One of the great privileges of my vocation is being able to see, beneath that complexity, people at their barest. In their most honest, most vulnerable moments, my counselees taught me that everybody, almost always, simply wants to do the right thing.
When comrades come to us, our role, I have learned, is not so much to give advice, but to listen. They’ve already analyzed all sides of their predicament, being the proper activists that they are.
Step by step, person by person. It’s true that practice makes progress; for every nine nos you utter, say yes to something. Don't be afraid to go into uncharted territories, anchored in your belief that you know what this is for.
Is it transactional love when I expect to receive something? Or is it inevitable that in love, there is an expectation of giving and taking?
Hindi natin maunawaan kung bakit pipiliin ng taumbayan ang mga umaastang pinuno ngunit walang pakialam sa kanilang kalagayan. Bakit iboboto ang walang-puso, mandarambong, at mamamatay-taong rehimen na kahit kailan ay di nagpahayag ng pag-ako at pagsisisi sa kanilang mga kasalanan?
Nalulungkot tayo, nagagalit, nagulat, nag-aalala, at pinapanawan ng pag-asa. Ang magandang balita: hindi tayo nagsisimula sa wala.
Kung paanong pinasigla ng eleksyong ito ang diwang makabayan ng maraming Pilipino, inaasahan kong lalo pang titindi ang ating hangarin para sa tunay na pagbabago sa mga darating na buwan.
We see that notions of promiscuity are socially determined, and my hope is that you don’t doubly victimize yourself with standards created for another time and place.
You speak of not being able to trust yourself. It is a terrible thing, but it need not spell the end. Knowing where you are is a great place to start. Deciding that it’s temporary is even better.
One can be afraid but do something anyway, because they have determined – decided! – that the gains outweigh their worries.
