COLUMNS (ENGLISH

Valiente Krizia Jade Pinara THE ART OF SATISFACTION OVER LITTLE THINGS

We all have these small moments or things in our lives that often go unnoticed or unappreciated because we think they are either unimportant or useless. We live in a society that observes big and highclass accomplishments. We see happiness with the possession of material things like the latest phone model, a luxurious house, a new car or a bunch of expensive clothes. There is nothing wrong in finding happiness through wealth, it can satisfy our comforts and wants but we can also find happiness even if we are living in a modest way. We belong in an era where we always appreciate and treasure big things over small ones. Sometimes, we go through downfalls, it might be a loss of someone we dearly loved or a failure of something. We often encounter different crises or calamities which are indeed beyond our expectations. In an instant, there is nothing left in us and we finally became hopeless because of our tragic experiences. There are many people who show their sympathy and generosity by lending us a hand when we need them. They offer genuine help even in small ways because they care. But other people’s mentality is inadequate that it turned out to be unpleasant to give a small amount of assistance because for them, it is an insult for the victims. Imagine a situation where you see a beggar along the street, he is an old man looking so pale and hungry. Would you bother to stop by and give this less fortunate man some food or coins and help him? For me, I would because I know that every peso counts and it could fulfil an old man’s stomach. Even the smallest thing could add up and mean the world to him. That little thing could be the biggest and best thing. Reflect on it. Stop complaining because the world owes you nothing, you are in charge of your own life and you cannot be a leader if you behave like a victim. Let us believe in humanity, we should be grateful and contented for everything that we have for we are more than blessed compared to other people in this world. Stop complaining and be satisfied because life is too short to ignore millions of chances along the way and wake up with regrets.

VICtorious Scribe

Vicente Quimbo Jr.

IF THE BLIND CAN SEE

Imagine a situation where a blind person asks you of how our world looks like today, how will you answer the question? Would you lie or just tell the truth? Our world is constantly changing; many reports said that is has been at the brink of destruction, it is quite alarming that we should take responsibility of it. We are fortunate to see how it looks like: we are privileged to live in it. But it is sad to say that we forgot to continually care for it. Blind people are incapable to see what we could- it is literally bad, though they have an optical disability, they can feel and visualize what is happening by observing the environment and it is adverse. People do not even realize that global problems are critical issues that cause harm to uspeople who are not blind and even for those who are. The blind is wishing for a visual acuity to see what the world gives color to life. But then, we might fail their expectations. Mountains are bald, oceans are unpleasantly green, air is dark and trash is everywhere. Pretty much sure, blind people will not wish to have it nor want to see and feel it, for what is the purpose of having a good view when you can perceive a world of uncertainties. Perhaps they would rather be blind again, avoiding themselves to suffer from environmental issues and visual impairment, and it is a total burden for them, not being selfdirected. People that are capable should impart a heroic deeds, benevolence and love to nature in their own little ways, it will surely create change, it will not just help a specific person but it has a domino effect for all. We do not have valid reasons not to do so as we are capable to do an action beyond what we could imagine, we should take one step towards addressing such environmental issues. We should be vocal and constructive towards the problem. Let us not confuse the blind people because even if they can’t see, they can feel what we can see today.

Insecurus Jastin Jay Cachola OUR INDIGENOUS WORLDVIEW OF NATURE

At some point of your life, do you come with the thought that our Earth and its accoutrements only exist for our sake and for no intrinsic reason? Somehow, did you perceive nature and its natural resources and beings merely exist for consumption and utilization? If yes, then you need to be reminded again on what is our indigenous worldview of nature. Indigenous worldview to nature can be manifested through the different Indigenous Cultural Communities or mga lumad here in Bukidnon. Their perceptions toward nature lies a great respect for it as what we can see to their ways of life, symbols, literatures, rituals and even songs. You can say that they are in the humble position by being sensitive to their environment, by having admirable humility to nature, and by being comfortable as one along with the different forms of life to the place they live in. But, we are currently driven by changes that ignore the perspective of how we should look and act to nature. Our mindsets are being shifted to the remarkable technological changes and innovations without knowing that we are being put over by modernization to contradictions of nature. I am not trying to say that adaptation of modern innovations only complicate things, it is just that because of these, we tend to forget our indigenous worldview of nature which is an authentic idea on how we become one and responsible to the place we live in. Sometimes, we are good at saying great contributions without even doing simple actions that could benefit everyone. Yes, life is full of practicalities but having a concern only for ourselves and having superior perspective over the otherthan-human-beings will possibly lead us to destruction. We should now wake up from the hypnosis of what we think as remarkable. Our indigenous worldview of nature could provoke a creation of innovative decisions along with the emergence of modern technology with holistic alignment to our very own nature.