Monday, November 28, 2005

intentions

currently listening to: Baby I Love Your Way (Rockstar: INXS version) – Mig Ayeza feat. Marty Casey, Jordis Unga

My point is… well, the truth is, no one gives a damn what my point is.

I don’t know if it’s just a phase (when all you feel is being alone in that dark place inside your head) or it’s simply a concrete example of the postmodernist dilemma (of individuals losing their voices in the multitude) but I just sense that nobody understands me. Yeah, yeah, it’s a tad melodramatic I know. But it’s the truth. I have been reflecting for some time now about my last post. And I told a friend that I’m a bit disappointed that only a handful really got the idea behind it. As I told my friend, “most of the people only see the comedy, and none of the sarcasm.” I would like to make it clear that it’s entirely MY FAULT and not of my visitors that they didn’t see the satirical aspect of the script. It’s my fault as the writer (note: “as THE writer” and not “as A writer”) that I wasn’t able to communicate my intentions clearly. It undoubtedly shows my inadequacy in skill to use words to translate thought into actions and pictures, to tell people what I really want to say to them, to make them understand what I have in mind. What is it really about you ask? The idea was to make a commentary about controlled environments and how certain control mechanisms become entertaining and horrifying at the same time. (And sometimes, incredibly ridiculous.) I know what you’re saying… “aaaaahhh… yun ba yun?”. Just like what I’ve said, not a tinge of talent for communication, I don’t have, yes? (Huh?)

I didn’t want to make such a big deal about it really. But the fear of the thesis defense which is fast approaching, just keeps on gnawing at me. What if they don’t understand what I want to say? What if they don’t like it? What if they only see the text and context and none of the subtext? What if I froze in front of the panel? What if? What if? What if? And sir hasn’t been much of a help either. It’s not that he’s not doing his job as a mentor. It’s just that he’s been really cryptic about things that I barely have an idea if I did my thesis right or not. Last time, he said, “You did it naman di ba? Well then, defend it.” Ummm... anu po ibig sabihin nun? Tapos, Il asked him, “sir, may comments po ba kayo?” And then he said, “Basta makagraduate ka na.” ??????? I’m not even sure if his reply was a question or an answer. Tapos, I asked him again, “ummm, sir… pangit po ba o maganda?” And he went, “it’s not important kung panget o maganda.” I tell you, with sir, you have to believe in your work or else the panel’s going to eat you alive. Di mo naman pwedeng sabihin na, "e kasi po... sabi ni sir..." It’s not the job of mentors to tell you what you should or should not do. Their work is to make you think for yourself. Kung sa real world nga naman, you only have yourself to be the judge of your work. I have nothing against him. The truth is, he’s been extremely patient with me. Hay… The only thing I’m banking on right now is the fact that when he asked me, “Kapag may tinanong ba ako tungkol sa thesis mo, masasagot mo ba?”, I answered, “Yes sir.” Sana, sana, sana. Basta, the key word is LEITMOTIF.

Everyone just wants me to graduate. What I want is to prove myself. Yun yung mahalaga. Yung diploma, makakapagpagawa ako nun sa Recto. Pero yung fulfillment na di napunta sa wala yung oras na ginugol mo sa college, walang makapapalit dun. And besides, I want to teach at the department. I have to prove myself worthy of such company. But then again, I can't even construct one decent sentence. Hay… mga pangarap.

Oh well. I hope that at least in this post, I made people understand what I wanted to say. Or not. Ewan!

P.S. I’m currently accepting donations for bond papers and computer ink cartridges. Wish me luck people. And thanks sa walang katapusang morale support. Salamat, salamat, salamat.

10 comments:

wenk. said...

tones, you have great talent. magnificent talent!!! :) and yes, people appreciated the humor and irony and sarcasm. maybe your blog readers aren't as articulate as you are lang. maybe they appreciate the humor.. but have no idea how to say they like it. they aren't as good a writer kasi as you eh! hehe! :)


keep writing, toni. really. :)

jam said...

HELLER??? YOU HAVE TALENT KAYA!!!

Anonymous said...

kuya toni,

hehe, maganda yung sinabi ni "wenk" kahit di ko lam kung sino sya. hehe.

maganda rin yung song. hehe.

hmmm... kuya toni... kung hindi pa talent yung tawag sa mga nababasa namin, waaahhh, ano pa yun?

nakapag-usap na naman tayo, pero basta just believe in yourself. you're one of a kind. lighten up din nang konti. hehe. take some time to laugh so hard, even if there's no reason at all. hehe.

and regarding your fear sa defense, to quote, "Pero yung fulfillment na di napunta sa wala yung oras na ginugol mo sa college, walang makapapalit dun." hehe, basta sagot ka lang nang sagot. sabi nga ni Miss Sibayan diba, "Speak up!" so do it. =)

Remember this, If there's anyone in the room who should know your thesis best, ikaw yun. hindi ang panel, or kung sino pa man.(sana nga nasabihan kami ng ganito nung defense para we weren't eaten alive by the self-confessed ogre of the dept. hehe). before the defense, take a deep breath, smile and tell yourself everything will be alright. =)

maniwala ka po sa sarili mo, and sa thesis mo. =)

i'll pray that they won't harass you, the way they harassed us. hehe. nanakot. peace!

hala napahaba. talk to you soon! and goodluck sa defense! :D everything will be fine. =)

jam said...

toni! i added u sa DeviantArt! add mo rin ako =) you can post ur poems/prose whatever there. you really have talent i'm telling you. just believe in it. it's just that in the world we're in, everything is subjective. hard to please everyone and that makes us lose the heart. basta i believe u have what it takes! o yan ha, wag ka nang mag-inarte please? hehehe =)

Anonymous said...

hi toni!Ü hey, what is this?
you're talented, you're good. you know that.Ü smile toni. and take care!

always,
rüss

Anonymous said...

kuya toni~tots,

hmm...wala ako sa lugar para sabihin sa'yo na dapat hindi mo maramdaman ang nararamdaman mo.
pero sa tingin ko, nasa lugar ako para sabihin sa'yo na isa kang mahusay at talentadong nilalang, at buong puso akong naniniwala sa kakayahan mo.
narerealize ko ngayong naghahanap na ako ng trabaho, ang mga "pambabasura" na ginawa nila sa thesis defense namin ay walang kinalaman sa sarili kong kakayahan. eh, nagkataong hindi magkatugma ang nais naming iparating sa gusto nilang makita't-marinig anong magagawa namin?
sa kurso natin, "subjective" ang pagbigay ng marka. 'ke 4 pa 'yan o 1, hindi noon talaga masusukat ang tunay na galing ng isang tao.

masyado akong napalalim ah. basta tandaan mo, sabi nga ni cy, ikaw lang ang tunay na nakakaalam sa ginawa mo. 'wag magpatakot! at 'wag kang pumasok sa defense na puno ng pagaalinlangan (na feeling ko mali namin.) 100% sure dapat, at kung barahin ka nila, fine! pero siyempre, kung may lohikal silang dahilan at may punto naman, isipin mo nalang, suhestiyon lang 'yon.

but im sure alam mo na 'yan.
goodluck kuya toni!

Anonymous said...

and btw, mahal ko si mig ayesa. pa-send naman ng mp3 ng "baby I love your way." =)

Anonymous said...

kuya toni,
it's been a long time. this is your anak in plaridel, jen..."loglog"
Hay! Eto lang, minsan mas matalino pa ang gawa na tin kaysa sa atin.
'Yung mga panel, they tend to overanalyze kaya don't worry na baka hindi nila ma-gets. Magegets nila 'yun with extra explanations na di mo maiisip. Mapapa-OO ka na lang at mag-aagree sa kanila. Parang oo nga 'no, di ko naisip 'yun pero ang galing nakuha nila 'yun. Tipong ganun 'yung nangyari sa akin.
Goodluck! Finally...

Anonymous said...

hay i'm so happy for you na maggraduate ka na, honestly. as for me, ako na yata ang ultimate survivor ng block namin. yes, one more term to go ako. don't be so hard on yourself tonio... di ka pa genius, pero at least genius in the making ka na. ako nabubulok. hahaha. sana nakapag-parlor/barbero ka na. para naman ma relax kang konti. and yes, kelangan mo na nga ng printer ink and bond paper. haha. next time na makita kita mataba ka na ha? hindi na mukhang jesus christ.:)

Anonymous said...

hello toni!Ü maligayang pasko, hehe! :)