I Am Alamat

Pathetic Appeal

Jonathan Valdez — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 08:56:51 +0000

They say that the art of love is now expressed through the art of the game

A game of glances and smiles

Rocks, bling, and glasses full of alcohol

Where wingmen take flank on the battlefields of the club or the bar

Using the power of their words in attempt to get a name, a smile, or a number

Or if they’re that good a good night and a messed up morning.

Makes me wonder why the hell am I the sappy romantic?

That in the end the good guy gets the girl from the self serving asshole.

But no.

I guess that’s why I’m writing this letter to you

Whoever you are

That what I think about if I was in that hypothetical thing

Called a relationship with you

That if getting to know you is a game then I want to move my piece the same pace as yours

Every struggle taken side by side

That if you need money to get that house on Broadway I got you

If life has you stuck in a rut I’m there to help you with that flat tire

The number I would roll for you would be two

Consisting of snake eyes

Two black dots on separate ralls of fate that combined makes

you and me staring into a game of chance.

Because love is about taking a chance on that person

Rolling your heart out on a sleeve to be hugged or stabbed

accepted or rebuked

That this chance on you symbolizes that I take you as you are

Not what I would build you up to be like in a game.

That chance on you is for what’s on the table, not come what may.

Shift in Thought.

Jonathan Valdez — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:14:10 +0000

This is the first time I’ve posted on this blog for a couple of months now. Since I’m trying to differentiate things in the blogs I am writing right now, I am going to make this blog all about my creative writing. A place to post my creative pieces. Short story and poems. Maybe a few links to my scripts but we’ll see down the line.

I guess this comes with looking at the title of this blog, “I Am Alamat” and its tagline “Stories always have a starting point.” It will be here on this blog I guess that you will see a starting point of creativity and imagination. I know down the line some of the things I will write will be crazy. But didn’t someone say that “Writing is an approved form of Schizophrenia?” I guess it’s time to give those voices thoughts a home and a place to grow.

So the journey begins anew, ok imagination.

Show me what you got…

A Graduating Mindset

Jonathan Valdez — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:56:40 +0000

With the end of this last semester I am now between one last semester and the rest of my life. This fall semester went by fast, and when I think about it that fear at the back of your mind about that brings about uncertainty is creeping out and rearing its ugly head. Looking back on my grades throughout my collegiate career I see the reflection of where my time went. Seeing how my grades are shaping up right now, it brings me down knowing that this is the same kind of success I could have enjoyed back then. But then I realize the lessons that I have learned both painfully and gracefully (sometimes not so much) I realize that the paths we walk carry so much lessons when our eyes open up just a little more.

I want to go into higher education, its what I tell my family and with this past week I have been given something that shows them my seriousness and dedication toward that goal. To understand this story I have to go back and start from the beginning.

I was walking out of the Arts and Letters building at SDSU when I perchance looked at the community posting wall. This wall has always garnered my attention and I’ve always taken a few seconds and minutes to look at what had been posted. That day I saw a posting for a call for papers for the Society for the Investigation of Social Imagery. The topic of the papers was “The Image of the Hero” and if there wasn’t anything like date I was writing a paper on the portrayals of Asian and Asian American characters in American mainstream comics. So I turned in the abstract and now I have my first ever academic paper that has been accepted into an academic conference. Now all that remains is to plan how I’m going to get there and where I’m going to stay.

Getting this paper accepted meant a lot of things. First that I am headed in the right direction because as an academic you have to get your work out there and getting published especially for a topic I am dedicated, honored and humbled to have worked on especially when its for the benefit of one’s community. Second this solidifies the writing piece I will be submitting to San Francisco State when I apply to Grad School. So that’s another thing off my list of things to do. Third, I think I’ve proven to myself and others (Filipino family blah) that I am capable of accomplishing college and advancing myself into even higher education.

This last semester I don’t know what lies ahead for me. I plan on taking classes to get my grades up in my last stand to improve my GPA. I’ve done it this past Fall semester by achieving my first A’s in purely academic classes ever in my collegiate career. 2010 is here. Time to seize the day. The time to play for keeps is now.

Haiku

Jonathan Valdez — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:20:36 +0000

Why? Because I’m bored of my mind. Oh well.

All alone at home
Can’t find anything to do
Cold pizza is good.

Things I want to buy
Too bad credit card is maxed
Window shopping bliss.

Those TFC shows
Family is so obsessed
Stupid Wowowee.

KAMP at Samahan HSC

Jonathan Valdez — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:19:08 +0000

So this past weekend KAMP had the pleasure of presenting a workshop at Andres Bonifacio Samahan’s High School Conference. For those not in the know of what a HSC is, an HSC is an event aimed to promote Fil-Am students in the San Diego area to come to SDSU. This conference is easily one of the largest at SDSU bringing in close to 1000 people. Due to budget cuts this year, however, they had to go back to Montezuma Hall reducing attendance. Still it was a very impressive turnout still.

Our workshop was one of our previous lesson plans on racism. This workshop was one which was just up front exposing the kids to prejudice with the Ates and Kuyas acting in the roles of discriminatory mentors. The group was pretty mixd with students from all over San Diego from 619 to the 951 area code in Murrieta. We managed to get the workshop set up before the students were let in the room. This included putting up racist signs and moving chairs disproportionately so that students could see that they were already priveledged and already getting screwed over. The student acted th way we thought they would. Happy that they were priviledged on the good side and pissed off that they were being mistreated. And honestly it is the latter that makes me truly happy. To see the students discuss about the issue of racism and discrimination was interesting too. This discussion came after we played a audio track we created full of racist and steretypical things we have heard in our lives. Myself and Allie held down one group and while I will admit it was hard to get some of the kids to talk or even get the idea that their racist jokes were something to think about. It was the fact that they were in open discourse with their peers and us that makes this workshop worthwhile.

Last but not least major shoutout and thanks to all the mentors who came out this past Saturday to conduct the workshop: Lily, Marc P, Marc A, Rose, Rhona, Allie, Janel, and high school student Scenerry. Held it down for the youth and kept the flow going despite hiccups during the flow. Super shout outs to Janel, Allie, and Scenerry for stepping up for their first teaching day. I know it was trial by fire but you three pulled it off gracefully.

Thank you to Andres Bonifacio Samahan and HSC Coordinator Patrick Langit for allowing us to be a part of your conference. It is truly a great and important event for our community.

Christmas Wishlist

Jonathan Valdez — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:52:58 +0000

Christmas is coming around the corner so in the holiday spirit here is a list. Why am I posting it online? No clue. Just want to and no one is obligated. This is just something to keep me what I really want and what I really need.

New Laptop

Children of Invention Special DVD

Glee First Season and Soundtracks

Winter Clothes

Modern Warfare 2 for PS3

To remember

Jonathan Valdez — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:06:09 +0000

My love, the time has come to now let you go
Held you in my arms, my heart and soul
The path has become split and though
Legs move soundly on as I lose all control
No one will even care nor remember

Walking in blindness to seek the light
As ivory towers in their luster do not last
To relight the torch and keep up the fight
The path to tread is stained with glass
The fire breathes with stone cold embers

But dead to you I will not be
From afar I shall gaze with steady grin
The world before me has now been set free
From ashes a new life can begin
The experiences we wish to favor

100 playing at San Diego Asian Film Festival

Jonathan Valdez — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:19:56 +0000

100 Written and Directed by Chris Martinez
Joyce De Leon (Mylene Dizon) puts together a list of 100 things after finding out she has six months to live.

Kuya Ate Mentorship Program (KAMP) is sponsoring this film. Come hang out with us and support Philippine cinema!

Philippine Typhoon Relief Efforts in San Diego

Jonathan Valdez — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:25:41 +0000

Support “BALSA” Bayanihan Alay Sa Sambayanan = “Raft” People’s Cooperation for the People as we raise funds for victims of Typhoon disaster in the Philippines. We are accepting money donations and BALSA drop-off locations in San Diego are up and running.
All donations will be going to those that have been most effected by typhoon disaster. BALSA is integrated with the Filipino masses, ensuring all donations will be effectively used to help the urban poor, peasants, women and children, and other sectors of society.
In the coming days more drop-off locations will be announced. Due to urgency we ask that people consider donating financially before donating drop-off material.
ONLINE DONATIONS via paypal can be made at:

http://www.bayanusa.org.

Again, the most immediate need aside from monetary donations is medical supplies (pain reliever, anti-fungal ointment, hydrogen peroxide, first aid kits, etc.). Please donate these requested items. Again, thank you all for your generousity!

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS:
Cristy’s Bakery: 9178 Mira Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92126-4804
(858) 271-6135
Mira Mesa Senior Center: 8460 Mira Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92126-2311
(858) 578-7325
Fava Hall: 2926 Market St. San Diego, CA 92102
(619) 234-1360
Kalasugan Community Services: 1419 E 8th St National City, CA 91950-2602
(619) 477-3392

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate email us:
anakbayansd@gmail.com
or contact:
Eugene (916) 296-4848
Ivan (619) 370-1296

Fortune Cookie 10/10/09

Jonathan Valdez — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:59:00 +0000

“Striving for the best will bring you closer to the best.”

With what I want to do in education for the Filipino American community. This is one of the most meaningful pieces of paper to get. I truly believe that there are no coincidences in life. And while that contradicts my belief of free will. You have the power to change the path you walk. Things happen but it is the things you do after that define the choices you make. It’s the ride not the destination that makes everything worth it.