because she's an inspiration.

This blog post is dedicated to Tara Santelices- an agent of change.


Antonia Marina "Tara" Santelices, the jeepney robbery victim who was shot in the head almost a year ago, passed away on Monday.

"Tara passed away at 4 a.m. today due to cardiac arrest," her mother, Anne, said in a text message to GMA News’ Arnold Clavio.

Santelices was shot on her 23rd birthday last August 6 while she was on board a jeepney passing through Imelda Avenue in Cainta, Rizal.

After being in comatose for five months, she was taken out of the intensive care unit as doctors said she no longer needed a respirator to breathe.

She was subsequently brought home while private nurses attended to her.



Who is Tara Santilices?

A Political Science graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University, Santelices is an independent film director and a guitarist of music bands Saffron Speedway and Scarlet Tears - passions that she juggles with her work as a research head of a non-government organization.

Her friends described her as an active person with a heart for the environment and an artistic flair.

"She’s a very well-rounded person who is active in a lot of involvements," Tara's mother told GMANews.TV last year.

"She’s very artistic person. She is fond of reading books, she designs clothes and she performs with a band. At the same time, she is also an environmentalist," her friends added. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV (source)




Last saturday (Dec 19 '09) ABS-CBN's Maalaala Mo Kaya featured the life story of Tara Santelices.
She was a hero. She liked to helped others, even stray kittens. She stands up for what is right, and she has so many dreams ahead. She wanted to be a UN Ambassador someday. She wanted to make a big difference in the world. She's simply awesome!

Amazed by her perseverance. Amazed by her determination. Amazed by how she has helped other people. She's an inspiration to me, and I'm sure to a lot of people, too.


Justice for Tara

It's been over a year since the incident happened, and still justice is not served for Tara and her family. According to what I've heard, nobody wants to talk about the incident. Witnesses are still mum about what really happened, and no one can determined the suspect. I am praying that her family will commit justice in no time. I am appealing to anyone who knew what happened-please speak up, we need you, the Santelices family needs you. Please. Please. Please.

The true reason behind those gifts, parties, and money

Santa Claus: oh? anung probelma Jesus?
Jesus: ah wala naman...
Santa Claus: hehe...Happy Birthday nga pala :)
Jesus: salamat ah...naiinggit lang kasi ako sayo
Santa Claus: sakin? bakit naman?
Jesus: kasi tuwing birthday ko ikaw nalang lagi ang inaabangan ng lahat. :)




I was browsing thru tumblr, I saw this picture and I was like "OMG! So true!". People, especially the kids, forget the true meaning and reason for Christmas. Every Holidays, everyone would be excited about the parties, the gifts, and the money, but not for Jesus. Kids are the ones who are most excited for Christmas. They would stay late just to see Santa Claus, but I bet they don't wanna even delay bedtime for 5 mins just to pray.


Santa Claus and Me
I've never believed in Santa even as a child. I don't know, maybe because my parents don't tell me stories about Santa and I only hear them on television. I was a little a confuse then on what to believe, either if he's real or not. Now that I'm all grown up, I don't really really REALLY believe in Santa.


Well, I am not saying that we should blame the parents for imposting the Santa Claus thing on their kids, but they are really the ones telling stories about him. They want their kids to believe in Santa, but I think they're forgetting to tell stories of Jesus- the true reason behind those gifts, parties, and money.

I am not saying that you should hate Santa. I am not saying that you should forget all about him. What I'm trying to say is WE ARE FORGETTING THE TRUE MEANING OF THE SEASON. I think people have become more materialistic now. Waiting for Santa, for their gifts like wtf!

I am wishing for parents that as they tell stories about Santa, they should tell more stories about Jesus. :)

Another chance for the dear people.

Voters' Registration open until January 9 2010.


Dear People of the Philippines,

You are given another chance to choose a leader. Another chance for our country to be better and progressive. Another chance to improve your life. Please don't waste it, 'coz I'm pretty sure this is your last chance.


Love,
Agent Change. <3

just get inspired.

In English class, we are required to have 3 papers: Thesis, Response Paper, and a Research Paper. It was so stressful because we're all doing it at the same time. Multi-tasking is what our professor wants. We already finished drafting our thesis, and now our homework is to re-outline the response paper and draft it at the same time. We also had a brainstorming for our research paper a while go. EVERYTHING IS JUST CRAZY.

Okay, so I wanna tell you something about writing my thesis.

When we were told that we need to draft it already, I was a little hesitant because I was afraid that my sources aren't enough. Writing a draft while researching takes a lot of time. Oh yeah, my topic is Child Abuse: Life Sentence for Parents who had beaten up their child to death. I chose this topic because I've read cases of death from child abuse and the offenders get only less than 50 years in prison. I mean, c'mon, where is the justice for the precious kids??
If hopefully I will become a lawyer, I wanna fight for children. There's just so much life ahead of them, and I am sure most of them will be great leaders in the future.

Before I started to write my draft, I reviewed my researches and the cases I've got- the Kelsey Briggs and Nixzmary Brown stories. I chose these two stories because I think among the ones I've read, theirs was the most heartbreaking. (search the net for their stories) So yeah, after reading them, I got my paper and pen and started to write the forbidden essay. Thoughts, ideas, and feelings just formed into my mind and my hand just seems to write it automatically. It's really, really amazing. I'm not really that writer type of person, but everything just came out of me.

I know. I know I was inspired...by so many things. Inspired by the two stories I have, inspired by the people around me, inspired because I want to achieve my goals, inspired by JUST A LOT OF THINGS. Oh yeah, I was also inspired by what my professor said. One of the reasons why I was also hesitant to write the draft is because there's so many correction she did on my outline. During consultation, I asked her if I needed to re-write my outline and she said: "no, you can go on with the draft, I know you're capable of doing it." I don't know what has gotten into me, but I just felt so encouraged when she said that. :)

Also, I think I was inspired by my dreams. Yes, my dreams. My dream to be a public servant, to make a big change in the country, and to inspire a lot of people.


You? What makes you inspired the most? :)



If you haven't notice yet, this is a random blog post :p

it's like a circus now.

The current president running for a lower position in 2010 elections.

A political dynasty killed over 50 persons just because they were threatened that a certain member of the dynasty will lose the 2010 election.

A military truck was ambushed just now..by the same political dynasty.

An impeached president is running AGAIN for the presidential position in 2010.


WHAT'S NEXT?

A KID RUNNING FOR SENATOR?

OR PRESIDENT?

A COUNTRY CONTROLLED BY ONE FAMILY?

Maybe, the next thing we'll know, student council elections will cause deaths, too. Ridiculous, I know!



Election doesn't have to hurt, nor be the cause of death. It's not about the power a person gets after winning. It is about the country- OUR COUNTRY. We are the ones who will decide on what will happen in the future. While voting, think about your kids, your family, your friends, your community, and your country. They all depend on your vote.

VOTE WISELY.