LORENZO ELRIC GARCHITORENA

IT WAS a bright and sunny day, the sound of birds chirping makes the entire atmosphere more vibrant. And the radiant light coming from the hot ball of gas on the sky, canopied by the trees signifies a beautiful and fruitful day ahead... But not for me! After some mishaps bago pa ako pumasok sa school, buhay pa rin akong nakarating. And thank God na hindi rin ako late para sa klase ko ngayon.

Whilst traversing the campus papunta sa college building namin, bumungad ang hilera ng mga booth sa paligid ng school quadrangle. Para bang nagkaroon ng mini-Divisoria sa buong school. Parang noong isang araw lang ay wala ang mga ito--and just like magic, an instant bazaar just appeared out of thin air. They're like cabins from a certain camp having different decorations and attributes.

I almost forgot that today is the Org Fair where students promote the clubs and organizations of Verte, where they are affiliated. They are recruiting for new members, especially the freshmen for this academic year.

Every club have their own gimmicks for their respective booths. The Literature Club just literally (pun intended) made one of their members get dressed as Shakespeare. 'Yong katabi lang nitong booth na may signage na nakasulat na "Mathema-ddicts Club" ay may brain teaser by letting everyone solve an equation written on the whiteboard, at kapag na-solve iyon, may prize na ibibigay.

Every student is required to join at least two organizations--one organization under the course someone is belong to and one club of choice. Pero sa totoo lang, tinatamad akong sumali sa supplementary clubs na mayroon ang school. Kung hindi lang kasi mandatory ang pagsali, I would rather slouch in the corner. Or I should have my own club where I am the only member.

Instead of staying further, dumeretso na lang ako papunta sa school building namin. Mag-i-i-start na kasi niyan ng first period namin (but thank God for the 15-minute grace period).

Pag-akyat papuntang third floor ay may umagaw pa rin ng atensiyon ko sa nakapaskil sa pader: it was a small poster na nangingibabaw ang black and white color nito. How interesting na pa-diyaryo rin ang pagkaka-design dito.

COME JOIN OUR PUBLICATION!

Be part of La Plume Verte, the official school publication of Verte College Foundation.

For interested applicants, you may visit our main office at Sister Josephine Hall, Room 103.

Let's make it write!

Sounds cool, eh? I read some of their past issues in the Learning Resources Center and all I can say is that La Plume is decent, somehow. Hindi na kataka-takang nakakakuha sila ng recognitions out of different schools in Pampanga.

It's quite awesome to join in this kind of organization but... Meh! Magmumukha lang akong display if ever. Sino ba namang tatanggap sa basura kung magsulat? Tamad nga akong gumawa ng essays, magsulat pa kaya ng articles? I know there's someone out there who's better and really fit for this role, and that's not me.

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Paglabas ng classroom ay rinig ko pa rin ang conversations ng iba kong mga kaklase sa mga club na balak nilang salihan; the club-membership-thingy became the talk-of-the-town by my classmates. And as usual, there's me who is just slouching around the corner, getting tired of their conversations. Bahala na silang mag-usap-usap tungkol doon and I have my other business around.

Yet once again, my feet brought me to this portion of the campus grounds where different booths were stood up. Technically yes, kasi rito naman ang dadaanan ko papalabas ng school; bibili kasi ako ng kakainin ko for lunch sa labas ng school. And this time, marami na rin ang mga taong nagsikalat, like they starting to multiply in an instant.

Para na talagang Divisoria ang part na ito ng campus sa dami ng tao. Kaya unti-unti na akong nakararamdam ng suffocation. I really hate being stuck in the sea of people. But I have no other option at i-survive ang lahat ng ito at makalabas ng gate nang buhay. So, good luck to me.

Nakasalubong ko pa nga ang ilan kong classmates na busy sa pagtitingin ng mga club na sasalihan nila.

"Lorenzo, ano pala sasalihan mo?" Arlo, one of my classmates just sprouted out of thin air and asked me. They were just near the booth of Book-ada, which is a book lovers' club. Well, I hate being stuck in this situation, at gusto ko nang i-divert ang sarili ko sa kanila as soon as possible.

So, I just shrugged and smiled awkwardly at hindi na lang sila sinagot.

"Kung gusto mo, sali ka rin sa Book-kada!" pagyayaya pa sa akin ng isa ko pang classmate na si Via who is already decided. Joining that club can a nice choice. I might consider myself a bibliophile, pero most of the time... I really don't have time, actually to read books. It would just makes me drowsy. And another thing is, I don't want to get along with people who make
fantasy and dystopian novels with repetitive tropes as their religion; and at the same time, cheesy romance novels as their way of life.

So what I did is, pasimple na lang akong umalis at hinayaan na lang sila habang nagsa-sign ng registration form for their membership. It seems that they really didn't care about me, why bother? Wala naman akong interes na sumali sa mga club ng school...

...Or is it only I thought?

I continued to walk briskly along the school lobby, at ang tanging iniisip ko na lang noon ay ang o-order-in kong pagkain sa labas. Pero bago pa ako humakbang papalabas ng lobby ay mayroong kumalabit sa akin and that someone started to catch my attention. My face suddenly turned sour after facing that guy who poked at me. And I noticed that he's wearing the most generous smile. How cute is that. Nasa tapat lang namin ang isang desk na may maliit na tarpaulin na may nakasulat na "Youth for Leadership Organization".

"Uy! Kumusta?" He greeted me casually. At sa totoo lang, the way he smiled really creeped me out. Ano kaya ang gusto ng taong ito?

"Hey," I awkwardly answered back with this total stranger. Sa totoo lang ay hindi kami totally magkakilala ng lalaking ito.

"I bet wala ka pang sinasalihang club." And what's the problem with that? But honestly, wala na akong time makipag-usap sa kung sino man.

I just sighed and I answered with a straightforward tone, hoping that this guy to stop firing potential questions. "Wala. I don't have plans."

"Oh, I see." Then he just nodded and fell silent.

"Alam mo, men." At hindi pala niya ako tinantanan at saka siya tumapik sa balikat ko.

"Napaka-suwerte mo ngayong araw dahil ikaw ang natagpuan ko. Which means, may nakitaan akong potential sa iyo. The potential of being a leader!" What on earth he is talking about?

"At alam mo kung ano ang makatutulong para i-unleash ang potential na iyon? That is to hone, to mold, and to materialize the leader within you."

"Men, alam kong ang YoLO ang magbibigay sa iyo ng opportunity na iyon." Oh, so he's trying to recruit me?

"Uh, thank you na lang," I answered while making a face. Hindi ako interesado at gusto ko nang umalis.

"Wait, I'm really sure na mag-e-enjoy ka sa club, because you're on the right track, baby!" His voice is radiated with energy and enthusiasm, inakbayan pa nga niya ako which made my face frown. But, yeah... Gusto kong kumalas sa pagkakaakbay niya. Who is this guy, anyway?

"Hindi ba, guys?" Nagtanong pa siya sa mga nasa booth na katapat lang namin, and the two students just nodded. At nagpatuloy pa siya. "YoLO is an organization that molds the inner leader within us."

"Actually, I don't have that skill." I really don't have, actually. I don't see myself leading and giving commands to people. Ako 'yong tipo na mas gusto na lang gumawa ng trabaho behind-the-scenes. And about that leadership "skills" within me he's talking about? Maybe it's procrastinating and hiding somewhere.

"Wala? Huwag mong sabihin iyan! Lahat tayo ay mayroong leadership skills na tinataglay. You need to wake up the leader within you."

"At alam ko, at alam mo rin na matutulungan kang gisingin ang leadership skills na iyon ng YoLO!"

"So... Sasali ka na ba?" I don't have time to argue with this guy because I'm really hungry and it's just a waste of time. Kaya sana ay lubayan na niya ako! Oh, for Peter's sake!

"Pare! Eto na ang chance mo. Sayang naman kung palalagpasin mo pa ang pagkakataong matuto pa. Ang sabi nga, there's more learning beyond the four corners of the classroom. And trust me, pare, YoLO ang isa sa makapagbibigay sa iyo ng opportunity na iyon."

Para matigilan na ang lalaking kanina pa ako kinukulit, I left a benevolent remark. Ayaw ko na ring gumawa ng kung ano mang commotion.

"Pag-iisipan ko na lang." And it's the other way to say "No".

At doon na ako nagsimulang naglakad muli papalabas ng lobby para makabili na ng pagkain sa labas.

"Sige! Thank you sa time! I'm looking forward na maging part ka ng YoLO!" At iyon na lang din ang huling sinabi ng lalaki while making some steps.

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