Hello hilduh

Dear Hilda, Hey, kamusta ka na? Remember this letter you wrote five years ago? It’s kinda odd that I wrote to you since I’m also you, but I just thought that maybe you need this now in your life, too. Five years ago, you took a course, Socio 11 under Miss Andal. Kung maaalala mo pa, ito yung last class mo every TTh, after that prof who told you his grandkids call him Lolo Witch. Madalas badtrip ka sa class na yun kaya I’d like to remind you today that enlisting Socio 11 right now was one of the best choices you have made. Siguro magtataka ka kung bakit ang ramdom, noh. Last day niyo kasi ngayon and to gain bonus points, you created this letter (extemporaneously). Exam mo sa Bio 11 bukas pero eto nagsulat ka pa din kasi alam mong kailangan mo ‘to. Papaalala ko sa ‘yo, Socio 11 was that class that made you question everything. It was that class na every after meeting, instead of getting the answers, you stumble upon more questions. You got out of your comfort zone and saw things in a different perspective. You challenged your beliefs and of course, you committed your mistakes. Sa araw na ‘to, gusto ko ipaalala sa ‘yo na nalaman mo yung isa sa mga paraan kung paano tuklasin ang mundo. Ito ay hindi sa pamamagitan ng pagkulong sa iyong sarili kundi sa pamamagitan ng paglabas sa iyong kinalalagyan upang makisimpatya sa iba. Masaya ka nung kinukuha mo ‘to kasi nalaman mo yung mga issue na dapat mo rin pala pagtuunan ng pansin. For quite some time, you were in an adventure to discover the hurtful social realities. Naalala mo ba yung binasa mo tungkol sa hipon? Yung reading na after nun, ayaw mo na ulit kumain kasi nalaman mo that the people who cultivate the food you eat are the hungriest, most underoursihed people in the world. Nalaman mo na minsan, yung mga bagay na akala natin ay magiging lunas ay nagdudulot pa pala ng mas matinding problema. Nalaman mo na ang lahat ng bagay ay may kaugnayan sa isa’t isa kaya naman maya’t maya’y dapat mo suriin kung nakakabuti ba o hindi ang lagay ng lipunan. Awareness. That was what this class gave you. Pero hindi lang kasi yun eh, natuto ka rin na ipaglaban ang mga pinaniniwalaan mo. You also learned how to challenge it and to engage in discourse. Sana, kung nasaan ka man ngayon, masaya ka. Sana kung nasaan ka man ngayon, buhay ka pa. Tatawa kang parang tanga. Pero kasi, alam mo, kahit gaano kalupit at kalungkot ang mundong ito, kahit gaano karami ang mga nagdudusa, tinuruan ka ng Socio 11 na may kapangyarihan kang baguhin ang mga ito. These are not predetermined conditions—these are repercussions of years of denial of the real problem. You can always immerse in these problems, you can always make your way through them, and lastly, you have the ability to solve them. Alam kong malungkutin kang tao, the simplest things in life affect you. But no matter what happens, I hope you’re happy. I hope you’re safe. I hope you’re fulfilling the dreams of this country at sana maunlad na ang Pilipinas! Putangina ngayon nga konti na lang yung MRT at maraming nagugutom! Sana naman mas mabuti na ang kalagayan ng bansa mo ngayon, at sana, nakatulong kang mapabuti ang buhay ng nakararami. You just have to take the first steps, question things. Be aware about them. Whatever happens, you’ll be fine, promise. If you’re feeling bored or lonely, just remember, never give up until you have seen the best things this life has to offer. Umayos ka! Sabi yan ni Ma’am Andal parati. Don’t die yet, okay? The world still needs you. Never let anything in this world ruin your optimism and joy. Not even cruelty nor hopelessness. There's always light at the end of the tunnel. Never, ever give up until you've reached it. With love, Hilda Martinez, 2012-72439, 5-19-15