Hear Ye, We’re Having Classes Whilst (Mostly) Everyone Is On Strike!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 1:13 PM /
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Have you ever missed an anticipating riot?
I do. Right now.
Arrggghh.
I’m stuck in this room, where we talk for one and a half hours about Rizal, patriotism and propaganda and heroic deeds. How utterly mocking it is to be stuck inside the classroom discussing freedom while everyone else outside is demonstrating it.
The Admin in our school is causing trouble these days. I know I should not meddle into politics but my sense of social responsibility and student awareness must be exercised. Like those students outside on strike!
Because I have a class, I just had a quick stop over in front of the Admin and managed to take a picture. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite much: all I got were heads and backs.
“You should pay attention to our class, debate is an interesting topic” declares our teacher, eyeing everyone in the room. I dare not blink when he passes a stare on me.
Hear ye. .hear ye. .I’m paying attention. .
“Mr C, I think you must transfer to the other seat,” he says much to my failed attempts to concentrate on class. D*mn! I thought I was discreet enough to catch glimpses of what’s happening outside.
I transfer and seat myself to the other side, and try to pay attention about the rules of debate.
A few minutes later I am learning how to address an inquirer by describing his $#!+¥ hat (“That Gentleman with the black top hat”); how to be recognized by raising one arm and the other holding your head because traditionally men of olden times wore a wig (I don’t know why you have to hold it, maybe because it might fall off?); and not to hold anything – may it be a baton or a quill – while you’re delivering your speech. But of course, none of us wears hats, or wigs or brings a baton in school.
Hear ye. .hear ye. .what an interesting stuffs this is! 
Even though the world outside is unfolding and changing, even though I am dying to join the students for the demonstration, even though I am wearing this symbolic blue ribbon around my wrist, there’s an unspoken truth why I’m still stuck here with the teacher: I’m a student. I came here to learn in the first place. If I ditch this class to attend the commotion, as much as exciting it is, I will miss not only these lessons (how insignificant or useful it is in the future) but the opportunity itself that the teacher is here eager to share something renders me to stay still.
And listen.
And..uhm..write. :P
I concentrate on the class as much as I can, shutting out an image of myself, bald but discreetly concealed by a slick wig (shock!), carrying a top hat in one hand (shock!), a baton in another (shock!), a figure of urbane sophistication despite of old age, giving speeches and applauded by many (bow!), most renowned Filipino debater on history (bow!).Labels: jumpy, ken chua, politics, priority, school, what if, world peace
0 Couldn't Keep His Mouth Shut
Ken Chua would no longer go underground unless the notorious Martial Law II is declared. He is partly convinced that all his pent-up thoughts are spilled in this account.