ian, paolo and things that matter
creative and academic disciplines are often inhabited by good people. but creative and academic disciplines may also possess individuals who are either small-minded, malicious, spiteful, domineering, intrusive, mean or unsupportive.
fortunately, we have ian casocot and paolo manalo in art and academia. these two guys are truly kind, generous and warm-hearted. they've always been my siblings in this rather unstable industry. along with dm, ron, carmelo, ralph and a few others, ian and pao have always taken some great interest in the little things that i say or do. they always believe in my worth as a writer and as a person. and they are always the first ones to cheer me up when i don't feel too cozy about the omnipresence of petty little pricks in art and academic departments. recently, word easily got around that i am writing a blog. largely because these guys have posted the info online. now i am being "pestered" with sms messages from friends and acquaintances i had not seen or heard about for ages. gladly, this blog has resurrected me to the outside world.
truth is, i am isolated from most people here in australia. i developed very few close friendships here because i am driven and focused to finish my dissertation on time. i do not have a social life because i am always working on my dissertation. after years of privileged studying across the globe, i realized that the philippines is really my home. and in spite of problems back there, i am committed to my job as an academic in a third country. i don't have any sense of urgency to "network" and do some ass-licking here here or elsewhere. i am happy and settled with the folks back home: family, friends and students who brighten up classrooms. my life largely circumnavigates around a basic thought: i am just an instrument to help or inspire others. i cannot solve the problems of the world but i can do little things here and there to clarify a certain bleakness. after seeing the world, i'd rather live healthily, happily and simply. in my home and country.
ian casocot with rowena torrevillas and mom edith tiempo in dumaguete
a very sober paolo manalo
fortunately, we have ian casocot and paolo manalo in art and academia. these two guys are truly kind, generous and warm-hearted. they've always been my siblings in this rather unstable industry. along with dm, ron, carmelo, ralph and a few others, ian and pao have always taken some great interest in the little things that i say or do. they always believe in my worth as a writer and as a person. and they are always the first ones to cheer me up when i don't feel too cozy about the omnipresence of petty little pricks in art and academic departments. recently, word easily got around that i am writing a blog. largely because these guys have posted the info online. now i am being "pestered" with sms messages from friends and acquaintances i had not seen or heard about for ages. gladly, this blog has resurrected me to the outside world.
truth is, i am isolated from most people here in australia. i developed very few close friendships here because i am driven and focused to finish my dissertation on time. i do not have a social life because i am always working on my dissertation. after years of privileged studying across the globe, i realized that the philippines is really my home. and in spite of problems back there, i am committed to my job as an academic in a third country. i don't have any sense of urgency to "network" and do some ass-licking here here or elsewhere. i am happy and settled with the folks back home: family, friends and students who brighten up classrooms. my life largely circumnavigates around a basic thought: i am just an instrument to help or inspire others. i cannot solve the problems of the world but i can do little things here and there to clarify a certain bleakness. after seeing the world, i'd rather live healthily, happily and simply. in my home and country.
ian casocot with rowena torrevillas and mom edith tiempo in dumaguete
a very sober paolo manalo
posted by wendell at 11:59 PM
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