Fragments of the Quiet Mind

Sa panahon ngayon, dito sa tinatawag na digital era, online games have evolved into a vast virtual playground where people from around the world come together to revel in the thrill of play. Here, we transform into warriors, wizards, archers, or perhaps just that one player persistently hoping to join the party (or yung player na nanlilimos ng zenny sa tabi tabi) . Our screens come alive with epic battles and pixelated victories, and we bask in the fleeting glory of our digital conquests. These games provide more than mere entertainment; they are arenas for connection, creativity, and personal growth. However, as the stakes of online competition escalate, a troubling aspect often surfaces: toxic competitiveness that threatens to overshadow the very essence of enjoyment. In this digital playground, where avatars clash and virtual worlds are conquered, we sometimes forget a fundamental truth: games are meant to be fun, not battlegrounds for wounded egos. As we immerse ourselves in these ...

It all started with a cupboard under the stairs. The one place no one ever thought to look for greatness. The whole Harry Potter saga was born from a world where, apparently, the most potent wizards are nurtured on a steady diet of expired cereal and underappreciation. I mean, what could possibly go wrong? As a Muggle (or, as I like to think of myself, a "magically challenged individual"), the Harry Potter series always felt like a subtle reminder that, yes, I could be living my best life—if only I'd received an owl instead of bills in the mail when I turned eleven. But alas, life decided I'd be better suited to navigating traffic jams and existential dread rather than broomsticks and basilisk battles. Speaking of battles, let’s talk about the Sorting Hat. That tattered old relic managed to sort out everyone’s deepest desires and future prospects with all the precision of a Magic 8-Ball. It's like a personality test, but with more theatrics. Imagine if we had that...

Ang karakter ng isang tao ay di nabubuo in an instant, kundi ito’y nakakamit sa pamamagitan ng mahabang proseso at mas mahaba habang pasensya.  Sa pagbuo ng isang matatag na karakter, kalakip nito ang kawalan, heartaches na nakakapang-emo, masasakit na aral at syempre sandamakmak na kamalian.  Mangilan ngilan lamang ang mga taong kilala kong may malakas na karakter dahil di lahat ay nagnanais makaramdam ng sakit. Ang pinakamagandang istorya ay isinilang mula sa  hindi maipintang dusa at ang pinaka appreciated na pagkapanalo ay yung mga winning moments mo na iniluwal mula sa pasakit. Kanina habang nagkakape, meron akong isang former student na isa na ding instructor ngayon (yehey so proud of her!). Nakiupo sya sa pwesto ko at sabing: “Sir, ibang iba kasi karakter mo kapag nagtuturo ka. Gusto kong gayahin estilo mo.” Bigla kong namiss ang pagtuturo. Mag iisang taon na din pala akong atrophic and I am struggling to make sense of this fudging world.  Habang nag iisip, ...

Habang ako’y nagbrobrowse ng facebook, napansin ko na madami pala akong former students na gragraduate na ngayon. Magkahalong lungkot at tuwa ang naramdaman ko. Lungkot, dahil nakakamiss din sila gaano man ka nonsense kanilang pag iisip minsan, at tuwa dahil makakamtan na nila ang papel at titulong kanilang pinaghirapan. Napansin kong karamihan sa kanila ay may mataas na pangarap. Irrational sense of optimism, and I admire them for that. Sana ay patuloy nilang payabungin ito, tulad ng pag aaruga sa isang halaman. Ang mga pangarap ay kailangang diligan, alagaan, itanim sa lugar na fertile ang lupa upang maging firm ang kanilang mga ugat at higit sa lahat, importante din ang ‘trimming’ o pagtatanggal ng mga dahon na tuyot o di kaya’y nabubulok na upang di mahawa yung healthy part ng halaman. Sa madaling salita, dapat nilang malaman kung ano ang mga mahahalagang ideyang natutunan nila sa unibersidad na maaari nilang i-apply sa real world. Tulad ng halaman, di lahat ng mga seeds na itina...