Engaged Individual

There are those that make waves without making an effort. I did my share last year. A single signature changed their outlook on my name and my stances. It was when I affixed my signature on a manifesto and signed it as "ENGAGED INDIVIDUAL"...

Until now, a lot of friends would still greet me with an unusual “hi! Engaged individual!”

WHAT IS THAT? Engagement is often used when we mean to tie the knot. They sarcastically assumed the hilarity of people congratulating me and inviting themselves to my 'wedding'... But, still, many squarely looked at me and asked for the real meaning of the word. I advised them to look into the meaning of engagement and that is how I want to be as an individual. --bereft of structures or even institutions, I still continue to hold on to my beliefs no matter what.

The gun even needs to be engaged before the shooting to the target. At that time, to my recall, my body was truly so shoot up to engagement. But the signature still stands. I still would like to believe that engagement is the key for one not to forget. For vigilance to stay and people to be reminded of…

The Engaged Individual topic would stay for some time. I don't care. As long as they still care to read the manifestos written and signed by engaged groups and individuals.

Engaged Individual

There are those that make waves without making an effort. I did my share last year. A single signature changed their outlook on my name and my stances. It was when I affixed my signature on a manifesto and signed it as "ENGAGED INDIVIDUAL"...

Until now, a lot of friends would still greet me with an unusual “hi! Engaged individual!”

WHAT IS THAT? Engagement is often used when we mean to tie the knot. They sarcastically assumed the hilarity of people congratulating me and inviting themselves to my 'wedding'... But, still, many squarely looked at me and asked for the real meaning of the word. I advised them to look into the meaning of engagement and that is how I want to be as an individual. --bereft of structures or even institutions, I still continue to hold on to my beliefs no matter what.

The gun even needs to be engaged before the shooting to the target. At that time, to my recall, my body was truly so shoot up to engagement. But the signature still stands. I still would like to believe that engagement is the key for one not to forget. For vigilance to stay and people to be reminded of…

2007...

Here’s wishing that 2007 would also be a year of
memories and lessons for all of us…

2006 was extraordinary. It was my 6th year of stay in Bohol. Five years of which I spent teaching at a local university and my first year of service at the city government.

2006 saw me as an ‘alternative’ lawyer. ‘Alternative’ in the sense that I can’t appear in court as a trial lawyer. I did try to counsel some people in their legal problems. It was a tug-of-war between theory and practice. I saw myself more as a coach so eager to see the end result of the problem. (Yeah, I still have the enthusiasm for the profession.. Ha! ha!)

2006 was a time for creating spaces and offering venues. The organized high school reunion for my batch proved to be a success. A concrete support system and open communication link was rekindled. My batch seemingly can’t just get enough of it. We hold regular dinners or nights-out together.

The year saw grief and shock as we witnessed the arbitrary killings of human rights activists. Some of them were my friends and people whom I greatly respect. They were icons of involvement and commitment for the people. I wasn’t able to do so much at a larger scale… I felt inutile but it is a personal commitment to do something as a tribute to those who sowed the seeds of hope and involvement.

I wasn’t able to really fortify the civil rights network of Bohol. People still have an aberration towards organized groups. We did have so many attempts. The Charter Change issue allowed me to work with many groups and people. Still, it did not really materialize as expected.

Towards the end of the year, I did much traveling. I was in Kolkata, India, Hongkong, Bangkok and Singapore. Locally, I also revisited Mindanao after four years. It was an opportunity to see old friends and renew ties. I felt blessed to witness life changing moments among some of my friends (Tak’s and Faith’s wedding for one). It was very inspiring and rewarding.

It gave me the courage to finally ask permission from my boss for a resignation. The concrete plan for my leaving is not yet definite but anytime soon, I will be a statistic as a jobless person.

I managed to develop a support network of friends. The space here would not be enough to mention all of you but I really treasure you for bearing with me in all my rant and rave moments.

All these and a lot more, I look forward for a more meaningful and challenging 2007.

Over a nasty hang over…

(7th January 2007)

I woke up knowing that early part of my sleeping (or how it came to be) can’t be put into logical patterns. There was a lapse… I was drunk. I woke up with the young people looking at me with concern. I winked to confirm my being undead… I stood only to rush to the nearest coconut tree. I dumped all the solids that I munched on the night before. I rushed to the toilet to dump more of the liquids taken. I was truly wasted.

The first words uttered was “history is made… it is my second time to puke after a drinking spree”. The worst is yet to be. The dismantling of my innards just started. The microbes in my tummy revolted. They shouted freedom and rushed outside. Even a good cold mineral water was refused entry by the newly recruited vigilantes.

I slept and never allowed myself to move for fear of another rising foment, of having more revolutions rushing out. I continued that way until I went home. There was Beng, a youth leader who was really at my side taking care of me.

At home, I sought refuge to my room only to visit the comfort room. I slept until my state of euphoric inebriation went down. My first solid food was taken in at 5:30 PM. It was also the time that I asked for a good massage and a soothing vaporizer. It was another time to sleep.

I was woken up by a rainy Monday. I decided to take a morning off. I had an extended sickness. It was a chance for me to mull things over. A review. Why do people get drunk? It is when they get overconfident. I drank too much. I did not eat a decent meal before that (a good sandwich was what I took the day before --- hmmm would that count?). Yes, I overdid it.