Without knowing it, November has ended so fleetingly. And it ended with big national issues. I am certain that these issues would still have their ripples or even progressing big waves until the last month of the year. December is generally considered a merry month but I am a bit unconvinced if it would really be merry for all of us. I hope it would be for truly, it would depend on how we handle the situation: if we would really be drowned with so much frustrations and negativity, or take time to relish the spirit of the season. It's all our choice.
For some, it is still difficult to feel the coming of the season for they are still bombarded with news that polarize us. But it is precisely the reason of Christmas – for people to have a change of heart. A heart that is willing to pave the way for forgiveness and peace. But forgiveness does not necessary mean forgetting. And what do I mean by not forgetting are the lessons of the past.
One realization of such a change of heart is when we experience the passing of a loved one, a close friend, or a colleague. It is then we can realize that just like a thief of the night, death comes in a much unexpected time and manner. The death of my colleague in UP-Cebu, Mr. Reginald Michael Quirong, has struck me, especially since we had great moments together last Saturday with our respective students' activities. The day before his death was just like any ordinary day. We parted ways and clueless to what was in store for us next. I treated him as my younger brother, even a son, for his down-to-earth personality was just beyond compare. That fateful Wednesday, as The Freeman's Opinion editor, I texted him few hours before the deadline for the submission of my article so he could wait for my article (I was still judging a lantern making contest). But there was no response from him which was so unusual. Later, I received the sad news from the editor-in-chief that Regie passed away (his family said he died in his sleep).
I know there is always an end to everything. It is just that we sometimes would want to hang on to something and so we have difficulty of moving on. And sometimes it is still difficult to talk about Christmas as our hearts are still filled with angst, frustrations, and negativity. Or after a storm, can't we just pause for awhile and think of other things that also matter to us?
The past month has been characterized by collective concerns but on a personal level, it has brought me so many goings-on. For one, UPSTAGE is privileged to have been invited in an International Art Festival in Jogjakarta, Indonesia before this year ends. Second is the holding of the Mugna Film Festival 2016 for my Humanities 1 classes. Last December 1 was the Theater Festival 2016 of my Theater 10 class which brought so much joy and fulfilment for my students. Though it was a challenging experience for them, it provided them with the opportunity to grow as better individuals. Another is an invitation from the Mindanao State University's cultural office for a crash program on teaching theater and stagecraft on December 14-17. And lastly, I received an invitation from the Province of Cebu to attend the Cebu Film Stakeholders' Consultation Forum on December 6 which aims to create an ordinance establishing the Cebu Film commission. I am looking forward to this undertaking as this hopefully would pave a way for the creation of a commission that would be tasked to flesh out some operating guidelines and policies for a local film industry. And hopefully, a determined direction would be tracked for we don't want to be good only at the initial stages. And so with all these positive start, I just hope that December would offer good things not only for me but for others as well. So it would truly live up to its spirit of being a merry month.