EMchanted Hub

Monday, December 18, 2017

Girl At Home

Unknown December 18, 2017 8 Comments

As I walked through the streets - with lights of different hues, overlapping sounds of great delight, and smiles of warm kindness - I found familiarity to every bit of the place. I felt magic, I felt love, as if I was meant to experience that feeling, as if I was waiting to be there for a long time. That was the moment I knew, I was home.

It's been a long time since the last moment I allowed myself to mingle with the festivities of the outside world. But lately I've realized that every moment I spent limiting myself in the corners of our house, I lost the chance to explore and know more about my place, my town, my true home.

Simballay - Knowing My Home, My Balay

Sort of pretty "jeje" as it may sound but seriously, this is the real deal of my experience during the 23rd Simballay Festival. The creativity of my co-Nabunturanons brought life and magic to our own bountiful graces. With the booths ingeniously featuring the locals' way of living, original crafts and arts, tourist spots, and many more, I felt the connection to my place.

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Love is a Verb

Unknown December 03, 2017 11 Comments

December 1, 2017 - I woke up early in the morning to write a letter for Mama. Knowing that she will attend my school's celebration for Parent's Day, I kept the letter in my bag. We went to school together in a casual mood. When we arrived, the program already started. I let her seat with the other parents and I was left with my classmate in the corner. With the excitement for my Mama's reaction to my letter, everything feels so well for a little while until she approached me in the middle of the program saying that she must leave already for some important matters. I said yes and she left. Later, I realized I had lost the chance to give the very essence of my parent's day. I failed...

I never was an ideal daughter. The true me is lazy, stubborn, moody, and say all the bad adjectives you could - that's me. If everyone knew me just as much as my parents do, no one would ever want me in there lives. No one would ever want me to be their child. I'm just lucky child bearing doesn't have to be the choose-pick-and-accept-or-discard process because if it was, I would probably be nothing right now.

Except about my attitude, the fact of being an only child frustates me to my bones. I am the only fruit my Mama and Papa have yet I am a rotten one. I took everything they have but I gave them nothing.

Well, do I have choice in all of these?

YES. I always had, I always have. But I took everything for granted and allowed regret to haunt me when my father passed away. I never had the chance to thank him for everything and I'm not even certain if he felt that I really love him because I never said the words, never showed the feelings.

"Time is fleeting..."

...and I was caught off guard. It might be a little late for my Papa but never for my Mama. The words of a parent during the celebration brought me to this realization. I should make use all of the time I have in the present because there must be no room for self-reproach.

"Regrets are pointless..."
Somehow, it is and I should make a choice of dwelling not on the things that haunt me down. I must believe that I am better than this and I could be for the persons I love. I could make them proud. I realized that I never failed because I still breathe, I still got time. I have thought that parent's day could still be celebrated even if Papa's not visible, even if December first will end, even if I got nothing, because love is everything it takes. All I need is to show them that.

So after the program, I went home and put everything in action. I felt different that moment doing all the chores, helping my mother in all the ways I could. Indeed, it was great. As for my letter, well I gave it to her this morning with sprinkles of effort and little surprise - a great way to start our week. I was slowly making myself change for good and I am determined to continue such action until the very end of my life. It was good to be good.

I am grateful for my parents and I should let them feel that I am. They are the only persons who loved me unconditionally despite knowing all the versions of myself, knowing all my flaws, my weaknesses, all the sharp edges. I love them and I will do the best I can to give them more than just an apology - not something we hold, not something we scream, but a verb, something they deserve for a love ain't grim.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

A Moment for Inakala

Unknown November 19, 2017 15 Comments

The lineup of numerous entries for the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) XI’s Songwriting and Music Video Making Competition revolves around the battle to the uneasy sight yet unerring reality of modern day slavery. Here’s a review for NNCHS’ very own video of enchanting fight, making its way to the top five.

“Inakala” lingers unblinkingly to the life of its protagonist – a woman engaged to series of unfortunate events held by human trafficking. With probably a cause of desperation to find job and earn money, victims are often charged to mistrust that brings them to human trafficking, an illegal act of transporting recruits to different region by means of deception, abduction, or threat for an abusive exploitation.

After being deceived, abused, and sold, the victim found her escape and sought help to reclaim her freedom. Its world is a real reflection of our own with the cons working on stealth recruiting vulnerable people specially women who are in desperate need of a living.

An upbeat and unconventional type of music was used, which was a great aspect and added a new element of intrigue that the other entries of the competition did not possess. It appeals to a wide range of viewers having the quality of a pleasant noise somewhat a modern style perfect for the passive or the young ones, effective use of the deep art of words suitable for the active or the elders, and great issue awareness for everyone.

The heart and passion of the persons behind this project is visible in its every part making it go beyond the aims of winning the competition. For me, it deserves more than just an FB reaction because it deserves to be watched and shared as a wake-up call and a great starter to the movement against human trafficking.

As a mere student and ordinary citizen of the society, sharing this video and others of this type about human trafficking in whatever means of communication is the least I can do to help eradicate the problem. To spread awareness is the main goal, because I believe it is the fundamental action of the big change for freedom.

“Inakala” feels all too familiar in the context of the current state of mistrust, a scornful character that is both rousing and paralyzing. Open the blinded eyes and deafened ears. Heat up the idle hearts, let’s move and take away the fears, for there must be no room for regrets when we now saw the dark reality of human trafficking.