ALMOST a year ago during our retreat I described my life as a basketball game and sadly at that time, I was going through a rough stretch.
Fortunately, many came to my rescue, including the Varsitarian and eventually, I found a way to win that particular quarter. I’m not saying I’ve already won the game of life. But I’m not doing badly at it either.
To me, especially during the past year, the Varsitarian has been my saving grace. ‘V’ came through and knocked down a barrage of treys to help me get back on my feet. And for that I will forever be grateful.
Keeping the sports theme, let me use this final opportunity to turn this farewell piece into a “basketball game” filled with gratitude to the second family I never knew I would have.
1st quarter
Because I’m not an offensive juggernaut, my game with the ‘V’ started off a little slow. I was very tentative and I did not rush things.
Like a good recruit, I waited for an opportunity and settled for “lesser beats” which would later turn out to be good. Because the first time I had an opportunity to write a solo banner story was during the UAAP men’s basketball finals. I would have celebrated but the Tigers lost in Game 3, by two points in overtime and after leading by as much as 15 in the second half. I swear I’m not a jinx (unlike my two predecessors).
Luckily I came in ‘V’ with a great set of people; and even greater, the Sports section during my first year was awesome, and so it was all good.
To the ‘V’ incoming batch of 2013, I never realized it until the last few days of my stay but I’m very fortunate to start this journey with you. All of you are strong and awesome. I wish I could have bonded with you more.
To Ar-ar and Forts, I am very proud of us. We were like the Lakers Showtime-era big three because we all had our time to shine. No bitterness with our trio, just genuine support and brotherhood.
To Kuya Alex, my one and only manager, and to Ate Patty, who I’d like to think was the older sister I never had, thank you for keeping me in check, guiding me and putting up with me for a whole year. To Kuya JanB, who I always say was the Michael Jordan to my Kobe Bryant, thank you for setting the foundation. Like the Black Mamba, I always wanted to “be like Mike” or in your case, “be like JanB.” I’d like to work with you on the field soon to see how far I’ve improved.
As the quarter wound down, the initial awkwardness on the job was gone. If I were on the floor I’d like to think I had knocked down a couple of jump shots and was starting to gain some rhythm. Little did I know, the true test was yet to come.
2nd quarter
It was a lazy effort to start this period of my life in ‘V’ because, well, I got lazy. However, as things started to pick up once again, I realized, although I never really gave it that much focus yet, that if I wanted to move up the ranks, I had to start taking things more seriously.
Which I did, but like in a basketball game, you never know when a crazy play will come. In my case, life happened.
A family tragedy struck towards the end of the first half and towards the final stretch of my “Varsi game.” I was ready to quit and leave UST altogether.
Fortunately, I was not raised a quitter and the One in Heaven would have never really liked my leaving, so I put my big-boy pants on and continued.
To Jenz, Naz, Jelina, Kuya Enzo, Kuya Hirro, Batchie, you guys know what you did for me and I thank you very much.
To Sir Lito, Sir Ipe, Sir Ian and the rest of the selection committee, thank you for your trust in me. I hope I did well.
To the rest of the Gothic team, I’d like you to know that no team that I was ever a part of received the same effort and commitment as the one I gave to you. I hope I did a little more bite than bark in my brief stay.
Sometimes life decides to land a big haymaker right in your face, but you just have to stand up and keep on fighting. I know I just used a boxing analogy but it still fits with the basketball theme.
3rd Quarter
When I was promoted as the Sports section editor, I distanced myself from the staff because I did not want people to see or feel that I was having a hard time.
Thankfully, Ced, Jica, JD and Delfin were the best writers an editor could have and thus my job and transition got a little easier. I started taking shots again and my confidence level slowly recovered. Thank you guys for everything; forgive me as well, I did not mean to isolate myself from you.
I’d also like to thank my fellow editors, Gena, Bien, Andre, Jelle, Jake, MC, April and of course, Gelyn and Batchie, for doing so well that my little mistakes were washed away by your greatness. It was hard for us with the new academic calendar and all that but we did it.
To the new set of editors, you guys know what we did wrong, learn from us and do better. I know you can carry ‘V’ to greater heights.
Thanks to ‘V,’ after being down this quarter, I was able to not only claw my way back up but also give myself an opportunity to pull off a victory.
4th Quarter
As I prepared for the final stretch of my basketball game with ‘V,’ I never really knew what to expect. And I’d like to think I’m leaving on good terms with the staff, thanks to the team I’m leaving behind. To the new Sports section, continue to reach for our goal of being the best. Nobody needs to tell us we are number one, people should see that we are and the way to do that is through hard work.
To Poy, Keno, Josef, Forts, Kute, Cely, Bien, MC, Alvin, Eli, I had a great time just being in your company. Thank you very much idols.
To GGS, thank you for allowing me to bully you, such fun times.
Also, never forget that V-JRN2 first broke ground in ‘V.’ We were the best when we came in and still are when we stepped out. Yes, V-JRN1, I said it so deal with it.
Finally, I thank my whole family for always being there in spite of my sacrifices that may have seemed unnecessary. To my parents, I hope I made you proud. I wish I can send a copy of this in heaven for you, Dadang. To Llhonette, without you I would not even be here in the first place. I love you all.
My game in ‘V’ is down to its last few seconds. It has been a crazy ride complete with crazy runs and frustrating stretches.
Being the competitor I built myself into and my obsession to be the best, I never gave 99 percent of me in my two years in ‘V,’ always 100 percent, most of the time even more. To ‘V’ and all the people I’ve met in there from batch 2013 to the ones who will now carry the torch, from the bottom of my heart, thank you very much.
As the clock winds down, the Varsitarian passed me the ball and with a second left, it’s time for me to put up one last fadeaway. I’m making sure it goes in. Once a ‘V’ staffer, always a ‘V’ staffer.
