mis-en-scene

February 18, 2007

the prolific writer, the great mentor, and the "suplado" member of the dlsu-com.arts faculty defined mis-en-scene in simple words, "It's what you put into a scene." 

creating a wonderfully-crafted scene in a film is of no easy task. a film creator needs a long-ranging vision to come-up with something that can be considered a classic.

on feb. 16, a day i'd never forget, tita marie–interestingly, not a film director–was able to create that mis-en-scene. when she brought back members of my batch to talk for the 3rd year career orientation. this event has always been the project of my h.s. alma mater's guidance office, which she leads for over a decade. 

two weeks prior to feb. 16, i received a text message from her. she was requesting me to talk during the career orientation. i was hesitant after a mediocre talk i had two years ago. but there was a part in me pushing to grab that opportunity to vindicate myself.

more than that self-serving purpose, it was, i thought, a chance for me to teach the young minds and the innocent hearts of the damers. also, a reason to invite batchmates for that impromptu reunion. 

when tita marie asked me to help her with the "invitation," i didn't hesitate to send the numbers of my st.eugene family. but then, i suggested to her that she should also invite members of the other classes. after all, i argued, it was not only members of st. eugene who made it great right after we stepped out of high school.

i've been hearing a lot of positive things about arjan aguirre (UST, AB-Pol.Sci; ADMU, MA in AB-Pol.Sci), a perennial bully when we were both in g.s. and h.s. that's why i decided to trace his number. next potential speaker, jolhsun villacorte (UST, AB-Philo; ADMU, MA in AB-Philo), a once-shy student who only thought of playing basketball back in our notre days. i also invited dahkem arzola (who went out of the OMI seminary after two years and now an HRM professor at CEU), a dear friend of mine. cousins kathy cruz (UST, BS - Food Tech) and raymond cruz both didn't make it there. although, we met up with the former afterwards. representing st. eugene '01 were johann marie lopez (UP, BS-Architecture), donald manlapaz  (UST, BS-Physical Therapy), gil carlos mostoles (UP, BS - Electrical Engineering), and amethys joy ajoc (UP, BS - Psychology. (amethys talked ahead of us). these people were gracious enough to accept the invitation and be a part of the "pep talk," which according to them, the first time it occured in a career orientation. 

(*although russel archival escasenas (CEU, BS-Sec. Education), didn't join the pep talk, we met up with him. he's already teaching in St. Mary's Academy - Caloocan (formerly, Our Lady of Grace Academy), just beside our school). 

it was, surprisingly, a perfect group of people. different backgrounds, different lives, all with interesting stories to tell.

i was so proud especially when arjan and jolhsun were telling their stories.

i couldn't believe my eyes that these two boys who had way different lives back in our notre days, were telling inspiring stories to these children.

we had a successful talk. an understatement. in the final analysis, that talk could be considered a success if the children learned from us. 

what made tears to incessantly flow from my eyes, was when i saw my former advisers. i even saw my kinder 1 adviser — miss de castro (now, mrs. lumagui). she was my first-ever teacher when i first stepped in the academic world in 1989! and she is still in notre dame!!! what a surreal encounter!

well, i met a lot of my adviser back in grade school. even one of my favorite guidance counsilors, ate emy.

i had a heart-wrecking talk with my former adviser,ms. gentica (year 3, st. augustine) now, mrs. asis, who told me about her three-year old angel who succumbed to lukemia.

it was a talk that  i was, literally, a mess. 

well, i should put a halt on this. otherwise, i'd cry again.

let me share with you the things i told the kids.

just a transcript of the things i told them. 

thanks to tita marie, really, for the opportunity!

 

Hi, good morning every one!

Well, I’m Benedict T. Navarro, a true-blue Damer. Just to give you a hint of how young I am, I sat on those chairs when you were, correct me if I’m wrong, in the third grade. Holy Moses! This is a realization for me. Anyway, it’s not a distant past. It’s still quite recent, isn’t?

Moving on, so much about the age gap…

My dear students, I actually prepared something for you. At first, I thought it was not necessary but, then again, I realized that things like this may be a goldmine or a landmine to each and every one of you listening to me.

When I was preparing for this morning’s talk, I gave myself a choice—shall I burst your bubble and give you a picture of the jungle out there or shall I provide you with something that will lift your hearts and spirits for the future that awaits you.

I chose neither of the two. I want to be honest with you.

So, are you guys ready to listen? I just want to hear that commitment that you guys will be with me until the end.

I know for the past hours you’ve been hearing big words such as college education, hoping for the future, security, yada-yada…

I want to talk about superheroes, how’s that for a topic? Do you like that?

Let me ask you a question, and I’ll give you ten seconds to think for an answer: Given the chance, if you were a superhero or a mutant, what kind of power would you like to have?

<<<answered questions>>>

Wow! I received interesting answers.

Have you guys ever wondered of how is it like to have a power?
Hove you ever dreamed of having a power?
Have you ever thought you might have a power and you just don’t know you have it?

Let me tell you, you have a lot of powers inside you. It’s a matter of tapping them and turning them into something tangible.

1^st power: the power to choose.

When I was a high school student, although I knew that I wanted to become a broadcast journalist, I felt I wasn’t fit to become one. I didn’t read the newspaper on the daily basis. I didn’t have the courage that field reporters have. I didn’t get high grades in my essays. I had a lot of self-confidence issues, which I still have right now. But through hard-work, perseverance, and determination, I came to realize that, “Hey, I’m a person capable of doing things; ergo, I am capable of becoming whoever I want to be…”  If the poorest of the poor and the dumbest of the dumb can change their destinies and make them something great, why can’t I?

Ladies and gentlemen, realize that you have the POWER OF CHOICE. How to maximize it? Highlight your strengths and identify your weaknesses. I know highlighting ones strengths is an easy task. But accepting that you have weaknesses, it’s not a drop in the bucket. It’s difficult. It’s a human nature to consistently be in denial—be it in sexual preferences, in romantic issues, a death in the family, in accepting that you failed something, etc. Denial is almost always the first thing you do. But I want you to dare yourself. Know your strengths and harness them. Then, identify your weaknesses and turn them to your advantage.

Let me give you an example, as a person I am a passionate one. Once a certain project starts, and if I like it, expect I can give 200% to it. However, I’m a perennial ningas kugon. My attention span is so short. Even if I terribly love doing a project, when that ningas kugon sickness hits me, boom…everything dwindles. Expect a downward curve from my energy. Your algebra teacher will tell you that a positive integer combined with a negative one will cancel everything.

Once I identified it, I made a plan. But don’t get me wrong—I wasn’t like, “Ano ba gagawin ko dito?” No, it wasn’t like that.  It was a difficult struggle and a gradual process. Until now, I’m still struggling.

That’s why I’m in the field of events management. My friends and I started this group, which allows us to handle various corporate events such as recognition programs, international conventions, business meetings, etc.

In organizing events, it only takes us a week or a month at the most to finish the job. After which, we can say “bye-bye” to it and move on. I have this affair with anything that deals with creative stuff. See, there’s the passion thing going on. Then, the time span for each event is short enough for me to cheat my weakness, which is ningas kugon. Before it attacks me, we’re already starting another one.

Get my point?

I know you have a lot of doubts, fears, self-confidence issues, etc. I tell you, you’re not the only one who has those things. I, myself, am not an exception.

You have the choice. Will you allow those weaknesses to haunt you for the rest of your life? Or will you extinguish them and start a trailblazing journey towards a fulfilled life? Again, the choice is yours to make.

You guys are actually more powerful than the superheroes and the mutants. They are at the mercy of their animators, cartoonist, producers, directors, etc. But you…you have the freedom of choice.  And you can alter your destiny forever with that choice.

Moving on to the next one—the power of information.

Have you ever wondered why those professionals—lawyers, doctors, journalists, stock brokers, etc.—are always paid the highest price?

It’s because they have the information.  Lawyers have the information of how to defend the rights of their clients. Doctors have the information of healing the sick. Journalists have the information of what’s happening in the society. Stock brokers know if the economy is in good shape or not.

One thing is common about them—they all have the information.

You might ask me, what does it have to do with me, I’m still a student.

As early as now, collect as much information as you can. Read books, articles, newspapers, journals, etc. Listen to experts—to your teachers, especially.

You guys are lucky. Why? Because you are here, in this revered institution. Don’t waste whatever your parents are spending just for you to be educated by Notre Dame. A lot of other kids are willing to pay the price just to be seated where you are seated now; unfortunately, they don’t have the financial machinery to be here. They are out there selling newspapers and old bottles. They are sweeping the roads. They are in dark alleys waiting for alms.

My dear children, you will NOT forever be in that position. That’s why I’m telling you, while you’re still in it, maximize it.

Enjoy being educated. Enjoy the lessons and the learning you’re getting. What you have here will be your passport to have a better life.

Few nights ago, I was on the phone with a batchmate of mine. Actually, he just spoke to you a while ago. We were talking about our lives in this school. He was in the middle of his passionate and eloquent speech when he said he regrets the life he led in high school. I then reacted. I told him it’s a sign of weakness. Well, he opposed my view. He explained to me that it’s not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, with all due respect to him—‘coz I respect him, truly—regretting is a sign that the past still is haunting you. And you shouldn’t let your past haunt you. Learn the lessons of the past. Enjoy the present. And hope for a brighter tomorrow. Oh well, that’s how I deal with this so-called, life.

And why I’m telling you this?

I want you to know that, like you and that batchmate of mine,I didn’t live a perfect life in this school. Hell, no! God knows there are a lot of things I should regret. But I always tell myself, and it may sound cliché, my past has made me to what I am now. It has prepared me to become the person that will rise above the challenges.

I know that I should not occupy my mind with things that are bygones.

And how do I know that? Because, I’ve learned it.

As young as you are right now, equip yourself with the learning that will prepare yourself for the blows of life. The lessons you’ve learned will serve as your survival kit when you go out in the jungle.

My fellow damers, there is a power brewing in each and every one of you—whether you’re in the cream class or not—the power of choice and the power of education.

You might be intimidated of those elements of power. In due time, you’ll realize what I’m telling you. And when that time comes, what I want you to do is to be a responsible keeper of that power.

Power in itself is a goldmine or a landmine. It can make or break you and the people that surround you. At the end of the day, you have the choice. Use it as a goldmine or a landmine?

As Superman’s uncle—Uncle Ben—says, “Great power comes great responsibility.”

Again, the power lies in you.

Thank you very much!

***

Tita marie, once again, thank you for this experience!

*sparkles!