PRESIDENT'S CORNER
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
There again… but I could be wrong. Then I heard it again. I got up from my desk and swung the door open to the next room. I excitedly asked Kris and Jane (the two dependable OP officers who greet you every time you come to my office), to verify that what I heard from my room were real, live, chirping birds.
Kris happily told me, “yes ma’am, maraming ibon na sa MCC.” Then the week that followed, around 6pm when most offices were already closed, I saw VP RJ in the corridor. So, I walked and joined him for a quick chat about random college matters. However, we were interrupted by this beautiful sight of about a hundred birds, all charmingly lined up atop the vast white roof of the college. Once in a while, one would glide and scoop low toward the ground then shoot up high once again. Sometimes they go by pairs and fly in circles as if performing a coquettish dance. We abandoned the discussion and instead diverted our full attention to the spectacular show of flight. It was at that moment we realized that what we have inside our gates is not only a community for MCC people but also for these creatures. We delved into appreciating the green surroundings that must have drawn the birds to us.
And am I glad for every peso we spent on the garden? on what used to be a dry, brown, and lifeless space that has now become a playground not only to humans? Don’t we call that an ecosystem, the habitat of life, the natural balance of earth? I’ve always believed that a peaceful co-existence with other living things is the most basic yet ultimate life-saving rule to sustaining our home called earth. This harmonious relationship is what keeps us all breathing and surviving. Yes, without the others, we die. The life of every bee, butterfly, bird, worm, snail etcetera has no price at all, because their life is in fact the measure of our life too. Such is the circle of life. Remember The Lion King? Skip the artistic element, the principle is true.
That day, I went home with a triumphant smile. Next time you come to MCC, I urge you to stay a bit late so you can catch a glimpse of our “chirping residents”. Of course, don’t forget the One Above who created all things equal and beautiful like you. By the way, to all the women and men whose lives were significantly touched by a woman, Happy Women’s Month! Here’s a statement from a woman I greatly admire, the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG). She said, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made." Too many times, I found strength in those words.
Thank you for reading and hopefully, I’ll see you around bird watching
RBG became the first Jewish female justice in the US of A. RBG presented a strong voice in favor of gender equality, the rights of workers and the separation of church and state. During her years of service, Justice Ginsburg was faced with daunting personal challenges. In 1999, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, all without missing a day of service on the bench. If you want to know more about her, click the link below: https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/ruth-bader-ginsburg