The Crunchy Road

Here is the historical background of what I wanted:
6 yrs old – I wanted to become a lawyer
7 yrs old – I wanted to become a journalist
10 yrs old – A newscaster/reporter
12 yrs old – An astronaut
13 yrs old – An astronaut/ journalist
14 yrs old – An astronaut/ photographer
15 yrs old – An English/Spanish/Japanese/French Translator, an astronaut, a lawyer
16 yrs old – I wanted to finish ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Sounds weird? :) All those signify how inconsistent I am in choosing my future career.
Every now and then, I dreamt of seeing the sun, the red spot of Jupiter and the colorful rings of the Saturn all by myself. But it all turned into an illusion when I learned that becoming an astronaut requires a Science course, American citizenship and airplane-flying experiences, which is, I think by now, is impossible.
So I scratched it from my goal list and concentrated more on which road sign will I choose. I thought of taking up Linguistics so I could learn the ever fabulous language of France. But fate keeps on intervening, so did the UPCAT result. Oh well, what did I expect? I didn’t pass. Exactly as I thought. :)
Cut it. I’m off it. Brainstormed again.
Before, I have this shameful incident in a public vehicle, when the driver returned my change from my 100 PHP bill and all I’m able to do is to stare at it. Instead of numerical figures, only black scenery of panic and worry popped in my mind. Is it add? No. Subtract? Yea? Idiot not! Ten? Six. One! Calculations. Argh! No! It’s getting in my nerves! This question bothered me all throughout the day and even until today, “Why is Math invented?”
Even if the president of the Philippines tells me to take up Engineering or Accountancy, I will tell her “Better kill me now. :)” I’m sorry, but that’s how doomed I am in Mathematics.
Since I stepped in high school, I am driven by my love in English subject. Although I’m not that good in oral, I could write poems, short stories, essays and news. Since I am a BlueView editor and I took Journalism as my Streams subject and Literature in the Senior-year, I humbly accepted the fact that, MAYBE, I belong in the field of Mass Communication.
I hope you’ve noticed the word MAYBE? Uh. It is because I once desired to carry the name, “Atty. Ariane Gale D. David.” I once dreamt of becoming a professional and all of its possible benefits, but the hindrances kept on crawling at the back of my mind. So as a result, I rather favored the advice of my parents, which is to take a four-year course first before wandering a ten-year course. =((
With my parents, I see no problem of them. Indeed, they keep on supporting me in which course to take. That’s why I’m so happy and blessed to have them!
And the last choice is, Journalism and/or/slash Psychology in UST. Haha! Maybe that is where I am really destined after letting great opportunities pass by.
And to end this, here is my solid decision in my future career. In this crunchy road, you don’t need to choose on which path to take, all you need is to offer your heart and soul to the Highest Power, and He will guide you along the way.

I AM

I am the voice and ears of my family
I wonder about space and nature
I hear the buzzing of the bees
I see my mouth speaks French
I want to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa
I am the voice and ears of my family

I pretend to be an idiot
I feel really important
I touch the heaven's clouds
I worry about my college life
I cry for gloomy films
I am I am the voice and ears of my family

I understand that God is my only savior
I say that He is whom I'm in love with
I dream of becoming a real astronaut
I try to study harder
I hope for passed opportunities to come once again
I am I am the voice and ears of my family

My ACET Essay

This is the ACET essay I wote last August 5, 2008 to be able to fulfill the requirements for the entrance examination. I just thought of posting this here. Hope you enjoy it.

Q: What accomplishment or experience has helped to define who you are?
A: Is there any? :)

Almost sunset, 2 days before the deadline of this application, here I am. Staring blankly on the monitor and trying to figure out, what could be that significant experience that defined YANE for who she is.

Uhmm. Can I ask a couple of seconds to impart this melody I have now in my ears?
________________________________
“Holy, righteous, faithful till the end,Saviour, healer, redeemer, and friend
Chorus:I will worship You for who You areI will worship You for who You areI will worship You for who You areJesus (repeat)
My soul secure, Your promise sureYour love endures always (2x)”
________________________________
Voila! Very inspiring song! *Clap. Clap.*

Honestly, it’s been two hours since I laid back my body in this rough-ended computer chair and still, no idea pops up on my mind. Guess what, 1st examination week, and here I am brainstorming, still figuring out what to type. Ewr! I hate how recurring state of cramming takes over me most of the times. I find it difficult to manage my workloads but most of the time, a simple “Hey, Yane! Look up. Someone’s hugging you tight” can inspire me to acquire the use of my logical sense, than to panic. Then after a while, I calm down; therefore proves that my One and Only God supports me in times of need.

He’s great, isn’t He? *Big cheers for Him! :)* Now let me start this on..

Short description of YANE? (short really, haha)

Y: Yearner A: Art N: Nature-lover E: Exquisite.

Yeah, I Yearn for knowledge, friendships, closer family boding, and many more. I desire to experience more complexities and extremities that will further develop my self. If a certain adventure comes, I’d quickly ride on the track!

Next is A. Not an artist nor an archer (Hi Blue Eagles!:p), but an Art. I am an art? Weird, huh? But here, picture yourself walking in the morning, with gloomy surroundings wherein everything is pale, even the plants don’t sway. But someone named, Yane, passes through.. And suddenly.. *drumrolls please* A figure of a colorful rainbow, bright hot sun, tweeting birds, and even swaying trees showed up! Seems like I’m a fairy or something? Haha sort of. But isn’t it fantastic, that a simple girl brings color and happiness to your entire day. (Exaggerated but that’s me! Jolly! Wiii :]) But my point here is, my distinct characteristics show who the real me is. I am an art! I am unique, expressive, and incomparable. I can shine at all times. :)

Nature-lover? Haha. Sort of environmentalist? Yeah kinda. Loving and caring for nature is predominantly saying that you also love and care for God.

Now what does the word Exquisite means? Its delicacy and beauty. Not that I’m telling you I am beautiful or delicate or whatsoever, because that would be lying if I do so. :) It just means, I’ve become more delicate and sensitive to the feelings of other. Unlike the past few years, I’m so narcissistic that I focus only on one angle of a person –on his criticisms, by which hindered our relationship to grow even more.

Maybe you could have blurted out already, “Ok so what’s the connection of all of these?” Inhale exhale, hold your horses and I’ll tell you.

October 2008, if I’m not mistaken, is the Youth For Christ (YFC) Star Camp. Peer-pressure invited me to join this camp. I’m not suppose to go, but a bomb is threatened to explode in my face if I’m not to accompany my barkada. :)

So the night began..

It’s boring. Who is Jesus? Blah-blah-blah. Inspirational Talks. Blah-blah-blah. Worship songs. Etc. Etc. And now I couldn’t relate anymore. They’re doing something weird that I felt would hit my pride if I do the same too. But something inside evoked me to totally burn my written sins on fire. The head servant asked us to write all our sins, whether minor or not, so we could turn them into dreadful ashes. As the smoke disappears, I felt myself in the state of being rejuvenated, being refreshed and being cleansed. I can’t clearly state how I exactly felt it.

And so as the camp continues, I began to appreciate and enjoy it little by little, thus making me emotional too. :( The camp taught me bunch of stuffs, mainly about who my God is? What is His role in my life? Does He really exist? And so on. As the camp came to an end, I know that the Holy Sprit converges within my soul.

It was a miracle for me, really, that I became more disciplined. I see things clearly, before reacting negatively against it. Rather negatively seeing my mistakes, I’m strengthening myself by counting my blessings. Look.. I’m almost dying of boredom that night and escapade is all I could think of. But who could have thought that that night is the end of some of my negative deeds? (Haha :o) I am now open and ready to serve Christ with all my heart and soul; and gladly I had known that losing hope would do nothing unless you ask God to be your Hope; that every single thing happens for a very special reason; and knowing that a work done without prayer will never be considered as a job well done.

The acronym YANE could have not been defined without this camp. I’m glad. Very glad. The feeling inside is unexplainable, but above all, I’m proud upon knowing myself even more. But although this did affect my daily lifestyle, I think it cannot define the real me. As I said earlier, mere words can’t express the reality behind every man’s life. Thus, the choices I make everyday, the habits I do daily, the role I play in this world, my family and the people around me, and even the Up Above who created me -are the REAL and TRUE meanings of my life. Every single minute without them would be undefined. They define my essence in life.

So this quotation, I would leave to you… “Live and Leave a Legacy.ü”

Parenthood

Linked Worlds

A somehow dramatic part of being a human
A somehow melodic interpretation of life
A somehow beginning of a new world
A somehow mystery that keeps on revealing

A parent’s will is always the best for us
They lay out courage in times of falling
They spend leisure time for family bonding
And even offered their whole world to us

And how did we show our gratitude?
By being numb and reacting like they’re
the most foolish, worthless and rude persons
we ever met in the entire world!

It took them hardships and sacrifices
To raise the kind of child we are now
Don’t you realize that what really matters
is that they see us grow lovely beside them?

And lastly, the untold part here is
Our parents’ never-ending love and support,
Is the true reason
Why we keep on moving forward

-fin-

I felt heartwarming gestures capturing my soul as I write this poem. I've been a dumb irresponsible child to my parents since birth. I believe that without this knowledge they impart, I am a worthless youth today. Being a teenager means striving to overcome pressures, while being a parent means...I don't have a clue.. All I know is that their experiences are way far beyond ours.

Memoirs of Geisha - An Analysis

Memoirs of a Geisha: A Summary

A beautiful blue-eyed girl, Chiyo, was sold in a Geisha house at the age of nine. There, she experienced cruelty from Mother and abusiveness from Hatsumomo.
Her pains and anguish suddenly turned into sweet pleasure and happiness upon the arrival of the Chairman. Secretly hoping to receive his tender caress, Chiyo dreamt and strived to become a geisha. So, she whole-heartedly accepted Mameha’s offering for her to become a geisha.
All the schoolings and trainings went successfully as Chiyo transformed into Sayuri, the most celebrated geisha in their town. It is because of her performance in her much-anticipated debut that drew the interest of every man in town closer to her.
Her greatest rival, Hatsumomo, learned about her feelings to the chairman and tried to burn down her house. Even Pumpkin, her childhood friend, was very jealous to Sayuri’s diva-world.
Mother adopted Sayuri because of her success. Sayuri’s glory was cut short when the World War II approached. She and Mameha hid through Chairman’s help to prevent them from becoming American slaves.
Years later, she returned to her town and discovered a modernized world of prostitutes, not Geishas. She, together with Mameha and Pumpkin were hired by the Chairman to entertain some American generals to make them his business partners.
Unfortunately, she was tempted to sell her body and soul to a general, and this was witnessed by the Chairman himself. With tears and regrets, Sayuri threw away the chairman’s handkerchief and gave up her hopes and dreams on being together with him.
Their fate reunited once again, but this time with chairman’s revelation that he planned for Mameha’s arrival so Sayuri could pursue her dream of becoming a geisha.
The film ended with Sayuri’s heart-warming quotation for him, “Can’t you see? Every step I have taken since I was that child on that bridge, I speak to bring myself closer to you?” And their love lingered until the end.…..

Memoirs of a Geisha: An Analysis

A. Emotional Value

When a piece of literature is said to give pleasure, to be interesting, exciting, moving, stirring, or rousing, or when it is attributed a strong emotional impact, then it contains emotional value, and the film has it.
The group members felt the same emotions felt by the characters such the pains and sufferings endured by Sayuri before and after becoming a geisha, and the jealousy and bitterness the other geishas felt for her.
As a film viewer, you’ll find the film disturbing at first yet touching at the end because of the hindrances and obstacles Sayuri and the Chairman encountered for their love to each other.

B. Cultural Value

Early Japanese customs and traditions like wishing in a well, selling children in okiyo (geisha house), sumo wrestling, teahouse celebration, and presentation of mizuage are shown in the film.The culture of Japan before and after the arrival of the Americans are presented, too. (e.g. Geisha – prostitutes, Calesa transpo – airplanes/cars, teahouses – bars/clubs)
Also, the background of a geisha is presented.

Memoirs of a Geisha: An Analysis

A. Feminism

The film focused on who and what women are in the early society, specifically geishas.
It is said that geishas are not to provide any sexual desires of men, but only to entertain with art. They are to entice the most influential and powerful men only through singing, dancing, playing instruments and conversing.
The film also revealed the strengths of women repressed under patriarchy.
A sample scene of oppression to women’s rights is the auction for Sayuri’s virginity.

B. Historicism

Historical, because the film revolved around 1600 wherein Geishas really existed. It featured the identity of the geishas in the eyes of the powerful men.
Many locations, such as Gion and the Ichiriki Ochaya were actual places frequented by Geishas and their patrons.
The occurrence of the World War II, wherein Geishas and other Japanese are sent to become slaves, is part of the real Japanese history.

C. Humanism

Humanism is concerned with human capacities, and so as the film which showed talents and capabilities of geishas.
The approach is about human values and worth. Sample scenes are the following, Pumpkin’s aspiration of becoming the adopted daughter of Osaka, Chiyo’s dearly love and devotion to her family and Hatsumomo’s strive to overpower every geisha in town.
The film is also centered with human interests. Men are fond of the entertainment the geishas are offering, while most women desire to be a geisha so they could achieve political wealth and prominence.
Most of the characters showed self-determination and perseverance all through out the film.