lost writer

When was the last time you read the Sunday broadsheets? I came from a family of avid newspaper readers. My lolo would always have his daily news as he eats pandesal over a cup of coffee, criticizing the government and posting remarks and its implications to the nation. My uncles and dad brings those reading materials as they do number 2. I, on the other hand follows my favorite writers and columns as they write and talk about interest topics and life stories. My favorite Sunday broadsheet is the Philippine Star and the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Before we used to have only the Star delivered to us but due to my discontentment, I asked my mom to have the PDI delivered as well.
Today’s, June 8, 2008, news talked about different issues as usual but one issue keeps on being on everyone’s columns, the gay, same sex, homosexual and marriage cliché. So long have the world fought for the rights of different groups and so long have they appealed in the legal department of every nation to approve equality of rights. The California government just recently approved same sex marriage, Ellen and her girlfriend tied their knots already!! but the law making body is again making a petition to abolish it. I don’t care, I said. In one column that features letters of advice from readers, a letter from a soon to be married gay man ask if he has to tell his girlfriend about his true sexuality. The truth will set you free said the writer! It’s not the exact words but after how many paragraphs, it’s the bottom-line. Then there is this column about RULES inside the university campuses. One UP rep said, “over at UP….the very idea that we have rules is considered offensive to many students.” Instead of using the word “bawal” which is nowhere to be seen, they use the word “masama” instead. I dreamed of becoming a scholar, a UP student during my high school days and up until now wishes to continue medicine in UP but failed to utter any comments about this. In La Salle, rules are everywhere. In the De La Salle-Health Sciences Institute, where medicine, nursing, PT, midwifery and RT students spend their hospital bounded education, rules are every students identity. In the College of Nursing and Midwifery, ladies are required to have their hair made into a bun whenever they go the school, nails should be kept free from polishes and ears without earrings. Gentlemen are required to have their hair kept clean, earrings free from bling blings and white shoes polished everytime. Slippers like ipanema and havaianas were not allowed so as shorts, sandos and spag straps. Although these rules are to be followed strictly, most often than not, we find it entertaining not to follow. I remember wearing just my briefs instead of boxer shorts during our duty, comparing printed colored undies with my group mates while smacking each other’s butts. But rules are made to make distinctions from others. They were made for order and conformity of a community, thus making them responsible but sometimes rebellious. In those two broadsheets that I said, two different writers wrote in each columns why they blog. I almost thought that they are one. I’m still not sure, though, but I find it intriguing.
Newspapers are the window to reality. They give readers snapshots and headlines, the tip of an iceberg they always say, because the exciting part on an event is just what is featured, however the interesting part is still for you to uncover.