Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Celebrating Life Through Gratitude

If I am to make a significant declaration today, I'd say 'Life is beautiful'! That is quite a bold assertion in such woeful circumstances we have in the world. However, I wouldn't let this day pass without acknowledging the grand splendor that is left amidst awful crises.

Today marks the 34th year of my remarkable earthly journey in the eternal scheme of things. I want to look at it that way to remind me that I am plodding through a temporary sojourn. By having this conviction, the purpose of life in general becomes easier to approach and realize. The challenge becomes setting priorities and doing what’s needful. It is a struggle if one has a blurry resolve.

I’ve been around for a long time, yet I have not been able to run around as much as I needed to, to accomplish what one ought to accomplish at this point in life. At my age, some had already pulled off a lot that deems them to be successful. I am still far from the foyer of success. Nevertheless, what I’ve carried out and gone through by far taught me humility in extreme measure. Whether or not I even reach the midmost part of success, I am, nonetheless grateful.

I’m grateful for a beautiful life. What makes it beautiful?

First, it is a beauty because of my knowledge of God and of His Son, Jesus Christ. Appreciation for what I’ve been, what I am now, and what I’ll be, was not as and will not be as splendid if it isn’t for the learning I’ve had and am having about Deity. Knowing that God is my father—despite His being the ruler of the Universes, the most powerful Being, and the Creator of all, makes me live comfortably and with a sense of security in a world of sorrows and trouble. Knowing that Christ is my Redeemer and Savior makes me hopeful in the midst of uncertainty.

Second, life is a beauty because of family and friends. Literally I don’t have my family with me, anymore, but the foundation that was laid by them which is in me now, made my journey more profound than it could ever be. I am what I believe and what I stand for because of my family. I do not drink what most people drink; I do not do what most people do; I do not listen to what most people listen to; I do not watch what most people watch; and I do not believe what most people believe, because my family taught me not to. To have been able to know for myself the validity of those teachings makes life more stunning that I could ever imagine.

I now live practically independent around my friends. They add zest to my life which makes it beautiful. Although they come and go, the memory of these friends makes it all worthwhile. I sometimes feel alone, as that may be a natural feeling for someone who’s detached from family, but these friends compensate for that lack which is supposed to come from “biological” means. For this cause, my friends have become the metaphor for family in my life now.

Albert Schweitzer, an Alsatian theologian, musician, philosopher, and physician, once said:

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us”.

We are products of what we gain and get from each other. What we sometimes lack can be obtained from another. I’m grateful for what I have, both intangible and tangible—for those who have “lighted the flame” within me and are continuing to kindle that flame which keeps me going in this rough course of life.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

UAAP Season 71: Count UST in the Battle!

With the most number of overall championships in the UAAP (10 consecutive & 35 overall titles) in its sleeves, UST should not be discounted in this UAAP 71st Season.

Opening rites will be on Saturday & darn I won’t be able to see it. What’s more is that I won’t be around to watch the games. Before I made the decision to move here in Cebu, the UAAP games weighed so much as I had to make the consideration to let go of it.

I’ve been a UAAP-UST fan (‘die hard’ fan at that) since 1994 & I was active through the years as a spectator of the Tigers’ games. It was only in 1996-1998 that I missed the league as I was out of town doing an important work. Nevertheless, I was stained by the glorious blood that was drawn from the De LaSalle Green Archers in those historic season victories of 1994-1996. That was a grand slam of conquest over the Archers!

Through the years, I was an eye-witness of the Tigers’ rise to glory & its decline to the cellar. In 2006, my long awaited championship in 10 years happened before my eyes as UST incredibly outdone the Ateneo Blue Eagles to win its 19th Men’s Basketball Title (the most number of MBB Titles in the UAAP).

Despite that glorious comeback, UST failed to defend the title last season.

As excitement is undeniably felt as the 71st season begins this weekend, I am unfulfilled as I am away from the event, being unable to tangibly witness ‘Tiger Power’ & the ‘Black-Gold-White’ frenzied Thomasian crowd. All these years I’ve been part of that crowd, born of school-spirit, cheering my heart out for the Growling Tigers.


My heart breaks even more knowing that the team brought in good recruits. In contrast, FEU & ADMU has become stronger from last season, while DLSU, as always, is the team to beat. This equate to an exciting season!

As a synopsis, The 15th Parallel website has this to say about UST:

Overview: The 2006 UAAP Basketball Champion UST Tigers came short of their title defense last year by virtue of losing to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the step-ladder format of the semifinals. The Tigers were best remembered last year, especially by the La Salle fans, for the 4th quarter and overtime scare that the Tigers gave to the Archers which La Salle would rather forget. This year, UST again returns to the battleground with their unpredictable and never-say-die attitude of basketball. They return to the hardcourt with their unrelenting resolve and determination. Nothing much will change for UST save for some rookies that will enter in place of the veterans who have departed.Why should you root for them: Jervy Cruz, Pido Jarencio, Japs Cuan's desperate attempt to make a shot that's not a layup and Chester "I almost have no business playing in the UAAP" Taylor.

Roster Changes: Most notable departures for the Tigers will be Espiritu (first name forgotten), June Dizon and Jun Cortez. Two of the additions will be Allen Maliksi from the planet X and the rare recruitment of Jeric Fortuna from DLSZ. Milan Vargas and Chris Camus, whose origins are still unknown, will also both suit up for the black-gold black-white this season. Shooter Clark Bautista will also be one of the up and coming rookies for the Tigers. Despite the influx of youth in to the UST lineup, there will be a lot of incoming senior players this season for UST and most notable of them is incoming senior guard Japs Cuan. Ah, better freethrow shooting for UST. Main fixtures will be people like Jervy Cruz, Dylan Ababou, Khasim Mirza, etc. Coach Pido Jarencio will most likely be fielding the same starting lineup from last year.

Bench: According to research of T15P, the bench of UST will mostly be composed of young and upcoming guns, but do not be deceived as they have a lot of firepower, especially with Bautista, Maliksi, Camus and Fortuna around. It's really hard to figure out the current bench of UST as it is filled with mostly unknowns and rookies who are deceptively good. They have guys who can quickly put points in the board and they also have guys who will be specially tasked to hustle and be the bruisers for the team. All of them are surprises waiting to happen except for Clark Bautista who was a sought-after commodity in the summer recruitment battle, notably pursued by UST and Ateneo. 4th year shooter Dylan Ababou will figure in a leading role with UST's bench, according to the research.

Gameplan: Offensively, their first option will obviously be Jervy Cruz in the middle and Pido Jarencio will just let Jervy beat the hell out of clueless big men in the middle of the shaded lane. This is also the play to get all of those rebounds for Jervy. Japs Cuan will not be allowed to shoot away within 2ft of the basket while Dylan Ababou and Khasim Mirza will be allowed to fire away at their heart's content. Cuan, however, will do the drive and drop at will. His main recipient will be Cruz. Or some other Tiger lost in the shaded lane. Expect that Cuan will also do the drive and draw for the shooters. Even though he can't hit anything that's not a layup.

Go-to-guy: I'm guessing you're thinking Jervy Cruz right now. What? It's not a trick question. Ass. It's really Jervy Cruz. The 3rd year big man will be the focal point of the UST offense while Japs Cuan will be the driving force with his daredevil drives. God forbid that it's his shooting. With a double-double and a MVP season for Jervy Cruz last year, there's no doubt that he is the top tiger for the Tigers this season.

Outlook: Final four contender; can beat anyone in the playing field. One of the upcoming season's dark horses. Playing under the radar will definitely be UST's theme this season.

The Thomasian heart within me is pounding in anticipation for another UST comeback. Nevertheless, because of the number of rookies in the team, yet promising at that, I can take on this season as the building phase in preparation for the 400-yr feat in 2011. If a UST championship can brew from the outskirts, that wouldn’t be bad at all.