the beauty of a literary work is not in the perfection of grammar, in the profoundness of words, nor in the greatness of the writer but in the effort and passion the writer puts in the work...
the beauty of a literary work is not measured by the praise of the readers nor the speculation of the critics but its relevance to the reader... how much it touches a person's life and perspective...
that is why perhaps a lot of us like HARRY POTTER... because its beauty does not lie in its depth but in the relevance to its reader... its about a teenager struggling to find his place in the world... much like a lot of us...
so the beauty of the RYAN CHRONICLES must neither be measured by the depth, the perfection nor the profoundness but in its relevance to us and the passion the writer placed in his every work...
i personally salute the writer... since despite what may seem to be offending... the readers have not reacted violently but instead praised the writer's keenness in observation...
i believe the writer can put into writing anything he wishes... and yet he has chosen to reflect what he truly sees in his readers...
he may have motives.... whether to merely amuse or to show the perhaps negative side that we often see but do not bother openly revealing...
think about it... would EME be this bonded if it weren't for the RYAN CHRONICLES?
it has allowed each one of us to be more open to each other precisely because it shows us the negative side which we often try to conceal...
so i say to you now... RYAN CHRONICLES is one of the best literary works i have ever read... the beauty of which i cannot describe with even the most profound of words...
so now i express my gratitude to this noble writer... who has taken the risk of revealing the side we most often neglect... and has made us EME... strong... the bonded EME which i hope will last till the end of our days...
i really regret that the writer has chosen to end this great work... but indeed with this ending i have come to realize the importance of the work i have been reading for the past 2 school years of my life... and i am glad and proud to be a friend of such a great and noble writer...
---> written by: Rob Roque
12.16.2004
..An end..
The Final Chronicle
Ryan Magtibay
“One!” Erik shouted.
I remembered running in the fields, with the wind blowing past me while the sun is setting down on a mountain in the west. I loved chasing dragonflies, then. I would almost always catch them. I never did, though. I tried so hard, yet it never seemed enough. And every time, I would run back home and cry. I once asked my mom why I couldn’t catch any of the pesky flying insects. Well, she frowned at me. Then, she told me that the dragonflies are also exerting a lot of effort to run away from me. And every time I gave up chasing them, I let them win.
My mom sent me to a high school in Manila immediately after elementary graduation. I never wanted to go, but my mom insisted. She even used my late dad’s dreams for me so that I would yield to what she wants. I wasn’t able to do anything about it. The day after graduation, I found myself riding a bus, all alone, to Manila.
For the first time ever, I was all-alone in my first day of school. Mom said it was a good school and that I was very lucky to be chosen as one of its scholars. We can’t afford a school that is this good, so I have to maintain my scholarship. I doubt it though. Without friends, I won’t live a day here.
“Two!” he continued.
I met Elmer after two weeks of agony on that school. Elmer helped me adjust on a lot of things, especially on living alone. My mom still visited once or twice every month. And for the rest of the days that I won’t find her excitedly knocking at my door just to see me, I had Elmer as company. Elmer was also from the province, but he stayed in Manila long enough to know everything you have to do to adjust your way of life here. He was a jewel to me during those times. If it weren’t for him, I would have never survived a month in the suburbs of this city.
My grades could not go any higher. It is my fourth year in this school already and I am still the greatest of them all. My grades are at the peak. And I am proud of them. I can already see a promising future for me. This is the start of my success. And I am not letting go.
I was accepted as a scholar on one of the greatest universities in the Philippines. It was unbelievable. But, just like Elmer said, nothing is impossible if you would put your mind and soul in achieving it. Elmer got accepted, too. And, after high school graduation, wherein I graduated as the valedictorian by the way, both of us went to Quezon City to finally finish the stepping stone of our success.
College life. And there could be nothing easier to adjust to. Here, you have freedom, freedom to do anything you want, freedom to party, to joke around, to express yourself, to enjoy the final stages of your life before you indulge yourself into the real world, before everything turns from a bloody joke to a serious and confusing reality. This is it. College.
“Three!” he screeched.
My first two years were incredible. My standing was that of a magna cum laude. Elmer, on the other hand, was on a cum laude standing. I had never been so confident and proud. And I had never been so careless and innocent.
I met Erik the day after that big party at the oblation. He invited me to hang out with his friends. They taught me a lot of things. Things that I doubt were even right. I, stupidly, indulged myself to these things. I was blinded by too much freedom that I wasn’t able to see what is right anymore.
I went from having a straight 1.0 to a straight 5.0. Elmer, my great friend, tried to redeem me, but I resisted. I prevented myself to listen to what is right. But, Elmer never gave up. He did everything he could to have me back to the good side, even if it means messing up with Erik.
It was a night just like any other. A loud bang was heard from the door. Elmer was standing there and found us spoiling ourselves in the ecstasy that shabu can give. He demanded that I come with him. He started talking some sense. He used to do that to me when I go astray. Erik got mad and instructed his friends to hold Elmer. Erik, then, handed me a shotgun, which I had no idea where the heck he got, and instructed me to blow my friend’s head off. I stood up and looked at him, while I took the gun from Erik. He was looking at me, sweat was running down on his face to his neck. He looked at me with a confused, asking-for-mercy face. I pointed the gun at him and pitileslly ended our friendship, once and for all.
I joined the syndicate Erik belonged to. And from that day on, I lived a life of killing, bombing, and stealing. The so-called success I dreamed for was nowhere to be found. And I tried to do something about it, but that became a reason for them to end my life.
I can feel now what Elmer felt years ago when a gun is pointed at your head by a man you sorely trusted.
“BANG!”
Ryan Magtibay
“One!” Erik shouted.
I remembered running in the fields, with the wind blowing past me while the sun is setting down on a mountain in the west. I loved chasing dragonflies, then. I would almost always catch them. I never did, though. I tried so hard, yet it never seemed enough. And every time, I would run back home and cry. I once asked my mom why I couldn’t catch any of the pesky flying insects. Well, she frowned at me. Then, she told me that the dragonflies are also exerting a lot of effort to run away from me. And every time I gave up chasing them, I let them win.
My mom sent me to a high school in Manila immediately after elementary graduation. I never wanted to go, but my mom insisted. She even used my late dad’s dreams for me so that I would yield to what she wants. I wasn’t able to do anything about it. The day after graduation, I found myself riding a bus, all alone, to Manila.
For the first time ever, I was all-alone in my first day of school. Mom said it was a good school and that I was very lucky to be chosen as one of its scholars. We can’t afford a school that is this good, so I have to maintain my scholarship. I doubt it though. Without friends, I won’t live a day here.
“Two!” he continued.
I met Elmer after two weeks of agony on that school. Elmer helped me adjust on a lot of things, especially on living alone. My mom still visited once or twice every month. And for the rest of the days that I won’t find her excitedly knocking at my door just to see me, I had Elmer as company. Elmer was also from the province, but he stayed in Manila long enough to know everything you have to do to adjust your way of life here. He was a jewel to me during those times. If it weren’t for him, I would have never survived a month in the suburbs of this city.
My grades could not go any higher. It is my fourth year in this school already and I am still the greatest of them all. My grades are at the peak. And I am proud of them. I can already see a promising future for me. This is the start of my success. And I am not letting go.
I was accepted as a scholar on one of the greatest universities in the Philippines. It was unbelievable. But, just like Elmer said, nothing is impossible if you would put your mind and soul in achieving it. Elmer got accepted, too. And, after high school graduation, wherein I graduated as the valedictorian by the way, both of us went to Quezon City to finally finish the stepping stone of our success.
College life. And there could be nothing easier to adjust to. Here, you have freedom, freedom to do anything you want, freedom to party, to joke around, to express yourself, to enjoy the final stages of your life before you indulge yourself into the real world, before everything turns from a bloody joke to a serious and confusing reality. This is it. College.
“Three!” he screeched.
My first two years were incredible. My standing was that of a magna cum laude. Elmer, on the other hand, was on a cum laude standing. I had never been so confident and proud. And I had never been so careless and innocent.
I met Erik the day after that big party at the oblation. He invited me to hang out with his friends. They taught me a lot of things. Things that I doubt were even right. I, stupidly, indulged myself to these things. I was blinded by too much freedom that I wasn’t able to see what is right anymore.
I went from having a straight 1.0 to a straight 5.0. Elmer, my great friend, tried to redeem me, but I resisted. I prevented myself to listen to what is right. But, Elmer never gave up. He did everything he could to have me back to the good side, even if it means messing up with Erik.
It was a night just like any other. A loud bang was heard from the door. Elmer was standing there and found us spoiling ourselves in the ecstasy that shabu can give. He demanded that I come with him. He started talking some sense. He used to do that to me when I go astray. Erik got mad and instructed his friends to hold Elmer. Erik, then, handed me a shotgun, which I had no idea where the heck he got, and instructed me to blow my friend’s head off. I stood up and looked at him, while I took the gun from Erik. He was looking at me, sweat was running down on his face to his neck. He looked at me with a confused, asking-for-mercy face. I pointed the gun at him and pitileslly ended our friendship, once and for all.
I joined the syndicate Erik belonged to. And from that day on, I lived a life of killing, bombing, and stealing. The so-called success I dreamed for was nowhere to be found. And I tried to do something about it, but that became a reason for them to end my life.
I can feel now what Elmer felt years ago when a gun is pointed at your head by a man you sorely trusted.
“BANG!”
12.12.2004
Fine...
I just finished my english project... whoo! Yeah! Finally!
Although, I still have to do my lab report on Biology, my group's project on Filipino and another projet on Biology... Then, I have to read a book for english...
It makes me wonder... Are we really on vacation? Because I can't feel it at all...
Oh, and don't ingest mahogany seeds... They are dangerous... :p
12.09.2004
Worthless
yup... ganito pala ang pakiramdam kapag lahat na ng bagay na kayang mong gawin ay magtuturnout na hindi mo pala talaga kaya... stupid world...
oh, yeah.. I'm currently feeling suicidal... hehe...
oh, yeah.. I'm currently feeling suicidal... hehe...
12.05.2004
teka... Nasa Pilipinas pa ba ako?
Nakakainis.. It's not that it is such a big deal or anything.. naiinis lang ako dahil parang wala ako sa pilipinas..
example, ang magiting na yahoogroup ng pisay07.. Bawat email, english... It's not that I can't understand them or anything pero para sakin ang yabang ng dating.. hello? pilipino 'tong kausap mo.. pinanganak na tagalog ang naririnig, lumaking tagalog ang salitang binibigkas sa paligid niya at higit sa lahat, nakakaintindi ng tagalog! magtagalog ka! tapos ingles ka ng ingles? Anung pinaparating mo ngayon? Na mas magaling ka sakin dahil fluent ka mag-english? Dahil marami kang alam na malalalim na salita? Na wala kang maling grammar? That you are superior to us because you know how to speak the so-called 'universal language' fluently? Damn you.. Ang kapal ng mukha mo... In case you don't know, you neither prove nor show anything at all..
ewan ko kung bakit naiinis ako.. It's either I really do suck in english na wala na kong magawa kundi tumakbo pabalik sa sariling wika, o talagang people are just being stupid enough not to even realize that english, in this country (which is the REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, btw), is a foreign language.. eh feeling ko, amerikano yung mga kausap ko eh.. i mean, come on, some people don't even know that payaso is the tagalog word for clown..
Iyan ang problema sa atin... Feeling kasi natin, pag english, ang ganda-ganda, ang formal, ang lakas ng dating... Ang pakiramdam kasi natin, SUPERIOR ang english language kesa sa sarili nating wika... kaya ayaw nating gamitin ang tagalog kasi para sa atin, baduy, panget, "yuck"... Come on, para na rin nating sinabing INFERIOR tayo sa mga kano...
wake up people... kung sakaling hindi niyo alam, WIKA (which is the tagalog word for language, in case you don't know...) ang simbolo ng kalayaan ng Pilipinas (which is Philippines, the tagalog word for the name of our country, in case, again, that you don't know...), hindi ang bandila.. Kaya if you're not using our own language, you're wasting what our national heroes battled for for over 300 years...
Okay.. That was too patriotic... Actually, ang gusto ko lang naman talagang sabihin,
"I can speak english whenever and wherever I want here in this country. I just ought not to for one simple reason: I am a Filipino and part of being one is knowing and USING his own, native language, Tagalog."
example, ang magiting na yahoogroup ng pisay07.. Bawat email, english... It's not that I can't understand them or anything pero para sakin ang yabang ng dating.. hello? pilipino 'tong kausap mo.. pinanganak na tagalog ang naririnig, lumaking tagalog ang salitang binibigkas sa paligid niya at higit sa lahat, nakakaintindi ng tagalog! magtagalog ka! tapos ingles ka ng ingles? Anung pinaparating mo ngayon? Na mas magaling ka sakin dahil fluent ka mag-english? Dahil marami kang alam na malalalim na salita? Na wala kang maling grammar? That you are superior to us because you know how to speak the so-called 'universal language' fluently? Damn you.. Ang kapal ng mukha mo... In case you don't know, you neither prove nor show anything at all..
ewan ko kung bakit naiinis ako.. It's either I really do suck in english na wala na kong magawa kundi tumakbo pabalik sa sariling wika, o talagang people are just being stupid enough not to even realize that english, in this country (which is the REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, btw), is a foreign language.. eh feeling ko, amerikano yung mga kausap ko eh.. i mean, come on, some people don't even know that payaso is the tagalog word for clown..
Iyan ang problema sa atin... Feeling kasi natin, pag english, ang ganda-ganda, ang formal, ang lakas ng dating... Ang pakiramdam kasi natin, SUPERIOR ang english language kesa sa sarili nating wika... kaya ayaw nating gamitin ang tagalog kasi para sa atin, baduy, panget, "yuck"... Come on, para na rin nating sinabing INFERIOR tayo sa mga kano...
wake up people... kung sakaling hindi niyo alam, WIKA (which is the tagalog word for language, in case you don't know...) ang simbolo ng kalayaan ng Pilipinas (which is Philippines, the tagalog word for the name of our country, in case, again, that you don't know...), hindi ang bandila.. Kaya if you're not using our own language, you're wasting what our national heroes battled for for over 300 years...
Okay.. That was too patriotic... Actually, ang gusto ko lang naman talagang sabihin,
"I can speak english whenever and wherever I want here in this country. I just ought not to for one simple reason: I am a Filipino and part of being one is knowing and USING his own, native language, Tagalog."
12.03.2004
Yoyong has left the Philippines
wala lang... gusto ko lang sabihin na ang daming napinsala..
Anyway, the storm gave me a two-day vacation from school.. Siguro alam ni God na I am close to cracking up.. Kaya yun.. hehe... actually, gusto ko lang magpost para may December 2004 archive na... hehe...
Wala akong masulat nang matino ngayong mga araw na ito eh.. Panu ba naman, I'm still stuck at understanding Kingdom Plantae and Kingdom Fungi for bio at hanapin ang magagandang naitutulong ng Mahogany seeds.. At I'm suppossed to criticize a research paper (about ultrasound as a cockroach repellant) for english... eh wala pa nga akong data eh.. Tapos hindi pa matino yung star project at practical application ko sa geometry.. haaayyy...
Gusto ko nang matulog!!
Anyway, the storm gave me a two-day vacation from school.. Siguro alam ni God na I am close to cracking up.. Kaya yun.. hehe... actually, gusto ko lang magpost para may December 2004 archive na... hehe...
Wala akong masulat nang matino ngayong mga araw na ito eh.. Panu ba naman, I'm still stuck at understanding Kingdom Plantae and Kingdom Fungi for bio at hanapin ang magagandang naitutulong ng Mahogany seeds.. At I'm suppossed to criticize a research paper (about ultrasound as a cockroach repellant) for english... eh wala pa nga akong data eh.. Tapos hindi pa matino yung star project at practical application ko sa geometry.. haaayyy...
Gusto ko nang matulog!!
