Just Before Summer

by Roger B Rueda

The 2nd Ritz Literary and Journalism Colloquiums is very successful indeed. Two schools took part: the Balasan National High School and the Iloilo King of Glory Christian Academy. Well along the Northern Iloilo State University at Estancia sent their two publication editors to attend my newswriting and editorial writing and as well as my poetry writing and short story writing. GMA 6 in Iloilo City graced the Colloquiums: sent Ms Fabienne Paderes to speak about newscasting for TV. The Colloquiums was shown on Ratsada, a local TV news programme of GMA 6.

The Balasan National High School and the Iloilo King of Glory Christian Academy are the two famous schools in Northern Iloilo in terms of writing and literary activities.  A lot of their students are talented and have won awards regionally and nationally. Some of their teachers were also present.

Mr Jimmy Garcia Bedano, a well-known host is now with Ritz English Institute after his talk and workshop on effective emceeing. He has an exciting voice. He has taught ESL in Malaysia.

Many thanks to Mr Rosie Garcia, my friend who is very good at emceeing and dramatics. He talked about declamation and oration at the Colloquiums. I know how busy he is as he has obligations in Iloilo City and the Office of the Congressman.

Ms Ruth Tuvilleja, an ex-DJ of StarFM, was also there: had won the regional extemporaneous speech of the DepEd. Her expertise is beyond compare.

Mr Angelo Tejada and Mr Raymund Cabrera were also speakers at the Colloquiums. They are both famous ESL teachers in Iloilo City. Angelo discussed some topics on intermediate grammar; Raymund, advanced grammar. Raymund used to teach ESL in Malaysia.

Mr Rene Sausa and his family are the reason why the Colloquiums is possible, and will be. I'm happy that there is this family who thinks of service first more than business. So despite the impracticality and hassle, the Sausas support all my proposals and projects. Mr Sausa is a visionary and I thank him for not giving up on me and the Ritz English Institute.

All the logistics and everything - from sending of the communication to the cars used to bring me to different schools in north Iloilo and Capiz to the food of the participants - were possible because of the Sausas and their hands, who are kind and cooperative despite their mechanical peculiarity.  The two secretaries are very nice and talented. They are very serene and hardworking.

Ms Edsel Salarda was also there despite her busy schedule. Her expertise in giving ice-breakers is very noteworthy. Mr Tim Lynes, too, our British teacher and now our marketing head, was very helpful, having noticed how difficult it was to accommodate participants while the other staff were doing something like fixing the speakers and projector.

So after the six day Colloquiums, Mr Jimmy Garcia Bedano and I are ready to fire up the summer programmes, which start on the 31st of March.

Stupidity

an essay by Roger B Rueda

Stupidity means lack of intelligence or rashness or thoughtlessness. The most dangerous thing about it is that it ramifies. It comes to blows with our reality – and worse, with our wealth, which we’ve got from our fraudulence. It is like a virus: It withstands even the idea of someone we think of as the sharpest one, so it can’t be fixed no matter how moneyed we are. The most painful is it is the idea of the most disloyal and dissembling, as one day we wake up and everything is not in favour of us. It flaunts our despondency. Funny: whatever route we are going to take leads us to our catastrophe – stupidity breeds stupidity.

Once a stupid idea, always a stupid idea. That is what I’ve learned of late. A stupid idea coated with pride is the most dangerous. It is like a cockroach approaching unnoticed and to your annoyance you pour a pool of petrol on it. So what will happen? Of course, conflagration. Then sometimes we can croak: can be horrified by our own doing. It is stupidity at its best.

Stupidity, however, can be expedient. With this, I love the word ‘bond.’ It comes with an appeal. An honest lawyer will always tell honesty; the deceitful one, deceit. And there my chuckles come in. A very obvious case is always an obvious case: it’ll always be straight, winning. It can never be politicised. That means it can be foretold. Problem here is the earnings of the lawyer. The more the case is delayed, the better for the lawyer. Logical: Well, sometimes, the lawyer’s shrewdness can be favourable to the plaintiffs. At least, there is no way to struggle to search out what the erring stupid person has. And the good thing about it is that dishonour can be eluded. This way at least money can spare an erring stupid person from mortification and outrage. Or else the whole city can see how his/her whole house is turned inside out. In plain sight, it will chop up his/her pride. Psychologically, even if that person’s major is psychology, it’ll be harrowing to him/her. For one thing, all that is judged against him/her is true, so it is guilt that cuts up his/her scruples.

I got one friend who was fired because of someone’s stupidity coated with pride and racism. All she thought everything would be OK because all she had done injustice with were domestic helps and nannies. So she thought she could do the same thing to anyone then. She fired my friend who happened to be smart and educated. She got married to her ex-student. The stupid employer said it was so unethical because to her, ‘student’ means ‘ex-student’ and ‘current student.’ (I hope she doesn’t include ‘future student’ or else I will be astounded by her stupidity.) So her stupidity went off: ramified. My friend was given a push. Her friends who supported her were harassed in the workplace: were thrown out, too. Stupid lies came out conflictingly, which only a stupid judge can believe. No fictionist can fix it, even Stephen King or Joseph Heller, the author of Catch-22.

Now I can say that stupidity is like a spade. It can dig secrets of illegalities kept for years out of the hole, the hole of ruses, lies, and devilishness – all of which can smell reeks of wickedness. Funny: Stupidity reveals everything of the erring person’s artificiality and fraud. It transforms everything to sludge – all the good impressions about the person are scoffed at and mocked in everyone’s mind. Worse:  His/Her university where he/she graduated will know how wicked he/she is even how much defence is done by his/her arselicker. Worst: Christianity and Christ are sullied by all his/her hypocrisy as he/she claims to be a Christian. I hope Christianity and Christ won’t despise him/her – or else she’ll be shied at the perdition: will see Satan smile at him/her and his/her family and adore his/her stupidity.

Stupidity means wielding power at justice despite the recognisable truth that what one has done is truly an injustice and it is so wrong and anti-workers. Unbelievable: Stupidity is used to threaten people smarter than you as if they were uneducated and unthinking – and tax evasion is the best case for your employees who complain against your illegalities. Yes, it is reverse psychology, but dear, sorry, that is old music. Admit it: You are smart stupid. That’s the job of the BIR or else Kim Henares will resign because you are taking the place of her.

Stupidity is saying that criminals are OK so long as they help boost the tourism industry. Shockingly stupid. Tell it to the idiots, please. The UN can’t agree with you. Watch your word, stupid.