Between the Lines of Life

           What will you choose between the call of duty or the call of love? Will you consider the ones you love who pleads you to stay by their side or will you take over the one in need who cries for your help. Being in that situation is never easy. It is a difficult choice you must always look after the people that surrounds you.     You may only have two options. First to set a side your obligation as a leader that may lead into a downfall but knowing that you have your family with you. The second one is to go on to the battle that may or may not lead you to success and death but with the fact that you didn't turn your back with the ones in need. That kind of situation often happens to heroes, and two of those were Aeneas of Aeneid and Hector of Iliad both great heroes of their times.

Aeneas with Creusa, Ascanius and Anchises

         During the fall of Troy, Aeneas was in deep grief and very vengeful he wants to go in battle with the Greeks.  But his wife Creusa pleads to him that he must spare their lives first before anyone else. She continue pleading for herself and her son's welfare, her feelings of being a wife and a mother over power her that time. Aeneas seeing his wife acting that way considers her. He listened to Creusa, he prioritized his family first before anyone else and flee with them. 

Andromache, Astyanax and Hector

             On the other hand Hector who was going to fight with Achilles was asked by his wife Andromache to not go into battle anymore. Andromache pleads him to stay by her side with his son because if he dies in battle no one will be left with her and Astyanax since her father and brothers was already killed by Achilles.  Hector considers the plea of his wife but then he insist to go on battle because it is his duty and responsibility. Though Hector also thinks of his family he still prioritized his fellow men, he thinks that it is his fate and the will of the Gods for him.

            Between the stories of Aeneid and Iliad there are something in common and in contrast. They have the same scene where in the wife of the two hero asked them to stay by their side and don't go into battle any more.  Creusa stops Aeneas from having revenge during the Trojan war. Andromache begs Hector to not go into war with Achilles. Meanwhile they differ because the other one refuses to listen to his wife while one considers his wife's plea. Aeneas turned his back to the war and chose his family over his duty. Hector prefers to go in battle than to stay with his family, he chose his responsibilities rather than his loved ones. 

            We cannot judge anyone of them. Both of them just did what they think is for the better. Family over the call of duty? or The call of duty over your family? A very tough question, one swears to do his duty wholeheartedly and for a soldier, a leader and a hero it is his top priority. But family must be also one of the things he needs to consider. Either way you will always lose something. Decision making is indeed a tough thing to do, you must always read between the lines, you must always consider the ones involve and you must always accept whatever it will end up. 

Victory over Defeat

"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat" -Malcolm Forbes

          Victory? Yes, all about winning over something. Aeneas has been into many defeats and terrible lost. Aeneas lose most of his fellow Trojan during the battle at the fall of troy. He saw King Priam and the royal family being slain in their own altar. He loses his wife Creusa in the commotion while fleeing from Troy, when he got back all he saw was Creusa's shade meaning she's already dead. His father Anchises died at Drepanum while they were escaping from the Cyclops.  Aeneas's second love Dido, who commit suicide due to depression while the Trojans were leaving Carthage. The death of one of Aeneas's fleet lead captian Palinurus, as a sort of sacrifice for Neptune to protect the Trojan while sailing on the sea. While in escaping from the battle Nisus and Euryalus died. One of the deaths that arises Aeneas's feelings was the death of Pallas, a brave young cavalier whose life has a harsh end in the hands of Turnus. I have mention most of the deaths of the persons closest to Aeneas which I know intensely affects him.

        Whats victory if you haven't been defeated yet? For me you'll never know the true feeling of winning if you doesn't lose in the game even just for once. But for Aeneas he doesn't just lose one but many, tons of sacrifices was done, bunch of trials were conquered, numerous number of battles were combated. He is really into so much struggles during the journey in finding Rome. But he never gave up, he never loses hope, he keeps on praying to the Gods and Goddesses for their supervision. After his last battle with Turnus finally the glory of victory is now at Aeneas's side. It was indeed a tough journey not just for Aeneas but for all of the Trojans as well. Leastwise they have victory at their side, they found Rome. One of the greatest victories they can ever have.

         One will not gain triumph easily. It has to be gained through hardships because gaining it leisurely cannot be called victory. But achieving it with such effort is the most gratifying accomplishment. Triumph will never be yours unless you worked hard for it. Victory is a bittersweet part of the game. Its bitter because you know, you left someone behind whose madly hurt. Its sweet because at last all the hard works, obstacles, heart aches you've been through was already paid off. One must prevail  victory if they worked hard for it, and if they are really deserving for it. If not one must perish defeat and should learn to aim victory on its bitter way towards its sweetest peak.


           

Since then he's been History

          "Every failure brings with it the seed of an equivalent success"

          That night at the feast, the Trojans were very triumphant for their victory, not knowing that it will also be the night of their defeat. In the middle of the night most of the Trojans were in their deep sleep. This was a great opportunity for the Greeks to attack. The wooden horse which they think was a peace offering was really a trap, a huge trap for them. It contains the greatest Greek soldiers while the others were just waiting outside the boundary of Troy's walls. Many Trojans died in battle, most of them were injured, and those who were left in Troy became slaves. Indeed the fall of Troy was a very devastating event for the Trojans. Aeneas knowing that fighting will not be a good option, flee from Troy together with the other Trojans. 

         When I was reading the part wherein Aeneas was narrating his experiences in the fall of Troy to Dido. My heart really sank with his story. I can feel that he is really in profound grief and sorrow fills his heart but then he is trying his best to move on and focus on more important things. I feel pity for him, though we all know that he is indeed a brave warrior and an invincible hero. But to feel helpless and useless while seeing someone so close to you, someone who runs in the same blood is eventually dying and you can't do anything at all. My deepest sympathy for Aeneas, he is also a human, vulnerable and vanquish able. He is still capable of being hurt but then he has to live. He has his greatest destiny.

           Yes, he is destined to found Rome himself. When I read that part, I was so glad. All the terrible things that happened to Aeneas will bear good ones.  At least in the end he has an avid destiny, maybe it is really meant to be a tragic way for victory to come. But still my feeling of sympathy for him doesn't change. Indeed he is the founder of Rome but he was into such obstacles and challenges. He lost most of his loved ones. He sacrifices his own free will. He leads his men into such journeys and battles. That was just too much for a mortal and I know though he didn't show it; I know he feels pain, a very intense pain in his heart. And that, that's the most heart breaking part so I pity him.

Behind the Smile

        Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa a very famous and controversial  oil painting in Western art history. It is truly beautiful, very unique yet mysterious. Her smile, a very intriguing smile, everyone is interested to know the true reason for her enigmatic smile. Researchers have many speculations about the person in the painting they said it was really Lisa Gherardini, some says it is actually a self portrait, the others say it is a certain Florentine lady many more other ideas came out. Another one that is being talked about is the reason for her smile. The question is what is really the true reason for her smile?

         Researchers found out that the smile is consist of 83% happy, 9% disgusted, 6% fearful, 2% angry, less that 1% neutral  and not surprised at all. New theory for Mona Lisa's  smile states that the girl in the painting suffer from muscular atrophy on the right side of the body that's why her smile is like that. The facial expression also seems to change in different angle. Yes, this painting is truly interesting the smile may really mean something but no one knows the truth. So I guess we should just be satisfied and enjoy this magnificent work of art

         No matter whats the reason behind the smile. The bottom line is Leonardo da Vinci did a great job in this painting. And I know no one will disagree that this painting is indeed a very big and important part of history. Regardless of the person in the painting, the reason for its smile and other mysterious speculations in it. It will always be the one of the most amazing paintings in the whole wide world. We should be thankful for it is made and we were able to witness its beauty. 

Behold for this!

"The Earth has music for those who listen" -William Shakespeare

      Ever since I was young I always heard the oldies talking about William Shakespeare and his works. I always asked myself who is that William Shakespeare? Why is he so popular? What are his works? I have no idea about him that time. But as I grew up I learned some information about him. But now, since we studied his biography and his works I idolized him and salutes him for his master pieces. He is such a great man with a great mind. 

   It was Sunday after and I was reading Romeo and Juliet that time until suddenly I heard two voices uttering the same lines from the piece. They appeared right in front of me I was so shocked, they are still uttering some lines from the piece. I was about to shout but not an even little sound go out of my mouth. When they had finished their lines. They focused of me, I want to run but it's like my body was being frozen. They held my hands and said "Come with us, we'll take you to our master" I closed my eyes and just go with the flow though I was nervous I risked everything for a reason that I am hoping for. 

   When I opened my eyes I was like travelling back in time, the pictures were passing by quickly. Then suddenly I had a hard fall in a room. It seems like an ancient study room in the middle of it their sit a man that keeps on writing. As I go nearer to him I realized that it was William Shakespeare I was so fascinated with what I saw, its like my jaw wants to drop. When I was almost in front of him he looked at me and smiled. I don't know what to do I was just so speechless to see such a great man like him. 

   He asked me to sit next to him and tell him stories. I do as what he asked we had a long time talking about me, about him, about his works and many more. We even didn't realize the time. Then a merchant knocked on the door then William Shakespeare told me to go with him because he will tour me to Venice. After our tour we got back to his study room and he showed me some of his works, he even let me watched him while doing his new piece. The last activity was when William Shakespeare and I made a poem about our meeting. It was such a great time. And I was very happy. 

   Romeo and Juliet were now back to the room. William Shakespeare also bid goodbye to me. I left the poem that we made with him. Then the two held my hands again and I close my eyes.  When I opened my eyes I was back to my room and there is a piece of paper inside the book that I was reading. It is written on the paper that "Nice to meet you. -William Shakespeare" then I noticed something from my pocket it was a pendant and the poem that we made.

WARNING: ERROR OCCURRED!

         In life we always commit mistakes and feel sorry for it. Committing mistakes is usual to a person, in fact we learn from our errors. But always remember that one bad deed is equivalent to a greater consequence.

    It was early Monday morning when I was walking in the mid's of nowhere. The place looks familiar but I can't remember it. I continued walking until I saw a gate  and entered it. During my first few steps from the gate I can see something tall which I cannot figure it out and a man is standing that seems waiting for me. As I got closer it was a hill with seven terraces and the man standing was Percy Jackson. Percy said that he will be my guide through out the journey. As we go on the first terrace there is another gate with an inscription of "BEWARE THOU SHALL PERISH SOON"

   We got to the first terrace, the terrace for the late comers. There I saw students who were always late, they were in a straight line formation with the student police in front of them doing their duty. The late comers were asked by the SP of the reason why they are late and they are disciplined by making them squat and run a hundred of times. They were running until they figure out their mistake and be sure to not do it again. I had a hard time looking to them, I feel pity for them. But then we have to go on.

   Moving on to the second terrace, Percy gave me a signal to step back and I do so. The second terrace was the place for the violators. The ones who were not in the proper uniform and the ones who isn't in the proper haircut. It was managed by Ma'am Myra, the students here were being disciplined also. The ones who were not in proper uniform were being chased by alive scissors and every time they are folding their sleeves or having any uniform violation they are being attacked by scissors. The ones who wasn't in proper haircut were chased by blades and a hair grows it was being shaved. It was really shocking to see those scenes, but I have to.

   On the third terrace, it was an ear dropping one, Percy gave me ear plugs and I put them on. Though I have ear plugs this doesn't make me invulnerable of the noise it just helped in minimizing it. I can see students that keep on talking and talking and talking of non-sense things and every time they were noticed a horn were being blown near their ears. Another one were the "tagalog speakers" they are always speaking in tagalog so they are being disciplined by writing poems, essays, short stories and other form of literature, a hundred times for every word. The one guarding this terrace was Ma'am Lenny.

    It was a fascinating scene but we moved on to the fourth terrace, the terrace for the irresponsible. Mainly this one is for the late passers of projects and the tardy ones. On this terrace I saw Ma'am Pareja guiding them. For the late passers they are being disciplined by quickly making something out of nothing. And for the tardy ones they have to do their work quick and they should do it many times depending on their level of tardiness.

     On the fifth terrace, I saw Ma'am Malou guarding them. It was the terrace for the cheaters. They were sitting on the chair with tons and tons of books in front of them they have to read every word in the book and memorize them, if they didn't do so 5 more books will be added on their loads.

    What a tough terrace was that, we continued walking and reached to the sixth terrace. Percy told me that I should not go far from him in this terrace so I do as what he asked I stay closed to him. It was so quiet but then suddenly a ball was about to hit my face, good thing Percy was able to catch it. This terrace was for the bullies I saw Sir Tom managing the students in this terrace. They were being disciplined according to the way they bullied others. For the physical bullies they were carrying a heavy mass and walking around the terrace, for the verbal bullies their mouth were being taped.

   Percy and I got to the last terrace, the terrace for the lazy ones. From this terrace as I look down I can see all the other six terraces. On this terrace it was being managed by Ma'am Arlyn. The lazy ones received the hardest disciplinary action of all. They were to do every disciplinary action from the first to the sixth terrace a hundred of times. My heart shrink in this view.

    From the last terrace Percy said goodbye to me and I was left alone realizing what I've seen. I keep on walking and walking until I saw the exit. It was already 12 midnight of Saturday morning when I got out from that place.

   Our errors were our portal to discovery. Doing error once isn't bad but doing it twice it is a different one and always remember that for every action their is an opposite reaction.

Meet Mr. JL Yabs

Four letters that mean allot LIKE. <LOVEbut>FRIENDSHIP

Dear asdfghkJL,

                 I really don't know how to start this. But I guess there's no turning back now. Time passed by so fast. I can't even remember the first time we talked February or March this year? Either way dates are not that important, I wouldn't count the time we spend with each other, it is the moment that counts. As long as I know time stops by whenever I'm with you. During the early days of our "getting to know each other stage"  we used to talk as much as we could on the phone, sometimes in facebook and twitter. Yes, we've been through good and bad times, through silly and serious moments this may seem very simple and very common but all of this were very special for I'm blessed to experienced those in your company. I could even remember the times when we used to tease each other, say silly things and you're just too proud of it. You're always claiming that you are so handsome and that many girls were chasing after you and I'm always saying "yeah, many DOGS were chasing you, hahahaha. Stop being too arrogant you'll have your fall for someone someday" Remember the time when you called me and asked me to listen to your piano piece, I was very overwhelmed that time I just can't stand the fact that you are playing the piano for me. The piece was so good, it really is very sweet. Summer came yeah, I have my vacation in the province wherein there is no internet and the loading station for globe is just too far but were still doing good though we didn't have much time to talk like the old times, at least for once in a while we try to communicate no matter what. But as time pass by summer's over here comes another school year, I barely noticed that were getting far away from each other, were loosing our communication. I didn't do something about it. The last time we talked was when I asked you what course are you in, then you told me you want to be a pilot then I told you "Woah, that's great I guess you'll be too busy with your flying school" and that was it I just go with the flow then suddenly I realized I lost you already. We haven't talk for months. But then I was very happy that you're back. First things first I know my feelings for you wasn't friendship anymore, its more than that already. But I am also very sure this wasn't love also its less than that point. To be true you serve as an inspiration to me, I'm very thankful to have you in my life, you are truly special for me. I'll say this just now yes I do like you. I do like you allot.                    

                                                                                                                Love,
                                                                                                                Roanne :))