Through God’s grace!

“A writer at heart,” that’s what I would like to call myself after having satisfactorily contributed articles (edited some) and maintained my column-The Newfound Freedom- in our very own La Rivista Marianum for quite challenging two years. Even though I started to write for the school organ since high school days, still I couldn’t have imagined calling myself a writer- and by writer, I mean the real one who gets paid to do work that’s actually published in print and credited through a by-line.

Since then until now, I always have the passion to write. I really love this craft, but nothing more than that. I have often felt like a “writer at heart,” but never a writer by profession. Why? The reality that I am a philosophy student and not someone who holds a degree in Journalism or Mass Communications disqualifies me from such image. Another reason is that I don’t write for a living and thus, I don’t have the right to call myself a journalist in the professional sense. To be honest, nowhere in the road map of my life did I seriously envision having to establish any sort of a professional track record as a writer.

I just love to pen my thoughts and let them freely flow through my nerves. Giving life to empty words is an art. Definitely, that feeling of becoming creative in my own way gives me happiness. I believe that becoming a professional in a particular field isn’t everything but being passionate enough is everything!

In view of the fact that this would be my last chance to get connected to our readers, I would really love to use this portion in thanking our writers, columnists, cartoonists, lay-out artists, photographer and contributors for sharing their skills, stories, efforts and quality time. You have contributed much to the success of this campus journalism. My grateful heart goes out also to our readers, whether members of our scholastic community or outside supporters who inspired our writers to be creative and truthful in putting words together in a piece of paper. I admit that it wasn’t an easy task to write something worth reading and so these people certainly deserve my sincerest gratitude.

Of course, we should not forget those individuals who are the brains that initiated the birth of La Rivista Marianum. Thank you to our ever-supportive school director, Rev. Fr. Michaelangelo Ma. Baco, OSM, for giving us the break to see the products of our creativity get published under our names. How cool is it to get to see your work published! We couldn’t be happier to be granted such a golden opportunity. Though sometimes we are not recognized, but in my part, I am happy and contented with the thought that at least through the La Rivista Marianum, we have had the freedom to speak our minds, have a voice and have it get heard! I think that’s more than enough that we could ask for. I am grateful also to Mr. Arsenio T. Altares, Jr., our moderator, for his supervision and for sharing with us some of his knowledge and experiences about newspaper writing. For all the mentors who took part in our endeavours, many thanks to all of you!

In a very special way, I would like also to thank the most generous Lord for all the graces, for the talents and skills He has bestowed to each of us. Through his graces, we are able to reach our dream of empowering our readers. In Him, we owe everything!

Before finally saying goodbye, I would like to leave some words of encouragement to all La Rivista Marianum hopefuls. Continue honing your skill in writing! Don’t get being mentally paralyzed by the idea of maintaining a “reputation” as a writer. Just simply write as what we used to do, not being bothered by the fear of making mistakes or the anxiety of meeting a high standard output or people’s expectations. Truly, creativity takes courage! Always bear in mind that our motto reminds us to write about what believe to be true, what we would like the public to know and what we think should matter! Be comfortable with your own style of writing and don’t let someone discourage you to pursue your dream to become a crafter of words.

God bless and congratulations to all of us!