I am the Master of My Fate; I am the Captain of My Soul! (Entry 8)

The Lottery of Babylon by Jorge Luis Borges teaches us to question the idea of God, Fate and Chance. The company is a metaphor to God wherein all players have the same and equal chances. It is in control of man's luck whether to reward or punish them. Given that they all have the same opportunities in the lottery game, this is when fate or destiny steps in. It is a matter of luck for them to be chosen - good or bad. A draw can turn a prisoner into a rich man's robe or cause the death of an innocent person. Here, the author shows that we all have the same worth and we all deserve the same probability of fortune as the other.

In my opinion, it is good that Borges presented how we all have equal chances in this life. However, I do not think we should be dependent on fate and destiny alone. It is not God who rewards nor punishes us; it is man's doing. Everything that we do has its corresponding consequences. Also, we all live in the same world where we can choose to be anyone we want to be. He is only there to guide us and to direct us towards living a good life. In the end, it is still up to us to decide how we will make use of our lives. Some may have luck on their side, and some otherwise. But, I believe this should not stop us from wanting to be better and dreaming bigger. Life will not always go the way we want it to be but that does not mean we should give up on it. We always have a choice. And every choice we make will surely affect the outcome of our lives. Let's always remember we are the master of our fate, and the captain of our soul.

Childhood Memoirs

I've always loved playing in the playground and so it makes me happy whenever we pass the CHK gym. Here's a video of my BFF and I taking a few minutes of our time just to play like little kids again. Hope you enjoy 😊

Love in the Face of Unrequitedness and Heartbreak (Entry 7)

Love is shared between two people. But, what happens when you love someone who cannot love you in return? As weird as it sounds, we want what we can't have. Knowing that we cannot have them makes us want them even more. Why is that so? Simple. We see it as a challenge.

This reminds me of the story about Adam and Eve. They could eat anything they want but not the forbidden fruit. Yet, they still did. There was something in that fruit that made it look so attractive. Again, I believe it's knowing that they can't eat it as compared to all the other fruits that added to its value. This brought the desire to have the fruit even more. 

So, if you do not want to experience unrequited love or heartache, then make sure to not fall in love in the first place. Or at least that's what they always say. Because with love, comes pain and it may eventually lead to heartbreak. At least, with the pain comes the realization that it is real. Although I believe, some heartbreak may or may not be worth it. It's up to you to decide. Remember if you never let yourself fall in love, then you will never have to worry about getting over a broken heart. But then again, you'll never know if you're capable of loving. It is only when you fall in love that you will know how great the love you can give. The reason why one may get hurt is because he/she has loved truly and deeply. 

Heartbreak is the most painful thing you will ever experience but it is also the best lesson you can learn. It does not only teach you to love but also to pick yourself and get back up - to move on in life because there are far more many beautiful things that await you. I honestly would not wish this for anyone because I myself have gone through it. Trust me, it isn't a pleasant experience but looking back it did make me stronger and better. I have grown into the person that I've become. If I did not go through it, I don't think I'd be the same Antoinette writing to you right now.

Strolling Along the Streets of Tsim Sha Tsui

Shopping. Disneyland. Peking Duck. Fried Rice. Wanton. Harbor Square. Bee Cheng Hiang. Egg Tarts. Almond Cookies. Leather. Fireworks. New Years Eve. Countdown. Hospital. Bonding. Love. Family. Friends. Blessed. Grateful. Customs. Salvatore. Independent. Second Home. Sky Tower. MGM. The Venetian. Buffet. Taoist temple. Ruins of St. Paul. Fast MTR. Salad. YSA. Cold mornings. Reconnected. Moving on. Soul Searching. Happiness. Rio Casino. Delayed flight. Fashion. lobby WIFI. Shamrock. Pasalubong. Duty Free. Lacoste. Loafers. Goodbyes. See you soon.

Hong Kong - Macau 2016

ELECTION 2016

Anyone can be a leader but not everyone can serve with the heart. This is something I believe to be important and it is also my main reason for running as your next AIT SC Councilor. 

Choosing to run was not an easy option. It required a lot of thinking, discernment and divine intervention. At first, I rejected the offer because I did not want to be half-hearted in running. I want to make sure that when I commit myself into something I will really fulfill my duties and responsibilities and exert my best effort. Despite, the many things that held me back, there was only one reason that pushed me and that is the burning passion to serve. 

I grew up believing in servant leadership - putting others before me - and in what I can offer to the community. And so i thought “why should i stop myself from serving others?” when I am capable and competent yet still remain to be grounded on my principles.

And that’s why I chose START together with Kaisa because i believe in their principles: Service, Transparency, Accessibility, Responsive Leadership and Thorough Consultation while at the same time fulfilling my responsibilities as a student. Lastly, If there are people who believe in me, then why shouldn’t i believe in myself?

Again, I am TONI Duque, your next AITSC Councilor!

2nd Year, BS Tourism – Consistent University/College Scholar - Member, UP Club for the Environment and Tourism, 2015 - present – Member, UP Student Action for Responsive Leadership in Tourism, 2016 – present – Executive Chairperson, Fast Research and Development Committee, DLSU, 2013 – Head, Contemporary Dance Club, 2011 – 2012 – Math Merit Awardee, Assumption College, 2012

🎤 so TONI's what you want, what you really, really want! 😊
#activAIT #STARTsaAIT #KAISAsaUSC

What Does It Mean To Be Human? (Entry 6)

We can eat, drink, sleep, dance, sing, cry, laugh, walk, run, write, read, speak, and many more. On the other hand, we can also murder, kill, judge, criticize, ostracize, rape, bully, discriminate, etc. The list goes on with the limitless possibilities we can do. But the question is: What does it mean to be HUMAN? Can one stop being human while still being alive?

To answer this, we must first answer the question what is it to be human? To be human is to have the ability to communicate with one another. It is also being able to understand abstract ideas that require the use of logic and reasoning. And lastly, our capacity to feel, portray and express our emotions is a distinct characteristic that only humans like us are capable of doing. All those things I mentioned are things that set us apart from other species. 

If that's our very definition of what it means to be human, then I believe that yes, it is also possible to stop being human while still being alive. This can be seen in Gregor Samsa's Metamorphosis. When he turned into a verminous bug, he lost the ability to speak. However, he was still capable of communicating through his movements. At the same time, he was still thinking aloud although his thoughts could not be heard. And he could still feel. On the other hand, since he can no longer work, and provide for the family... he was seen as useless. In fact, he was a burden for them. These people stopped caring about him. They grew tired of him. The man whom they once loved, was literally treated as an insect. It was as if they were just waiting for him to die until he did.

In that story, we can ask ourselves who among them was truly human? Was it Gregor's family who abandoned him and killed his hope little by little or was it Gregor who, despite being a bug, was still able to share his thoughts and feelings to those who could hear his silent words?

To be human, is to be selfless. In being selfless, we are able to feel and understand others. Given that we do, we do not just stop there but instead, we do acts of kindness, and be compassionate towards others. We only have one life. We might as well make the most out of it by touching the lives of other people. It is what I believe will make us truly human as seen in the story of the Metamorphosis.

Looking through Different Lenses (Entry 5)

There was never a day my parents and I never fought. If it's not mom who's mad, it's dad. They are always mad at me even with slightest things such as being late by 5 minutes, or eating little and slow. Aside from that, I feel that their expectations are far too great that I cannot live up to it. They expect so much from me - to be good in both being a student and a daughter. Yet, I always feel like I fail them. That no matter what I do, it's just not enough. However, all these are caused by misunderstandings brought about by miscommunication.

My parents have always been busy with work in order to provide for us while I put all my time in studying so that I can make them proud. With our busy schedule, and lack of time, it's almost impossible for us to meet and spend quality time. We do not get to update each other nor do we get to make kwento like before and I understand why. But somehow, this has affected my relationship with my parents. I feel that they do not know me anymore or that they know so little about me. To add on to that, our age gap and growing up from two completely different generations have been causing more misunderstandings. For instance, my parents imposed a rule that I have to be home by 12AM sharp. And I hate it because, nowadays parties start late. By the time I leave, that's when the fun starts and so I always miss out. Also, I am not always allowed to go out. At the very most, once a week. I do not understand where they are coming from but when I ask them, they always say "it's for your own good." Where's the "good" in that?

It's fair to say though that there were times I'd be home past my curfew and I'd go out more than once a week. Well, I'm grateful when they would let it pass and forgive me. However, there was this one time that they were very mad. And I had to explain. I needed them to see where I was coming from. To understand me. I'm already 2o turning 21 this year yet I feel like I still do not have the freedom to decide for myself. That's the only time I understood them. It's not that they did not want me to have a life. But it's because they wanted to protect me. It sounds cliche doesn't it? But really, they said that the world is scary. It can be dangerous. Anything can happen to me when I'm out there. Worse, they won't be able to do anything or they'll be too late. They understand that we are a partying-til'-the-wee-hours-of-the-morning generation but they just cannot change their protective instinct just like that. And as much as I think that it is safe (people doing drugs for example seems normal to me), they think that it is dangerous and it can destroy lives- my life to be specific. They wanted me to achieve my dreams and become successful even if it means I'd see them as evil monsters because they love me. They only wish the best for me. As my parents, they want to guide me in the right path/direction and help me grow into a better person. Because of that, I remembered what they always say: "My success is their success. My happiness is also theirs."I live in a time when my motto is "You Only Live Once" while theirs was "You Live Only Once" and those two are very different from each other. The latter gives more emphasis on living life and its importance. It tells us to make the most out of the precious life we have and serves as a reminder.

With that said, I always misunderstood them. I believe it is because I was too busy that I never made time for them; thus, creating a big misunderstanding between my parents and I. They wanted me to go out once a week so that I can spend the rest of my time with them but I failed to see that. They wanted me home early because they couldn't sleep knowing that I'm not home yet and it makes them feel anxious. I always wanted it my way and asked them to understand me when I could not even do the same for them. Now tell me, what better love can there be than that of my parents' love for me? I am truly grateful and be more than blessed to have them. Sorry and thanks mom and dad for the love you both continue to give to me. 😊