eleycharem

[eleycharem]

A decade of ‘Young Blood’ goes digital

By: Nikka G. Valenzuela

In 2013, physician Korina Ada Tanyu’s harrowing tale of a sickly boy from a low-‍income family appeared on the Young Blood column of the Inquirer. “Filipino Horror Story” was terrifying and gut-wrenching, not just because of how the story goes, but because of how real and recurrent it was.

“I was on pediatric ICU (intensive care unit) duty at [the Philippine General Hospital] when I wrote that piece. I was very tired and overwhelmed. That time, we had to shell out our money for patients’ medicines and laboratories. Sometimes, we even had to shell out money for their diapers. Then I realized that a lot of Filipinos are not aware of what goes on inside public hospitals,” she told Super in an email interview.

So she decided to write the story, submit it to the Inquirer’s youth column, along with her wish that other families be spared from what happened to the boy and his parents. “When I wrote the essay, that story was pretty common. Money was (and still is) a factor in why a lot of patients refused to have their checkup. It also doesn’t help that there are very few well-equipped public hospitals in the country,” Tanyu added. It has been more than eight years since Tanyu’s essay was published, and significant strides have now been made in the health-care system, according to the doctor. Hospital facilities have been upgraded and doctors no longer have to pay out of their own pockets to cover the lab tests of their patients, though there’s still a long way to go.

But even after nearly a decade, Tanyu’s essay continues to strike a chord, much like the confessions, thoughts, hopes and dreams printed on the Inquirer’s Young Blood column. These thought-provoking, inspiring and intriguing pieces are available in “Young Blood Omnibus Volume Two,” a digital compilation of “Young Blood” books 4, 5 and 6. The e-book, which will be released a little over a year after the first volume, will be available starting Nov. 10 on Lazada, shop.inquirer.com.ph, Amazon, Google Play Books and Apple for P795 or $15.99.

“So much has changed, and certainly even more has changed in the ten years covered by the three books in this collection. This is a great collection of authors: award-winning writers, directors, politicians, activists, lawyers, doctors and so much more. Now, one can find these three books in one place at a good price, in digital form, so you could read it anytime, anywhere on any device,” said Ruel S. De Vera, Inquirer Books editor.

The three anthologies are the most popular “Young Blood” books to date, De Vera added. The fourth collection is on its second printing, while the fifth one has sold out. Stocks of the sixth book is running low. “The e-book seemed like the best, most accessible way of keeping books available somehow,” he said. The digital book will be launched live on Wednesday, on Inquirer.net’s Facebook page. Former Opinion editor and Young Blood gatekeeper Rosario “Chato” Garcellano will be a speaker at the event while former Young Blood books editor JV Rufino will talk about the 27-year history of the hit column.

De Vera, who is also Young Blood Brand editor, and Super editor Pam Pastor will host the event. Contributors whose names have appeared in the three Young Blood books will also read their essays. Jessica Marie “Aika” Robredo will read her piece about her late father, Ramon Magsaysay awardee Jesse Robredo, which she wrote at age 15. Mikee Baylosis, meanwhile, will read “The Underdog Club,” a piece that is sure to resonate with fresh (and not-so-fresh) graduates looking to make their mark on the world. The 29-year-old professor started in Young Blood before writing for the IamGenM column of the Inquirer. Lady Hanifah Mindalano-Alonto will also be reading her essay, “What does my hijab means,” wherein she describes a world of difference by whether or not she chooses to put on a head covering in public. Her essay is included in “Young Blood 6.”

Aika Robredo

Mike Baylosis

Lady Mindalano-Alonto

The three essays just prove that “Young Blood” has a wealth of stories from the under 30 writers. All told, the e-book collects stories from 2005 to 2015, a full decade. “There are situations galore, sufficient reminders to the Reader that the young writers are no strangers to the peaks and valleys of human condition,” wrote Garcellano in the introduction of “Young Blood 4.” Familiar names also crop up in the e-book, like sought-after director Antoinette Jadaone, former Kabataan partylist Rep. Mong Palatino and award-winning journalists and writers.

There are love letters, like Hyacinth Tagupa’s very relatable “Taga-Public,” written as a tribute to her classmates and the many graduates of public schools. Tagupa went on to become a columnist under IamGenM, but according to her, “Young Blood is a touchstone for budding essayists in the Philippines.” The youth column, which appears every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, receives as many as 300 contributions per week. Only a few make it to the left side of the Opinion page, and only a couple dozens on the anthologies. For some writers, it has become a sort of rite of passage to have their essays appear on Young Blood. But for other writers and readers like Fae Cheska Marie Esperas, Young Blood was a “platform” that she “trusted (with her) personal insights.” In 2015, she wrote “Begin Again,” about restarting life after the devastation of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan). “It was only at that time when the genuine feeling of ‘hope’ kicked in, that we Warays can start getting back on our own feet, sustainability wise. True, the year prior to writing the essay, we received help from all over the world, but what would happen next after they leave? It was only at that time I wrote the essay when Tacloban and Leyte were beginning to return to normal. The wounds were still there, aching, but we were on our way to recovery,” Esperas told Super. She had wanted to share her story, to send a message of hope for those need it.

“I guess I want the readers realize that despair is not eternal. There’s always hope lurking in the darkest corners of the room, just waiting for the right time to come out. Hope alone may not solve things, but it’s more than enough to jumpstart your journey to recovery. So yeah, keep the hope alive,” she said. •With the repackaged version of “Young Blood” that would bring with it more readers, Tanyu hopes that first-time readers will pick up a few important things from her essay: from addressing preventable and curable diseases through early intervention, to the state of health care in the country. •“I also want them to see that as long as poverty exists, people will not prioritize health. I want them to realize that both patients and the government contribute to health care–for patients to take responsibility for their health and for the government to actually use the budget for health care,” Tanyu said. Tagupa, meanwhile, hopes that her contributions to Young Blood “become relics as the years pass.” “I wrote about public schooling and then about women’s struggles, and I would really like for future readers’ context to be different from mine when I was writing those. Maybe they’ve gotten a much better public school experience than I had. Maybe women have gotten more safety and security. When that future arrives (and maybe it already has, partly), my essays would feel outdated and readers might say, ‘We no longer experience these hardships.’ But that’s the goal!” Tagupa added.

Join the launch of the “Young Blood Omnibus Volume Two” live on the Inquirer.net Facebook page on Nov. 10 at 5 p.m.

https://inquirersuper.com.ph/books/a-decade-of-young-blood-goes-digital/

[eleycharem]

Eid’l Al Fitr 2017 with DFA

Obviously my first time to attend a DFA-sponsored gathering. I tell you, talking to the Diplomats and learning who’s who in the government is no walk in the park. But I had a wonderful time meeting such amazing personalities. Thank you for having me.

Here’s the link in case you wanna read more about the event:

https://dfa.gov.ph/newsroom/dfa-releasesupdate/13329-secretary-alan-peter-s-cayetano-hosts-eid-al-fitr-for-the-diplomatic-corps1

[eleycharem]

Memories of Marawi, before the siege

By Lady Hanifah R. Mindalano

Updated 13:36 PM PHT Tue, May 30, 2017

Manila (CNN Philippines Life) — It is May 27, 2017, day five of the Marawi siege. I have not had any decent sleep, let alone enjoyed the first day of Ramadhan. I left Marawi City two years ago. As I struggle to find in myself the festive spirit that drives me to sheer merriment during this holy month, I cannot help but hold back incessant sobs as I scroll down photos of what is left of my hometown.

How did it come to this?

I grew up in Marawi City and spent a good 25 years of my life in a community so divergent from the rest the country. Living in Marawi is practically like living in an entirely different state. Almost everyone wears a hijab paired with conservative clothing. The sale of pork or anything with considered haram is forbidden while drinking alcohol, gambling, and other similar activities are banned.

Being a minority in a predominantly Christian nation, I am pleased to say that we have resisted external influences that would have strayed us from our distinct attributes as the only Islamic city in the Philippines. We continue to be peace-loving people who follow the teachings of our religion. We embrace diversity and we respect other faiths.

Media features that could refute my portrayal of Marawi are rife, but what counts is the testimonial of those who actually visited and mingled with the locals — some who even decided to settle there — and experienced our culture.

I imagine them recounting stories of how they found abe, ome, and pagare (Maranao father, mother, and siblings) in Marawi City. I understand what they mean when they talk about how they have grown accustomed to hearing gunfire in celebration of Muslim holidays like Ramadhan and Eid’s, how they have acquired a palate for native delicacies like browa, dudol, and the famous palapa. I know the paths they follow when they talk of how they would visit the crowded market areas like padian and haggle with babu and bapa to get hijabs and sahals (traditional Muslim clothing) at a bargain, and how they would try street food at night in Banggolo after the taraweeh prayers.

It’s true that we have a notorious reputation for being warmongers. I reckon some attribute this to the infamous Maranao ridos (clan conflicts) and the sporadic local skirmishes. But, on a typical day in Marawi, incidents like robbery or kidnapping would already alarm the entire community and consequently put our elected and traditional leaders on alert. The response will be prompt and negotiations carried out to resolve the crisis at the soonest possible opportunity.

And while there have been threats of terrorist infiltration before, never has any occurrence of pervasive armed struggle reached the city — that was until last Tuesday.

On a regular day in Marawi during Ramadhan, my family and I would wake up at 3:00 a.m. to prepare for suhoor, our first meal of the day. Mamang will be in the kitchen heating pre-cooked meals from last night, while my siblings and I commit to our individual household chores. Juhay sets the table, Adin toasts Marawi-made peanut butter sandwiches, and I turn on the radio to listen to stories about the Prophets, discussions on some hadiths, or verses from the Qur’an. Papang would be sipping coffee, and reminding us how Ramadhan is always best spent with loved ones, in our hometown. I have siblings in Qatar and in Lanao del Norte, they have their own families now so my father becomes a bit emotional during these times.

I remember how a few minutes before imsak (the time eating and drinking stops), I would rush to the nearest glass of water and down it in a second. Thereafter, we would hear the call for subuh, the first of our five daily prayers. How I miss the sound of adhan. After performing our salahs, we either go catch more sleep or get on with the list of errands for the day. The fasting thus begins.

It’s difficult especially when the weather is hot. But the prayers in between (around noon for duhur, 3:00 p.m. for as’r, and 5:30 p.m. for maghrib), along with non-Muslim sympathizers who make efforts to eat away from our view, and the fact that we observe it with Muslim brothers and sisters, make it easier for us to withstand thirst and hunger.

It also helps how incredulous my non-Muslim friends are with our sacrifice. They amuse me with their questions like “Bawal tubig? Kahit laway?” I happily explain to them the rationale behind it. I figure it is also a good occasion to correct some misconceptions about the holy month, our culture, and Islam.

It has been two years since I left Marawi City, but all of these remain fresh in my memories. I wonder when I will be able to come home to the same Marawi City again.

I wonder when I can go back to my beloved alma maters: the Dansalan College Foundation which has been burned down to ashes this past week, and the Mindanao State University (MSU) where harmonious co-existence reigned and which continues to be a safe haven for a handful of Marawi residents to this day — even if I have received news that a former professor and colleague in MSU was held hostage and countless students had to flee out of the campus on foot.

As much as I hope this catastrophe does not change their perspective of our dear hometown, I have this nagging feeling that things will never be the same again. Hearts have been scarred, the trust that was once there almost entirely gone, and minds mercilessly tortured with images of terror. How do we recuperate?

I don’t know, honestly — even as there are uplifting posts from social media urging us to stay strong and rebuild when the battle is over, and Muslim communities around the globe greet us with warm wishes of Ramadhan. Somehow these take my mind off the hurt and pain of the devastation Marawi continues to endure. This, too, shall pass.

To quote Paula Hawkins from one of her works: “The holes in your life are permanent. You have to grow around them, like tree roots around concrete; you mold yourself through the gaps.”

Some of us may never be able to get over this great loss, but I pray these times will shape us to become stronger, kinder, and more forgiving as peace-loving Muslims.

Ahlan Wa Sahlan, Ya Sahro Ramadhan!

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Here’s the link to the CNN Philippines featured story:

http://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2017/05/29/marawi-as-hometown.html

[eleycharem]

Book launching of #YB6

This is me greeting the audience at the National Bookstore, QC during the book launching of Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Young Blood 6. *wide grin* I miss talking in front of people by the way (oh, the professor in me!). I was very fortunate to have been chosen to read an excerpt from my piece “What My Hijab Means” (featured in the #YB6 compilation).  Time flies! I remember writing it during the Mamasapano tragedy. Who would’ve thought two years later, my very own hometown would be the subject of the same terrors? The month-long siege in Marawi has made us all restless. I honestly can’t put into words how these are all making me feel. I pray it all ends soon: the suffering, the corruption, the war...

[eleycharem]

Featured in Young Blood 6

Delighted to have made it to the Young Blood Six Philippine Daily Inquirer compilation. Read on to find out how you may be able to make it to the next volume and book launch! :)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/891675/young-blood-six-launched

Here are some snippets of the news and feature (by Cake Evangelista):

For “YB6,” De Vera, Garcellano, Inquirer Mobile and Social Media director JV Rufino, and Super editor Pam Pastor painstakingly read, discussed, argued over and, finally, chose all 75 essays that were included in the sixth collection from 341 published submissions.

If you think getting published in Young Blood is no easy feat, just imagine the culling—a la “The Hunger Games” or “Battle Royale” according to De Vera—that had to be done to select the best of the best for the anthology. “Consider yourselves very much the cream of the crop,” De Vera said to the 41 Young Blood writers present or represented at the launch. “I’m sure when you read these essays you’ll realize that these all deserve to be there.”

Read more: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/261159/voices-young-blood-six-phenomenon/#ixzz4lp4sFjBy  Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook 

Grab your copies now!

National Bookstore recommended! :)

[eleycharem]

First video commercial I appeared in! This was posted in the University of Newcastle web page sometime last year. Oh, how I miss my Uni! First time I applied for a job in Australia and I landed in one I absolutely enjoy. Heaps of fun, friendly Aussie collegues, plus interesting international students I meet every time I go to work! :)

[eleycharem]

Hi ate, w/n the clan (Mindalano), who among your distant relatives you also aspire. Btw. I aspire your achievements, I am curious... eee🎼 please answer

I would like to be a great leader just like my great grandfather, Governor of the undivided Lanao, and a national hero, Datu Amer Manalao Mindalano.Thank you for your kind words.

[eleycharem]

Animo La Salle!

Sharing the transcript of my speech during our graduation in De La Salle University. Alhamdulillah ya’rabb for the experience.

To the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency Amanda Gorely; University of Newcastle Pro Vice-Chancellor for International and Advancement Mrs. Winnie Eley; DLSU President Br. Raymundo Suplido; College of Business Dean Dr. Brian Gozun; Faculty of Business and Law Assistant Dean Dr. Tony Drew; DLSU Commerical Law Department Chair Atty. Antonio Ligon; CHED Chairperson Hon. Patricia Licuanan; DLSU Alumni Association Dr. Derrick Yu; administrators, university fellows, faculty and graduates, friends and family, good afternoon.

I am extremely honoured to be speaking in front of you in this very important occasion. While to many graduates, this culminates a chapter of their lives, to our batch, this is a continuation of what we have begun from DLSU to UON, Australia. We’re just taking a breather from the fun and challenges that we have faced and survived in our Australia Awards journey. This is our much-deserved reward and today, we celebrate it.

Now when I was asked to give a speech in this ceremony, I said YES without hesitation. I knew I had a lot of stories to share. But I was warned I only had ten minutes to speak, ten minutes to fit more than a year of wonderful adventure. I panicked for a second, how could I possibly pull this off? Then I remembered our training at the Uni: we read 10-15 academic journals, each with 20-50 pages at least. That’s around 20 thousand words, all for one essay where we had to argue our points using only 300 words. In my mind, I heard my friends in Australia say “You’d be alright, mate!” I reckon they’re right.

So I took a step back and walked down memory lane. Out of the many reasons I had for applying in this program, three motivations stood out: 1.) my frustrations 2.) my lack of experience and 3.) I was heartbroken.

I was frustrated with the incessant power interruptions in my city accompanied by lack of water supply. I was frustrated we have no internet connection. I had to travel two to three hours to Iligan or Cagayan de Oro just to send an email with attachment or upload documents for my application. I was frustrated that even when the law allowed me to introduce changes in my office, I can still be hamstrung by people’s resistance to cultural change.

This brings me to my second motivation: lack of experience. I wanted to spur change in our organization but I did not have the technical know-how, much less the exposure to bring it into being. Hence, I decided to dive into my own obliviousness and braved a program I had no solid background in.

Number 3, I was heartbroken. Heartbroken because we had too many talents in my community who could be making massive waves and remarkable contributions to our country but they were stuck in thankless jobs, watching days pass them by. They didn’t have much choice, they couldn’t leave their families and there were not a lot of opportunities in my hometown. It was heartbreaking because I couldn’t do anything about it. And when I told my family I wanted to find employment somewhere else because there was nothing for me there, they suggested I settle down because I was already beyond the age of raising a family. Apparently to them, marriage was the answer to my problem.

Fast forward, I applied for the scholarship, interviewed, got in, Alhamulillah (thank God). I attended Monday to Friday classes in DLSU and underwent legal exercises on conflict management, honed our skills in research, classroom presentations, studied industrial relations. It was overwhelming at first but we had speedy wifi connection everywhere, access to the library and approachable professors. Back that up with support from our respective mentors and our generous and patient family in PAHRODF who readily responded to our concerns, we were very encouraged to push through our endeavors.

Two months later, we were in Australia. There I caught sight of the Sydney Opera House for the very first time. I knew that DFAT and the immigration officers will have to forcibly drag me out of Australia because I instantly fell in love with the country. We were immediately given a tour of the Uni, libraries open 24hours, high end facilities, infinite access to international academic journals, books and other sources, amazing study spaces, friendly and helpful librarians and professors who are available for consultations via phone call, text message, Skype or by appointment in their office. It was impressive how all these were provided to us by the program.

But it wasn’t all study and work of course. There were heaps of fun involved and since we only had a year to spend there, we made sure every second counted. We travelled a lot. We visited and took tons of selfies in the breathtaking beaches of Australia, the stunning mountains, spectacular views, listened about their history, reveled in their beautiful arts and memorial museums, picnicked and jogged in their picturesque parks and botanical gardens, marveled at the bluest of skies, made friends with the warm outgoing Aussies and relished the multi-cultural ambiance that it offered. Not to mention, their four seasons.  Winter was my favorite. The first time I experienced fresh snow fall was in Hobart, Tasmania. In case you’re wondering, yes, the first thng I did was make snow angel. I had snowball fight with friends, some weren’t playing nicely. We made a snowman, it was nothing like Olaf. Our hands were frozen beneath our gloves but we let our happiness rage on. We let it go. The cold never bothered us anyway. We were pleased with the traffic-free public transport, the amiable bus drivers, wide open roads, systemic rubbish disposal, I could go on and on with this list but I reckon, the most important takeaway from the experience is how the scholarship addressed my frustrations, my lack of experience, and my broken heart. The main reasons that propelled me to embark upon this venture.

From my Australia Awards journey, I learned that I needed to experience those frustrations to kick me out of my comfort zone and actually think about what I could do to remedy the situation. I needed to think outside the box and this program gave me the environment to do just that. My lack of knowledge in HRM was not going to be an excuse to exempt myself from becoming a part of the solution. Had I insisted on this as my limitation, I probably would have pulled back early on and still not know what I can be capable of doing as a willing partner for development. If it wasn’t for this scholarship, I would not have met passionate change makers and brilliant HR managers, my classmates. Some practically wrote the book on Organizational Behaviour, others know Training and Development like the back of their hands, while the rest are seasoned HR practitioners and consultants. I have been blessed to be in the midst of such incredible group of leaders and critical thinkers.

In this program I also realized I needed to allow my heart to break because nation building isn’t for the faint-hearted. There will be many times that despite hard work, you will not achieve the results you hoped for and that’s alright. Change takes time. I’m anticipating there will be roadblocks in the implementation of our REAP. The ultimate challenge is to stay on track and never lose sight of our goal.

When I left Australia, it shattered my heart into pieces. I cried buckets at the airport. I cried some more when I arrived home with a candle-lit dinner waiting for me. I was welcomed with eight days of black out. I had to climb on top of our roof to get signal and connect with friends both overseas and in the Philippines. I was back in the dark ages. I could easily sneak under a rock and forget the rest of the world but I’ve already been through several heartbreaks in Australia, I think I’d be alright. I just need to keep going. And that’s exactly my message to every one of my batch mates. For us to keep going. It’s easier said than done but there’s no other way to remedy our frustrations than to do something about it ourselves. We have been so fortunate to be supported by our government and Australia in our endeavor to pursue further studies. It’s time we pay it forward. Let our DLSU-UON education serve as pathway to attaining excellence in public service and upgrading ourselves to become more useful components of our society.

And so in behalf of my batch mates, I would like express my sincerest gradtitude to the Australia Awards Scholarship, De La Salle University, PAHRODF, University of Newcastle, our mentors…and all those involved in making this once in a lifetime opportunity a reality. We hope to meet, if not surpass your expectations, in our commitment to become active partners for change and development. To my batch mates, my friends, my family, thank you so much for everything.

My heartfelt congratulations! We finally made it! Now let’s get things going!

http://www.australiaawardsphilippines.org/media/latest-news/lady-hanifah-mindalanos-dlsu-graduation-speech

[eleycharem]

100 things on my list

I recently attended a talk about 100 things you ought to do before you die. It’s kind of a bucket list but not really. It’s more about doing things that can inspire people to get out of their comfort zones and experience a life they never thought existed. It’s about going beyond your limitations and allowing yourself to be free of excuses. It inspired me to create my own 100 list which I think I started a few years back but ended up gathering dust instead. I realized the reason I never finished it was because most of the items I enumerated were goals I expected to accomplish at a certain age like a flourishing career, owning a car, properties, the whole lot. Sebastian Terry, the event speaker, said it shouldn’t necessarily be just about life objectives. It could be anything that can make you smile or force you to unleash your fun and wild persona. It doesn’t have to carry a deeper meaning to what you want your life to be about. It can be something really random or an idea that’s never crossed your mind but would be happy to pull off like crash a party or kiss a stranger because #whynot??

 Now mine’s not that exciting but I hope this helps you get started with your own #100things quest. Seb said this should be a very good avenue to help people tick off items from one another’s list. Can you help me with mine? Let me know if I can help with yours. There’s a strange invitation I never expected to throw out there. Have fun reading! Feel free to share yours or ask me about mine. Release those shackles. Be creative! Good luck!

 List not in order:

 1.     Raise fund for charity

2.     Publish a book

3.     Do the illustrations of a children’s story book

4.     Appear on a TV commercial

5.     Appear on a print ad

6.     Sky dive

7.     Camp out in Uluru

8.     Go on a romantic first date

9.     Experience snow in Hobart, Tasmania

10. Host a travel show

11. Be a TV News Anchor

12. Go on a spontaneous trip with someone

13. Study Masters abroad

14. Create and publish own cartoon

15. Climb a mountain

16. Publish article in a national newspaper

17. Go on a European tour

18. Be a Division Chief in my 20’s

19. Visit Maldives

20. Pass the Bar exams

21. Practice legal profession

22. Work experience abroad

23. Have my own art exhibit

24. Paint someone nude

25. Attend a week or month-long painting class

26. Attend a yoga class

27. See Taj Mahal

28. Work at the United Nations

29. Do something crazy

30. Hang out with friends my parents warned me about

31. Attend a Hindu wedding wearing Sari

32. Walk barefoot (except at the beach)

33. Be a brand ambassador

34. Selfie with a Kangaroo

35. Be part of a film project (documentary)

36. Act in a Stage Play

37. Soak in hot springs

38. Sing an original song

39. Learn massage therapy

40. Go skiing

41. Go sand boarding

42. Ride a camel

43. Scuba diving

44. Run a marathon

45. Give Free Hugs for a day

46. Do 5 volunteer works

47. Watch a Zombie parade

48. Photography lessons

49. Date in Paris

50. Vacay in Greece

51. Skinny-dip (IKR. OMG.)

52. Write about the history of Moros

53. Go on a Safari

54. Take a photo in the middle of the road

55. Go to Hobbiton, NZ

56. Tea with Prince Williams

57. Interview President Rody Duterte

58. Road trip with friends

59. Say YES to everything for one day

60. Sit on the passenger seat of a crazy speed driver

61. Visit London

62. Stay in an island for one week

63. Read 40 novels in one month

64. Travel in a foreign country alone

65. Watch 50 movies in one month

66. Take 11 selfies with my boyfriend

67. Enroll in culinary arts

68. Picnic under the stars

69. Open my own travel agency

70. Be in a Hollywood movie

71. Be in a Filipino movie

72. Go on a cruise trip

73. Hold a snake

74. Learn French

75. Pass a very difficult national exam (besides the Bar)

76. Take my entire family on a vacation abroad

77. Present a paper in an international exchange

78. Get a PhD overseas

79. Explore caves

80. Ride a bullet train in Japan

81. Fly in a hot air balloon

82. Learn to read and write in Arabic

83. See the Northern Lights

84. See the Grand Canyon

85. Stroll in Korea wearing Hanbok

86. Have beautiful baby/ies

87. White water rafting

88. New year’s eve in Times Square

89. Zipline

90. Watch a show in Sydney Opera House

91. Stonehenge

92. Kiss Jon Snow

93. Sleep in a castle

94. See an iceberg

95. Fly first class

96. Go to a concert

97. Paragliding in Brazil

98. Watch Rugby

99. – 100. (Keeping these two to myself *winks*)

[eleycharem]

Write again.

We’re friends. Just friends. Maybe we want more or maybe it’s just me. It’s hard to tell really. Our friendship is a bit of everything complicated. But I do know he enjoys my company, he wants me to be there. He would always ask if I’m bored or whether I still enjoy the conversation. He’s very considerate like that. 

I don’t really know how I ended up in his part of the world. Where I come from is totally different from his. We’re just discovering that now. We were quite amused the first time but now it’s becoming irrelevant. It could be a sign of our tolerance for each other or fondness, whatever. But one thing’s for sure, if this keeps up, one of us is going to get hurt.

[eleycharem]

Five months and changing fast…

I honestly do not know what to write about. I’ve promised myself to journal every single interesting moment in my stay here but the very thought of it wears me out, I end up snapping pictures instead. Most of them do not end up on my social media accounts but every time I sneak a peek of those I’ve captured so far, I regret not writing details about them. I kinda look and feel different from who I was five months ago. I wish I was able to document the transition. Haha 

See, I used to be very careful about my decisions. I took risks but only calculated ones. I was so fragile, I easily get hurt. I used to overthink things. I get affected by people around me, how they treat me, their opinion of me…these are all things of the past now. I still care, I still bruise (physically and emotionally, haha) but I realize, I’ve only got a few more months here in Australia. If I wait for a good weather, I will run out of time to be the person I could never be back in my home country. Don’t get any ideas though, I’m not rebelling against our religion, culture or anything that extreme (although my friends tease me a lot about it). I’m just going to enjoy life…with new and old friends. Whoever is up for good fun, spontaneous travels, amazing adventures… I am with you! :)

No drama (famous last words? Not quite...).

I am ready for new experiences, learning new skills (in the kitchen perhaps or a sport, who knows?), explore the unknown (optimistic that God will guide me during these times, lol), and meet so many people! I’m an introvert so the latter is quite a challenge but I’m getting there. As I’ve already mentioned in my posts, this year, I’m all about taking chances and carpe diem. No one is going to rain on my parade. 

Bring it on 2016!!!! Let’s get kuh-razy! :)

[eleycharem]

Exploring Land Down Under

I am officially here in Australia! It took a while for this bit of fact to sink in my system but after a week of walking the streets of my new home (Newcastle City, New South Wales), I’ve gotten the hang of things. 

First night was terrible. I had like three layers of clothes underneath a thick jacket plus a bulky comforter over my body but I still felt stark naked in the cold. I wanted to cry but I reminded myself not to be such a baby. I’m now warming up to the big changes. Temp is also improving, Alhamdulillah!

I made friends with all of my classmates back in De La Salle University but I have four solid friends to hang out with whenever (I hope. Haha). One of them (Zen) I’m housemates with here in Maitland Road, Mayfield. We originally wanted to rent a house for the five of us but none of our plans were ever realized. I know, bummer! Ted and Darwin’s living in a community somewhere in Tighes Hill, very nice place with diverse residents. Then there’s Erwin who moved in with Kuya Joel and Kuya Joven in Bluegum Street. I honestly did not see this set-up coming. We were all so certain we’ll be in one house together. Haha

But no worries! We still make time to see one another, get lost in the city, shop, eat, and be merry like the five little good kids that we are. Sharing with you several of our pictures. I hope to update this blog as often as I can, not just for any reader to come check them out but as my online journal of some sort. 

Laters!

Enjoying the sunset at Nobby’s Lighthouse (L-R Darwin, Zen, Lady, Erwin, Ted)

Photo credit: Erwin

Photo credit: Zen

Dawson’s Creek ang peg. Lol

Photo credit: Erwin

Photo credit: Erwin

Photobomber extraordinaire.

Photo credit: Darwin

Photo credit: Zen

Photo credit: Ted

Street style. Newcastle swag. 

Photo credit: Ted

Photo credit: Ted

[eleycharem]

CBP summer’s bitter sweet ending

After weeks of painting, babysitting and a whole lotta couch potatoin’, God finally answered my silent prayer, an opportunity to “officially” end my nine year relationship with teaching. You see, turning in my resignation didn’t really give me the “we’re truly over” vibe. I felt like there were still some personal issues I needed to address. I kept asking myself, “is this really the right time to throw in the towel?” The process almost seemed like breaking up with a long time boyfriend (although I’ve never had a boyfriend FYI, not that you asked). I needed closure. And my CBP summer class gave me just that.

If anything, it cemented my resolve to give myself a break from teaching. I’m not sure what life would be like as an MA student. Law school really exhausted me and sort of sucked the fun out of reading. I hope MA is so much better than what I expect. 

Anyway, i’m getting ahead of myself. this post is supposed to be about my students. Well, here they are. Ta-daaah!

My 7am -9am class. Section 45.

My 1pm-3pm class. Section 68.

My 3pm-5pm class. Section 69.

This summer is special not only because they are the last batch of students I will be teaching, I meet them from Monday to Saturday while fasting at the same time. So you can just imagine how dry my throat gets after talking for 6 solid hours.

P.S. They are fresh high school graduates. *nodding* IKR? Fellow teachers would know the kind of challenges I went through. Alhamdulillah, I survived! Students, let’s give it like five to ten years? Haha Good luck and God bless!

P.P.S. Thank you Haytham (Section 68) for the very thoughtful message. God speed! :)

[eleycharem]

What my “hijab” means

By Lady Hanifah Rodi Mindanao

Published on June 30, 2015 / Young Blood / Opinion, Philippine Daily Inquirer

“TERORISTA” IS a label that has brought many Muslims in the Philippines into disrepute. “Mamasapano” is another colorful moniker given to us by other people who know little to zilch of the tragic incident.

* * *

I decided to start wearing my hijab (head covering) two years ago. Frankly, I was a bit hesitant because the decision to cover meant a lot of responsibility. We are a misunderstood minority in the Philippines; I should represent the Muslim Ummah (nation, or community) in a way that would invite other people to get to know us more, as well as our history and culture.

Before I made my decision I had been able to blend well with the crowd. My scarf stayed more on my shoulders than over my head. I spoke both English and Tagalog without a trace of a Maranao accent. In the eyes of the masses, I was a Filipino just like them. The day I put on my hijab was the day I started standing out in the crowd. It became my identity. Everywhere I went, people would look at me funny. At the airport, the security people would double-check my bags and be thorough with body inspection. That’s okay because they were just doing their job, except that I felt like I was being picked on because they did not give the same attention to other travelers. And don’t get me started on taxis. Cab drivers shun me. The times I’ve lost face to onlookers who watched me get practically shooed out of a taxi (because the driver suddenly remembered an errand to go to, or he was suddenly low on gas or at the end of his shift), I can no longer count. Every day that I would go to non-Muslim-populated areas, I would fear for my life. There was an instance when I could no longer endure the burning stares of the people I passed; I recall that the Charlie Hebdo issue was a big controversy then. I tried to do a little experiment and loosened my hijab. I was able to catch a cab immediately. Inside, I put my hijab back on and noticed the taxi driver watching me in the rearview mirror. He wondered what had happened to me: “Bakit po kayo nakaganyan?” I told him I’m a Muslim. His brows creased as if in confusion, and he said I didn’t look like one: “Hindi ho kayo mukhang Muslim.” I smiled and asked what a Muslim was supposed to look like. The taxi driver said he saw a “beautiful” Muslim only rarely. “Usually,” he said, Muslims were dark, round-faced, tacky dressers (“baduy manamit”) and noisy. He was not apologetic as he continued to nitpick my brothers and sisters in the faith. I said he had not met all Muslims, so we couldn’t all be just as he described. He laughed and kept talking nasty about my people. Then he went to the topic of terrorism. He asked about “murderers,” about being “allowed to kill under Islam,” as well as our God: “Yun pong mga kasama nyong Abu Sayyaf at MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), mga mamamatay-tao, ano? Bakit po sa Islam, pwedeng pumatay? Bakit ganyan ang Allah nyo?” I explained to him that Islam is about peace and Allah (exalted and majestic is He) does not sanction the taking of lives, whether innocent or vile. We refuse to call murderers Muslims. Shouting “Allahuakbar!” before executing a human being does not give the deed Islamic color. One person, two, three, or a group of rebels who push for peace, in my opinion, does not represent the entire Muslim community. The media should not associate their acts with our religion. Their motives are usually political, cultural, social, or geographical in nature. “The fight for peace” is inherently present in their agenda (at this point, I make it mine as well) as a minority seeking the rest of our country’s recognition and acceptance, but the moment the “fight” for “peace” becomes violent, it loses its Islamic tone. I discontinue my support for it… not in my name. More questions ensued and, Alhamdulillah (thank God), I was somehow able to clear up his clouded mind. When I got off the cab, he still thought Muslims’ only means of livelihood is selling DVDs in Quiapo and that not all of us are pretty. That’s fine for now. Baby steps. * * * Evidently, there are some of us in the Philippines who have blundered and warped the world’s opinion of the Muslim community. Kudos to the different media practitioners who have a field day during these occasions, but there is no single religion in existence whose believers never sinned. My point is we all have our own share of bad guys. I wish the media would stop associating the deeds of these wrongdoers with Islam. Often, I can’t help but feel that our country still sees us as a marginalized sector with which it does not want to be identified, or a group that has to be pulverized, according to a political figure who gave us two choices: desist from perpetrating terroristic acts (yes, he just categorically labeled us as terrorists), or be wiped out from the face of the earth should we refuse to yield. I can’t believe my family and I voted for him! It shatters my heart whenever people who live in the comfort of their homes, islands away from where the battle takes place, make snap judgments about us. While some of my brothers and sisters explain in tears our side of the story, innocent lives continue to be snuffed out. It doesn’t matter whether they participated in the skirmish or were just caught in the crossfire. The decisive factor would be whether they are Muslims or not. If a non-Muslim dies, he is a hero. If a Muslim dies, there is no media coverage, little to no sympathy… no need to ask around what his story is. What’s the point? The public has already made its conclusive opinion of us. Apparently, in our country, if you die during a war, pray you die as a non-Muslim. Otherwise, you die labeled as a terrorist. I know I can make things easy for myself by removing my hijab; it sure will fix my transport problems. But my hijab is my identity. It makes me who I am—a Muslim-Filipino. Not everyone accepts us as fellow Filipinos, but much like the talks on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (which many fear as a potential national conflict should its failure become definite), we will keep waiting and hoping that in due course, those who think lesser of us, those who call us ignorant (“musmus at walang alam”), those who see us as regressive, will eventually come around and give us the chance we have all been praying for, In Shaa Allah (God willing). It’s funny how a simple head covering can turn my world 360 degrees. It’s a constant struggle every single day, but the experiences that come with it are lifelong lessons I will carry with me until the day I tell the story of how the Philippines has become open and loving to all Muslims like me. The picture is a frightening blur at the moment but I’m optimistic we will get there, In Shaa Allah. Lady Hanifah R. Mindalano, 29, is a professor of English at Mindanao State University in Marawi City. She holds a diploma in industrial relations management from De La Salle University in Manila.

Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/86264/what-my-hijab-means#ixzz3ekJABv00

[eleycharem]

Young Blood, Inquirer

 June 7, I submitted my article to Opinion, Philippine Daily Inquirer. It was originally titled “More than a Filipino Hijabi.” I immediately forgot about it as I busied myself with job hunting that would last for only a couple of weeks. Don’t get me wrong, staying home doing nothing but watch TV and paint is very relaxing. Just that my bills started piling up and my savings get meager by the moment. Also, my patience (for waiting) was thinning out; I had to do something to distract myself from unease, which surprisingly picked up speed.

June 26, I received an email from the Opinion Assistant Editor, asking me if I could cut down my article to less than 6, 500 characters including spaces. It had to fit the column reserved for Young Blood. Wait, what article? I thought to myself. Then a silly grin spread over my face. Ohmigosh, really? I haven’t had the time to recover from my feature in World Hijab Day facebook page: hearing from people around the globe, getting 6,000+ likes and 300+ shares (it’s kind of a big deal to me, I hope this doesn’t seem shallow). Anyway, I instantly opened my laptop and got right into business, typing, editing, cutting, removing the fat, whatever you want to call it. I needed to get this baby delivered asap. But thanks to Marawi snail-paced internet connection, it took a while to send the edited piece back to Inquirer.

June 29, they replied again and asked what “s.w.t.” means (which I wrote in parenthesis after God’s name). I explained it stands for “Subhanna Wa Ta’ala”  (The most glorified, the most high) although I reckon my first reply was “Exalted and Majestic is He.” They went with the latter but it’s alright since both carry the same meaning.

That same day, at 6:04 PM, the Assistant Editor replied with “Lady, your article will be published tomorrow, June 30, on Page 13 of the Opinion section J)”

*girly scream for about five seconds* 

“Why, what happened?!” my prego sister asked. “My piece is getting published tomorrow!!! Young Blood, Inquirer!” Then she just smiled, “Aw, kala ko naman ano. Congrats.” And then she marched back to where my niece was watching TV. Clearly, she doesn’t share my excitement. Haha But what’s important is many of my fellow Moros liked it. Some comments that inspired me to write again were from a former professor in law, writers I look up to, leaders I’ve collaborated with in the past, and from Ate’s and Kuya’s:

* Hi Lady! I really liked the article that Inquirer published re Hijabi. It was poignant but resolute… It stoked the national consciousness that’s meant to challenge constructively.

* That’s LHRM. Truly inspiring and moving! Kudos!

 * Good read. I hope your article will help enlighten the prejudiced majority. Kudos!

* “It’s funny how a simple head covering could turn my world 360 degrees.  It’s a constant struggle every single day..” – this is so true. Thank you for this article, Lady. In Shaa Allah, it will bring light to those whose minds are filled with darkness.

* An eye-opener! (from a non-Muslim)

 Salamat po sa shares and likes. I did not expect the response to be this heartwarming. :’D 

Of course, there are those who think us Filipino Muslims deserve the stigma (based on the comments I’ve read in Inquirer). Some even went as far as confirming we are terrorists and that we should stop the drama and pa-awa effect. Sabar. :)

Here’s the link to my article. I poured my heart into this. I hope it serves as an eye opener to those who have developed hate against us Muslims. I pray it somehow becomes one of the many instruments in our hope for lasting peace not only in Mindanao, but the entire Philippines.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/86264/what-my-hijab-means

[eleycharem]

World Hijab Day

So I shared my story with World Hijab Day’s Facebook page, right? The account is wildly public. Anyone can check it out anytime and just go crazy with sharing. My intention was really to express how challenging it felt to wear a hijab in a country where Muslims are usually misunderstood. We are a minority in the Philippines and discrimination is quite apparent. I did not put so much thought in the picture to use. The idea of posting a picture totally slipped my mind so I just pulled out one of my profile pictures in my personal account, forgetting why I kept them viewable only to friends in the first place. The internet connection was speedy that time so I took advantage of it and just clicked the send button. 

Two days passed and the thought of checking World Hijab Day did not cross my mind...until somebody tagged my brother, and the latter mentioned me in the comments. I saw my face smack in the middle of it all. Don’t get me wrong, the comments were really good. They appreciated my hijab and my courage to keep it on despite my living in a predominantly Catholic Republic.

I just noticed most of the comments were “beautiful,” “gorgeous,” “stunning,” etc etc etc I’d be lying if i say I wasn’t flattered but it kinda made me uncomfortable. Hijab is not supposed to be attractive to the eyes of the opposite gender (figures why some encouraged me to wear Niqqab in the future...considering it dear sisters and brothers in faith). The photo I chose was...well, I don’t know how to put it. I was all dolled up the day the photo was taken because I attended a friend’s DIALAGA (engagement announcement). The occasion was formal. Still, I showed up in Abaya and black hijab, a very modest pair of clothing. But the make-up made the whole ensemble look pretty I guess. I don't know. I feel like my post defeated its purpose. Wear hijab to look modest not because you will look better in it (albeit to some, that may be the effect). What made me super excited though was some ladies saying they will start wearing hijab from now on. Alhamdulillah! More Muslims and converts in the future, In Shaa Allah.

P.S. Since World Hijab Day Facebook is public, there’s no point in hiding the post I reckon. Here’s the link. May the number of Muslim Hijabis multiply. :)

 https://www.facebook.com/WorldHijabDay/photos/a.420727711336709.97826.338099332932881/876222839120525/?type=1&fref=nf&pnref=story

[eleycharem]

snippets of my college life

I stumbled upon this decade old article of my good friend AJ from his blogspot (The Manic Geek). We were editors in our university student publication The Mindanao Varsitarian. It’s very interesting how he paints a picture of me in his article. I like the spunk and the honesty he pours into his writings, pejorative as they may seem on my end. I know you mean well AJ but don’t expect me to let this go. I’m posting your ramblings here but I’m making it more fun with my comments, yes? Don’t argue.

*************

Three years Ago:

Setting:Friday, MSU-Marawi Division of Student Affairs (DSA) Time Frame: August 2003 as usual, i was so engrossed with my own thoughts as Lady (Lady Hanifah Mindalano) gave her brief for the MV articles to be submitted and for the updates. Not that i am not interested or what, the position i carry in MV (Mindanao Varistarian) is no joke, and i have to be all ears to be able to draft out the method of helping the group. Few minutes later, Sir Lal (Jalaluddin Alonto) entered the room with a bunch of folders neatly clipped in his arms. He told us that the university is on for a search for the ten student leaders who would represent Mindanao State University for the 6th Ayala Young Leaders Congress in Tagaytay sometime in February 2004. i gave him an indifferent look as he was outlining the needed competencies. it was the first time MSU Marawi was invited for AYLC. Lady was so excited she was all ears and grinning after she heard the news (I don’t remember being that excited, AJ). He told Sir LAl she would be willing to take the chance. good for her, i thought then stood up to leave when i overheard them talking about some real good job opportunities with the Ayala Group of Companies. JOB...it hit me. i need a job right after graduation. i and my parents are so poor i need some security in the future for them..and for my own family someday (Look how well you turned out! Professor in an international university, physicists in a Laguna laboratory, Enchanted Kingdom Vice-President for a wife, a house and a car with super adorable daughter. *virtual high five*) . i turned back just as Sir Lal said, "Uy Eyjay, pwede ka rin dito. Eto ang papers o tapos submit mo sa akin sa Monday.Interview nyo na agad sa Wedenesday kasi late na tayo." I took the folder he hand me and went outside to wait for Lady. It is the usual routine that i send her to the jeep station in the campus. as we were talking on the way, she mentioned that salary could be as high as 40k. shucks...40K?! (We never got around to submitting a resume to work in Ayala but we did get high paying jobs. I used to earn 77k at age 27 and you said the same thing about your work. Not too shabby for a couple of dreamers, don’cha think?) that is so cool. i was then drawn to the material aspect of the Ayala Young Leaders.

the following day, i went home to Buug to gather all my certificates for authentication in the DSA. i talked to Roy (Roy Mirafuntes) and he gave some very helpful insights (of which i am sure had helped me get throught the screenig process). i also told mom i am joining the Ayala Young Leaders Congress and they are happy though they dont have any idea whatsoever what it is.

Wednesday and we had our interview.i shivered when i saw Brian (Brian Gaviola) stode towards me. sheesh...the man is a legend in the Philosophy Department and is a very tough debater. i am starting to doubt myself. competition is tough. really. and it gets into my nerves. after one hour waiting, my hour finally came. five panel (of which i knew since they are all our advisers in MV) faced me with stern faces and throw super tough decision-making and corporate questions. Friday, i checked the DSA to find my name on the number three list with Lady on the top then brian. ha? i did it? (Wait, I topped the screening? HeeEey!!! Di ko lagi maalala. This fact never made it to my diary, er, journal.) i mean, i qualified for the national screening? but it made me put a big smile on my face. things would really get interesting for me.

Setting: Cagayan de Oro City Airport Time Frame: Third Week of November 2003 I was with Brian, Randy (Randy Ric Simbajon), Exan (Salic Sharief Jr) in the airport waiting for our flight and for lady. i am betting against lady and the plane. (Gee, thanks!) knowing lady's procrastinations, hehehe i am quite sure the plane would come first.hehehe (I made it to our flight, didn’t I?) then Randy pointed with his stare at some people at our back. said he had once debated with one of the three in the farthest row and he assumes that the three were the representative from IIT. it sent shivers to my spine knowing that the three are candidates for summa cum laude. Finally, lady arrived ten minutes ahead of the plane (emphasis on the “ahead” please). as usual for first timers, we took the seat near the window (I sat in the middle. Atty. Bryan near the window, me, then you. I woke up to a glass of drinks and a couple of snacks. Did you leave that for me? I was asleep the entire flight).

*****************

It seemed just like yesterday. My fellow AYL alumni are now all mature (read: old, hahaha) and with beautiful families of their own. Awww.... I’m so proud of you guys. Thank you so much for taking care of me during the training (and for convincing my mom to allow me to go through the trip). I remember Meteor Garden was such a fad that time. You guys were the F4 and I was San Chai (who’s idea was that again?). Ahhh... good times. 

Thank you for the friendship Jay. Send my hugs to Marla and Karla. Thank you for the EK trip. I hope to visit again one day, this time with my (future) husband and maybe a child of my own...or my niece LJ (no rush, haha)