THE ULTIMATE TRUTH
Entry No. 5
Robin was a teen-ager, a loner and someone you'd see sitting on a corner reading a book or sometimes talking to himself. Classmates describe him as weird. Police reports indicated that he had family problems and couldn't seem to handle pressure very well. He had no real friends and his home is not the kind of place one would want to stay in. He came from a broken family.
The news spread like wildfire causing many people to think about the book Melvin wrote. The issue now revolves on whether the authorities must ban the book or prevent adolescent kids from reading it.
It was a bright sunny morning. Clutching his copy of "The Spring Lies Eternal", Robin murdered his parents then shot himself after. On the book was an underlined phrase "Since the life we have here feels like hell, everyone would go to Heaven."
Luis was quite a normal boy. He had friends. His family came from a long line of well-respected teachers. He had everything anyone could think of to have a comfortable life. He had good looks. He had a car of his own and his allowance is doubled as compared to other kids his age.
At school, he was brilliant. He was also part of the soccer varsity team. On the day Luis was found hanging on his room, he had a copy of Melvin's book lying on his bed. It was open on a certain page that said, "I am fifty, but I've never been twenty. The sad thing is, my mind had already been burned-up even before I had the freedom to use it."
And so it was decided.
Melvin's book, at first, was banned from being sold to minors. Later, certain religious groups accused him of blasphemy and urged the government to totally ban the book. It was a violation of the basic right of freedom of expression so politicians who were quick to ride on the issue said that, "Freedom entails responsibility. It is our responsibility to filter what's wrong or right for our children. Though we cannot hold the author responsible for the consequences of what he has written, at least we can do something to prevent another tragedy."
May 27, 2003
May 23, 2003
THE ULTIMATE TRUTH
Entry No. 4
With whatever phenomenon there was on thenovel he wrote, the public accepted his story with an enthusiasm unprecedented in its time. Phrases coming from the book like "What is the secret of life? You'll know it when you're dead," were very popular among students and academicians. For them, here is an author who could speak in plain language the secrets of one's existence.
Other popular lines from the book were, "If the world would stop believing in love, would love cease to exist?" For many booklovers, it was also a love story set on a passion to feel, to test one's limit, and to define the thin line between illusion and reality.
There were even radio discussions on what he meant on phrases like: "Life is an illusion because it is only our mind that makes out what our environment is showing"; "If freedoms means letting go, then we are free to feel pain. The consequence is not the end
but a beginning. The start of a wonderful new feeling reminding us that we exist"; and of course; "The true search for God is a search for who we really are."
So was the popularity of his book that several web sites were set-up on the internet so people could freely discuss what he said. He was invited on different television programs but he declined them all. Matter of fact, he hated the attention he was getting. As one avid follower would say, "It is the sheer honesty of his work that makes us feel human." Nonetheless, he refused every move to make himself more popular. His book did all that.
Melvin never questioned the wisdom Mark had. He was his friend and he knew his genuine concern for him. They were friends since their school days and the trust they have for one another is like that of brothers. On a Friday that they met, Mark gave Melvin a warm hug congratulating him on the success of his book. He said it was sure to be controversial because it was different. In fact, it contained to many people "The Ultimate Truth". The truth that people have been searching for too long: the truth that everybody
wanted to hear.
He even stated that, "It's a litany of questions dying to be asked." He was just worried though. Mark was afraid as to what extent the book can influence people. Melvin just shrugged at the thought. It seems he was not affected by the popularity he was getting. Until one day, with the events that happened, he himself began to feel afraid on the influence he had weaved out.
Entry No. 4
With whatever phenomenon there was on thenovel he wrote, the public accepted his story with an enthusiasm unprecedented in its time. Phrases coming from the book like "What is the secret of life? You'll know it when you're dead," were very popular among students and academicians. For them, here is an author who could speak in plain language the secrets of one's existence.
Other popular lines from the book were, "If the world would stop believing in love, would love cease to exist?" For many booklovers, it was also a love story set on a passion to feel, to test one's limit, and to define the thin line between illusion and reality.
There were even radio discussions on what he meant on phrases like: "Life is an illusion because it is only our mind that makes out what our environment is showing"; "If freedoms means letting go, then we are free to feel pain. The consequence is not the end
but a beginning. The start of a wonderful new feeling reminding us that we exist"; and of course; "The true search for God is a search for who we really are."
So was the popularity of his book that several web sites were set-up on the internet so people could freely discuss what he said. He was invited on different television programs but he declined them all. Matter of fact, he hated the attention he was getting. As one avid follower would say, "It is the sheer honesty of his work that makes us feel human." Nonetheless, he refused every move to make himself more popular. His book did all that.
Melvin never questioned the wisdom Mark had. He was his friend and he knew his genuine concern for him. They were friends since their school days and the trust they have for one another is like that of brothers. On a Friday that they met, Mark gave Melvin a warm hug congratulating him on the success of his book. He said it was sure to be controversial because it was different. In fact, it contained to many people "The Ultimate Truth". The truth that people have been searching for too long: the truth that everybody
wanted to hear.
He even stated that, "It's a litany of questions dying to be asked." He was just worried though. Mark was afraid as to what extent the book can influence people. Melvin just shrugged at the thought. It seems he was not affected by the popularity he was getting. Until one day, with the events that happened, he himself began to feel afraid on the influence he had weaved out.
May 19, 2003
THE ULTIMATE TRUTH
Entry No. 3
Melvin decided to become a writer. The idea crossed his mind one day when his phonepal told him that he "could catch words in the air and make sense out of nonsense". Yes, he had a phonepal. On the long wait for the morning, Melvin found it an easy escape to talk to strangers on the phone. He met this girl who refused to reveal her real name. Instead, they created code names to hide who they really were. Melvin laughed at himself for he was acting like a teen-ager.
Being the impulsive person that he had become, he bought a computer and started to "scribble" words in the word processor. He liked it. He discovered in him an innate passion to write. It was a practical choice as he himself though. Most of his life, he typed things for other people and wrote letters that did not appeal to him. Besides, he can now put his ideas into his work plus the freedom to say what he wanted.
It was an easy task for him. All he had to do was to connect things and make some sense on how they are linked. He no longer felt the restrictions that he grew accustomed in his old life. His ideas were from observing people and making a stories out of them. With this at hand, he set out with his new goal, which is to create his first novel.
Things were happening so fast that on the fourth Friday that Melvin and Mark met, Mark's reaction came with a question. He said, "So now you're a writer. I wonder what you'll turn up next time we meet." But Melvin wasn't really listening. He was walking towards the dancefloor. His bestfriend's face stared in disbelief.
The first few months flew and by this time, Melvin had the first draft of his novel. It was about an ordinary person given extraordinary twists in life. The title was "The Spring Lies Eternal." It wasn't much, not really literature per se. But what made him satisfied was the
contentment he had while writing his book. Being a neophyte in the publishing industry, he hired an old lawyer he knew back at his office days. He wasn't really worried whether it would be published or not. For him, his part had been done. Now it's time to write another book.
But in just two weeks, he could not believe that some publisher actually took notice of his work. His attorney called him up so that they could arrange a meeting with the publisher. Even the negotiations were simple enough. His lawyer, who acts as his agent,
would oversee the royalties and other details he did not care to find out. There were just one if waiting to be answered. And that would be - if the book would sell.
The funny thing was, the publisher and his lawyer seemed to be more excited than Melvin. He just took everything in stride. For him, the real pleasure lies in writing, the rest are just details. So after two months, the book hit the market with a surprisingly warm welcome. On this event of his life, he never expected it but things would really take a huge turn.
Entry No. 3
Melvin decided to become a writer. The idea crossed his mind one day when his phonepal told him that he "could catch words in the air and make sense out of nonsense". Yes, he had a phonepal. On the long wait for the morning, Melvin found it an easy escape to talk to strangers on the phone. He met this girl who refused to reveal her real name. Instead, they created code names to hide who they really were. Melvin laughed at himself for he was acting like a teen-ager.
Being the impulsive person that he had become, he bought a computer and started to "scribble" words in the word processor. He liked it. He discovered in him an innate passion to write. It was a practical choice as he himself though. Most of his life, he typed things for other people and wrote letters that did not appeal to him. Besides, he can now put his ideas into his work plus the freedom to say what he wanted.
It was an easy task for him. All he had to do was to connect things and make some sense on how they are linked. He no longer felt the restrictions that he grew accustomed in his old life. His ideas were from observing people and making a stories out of them. With this at hand, he set out with his new goal, which is to create his first novel.
Things were happening so fast that on the fourth Friday that Melvin and Mark met, Mark's reaction came with a question. He said, "So now you're a writer. I wonder what you'll turn up next time we meet." But Melvin wasn't really listening. He was walking towards the dancefloor. His bestfriend's face stared in disbelief.
The first few months flew and by this time, Melvin had the first draft of his novel. It was about an ordinary person given extraordinary twists in life. The title was "The Spring Lies Eternal." It wasn't much, not really literature per se. But what made him satisfied was the
contentment he had while writing his book. Being a neophyte in the publishing industry, he hired an old lawyer he knew back at his office days. He wasn't really worried whether it would be published or not. For him, his part had been done. Now it's time to write another book.
But in just two weeks, he could not believe that some publisher actually took notice of his work. His attorney called him up so that they could arrange a meeting with the publisher. Even the negotiations were simple enough. His lawyer, who acts as his agent,
would oversee the royalties and other details he did not care to find out. There were just one if waiting to be answered. And that would be - if the book would sell.
The funny thing was, the publisher and his lawyer seemed to be more excited than Melvin. He just took everything in stride. For him, the real pleasure lies in writing, the rest are just details. So after two months, the book hit the market with a surprisingly warm welcome. On this event of his life, he never expected it but things would really take a huge turn.
May 17, 2003
THE ULTIMATE TRUTH
Entry No. 2
The first few weeks of his newly found life was never dull. He tried things he never did before. Things like sleeping on a morning then waking up early at night to watch television 'til his eyes grew tired. He had cable installed in his home and had a marathon
of movies moving before his eyes.
He tried painting. He would scribble images, though not on canvas, but on the walls of his apartment. He would try sculpting using clay. He would then build a display stand, trying his hands on carpentry. He would put some of his works there. He made pottery and built objects that had no real use but he just wanted to do something so that his hands would not be idle. Melvin dared not call it art but was accused of it in the future.
During the first Friday that he and Mark promised to meet, the first question his bestfriend asked him was, "When did you start smoking?"
The bartender asked for their order. Since Mark has to work from eight to five, sometimes eight to eight, they agreed to meet at nine o' clock and stay there until eleven. Melvin, as far as Mark knew, drinks only beer. And he can handle as much as two bottles only. You can imagine the look on his face when Melvin said, "This time I'd have tequila, then whisky, then bourbon."
They talked about how Melvin was doing and Mark kept saying how it was at the office. He would soon get the promotion promised to him with a hint that Melvin would have been in the same position if he did not resign. He talked about the raise he would get and the other perks of the promotion. Melvin did not seem to listen. In fact, he was eyeing the dance floor.
Entry No. 2
The first few weeks of his newly found life was never dull. He tried things he never did before. Things like sleeping on a morning then waking up early at night to watch television 'til his eyes grew tired. He had cable installed in his home and had a marathon
of movies moving before his eyes.
He tried painting. He would scribble images, though not on canvas, but on the walls of his apartment. He would try sculpting using clay. He would then build a display stand, trying his hands on carpentry. He would put some of his works there. He made pottery and built objects that had no real use but he just wanted to do something so that his hands would not be idle. Melvin dared not call it art but was accused of it in the future.
During the first Friday that he and Mark promised to meet, the first question his bestfriend asked him was, "When did you start smoking?"
The bartender asked for their order. Since Mark has to work from eight to five, sometimes eight to eight, they agreed to meet at nine o' clock and stay there until eleven. Melvin, as far as Mark knew, drinks only beer. And he can handle as much as two bottles only. You can imagine the look on his face when Melvin said, "This time I'd have tequila, then whisky, then bourbon."
They talked about how Melvin was doing and Mark kept saying how it was at the office. He would soon get the promotion promised to him with a hint that Melvin would have been in the same position if he did not resign. He talked about the raise he would get and the other perks of the promotion. Melvin did not seem to listen. In fact, he was eyeing the dance floor.
May 15, 2003
THE ULTIMATE TRUTH
Entry No. 1
He decided that he have had enough of the old life he had so he quit his job. The truth is, he doesn't have any idea what lies ahead of him after he made his decision. It was just a spark of the moment, having worked as an office clerk for eleven years, he really felt he needed a break. Confident that his minimal saving would last him for more than a year, he ventured into the world unknown instead of being content with the security that his work offered.
No one could really blame Melvin. He was the type who graduated college on time, started to work on time, and managed to become independent on time. He doesn't have a wife because as he reasoned out, there was no one to meet at the office except old maid Bertha, who seemed not to take notice of him too. He did not take his non-existent lovelife as a curse but a simple problem that would be resolved in its own time. Needless to say, he patterned his old life to a time plan he himself made. There was a time for everything and everything has its own time. Using the term he used on the only book he wrote, it was a boring life.
One Friday, the last day of his stay at work, his officemates gave him gifts and threw a small party for his early resignation. Frankly, it was for him one of the few happy occasion that happened in his days at the office. A thought came over him that it is true that people never truly value the existence of someone until that someone would be gone.
He wanted his departure to be as silent as possible, no fuss whatsoever. Everything must be in order even for the last time. Talking with his boss one afternoon, he revealed his plan of quitting work and handed out his resignation letter. Melvin's boss was reluctant to let him go. He had earned the trust of the company and even stated that;"it would be a great loss for the corporation" and a word of advice was made. "Things would never be the same for you," his boss said. He knew that. But that was what he wanted; he wanted things to be different.
His best friend Mark cautioned him of being too hasty on deciding. He warned him that it would be very difficult for someone his age to find another job. When one is over thirty, at the middle of one's life they say, people find it unwise to go venturing into something new. They say you're too old for a new career and too old to learn something else. By that time, you are expected to stay where you are. After several futile persuasions, Mark, who also happen to be his companion at work, gave in. They agreed to meet at a local bar downtown twice a month on a Friday just to exchange pleasantries.
For Melvin, the plan was simple. There was no plan! He was to have a good time. A month before he resigned, he promised himself that things would be different. This time, he would take over.
Entry No. 1
He decided that he have had enough of the old life he had so he quit his job. The truth is, he doesn't have any idea what lies ahead of him after he made his decision. It was just a spark of the moment, having worked as an office clerk for eleven years, he really felt he needed a break. Confident that his minimal saving would last him for more than a year, he ventured into the world unknown instead of being content with the security that his work offered.
No one could really blame Melvin. He was the type who graduated college on time, started to work on time, and managed to become independent on time. He doesn't have a wife because as he reasoned out, there was no one to meet at the office except old maid Bertha, who seemed not to take notice of him too. He did not take his non-existent lovelife as a curse but a simple problem that would be resolved in its own time. Needless to say, he patterned his old life to a time plan he himself made. There was a time for everything and everything has its own time. Using the term he used on the only book he wrote, it was a boring life.
One Friday, the last day of his stay at work, his officemates gave him gifts and threw a small party for his early resignation. Frankly, it was for him one of the few happy occasion that happened in his days at the office. A thought came over him that it is true that people never truly value the existence of someone until that someone would be gone.
He wanted his departure to be as silent as possible, no fuss whatsoever. Everything must be in order even for the last time. Talking with his boss one afternoon, he revealed his plan of quitting work and handed out his resignation letter. Melvin's boss was reluctant to let him go. He had earned the trust of the company and even stated that;"it would be a great loss for the corporation" and a word of advice was made. "Things would never be the same for you," his boss said. He knew that. But that was what he wanted; he wanted things to be different.
His best friend Mark cautioned him of being too hasty on deciding. He warned him that it would be very difficult for someone his age to find another job. When one is over thirty, at the middle of one's life they say, people find it unwise to go venturing into something new. They say you're too old for a new career and too old to learn something else. By that time, you are expected to stay where you are. After several futile persuasions, Mark, who also happen to be his companion at work, gave in. They agreed to meet at a local bar downtown twice a month on a Friday just to exchange pleasantries.
For Melvin, the plan was simple. There was no plan! He was to have a good time. A month before he resigned, he promised himself that things would be different. This time, he would take over.
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