DEBRIZZE: Of Confidence and Strength by Poetry Planet Magazine

February 14, 2022

ISSN: 2799-0540

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DEBRIZZE Of Confidence and Strength VALINTINE’S DAY

The Administration Team Marites C. Ritumalta Chief Administrator Gigi Balita Tanushi Singh Antara Bose Jeffrey Cejero Vicki Hangren Hauler Moderators/Conductors Elmer Buduan Gamulo Odum Kingsford Maria Dulce Leitao Reis Marvin Omosemen Pamela Tennant Evaluators Marie Ezekiel Ruth Alfar Editors Vee Barnes Marites Ritumalta Ailenemae Ramos Tanushi Singh Columnists

TABLE OF CONTENTS Featured Artist-

Debrizze P. Basilio

DEBRIZZE:Of Confidence and Strength-------3 THE POWER WITHIN------------------------------6 Printed and Published by: Poetry Planet Book Publishing House Rosario Pozorrubio Pangasinan 2435 Email: maritesritumalta@gmail.com Contact number: 09554960044 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher/author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

ACKNOWLEDEMENT Images Copyright By: TRYME Studio Red Lenses Marissa Padirayon

A MESSAGE OF HOPE-----------------------------9 INA----------------------------------------------------16 NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES---------------17 ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN; Every Child Should be a Reader---------------------------------------20 The MQP Legacy--------------------------------22 METAMORPHOSIS------------------------------25 ILOG-------------------------------------------------28

DEBRIZZE

Of Confidence and Strength

Sometimes,

we find our strength from our imperfections. I have witnessed someone embody this beautiful line. I am a witness of her wonderful metamorphosis from a young girl into a full-fledged lady. I have seen her cry after being bullied, and have seen her regain her confidence, resurge, and succeed. Debrizze, the youngest daughter of Hon. Marissa Q. Padirayon of Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, was born with bilateral cleft lip, a common birth defect in which a baby's lip doesn't form properly, resulting in clefts on both sides of the lip. This imperfection of Debrizze did not make her less, rather, it ignited the love of her mother for her. It was not pity but genuine love. "Seeing my child with that defect did not discourage me. Instead, it fueled me to do my part as a mother. Immediately, I consulted the doctor so that she will undergo an operation immediately. No matter how expensive it costs, it did not matter. My daughter Debrizze is priceless and my love for her knows no boundaries. That is a mother's love," said Hon. Padirayon in an interview. She added that it is more painful to see her daughter struggling with bullies. Yes, she was bullied because of her imperfections. At an early age, she was not excused from the harsh and judgemental society. She was emotionally hurt by painful words. However, Debrizze remained strong despite all these miseries. She remained strong like her mother.

I have never seen someone as positive as Debrizze. She took the painful words as motivation to improve herself. Though painful, she was taught by her mother to always look at the positive side of life. She said, "I cannot just give up. Life is full of challenges. I admit that I was hurt by their words, but it would be more painful for me not to fight. My mother and my sister are fighting for me. They are always at my back. They are my sources of strength. If I give up, it is just like rejecting all their efforts for me. I need to be strong because they are standing strong for me."

These

touching words are music to the ears. Indeed, Debrizze is an optimistic person. She was never discouraged by negative criticisms. Instead, she even became more confident to face life. Despite her physical deformity, she did not stop to showcase her talents. She became a dancer, a model, and now a Grade 12 student at the WCC Aeronautical and Technological College-Binalonan Campus. She was never afraid to spread her wings to follow her dreams. Now that she is 18, she just needs one more operation before she can free herself from her inborn imperfection. One of these days, she can flash that sweet smile of victory. One day, she can share that contagious smile to others, and be an inspiration to all. Truly, life is not perfect. However, if we know how to embrace our flaws, to keep our confidence, and to exemplify courage and strength, no adversity could ever defeat us. No matter how hard the situation is, with confidence and strength, we can overcome it. Be like Debrizze. Do not be discouraged by your imperfections. Take them as inspiration to improve yourself. She will always be a woman to behold, a woman of inspiration, a woman of confidence and strength. 5

The Power Within by Debrizze P. Basilio

Dauntless... This is a short but powerful word which should serve as a value to uphold during these times. As the proliferation of fake news and the spread of political issues and controversies started, we have nothing to do but to remain dauntless - to be brave enough to seek for truth and to stand strong and firm with your principles. 6

The media and the social media are both powerful avenues in the delivery of information most especially during these times of the pandemic. Since the gradual paradigm shifting from print materials to digital forms, people of all ages, especially the youth, shifted to online media and social media platforms to be updated with the latest news. And so, it is therefore necessary to deeply scrutinize whether the information we encounter on these platforms are authentic or not. As shown in surveys, Filipinos do spend a lot of their time browsing Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms daily. It is through these platforms that they are able to see political advertisements, political posts, and the like. While it is true that the affectivity of these social media platforms in the delivery of information is very fast, we cannot deny the fact that one of its challenges is that some have used it negatively in the spread of fake information. Thus, this has become the problem. Those reading these fake information are being misinformed and the worst is that they are misguided. 7

And so, as a reflection, I hope that we become intelligent and responsible users of social media. Before we believe into things that we read on social media, we have to check first on the credibility of the author, organization or website that published the said article. Also, we should not be blinded with sugar-coated promises of politicians in their political advertisement. Instead we have to check their merits and accomplishments. Our right to suffrage is a priceless thing. It will determine our future. And so, we have to unleash that power within, our intellect that made us more superior than any other animals of their kind. In this challenging, fooling, and confusing world, what is left to us is our dauntless spirit to stand for truth. At the end of the day, our power within makes us dauntless beings. 8

A MESSAGE OF HOPE By Debrizze P. Basilio

“My golden heart to offer my beloved family never tarnished.” 9

“There is always a ray of hope. Let us turn darkness into bright colors of hope.” “In these trying times of the Covid-19 pandemic, my life's most important purpose is to give my family and loved ones my time.”.

“One of the best-selling books

I had read and had inspired me is Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. The said book highlights the value of time in relationships. According to it, time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it.”

“You can make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back.”

“Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time. Thus, I know that my greatest purpose is to share my time, my life, to the people who are important to me.”

“Before the pandemic had caused a global dilemma, I never felt the importance of having close family ties, I never appreciated eating with my family, and I never realized the value of our families. It is only now that I fully appreciate the beauty of having a harmonious relationship with your family. The restrictions set by the lockdown had allowed and strengthened genuine rapport among Filipino families.”

“I admit that though sometimes, I become too busy. However, my golden heart to offer my beloved family never tarnished. Instead, I became even more passionate to love them even more, to dedicate my time and myself for them, and to celebrate the beauty of life with them.”

NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES Debrizze P. Basilio

According to Debi Mazar, a hero is somebody who is selfless, who is generous in spirit, who just tries to give back as much as possible and help people. A hero to me is someone who saves people and who really deeply cares. This beautiful definition of a hero is always reverberating in my heart. Contrary to our traditional definition of a hero wearing capes and with special powers, my hero is just a simple person with extraordinary deeds that inspired me to be the best version of my self. I met my hero the day when I was born. As a young little girl, I was very innocent then but I could vividly remember how loving and caring she was to me. Whenever she goes, she brings me as a companion. Likewise, her generosity had been her identity to me. She is so generous that she would buy me shoes and clothes.

Her little acts of kindness were enough to convince me that she is truly a hero. Most especially, how will I forget her when he exerted unconditional love and care to rescue me from a possible danger. The dark memoirs of yesterday's bullies remind me of how great she was. She defended me from the harsh world. So, I am here keeping high respect on her. I don't know how could I ever repay her kindness to me.

If God will have to grant me one wish- I would ask Him to give this hero more lives to live. With my hero, I feel safe, secured and loved. As what was stated in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Thus, I would say that I am always ready to conquer my fear to fight for my hero- my loving mom. I will always be here for you through thick or thin. I love you to the moon and back. 19

ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN Every Child Should be a Reader Debrizze P. Basilio

The world is a vast universe of mysteries we need to discover. It is a world of unending mysteries and controversial questions. A world which we unlock through a magical process called reading. 20

Why do we need to read? What is its importance and impact to us? The answer could be subdivided into 5 important ideas. First and foremost, reading is fundamental to functioning in today's society. It is the basic tool of human interaction and understanding. The inability to read would restrict one to successfully mingle with peers. Thus, it is through reading that the society works in great balance and harmony. Second, reading is a vital skill in finding a good job. Most jobs require reading as a qualification. There are reports and communication forms in which one must read and respond. A person is limited in what he can accomplish without good reading and comprehension skills. If you are a good reader, your job shall be smoothsailing. The third importance of reading is that it develops the mind. The mind is a muscle. It needs exercise. Understanding the written word is one way the mind grows in its ability. It develops one's language skills and helps one to learn and to listen. Reading helps people focus on what someone else is communicating.

The fourth importance is that it helps one discover new things. Books, magazines and even the internet are great learning tools which require the ability to read and understand what is read. A person who knows how to read can educate himself in any field of endeavor they are interested in. We live in a modern age where we overflow with information, but reading is the main way to take advantage of it. Lastly, reading develops the imagination. If you can read, you can be a king, an adventurer, or anything else you would like to become. The possibilities are endless. Non-readers never experience these joys to the same extent.

I hope that all children grow up to be good readers so that they will be a step closer to their dreams.

The MQP Legacy (Hon. Marissa Q. Padirayon's introduction in the virtual awarding ceremony for the Outstanding Local Legislator 2021 Awards by Superbrand Marketing International, Inc. last December 29, 2021) Magnanimity. Quality. Passion. These core values make up the versatile and visionary leader Vice Mayor Marissa Quindica Padirayon of the municipality of Sanchez Mira, province of Cagayan. She is the first lady vice mayor of the town, and is known for her great advocacy for humane, transparent, and participatory governance. Her first term of leadership had focused on environmental protection and sustainability, educational support and assistance to the youth, and provision of equal opportunities and health services to people. Though in the legislative body of the government, she worked with passion and dedication in order to go beyond expectations to deliver first-hand services to her constituents. Life for her was not always a bed of roses. When she was 15 years old, her father died which left her family a lot of challenges and struggles. However, her determination to pursue her dreams did not come to a halt. She persevered in order to finish her elementary education at the Namuac Elementary School in 1980, and her secondary education at the Namuac Academy in 1984. She continued her college education at the Mariano Marcos State University in Laoag City with her course in Radio Communication Operator and then became a licensed first-class radiotelephony. She also graduated with the degree Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Management at the Southern Philippines Institute of Science and Technology in 2006, and finished her short course in Introduction to Excellence in Local Legislation at the College of Public Administration and Governance of the University of the Philippines- Diliman in 2019.

Before becoming the municipal vice mayor of her town, she had various work experiences that honed her to be the best version of herself. She worked as a radio operator at the Metrobank Head Office from the years 1989 to 1991; communications equipment operator at the Government Service Insurance System from the years 1991 to 2006; and full time business woman and real estate developer from the years 2007 to 2018. 22

Not to forget, she had donated thousands of reading materials to various public schools in her town.

In her first term as vice mayor of Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, she was able to stop mining operations, specifically quarrying activities inside the municipality in order to protect and preserve the environment. She had also participated in tree planting and environmental conservation projects. She believes that a true leader should be a steward of the environment, and should serve as a role model in the protection of our rich “flora and fauna species”.

In the midst of the pandemic, her love and support to her constituents also continued as she had helped them avail of medical assistance. Some Covid19 patients have received financial help from her. Also, her office showed strong support in handling and addressing the Covid19 pandemic through encouraging people to get vaccinated and to strictly follow health protocols set by the IATF. She believed in the importance of public health as a foundation of a successful and progressive nation.

Another notable accomplishment of Vice Mayor Padirayon is her unfaltering love to the people through the delivery of various humanitarian and outreach activities. She has been visible at all times most especially during times of calamities and disasters. She works first-hand in order to address the needs of her constituents even if available funds are insufficient. She is a natural philanthropist for she even spends her own money in order to help people in need. In her term as vice mayor, she had initiated various relief operations, feeding programs, gift-giving activities, medical assistance, and the like. Her love and support to the youth is also a signature mark of Vice Mayor Padirayon. Through her partnership with Congresswoman Sam Vargas Alfonso, she was able to deliver educational assistance to poor but deserving students of her municipality. Also, her unwavering support to the endeavors of the Department of Education is very evident for she was consistently gracing their invitations and requests. 23

Furthermore, Vice Mayor Padirayon is an advocate of transparency and equality. Her office is transparent to all transactions and public records. This best practice has elevated the people’s trust ratings to the Local Government Unit. More so, her advocacy to protect Senior Citizens' and Person with Disabilities’ rights is truly commendable. She had also published her own book titled “The Leader in You'' which highlights her leadership principles, an anthology of her speeches in various community activities she attended, and her noble accomplishments. Aside from these accomplishments, she is a proud mother of two future pilots – Dezza Jeyn her eldest who just passed her Private Pilot License Board Examination, and Debrizze who is currently a freshman student of the same course at WCC Aeronautical and Technological College in Binalonan, Pangasinan.

As a proof of her great leadership, she was featured in the 2021 Special Year-end Issue of Poetry Planet International Magazine. This is a signification that she is a woman of substance and a leader worthy of emulation. Going back to the core values of her leadership, she is indeed a woman of magnanimity. Her generosity and compassion to others had been her trademark; her visionary and participatory leadership resulted in quality governance; and her passion as a leader made her to be the best version of a leader she is today.

To God be all the glory!

METAMORPHOSIS Debrizze P. Basilio

I remember a famous line from inspirational author Dana Arcuri and I quote, "similar to a butterfly, I've gone through a metamorphosis, been released from my dark cocoon, embraced my wings, and soared!"

This line summarizes my life. I've been through a lot of challenges but here I am now, trying my best to achieve my dreams. The hardships I experienced made me a stronger and better person. Eighteen years ago, I was just like a tiny caterpillar in a strange land. I was born in a simple family but was fed with desirable values. 26

This young caterpillar evolved into a pupa, tightened by the chrysalis of life, but remained desirable to the eyes of people and God. I was born with a physical disability but it did not stop me from pursuing my dreams. I knew that the chrysalis of life is never permanent, it is just a part of a process of growing up into a better person. Today, as I look back to the yesteryears, I feel content and accomplished. There might be flaws in the metamorphosis but these make life perfect. 27

ILOG Debrizze P. Basilio Ang ilog ay patuloy sa pag-agos, kahit na mga karanasa'y naging kalunos-lunos. dinumihan, minaltrato, at sinirang lubos kaya ngayo'y nagdurusa, nagluluksa't naghihikahos! Bakit nagawa ito sa inosenteng ilog? Bakit nilapastangan ang obra maestrang kaloob ng Diyos? Di naisip na may mga buhay na nakapaloob sa dalisay na puso ng kawawang ilog! Minsa'y isipin mo at palaging isapuso, na ang ilog ang siyang nagsilang ng pag-asa at pagkatao, Dito rin sumibol ang mayamang kabihasnan mo at makulay na kultura mo!

“We are together in the voyage, and we will succeed as one. If we continue our great unity, no one will be left behind.” -Marissa Padirayon 29

-Marissa Padirayon

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I give my sincerest gratitude to the following people for making this dream a reality: my mother Marissa and sister DJ for being the winds beneath my wings; Sir Ronald Estabillo and Mr. Glenn Grospe for accommodating us to shoot at the Laoag International Airport; Kuya Darwin Paul Cabading for my hair and make-up; Ms. Mikmik Verbo for my wardrobe; Try Me Studio headed by Mr. Alain Garet Badiang for the amazing photography; Mrs. Tess Ritumalta for making the publication possible; and to God Almighty for His blessings and guidance. -Debrizze