Passionately Valerie

Matapos ang isang unos, matapos ang isang pagtutuos mga luha sa batisan ay patuloy na aagos at ngiti sa labi ko’y maaaninag kasabay ng mapagkalinga mong haplos Mga salitang mamumutawi sa bibig tila ba mga mahalimuyak na bulaklak, magbibgay galak sa damdaming busilak, magbibgay ganyak sa kapaligiran kong payak Ang minimithing liwanag, mula sa madilim na sulok ng isipan na aking binihag, mga malungkot na alaalang dati sa aki’y bumitag Tulad ng pitong kulay ng isang bahag-hari, katahimikang hatid ng payapang isipan ang mamamayani, sa puso ko nawa’y manatili upang sa gayo’y maligtas sa naranasang pagkasawi. Valerie May M. Cruz November 23, 2008

Maligayang Bati Dad (Para sa Nalalapit mong ika-63 na Kaarawan) Isang pagpupugay sa minamahal kong ama Sandigan kong tunay, tungkod ko ng pag-asa Sa paglipas ng mga taon; tikas at tindig angat pa rin sa iba Hangga’t hanggan runong at husay ay damang dama Kanyang isipan at mga kamay palagiang nagsusumikap Pagmamalasakit; pagmamahal sa ina ko’t sa aki’y kumikislap Kaya pasasalamat ko’y nag-umaapaw, tumatagos sa mga puting alapaap Sa puso ko tunay siyang walang kapantay maging sa hinaharap Ama kong mapagkalinga na sa aki’y laging umaagapay Salita’y di sasapat upang ako sa iyo ay magpugay Iyong pagkalinga sa akin mula pagsilang ay walang humpay Aking tatanawing malaking utang na loob, panghabang buhay Sa nalalapit at natatangi mong kaarawan ngayong buwan Payak na mga letra’y siyang tangi kong nakayanan Kasama ang hangga’t hanggang pagmamahal ko para sa ‘yo Nawa sa iyo’y magbigay ngiti at pumukaw sa iyong puso Isinulat ni: Valerie May M. Cruz

While reading my sources for my master’s thesis, I came across with one of Camilo Osias’ beautiful speeches. It has considerably touched my heart for it talked about something that is very personal to me. Although he delivered it during the 50s I consider it classic and timeless. Although I am not a lawyer or a law student even, my dream of becoming one is still unwavering. It gave me a deeper anchor and footing on why I dream of becoming one, he added it with a flavorful ingredient of love of country. I am thankful that I was able to read it. I am sharing it to those who dream of becoming a lawyer too someday ^_^ Speaking of Lawyers: Commencement exercises of the Philippine Law School April 8, 1951 By Camilo Osias-Educator, Legislator, Statesman “To be a lawyer is to be a leader. Intelligent leadership demands performing the duties and shouldering the responsibilities of citizenship. Ordinary citizens look up to a leader, and to merit their respect and confidence he must lead his fell...

How did life become so serious? Hmmm well I’d say just now. I am not saying this to complain, I simply want to ask it to the world and leave my questioning to hit someone with a giant question mark. (?) I thought that I didn’t seem to miss high school that much when I became a college student until recently. College provided less restrictions and regulations in terms of self-expression, values and faith. Freedom on one hand is not alone, it comes with great responsibilities. When I was granted with more freedom my responsibilities became greater as well. It multiplied twice, thrice and higher. Graduation came along; I became an adult granted with greater freedom and definitely with greater responsibilities. The only more serious thing about responsibility is actually being responsible. To have so many choices and options and still decide to choose the right thing, the valued decision, the moral, the upright. Then suddenly freedom became a serious matter. Little by little I reminisced m...

THERE HE WAS STANDING STILL EVEN IF HE WAS SURROUNDED WITH MAN IN STEEL SADNESS AND BETRAYAL IS ALL THAT HE FEELS BUT THE LAST THING IN HIS MIND`WAS TO KILL OUR NATION WAS CUT INTO HALF BY CRISIS AND PROBLEMS THAT ARE SO TOUGH PEACEFULNESS AND UNITY ARE SO FAR AWAY AS IF OUR COUNTRY WOULDN’T EVEN LAST A DAY THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS TO SAY THAT WAS NEVER SAID AND HAD FADED AWAY WORDS THAT MUST HAVE PREVENTED ALL THESE MOCKERY AND COULD HAVE POSSIBLY STOPPED ALL THESE FALLACY THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE GREEN WITH ENVY TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE GIVEN A COURTESY LIKE THIS MAN STANDING STILL AGAINST ALL THESE INSANITY AS I SALUTE TO HIM WITH HEAD UP HIGH I LOOK UP TO HIM HIGH IN THE SKY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT BENEATH ALL THESE IS EITHER TRUTH OR COVERED LIES VALERIE MAY MONTEMAYOR CRUZ

HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF LOST? LOST IN THE MIDST OF DEEP THINKING CAPTIVATED BY THE SHALLOW IMAGINATIONS OF THE MIND HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF CHASING YOUR THOUGHTS? THOUGHTS THAT ARE LIKE THE LEAVES BLOWN BY THE STRONG WIND LIKE A PAPERBOAT FLOWING IN THE RIVER’S CURRENTS LIKE A PARASAIL THAT CROSSES THE SEA WITH NO EXACT COURSE HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF CHASING YOUR THOUGHTS? LIKE THE STORM THAT CHANGES DIRECTION CONSTANTLY OR THE VOLCANO THAT ERRUPTS ABRUPTLY AN EARTHQUAKE THAT CAUSES AFTERSCHOCKS HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF CHASING YOUR THOUGHTS? ARE THESE THE TRAGEDY THAT WE AS HUMANS HAVE? THE THOUGHT ITSELF THAT WE HAVE IN HAND IS UNCONTAINABLE AS IF OUR THOUGHT HAS ITS OWN THINKING THEN IN THE END WE FIND OURSELVES BEING CHASED BY OUR OWN THOUGHTS…. WRITTEN AND CREATED BY: VALERIE MAY M. CRUZ UP DILIMAN BA HISTORY AUGUST 27, 2004

WHENEVER I NEED THE HEAVENLY FATHER I CLOSE MY EYES AND PUT MY PALMS TOGETHER I CALL ON HIS NAME AND NOTHING ELSE MATTER AND I TALK TO HIM IN THE POWER OF PRAYER IT HEALS MY WOUNDED HEART AND IT GIVES ME A BRAND NEW START AND IT GIVES My LIFE A SPARK WHENEVER I AM LOST IN THE DARK WHENEVER I SUFFER FROM MOCKERY PRAYER MAKES ME HEAR MELODY WHENEVER I AM LEAD INTO FALLACY IT SHOWS ME THE WAY TO HONESTY WHENEVER MY SKIES ARE GRAY AND MY HAERT IS FULL OF SORROW AND DISMAY AND WHENEVER I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY I CALL ON HIS HOLY NAME AND PRAY Written and created by: VALERIE MAY MONTEMAYOR CRUZ

THERE IS ONE PLACE THAT I ALWAYS DREAM OF BEYOND THE BLUE SKIES, BENEATH THE CLOUDS THAT ARE SO SOFT I ALWAYS WONDER WHAT THIS PLACE IS MADE OF THE RAINBOW IN THE SKY IS WHAT I ALWAYS THINK OF DIFFERENT COLORS THAT ARE PAINTED IN THE SKY THAT ALWAYS MAKE ME SAY, I WISH I COULD FLY IT MAKES MY SORROWS AND FRUSTRATIONS GO AWAY AND GIVES ME A NEW MEANINGFUL AND COLORFUL DAY IT SPARKLES AND SHINE UNDER THE BRIGHT YELLOW SUNHINE AGAINST THE SUN THAT FLOATS LIKE A YELLOW LIME EVERY MOMENT WILL BE TREASURED WITHOUT FEELING THE PRESENCE OF TIME SOMETHING THAT I CAN’T OWN BUT I WISH COULD BE MINE

TODAY WILL BECOME YESTERDAY TOMORROW WHAT WILL HAPPEN THE NEXT DAY NOBODY KNOWS THE SEED THAT YOU HAVE PLANTED WILL SOON GROW CHERISH EVERY MOMENT AND GO WITH THE FLOW LEAD YOUR OWN LIFE, YOU HOLD YOUR OWN CLOCK MOVE FORWARD, DO NOT BE STUCK LIKE A ROCK THE SUN WILL SET BUT SOON WILL RISE TIME PASSES BY RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES YOUR DREAMS LIE ON YOUR HANDS YOU CAN BUILD YOUR OWN CASTLE OF SAND OPEN YOUR EYES TO A CLEARER VIEW THAT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE PROFOUND AND NEW YOU ARE A HUMAN WITH SO MUCH CAPACITY YOU KNOW THE MEANING OF DIGNITY AND INTEGRITY YOU KNOW HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE GOOD FROM BAD BECAUSE YOU RE CRATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD EVERYBODY IS GIVEN THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME TO BE KNOWN AND FAMOUS, THE OPPURTUNITY TO SHINE THE TIME TO LEARN FROM MISTAKES, TO BE DOWN FOE A WHILE BUT AFTER ALL THAT, YOU AR BOUND TO TRAVEL A THOUSAND MILE “TIME IS GOLD”, WHAT PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY IF YOU ARE YOUNG, ENJOY BEING YOUTH AND PLAY LOOK AT THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE AND DO NOT BE DISMAY FOR THERE W...

MIDNIGHT HAS COME AND I WAS WITH NOBODY IT FEELS QUITE COLD AND LONELY THE CRYING LITTLE CANDLE KEPT ME COMPANY AS I WATCHED IT’S TINY RED LIGHT VERY SADLY I STARE ON ITS WHITE AND MOIST BODY THEN I STARTED TO NOTICE SOMETHING FROM WITHIN AS IF THE CANDLE WAS AS SAD AS ME I SAW THE TEARS COMING DOWN FROM ITS EYES AND I WATCH IT FELL DOWN FROM MY DESK AS IF THE CANDLE FELT MY EMOTIONS AS IF IT FELT THE HEAVY FEELING IN MY HEART FEELING THAT I DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT START I STARE ON IT EVEN MORE CLOSELY TRYING TO LISTEN TO WHAT ITS TELLING ME AND NI HEARD IT SAID TO ME LITTLE CHILD, PLEASE DON’T WEEP ON ME FOR THE WORLD IS FULL OF HAPPINESS AND GLEE YOU STILL HAVE TOMORROW TO LOOK THROUGH AND SEE DRY YOUR EYES NOW AND SET YOUR HEART FREE YOU CAN START ALL OVER AGAIN UNLIKE ME THEN I STARTED TO REALIZE THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO COMPROMISE EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE CLEAR NOW IN THIS WORLD THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO SEE THERE ARE SO MUCH TO BE HAPPY ABOUT THE FLUFFY CLOUDS IN THE SKY THE LITTLE HU...

After passing the 2015 Bar Exams I envision myself professionally as dynamic advocate of human rights and a patriotic defender of the Constitution and of Justice in our country. I believe that these are the very essence of being lawyer; the traits that would make me essential, relevant and most of all respected. These have long been my inspiration and source of deep passion for pursuing the profession of law more than the prestige of its title, more than its power and more than the money that it brings. Someday I wish to come home to my province of Zambales in Olongapo City to fulfill this vision, be with my family and hopefully begin a family of my own as well. I see myself putting up a private practice while rendering my services to my kababayans who will need my legal assistance. If asked where I draw this inspiration from my answer would simply be from home. My father also a lawyer from Olongapo City is Atty. Sergio Cruz, product of the Martial Law years, former IBP Governor for Ce...

Starting all over again. The word “again” indicates that this is something not new to me. Not necessarily something that I enjoy doing but something that has to be done. Not mandated to me by fate but something that I feel I must do in order to fulfill my destiny. I usually leave things and sometimes people behind. I get out of my comfort zone. I try to look boldly even though I am trembling deep inside then I charge forth despite all the anxieties and uncertainties in my mind. I am not a typical out door person who loves mountain climbing or a beach person who enjoys boat sailing but I certainly consider myself as an adventurous individual. I take pleasure on going against gravity and waves of life till I reach the top of the mountain or the sea shore. I knew from the very start that the path I have taken is not an easy one and it may take some time before I reach my final destination. In a few weeks time, I am about to end my term as a teacher in the institution that I have con...