Wake-uppers:

Scene: Tonight, Sept. 6, is the 16th SidlaKasilak or Festival of Lights in Loon town. Eight contingents from different schools will join the street- dancing parade and dance of lights competition in honor of the town’s patron saint the Virgen de la Luz (Our Lady of Light).  The SidlaKasilak is one of its kind festival in the Philippines because the street-dancing is done at night with the emphasis on the lights.

Scene: Asia’s Got Talent host and model Rovilson Fernandez on Bohol International Marathon 2015: “One more thing about the Bohol International Marathon. It’s all about the details when it comes to throwing a race. Especially looking out for the comfort, safety and overall experience of the runners. Water stations strategically placed every few Km’s, ambulances and medical teams aplenty, encouraging marshals, nary a pothole on Bohol’s 4-lane wide roads, bananas, crackers, Pocari Sweat, etc. Oh and this: at the 21K turnaround, there’s a table filled with food! Like real legitimate pick-me up snacks(hotdogs, tinapay, BBQ on a stick, etc). Who does that!? Haha Well Played Bohol, well played…”

Scene: The 86th birthday of Ma’am Hermogena “Nene” Lungay, matriarch of Bol-anon Visual Arts on Sept. 2.

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The University of Bohol (UB) will celebrate its annual University Days on September 11-18. Various activities are lined-up for the occasion like athletic games, cheer dance and dance sport competitions, battle of brains, battle of the bands and the search for Mr and Miss UB Personality, the oldest campus pageant in the province.

Every year, we are looking forward to watch the search for beauty and brawn; and the remarkable talents of the candidates. Those who impressed the crowd with their talents through the years were Cromwell Besmark Cortes, Julie Mae Bigcal Fatima Hencianos, Jepsy Cajegas, Joan Canuto, Jesel Canuto, Cheryl Lyn Busano, Marjorie Patac, Moises Mari Lacierda, Floressa Cadiz, Joel Magno, Lupe McDonald Manug, John Torralba and Layell Mae Cartegenas.

However, there is one piece I can’t forget, the Genesis Reverse for its strong message about man and the environment. The piece was delivered by Beryl Elizabeth Lupot who represented the high school department. Here it is:

In the beginning was the earth.

It was beautiful and man lived upon the earth.

And man said:

“Let us build skyscrapers and expressways”.

And man covered the earth with steel and concrete.

And man said: “It is good”.

 On the second day.

Man look upon the clear blue waters of the earth.

And man said: “Let us dump sewage and waste into the water”.

And man did.

The waters become dark and murky.

And man said: “It is good”

 On the third day.

Man gazed at the forest on the earth.

They were tall and green.

And man said:

“Let us cut the trees and build things for ourselves.

And man did. And the forest grew thin.

And man said: “It is good”.

 On the fourth day.

Man saw animals leaping in the fields and playing in the sun.

And man said: “

“Let us trap the animals for money and shoot them for sport.

And man did. And animals become scarce.

And man said: “It is good”.

 On the fifth day.

Man felt the cool breeze in his nostrils.

And man said: Let us burn our refuse and let the wind blow away the smoke and debris.

And man did. And the air becomes dense with smoke and carbon.

And man said: “It is good”.

 On the sixth day.

Man saw many kinds of people on the earth.

Different races, color and creed. And man feared and said:

“Let us make bombs and missiles in case misunderstanding arise”.

And man did. And missiles site and bomb dumps checkered the landscape.

And man said: “It is good”

 On the seventh day.

Man rested. And the earth was quiet and deathly still.

For men and women are no more!

No more. And it is good.

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Why do people shout in anger? Let me share with you one of the most beautiful stories I ever came across.

A Hindu saint and his disciples were visiting the Ganges river, where they found a group of family members on the banks shouting in anger at each other. Turning to his disciples, the saint smiled and asked, ‘Why do people in anger shout at each other?’

His disciples thought for a while. One of them finally said, ‘Because when we lose our calm, we shout.’

‘But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you?’ countered the saint. ‘You can just as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner.’ His disciples thought about it some more, but could not come up with a satisfactory answer.

Finally the saint explained: ‘When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other, in order to cover that great distance. 

But what happens when two people fall in love? They don’t shout at each other but instead talk very softly because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small. And when they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only need to look at each other and that’s all. That is how close two people are when they love each other. 

So when you argue, do not let your hearts get distant, do not say words that distance each other more, or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.’

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