Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Watching the Capture of the Green River Killer reacquainted me with this poem I memorized in high school.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.


It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

3.0

Three years after the G2 blast, time flew so fast! Oh well, here’s my customary entry on the blast in Glorietta. Until now, the whole mall is under renovation. It has been under renovation since the blast happened. I wonder when it will be completed. And whatever happened to the case against the mall?


I haven’t been to Glorietta that much recently due to my recent change in work address. I sometimes forget that blast ever happened. And I wonder if that’s good or not. But whenever I pay the mall a visit and my mind wanders, I still remember the sound of that explosion and easily picture the cloud of dust and flying shards of glass. I am reminded of my own forgetfulness and selfishness.

http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest/50397/case-unclosed-glorietta-blast

Friday, October 8, 2010

World Cup for the Homeless

My brother Bob loves football. Because of him, I was able to watch a World Cup match in a sports bar last July. It was a memorable experience with rabid Japanese fans cheering on the only Asian team left at that time. When the World Cup ended and Bob left, so did my affair with football.

But recently, an article caught my eye about this World Cup for the Homeless. According to the rules, the players must be homeless, marginally homeless, or a recovering addict in treatment. I heard about our contingent of “homeless” kids, a few months while reading an article about their win in an international competition. What struck me at that time was the fact that these kids don’t really know how to converse in English but they were able to make lots of friends because of their friendly smiles. And I am thankful to the individuals who supported this worthy cause for a unique team.

The 8 "homeless" boys came home last month after having a respectable showing in the one of kind World Cup. Technically, they were not homeless but they reportedly lived on the streets most of the time. and when most athletes do their weight training in the gym, they carried sand and cement instead. Because during their training, they worked as construction workers so that they still can send money home.  

Though, the cup they were playing for is not as prestigious as the original World Cup..... Though there was no big parade to welcome them when they came home last month. Somehow, I knew their lives were transformed after this experience. Though, a lot of well-meaning people helped and sponsored them throughout their training. What's critical now, is what they will do after without aid from other people. Will this chapter inspire them to achieve more and inspire others? Or is the call of the previous life tug stronger?

Like football, this game of life is relentless struggle to make that precious goal but challenges will deter us from achieving that. Sometimes at the end, it will just be a draw. Sometimes, the whole world is watching but oftentimes it's just a handful few. It all depends what we make of it.

These kids proved that we have the power to rise above our circumstances. May it be in football or in life.