Unmasking How the Last Second became the First Place : COMCO Mundo Write to Ignite Season 3


   How would you say that the Last Second would become the First Place?  It is a play on words on how success could be achieved, if only one would ask. 


   This is the experience of Dr. Raul Navarro, esteemed professor at the UP Diliman College of Music.  As a highly regarded creative, he already has dozens of awards under his belt as a musical artist and a prolific writer.  His most recent achievement is his historical research, "Musika ng Pananakop: Panahon ng Hapon sa Filipinas, 1942-1945", winning the 40th Philippine National Book Awards for Best Book of Literary Criticism/Cultural Studies in Filipino. 


    He was given the award a few months ago last May 2023 but it is an honor he might not have received if it wasn't for a small gesture, a simple deed that needed to be done.  He relates as much in this interview :


     See, if he hadn't inquired, if he hadn't asked about the submissions, his book wouldn't have been included in the selection for the year.  He put off sleep just to finish a write up to formalize his entry.  It is in the proverbial 'Last Second' that his work was appraised then was considered worthy of winning 'First Place' in his category.  Talk about taking it down to wire. 


     So what lesson is Unmasked from this close call of an anecdote? Would it be envisioning your success?  Would be never knowing until you try?   Would it be making your own luck?  

     Well, at the very least, you always just have to ask.  Y'know?  

    (In context, it would be how folks asked for an extension to this season's Write to Ignite Unmasked affair.  Who knows, one of the Last Second entries might end up winning First Place... )


   This story is an entry to COMCO Mundo’s “UNMASKED: The COMCO Mundo Write to Ignite Season 3”.  The initiative aims to pull and collate powerful stories from the Philippine blogging communities. “UNMASKED” aims to explore how each mask is a person brimming with hope and wonders to share with others, as well as why it is important to tell their inspiring journeys in life. The “Write to Ignite” Season 3 is made possible by COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, with airasia, Babyflo, PHILUSA Corporation, Century Tuna, Licealiz, Lamoiyan Corporation, Rémy Martin, and Uratex Monoblock as brand partners.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Wait of the World

Image
Dear Survivor,   It’s been a year and a half away from you. Minutes apart by distance yet still out of reach. Though I see and hear you every day through digital means, the underlying ache after each farewell leaves me wistful for the times before. Even actual physical meetings in public places leaves me wanting. Fleeting touches are discouraged and conversation is stunted by range and obstruction. The worldwide affliction is truly a curse.   Is being in your presence more important than our well being? In fiction, yes. Hollywood narrative lends to comforting notions of emotion conquering all. But reality hits harder in black and white dripping red as evidenced by statistics. Safety is paramount. The reminders of sterilization are frequent and checks on protective gear are often.   I feel your concern but, sometimes, during the dark and lonely hours, would that I could feel more. Longing, yes, not distance measured but time seemingly stretched to relative infini...
Read more

Movie Review - Godzilla x Kong - The New Empire

Image
Godzilla might have top billing but, same as last time, he feels like a guest star in a King Kong movie. King Kong gets the bulk of storytelling focus as he is made relatable with feelings of loneliness, paternal leanings and even a toothache. Godzilla remains a practical force of nature and except for that instance of cat napping, he is still treated as an enigma. It's been a few years so details about the scientist, her adopted daughter and the humor relief are largely forgotten. But we're just around for the slugfest. As fun as the wrestling moves are, the antagonist seems like a letdown after Ghidorah and Mecha Godzilla. His whip work was amazing and he does have an aura of charismatic dislike but he doesn't feel like a threat worthy of Godzilla absorbing tons of radiation to fight. Same with Kong getting a mecha fist. Still, The New Empire is an enjoyable romp. They could just drop the pretenses and just make a straight Kong movie, really. 
Read more