Preference matters

 Make someone happy.

They say, "Simple things make big difference," it's true. We might not notice it, and we might not directly see the effect with our naked eye, but the 'difference' is there. 

Small smiles, great sighs, established confidence... name it.

Here's the thing, as someone who has two names like anyone else, it is inevitable that people will refer to me by my first name, given that it's the first thing that they'll come across. It's convenient.

But not for my ears.

Your name is the most intrinsic part of your life, it is your unique trademark, your identity. But what if the name you're being called makes you feel like you're not even yourself?

I've always been quite fussy about my name, whether it's my mere middle initial, let alone the name I'm being addressed by.

Correcting people's pronunciation of your name can be exhausting at times, too. But asking them to call you by the name you want to be called at is rather uncomfortably distressing.

Especially when it has to be always backed up with the answer for why's.

That's why it means a lot for a person when you acknowledge their desires. Believe me, it does.

I have a classmate with whom I have a lot of shared friends, but we have never been particularly close. We solely know each other through our similar connections. I know her by her name, and she knows me by my name as well. My first name.

To cut a long story short, we became classmates this year. On the first day, I introduced myself, giving emphasis to my choice of being addressed by my second name. I expected her to continue calling me based on what she's used to hearing from our mutuals before, but she did not.

Despite being used and familiar with my first name, she was out here, calling me with the name I wanted to go by.

I've been meaning to blog this, but today's a more convenient time for it. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to my friends and classmates' efforts of always considering each and everyone's preference, neither leaving anyone behind nor overlooking what one desires.

Being sensitive can be a good thing. Make someone happy by recognizing their preference. It matters.

 

Company

Calling a volunteer to be my peer,

Oh no, don’t expect, don’t want a potential tear,

My desire is a good time and not a long time, 

Please, I don’t want to fall into a deep end,

And sure if you want to hang out on the weekend,

No, I don’t mind if you want to be with me,

You can be my chivalrous company.

       

Tear

A

Drop

Of tear

Is more than

The worth of an ocean

Behind it is an untold story

Of truth beyond naked eyes foresee

No matter how visible it fell down your cheeks

It might even be a reason to lose your capacity for speech

But always remember that they are definitely not a flaw to hide

Or a representation of weakness but rather a blunt sign of resilience

So let it roll down your cheeks, and dance in order to make a difference

Let the heaviness of your heart find its course of action to lighten

Indeed, just allow it to develop and bounce back from being broken

It’s alright, it’s normal, stop holding back, let your eyes pour rain

Don’t you think it’s nice to make a rainbow and start again?

Let it pour, strong human, and thereafter a light shall appear

 Strong human, I swear because you gave away

And acknowledged that at the end of the day

You are still a normal being

That shed

A  Tear.

With You, my provider

 Through your presence my soul faces serenity, In my spirit, within me, I hear the soothing melody,

Never left and continued to heal the neglected me,

Bringing life to my soul that’s drained and weary,

Now it’s my time,

To correct regime,

Put end to crime,

Set You as prime.

I will sing forever,

In a den together,

With You, my provider,

No one would take over.

You accepted my mourning and turned it into singing,

You welcomed my weeping and changed it into laughing.

My house felt like a sanctuary, I owe you everything.

Everyday, I reap, even though it is overwhelming.

A Healing To Those Who Bleed

The noise of traffic dangling harshly upon my ears, Bolstered by gentle fumes bringing frenzy to my nostrils,

And carried aloft with the choruses of mongrels from the rubbish bins,

So long since our last encounter, now all muffled as memories.

It was the month of March when the complete mayhem broke out,

Caresses have longed for apart from outdoor detachment and society division,

Awakening the recluse inside the weary wanderers throughout,

The melancholic breeze singing lullaby for those of condition.

Journeying on the gypsy road, seemingly always humps and bumps,

Caught a glimpse of silver lining peeking through the great wall of trouble,

 Learning, adapting, and building a new world amid being in the slump,

Reimagining the future beyond the state of being vulnerable.

Literature has transformed into a dazzling sword,

Or shall I say, a comforting place for the bereaved?

A bridge for division and digital discord. 

The answer is all, as it contributes to the healing of those who bleed.

Beautiful Disaster Is Still A Disaster

 Disaster Is Still a Disaster

Thee scream a menacing hostility,

Dominating presence out of my league.

The rosy hue of sunrise, she is me.

Malevolent thunder is what you dig.

Futile imputations I have realized,

As the story goes, opposite attracts.

Truth is, it isn’t what I’ve fantasized,

Therefore freeing from the shackles of contacts.

Harsh, beautiful disaster, I mutter.

Shame, beautiful disaster is still a disaster.

Juan: to vote for the sake of everyone

Freedom of media, killings of political activists, attacks on civil society, military threats, police oppression, and regressive health state of the country. Those are just some of the things that are currently happening in my state and at this point, I am starting to lose my remorse with everything. You care so much, you get affected so much as a result. That was me before. But today, I would rather isolate my entire being away from the drastic society and have all the peace for myself. 

I am Juan. Socializing, interacting, and forming new circles are the affairs I get a bang for. Having my college started last year, while in a health crisis, opened a world that is foreign to me. I took up Bachelor in Arts major in Political Science at my dream university. I’ve been looking forward to how my college life would be ever since. However, things happened and here we are now, secured inside the upsetting comfort of our homes, frightened with the threat of the virus. Virtual learning was the new mainstream. Yet, those unfortunate events didn’t stop me, chances are, they provoked my hell-bent persuasion towards everything. 

As a social butterfly, I attempted to relate myself with my block mates. Approaching them sincerely, I found out that most of us are indeed politically inclined, the majority are even bound to law school like me. I became more confident in voicing out my perspectives upon realizing that I’m in the right flock. We had a discourse about the ABS-CBN shutdown, followed by the passing of the Anti-terror Law that was reckoned to be another setback for human rights. We felt infuriated together, we felt dissatisfied together. Cared too much, get affected as much. To sum up everything that has been stated, my first year in college wasn’t bad at all regardless of the new environment adapting to the new system. 

The prolonged journey of the year 2020 has run its course and finally come to an end. I am still Juan. We are still suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, stuck in our homes, studying in our rooms, and helpless with the crimes and delinquency that are happening outside. The only difference is, I stopped caring. Nonchalantly responding with the society, evident apathy and being mediocre. Do you feel me? The thing is, citizens are not blind... or so I thought. We’re able to differentiate what is right from wrong and determine if this is the incompetency we are facing… or so I thought. Few more years and I am already graduating from college. I don’t want it to be this way. I just turned 19 but I feel melancholic. I can’t wait for the next year to come and have my own way.

For the 2022 elections, I won’t be blind. I won’t be ignorant. I won’t let my vote be put to waste and set the whole nation in jeopardy. I don’t want to be one of the reasons to impair the security for all. I am Juan. I might be indifferent nowadays, there is still hope within me. As someone who was once part of the afflicted youth, I’d never want to repeat the same mistake of the previous voters. I may vote alone in accordance with my principle, I know I can value the most gratifying reflection that my vote is never misspent. I am Juan, and for the 2022 elections, I am voting for the sake of everyone.