That's what Friends are for...

"A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be."

How do you define friendship? Is it measured by how many times he/she stands by your side? Can they be, next to God and Family, your alternative resource of comfort and guidance? For you, how do you define friendship? Sometimes, words are not enough to explain what friendship can be. Nowadays, it's hard to recognize who your real friends from the masked ones. What i mean by "masked" is, someone pretends to be your friend, but when you turn your back on them, they're much worse than Lucifer (aahhh, maybe it's too harsh to be much worse than the fallen angel.. Maybe Judas is enough.. hehehe..)

In my 23 years on planet earth (turning 24, 36 days from now), i've learned a valuable lesson about friendship. I don't think my case is as bad as everyone around the world, but, sometimes, you feel deserted or disregarded with the "friends" that you call. They're not the person you expected them to be. Sometimes, you're having thoughts about your friends, that he/she is like these or like that, but one good thing i've learned, is to let them show their true colors, without making any effort to make them show it. Friends are tested mostly on hard times, the times that you need a shoulder to lean on to. Someone that won't stab you on the back and let you fall from grace. There was a time that i felt i'm on my own, in good times and bad. Then, suddenly, there are voices that rang to my ears and offered their backbone for help. Those are the true friends that i really can count on to. These days, friends like that seems so impossible to have. But, fortunately, i've proven myself wrong, as i found real friends, in good times and in bad, will be there to lend a hand.

"Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things."

Yep, friendship is a million little things scattered everywhere for you to put together into one single piece. I think in my own opinion, the components to build an everlasting relationship are: Trust, Loyalty, Understanding and Faith. Well, it's easier said than done, but, i think those are the words need not to be mentioned, but something to be done. For example, there are instances that a friend seems to bear all the problems in the world, share your smile to them. In those little things you start to make them realize that they're not alone in this world, that there's someone who cares for them.

"Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty."

Real friends will not lie to you, even if it means hurting your feelings. They listen to what you rely to them and then they understand you. Simple as that. There are so-called friends who would lie to you for their own benefit, OR maybe, on the contrary, it might be the best thing to do. But, from my past experiences, i have real friends who offered advices that completely changed the course of my life. Those are the people that you can look up to. That's something you can be as well to your friends. There are times that all i can offer for a friend is a prayer. Well, i do that always, but that's my last resort. The Best last resort. I think that's the nicest way to help them in every aspects in life. Try prayer, it really works.

"A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down."

The real friend. As what i have mentioned earlier, they say the truth even if it hurts you, but they won't let you sink down into oblivion. They'll grab you and pull you away with all their strength to keep your feet on the ground and your head held high. Sometimes, besides from family, friends can be your great motivators. They urged you to do things that you think sounds far fetched. Yeah, there are things that looks and sounds impossible to be done, but with the help of your real friends and God, nothing's impossible. To hell with the masked ones, let them burn in hell, hahaha! I'm just joking. At this instance, friendship can make a very strong bond, especially amidst crises and hardships in life. Whenever you want them, wherever they are, whatever circumstances it could be, however it may be, real friends always gives a shoulder to cry on.

So, what do you think defines friendship? It's for you to know. The world is round. Always hope for the best, but always expect the worse to happen. In times of distress, who you gonna call? Hehehe, not the Ghostbusters. Just real friends. In this world, nothing 's unattainable. Animate your world. Good day.

"The most I can do for my friend is simply be a friend. "

Stop!: Response to paintmy-world.com's Blog

NO TO TUITION FEE INCREASE.

Just read a blog entry by Keiyt about the planned tuition fee increase for the incoming freshmen students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Keiyt, i disagree on you.

Natural reaction or human nature ang naging response ng mga iskolar ng bayan nang marinig nila ang balitang itataas na ang tuition fee ng PUP, although hindi ko pinapaboran yung ginawa nilang ipaglalaglag yung mga lamesa at bangko mula 6th floor hanggang ground floor, then sinunog. Come on, guys, be cool. Consequences of your actions will come later, and the school administration will try to find a way or worse, sue everyone involved in the protest. I know you guys are not scared on whatever imposing threat the school admin may have, but still, let's put everything on consideration first. Wala nang masyadong matitinong gamit ang pamantasan natin. You went way overboard with your reaction. Chill.

On the flip side, no one can blame why the students are so pissed that the protests suddenly erupted and they resorted into thrashing school properties. Maybe, it's one way for the students to show their dismay towards the school administration. Even me, i tend to disagree automatically. Lalo na sa panahon ngayon? Nakarecover na ba ang 'Pinas sa nagdaang krisis (na parang habangbuhay nang nakakabit sa bansa natin ang krisis mula pa sa Rehimeng Marcos)? Gumaganda na ba ang estado ng pamumuhay sa bansa natin? Ultimo sweldo nga sa trabaho, pahirapan ang dagdag na 12 pesos, tapos ang itataas ng tuition fee, dalawang libong porsiyento? Naman.. Be reasonable.

As a PUPian, (di pa ako tapos sa studies ko. Supposed to be 3rd year na ako, Mechanical Engineering), i sympathize with all the students around the campus about this incoming tuition fee increase. It's very disappointing to know that in times like these, they just suddenly decided to increase it. Oo, siguro sa sinabi ni Keiyt sa blog nya na, mapagtitiyagaan naman yung ganung klaseng tuition fee --- kung maayos ang trabaho ng mga magulang ng estudyante O kung walang trabaho ang magulang, may maayos ding trabaho yung mga estudyanteng gustong pagsabayin ang pag-aaral at trabaho. Tsaka sa sinabi mong can't afford, nakakapagpantig ng tainga yung sinabi mo. Kung kaya mong bayaran yung ganung tuition fee, eh di ikaw magbayad. At bago mo idamay lahat ng mag-aaral sa sinabi mong mga reklamador na may panggastos sa kung anu-ano, tingnan mo sarili mo sa salamin at baka ikaw mismo eh ginagawa mo din yung mga binanggit mo. Kinakahiya mo mga activists ng school? Para mo na ring ikinahiya na galing ka sa PUP. Hindi ako activist, pero i do understand why they do things like that. We have our own free will to express our feelings and sentiments. I chose to stay quiet, they chose to let their voices heard in all corners of our land. AT kung sa palagay mo lahat ng estudyante eh mabibigyan ng scholarship, nagpapatawa ka. Sa palagay mo ba, kung lahat ng estudyante sa PUP eh mabibigyan ng full-granted scholarship, may magrereklamo ba nang ganyan?

To the school administration, please reconsider your decision. Not all the students are privileged people. We still have faith on you that you'll make a decision that'll benefit everyone. I know that there's a good reason why you prompted to make an increase on the tuition fee, and as you said in the news, it's the students who'll benefit with that increase you're planning to, but look also around the university that majority of the students came from less-privilege families. Think about it.

To fellow students, let's try to put arguments in a nice way. I do believe that proper communication can fix the gap between you and the administration. Just relax, and be reasonable as well. Destroying school properties is a very strong statement towards the school administration, maybe the administration also needs that kind eye-opening response, pero kayo din ang mawawalan ng mga gagamitin, lalo pa ngayon na matagal na panahon na ang mga kagamitan dyan at hindi pa rin napapalitan. Just look at what's best for everyone.

To the government, sana hindi kayo nagtataingang-kawali at nagbubulagbulagan sa isyung ito. Malapit na naman ang eleksyon, bagong termino na naman para sa inyo. Sana meron na kayong gawing aksyon sa mga ganitong klaseng problema, dahil sa mga paaralan din nagsisimula ang mga susunod na mamumuno at mamamahala ng ating bansa. Kung papabayaan niyo lang na ganyan ang mangyari sa mga mag-aaral, asahan niyong maraming boses ang dadaing sa inyo sa bawat araw nyo sa posisyon nyo sa gobyerno. Maraming mapanuring matang nakaantabay sa paligid nyo, kaya huwag niyong linlangin ang mga tao sumusubaybay sa bawat kilos niyo. Sana hindi totoo yung sinasabi ng iba na kumikilos lang kayo kapag malapit na ang eleksyon, para lang may maipakitang may ginagawa kayo. Bigyan nyo sana ng pansin 'to.

May you all have a good day.

Peace Out. Godbless.