Asterism

Careless as the water. Carefree as the Wind.
The Deneb of Cygnus
--the brightest at its tail
The chest of the Archer, a centaur. The ninth.
It took one look at the target, the result an Aldebaran.
A hit. Not a miss.
It was a Cassiopeia to a Polaris.

I want to be somebody like Ms. Vene Rallonza

(PHOTO COURTESY OF VINCE ESCARCHA)

This is Ms. Vene Rallonza, my POS 180.27 professor. And after a semester of politics in alternative spaces, I realized how much I'd want to be like her.

One year and 3 months ago, before I even met Maam Vene, I had a shaved head and it was a statement of my politics and my advocacy. Some people would constantly tell me that I remind them of a Political Science professor in the Ateneo. Being the POS major that I was, I knew that this certain Ms. Rallonza was never encountered by myself in any formal (or even informal) circumstance.

Then I took her Politics in the Margins class. A class that killed all the boredom that is politics. We saw how politics exist and even thrive in marginalized, unusual spaces and how, despite the marginalization of these alternative spaces, we saw as a class that politics can be very fun, exciting and well appreciated.

We had big time speakers for several Thursdays. We had Dr. Bong, Joey Ayala, Auraeus Solito, Jalton of Sugarfree and Dr. Contreras. My personal favorite was Mr. Joey Ayala because I got really starstrucked by his presence.

But what is most striking for me about Maam Vene and her class is her attitude towards her own politics. She is not scared to be unique and that trait is what I appreciate very much. Her attachment and sincere connection with Filipino roots and traditions as manifested by her inked body and her manner by which she shares this with her family make me look up to her even more.

Ang cool ng pamilya nila. HAHAHAHA :)) Kita naman sa picture na 'to. Naikuwento ni Maam Vene ang pagsali ng anak niya sa contest na 'to at sinabi niya sa amin na siya na ata ang pinaka-supportive na nanay na nandoon sa venue, given nga na ang mga contestants na lalaki ng mga nanay na naroon ay nagdamit at nagkilos babae. Sabi ko rin dati nung mas bata pa ako na gusto ko tatawagin akong "Nanay" ng mga anak ko. And nalaman ko nalang sa class ko na si Maam Vene ay "Nanay" kung tawagin ng mga anak niya. Tapos pupunta pa sila next week sa Kalinga Apayao para magpatattoo yung anak niyang nasa picture. Hangcoooooooool talaga at 'di ako ma-over.

-Kalbo
-Nanay ang tawag
-Maraming tattoo
-Theater actress
-Cool mom
-Artist
-Unique and really brave
-Educator
-Funny and loud
-Very supportive

Grabe, katakot pala na karamihan ng ugali ko/hilig ko/gusto ko in the future ay nagmamanifest sa isang being. Pwede pala yun. HAHAHAHA :))

Last night was an awesome night for me and my classmates in POS180.27 -- sa conclusion ng class namin through LUNAN: One Night Only, nakita kong nag-pay off talaga ang galing at passion ni Maam sa pagtuturo. SNAPS FOR HER :>

Idol talaga kita. :)