From Eat Pray Love (2006)
I was fortunate enough to have read something other than my law books this summer. Since I particularly enjoy reading non-fiction of the biographical/memoir type, it was easy for me to pick Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestseller, Eat, Pray, Love and get into all the hype surrounding it and even its movie counterpart starring Julia Roberts. I also felt like it could be a fitting summer read. Amazingly, it turned out to be so much more than leisure reading. I could rave about it and go into the more beautiful details but I really don’t know where to begin. Ultimately, the book fueled my desire to travel, reflect and indulge on more life-talks. Now if only I had the luxury of time…
There are a lot of quote-worthy lines and insights from the author, but it’s so much better if you guys just buy the book and find yourself in it. However in the spirit of sharing, I would like to share this short excerpt that I found particularly special (there are A LOT in the book, honestly).
In one chapter, the author, Elizabeth Gilbert is at an ashram in India. She is instructed to go to the roof of the ashram, watch the stars come out, and to come back down again when she can let go of her marriage.
Instructions For Freedom
- Life’s metaphors are God’s instructions.
- You have just climbed up and and above the roof. There is nothing between you and the Infinite. Now, let go.
- The day is ending. It’s time for something that was beautiful to turn into something else that is beautiful. Now, let go.
- Your wish for resolution was a prayer. Your being here is God’s response. Let go, watch the stars come out — on the outside and on the inside.
- With all your heart, ask for grace, and let go.
- With all your heart, forgive him, FORGIVE YOURSELF, and let him go.
- Let your intention be freedom from useless suffering. Then, let go.
- ...
At the onset of graduation
The past week was devoted to adventure, freedom and surprise. I enjoyed my little getaway trip to Baguio with my fellow student-leaders of COA. I have grown absolutely close with them. Our experience throughout the year was life-changing – giving us a fresh perspective, an added push and a much needed sense of clarity. And after all the heartaches, headaches, and stress, we were ready to take advantage of the cool weather and indulge freely. It’s quite baffling how inebriation for college students somehow sums up that momentary kind of freedom, where your senses are wildly disturbed and heightened at the same time. It’s always about the group you are with anyway.
Presently, I have different groups, which I hold very dear to me. Our dynamics are all very different, but the shared experience somehow holds us together beautifully. This particular group, my insanely crazy COA loves is purely one of a kind. Our adventures in Baguio have lives of their own! haha! Too crazy to retell or verbalize. One thing is for sure: I will miss each and everyone of them, as much as I will miss everything about being a student leader and putting all our hearts and minds collectively all for our genuine desire to pursue nation-building. Of course, this will carry on throughout my life.
This week was definitely devoted to a lot of downtime. Fixed my files – computer and those scattered in my room. It was quite a liberating experience to de-clutter and put some tangible finality to the experience of graduating. I was also glad to help out fellow COA people, Magel and Amor for their Blue Roast film project. Throughout the year, my film credits grew! haha. It’s definitely fun. These are just one of the few things that I am glad I have left behind Ateneo. I believe I could not have asked...
Of leaving behind COA and ending my Senior Year
I know that this entry is already overdue, as I have officially passed my last academic requirement for my Lit class two Fridays ago. (Thank you, Ma’am Rica for my A!) Nevertheless, last week came in a flash filled with so many events that I had no time to take a breather and update. My last official day as a COA officer ended last Friday as I finally graduated from my position and celebrated the night after for the Awarding party.
I’ll keep this entry short as I may have the tendency to be quite emotional if I attempt to be all detailed about it. But there are just way too many reasons to be all sentimental, especially for someone like me who suffer from major attachment issues. I get caught up with things, and if I am truly passionate and excited about something, I revel in all its entirety. My experience as a student, leader, follower, mover, nation-builder, artist, friend, girlfriend, and neighbor through my college years can never be fully expressed exactly as how I want it to. But to put quite simply, it has been amazing. God knows it wasn’t easy. Even if people think that I made it look easy, it simply wasn’t. Goodness! If you guys read this blog in its entirety, you will get realize that I can be a total wreck. Although, I am incredibly happy that I was able to “document” my college life in this blog. At least a small part of it.
But to talk about Ateneo and what it has done for me merits an entry that I am not prepared to write just yet. Maybe sometime when I actually finally and officially march, I will. Or maybe I’d be too overwhelmed and decide to forgo it. Nevertheless, I’d like everyone to know that I have loved every bit of the learning experience and formation this institution has afforded me. And I can’t wait to go to law...
The countdown begins
Things can’t seem to slow down if only to make everything seem faster. I doubt my Senior year can be defined by a word or even a few sentences. If someone does attempt to figure an encompassing statement, it will be written and expressed intermittently – with words spilled uninterruptedly, seemingly endless with the hopes that somehow it will come to a period soon.
And so here goes the last few weeks. The final straw, a personal aggressive and euphoric battle, that will one day remain to be just memories. Everyone seems to be thinking about the future. It’s quite interesting to see how people can easily map out their lives, while others enjoy it with so much spontaneity. I, on the other hand, lie somewhere in the middle. Perhaps more of the former than the latter. It helps that law school is set out for me. And the jubilation from passing the UP LAE is truly a blessing. It made me feel that it is for me and I know I want this. Even if my dreams exceed the mere realm of legislation, I know it will be a stepping stone to my more ambitious goals. But again, we’ll see.
There is so much I want to do and this thirst and passion is unsettling. It brings fear and discomfort knowing that I’m slowly going to be limited. The controlling, territorial, and ironically, closet-bohemian self of mine is always waging this annoying battle. To meet a compromise is yet to be done. I guess the road getting there is an adventure I’m still somehow enjoying.
The last few weeks before I embark on a totally different life (I say life because law school is no shit.), I am learning more and more about myself. I am still having a whole lot of new firsts. And I really don’t want to be rushing. And the fact that there are so many moments when I feel like I am, I...
This year is love
If there is one word that describes this year, it would have to be love. NOT purely in the romantic sense of the word, but in every way possible that it can mean to anyone. The year before, 2007 was a defining one – difficult, challenging and emotional. It may sound corny, but 2008 and I felt more like a whirlwind romance, with grandiose and modest stories to share and cherish. I took the plunge and found myself in an incredibly exciting ride. Allow me to be my corny, sappy self as I look back into the wonderful relationship I had with 2008. Because I have nothing but love to share as this year draws to a close.
Here’s to falling a few times more with 2008…
Get my 
