Julius Caesar of Felix

Personality Sketch

Julius Caesar of Felix

He came. He saw. He conquered.

           

            “He came. He saw. He conquered.”

            In front of many expectators and many believers he stands still with dignity and pride in the soil of Earth without uplifting his own proficiency and achievements in life against the other people around him. A young boy with an old dream to see his motherland to be in progress incorporates him to some opportunities that will measure his skills in which it may give him chances to get in touch with more surprising things in the future.

            Charles Dean S. Almodovar is a Third Year student of Francisco P. Felix Memorial National High School which is one of the learners who can be considered as ‘Jacks of all trades, Master of all’. At the same time his small, tiny body with a large heart to help everyone who is in need makes him more special to the eyes of the others in spite of the limelight dominating his own stage of stardom in academic attainment.

            Almodovar’s capability to obtain all the flashing lights of breaks and chances made everyone praise him in something more than he expects to have in his hands. Blessing from God, support from his family, appraisal from his friends and proudness from his mentors make him considered as a new Julius Caesar of his own beloved school.

           

He Came.  

            Almost four years ago, he graduated with flying colors at his primary years of education at San Juan Elementary School in Cainta, Rizal. With his simple achievement in hand, he made it as his foundation to gain more as he entered the new chapter of his life – the High School.

            He came at Francisco P. Felix Memorial National High School as a normal student who wanted to learn and to experience more for his dream to be a lawyer someday. 

            As he entered the gates of JICA Annex, his round face with big eyes and nose makes his appearance more appealing to others as he hopes to stand as an active student of his class since then.

            His teachers were very surprise to see such students like him that was capable to be the next pride of his own school. Every class discussion, each raise of the Moreno’s hand for recitation can craft him to be renowned for the first day of the class. At the same time, his knowledge makes him more comprehensive to score a highest grade for his first year in school.

            It may be quite surprising, that a child that looks like to be a ‘patay na bata’ can be permissibly considered as ‘Bibo Kid’ of the pilot section. However, his being Bibo Kid made him to be treated by the others as persona non grata of the class.

            “Maski gusto ko man sumama at makihalubilo sa kanilang lahat, mahirap kasi iba yung tingin nila sa akin. Bibo kid daw ako, GC [Grade Concious], teacher’s pet. Pero ayos lang sa akin yun.” Charles said in his sad tone of expression.

            Despite of the ratings he received from his classmates or even schoolmates, he still continued to study together with the person he knows to be loyal and trusted in the section he belonged to, persons who can be considered as his friend, companion and comrade.

He Saw.  

            As time passed by to him as student, he persists to attain more achievement he can have in his hands for the development of him as an individual.

            Since then, he recorded to be one of the top three students of the pilot section of each batch he always to be with. Every quarter since first year up to now in third year, he is always been an expected name to be given a medal for the top students of his batch. All the teachers see Charles, as a very industrious and wise student in class in which he is not forgetting the golden rule: TO RESPECT TEACHERS AT ALL TIMES.

            “Ay grabe si Charles, halos pinag-aagawan na siya ng lahat ng teachers para sumali sa contest,” a teacher from FPFMNHS said in expressing his proud feelings to Almodovar.

            Also, Almodovar, 17 years old, was one of the loyal staffers of the ‘Ang Maglalatik’ since first year. Since then, he was always intended to be a participant for Division School Press Conference in which he brought the name of his school for the category of ‘Pagsulat ng Editoryal” that he has been an awarded campus journalist of Rizal.  That’s why, he was also been considered as a ‘Presscon Baby’ and one of the trusted buddies in creating a newspaper.

            In addition, he can be seen to many Quiz Bees and Competitions such as for Araling Panlipunan quiz bee, Mathalino Challenge, Oratorical Speech and other more inside or outside the school premises in which he is always the one who can bring the bacon for his batch or for his school. One of the most special Quiz bees he joined was the Philippine History Quiz Bee where he finally rode in an airplane for the first time going to Ilo-ilo Province to represent the whole Region IV-A CALABARZON, but sadly saying, he did not grab the bacon for his region.

            Meanwhile, his leadership cannot be downgraded because of his much systematized way as an officer of different organizations. His influensive and prominent voice that can move people into action is one of his fundamentals to gain the trust of all the people and teachers to his works which can be said as successful one that can be proved by everyone who is being constituent of him.

He Conquered.  

            Now, he is turning to be fourth year, he is now already conquering the school as one of the pride of Felix especially as he has been part of many competition, organization and affiliation since then.

            This coming school year, Almodovar’s proximity to all the students come more to its extent as he won the Supreme Student Government Presidential Seat by the trust from his co-students in the school. That way, he is already the champion of his own batch.

            Meanwhile, he is one of the representatives of the Philippines to go in Malaysia for such convention and seminar. And it is very prideful for everyone who really knows him so much and for the FPFMNHS Community that a simple boy then is now achieving higher degree of opportunities.

            “Naniniwala ako sa sinabi ni Kuya Alfonz (former SSG President S.Y. 2012-2013) na wala pa dito ang tunay na kompetisyon, nasa college,” Almodovar mentioned his new principle in his life.

            In believing that high school life is just a training ground for more opportunities to come for him, he is proving that his maturity towards things and life’s scenarios are just a preparation for the real challenge he may encounter in the near future, challenges that he may conquer afterwards.

            Yes, ‘he conquered’ is not yet to be considered for him right now because he is not yet graduated from the school, but still, many people is always believing that he can be considered as one of the greatest student of his school, someone that can be reflected as a pride of the new Felix and someone that can be prefer as a hero for everyone who knows him so much.

Renaissance of Young Journalist in the Age of Today

As Shakespeare, Castiglione and Alighieri’s Gold turns Diamond

              He lives and he knows how to kick his own self-concept. He craft a written plenary to defend traditional media. He proves mathematics will not kill writers. He makes love letter to his beloved U.  And, he made articles beyond his own low-class standard.

            Young journalist in this age proves to revive the golden period of the Renaissance era by crafting written legacy to its people even though he is climbing invisibly to the matters of his works – known to be objective.

            But, this is the moment to share a glimpse of the rebirth of the newest William Shakespeare, Baldassare Castiglione and Dante Alighieri’s golden legacy of poems, playwright and novels to turn this to the significant journalistic articles that can move people into action firmly.

His Writing History Starts not like Pinpin

            Almost 15 years ago, people always ask me the most cliché question of all to children aside from name, age and location: Anong gusto mong maging? (What is your ambition in life?). But as a child, I always say “I want to be a teacher, because I want to teach children.”

            Well my dream can be achievable by the profession I got today – to be a journalist – but I guess, that dream will be just to be set aside from now on.

             It is not very common to see to someone like me that I wanted to be a journalist when I was just a simple child with simple dream and simple knowledge about the world. I always wanted to play around, to socialize and to live in an easy way I can which is not considerable factor to the profession I am going to be, but now I’m going into it.

            As time passed by, as a child, I tried to believe in my own capability but each of my stepping stone to writing was slowly crashing in front of me. People downgraded me in my way of how I write in a piece of paper because of my ugly way of handwriting. Even in printed way or in cursive way, people can’t find any understanding pattern of words in my papers.

            When I was in second grade, my teacher always ask us to write a friendly letter to someone, then as I passed my paper, my teacher didn't bother to finish reading it but my seatmate, now a student of Mechanical Engineering, always received appraisal from Ma’am (insert name here). Everyday of my life in writing letters as a seatwork for us, I am slowly disappointed to the comments I am receiving.

            Despite of that, I still pursue my life in the ink of dirty handwriting until the day when my grade four teacher asked me to write legibly in the Writing Notebook for the Writing Subject in which every day we are writing letters from A to Z in an hour with different words which starts from the given letter for that day consecutively.

            I started to learn how to put my own style in my own font style cursively which made my teacher proud of me. In the same year, we are doing some communication essays which make me bolder to write it all proudly because I am rest assured that my articles have been read due to the appreciation of my teachers in what I am writing.

            Long journey comes in my way, when I started to join the school publication of our elementary school, “Ang Parola”. I am one of the students gratified to be the staffer and to put my name inside the news organ circulated in the whole school.

            But sometimes, as I imagine myself receiving awards to the District School Press Conference, it turned worse as imagination created conflict against the reality of life. The conference turned me to be the most loser among all my classmates who joined the said contest because I only got an award which is the lowest, the Tenth Place for Pagsulat ng Balitang Isports.

            Again, despite of the reality of a very pen-breaking moment of my life, I started to dream that I wanted to be the Editor-in-chief of the school I’ll be studying in for my Secondary years.

              That time, when I started to put my feet on the floor of the school, the presence released by the newspaper is go beyond the radar of my ink as it is very hard to be a staffer of the Rizal’s Division Leader school. 

            I went to thrice rejection in the try-out provided by the organization which make me sad, especially when my classmate who didn't even knew how to write creatively before came to be the first staffer against me.

            But still, I continue my dream to be the EIC and I’ve got to be the staffer when I was in Third Year high school.

            It made my heart to beat faster in the profession I’m going to be. In this time, I am now achieving something worth it which can change my dream and my knowledge about the world to be an extra-ordinary vision about my one’s self.

When Achievement Touches my Skin

                This is the time when I focused myself to something worth studying for. The time when I know what should be my priority for my extra-curricular activity and a priority to be involved within the core of myself.

            I remembered, when I was in third year, journalism profession for Philippine campuses taught me one of my very special talents – to draw an editorial cartoon. That year, I am surprised that I can drew something more than I can without any coloring materials to make my work fancy at the same time with only just having few numbers of characters to cap it all.

            I commit to memory the session given to us by Rene Aranda (The Philippine Star Chief Cartoonist ata?) he said “Editorial Cartooning is the hardest category of all, because in Editorial Writing you are using 250 words but in cartoon only three characters to explain the whole topic.”

            It made me inspired to draw better for the Division School Press Conference and proved myself that I can achieve something more than anyone else. That year, I achieved 7^th place despite of the talent of cartooning I had in my hands.

            That year, I am only the Filipino Writer in Junior’s Batch who qualified for the Regional Schools Press Conference in Lucena City. Also, I knew that this is also my passenger’s ticket to be the Editor-in-chief of “Ang Maglalatik” for the next school year.

            As my torch of life started to spark for Fourth Year High School (Senior Year), I achieved the title as the EIC of the aforementioned news organ, and that year I achieved my primary dream since the beginning of my High School life in which I told myself, “It’s a dream come true. LOL!”

            But despite of achieving that, I lose in the DSPC without winning anything for myself as an individual campus journalist. That cause me of a thousand of sadness brought into my life, I thought my moment in journalism and my built stardom is being breaking and wrecking through the loses I've made in that competition.

            That happening made me disappointed that for the last time and the last year as a campus journalist that I’m not qualified to join in the RSPC, but of course as EIC of the school publication, I needed to do my work to show them that I am capable enough to still do a work as my own priority.

            But still, God is very good and put me in the special category offered in RSPC. I joined the team for Collaborative Publishing which the goal is to create a four-page publication.

            I stood as the leader or the EIC of the “Ang CALABARZON” the official publication of our Division for the category given. We trained ourselves conductively and properly without forgetting the leisure time and getting-to-know-each-other moments to bond our ties better as a team for competition.

            In the awarding moment, we were surprised that we won first place and achieve the infamous gold medal that can give us the chances to go in Ormoc City for the 2013 National Schools Press Conference.

            I told myself, “Hindi ko sasayangin ang pagkakataong ito, kailangan naming manalo.”

            As I follow the pattern of trying harder than expected, we got the seventh place around the Philippines and made myself stay in the place for telling myself: Ayos na, nanalo na kami.

            At that moment, I considered it as a once in a lifetime achievement that I can never achieve again as I go up in College degree. Winning in the campus journalism made me realize that somehow as a simple person, I have a potential in journalism profession.

            As I graduated from my high school days, I am glad to be recognized as Journalist of the Year of our school that brought me to the Cloud 9 of inspiration to still write and write and another write. I guess this is quite redundant, but I believe that as a journalist, we need to write more than our aptitude’s expectation.

Journey for the Lifetime

            My family, relatives and friends did not expect that I’ll get a course such as this journalism courses that was known for being a low-salary work for the future. But as time passed by, they are slowly accepting the fact that I got this course because this is my passion in life.

            I don’t even know how my feet turned towards journalism when the time that all I know is I’ll forgot and I will leave this profession of being a journalist in my high school as a memory to be remembered only. But, I guess, even that principle whispered in my soul to get this course like this.

            As I am now in this University which I am celebrating my demands for knowledge about this kind of profession, I am smoothly learning the process but as the same time I am receiving the demands of time and effort in creating reportage especially if the worth is very valuable to fuel my capability in creating such write-ups that will be my foundation for the real world.

            It is very nice to see know that my professor for Communication subjects and for Journalism subjects sustains and keeps us to see the fundamentals of all the knowledge we will receive in the future.

            I can’t forget the time when my professor for Introduction to Journalism told us to have an interview to some college dean, department chairperson or to some faculty members of a specific program offered by PUP. Then as me and my partner in that activity are doing the interview, I felt the real essence and happiness in doing such activity as a journalist who have been given a period to beat a deadline.

            But as time turns by, sometimes we felt that in the road of success and happiness, we are intend to take detours because of the roadblocks that may put us in too much problem to what we are doing especially in times of celebrating another peak of achievement we’ve got in life.

            I can’t forget the Facebook status of my friend saying, “parang lahat ng pinangarap ko nawala. naguguluhan na ako sa course ko, parang di na ako masaya. sumusulat nalang ako kasi required, hindi kasi gusto at mahal ko talaga ang pagsusulat.” This is because of the thousand tons of paperworks we needed to write and to pass without assurance that there is someone who are willing to read it even once.

            That line really strikes my loyalty to the course I’m studying in. Sometimes, things enter in my mind keeping their voices loud to let me hear the prejudice way of forgetting a year as journalist and try to shift to other course which is better track for me than this. Also, it turns me to the way just like my friend is also stating, that my passion for journalism slowly descending in my soul, in a sense that I should be objective enough to do such requirements and do not put feelings and passion to all my writings: JUST WRITE WHAT ARE REALLY NEEDED TO WRITE is the memo pad of all things in the bottom line.

            Somehow, those things made me feel disappointed in my life, that the love for writing does not even the highlight why I am studying in, but because of the goal to finish my study with a higher grade I can achieve.

            But regardless of all the academic requirements, the endpoint of my own way of avoiding redemption for love and passion is my own way of writing. As a person with too much standard in looking to an article as pretty one, these criteria doesn't even fulfilled by my own articles created. In simple term, I am not satisfied to the best as I can.

            Leaving in an environment where all the people have their own style of writing and own journey to walk on makes me curious about the question, “Magaling ba talaga ako?” and the answer I am receiving, “Magaling naman ako, sadyang mas magaling lang sila.”

            As I look forward to that reality, I am not been motivated to write better but I’m only just being envious that’s why I am writing for my own enhancement.

            But as I soul-searched myself, do I really have the guts to write?

            I think being a journalist is not only just a profession, an occupation nor even a passion for something but it is a vocation for the betterment of one’s self and of the others. People with a higher fame of stardom today in literary or journalism profession also tend to have time to revise their works for the better, to crumple their papers for the greater, and to be disappointed to what they are doing.

            In the end, to breakdown in a journey for the lifetime is just a normal experience that anyone could have. Maybe, it is only just a part of the renaissance of a greater young journalist in the future who can make the gold age into diamond one.

Lorenzo: Living and Kicking @ 17 (Self-Concept)

            “I was once weak, I was always afraid, I hidden [hid] my tears, but I kept on going, I kept on believing, I followed my heart, I found my courage, and I realized if I hadn't believed in myself, then I wouldn't have become the person I am today” – Erza Scarlet, Fairy Tail anime.

            Everything in this world goes to some sort of changes, changes that may help people to improve their own life or to let their existence to be just a trivial of its own nature. I have experienced things that made me strong and believed in my own perspectives. Also, incidence wherein I breakdown and just looked upon the sky and told myself ‘why?’

            Many people told me that my boldness is always go beyond my limitation and sometimes destroys boundaries of others emotion, but, they don’t even know my story before.

            Way back those times when the sword of my life is in the flame of blacksmith’s hands,  I am also been a victim of a mediocrity bullying that the only way to survive from having fallen out is to put myself under the limelight and above the stardom. The ambitious way to go there is to achieve things beyond on what they can achieve.

            Now, the former intimidated and frightened child already knows how to fight and to surpass others in a way I can. I already learn how to impair others feelings. I already find out how to defend myself from the deteriorating strikes of the people and environment around me. Because, in this generation, I believe that survival of the fittest is still finest.

     It is not bad to exchange blows in what we believe and what we want to be if pride really matters as long as we know what are the pros and cons of what we are fighting for.

            However, despite of its having revengeful tone to endure, revenge is not my primary way to be the person as whom I am today. It is more of being proud to garner the pleasure that I am holding and lingering to every aspects of my verve. And also, to let myself accept the concept of being part of the society of people who only know how to be strong enough, those who have pride in their selves. Pride and pleasure are also significant to one’s life.

            In any aspects of life, my pride will always stays right inside of me in a way that whatever my decisions in life goes through I know that this part will hold and guide me. It will always be part of my principles that whoever try to downgrade it, I’ll always fight for it.

            It is not bad to exchange blows in what we believe and what we want to be if pride really matters as long as we know what are the pros and cons of what we are fighting for. I will not be a person of who I am today if the pride that I am carrying now isn’t been gained from my childhood experiences – whether it is a success or it is a failure.

            But still, I am a child, a friend, a son and a person who still need and still want to experience the three most important things in life – faith, hope and love – without the essence of my pride, my impermanent pleasure and my own boldness in heart. Experiencing those importance, it will always stay to be the most relevant dream in the world in order to achieve the reality of happiness that a simple person like me wanted to become the person of it for tomorrow.

            Although I know that decision sometimes is the hardest to make, especially when it’s a choice between the paths of pride without happiness or of happiness that will perish pride. I think in my 17 years of living and kicking as Lorenzo, I think I need more years and decades of living and kicking to find the right way of my life’s own concept.

Written Plenary: In Defense to Inoffensive Media

Written Plenary: In Defense to Inoffensive Media

When reading, watching, listening and speaking are not just fundamentals

                I was no more just believing in the basic way of living in the world I was born with. These past few years of pure existence of social media have become more comprehensive and more easy-going way to uplift curiosity among us but still, the traditional media can still level up reading, watching, listening and speaking from its fundamental ranking. 

                When I was young and learn how to move my five senses, the basic commodity of media to juvenile audiences is the happiness brought by television and story-telling of comics strips given by our loving parents. These aforementioned platforms nowadays can only be just a caption to hashtag throwback Thursday. Because currently saying, even two-year-old child can even move not only his five senses but also his clickable mouse at their computer table. 

                I still remember those days when I used to place my ears on the radio and waiting to discuss the erroneous and devastated incidents brought by super typhoon Yolanda, my friend told me, “Unang tumama pala yung mata ng bagyo sa Ormoc City, sabi ditto sa facebook” And in full surprise, the announcer said, “Naglandfall na po ang mata ng bagyong Yolanda sa isla ng Guiuan. . .”

                Then I told myself “Techy. Really?”

REGRETS IN RADIO'S RAVAGE

                As time passes by, radio industry is little by little falling into ravage, wherein, only my grandpa and grandma are the only expected avid audiences of each stuttering and chopping sounds from its flies-eyes-like stereo speakers

                The one-way radio signal bringing only news, commentaries, pieces of love advice and musics makes my ears patient enough to hear those more worth it information than those noise without meaning. Radio's released information is still significant in the living of people in our tropical country.

                Many people says, "Anong kalokohan at nakikinig ka pa sa radyong iyan?" Nowadays people primary shoutouts regarding their choppy analog radio is that this platform is now dropping its antenna to ravage. Think again, Please!

                 Many experts think for some cooler but not so exaggerated way to prevent the lost of their job by putting radio station into a radio with camera station or also known as "Teleradyo" where the broadcasters can be seen their faces on TV or in livestreams. This is their improvement from the past approach of to speak on their microphone wearing just a shorts and a simple kamiseta without powder on faces.

                But sadly saying, radio is no more a part of human habit at all. But still, radio is the primary standard material used in time of calamities. This is why radio, shouldbe regretful if vanisged in the air of popularity. Whether two-way or one-way or even how many ways of radio is being lost in the limelight, the quality of broadcasting media as an institution if all platfoms can be very indeed fall of the inoffensive media.

Creating A New(s) world

                It is also the time, when pareng Broadsheet and mareng Tabloid lost their attractiveness to the world of stereotyping people. Without a doubt, in a minute of schemes and scans on their facebook statuses and twitter updates, news on world can be read as long as your connection is ongoing.

                This matter can make a sort of realization that news is not only just for those who have the capability to pay P20 for a broadsheet and P10 for a tabloid. News all over the globe is not a privilege but a right to be gained easily and simply as is. Without wearing a so-geek eyeglasses and putting your eyeballs to the gray pages of the newspaper, news can be a handy tool to fight uniformativeness.

                But sadly saying, creating this new world is also the existence of a news world but not in a 12’’x 18’’ paper.

                However, in a manner of thinking the credibility among those posted and shared by not so-trusted friends in the new news world we can probably say that the lost of traditional newspaper is still not on today’s trending topic.

                I try to ask myself, how many times did Jackie Chan, Rowan Atkinson and even Spongebob die in the social media? No one knows, because until now, these famous personalities are still alive and kicking on someone’s body who posted the unreasonable rumors. (just Kidding!)

TELEVISION IS A DREAM COME TRUE

          Nine out of 10 Filipino people is one's dream to be seen under the limelight of television show. Whether it is on ambitious stage of some variety shows, unrealistic telefantasya and teleserye, and most especially to the unbiased and unstoppable current affairs shows' personality.

                As an aspiring media personality, our dream is to wear a leather suit and classy necktie facing the camera and start speaking as an anchor in a very famous mainstream news program.

                Sadly saying, only few can be the star of the new generation.

            Television is a very prominent and significant medium in transforming people and society into a productive one. It may be performed through normal news reporting or even presenting a documentary and investigative journalism created by neurons from brains, blood from heart and sweat from hardships.

             This platform is the most popular platform of this generation, where all the people from no age up to full of age is always wanting to put their all senses in a virtual box presenting a 2D to 3D or how may 'D' of people showcasing their talents and face value.

                To be in television industry, requires a very powerful personality that can make defense to the inoffensive media like this. And that thing, make television a dream come true role in life.

               

               

Advertising is not only a Noun

                Advertising nowadays is still the old way meaning of an activity of promoting products and services in manner of print or broadcast, but advertising is not only just a name for activity to but also an action word that should promote an advocacy to make people into action.

                This platform is one of the most powerful medium to showcase a quality and prime-class affection and aspiration to whoever can see the way it is done in just 30-second to a-minute commercial can formulate them realize the reality of it. The strikes and attacks to those who can afford to understand can make their heart pounds and can make their mouth say ‘Aaahhh! So inspiring.’

                Advertising in a right time and in a right place can really move people to action especially if it was done with a content of family-oriented or inspirational pattern, a campaign advocacy and even if it was like a reality contest that whoever wins can have a chance to meet-and-greet and to take a selfie with her favorite stars.

                However, if it was put in a wrong place, in a wrong time and in a wrong number of minutes, this can build something suffocating. Like some commercial movie such as the infamous and most-critique 2013 Metro Manila Film Festival Movies (COME ON. Do the sabong panlaba, gamut sa ubo, toyo at suka are the protagonists of the film?)

                We can definitely say that commercials are more expensive than a television program that’s why people have no rights to tell them what to do, because it was been planned to make it perfect and communicative to other. But that kind of thinking make the essence of advertising such a low-budgetary IQ to be crafted for more intellectual people like M.E. (Man of Experience).

                In the end, advertisement with a cause and it’s capability to relate in public should be the priority allotment to level up the ranking of certain out-of-the-box ideas inside the bounded box.

IN DEFENSE TO NOT SO OFFENSIVE

                This is the time when all of us can give a helping hand to promote and to protect the industry of media from the vanishment of its limelight.

                Media is not only just a profession nor occupation but also a vocation to our society in giving the gist of all the issues needed to be emphasized.

                Media has a great power to make watching, listening, reading and speaking to be not just a simple macro-skills but can make it to be levelled up to let all realize the micro-capabilities of the inoffensive media.