
for the Ayala Young Leaders Congress Interview Phase. We were already in the
top 150 nationwide by that time. It was a great 24-hour experience indeed!
Another firsts: Getting inside Ayala Tower One, spending a night at Makati’s
BSA Tower and meeting the down-to-earth Zobel de Ayala brothers and the Ayala
Corporation’s top executives (They served as our panelists in the interview).

 November came and it was time for the Western Visayas
College Press Awards. I won bronze in News Writing Filipino. The Spectrum
grabbed a total of 16 awards. COPRE 2006 also gave me another first. It was my
first time to join in a pageant. Waaaah! And fortunately, I won the Mr. COPRE
2006 title. My classmate, The Lead Editor-in-Chief and Hari ng Negros and Ginoong Turismo contestant Aries Carino was my toughest opponent. Hehe. It
was a surprising event. Go La Salle!

 Christian and I conquered Iloilo City after COPRE Awards Night. We
roamed around Iloilo’s malls,
streets, bars and shops. We lack enough money though. It was my first time to
feel lost in a city. We actually got lost at around 11pm of November 30 while searching for an internet cafe.

 Last thing, Kimee, The Spectrum EIC played Dance Maniax for
the first time! A stuff that is not her stuff too. Yeah! Break that "stick-to-the-status-quo"
idea. Hehe.

By the way, 2006 also marked The Spectrum’s 50th Anniversary!

Those are just some peeks to the things that happened to me
in 2006. A lot more happened.

 2006 is perhaps the most significant year of my life. I found
a lot of friends (and enemies too, maybe). I met great personalities (and the
worst personalities at the same time). I did a lot of firsts. I conquered fear.
I took risks. I made fun. I achieved a lot. And with all these, I am learning.

Thank you 2006!

www.laserb0y.blogspot.com

"It is always a joy to greet everybody "merry christmas!" It quickly evokes happy memories of gifts and delicacies, christmas lights and glitters, santa claus and reindeers, lanterns and wrappers, lovely tunes and carols, new clothes and parties. Good for you."

-txtmania.com

IN THAILAND, KING BHUMIBOL
Adulyadej, aside from being the World’s longest serving monarch, plays a very important role. His people honor him so much that he becomes a coalescing factor in the ever emerging Thai society. When they experienced a coup, Thailand’s economy didn’t suffer that much. It was in fact an event in their country’s history that amused the world.
Thailand’s King enjoys a higher level of respect and recognition from his people, more than what other Kings of the world are experiencing. In other words, in every crucial decision his country has to take, he is there to have the final say.

From there, I can conclude that the Philippines lacks a person who enjoys the privilege of having the final say. The President’s decision will always cause divisiveness. Never has there been a Philippine president without a divisive decision. There will always be oppositions. Maybe that is a good thing for a country like ours, one that is trying to uphold the ideals of democracy. But in as much as I love democracy, its being prone to abuses and power tripping make me think that we badly need a unifying factor, whether it be a person like King Bhumibol, or simply a common vision shared by everyone.
We Filipinos are lucky enough for having Manny Pacquiao. But let me say that our country needs a kind of unity that lasts. He can’t do boxing all the time to unite every Filipino from every corner of the world forever. GMA definitely lacks the unifying factor. So who is the King Bhimibol Adulyadej of the Philippines? For now, it can be Manny Pacquiao, but for tomorrow, who will it be?
I dream of having a Philippine president who can have the final say - final good and unifying say. However, for as long as our political system remains immature and every Filipino lacks a common vision for the nation, nothing will change.
I don’t know exactly how we can achieve a common mature attitude towards every issue, a common judgment for every vital choice and a common sense of nationalism. But this I believe: if we will not try, or at least dream of UNITY, what else is left of us?

===*===

And it’s December once again. Here comes Christmas wish lists, holiday jingles, Simbang Gabi, parties, gifts, among others.
Christmas is one of the reasons that make me proud of being a Filipino. I disagreed with a friend who told me that most Filipinos’ idea of Christmas is so western, so American. Well, that is, if you’ll box your Christmas idea with Santa Claus, gifts, reindeer, snowman, jingle bells and parties. In our country, there’s more to that.

Some things might be negative. Christmas makes Filipinos spend so much, giving room for consumerism (which is a form of violence). So what if they’ll eat uga by January so long as they can spend their Christmas with salads and ham. Who cares if many will go on shopping (just window shopping actually) and flock to the malls? And what about the many churchgoers for the Simbang Gabi who are actually just standing outside the Church looking out for a potential girlfriend/boyfriend?
In the end, those are the few things that make our Christmas unique, aside from tall Christmas trees, colorful streets, and jingles stressing family values and Pinoy lifestyles every December.

The physical things that make our Christmas unique need not be enumerated. They are all around anyway.

But it’s only in this country where Christmas celebrates love and such is closely associated with Jesus Christ. Christmas is more than just a holiday here. It’s a religious celebration that encompasses all forms of love. It’s December that rekindles family ties and values, makes room for forgiveness and signals a start of something new.

And although the Nativity story maybe a thing from the Middle East and Europe, Christmas brings out the best of Pinoy culture. It’s something that can’t be put into plain words, something you will never ever experience abroad, not even in Bethlehem.
Pinoy Christmas is perhaps the best in the World.
If we’ll try to think of it closely, the Philippines has been reintroducing Christmas to the world. It’s only that, no one seems to recognize. We have lots of festivals all year-round. But if the Department of Tourism will bank on our Pinoy Christmas culture, this December holiday can actually attract tourists.

Modern times may soon eat up our unique and diverse Christmas culture. But, are we going to allow it?
I’m a Filipino and I love the Pinoy Christmas.

The AYALA YOUNG LEADERS CONGRESS: Interview Phase.

PICTURES

Arranged In Order

I’m back from the Interview Phase of the Ayala Young Leaders Congress: Search for the Top 70 Most Outstanding Student Leaders of the Philippines. Haha. It was just a 24 hour experience. That includes the actual interview, the fun moments with my fellow Lasallian finalists, "getting to know" instances with other student leaders from different colleges and universities all over the country and a lot more. Haha. It was one of the best days of my life. Whoao!

I can’t describe in plain words the fun, the excitement and the experience. And that is not yet the actual congress. We do hope that five of us from USLS (Me, Jeremiah, Jesse Ian, Carrie and Sherwin) will be able to make it to the Top 70.

AYLC 2007 does make every finalist realize that only insecure people do power tripping and bragging of one’s worth. We were interviewed by Ayala Group’s top executives. With that, I mean, the presidents and CEOs, directors and senior vice presidents of Globe Telecommunications, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Ayala Land, Inc., Ayala Aviation, Ayala Foundation, Manila Water Services, AyalaMalls, Integrated Micro Electronics, among others. We never felt any form of intimidation from those executives.

There is one thing though that I can’t seem to explain. And I don’t seem to know how to tell it in correct grammar, context and language. Sorry for that. Haha. Basta ah!

It was really a great experience and since I’m feeling it now, I can’t write well. Forgive me. Haha.

Anyway, during the interview, I focused on leadership in the field of journalism, and in the whole media industry at large, that before becoming an excellent journalist, one really has to be a leader first.

=====================================

Jeffrey (ME) - Wandering through a lot of things.
Jesse Ian - Technique is the word. Hehe Grabe nga Teknik! (Inside Joke). He’s extra friendly, really, esp. in dealing with the other finalists and the AYLC alumni.
Jeremiah - He believes that seeing the skyscrapers of Makati is a DREAM COME TRUE and experiencing several MRT rides is an adventure of a lifetime. Haha. And btw, he wants to hug the buildings of Makati.
Sherwin - Everybody was laughing, and he asked, "may anu?"
Carrie - "Oh Gaaaad!" "Lali?" "Sapayt!" What else Carrie?

Final Say
By ME!!!

In Thailand, King Bhumbol Adulyadej plays a very important role. His people honor him so much that he becomes a coalescing factor in the ever emerging Thai society. When they experienced a coup, Thailand’s economy didn’t suffer that much. It was in fact an event in their country’s history that amused the world.

Thailand’s King enjoys a higher level of respect and recognition from his people, more than what other Kings of the world experience. In other words, in every crucial decision his country has to take, he is there to have the final say.

From there, I can conclude that the Philippines lack a person who enjoys the privilege of having the final say. The President’s decision will always cause divisiveness. Never has there been a Philippine president that doesn’t have a divisive decision. There will always be oppositions. That is a good thing maybe for a country like ours that is trying to uphold the ideals of democracy. But in as much as I love democracy, its being prone to abuses and power tripping make me think that we need, badly for that matter, a unifying factor, regardless of whether he is person like King Bhumibol, or it’s simply a good vision common to everyone.

The reality is, we only have Manny Pacquiao, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Noli De Castro, among others. We don’t have Bhumibol Adulyadej.

We Filipinos are lucky enough for having Pacquiao. But let me say that our country needs a kind of unity that lasts. He can’t do boxing to unite every Filipino from every corner of the world forever. GMA definitely lacks the unifying factor. So who is the King Bhimibol Adulyadej of the Philippines? For now, it can be Manny Pacquiao, but for tomorrow, who will it be?

I dream of having a Philippine president that can have the final say - final good and unifying say. However, for as long as our political system remains immature and every Filipino lacking a common vision for the nation, nothing will change. Our society will remain to become a colorful diapora of immature people.

I don’t know exactly how we can achieve a common mature attitude towards every issue, a common judgment for every vital choice and a common sense of nationalism. But this I believe, if we will not try or at least dream of UNITY, what else is left from us?

This article contain the excerpt of my winning Sports Essay about a PBA Basketball Assistant Coach. Published in The Philippine Star, October 26, 2006

Can be viewed online: http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/sp/sp021617.htm

WHAT  THEY  SAY  ABOUT 
GINEBRA  ASST COACH  SIOT

MANILA,

OCTOBER 26, 2006
(STAR) SPORTING CHANCE By
Joaquin M. Henson - Here are excerpts of the five best write-ups of over 200
submitted by participants of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) school
organ Varsitarian’s eighth annual "Inkblots" seminar and fellowship at the
St. Thomas Aquinas Research Center on the Espana campus last week.

The write-ups were based on the mock press conference, featuring Ginebra San
Miguel assistant coach Siot Tanquingcen, that was the highlight of the
sportswriting portion of the seminar.

Prizes donated by the Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Star,
Sonia Trading, Emerald Headway and Atlas Publishing were given to the top five
writers, namely, (in order) Amilof Inso of St. Louis University, Baguio City;
Jose Antonio Tamayo of Angelicum College, Quezon City; Manuel Jeffrey Sistoso of
the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod; Ronel Quiocho of Ramon Magsaysay
Technological University, Zambales; and Augustus Franco Janiel of Central Luzon
State University, Nueva Ecija.

The excerpts:

From Amilof Inso — "It is better to fall on the roof than not trying to reach
the star." This line might come from a prominent scientist but you’ll be shocked
to know it is from Siot Tanquingcen, the former Ginebra head coach. Like other
inspiring stories, Tanquingcen has a story to tell.

"Tanquingcen carries his real name Bethune. He was once an ordinary
benchwarmer before becoming a scholar in basketball in the 1990s. He joined the
1996 PBA rookie draft but misfortune struck him when he was not chosen. He lost
hope to pursue his basketball profession yet his passion and love for sports
stayed in his heart.

"If you go for something you love, it does not really mean that you will get
it on the first or second crack," he says.

"He believed that God has a plan for him — a plan that will change his life
forever. He continued seeking a place in basketball while practicing his
profession as an accountant. God gave him the determination to pave his way to
the PBA."

From Jose Antonio Tamayo — "Mahirap man ang daan sa buhay maliit na pag-asa
lamang ang magbibigay liwanag sa upos ng natapong pangarap." Ito ang minsang
pinagdaanan ng sikat na coach ng Ginebra, Bethune (Siot) Tanquingcen ang
aktibong coach na nagbigay ng korona sa isa sa pinakasikat na grupo ng basketbol
sa Pilipinas.

"Ang buhay nga naman ay tila pag-ikot ng bola.Sino ang mag-aakala na ang
isang ehemplong tulad ni Tanquingcen ay nakaranas ng pagkatalo sa larong kanyang
pinakamamahal. Sa kabila ng pagkatalo siya ay bumangon ulit at itinaas ang
bandila ng kanyang pangarap.

"Noong 1996 sa dalawampung rookie applicants, isa siya sa tatlong manlalarong
hindi natanggap. Ang pangyayaring ito ay hindi naging sukatan para siya ay
sumuko."

From Manuel Jeffrey Sistoso — "Siot Tanquingcen may not be your typical
superstar. Standing 5-8, he has become an icon of Pinoy basketball, silently
though. Siot is a certified public accountant, proving that not all basketball
players contribute less to society other than touchdowns and dribbles."

"His experiences tell a lot about how an ordinary person dreams success.
Starting as a not so important player in his team, Siot turned out to become a
playmaker in his own right. He believes that basketball is not all about one
person - the coach or the best player. It’s always about the team. This point of
view, with all his humility, paves the way for success to actually be with him,
no matter what it takes and the consequences are."

From Ronel Quiocho — "Mula sa isang simpleng hangarin na abutin ang bituin,
sisibol ang adhikang masilayan ang tugatog ng katanyagan. Datapwat, bumilang ng
napakaraming taon, ang naglalagablab na puso’y patuloy na didingas makamit
lamang ang hinahangad na pangarap. Hindi na inisip kung saan siya babagsak,
mahalaga’y sinubukan at patuloy pang susubukan.

"Ako may hindi mahalaga sa inyo ngayon. Bukas titingalain ninyo ako bilang
matagumpay. At bukas akong aani ng respeto at parangal tangan ang aking mga
pangarap.

"Ganyan sumibol ang adhikain ng isa sa pinakamahusay na coach sa pambansang
liga ng PBA. Simpleng pangarap, pinuhunan ng sipag at tiyaga, determinasyon at
pananalig sa Diyos at paniniwalang balang araw makakamit ko ang mga tala.

"Iyan si coach Siot Tanquingcen, imahe ng isang matagumpay at patuloy na
nagtatagumpay sa likod ng mga pagsubok at hamon na kinakaharap."

From Augustus Franco Janiel — "I am not a fan of basketball. Perhaps, I have
spent most of my time doing less strenuous extra-curricular activities in our
school. I spend most of my time studying and doing homework - basketball is
alien to me.

"During the press conference of coach Siot Tanquingcen, he gave the delegates
a picture behind the glory of basketball. Little by little, he drew in the
delegates’ minds the different values in basketball such as passion, strength,
courage and moreover, sportsmanship. He truly moved the people in the room.

"I once again would like to share that through the lessons imparted by Mr.
Siot, even a nerd like me may love basketball. There’s more to basketball than
just dribbling and shooting. It’s all about a passion driven by inspiration."

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Im not a sports writer and I got the Third Place! Good enough. =)