Senior High: Last Two Days

Last TWO MINUTES ... Last TWO MINUTES.  That's what we hear in Araneta, Ultra, and Cuneta Astrodome in the last two minutes of a thrilling basketball game.

Senior High will definitely end in two days, so I am heralding the swan song of the most successful whodunit psychodrama ever produced this side of showbiz. After Dirty Linen, ABS CBN risked its fortunes by producing a never-tested concept and storyline about social issues like suicide, teenage pregnancies, and boys' love ... a topic too heavy and serious that is usually taboo to some.

But ABS CBN and its directors and scriptwriters are one "rara avis" ... they always defy conventional wisdom and find themselves swimming against the current and do not go with what sells.  Despite Senior High serious theme ...  their gut feeling tells them they can still succeed artistically and commercially. And they did.

The cast - be it senior or junior- was superb - everyone had their moments and their shining scenes where they proved their mettle were equally distributed in every episodal installment. The top of the class belongs to Miggy Jimenez, Daniella Stranner, and Elijah Canlas - neophytes all, but no matter how new and raw the talents ... they were guided and motivated accordingly to give memorable scenes that can be forever etched in our memory.

Andrea Brillantes, Kyle Echarri, Xyriel Manabat, Zaijan Jaranilla, and Juan Carlos Labajo were nothing more than first-rate and excellent. The director and scriptwriter were a genius that despite a crowded cast - walang nakawan ng eksena ... at walang nagprima-donna - everybody stepped up. They can be compared to your grandparents' secret menu - where all condiments and ingredients contributed to impart a specific flavor, enhance the whole ensemble, or compliment the dish.

On the senior side Baron Geisler, despite his reputation and his vices deserves applause and admiration.  So was Mon Confiado who manipulated everyone into believing that he was just doing his work to protect his school. Even the audience were fooled and took his protective persona ... and swallowed them hook line and sinker.

So when creative minds and brilliant actors collide we audiences get an excellent masterpiece. It will not be surprising if acting awards are given this year ... it will be a toss-up between Senior High and Dirty Linen.

I just hope Kim Chiu's Linlang (the next teleserye to replace Senior High) will not pale in comparison.

And to ABS CBN ... keep up the good work. I know there is another serious topic coming ... by way of Pamilya Sagrado which deals with brotherhood and fraternity. But with a good director and a superb storyline ... I know you can always turn around and make " a dud turn into sud."

The Mirror Will Tell You Honestly What Are You As A Person

I have a habit of mirror gazing and looking at my reflection in the mirror.  I do that at times when I am in the midst of a crisis, or when I feel I am standing at a crossroads and don't know what to do.

Indeed a person who does not know the psychology of mirror gazing ... might misconstrue me as somebody going nuts ... or me within a stone-throw away from the loony bin. Or they may even think I have paroxysmal bouts of narcissism ... and they think I don't have shame showing the whole world I was scrutinizing myself (all overt signs showed I was too self-involved with myself).

To the uninformed  ... sorry guys you have judged me quick and prematurely. Yes ... all the obvious narcissistic signs are there (self-loving and self-admiring) but that's not what I was doing. I was not looking at how many wrinkles I have ... how many grey hairs said hello to the world today ... or how aquiline my nose was. You are just too gullible and too naive to jump to conclusions ... the rule of thumb is ... sometimes what you see is not always what it means.

I was merely saying Hi to my inner self. In times of self-doubt, I look at myself in the mirror ... self-absorbed and unflinching. In psychology, it is my way of confronting my thoughts and emotions ... and by so doing ... it helps me gain insight and a deeper understanding of myself and the stressor at hand and how I am reacting to it. For health professionals mirrors are often used to explore our feelings ... and reexamine our defenses.

Seeing my reflection in the mirror helps me to acknowledge myself, my strengths, and my weaknesses, and how my coping mechanisms are faring. It helps me keep abreast of my emotions, and it gives me an idea of how people look at me as a person. It paved the way to give me a 20/20 vision and see for myself my own little imperfections.

Looking at myself in the mirror is not an exercise in self-adoration ... far from that. I did not stand there winking at myself ... flashing Korean finger-heart signs ... or throwing flying kisses to my mirror image. That's very juvenile and preposterous!

I was there because I wanted to check on how I felt about myself ... and how I managed the running soap opera in my life. When my self-esteem was at its lowest ebb ... I was wrestling with negativities ... and I was enveloped with ambivalent emotions of hate, anger, jealousy, and sadness. And when there was no one available person to give me a crying shoulder ... this "do it myself method" comes in handy. I found the mirror so cathartic as it provides much-needed mental and psychological comfort and solace.

Psychology is right ... mirror-gazing can help. In times of emotional crisis, we need a face-to-face powwow with another person to reduce stress. In the absence of a compassionate ear ... a mirror can be a good substitute.

Having a talk with another person (or if nobody is available the mirror is a willing proxy even if it can't talk) helps us stay emotionally connected with ourselves. With their help, we come to understand who we are ... based on the reflections shown (whether it is the other person ... or the mirror.) Seeing through their eyes ... we know how they feel and how we feel in return.

What we see in their facial expressions (whether it is the other person or the mirror) becomes a powerful reflector of our own pain and suffering.

I can't emphasize enough how SELF AWARENESS is a must. It allows us to see things from the perspective of others. If we don't know ourselves we don't have a good sense of who we are. We are just like a headless chicken ... squawking without direction.

Huwag Umasa Sa Iba

Huwag Umasa Sa Iba. I have always believed that a self-reliant person is somebody whose attitudes were completely changed:

a) From GIVE-IT-TO-ME ... he changed to DO-IT-MYSELF person.

b) From SIT-BACK-AND-WAIT ... he metamorphosed into GET-UP-AND-GO guy.

Self-reliance is the only road to true FREEDOM.  

If you have a problem and you always depend on somebody to solve it for you ... there is no freedom. 

If you get sick needing to go to the hospital, and the prospect of skyrocketing hospital bills prevents you from doing it ... there is no freedom.

When you feel helpless and have trouble making simple life decisions ... and are incapable of taking care of yourself... there is no freedom.

If you get married and you think your parents are the answer to all your marital and financial woes ... and you keep knocking at their door for help ... there is no true freedom.

True freedom is when you do things ... your way ... alone and independently ... without necessarily thinking about what others will say or comment. 

Trust your instincts ... form your own opinion ... and make good choices.

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