Hinuha sa Hinaharap;D batch 2008-2009.the best!

Sampung taon na rin pala nang huli nila akong buksan.

Nakatutuwang isipin na hindi kayang burahin ng panahon ang mga pangarap na nakatatak sa mga pahina kong ngayo’y nanilaw na sa katandaan.Ang kanilang mga litrato, kakabit ng nais nilang marating sa buhay, natupad na kaya nila?Ano naman kaya ang itsura nila ngayon?Katulad pa rin kaya ng sa noon?

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Nakagugulat na muli akong dinampot sa aklatan ni Mr.Evangelista.Malaki ang pinagbago ng kanyang mukha.Mas tumikas din ang kanyang pangangatawan at higit pang gumilas ng kayang tinig

Saan kaya kami patutungo?Tila masyado atang sabik at humahangos si Kelvin.Ah, naalala ko na!Kaharap nga pala nila ako nang magpangakuan silang muling magkikita ngayong araw na ito

Hindi nagtagal at nakarating din kami sa Angono National High School.Hinanap agad niya ang mga mukha ng mga estudyanteng labis na nagpasabik sa kanya sa loob ng mahabang panahon

Ngunit wala- wala siyang nakita ni isa-at ang kasabikang naramdaman niya ay napalitan ng pangungulila.

Papauwi, dinaanan niya ang sikat na cinnamon shop na labis na tinangkilik noon.Panandali siyang nagpahinga at muling tinikman ang tinapay na gumayuma sa mga graduating class ng SY2008-2009.

Umupo siya sa waiting shed sa dating tambayang plaza at pilit hinanap ang dinala niyang financial report ng BIR.Pangulo na nga pala siya ngayon ng main branch nito.

Sa kamalas- malasan, sa matagal na paghahanap, ako lang ang nakita niya.Waring nagkamali siya ng librong dinala.

“Kamusta na kaya ang mga ka’batch’ ko?”Bulong niya sa sarili.Binuklat niya ang mga pahinang tila bago pa rin sa kaniyang paningin.

“Ah, si Edmond Guillang at Albert Reponcion!Mga architecture na nga kaya sila ngayon?Kamusta naman kaya si Jhesed?Natuloy kaya siya sa UP Manila?Eh yung mathematician naming si Arjohn Silvestre?Civil Engineer na kaya?”

Nakita niya rin doon ang napakagaling na Chess Player- si Marvin.Maging si Glen na isa ring Marvin, na mukhang magpapastor noong mga panahong iyon.Muli ring bumalik sa kanyang alaala ang mga naging dance group ng ANHS.Ang Dota Republic na inilalaban nina Luwelito’t Kennedy, at ang Chilli Stepper na pinangungunahan naman nina Arvie’t Oliver.

“Ang mga officers kaya ng CAT?Natuloy kayang maging mga pinuno rin ng bayan?Ano kayang nangyari kina Lorence Obalan, Michael Merced, at Phoebe Grace Larita?Napanindigan kaya nila ang pagiging mga Batalion Commanders?”

“Oo nga pala, sina Kristine May at Stephen, mga propesyunal ng mga manunulat.Nakawiwili ngang basahin ang “itanong mo kay de Borja, Sasagutin ni Espejon” portion ng Filipino Magazine.At hindi lang iyon, isinulat din nila sa Philippine Star ang mga pangalan ng mga pumasang attorney sa bar exam.Nandun nga si Charlie Ranido, at TOP NOTCHER pa!!At sina Paolo Laroya at ang ‘di pa gaanong bihasang si Loudeth Puyat,sa skul lang dati naming yun tumutugtog ah?Aba ngayon, may sarili ng sikat na mga banda. Ilang beses nga rin palang nabalita ang tungkol sa kasikatan nina Carlos Hernandez, Arquiel Cruz, Princess Anonuevo at Edelwina Miguel bilang mga artista ng dating College Musical- na ngayon ay Worker musical na.”

“Sikat na rin noon ang Fashion trend na pinatanyag ng mga modelong sina Kaylyn Allag, Vannessa Magalong at Ara Clarissa Frias.”

“Si Mark Abello naman, nagpasikat na ng bagong istilo ng pagluluto.Tinawag na itong Abello’s Style of Cooking.Inaprubahan naman ito ng DOH food technologist na si Hannah Ruth Tanlangco.”

“Naging panatiko na rin pala ako ng mga laban nina Quintal, Perez at Jaca.Ang kinikilalang “The Three Lebron James” ng PBA.Sana, muli kaming magkita-kita.Miss ko na sila.”

At napansin kong ang dating tigasi’t ‘di umiiyak na Kelvin ay nagbago na ngayon.Kumikislap ang kanyang mga mata.Gumigilid dito ang mga luha.At unti-unting tumulo sa akin ang mga Kristal na patak ng tubig.

Biglang may tumawag sa kanya.Isang pamilyar na boses na parang narinig ko na.

“…Nohj?Tsk.Tsk.Tsk.Kaiba ata ‘to?Hindi ka naman naleleyt sa mga usapan natin dati-rati ah?Kumpleto na ang tropa.Ikaw na lang ang hinihintay…”

“..Jhed..eh kayo nga diyan ang huli eh.Kanina pa ko nandito. Wala pa kayo.”

Oh?Bakit parang mangiyak ngiyak ata ang boses mo?Kumpleto na kaya kami rito sa Sunstrip.Papunta na tayo sa Divine Wind Village na matagal na nating pinapangarap.Nasa’n ka ba?Talaga naman…hanggang ngayon, may memory gap ka pa rin. Bilisan mo.Nang makaalis na tayo.”

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Pinaliwanag ng malaking ngiti ang kanyang mukha.At humangos kami sa lugar na pinag-usapan.Doon, saksi ako na ang kanilang mga pangarap ay natupad na.May mangilan-ngilan pa nga sa kanila ang nagkatuluyan pa.Ang galing.Ipinagmamalaki kong kahit paano’y parte ako ng batch na ito. Kahit isa lang akong libro.

An Essay for Noli de Castro Academic Excellence and Leadership Award

A moment of silence.

Everyone hears his heartbeat pounding… and pounding again.Each person is being covered by his tremendous nervousness.“Who will be the victor?”

At last, the time had come. The announcement of the frontrunner.

”..AND THE WINNER IS… JHESED D.TACADENA!!!!”

WOW!I can still clearly remember that overwhelming feeling- and the event itself.The smiling faces of my classmates, the unending congratulatory remarks of my teachers-which I already memorized for I hear it over and over again, and the great emotion that embodied me during that every moment.

But after each time of winning, whether it’s academic or co-curricular, great pressures always swallow me.When the time comes that I need to compete again… A question always bothers me.

“What if I lost?What will be the reaction of my represented school?”

I often try to seek comfort from my peers, even my teachers… But they always tell me the same thing.

“Naku Jhed…‘Wag ka na ngang magpaka-humble. Ay sus!!Nagkukunyuri ka pa.Alam naman naming mananalo ka nanaman.”

That same thing taught me to trust in my ever-present best friend- GOD.

Thanks to my parents for teaching me to put my faith to him for he deliver us from fear, sorrow and pain-whatever circumstances we face.No matter how insurmountable it may be for us.God can always make a way.Each time I compete, my greatest weapon is prayer- asking God for help.

I accidentally entered our school level science fair because it was a requirement for us to join.I never dreamt to win that, until the division level came.

Rain was pouring hard that time.I still wasn’t able to assemble my Science Investigatory board in Vicente Madrigal NHS, the place of competition. I am living in Angono and the route going to Binangonan was harsh and flooded.

Our FX is very old.In fact, four or five people take time to push it in order to run.

It was already night time, and we were greatly stranded in the midst of the flood.

“Anak..”My father told me.‘Di kaya ng FX natin na tumawid pa sa baha. Lalo na, pinapasok na ng tubig yung makina natin. Kapag tumirik tayo, hindi na natin maii’start pa yung FX. Pero, walang imposible sa Diyos. Tara !Pray lang tayo sandali.Tingnan natin kung paano siya kikilos.”

In the middle of the storm, we prayed.Both of us can see the newer vehicles packed with more high tech machines backing off.Some were stranded and waiting for people to push.

But with faith, we continued.We were travelling while singing praises to the LORD. We were amazed for we felt the empowering to our vehicle and it was one of the few machines that was able to cross the route.

It was about to eight.We were late in putting up the booth.But by God’s mercy, a guard there entertained us, and I was able to submit my entry for the competition.

When I reached the regional level, I found myself hopeless.I saw the other competitors’ skill to answer.By just standing, I could see the vigour that lies in them.Added by their amazing research paper and grandeur presentation, I said to myself:“I can’t win.”

Admitting that I was hopeless, I cried out to God for help.

A verse flashed back from the book of Hebrews in my consciousness.

“The Lord is my helper.I will not be afraid.What can man do to me?”

Empowered by God’s strength, I continued and won in both depED and INTEL categories.

Same experiences like that happened.In running for the Supreme Government president position, in competing in different essay contests, and even in striving to top notched in class.

With those experiences, I concluded that even how weak you look at yourself, though you don’t possess the ability like those in others, even there are handicaps in our lifestyle, we can still win!

For it is not by might nor by power but by God’s Spirit.As Zechariah4:6 stated.It is in the hands of God to decide who will achieve the victory.

Another experience occurred this year 2008 that helped me realized that: our school level Science Fair.

I told myself:

“Siguradong panalo na ko dito.Nakarating nga ako sa National level eh..hahaha.Tinatanong pa ba ang mananalo?”

I never told anyone about that.But that overconfidence destroyed me.I didn’t pray intensely like before.I competed, thinking that I can win with my own strength.

But I was wrong.The world fell at me when the judges announced that I wasn’t the winner.A 3^rd year humble student defeated me: a champion in that forte- in my last and final year.

“WHOAH!!”BAKIT GANUN?MAY DAYAAN BA?” I boastfully told myself.

After a few seconds, tears dropped from my eyes.And I realized how I forget to fight with GOD.

I remembered the lessons: a champion is not a champion if GOD will not allow him to.No great man will be awesome if it is not by the will of the Lord.

Realizing that, I prayed, once again.

“Forgive me Lord.Kung nakalimutan po kita.Bigyan mo pa po ako ng chance.Nakaligtaan ko po na lahat ng bagay ay pagmamay-ari mo.At lahat, ay ibibigay mo…kung kalooban mo.”

Then I remembered a song…which I used to sing before I compete.

The Warrior is a Child

Lately I’ve been winning battles left and right

But even winners can get wounded in the fight

People say that I’m amazing, I’m strong beyond my years

But they don’t see inside of me, I’m hiding all the tears

Chorus

They don’t know that I come running home when I fall down

They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around

I drop my sword and cry for just a while

‘Cause deep inside this armour, the warrior is a child

Unafraid because his armour is the best

But even soldiers need a quit place to rest

People say that I’m amazing, I’ll never face retreat

But they don’t see the enemy that lays me at his feet

Out from nowhere, a chance to compete for the Division Science Fair was given to me.Once again, with faith, I gave my best shot.With God’s help, I won the 1^st place and was about to compete for the Regional INTEL Science Fair this November.

Thanks all to GOD.

We have our own circumstances and challenges.All of these were just normal.But the secret is always the same: to trust GOD.

Even though people around us cheat, or do unremarkable things, we should still do our best to be honest, determined and dedicated to our job.

We should never think that:

“Nandaya naman sila ah?Ibig sabihin, puwede na rin akong mandaya!” or something like…”Kung yung mas matanda nga sa akin nagtapon lang ng basura kung saan-saan iy.Ako, pede din.”

We should think that being honest is always the best.Though sometimes, we lost because of it, and they won because of cheating, yet, we are the winners.And nothing hidden will remain hidden.

There is someone BIGGER who can see us, in our every deed.He will reward us in his due time.

This GOD is BIG!A lot bigger than every circumstances or problems that we face!

So, are you ready to become a student leader that excels in academic aspects?

BE ONE. #