metallic_lament

Ito ha, dideretsuhin ko na lang kayo. Walang pa ingles ingles, wala na ring pasikot sikot. Wala nang pakialamanan, wala nang pasikatan. Wala nang papogi-pogi at wala na ring pa arte-arte. Prankahan, diretsuhan at pasimplihan. Ito na ang tangi kong masasabi na walang pag-iisipan at hahanapan pa ng rason: Simple… iboto lang ninyu si Janine Noblezada para sa Kawani ng Negosyo… iboto and NGITI para sa Estudyanteng Katawan ng Mataas na Paaralan… yan, simple, prankahan at wlang ingles ingles… :p

This essay is dedicated to the youth who hungers for the knowledge on their future, aspiring for a better future and to live a better future. This is also dedicated to a very special someone who is now in her sixth grade

Youth

The Youth was once then but it never was.

The connotations on the youth cascade as time unravels and appeal to new ideas. From the moment we breathed a single breath, hearts beat a single tone and mouths that uttered the first sound; that was youth, a youth that was once but it never once.

From the moment you step into school dreaming of what will happen in your first day, you utter a single moan and then just move one. You met your first friend and you spoke to your first best bud, from that time on you laughed and laughed. That was youth, a youth that was once but it never once.

You lost your first tooth and howed it happily to your friends. You leave your pre-school days in a sudden rush behind. You entered the Grade school with your chin up high. The first day you came, the older batches were intimidating. But you came to learn on the last day of that first grade, these people is your family and you must learn to love. That was youth, a youth that was once but it never once.

The guys now fond themselves in a new world, the new gray pants offered in fifth grade were uncomfortable at first. The new adjustments made some more space. Crushes became an instant hit, academics are at its’ peak. The sudden flow of adrenaline extinguishes the fiery thirst for knowledge. Love starts to take over, little by little rekindling the dwindling torch of knowledge.

SIxth grade came and all you had in your bag was a notebook and a pen. You doodle on your crush’s name and write in different forms. You start developing social statuses namely: Nerds, jocks, populars, musicians, techies, geeks and the "totally hopeless". The once united batch you started with is dwindling at the peak. You do things that are unjustifiable just because you are defending your CRUSH. You go to the extent of using your social status as more of a weapon rather than a privilege. You start using your knowledge as your defense not knowing its’ elements. Friends backstab friends. Friends turn into enemies. Love is all that matters, for it you will fight until the bitter end even if your ways are wrong.  Enemies declare World War, the pathetic call of people. A feud with a batchmate is never a step to be taken if you only want to defend in what you believe in. The most pathetic thing of all, and I pray no one will ever do is to treat their crushes as property and fend off all the ones who he/she considers a threat. Please, this is called IMMATURITY. And i further stress that KNOWLEDGE wil more or less only be SECOND to the FIRST which is ATTITUDE and PROPER DECORUM. Calling people names behid their backs is very much a sign of INSECURITY and backstabbing friends is all but INSANITY. Friends will be friends and crushes will only also remain crushes. That was youth, a youth that was once but it never once.

Seventh grade came, you want to show off yourself. The immature people who treat social classes as some kind of law will completely become narcissists. The temptations of BGR and PDA is greater than ever. You are tempted to put make-up to further solicit attention, but to all those thinking of doing this, you are only showing that you are DESPERATE for attention. The unfolding conflicts in the past year is developing into a more and more complex problem. The once overprotective he-is-only-mine people [pertaining to those who act as they OWN their crushes] become more and more overprotective until that person might suddenly burst out and leave him/her alone. Honestly, the last years of Grade School should be treated as the initiation to graduation and eventually High School. Treat this last year as a year of purification and readiness and not as the last battle of the clashing social classes. That was youth, a youth that was once but it never once.

First year rolls around and the once influential are intimidates and shrouded by the older batches. The narcissists will be the laughingstocks for their desperation. The broken-hearted people who have treated their crushes as property will not be recognized. The intellectuals who have a pesky attitude will learn the importance of UNITY. Social classes will crumble and high positions will only be more of a hassle. Student leaders which were not recognized years before are recognized now. The "hopeless" people suddenly gets the spotlight. Some people will finally open up and those insecure would find refuge in their strong friends. The world will turn around and only then will they start to understand that that was youth, a youth that was once but it never once.

As my story goes on for those who are behind me, I leave an oath to be true and honest. All people who see their attitude as not pleasing as the ones above, I am appealing that you change for the better. Life will start at High School and that is where fraternal bonds are formed. In the end, the world will turn around. As they say: "Which was once up, must go down".

Friendly Reminder, Anonymous Writer 

The world revolves around a certain sun

And my home is revolved upon by a certain moon

Those two things may never ever meet

But there is hope, a shimmer of light, a glow of radiance

That these two things might soon come together

As I am in the middle of a terrible fight

An accomplished father against a contented mother

My home is in confusion, as they steal our eyes away

As the sun reigns the morning and the moon in the evening

My home is split between two undesirable fates

The chain that holds that inner radiance

The chain that holds hope, a shimmer of light & a glow of radiance

In a matter of time the end will soon come

The end of a fight, the longest one

As the sun finally cannot hold it anymore

It will eat up its closest companionm, the god of all messengers

Its’ lust will also entice the goddess of beauty

And it also wanted to let my home succumb to its’ authority

But a mother saved my home

Like a mother would sacrifice for her own

She stood between me and an angered father

And then, all I could do was watch

All I saw was the final feud

A battle of which the brightest would win

Although the sun possessed that of a more radiant light

The moon reflected it to that of ten times

The sun succumbs to the superiority of a mother

And asks for forgiveness for the things he had done

And in the lightest tone, the moon finally spoke

It was all my fault and I should be the one to apologize

Im sorry to have done so much terrible things

But whatever happens I will work for the best

Work on forever until the once bitter turns into sweet

Dedicated to: Norence Aaron P. Tan and Adrian Nicole S. Buan

This is to formally announce that people who are interested to recieve the weekly chapters of Pandora’s Box: A Threat [from the former subtitle: Conspiracy] must post comments to induce support. Also, add me at bobbydrake100691@yahoo.com [YM wise] to personally talk to me regarding support, ideas, friendly debates and [if ever] violent reactions. Also, Please not that this is a FICTION manuscript in the making. If any discrepancies are found regarding cultures, names [if your names are the ones i used, it was merely a coincidence] and over-all image, I completely apologize. But then again, all this is is FICTION. From the first time i’ve released my blog for feedbacks and suggestions all I got back as support is nil. Again, I appeal to you, anyone who helps me finish this book [if ever] will definitely be rewarded accordingly. Let us write, read and speak for the future of the Filipino Literature. Help us to start the new era of writing, not merely as an imitation of overseas stories but a new kind of writing named: FO [Filipino Patent]. Maraming maraming salamat po!!   

Chapter One

Anonymous

            I was in a drowsy mood when a colleague of mine called me at half past two in the morning. The time difference was a nuisance and he never really seemed to care if I was sleeping or working. This was the primary reason why I really hated him invading my personal time and space; yet, I could not really diminish our friendship that has survived the endless war life has wagered between us. Come to think of it, we were the only ones who really were together from high school to college. And because political science was our favorite courses, we agreed to stay partners though the huge boundary between us will remain. He sought refuge in the political strata of Japan after graduating and I stayed in Washington to pursue my political dreams. That morning, I was in the midst of my most exciting dream when the phone rang. As it was summer and I could not afford to let the air-conditioning and the windows be opened, my nudity was the only thing I could rely on for ventilation. Getting up on my feet, I took a bathrobe and quickly answered the phone.

                        “Ichiro, I have wonderful news!” a distinctive voice said just as I was about to lift the receiver of my phone. “I found something that might interest you. Can you recall the time we talked about the legend of why the Sun chases the Moon?” Al said. “Of course” I said trying to wear my boxers, “You know what? I found evidence on the existence of that legend!” he suddenly exclaimed. As he was the typical person who would get excited over anything, I replied. “Can’t it wait until the morning?” “Clearly Ichiro, this is a really great find!” he fired back. “Anyway, I found some scrolls on the descendant of Lars Ortega III. It clarifies his existence and his bloodline!” he continued. “Wow! Really? I really don’t see a connection forming here.” I answered in disgust. “Ichiro, the Ortega bloodline is the foundation of all myths and legends Do you realize what this means?” he explained. Being the skeptic I naturally am, I shrugged it off and told him. “Can’t it wait until the morning?” without waiting for a reply, I put down the phone and relieved myself of my clothing and went back to the cool refuge of my nudity.

            The next five hours were nothing but a complete blur. At around 7:35 in the morning, the singing of the birds and the sweet smell of my neighbor’s cooking woke me up. The sensation of the heat spreading through my whole body stimulated my brain to cool off. Standing up, I went to the shower to relieve myself of the heat. The next thing I knew, I went down the stairs and fixed breakfast still undressed! It might seem unethical to prepare food in your bare self, but believe me five years of living alone is more than enough an excuse. Granola bars, granola bars and granola bars; that was all I had. Grabbing a couple of bars, I went back upstairs and switched on the TV. I was expecting to see the usual, stock markets and the like but what I saw terrified me down to the last inch of my bone.

*      *      *

            Hiroshima Kazai is a Japanese native. He went to school in the University of Tokyo under a degree of Political Science. His family was an influential icon to the Japanese public, this meant that he was bound to be a politician someday and in which case, he did. He started as one of the ministers in parliament and worked his way to the top. In roughly three years, he found himself being the youngest Prime Minister in Japanese history at only 25 years of age. Of course, some contradicted his being a Prime Minister but it was a time in which the Japanese were only being introduced to the 21^st century; this totally covered Hiroshima for being too young to be the Prime Minister. As years passed, Japan became an economical tiger. He made the Japanese people closer to that of the western civilization and for that, the Japanese will forever be grateful. For decades, he was unbeatable in parliament. The economic gods soon realized that his potential could bring the economic societies at their feet; so, instead of fending him off, he was introduced to the G7 society. The other member countries thought that if he was under this society, he would be regulated in terms of power and money; this was definitely wrong. By the mid end of 2010, Japan was the strongest country in terms of governance and economy. This made the Americans defensive because Japan stole the crown that belonged to them for at least a hundred years. Now, only months or maybe even weeks will tell if Japan wishes to fight a battle with the westerners until the bitter end. For now, all he could do is diplomacy.

*        *        *

            Torino in Canada is a winter wonderland. It only has been recently recognized by the world as one of the best places to hold the winter Olympics. As public exposure became the dictator or Torino’s fate, it was constantly the venue for the winter Olympics. The first one was in 2006 then 2010 and then 2014. The continuous exposure to the world made Torino a tourist haven. As the demand for the Olympics went up, officials made a step to invite influential icons that have made differences in the world today. The 2010 speaker was Bill Gates, for his effort to end Africa’s starvation. The 2014 speaker was Pope Benedict XXVI for his effort to ensure equality among Japan and the US, As 2018 nears, Torino again is in the spotlight, and for the fourth time in a row, she has been named the venue for the 2018 Winter Olympics. The only thing that the organizers needed was a speaker. Their endless deliberations pointed to one person. The one that made the much difference in the Eastern civilization was the main criteria for the 2018 Olympics, after much delay and time they publicly announce the name of the speaker. It was none other than Japan’s own, Hiroshima Kazai.

*        *        *

            “Breaking News from Torino, Katherine Miller. Go ahead Katherine.” The news anchor said. “A terrible happening has occurred here in Torino in the Canadian mountain ranges where Japanese Prime Minister Hiroshima Kazai has been found dead in his hotel suite just ten kilometers south of the town of Torino, Initial sources say that Hiroshima left a letter with the concierge only an hour before he was found dead in his room. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of death as of now. As detectives investigated the body, a single note was clutched in his hands, probably the name of his murderer. Scribbled in the piece of paper was a name probably of Japanese descent; Ichiro Koizuma.” Katherine said. “Furthermore, authorities are taking measures to secure Ichiro from his home somewhere in the Florida Panhandle.” She continued.

            This was all Ichiro needed to hear, and despite his point-blank nudity, all he could do was run.

-end-

Prologue

            The rich tapestry of folklore is the founding stone of my whole being. To me, the union of mythology and reality seemed like the balance of nature. Once they outdo each other, disaster will occur. Legends have become the lifeblood of my Philosophy. The seemingly endless venture of folklore is weaved within the fabrics of our present culture. This has become the predicament of present philosophers, how the future might be implicated with the further compilation of mythology into the fabric of time. This has been the endless flow of that fabric and might be the basis of the future imbalances of man. Unfortunately, this might be happening already right under out noses and we can’t still see it. Yes, that time may be much closer than you think.

I called you a “FRIEND”

You know those times you knock at my door?

When you needed something desperately

I let you in with open arms

In brief moments I would listen to you

You smiled and left

I thought that what I did was enough

The laughs we shared, the moments we treasured

To me it was important; I never knew your reaction

I thought you did too, but I was wrong

And up to this day, I still remember

How I wished and hoped I never said the words

I called you a “FRIEND”

In times when I went ahead of you

I patiently waited

I thought I was doing it for the better

Again, I was wrong

I endured those hardships with you

I even carried you with every inch of my strength

You said that you‘d never leave me

How wrong you must be

Again I thought, if I did enough

If YOU think I did enough

I just feel so bad why I never did

Try my best of my ability

I moved mountains and dug up valleys

Just to value that special jewel

For everything I did, from lies to truths

Never did I contest

Even though my heart’s protest

To me it was just really a big blow of hurt

The way you used me in spite of my sacrifices

Never did you hear me say:

I don’t want to be friends anymore

Coz up to this time I never really thought

That for once in my life

I called you a “FRIEND”

Ladies’ Singles-Finals

[LONGEST WOMEN'S FINALS]

Venus Williams [USA] vs Lindsay Davenport [USA]

                     4-6; 7-6 {7-4}; 9-7

Champion: Venus Williams [USA]

Runner-up: Lindsay Davenport [USA]

Men’s Singles-Finals

Roger Federer [SUI] vs Andy Roddick [USA]

                       6-2; 7-6 {7-2}; 6-4

Champion: Roger Federer [SUI]—————Runner-up: Andy Roddick [USA]