WE STEAL SECRETS: The WikiLeaks Story

What is WikiLeaks? According to the American independent documentary film I watched, WikiLeaks is a machine (for linking secrets) built by Julian Assange. The website has an electronic drop-box which could receive secrets sent by people who did not want to reveal who they were. Anybody can post to it, anonymously and untraceably. WikiLeaks exists to help people safely reveal important material to the world. They have an unbroken record in protecting confidential sources.

Why WikiLeaks created? Julian Assange said he likes to be creative, he is adventurous and most of all he wants to defend the victims. According to people’s opinion as shown in the film, Assange is clever, brave and hardworking. He has a brilliant idea that he managed to execute. No doubt WikiLeaks has been successfully built.

Julian Assange is he a hero to freedom or is he a terrorist to judiciary? Well, for me WikiLeaks has both negative and positive effects. It would be unhelpful if the source is telling a story that it is not true. And it would actually lead to a problem, to a problem and to a problem. Meaning, the issue would be more complicated. Anyhow, I’m kind of a pro-WikiLeaks. As a mass communication student, I must be in favor to public access of information. As shown in the film, WikiLeaks is giving us the truth when everyone else refuses to. Assange said “if we are to produce a more civilized society, a more just society, it has to be based upon the truth.” And I, Carmen Jonahville Matarlo, strongly agree with him. But what is happening in our society right now? Those who are in the authority abused its power to make the citizens blind. The issue of the pork barrel could be the best example. I came to think of: what if WikiLeaks also exists in the Philippines? Then there would be a big possibility that someone would confess who really killed Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr.

If WikiLeaks already existed during the American Period, then early Filipinos could have discovered that Spain and America made the Treaty of Paris. With this, I can relate the film to what happened when Philippines was under America. There is an event in the film when the Army killed many people including the innocents. I feel pity for the father and his 2 children who were killed while on their way to his children’s school. The Army was like playing computer games. They shoot who they wanted to shoot. Assange said “if those killings were lawful under the rules of engagement then the rules of engagement are wrong, deeply wrong.”  It’s sad to know that we could have prevented the Americans from controlling Filipinos. We forgot to seek for the truth. We should have known from the very start what their agenda were. Filipinos should have “talk of times of peace for all, and then prepare for war.”

Why call Julian Assange a terrorist to the judiciary when he is only dreaming for a better world. WikiLeaks – they still secrets for the benefit of all mankind.

Life Is Good

I felt the love at first sight

When we met in E-Mall

I asked my sister if I could have you

She agreed and my wish finally came true

Life was easier ever since you came

You made me so happy

I had to go outside

And catch my breath

And every time I am sad

You’re ready to capture

The moment I had to

Fake a smile and smile

Because of you I saw

My parents’ genuine eyes

You made them feel

Like you’re a great help in my studies

You were always beside me

Every time I had to go for an interview

You would hold my hand carefully

So I would feel like all is well

Yet I hurt you on May election

I swear I did not mean it

I gave you the pain and scar

Yet you chose to accompany me still

You are very supportive

I am so inspired to play soccer

Because you were watching

On the bench where I told you to wait

Yes, I told you to wait for me

Where were you when I came back?

I looked for you in every corner

But why, why did you leave me?

You don’t have an idea how sad it is for me

You don’t have an idea how I pity my parents

I even got muscle cramps on my legs

While walking and asking why were you gone?

We haven’t reached for a year yet

You left me like there’s nothing to lose

Oh what have I done? What have I done?

I should have not brought you to the field

I will miss each travel with you

I will miss the songs you sing for me

I will miss your wonderful features

I. Will. Miss. You.

Each day will never be the same

I can never again hear you say good morning

I hope conscience would knock Her

I hope Saint Anthony will bring you back to me

Windowpane

An old ant was standing

On the edge of danger

For ten minutes already

Yet he didn’t cry for help

He looked very harmless

On his clean polo and pants

Holding a brown envelope

But all eyes seemed so blind

No human bothered to offer

Or even give a little space

Is Selfishness that influential?

Can Somebody save the ant?

Waiting

People walked on the busy street
While new cars moved with their round feet
Tall and old trees stood on the ground
While their leaves fell without a sound


Saw a girl looking at those things
While sitting on the bench with wings
She is making a fantasy
While waiting for reality


Aliens passed by and felt so free
Their fierce eyes talked as she could see
She got scared and yet she didn't cry
For she knew they would just pass by


She is still waiting on the bench
Yet the one who came was a dove
Now that she is feeling a wrench
She is still waiting for her true love

Utos ng Hari

            I could still remember when Mrs. Uncreative asked us to write a reflection paper about Helen of Troy. I made a poem then. She returned our papers and my classmates said “Yes!”, “Yes!” and “Yes!” They asked me what my score was. I did not answer them instead I went to Mrs. Uncreative. I told her that she might have forgotten to grade my work. She got the paper from my hand, wrote something on it and said: “You got zero!” I was like “WHAT?” The words in every line of each stanza came out from my heart and mind after I watched the movie. “You got zero because you wrote a poem,” she added. I wanted to reason out that all she instructed was to write a reflection paper. However, I did not have the courage to do it – it’s actually one of the things that I’ve regretted in my life. She probably thought that she’s the most powerful person in town. I began to think that schools could kill the creativity of the students. It tells you to do this-and-that and you can do nothing about it. You might have something to say but your fear would swallow it before the air would hear it. So, to Jojo: I feel you.

            Just this afternoon, Mr. IronMan said creativity can be taught. He shared how some supervisors reacted. For them, creativity is a gift. Meaning, you could not have creativity if you did not receive it when you first opened your eyes.

            Now, I am trying to analyze how creativity can be taught. Then I remember how I learned a lot from the tasks given by Mr. Ironman. Yes, he did say do this – just this. He gave us a goal and that’s it. Meaning, we should find our own ways in order to achieve the goal instead of following the ways being provided. And yes, I actually did use my creativity (after a long time) in scriptwriting and marketing. It made me very happy. Then there will be no such thing as Utos ng Hari – just Kaligayahang Walang Hanggan. However, there’s always a limitation of everything of course. Let’s not forget about that.

            Jun Cruz Reyes’ Utos ng Hari is a very good piece. Students could really relate to Jojo. Teachers would also be more open-minded – not judging the capabilities of a student because he is this-and-that.

            One thing I have learned from the story: if you want to learn, do not be afraid to get wrong.

TOUCH

                                      As what Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan said: Don’t judge your father too harshly. After all he really loves you very much.

                                 I remember this quote right after I read Lakambini Sitoy’s Touch. I love how the writer presented the characters. Every reader would probably learn something from them. For me, the story has an impact. It pushed me to play what-if. What if my father was Mang Tinong? What if my younger brother was Ciso? What if I was Dora? What if somebody who’s nobody was the healer? What if we were in their situation? Touch – such an interesting title.

                                 My father exposes his self under the heat of the sun for almost ten years. No doubt his skin turned dark. He prepares food for our breakfast and dinner. No doubt I do not know how to cook. He cleans our surrounding during his day off. No doubt he has lesser time to relax. Unlike my mother, father isn’t affectionate. I love you never came out from his mouth.

                                 Like father, my younger brother doesn’t show he cares. We used to play basketball under the rain when we were kids. For me, that’s the sweetest bonding ever. Yet, for him it was merely a competition. I kind of hate him because he never taught me how to play Counter Strike and Dota. So, I had to help myself. I swear it wasn’t effective. I didn’t get any better – I was never even good at it. Still, I do care for him.  Though I never heard him say thank you.

                                 Among my siblings I am the sweetest, I guess. However, I can also be bitter every time the situation calls for it. I love to say “thank you” to my siblings and father. “I love you” is intended only for my mother. Unlike the rest of the gang, it doesn’t sound dramatic for her. My problem is, I am too shy to say I’m sorry whenever my conscience would knock. I may not say it yet I do show it.

                                 Our family is apparently not perfect. At least, we live and suffer together. And I thank God for that.

                                 Though papa doesn’t say he loves us, we can feel and see that he does. So, if he was Mang Tinong he’d probably not beat us. Dodong may not say he’s thankful but at least he is respectful. Then he would not leave me hanging if he was Ciso. I love my family so much -- whatever will happen, I will always choose to live with them. I think positive as much as I can. So, if I was Dora I would never be full of regrets. Our family might face some wounded times. Yet there is someone who isn’t just anybody – He is always ready to heal our hearts and minds. So, if we were in their situation we could probably get through it.

                                 I finally get the touch after the what-ifs. It isn’t about what you say; it’s about how you act instead. Indeed, actions speak louder than words. For me, touch is what your heart feels which contradicts what is on your mind. Thus, it is left unspoken yet uncovered.

                                 I even more appreciate and love my father after reading the story. I consider him as our Superman. Yet I realized that even heroes have weaknesses. So, I decided to help him as much as I can. I will study well for him and my family. As far as possible, he must relax when he would arrive at home from his work.

            I know papa is not perfect like Mang Tinong. However, I promise not to judge him. I’d agree with Mrs. Darling – after all he really loves us very much.

AT LEAST

            I played so many roles for almost nineteen years of my existence – a daughter, sister, friend, student and a citizen. Like everyone else, I want to make things right – make my family proud, be true to my friends, work well on my studies and do good things for my country. In other words, I want to be the best-person-ever. YET, I accept life as imperfect and so I am. Nobody is perfect, anyway. For this reason, I cannot say I have the harmony among all aspects of my life: physical, social, mental and spiritual.

            I just want to point out three things:

1)      As a teenager, I want to enjoy life to the fullest – having fun with my friends.

2)      As a student, I want to get good grades – studying until dawn.

3)      As a Catholic, I want to attend the mass – as much as possible, everyday or at least every Sunday.

However, I cannot serve two masters at a time. Once, I got sick because of consecutive sleepless nights. Why? I haven’t started my projects earlier for I have attended organizational meetings and family occasions. There were times I chose not to hang-out with my friends because I had to attend the mass. Also, I could not go to church sometimes because of many tasks in school. Things like these – produce imbalances in life.

To achieve all the points I have mentioned above, I decided to weigh my actions. Now, I am practicing time management. I also set some rules for myself:

1)      Learn to prioritize!

2)      Do not waste time!

3)      Have enough sleep!

4)      Do not forget to thank God!

5)      When all else fails, GO BACK TO STEP NUMBER ONE!

They said the only writer of the story of your life is God. He needs your cooperation, actually. So, whenever you face some problems do not blame it all to Him. Make yourself reliable, too. Do not just say it into words yet put it into actions.

            I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a friend. I am a student. I am a citizen. I am not perfect -- I may have imbalances in different aspects of my life yet I will never get tired of trying to make things right.

I may not be the best but at least I am better than the rest.