Finishing college at a catholic university, I was blessed to have four radical Professors in all four Religion classes who had the favorite past-time of throwing the most inquisitive questions at us that concerned ridiculing the university administrators, the entire catholic faith, and the religious institution as a whole.
But most of all, I continue my Hail Mary's and a hundred Amen's daily for having Sir Henry for my Ethics Professor. The few good privileges going international than being labelled block has. While others talked about him, I knew him and was in his class. Sometimes, I wonder if he remembers me for the one student who went to Finals and sat down answering for a whole three hours finishing his take-home exam.
I respect all the instructors and professors I had to deal with. But Sir Henry is simply Sir Henry to me. While others made us question, he made us go as far as turning the classroom into a laboratory for some interesting social experiments.
The climax of the semester was when he gave the class a challenge to elect a sacrificial lamb, or for one person to voluntarily submit himself as a sacrificial lamb----the sacrificial lamb gets to flunk the semester, while everyone gets passing marks.
The idea was pretty radical, but it did throw the class into one hell of a commotion. Some were already shouting in excitement, debating who among their friends was the best bet to take on the position, based on who failed the mid-terms and wasn't looking forward to passing the semester in the first place. Others were quietly hoping someone would volunteer. And others were perplexed, contemplating the ethical issues of the challenge.
One guy actually stepped forward. This further agitated everyone. But just as soon as he did, he paused. Before another second could pass, he stepped back, suddenly confused. Some of his friends actually began egging him on with encouragements.
Sir Henry watched with amusement. I could swear he was savoring every minute, watching the best show better than primetime.
Finally, the bell rang and a decision had not been made, and the guy who nearly submitted himself to failure was red and sweaty not just by his inner turmoil, but of that of the class as well. Sir Henry negotiates, saying we had until tomorrow to come up with a decision.
The following day, Sir Henry has a smirk on his face seemingly knowing what news we had for him----like he already knew the class like the back of his hands. And his expectation was not failed. The class was dismal in greeting him with nothing but silence. He got the hint and took it as a signal saying, "Moving on..."
Sir Henry graduated from a catholic university himself. He originally enrolled in a computer-related course but later dropped out trying to figure what he really wanted to do with his life. Also, his mother has insisted and persisted that he should quit teaching and migrate to the US.
He comes to class in formal attire and nice black shoes looking like Neo (he does, too, except he has chinky eyes.) And then, all of a sudden, he would sit on the table Indian style, just like Ambeth Ocampo has done for a photograph. And if he got really excited, he would begin his heresy dance by jumping around exclaiming, "Heresy! Heresy! Heresy!" He made a dork of himself despite the bland expressionless faces after that. Inside a classroom, you can't guarantee teaching all that you actually want everyone to learn. But giving your best shot is worth changing the life of even just one student.
He is not ashamed to show his romantic side and discusses even his lovelife openly (which crushed the hearts of most of his students including myself.) He openly disclosed that he always takes a dayoff on Valentine's Day and offers that entire day to his girlfriend. He is such a good catch (not really an appropriate term) that his own mother has been furious about their relationship, and kept insisting he just had to break-up with his woman. According to her, he had a lot of reasons to: she's separated, but not annulled and has two kids. He personally abhors the fact that she smokes in front of them and tells them, "Kids, don't smoke." How in the world do you become a positive role model and what makes you think they would take your advise seriously?!?! In spite of all that, he chooses to be with her.
(To all the pupils of Sir Go, wouldn't it be interesting to know what exactly turned out of their love story...?)
Most of all, he wears a gold necklace with a crucifix for a pendant around his neck... doesn't take it off. And tells us, he wears it as a reminder of where he came from----he acknowledges his past as having been born into a devout Catholic family and respects it.
It does not mean we have learned to speak our truths, live by our beliefs, or choose the Light, that we have to despise our past. It is precisely what has molded us to become who we are. Without the past, we would not have found our courage to stop betraying our truths, and be true to ourselves.
And it all boils down to one thing...
There's a time for questioning (for a matter of fact, questioning does not seem to end) and a time for answers.
Some answers surface in the least expected way. Some you find right before you like they have been there all the time you just haven't seen it at first, second, or third glance. Others reveal themselves in their own good time.
But this is the one question that I will never forget that fully awakened a part of me and helped me understand him all the more.
Socrates could have saved himself but he chose to be executed. Jesus died on the cross despite his chance of fleeing. Jose Rizal sacrificed himself even if the katipuneros were determined to free him. What is it that they all had in common? What is it that these people shared? Down the line of history are men and women who have been executed not because they were simply philosophers or claim to be prophets and saviors. But they all believed in something.
It's not so much a matter about the big questions in Life or figuring out what Life is suppose to mean. Ask yourself this, simple question:
Decide, what you truly believe in and would die for.
(Although honestly, I think the days of martyrs have long gone. Would it not be more of a thrill to go on living for all that you know and believe to be true?)
And go from there.
Life will be less complicated and your Happiness won't be impossible.
The answer is within you and you alone can do something about it. You don't have to change how all the rest of the world thinks. Start with yourself and go from there.
