“The Augustinian Spirit that lives in me”

I remembered the day when my mother would ask always ask me before my graduation in high school if what school in college I will enroll to. I have only two choices in my mind that time. First it was West Visayas State University and University of San Agustin. Both has its reasons, West because of the Mass Com program and the universities tuition is cheap and San Ag because my Mom is a graduate of that school and it offers scholarship. But since I was not able to pass the application form in West.  I enrolled in San Agustin. The first day in college was a freshman funk so I was so excited; entering the University was a lot different from high school the ambiance, the pressure to be independent and the fact that you don’t know anyone. But as the day goes by you meet friends, getting comfortable with the school and eventually I get used to it and called it a second home. University of San Agustin is a catholic school; I went to Colegio de San Jose in my elementary and high school.  Being in a catholic school is not new to me because they are teaching what is right and wrong with values and faith. For almost four years that I am in San Agustin. I would always carry the Augustinian Values that molded me and transformed me into what I am today and I would always be grateful of it. I would like to share the 3 Augustinian Values that shape me to become a better person and a better catholic. The values of Love, Humility and Prayer.

Love would always be a big word. And as a value it is so much of being priceless. Love is always giving and not expecting in return. For me as an Augustinian it will always be Selfless. I would always think of others first before my personal gain.

As to Humility I have always put in mind that whatever achievements I make and compliments I take I should always keep my feet on the ground. My mom always tells me to never forget to look back to where I had started. Being boastful would not lead you to success. I always believe that you have to live life to its fullest as long as you don’t hurt someone, and stay humble despite of prejudgment.

Prayer is the best source of strength keeping the faith despite whatever trials I encountered. As an Augustinian, to be in this university made my faith stronger that God is with us. The inspiring story of San Agustin on how he was transformed with his powerful faith in God.  I always believe that God is with me even in the smallest blessing that sometimes we often ignored. To pray would always be an open communication with God and I always and will believe.

My school the University of San Agustin is my second home. This is where I learn, get educated, meet new friends, share my talents and transform me to become a better person. A better daughter to my parents, a better sister to my siblings and a better Christian. My school molded me to become what I am today.

Viva! SAN AGUSTIN!

VIVA SAN AGUSTIN!!!

Viva! San Agustin!!! This is the word I usually hear when praising our Patron saint in honour of his feast. I could feel the festive ambiance and the excitement of the Augustinian students in the different activities they have joined and prepared for. I remember last year that I wasn’t able to join or witness the event because one day before the Feast, I had an accident. Going to school I was side sweep by a single motorcycle luckily, I was not injured that much bruises in my arms and my side hips. I was shocked but so much of the scary accident. I thank God that nothing much had happened to me. The next day of my accident it was the Patron Saints Day. I was eager to dress up despite of a walking zombie mode because of the bruises that I can’t walk well.  I want to light a candle in the chapel to thank San Agustin and give praise to God for another chance of life. Now here comes this year and my last year in celebrating the Feast of San Agustin in school. I seized the opportunity to attend and participate in different activities. And the best part for me was the SALO-SALO of my section and my department. It was so Fiesta to the max! SALO-SALO means Togetherness. It is a tradition and culture of the Augustinian students to prepare food to be shared by everyone. It promotes camaraderie, sharing and togetherness. I remember during high school days that we are also doing this kind of sharing it was called AGAPE.  Agape or Love feast was used for certain religious meals among early Christians that seem to have been originally closely related to the Eucharist.  It was so much fun that I will treasure. Sharing and eating with your friends talking to them like you have been friends for years. It is a value of friendship. It’s not the usual thing we do because of the high tech world we have. But sometimes it is nice that we have this in school because these are not learned through lectures or in classroom settings. This is experience of bonding and friendship. Viva! San Agustin!!!

SONY SMARTWATCH 2

SONY SMARTWATCH 2

       Sony has quietly released a new SmartWatch; it is the Sony Smart Watch 2. Their innovative technology is somewhat far behind compared with Samsung’s Galaxy gear. You strap the Smart Watch2 on your wrist and use it to check notifications of whose emailing, texting, or calling you. It offers few thrills but imposes less pain than its competition. The three big differences between the SmartWatch2 and the Galaxy Gear. The SmartWatch2 works with any phone running Android 4.0 or later-important because both watches depend on smart phones for key functions. It offers better battery life three to seven days compared to the Galaxy’s 12 to 24 hours. And at P8, 600, the SmartWatch 2 costs a full C-note less than a Gear. The Sony’s 1.6 inch LCD screen isn’t spectacular, but it gets the job done. Resolution is 220 by 176. The watch size and shape makes a shouty statement. Text notifications appear in full. But like all notifications they stay on screen for only ten seconds. The port cover helps make the watch waterproof but is total pain to take off. The touch screen is fairly responsive to finger taps, and apps launch quickly enough. The display is way too small to support an on-screen keyboard, so the watch apps function are all tied directly into simple notifications and brief contents. When the handset in your pocket receives a phone call, a text message, or e-mail or even a twitter or Facebook update. The watch displays a notification of the incoming signal. The notifications remain on screen for just 10 seconds. You can set the watch to vibrate during notifications as well. SmartWatch2 offers a just-good enough interface for managing calls and messages when you’re stuck in a meeting or otherwise occupied. The SmartWatch2 feels a bit more polished and all-around sensible than the Galaxy gear. People reliant on text messaging and voice calls may find it useful. Surely the SmartWatch concept in inching closer to a winning combination of design, simplicity and utility.

#SOCRATES ROCKS!!!

#SOCRATES ROCKS!!!

When I got home, I saw my brother reading pile of books in his room. I was curious and wondered what it is all about and since my brother seldom stays at home because he is studying in seminary, I took the chance to bond with him and chat for awhile. He was studying Philosophy stuff and I said it was a boring course. I ask him what’s with the Philosophy thing, what makes him interested on it and then he sort of lectured, told stories of different philosophers. The funny thing, it made me interested and inspired with one of the Philosopher that he shared and somehow our family relates. We all know Socrates right? The teacher of Plato. He is a Greek Athenian Philosopher. He is renowned for his contribution to the field of ethics.

The whole story of the life of Socrates was very inspiring. I cannot imagine that he has the guts to face his tribunal without any fear. He can argue with so much confidence that every word he utters gives so much clarity that he is innocent. Though it is clear that he is telling the truth he was still convicted to the crime that he didn’t commit. Sometimes even unto this present time, the judicial process has same pattern as what had happened to Socrates. Those who are influential can always manipulate the truth. This is a sad reality that we are facing, a reality that ever since we are dealing with, that truth is nothing but been chained to those with great power.

I really thank Socrates for making me aware of these things. Socrates is truly wise. This struck me most. I believe that the oracle never made a mistake for saying that Socrates is the wisest man. Even to my personal judgment truly he is wise. The fact is that being wise is not necessarily means that you know anything. It doesn’t mean if you are more knowledgeable than other, it makes you wise. I believe it is more on being knowledgeable of your incapacities, being knowledgeable of your imperfections, accepting ones incompleteness and through which you are striving to do better.

This kind of attitude, probably at the end will be much more successful than those who are learned specifically to those who are educated but don’t know to level off. It is better to accept your incapacities, your failures and your weaknesses because by doing so you are learning more. Thus it is really true to say learn from your mistakes. A wise man do accept what he doesn’t know, but doesn’t mean he will stagnate to what he only knows, rather, he will make every effort to know what he doesn’t know. Learning doesn’t stop it will always continue to flow out while we live. We are all the same, in terms of learning, no one is greater than the other only that he learns ahead. This is the very reason that if ever my parents ask me who is smarter in our class. I always say in reply that each one of us has its own brightness. Nobody is to be labeled as smart, average and dumb. He may not be excellent this time, but soon he will be. Learning is a process it is not something that we can acquire instantly. I suppose the problem sometimes is with those whose way of thinking are closed or boxed in to their time. This I refer to those people who assume that the present generations are should be more learned because of the information flow or because of the fast and easy access of information. They expect that present generation people promptly know everything. They sometimes compare their generation to our generation. Probably these people might have generation envy. They always emphasize that we live in an instant world and perhaps these is the cause why we only know less. I will certainly disagree to this line of thinking. They have no rights to insult that today’s generation are taught by the world to be lazy because of technology. True may it be for some, to those who belong to an old life-style the problems is theirs not because of the advancement of technology they cannot accept a generation shift or maybe they feel that they were left behind because of the paradigm shift.

At the end this is also related to what Socrates have once told us that can also be the key to be aware and accept our incompleteness, “unexamined life is not worth living.” Awareness of what you are doing can be a good start of being a better person. Checking our attitude, our strengths and weaknesses helps us to be sensitive and be a neighbor to others.