VALEDICTORY ADDRESS by Engr. Meleusipo Eulluran Fonollera Sr.

 It has come at last ... Graduation Day, the day which I believe, all of us have been looking forward to. Tonight's commencement is but a go signal for us to continue the journey that we have started.  The journey we have to traverse further in books of higher types.

It is but meet and proper for one, after having safely crossed a river to be grateful not only to the boatman but also to the banca itself.  Equally then, we must be grateful not only to our assiduous teachers for having guided us for four solid years but, to our dear school...the Pio de Pilar High School for having generously given us every opportunity for self-advancement.  It is a debt of immeasurable gratitude that cannot be repaid in terms of money.  It is a folly, however, to assume that we are now equipped with the necessary accoutrements for a secure trip to the moon.  It does not mean, however, that the journey we have undertaken has ended here.  This is only part of the much longer route we still have to go.  For ahead of us are more rivers, rivers that seem impassable to us who barely have the necessary experience and wisdom.  There are still others more difficult to cross.  We still need further educational and technical training. 

 We have to venture on these rivers if we wish to reach the end of the journey.  We have to make our life a part of a good cause, for as Dr. Rizal expressed in his famous apothegm, "A life that is not consecrated to a great ideal is a like a stone wasted in the fields without becoming a part of any edifice."  We should not be satisfied with the meager knowledge that we have; for life, I believe, is a ceaseless striving and reaching after higher things.  As Browning puts it, "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's heaven for?"

 Across all of these rivers of education lies the broad field of life.  All of us, sooner or later, will be meeting in this field no matter what path each and every one of us has chosen.  It is in this field we put into action all experiences, knowledge and skills we have acquired in the course of our journey.  We must see to it that all of these equipment be used in the cultivation of this field.  We must make sure that the seed we plant will bear fruit.

 We are a component part of that army of Filipino youth, dynamic and eager to find their place in society.  We must not let this eagerness of ours remain dormant; let us evolve this into physical reality so as to make true what Dr. Rizal had said. "The youth are the backbone of the nation."  Let us, at all cost, turn the ardent expectations of our parents and teachers into something tangible.

At present, there are many degree-holders that are unemployed, thousands of them.  It is not orators and debaters that can help the nation best, but trained economists, men of action, conscientious researchers and young men and women who cam ameliorate the lot of the common "tao", especially in the rural regions and who can bring civilization at the doors of these people.  We need them, indefatigable and able students of our social problems; we need youth who can come close to the masses, who can serve the destiny of these people.

The responsibilities of the graduates today are greater than ever before, because our country is heaped up to the neck with varied problems...economic, spiritual, social, moral.  The solution to these problems is our task!

Before we bid our Alma Mater goodbye, let us make a firm pledge tonight to bear these responsibilities without complaint, to pick up the prints of our brothers who faltered on their way.  We promise to try to the best of our ability to free our country from the clutches of poverty and ignorance. 

BOUNCING BACK FROM CANCER: EARNING A PhD @50 (Part 1 of 5)

Knowing you have cancer can be a letdown to your life’s goal.  And at 50 years old, I decided to pursue the dream a few would dare to tread:  The pursuit of a PhD.   When Mom died in January 2005, cancer got the better of her but not after hurdling through several afflictions in her life.  I remember one time as a teenager, while in the thick of writing a thesis for a client (she works covertly as a ghost writer), she suddenly coughed blood in front of me and told me this is just an old illness that resurfaces everytime she gets tired.  I realized later that she was just lying to me to prevent me from panicking.  As an intense writer always beating a deadline, she became a heavy chain smoker in order to cope with the tremendous amount of stress brought about by the job. 

Mom's commercially published books

 That’s my mother and I got to have a first-hand account of the trials and tribulations that she went through in order to earned her much coveted PhD in Educational Administration which was her lifetime dream.  But her dream was only realized after all of us five children had finished college and went on our ways to build a family of our own.  I was with her through the final leg of her journey towards a PhD so I know exactly the rigors and discipline it requires in order to finish her dissertation.  She finally got her PhD and for several years had reaped the fruits of her labor in the halls of academia in several institutions such as De La Salle University Manila and the Philippine Women’s University among others.  Until finally, with the years of abuse that her body had gone through working and raising a family of five, she eventually succumbed to cancer. 

Presenting my diploma and dissertation to my Mom while wearing her doctoral toga

After a year of grieving, I finally decided to pursue the same dream of earning a doctorate.  I was a licensed dentist with 10 years of practice and currently a tenured associate professor.  After having my credentials evaluated and accredited, I was accepted to the PhD Graduate program.  By this time, I was already well versed with subjects related to the human body that the monotony of teaching the same subjects over and over for several years had began to burn me out.  And having reached the so-called midlife at 40 years old, I was seeking something new to rejuvenate my weary spirit.    
     

The future administration building of De La Salle University Dasmarinas

 Almost all Filipinos have at one time in their lives spent a considerable time in the academe.  So almost everyone is aware of what a PhD means.  Basically a PhD is an exclusive type of degree, involving advanced academic work and attempted by comparatively few students.  The qualification for a PhD  has taken on something of a mythic status for those who have gone through the rigors of earning it.  This very myth of which every contender wishes to attain is the major motivating factor for all those who also wish to tread the same path towards a PhD.  For me who often chooses the path less taken, this is my story. 

 Every graduate student has their own paths to travel.  Some began their journey early and finished their PhD at a young age.   I salute them for they will have more time to serve mankind with their achievement.  Some like me, who started our PhD quest late in our careers did so only  when conditions became favorable while raising a family, working and studying and at the same time and distractions and obstacles seemed to be more manageable as they declined through the years.  For us who graduated in the prime of our lives, we just have to do our best with the remaining years ahead.  As for me, things took a different twist of fate as the cancer that once struck my family struck again and this time, the next victim was me. 

Discovery of a 3cm tumor on the left upper pole of the kidney

  It was a realization that the deadly disease is hereditary in our family and not merely acquired.  That period were very trying times for me and for my family but we confronted the disease head-on and we prevailed.    There will be additional afflictions of cancer in the family but despite it all,  we stayed the course and now I am a proud holder of a PhD degree.  Next story will be about my struggle as a graduate student.

A KUMBENTO BOY COMES HOME - REUNITING WITH MY PAST IN PASIG CATHOLIC COLLEGE

Opening of the Centennial Celebration

      The first I attended my high school reunion, I was not yet afflicted with THE big "C" and although the occasion was a fun experience is was not as memorable as the reunions that followed when I had the dreadful disease already.  The feeling is like seeing your parents grow old and retire and accepting that they have a few years left, they yearn to return to the ground.  At first you will construe the move to be literal with the biblical verse “from ashes to ashes, dust to dust” verse.  However, you will be surprised that what they meant was only to return to the basics and begin tilling the land, planting crops and feeding livestocks and very much preoccupy themselves each day with the same routine. I'm kinda having the same feeling now and the desire for me to return to my past and is stronger than ever. 

Pasig Catholic College Batch 1982

       The big "C" changed my life. I began to be grateful to each day I am alive because I consider each day a victory for me.  I realize that with the remaining time, it is not simply the years you remain alive that counts, but more importantly, it’s how you live your life in each year that remains.  And because of the acceptance of my fate, the change of attitude made a big difference.  I realize that reuniting oneself with the past filled a big gap in my heart and soul.

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       Pasig Catholic College is my high school Alma Mater where I both graduated in elementary and high school.  I was just a simple, normal kid back then, just playing around  while studying and occasionally has a share of the well-known misdemeanors in campus.  I’m proud to be a graduate of PCC and as such, have the privilege of being called “Kumbento Boy”, because the origins of our school can be traced back in the post-spanish era where it was once a convent for girls until it evolve to be an all-boys school during our time.  When we graduated in the year 1982, everyone was expected to go out in the real world to purse his own dreams.  I went to college in UST and during that time, I found new friends and seldom do I encounter a classmate in highschool in the same university, more rarely so outside.

Salvador Feranil and I having a jolly moment with former teacher Ms. Baltazar

      Our school was already way into the tradition of having an annual homecoming for its alumni and I being so immersed in the rat race of life, never had any plans of attending reunions probably because I never got invited in the first place and second, I was apprehensive of the desire of successful classmates to show off their improved wealth, appearance, or fame. For them, the evening was safer because of no fear of being ridiculed by bullies.  I, having led the elite Model Platoon is considered as one of the reputable students in campus and therefore much is expected of me when I return back for the reunion.  But I will be surprised of the turnout of events when I finally attended my first highschool reunion after twenty years.  I remembered that the first time I attended, there was no facebook yet and therefore I was not interested much in taking pictures. However, when social cybermedia particularly facebook became an avenue for sharing pictures worldwide, it enabled classmates to get in touch again and when reunions came, the most important agenda is no longer to catch up for lost time, but rather, take as many pictures as you can of friends and strangers alike.  

Most of the people I knew were there. I reproached myself for not keeping in touch with these people, but I was very happy to have found them again.  We start anew in catching up for the lost time. I could still remember names of those closest to me even if their faces are completely different.  However, there are also many whom are familiar but I could no longer remember their names. There are also some whom I cannot identify anymore even with the fact that we are all wearing the same reunion t-shirt issued for that particular event.

Classmates Francisco Ylarde and Serafin Tanyag

      Seeing the face of a close friend after being separated for several years is an odd feeling. The feeling was a mixture of regret and joy because at one time in the past, we all have to say our goodbyes to our friends. I vividly remember a quote by Richard Bach which I feel aptly describes the moment.  "Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends."  It is these kind of reunions that makes you feel that memories you share with high school classmates whether friend or not, whether good or bad are what makes the moment worth remembering.

DocFun's INCREDIBLE JUMPSHOTS OF ALL TIME - Levitation in the Next Level

This is the last jump for 2014 during the Christmas break at the roof deck of SM Aura using the Samsung Dome as the background.  The jump was made at high noon as the Christmas sun reflects it splendor making a more spectacular effect with floating grace and balance.

The jumpshot since time immemorial has been part of the history of photography but nothing compares to how much it has evolved since the advent of filmless digital photography and photo sharing culture over social cyber network.  Though I am almost into the half century mark, my body still has what it takes to express myself thru the jumpshot.  This blog features a collection of my different jump strokes thru the years.  The photo above is a jumpshot off the coast of White Beach Boracay, and I labelled this jump as "The Son of the Beach!"

      As  I consider myself as a cancer survivor, at first it was easy to get down in the dumps, to feel like giving up.  My condition led to depression and staying positive in the early months was a very big challenge for me.  But I realized that when I find myself struggling, writing became my source of encouragement.  This blog served as my avenue to rid myself of all the negativity inside me. I stumbled upon a quote by Cayla Mills’ “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”  The jumpshot though meaningless to many is an achievement to an old chap like me.

Although all my jumpshots are favorites but I still narrow it down to the best.  This is still in Boracay specifically in Station 1 where some dude left it on the sand for me to have fun on.  I labelled this pic "Surfer's Up Dude!" lifted from the popular surfers' expression of "surf's up dude!".

This shot was taken in the north end of White Beach just off Friday's resort, so I tagged this pic as "Thank God It's Friday!

The best jumpshot can only be done in the company of friends.  This was taken in the early morning in Graceland, Lucban when we were having an exercise stroll along with my PCO (pollution contro officer) friends and co-officers in PCAPI-R4A (Pollution Control Association of the Phils.-Region IVA.  We were having a meeting in this resort estate courtesy of one of the officers.  I labelled this picture "Jumping with Grace!"

This shot was an attempt to imitate the logo of the NBA, I was'nt able to raise my left hand to the lay up position so I settled with the peg, "Shoebrand Logo Shot!".

This is a funny shot I made which I pegged, "Walking on Sunshine!"  Really funny indeed!

This is a simulated dash in the finish line so I pegged this pic as "Breasting the Tape".

I love this shot because of the symmetry it created with the road.  I therefore call this shot, "Highway Overpass!" honk-honk! ha ha ha ha!

  

 

Having to rent a private pool gives you an opportunity to do whatever you like instead of a public pool where you run the risk of injuring someone when you jump in the pool.  Jumping over water is great because you can very much execute difficult positions in mid-air before landing.  And since the landing is on water, an awkward position will surely create a big splash on the water which can be truly awesome indeed!  I peg this as the "SPREAD EAGLE" jump.

      This is a special effect shot where you create the effect on taking-off on water, flying in the air and landing on a dinghy in the pool.  With a momentum and body like mine. The dinghy was shoved so fast that in seconds, I was on the other side of the pool in an instance!  I peg this jump, "MIRACULOUS WATER JUMP!"

 This is "THE DREAMSCAPE" jumpshot I had taken during a faculty outing.  It was a gung-ho jump because I had only planned for the take-off and did not prepare for the landing.  I landed on my face very much how a plane crashes on the ground with nose first.  This terrific jump is one of my favorites.

  The "GANGNAM ON SAND" is a jump based on the current dance craze "Gangnam Style" by the Korean star PSY.  It was that kind of feeling that prevailed during that moment.

 The "FLIGHTLESS BIRD" jump was made off the cliffs of Bojeador in Ilocos Sur overlooking the sea.

 I call this jump "THE FLYING ZOMBIE OF BANGUI".  I was thinking I had the necessary lift to make the jump because of the many wind vanes around.

  This is by far the best jumpshot I had and I called this 'THE WARLOCK!" Jumpshots make moments in our lives very memorable and fun to look back to.  So no matter how young or old you are, don't hesitate to take that historic jump because it will be etched forever in history and it harbor you no regrets because at one time in your life when you are still strong, you can say to everyone "I DID IT!" I MADE THE JUMP!" So my friends, don't waste the moment because the moment may not come back to you again. "JUMP FOR JOY!"

 

      This is the wackiest jump ever! The launch was a lateral take-off and unawaringly had my pockets out kinda like a pair of vestigial wings of a flightless bird.   I pegged this jump "The Flight of the Dodo"! ha ha ha ha! Truly an epic shot indeed!