August 28th, 2007
Unshapen
What's weird about blog entries is you get to somehow see how unshapen you were as a person then.. It sort of somehow gives you that retrospective view on things.. on how you reacted, on how you thought of things then.. and somehow makes you reflect on who you are now.
I know the best testament of change in myself is the people who have grown with me.. near or far. And once in a while there is a need for you to revisit those who have planted roots some roots in your life, and ask them how have you grown as a person. And that I want to do really soon.
Why? Well, its just because I have been living in this planet for almost over 1/3 of my life -- well, studies show women live upto about 75 -- and I guess I want to make sure that the next 25 years I will be spending here will be spent as a person who has grown for the better from the experiences of the past 24 years.
And second, I want to find a cause-- a real cause that's close to my heart and feasible for me to do. Of course I won't be making as much difference as I would want to--yet anyway, but as early as now, I'm sure there's a cause that's waiting for me. Waiting for me to fight it, to stand up for it.
I only have two more years before I *pray* become a lawyer (well, 3 actually, if you count the 6 months excruciating waiting period for the bar results).. and well, ayokong pabanjing banjing lang talaga. I mean, there are soooo many people taking the bar nowadays.. haay.. andami nang abogado noh? I guess, I just haven't given it much thought kung san ako after.
Of course, I plan to study abroad.. but study what?
I remember this island in Camiguin. Its called Mantigue Island. Just a little white sand island, with I guess maybe 5-10 houses all full of Mantigues. I mean, they'r all relatives. They said that their grandfather discovered the island and has since been occupying it as their own. Although there is no potable water on the island, the Mantigues continued to establish their domicile there for more than 3o years now..
I knew this since when we went there, there was a donation box being passed around. Roger Mantigue was a teacher who built a tiny school to teach the children in that island. He asked where we were from and eventually he learned that we were studying law.. and so the questions flooded us. Could the state validly evict them from the island because the Gov't planned to establish a mini boracay? Were they considered legally the owners of the land? Would we help them? There was already an order to vacate the island, should they follow?
Until now, Roger Mantigue texts me to inform me of the developments in Camiguin. Of course all I could tell them was to approach a lawyer. But up until now, they couldn't find one that would help them.
In the legal point of view, it is what some people say, a lost cause. give them to the activists.
After being captivated by the beauty of Mantigue, I vowed to make it my cause. To research on all the rights of the Mantigues. But, shamefully, after a few weeks, the excitement died. I was already unaffected by it all. Of course, there is a twinge of guilt whenever Roger texts me, updates me. Even more when my standard reply has always been to seek out a lawyer.
I guess, I'm just scared that this has, in more than one way, shown my character and who i will be as a lawyer.. or i-OA lang ning ako kay gi-PMS ko?! :p