Writing Exercise: My imaginary take on the 2010 Philippine presidential race speech

The Philippine election season is nearing. Trapos (traditional politicians) will once again be in the spotlight. To be expected will be the mudslinging, character assassinations and dirty politics that follow the perverted golden rule – He who has the gold (and the guns, and goons) rules!

Enough of that! The Filipinos deserve better. In less than 400 words, write a speech announcing your own candidacy for the country’s highest post on a platform of ‘change’. Be convincing and inspirational. In short, do an Obama.

Here's the shot on my part:

The country’s boon or bane lies in your hand

Change… One word that’s abrupt, clear, yet so hard to achieve. I’m sure most of you gathered here today will agree that it is what the country needs and what better time to realize it than now!

Let me remind you that with your hand, you were given the power to direct the course of our nation- a right that’s clearly been taken for granted, maligned with apathy, greed and power today. Remember, it took decades of bloodshed and burden on our forefathers so we can enjoy what we have now. Remember, all the hardships and lives lost in the “hand me downs” of corrupt ruling- where poverty is the pestilence and money is reeled in as the cure. If you’ve sold your vote, then it’s as good as you’ve sold yourself, your children and their coming generations to the yoke.

Haven’t we learned from the pages of our nation’s history? How many more EDSA’s we’ll have to go through in order for us to see the adverse effects of our dirty politics and those deceitful in power. Given the current predicament of our country, it is not at all a reason to accept money in exchange for your “little” vote. Sure, you’ll get a fill for your empty stomach, but what is lurking behind the intention to buy your vote? ... Too hungry to even ask why?

Remember that when a corrupt mind is at work, what millions he lost now to buy your vote, he will simply regain and multiply once he’s at the seat of power!
Like a crab nibbling on the fat of the land, the more ruthless he will become with every bite, to get more from you.

I will not say more of the past administrations; you already know who’s who so I leave it up to you to do the accounting.

Open your eyes to your Television… Hear the growing number… wanton cries of the hungry and the oppressed…can these things be measured through the seam of a 1 Piso coin?

I will not promise and I cannot promise you anything, but in the premise of change I’ve climbed up on this podium to speak my mind. I come to you now not only as a candidate but also a friend who’s willing to walk with you in the path and heave my contributions to end our dire… Friends, good afternoon.

Message in a Bottle

The Day before Yesterday (Global warming)

In the writer's pool we're given out another exercise this time in the field of poetry. Below is my expression on my fears of the adverse effects of global warming. Cheers.


It was inevitable. Armageddon has already left his pedestal and is now on his way. Whilst I see the large clouds now converging into a massive funnel of destruction magnified ten fold the damage and speed, I know he’s near and no one knows it but me.

The wise of long ago gave out the warning; they’ve made out the signs. But still the world will not listen and people continued their resilient ways.

From every man made contraption, the dissipate was abruptly given back to Gaia. In her immortality and mighty splendor, she succumbed to her failing health and is now giving us back what we deserved- her anger and punishment.

I watched, a hermit trapped behind the iron curtain of this god forsaken cave while the rest of the world lay sleeping without the knowledge of tonight’s looming catastrophe.

I’ve traveled the world and raised my voice to the busy multitude but everyone it seems, is just too engrossed to listen.

Then as I’ve fallen asleep sitting on this chair, the vision of tonight’s ordeal- blurry at first but suddenly became vivid with death as scenes of Oceans and rivers rising with people crushed after every passing wave, icy rain and colossal cyclones blasting across the now frozen lands.

All these ended with complete silence and darkness as black clouds blot out the sun…

I screamed upon seeing the sight but it seems I can’t hear my voice, I feel the pain and the loss but then I turned to look behind me after hearing a scream behind my ear that sounds too familiar to ignore. “Mata na oi,udto na!”

Whew, thank goodness its ma! Hmm, weird dream… Was it a scene from the movie The day after tomorrow? Looks kinda’ but I don’t think so... Not really.

Writing exercise: Writing in Persona

In our recently concluded writing exercise for the writer pool, we were asked to put ourselves in the persona of either a Deaf, Mute, Deaf-mute, Cripple or Blind person. We were then asked to write a poem or prose about a great experience in our lives and how we went through that experience under the disability we've chosen, at 200 words minimum.

Below is my piece. I've chosen a persona of a Deaf-mute.

***

In silence I wept but clinching my fists I rose and slammed my knuckles straight to those weary concrete walls…

Feeling the jabbing pain and the sight of my blood, brushing aside teardrops of anguish, shouts of agony, savoring the irony that you have given me.

This wall has always been my comfort and my refuge after what you have done to me, yet I cannot raise my voice and I cannot hear what you say, all that I can give is my smile, shed a tear, or in mere action I can only express what I feel, abiding with innocence to what is happening around me. When my days seemed so long with you… Inside I’m wishing it will always be this way.

I remembered that this wall laid witness to our bitter sweet memories together, the fun times we’ve had in the past along with our friends

We ran together, we’ve fallen, we’ve laughed. You heard my first laugh here or so it seemed to you; but to me it was only grunts and a pinch in my chest… a renewed feeling because I was happy.

Then that fateful day did came, seeing you play with our friends, I sat down behind this wall taking a peek every now and then to see your smile. All for me has changed; seeing everyone’s faces and laughter. I can make out reading your lips that you were mocking, strange… I could make out that everyone was mocking me and laughing with content.

Slowly I turned and ran the other way to hide by the comforts of my room vowing to never see you again.

Yet you followed. Teary eyed, you grabbed my hand and eased me down to talk, but all was lost for me that day and it seems it will always be.

Inside I felt helpless with treason and pity with which I was borne unto this world, lesser the boy I wished that I could be.

When all you thought that your mere words cannot work out, you showed me a heart sign and went your way…

I cuddled in my bed the whole time; everyone was bewildered by my strange actions.
I tried to sleep but thinking about the wall, sneaked out, surprised to see the sight.

You’ve left your wooden horse for me with ribbons and all, which I remembered was your most prized possession and beside it a note that you wrote. A Strange token. I opened my mouth to utter the words that are in my heart, but only oblivious silence can I hear... I will remember this night. I will never forget you...

Message in a Bottle

Check out the poetry (if you can call it that) plus more I managed to brew up at Papersnpen!

Writing exercises: 30-word Cinquains

I got the idea for this great writing exercise from Adria's Cinquain community project site; do check her site out at: http://incinq.blogspot.com and get in line with everybody's bigger picture of life, expressed in a few words.(as always, more power to you and thanks for the inspiration.)

I shared it among the writer pool, along with some pictures as topics, with a format of having 30 words (5 lines x 6 words on each.)

Below are what I came up for my part.

A.



B.





A. Living with hunger

I swallowed my pride in asking

The pain, deliberate hunger hid undertow

Getting weaker, death in the making,

Crawling, aching, feeling my blood flow

Hoping for pity you might bestow.

B. Toilet Blues

Gripping mayhem with hands trembling stiff

Cursing the heavens, running down fast

Holding, gastronomic gases that people sniff

In desperation, hold out the last

Letting out bowels, watching them splat.

View: http://www.yuwie.com/jovir

Source: Message in a Bottle

My writing exercises: Acrostics (poetry with acronyms)

What's in a name?
Well, I interpreted mine in poetic lines in our recently concluded exercises. Try yours and fire away!

The Eagle

Just as the sun rises in the east,

Over the silent hills, fertile valleys he seeks.

Vines and wires, the long miles he takes.

In search of prey, to fill his hungry heart with a feast,

Roaring courage like thunder, but swift as the wind;

A king is on the hunt again.

Master of the heavens, yet frail in manner,

An eagle is proud with no prejudice; yet a comical hunter.

To live by the claw and rule the clouds,

Over nature’s mercenaries, lay claim to their blood.

Naive yet a killer, merciless; an arrogant scream he cries,

Gone in a blink after a graceful killing; he takes to the skies.

Source: Message in a Bottle