A blend of love, service and offering...

As far as I could remember, it was during the 4th quarter of 2001, when a green van with a tall, amiable white man fetched I believe 10 of us students from Minuyan Elementary School for some sort of examination. Not known to us, that day marks the very chance of a lifetime. I just took the tests the usual way I do in school, with no worries of whether meeting the requirements to pass or not. The principal made it clear to us, though after, that the foundation will be selecting deserving students from Sapang Palay to receive scholarship for High school. However, I am from Bigte, Norzagaray and to be part of it will contravene the rule. I finished my elementary education as the batch Valedictorian with a very good news to both my mom and dad, that I got accepted as a scholar under Financial Assistance Program (FAP). Indeed, when it rains, it pours...

I am a farm boy. My dad’s a driver while my mom’s taking good care of us. We raise pigs for quarterly earnings. I’ve been through a usual farm life with cows and goats, ricefields and veggies, hays and pads. But never did I stop dreaming that someday, I know, we can be more than what we were before. My interests in school were further reinforced by Assumption Development Foundation with our annually-held Summer Enhancement Program. With the scholarship in hand, I managed to finish and obtain a quality secondary education in a private school, Sto. Rosario Sapang Palay College. I always do my best in bringing recognition to the foundation in every way I can and as a student, to make both my parents and the foundation grateful of having me, I always strive to get high grades. With continuous support, I graduated BS Biology Major in Microbiology at the UP Los Baños. Shifting gears, what made ADF very indisputably distinct, is that it establishes not the typical benefactor-scholar relationship but rather a long term bond of love, service and offering. Monthly meetings are highly regarded to serve a long-term goal of guiding us all for a lifetime. What I have learned from this foundation are things we can’t acquire in schools and in other institutions we might belong. The values, stories and life’s examples Madam and Father shared with us helped us establish our personalities. Furthermore, they taught us the need to be aware of the things happening around us, the true essence of service and offering for the Filipinos and for the Philippines in general.

I believe that the sense of responsibility is one of the best characters I have developed in the course of my stay in the center. In everything that I do, I always reckon what would be the effects and consequences of my actions. In this world we live, every decision we make and every path we take have substantial effects to other people. For the world and human well-being are inextricably linked, it underpins that we are not living our lives for ourselves but for the welfare of others. Realizations, concerns and incorporation of humane values are the ingredients why we ADF scholars stand where we are now. I know that I would not be who I am now because of this foundation. How I wish it can accommodate more youth for them to experience and understand that life is not just living for ourselves but living for others as well. And as I strive to be the paragon in the years to come, I am looking forward to be its lifetime constituent to continue its noble works for the ideal Philippines.

Though not all dreams can be achieved as we confront the reality, we should still keep holding on our dreams for dreaming itself is part of God’s plan. If we let it go, then we’re starting not to believe. God moves in mysterious ways...Move out of the box and explore...or else, we’ll never know what’s in store for us...

Starting the book of our lives, where stories of altruism, achievements and hopes shared together...


John Mark Katindig Torres
the dreamer outside Sapang Palay

Image used fr

http://ittakessolittle.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=6

Plants in Milestones of Life Experience fervent passion. Unravel the gist of floral gems. Behold the Language of Flowers.

I graduated last April 24 of this year. However, I decided to go back to school and take extra courses to comply with the required units in med schools. I took comparative anatomy, practical botany and human physiology. The following piece is from practical botany; a GE course in natural science. We prepared a video for the said matter.


Long time ago, plants have been associated with human activities may it be as foods, medicine, clothing or part of some sort of rituals and beliefs. Overtime, meanings of their uses have developed great sense and different sentiments during various milestones of life. In an aim to deal with the plants used in milestones of life, we presented how flowers become a way of communicating feelings shared throughout one’s life.
First of all, the question that bothered our group was ‘do flowers have a specific meaning?’. We ended up thinking like it might have all started because they have wonderful colors and because people use them as gestures and symbols for communicating with their loved ones. Whenever there is a special event, to express sympathy, to show how much love you have for someone, or simply by just telling that you are there; all these acts and emotions can be well represented by these beautiful and enchanting colorful bracts and plant organs. In the course of time, traditional meanings may be provided for each and every flower that we have in the world but to know the real message the person likes to convey will always vary. After all, what matters most is the effort and compassion wrapped together with the flowers. Words will still play its role in communication.
We focused on birthday, graduation, courtship, marriage, anniversary, and period of senescence; those which are usual events in once life. We depicted a typical story of an old man reminiscing his times during youth and with his family as he approaches the near death. For every event we portrayed, we used specific flowers and identified their relative significance for that event.
Generally, regarding the main topic of the activity, our class have successfully integrated the important points in the lecture as we explore different plants and their associated uses and meanings may it be in terms of sociology and just mere daily significance in life. We have learned the various plants we associate with religion, superstitious beliefs and the like. Of most, I enjoyed our part. That “Talent Galore” was indeed a great idea for the recit class.
Giving flowers is a powerful way to share our sentiments on those very important events in the lives of our friends and family. While meanings may vary and change, forgotten and taken for granted, the idea itself of giving flowers will always be worth remembering. So, why not send someone you care about some flowers today!

John Mark Katindig Torres

Life's Trainee

I still consider myself a student, with no other aspects concerned or vague and deep interpretations included, at least for this semester even if had already received my college diploma last April, ‘cause I am still indeed a student. I think there exists a driving force in me motivating me to study further, to learn more things life has to offer, exploring any possible stuff I haven’t yet encountered. I feel so eager to improve myself in many ways; all of which I always remind myself to pay attention to, to become a holistic individual. Right now and in the next six years of my life, I’ll be investing a lot for the fulfilment of my greatest dream; one thing I could barely imagine would be possible. To pursue a medical career has always been a dream of mine but things would not be that easy to get. Reality most of the time suggests that sometimes we should be satisfied with what we have or to the extent of what we can acquire but I do not in particular stick to it. I firmly believe that in one way or another we can still have what we dream of and be what we aspire to be, just in time we didn’t expect it to happen, even when odds do not permit it and sternly persisting against our plans.

Four years had gone so fast and it took me a while to face the fact that my status as a student now faces its end. It made me then wonder how did it happen and to whom do I owe the inspirations I had in pursuing the last four years of my student life. April 24 marks the last commencement exercise I will be attending but it does not signify that I should stop striving for my improvement as a person. The idea that I will soon be graduating even welcomes me to a new phase of my life, a stage far different from what I used to have in the past 20 years of my life. I could still remember, when I was in second year high school, I was wishing of being a working man, earning for the family with no other concerns, but now, it seems like I’m craving for more years as a student, afraid of losing dependence from the older ones. But this is life, the changes occurring are irresistible. Only by complying with these changes that we will find ourselves caught in another set of opportunities and challenges life offers for further growth and development. I always keep in mind what Stephen Covey said about our capabilities; that it needs kaizen or continuous improvement. For me, my life is like a recipe. The main ingredients of my character have already been identified yet the seasonings that will add up more taste and twist to me as a holistic individual are not yet discovered. Well, I believe that I am not fully equipped to deal with the challenges that I may encounter but the inspirations and perseverance to achieve those residing in my soul serve the source of my strength to pursue things. A never-ending road awaits for us to take.

John Mark Katindig Torres

Realization On My 21st Birthday

Oh oh oh, it is my birthday and the date suggests my age as well. Starting the day right, I woke up before 5 am, did some washings, broke down the corridor of the apartment, passed the indoor pond and the garage and entered the canteen. As usual, rice as our staple food made the course with hotdog. It’s my day yet, I was alone taking my breakfast when I should be still at home in Bulacan with my family since in the university we usually have no classes on Mondays. I remembered a week before, we had plans of rescheduling our anatomy class on a Monday, and it will be made effective today. Anyway, I didn’t have the guts to wake up my roommate and join me with my meal given that he doesn’t have classes today and I’ll just be spoiling his deep sleep. Part of my everyday routine is to start taking a bath an hour or two before my appointment and for today, this was when my mom and some of my HS classmates started expressing wishes and greetings to me thru text messages. I wore my green polo shirt my mom gave me and walked to school. I felt so happy thinking that finally, my TTH class will be officially be rescheduled on a Monday because if this will be the case, I’ll be having more time for any part time job available. However, it turned out the other way and so I went back home very disappointed of my early return in Laguna on a Sunday. It was just pass 7 in the morning and I found myself caught in boredom. I started reading my syllabus in anatomy in preparation for next session. Then lunch came with my roommate; a time for some chit chats. After filling my gut, I started reading my third John Grisham’s book, A Painted House. Lying on my bed, I finished the first four chapters of the book and eventually fell asleep. Got woke up by a body clock at pass 4 in the afternoon and started responding to the greetings I’ve received via text messages. I then asked Princess, a good college friend of mine to join me for a dinner when I remembered that she has her sister with her. She asked me if she could bring Kim, her sister with her and of course, I found it nice to be with the two. Time passed so quickly and suddenly I had my outdoor attire worn, ready for the dinner. I decided to have our meal at Mommy Ludy’s (‘coz I was craving that time for cordon bleu which whenever we do grocery in Fairview is always part of our list). They made their own orders and I had mine done as well. Cess, as many of our friends used to call her, is a batchmate of mine in Microbiology and is currently taking her Masters in the said field. We had lots of stories shared as if we haven’t seen each other for years. Well, most of our accounts were our experiences for the past three weeks of June back in the university as students again. It always felt good exchanging discourses with her and moments with her just reminded me of my HS classmate who thinks very out-of-this-world. It’s my day and so with no words uttered, I’m the one who’s in-charge of the bill (a once in a blue moon thing, LOL). While I’m on the process of this blog, some sort of my bitter past crossed my mind but I think, it would be better to leave it unsaid. Anyway, I accompanied them back home and went to my place on my own afterwards. Oh by the way, on my way to LB Square (where most of the gimmick nights in Los Banos is held), Gela, college blocmate, called me through phone to say her thoughtful greetings. Upon meeting Cess, she handed me over a present, a set of nice papr clips and a stress ball, and of the two, I like the latter. It would be my second because my bestfriend and I exchanged one each before we left for Bulacan last April.

No one in my place knew that I was actually celebrating my birthday. I didn’t tell them and they didn’t ask ‘bout it when we all first met. It was I think pass 9 when I arrived home though I should be in our place much earlier. I always walk unhurried unless there are time constraints and the like. I was wondering that time with my feelings and a lot of things until I reached the front gate. I sat on a corridor bench, gazed at the stars quickly fading every now then above the clouds, thinking what’s with me all through these teenage years that I haven’t yet entered nor made moves to end up with, you know, a usual relationship. Am I still attached to the events of the past that it holds me back when I can actually and should move on? I really don’t think getting into a relationship would help things out. At some point that night, I realized that my status’ actually discomfits and causes me uneasiness and worries but what can I do, I can’t find the one who can replace YOU...

This pic was taken last May 2; an advance celebration while my dad's with us still coz he's working abroad.

Endeavours For a Worthwhile Sacrifice: Unveil the Significance of the Course

I enrolled myself in Literacy Training Service 2 on my last semester in 3rd year (2008-2009). It was in response to the required National Service Training Program units before I finish college. That experience made me realize the importance of including the said course in our curriculum. I got this archive from my folders when I was arranging my files. Hope you’ll end with some realizations or awareness of the true situation of the primary education in the Philippines.

                    My first encounter with the Sta. Isabel Elementary School revolved around three points: the room where the class is being held and will be held unfortunately throughout the semester, my students of different backgrounds and characters, and the teacher who appeared to be so idle (that’s I guess the way I can describe her). First to deal with, though I am used to see old rooms and facilities in institutions like that, I was still surprised by the condition of the room. I used to wonder then how will our voices be heard well in the said room with outworn walls which are incapable of confining sounds. Luckily, I was still able to find some facilities like fans working well and the comfort room which is I believe an important portion too. With regards to the students, I may appear prejudicial but I do believe that they are truly friendly and approachable. Most of them as I have observed form groups and I think it might be because they really knew one another and that it is really the nature of kids. Boys form their own groups as well as the girls. Concerning my encounter with the teacher, meeting her, honestly, made me feel secured from the fact that the students are definitely dealing with a very good mentor during the course. The manner in which she delivered her ideas, experiences and perceptions was really convincing (at least that moment I asked her about the conditions of the students). The gestures she made contributed big points as she imparted every little thing she knew making her in the end (of our short conversation) very efficient in conveying her insights on the characters and performances of her students (academically and on behavioural aspect).

                    The students like any other kids of their age are very playful. Every time we facilitators allow them to take a break, they always proceed to the school yard and play vigorous games. Luksong baka I think was the game the boys used to play and which scared the hell out of me. During their recess, we facilitators still used to guide and watch them play and find their activity not safe for them. I have never been like that when I was still a kid, but no regrets because I chose not to. Anyway, I used to watch the girls too. It appeared that they tend to compete with the boys’ energy and activeness by playing similar games within their group. They were indeed very energetic. It’s as if that will be the last game of their lives. Oftentimes, they shout at each other, say bad words I didn’t expect those kids can utter. I wasn’t surprised yet knowing that those students have different backgrounds.

                    At first I appeared in front of the students as if I was just forced to do some “outreach” works in turn to pass the course but I realized then how important it is to attend to the needs of those students. Hard as it may seem and benefits from our works might be vague, the internal satisfaction of helping children understand things (academic matters) better is what I had learned to develop along the way. I also realized that it a part of returning what the Lord had given me, something that I can give in return to the kindness and the blessings our Lord showed, gave and made me feel.

                    I remember then the times where I used to wake up early in the morning to prepare for their class, to plan how the activity will be interesting and how can I make their day fruitful and worthwhile. That was indeed a worthwhile sacrifice. Honestly, it wasn’t easy to travel for about an hour to stay and teach the students, students I don’t even know after all, students I’m not familiar with. It had been a sacrifice both for our time and the money we spent for the trips’ fare, a sacrifice I realized that was very sensible.

                    I now understand the essence of life and the significance and purpose of my existence better than the way I have used to perceive it. I learned that I am not living in this world, that I am not here to be served but to serve my fellows. I realized that our country badly needs volunteers to conduct free services in teaching, livelihood and outreach programs and the like. We, who are able to acquire and enjoy lots of privileges, should give back in return the blessings, the luck and good opportunities we received and continuously receiving.

                    We can’t live alone and that’s a fact we should live with. Many of us want an ideal community but how can we reach that dream if we, who are capable of making changes in the society will not take the first step, show some initiatives that we are concern with such. Dreams will remain dreams for as long as we are not doing anything, for as long as we depend with one another’s presence, nothing good will happen. Our country can’t wait and it badly needs kind-hearted Filipinos who do not only recognize the country’s needs but also take response and actions for it.

                    In the course of our lives, there will come a time when we are to deal with people of different culture, outlooks and perceptions of life. The bottom line of these things is that there are many things we need to explore and understand in this world and that our lives should not revolve only in our chosen fields for life’s lessons (as I have experienced during the literary service) are best learned through socialization, acquaintances, experiences and offerings. I offered my time, a commitment I will never forget, a bond with people I didn’t even know in the first place, to the Grade 3 students of Sta. Isabel whom I learned to love, everything was worth it.

                    I am 20 years old and I know my country depends on me. I promise to do then my responsibilities as its citizen. Many of us then tend to lag behind the ideas of life and sacrifice and so I will promise myself not to be like those people who after had reached and touched their goals in life will not look back anymore to where they had been before. I will not let my country down and so will I for my fellow Filipinos. To understand what our country underwent through in time would be the very first thing we should develop. What follows then would be our response to the needs it has silently proclaiming for years.

                    The nature of human beings goes like this; one will not do something innovative, something that will induce changes unless someone who is prominent will take initiative. We barely depend on orders and laws that we believe can respond to the needs of our country but how long will it take for a proposal to be accepted, for an idea to be relatively put into an effective action? We need to resign ourselves and get submitted to the needs of Filipinos. After all, who can help our fellows but only we who have been taught of what can sacrifice and offerings do.

                    The magnitude of offering does not dwell only in physical manifestations. It can be thoroughly observed in the changes we can induce to the people we used to mingle and helped go along with their lives. The idea that we can lend a hand for them gives them hope and faith in their capabilities, to what an ordinary individual can do for the betterment of his surroundings, of himself. We are in this world to co-create with God by extending, by spreading His love for us. Life spent for any other purpose is meaningless. We must abandon a thought system based on fears that we are to do for our fellows will not do anything good to us for the joy it brings definitely boundless, implying the magnitude of its power that is on the hearts and minds of the people we can help. It is a way of leaving a good mark in this world full of doubts, fears and hopelessness. Let us bring hope, love and care by offering ourselves to the Filipinos, to the Philippines who badly need our assistance, who definitely after our sacrifices, who really need our attention, to build a strong sense of being a unified country that by all means will help one another achieve the goals of a wonderful and meaningful life. Let us take the first step towards the success of non-evanescent outcomes of our sacrifices and unveil the world with love for one another. Our life will be meaningless unless we take part of and touch the lives of other people. By affirming that we love our fellow Filipinos in every situation, we actualize then the power of sacrifice and offering. Let us make people feel love in their lives even though the world has become a rather loveless place.

John Mark Katindig Torres

Ethical vs. Practical: The Case of Biotechnology

                  Safety must come first. Ironically, the biotechnology industry has done and is doing an excellent job in this respect, yet the thought of manipulating the very hereditary substance of plants and animals - our food - is hard to be accepted by traditionalists. While scientists deem genetically modified food safe, the public, particularly in Europe, will not eat it. Many consumer advocates and environmentalists are convinced that this wide production of GMO should be stopped.

                  There are supporters and opposers of this developing field of science. Ethical and practical concerns therefore should be considered. Caught by our grown up traditions and as dictated by the society, many of us tend to lag behind the progressing ideas of life and science.

                  Biotechnology as an application of biological knowledge can help improve industrial processes and food production. As a subset of genetic engineering it employs isolation of desirable genes from other organisms. These genes are then manipulated and incorporated to target products. Basically, genetically modified organisms (GMO) are organisms whose genetic material has been altered to come up with relatively more beneficial products. This is in response to increasing demands of people in time that should be satisfied.

                  Advocates of genetic engineering believe that advances being made with regards to GM foods offer a way to quickly improve crop characteristics such as yield, pest resistance, or herbicide tolerance often to a degree not possible to traditional methods. In turn, it can increase food security for growing populations and in poor countries which rely on crops as main staple of their diet.

                  A lot of worries on this concern also arise pertaining to fears that it is ethically unacceptable to interfere with nature and that it is against the very essence of humanity. Opposers also believe that there are potential negative impacts in biotechnology when in fact nothing has been proven.

                  Come to think of it. People tend to look and find faults whenever something new is discovered. Biotechnology has a lot to offer in medicine, agricultural and food industries. Isn’t time for us to move out of our bins and support biotechnology?

                  From the works of it, it does seem that the potential for biotechnology is boundless, thereby implying magnitude of power that’s in the hands of its advocates and practitioners. This is why it is faced with a range of controversies about its possible negative effects but scientists working in Biotechnology are not blind to these apprehensions.

                  Genetic engineering requires great precision. A large part of science involves learning how to make things better. Do we stop all scientific research because learning how to make things better also teaches us what makes them worse? God gave us intellect and it depends on us on how to use it. Biotechnology stands to give us better and brighter future. There’s nothing wrong in availing and accepting its wonderful products. Risks notwithstanding, biotechnology has more benefits to offer to humankind and it is time to support this field of science.

John Mark Katindig Torres

Reproductive Health Bill

                    Science and technology never exist in a vacuum. Inexplicably rational, they together even unfold in a definite context. However, envisioning all-encompassing factors, issues and proposals relatively raised by studies of science and technology are oftentimes are led off track. Because of this, we find ourselves caught in a nonetheless our own unsubstantial view of things. While we remain holding onto our beliefs, those we have grown up with, we tend to neglect the potential noteworthy positive effects of our discoveries regarded as those that can alleviate the society’s condition in general.

                    I’m here before you neither to encourage you nor to influence you the other way around regarding the concern of our group. Anyway, after all, at the end of the day, it depends on each one of us, among the factors raised, which one would sufficiently comply with our needs.

                    Generally, to weigh things in equity, here are the concerns of the RH Bill:

(1) Information and access to natural and modern family planning

(2) Maternal, infant and child health and nutrition

(3) Promotion of breast feeding

(4) Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications

(5) Adolescent and youth health

(6) Prevention and management of Reproductive tract infections, HIV/AIDS and STDs

(7) Elimination of violence against women

(8) Counseling on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health

(9) Treatment of breast and Reproductive tract cancers

(10) Male involvement and participation in RH;

(11) Prevention and treatment of infertility and

(12) RH education for the youth.

                    Disregarding any selfish concerns that might be prevailing among the proponents of the bill, as rational beings, we all know that this would not arise if we sufficiently are equipped with necessary tools to progress as a society. Population is not a burden and it will never be as long as (in a conditioned premise) the society can undergo sustainable development concerning the environment, maintain resources and preserve the instilled culture and tradition the society is born with. There’s actually no need to interfere with the natural process of reproduction, but as it remains inevitably a great concern for the whole society’s capability of pronouncing its needs, there arises the need to partake the very essence of humanistic method of abreast of the setbacks related to it.

                    While this kind of bill is proposed, a number of different social issues and concerns also merit a careful consideration. For an instance, one may inquire up to what extent will the domination of researches and developments impede or promote the civilian concerns and to the whole humanity at stake. How should the proposals be funded and organized and be maintained sustainably for the citizenry? And lastly, how can the society sit assured of the benefits they will enjoy while preserving their innate ideational, societal, personality and material perspectives as a whole? While these three questions may appear perplexing, it only suggests that to comply with causes and consequences of our schemes, it is a requisite to always mull over the potential constructive effects and underlying ethical conflicts it may pose.

John Mark Katindig Torres