The Good of Doing Good

I'm kind of busy lately, doing my game development project, doing one object at least for a day hoping to finish it in a year. I'm new at this although I've been studying the software for months already and loving it. Yeah, people might say, “Why are you doing art instead of programming where you majored in?” Well, the answer maybe it's because I did some blunders in my life that choosing this is a way of making a good start, and learning as an artist. Getting a job here as a programmer is no piece of cake either; you have to compete against 200 applicants only to hire 8 developers. It's not that I'm discouraging others to have a career in IT, it's just that this place where we live in is not heaven or hell either. It's something in between before the sunrise or after the sunset. That's life is. People do evil things just to get by the day and having food on their plates. Some would do it for their own sake because it feels good to do evil. Some will do it for fun because it's easier. Cruel. But, there are a few who do good and save lives instead of destroying it. They made a choice of helping other people, not for greed nor money, just because they believe in good and the rewards of doing good, and the hope of having joy for the rest of their lives. I believe that and I hope you do too.

Understanding and Forgiveness

06/12/07 A story about life's lessons learned

To those who don't know me yet, my name is Shawn, yeah the pop-star. The reason I'm am writing is because I don't have any reason not to, for I am just very fortunate to be what I am today, and what or who placed me here I will never know.

The story began when I was in my high school years when studying wasn't important, and friends are. We usually meet before the bell rings across the canteen where we copy each others' assignments and get different grades. We always talk with a joke or something we can laugh about, pretty much anything under the sun. There is always someone to tease or be the butt of the class.

One day, we were preparing for the P.E. class when one of our girl classmate left her bag beside the locker. Nobody noticed it at first but one of my friends got possessed by an evil spirit and got the bag and looked inside it. There is a handkerchief, towel, soap, t-shirt and an underwear. What?! did I say underwear? Yeah, we laughed so much at that sight. My friends got possessed too and thought of ways to shame the innocent and oppress the oppressed (ha ha ha). Now it's sharing time, brainstorming. “Why don't we put the wear, tie it to the flag pole so when we gather for the flag ceremony, behold, thy waving flag of the proud!” Yeah, real geniuses at work. We thought that for a moment, and pondered for the consequences... nah, we'll do it!

It is past seven in the morning; everyone were doing their own thing. My friends gathered together for THE business meeting. We were trying to choose who is brave enough to sneak to the flag pole to tie the sucker. Alas, we got our urim and thummim to decide. Guess who? it was me.

While students are gathering in numbers, our Prefect got to the microphone to announce that flag ceremony is about to commence. We lined up on the field; the microphone's feedback silenced the crowd and everyone's settled. The prefect updated us on news regarding the field trip next week and what to prepare. Then lastly, he announced that someone lost a bag and must be returned to the owner and said her name. My friends at the back row laughed and I was a little uncomfortable. And then the ceremony started. “Bayang magiliw, perlas ng silanganan...” Then everyone's eyes were looking at this underwear rising beneath the flag! Then, when everyone figured it out, they broke into laughter, pointing at this pink cotton cloth, waving and saw the bag underneath it. Guinness book of records has been rewritten!

While everyone is enjoying the sadistic prank, she broke the line and ran outside crying. My heart sank realizing how terrible that supposed joke was. I was thinking of going to her, but somehow I hesitated and might worsen the situation. We all marched in to our own classes, and I looked to her seat and was empty. The teacher began talking about formulas and equations, but my mind kept on torturing me and my conscience too. The day ended without her. I was waiting at the shed and kept on looking at the phone. I don't know what to say.
I arrived home without talking to anyone, and just threw my bag to the floor, sat on my chair thinking. As I looked outside the window, the light has started to fade and the branches of the trees seem to weep, as it rocks back and forth with the gentle wind. “I have to say sorry,” that's all I have to say and yet I couldn't. I went down the stairs to eat dinner, and my mom noticed my sadness. “Shawn, when I and your dad married, we never realized that life after that means understanding and forgiveness. That is what marriage is all about.” I looked at mom and smiled back; it was the best lesson I learned.

The next day, my friends and I got to each other and hid my sadness from them. Smiling they said to me how cruel and cool I was. “Can you do that again?” they asked. “You bet!” I retorted being proud of what I did but inside it was different. We went to our class but still can't find her. I got worried and sick. Class was awful, so I went out.

As I was leaning on the rail four floors above me, I saw her came in the gate and went to the lockers. My mind raced and without thinking, I ran downstairs to meet her. Then as I went to a halt, she turned around and looked at me, and her eyes were pale and her smile is worn; I will never forget that face. Slowly, I approached her and said, “I am sorry.” She walked past by me and never even looked at me and I understood.

The next day, as we gathered for the ceremony, I kept on looking behind me for her yet she's still missing. As the prefect started to announce school activities, I clenched my fist, gathered my strength and went up to the prefect, grabbed the microphone and said to the whole school, “I am responsible for the prank I did last week regarding the bag, and I don't know what got into me when I did it. I should be the one feeling ashamed not her, for what I did was wrong. Wherever you are I am very sorry.” The prefect glared at me and we went to his office to pay for that offense. My mother was phoned and talked about my punishment. I got out the office and saw her approaching me and said, “It's ok, I forgive you.” and smiled back at me. Then she learned forgiveness, and we both laughed. That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship. The End.

How are You?

I'm keeping myself busy making 3d models for my game, and hopefully I can finish it in just a year. Anyway, I'm doing fine (like that song I Feel Fine) besides the praises I get from you tube. Yes, I got ONE lousy comment and it seems that she's someone who gets paid for comments and even just about everything. Though, got views from people who knows where they come from, and maybe they just mistakenly clicked search results to my site. I'm truly excited on things happening except that I hate porn and children getting exposed to such evil on the net. If I were to choose if I'm going to teach my kids (if I have) to surf the internet, I rather not, for awhile they're very young. I would rather let them play games which I think is best that I checked it myself. Everyday, the world gets smaller and smaller and different people work together for good or bad, and the latter is gaining foothold. The bible is not just a book about stories and teachings that you share with kids, but it's a book that tells us how we are and where we are heading.