Life spells a lot of instances where one is faced with works and experiences- something one has to start-with the end in mind as its goal- but eventually not finishing at all. You might point it as coincidences, divine intervention, or fate. But in whatever parlance you’d call it, it’s an unfinished business- something you left undone. Check out these businesses with a compilation from Adrian P. Bobe.

Half-way to the pools’ end
Josh Thomas “Bam” Tipay, 8
Grade 1 pupil

Swimming is the sport of my sister and was never meant for me. In every swimming lesson of my ate, I felt obliged to go there and join the other kids she is teaching. I know how to do the bubbling and kicking, but I can’t complete a perfect stroke. All I know so far is the dog and frog strokes.

I told myself that one day I’ll beat her in a swimming competition. I know I will! She will be the 2nd placer and I’ll be the 1st! But how can I beat her if I can’t reach the end of a 25-meter swimming pool?

One afternoon, I tried something risky. It’s about time to show her that I can finish a lap. I started standing on a diving board and jumped on the water. Then I performed my freestyle stroke. While swimming, I wasn’t moving fast enough, so I tried the hard way. I kicked harder. However, I felt that I was  drowning. I’m at the middle of the pool, half way to go! I will finish a lap! Unfortunately, I swallowed big amount of water, so, I stopped and saw my ate laughing.

I was starting to enjoy and appreciate swimming, but I never finished even a single lap. Maybe I better shift to basketball or chess or archery or even boxing, who knows, I might excel in one of them!

 

Would friendship end and love begin?
Agette “Bella” Asan, 20
Psychology Senior

Love can often be portrayed as a dangerous emotion that can end in tragedy. Love, as everyone should know, is a strange disease. It’s like measles; we all have to go through with it. For me, the art of love is the experience of pain. It’s part of life.

I was with someone for so many years. He is a man of great word, principle and affection – my best friend. But I did not expect to fall in love with him. I asked my self; “How would I draw a line between love and friendship?”  I guess in friendship we create love and in love sometimes we loose friendship. At times wanting more means losing everything and that’s the friends-to-lovers dilemma. Maybe it is better if I just keep my feelings to myself and control my emotion.  Probably we still have the chance to enjoy each other’s company. Now I’ve started loving him but never finished doing so even if I should. 

Friendship has splendors that love does not know. It grows stronger when crossed, whereas obstacles kill love. Friendship resists time, while love wearies and severs couples. It has heights unknown to love. I guess I just have to experience how love and pain coincide. It is love that I’ve started and tried hard to finish or cease no matter how big the wound it may cause in my life.

 

The near-dramatic ending
Asia Margaret “Ace” Cunanan, 19
Accounting & Economics Senior

At school, everything seems to be strenuous. To spice up my life as a student, apart from school stuff, I need a balancing element. I should have gone on a summer workshop on basic acting but unfortunately, I have to take up four subjects this summer to make sure I march on time.

I love to try new things and later get through with them. However, there is something that I find so much pleasure with and never been over it – theatre. Dancing, singing, learning… these are things that just never cease to exist simply because I don’t want to let go of them – because no matter what I do, part of me is crafted of them.

I’ve started dancing ballet at seven. And inch by inch I come to realize the appeal of theatre arts to me. Sometime in my dancing years, through our recitals, I’ve started to draw out and enrich the passion of an artist in me. Since then, I’ve dreamed of becoming a true theatre performer or artist (whatever they call it).  I’ve been through it for quite half of my life and never over it; there is so much more in it for me to discover.

Everything comes in its own time. As to me, it is apt to pursue theatre after graduation next year. However, right now, I know that there may be circumstances that might hinder me again. I don’t know how long I will have to wait to reach my dreams. But certainly, I will strive to make them come into reality. In fact, these are the things that last - our dreams. And what surely will never reach the finish line are our boundless efforts to make them happen.

 

When I’m about to give my tightest hug
Louie T. Lipa, 19
Future Teacher

It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was.

Ever since I was a child, I really never had the chance to bond or even feel that I have a father. My mother is always my companion. I don’t know why, but I don’t have the guts to talk to him or even share my problems. I believe we have repelling forces. Often, he goes out while I’m asleep, the same way around with me.

Last November 2007, my father was brought to the hospital due to the paling of his skin. At first, the doctors found nothing bad that caused his condition. It was relieving to know he’s okay. Until the 30th of December, he was rushed back due to sever stomach pain. Then he was diagnosed with Cirrhosis of the liver. I felt bad that time.

Continually, I cried and cried a lot - a scenario usually found in hard hitting movies. I prayed for his recovery, yet, it seemed that his illness draws him closer to death.

I wish I could talk to him, ask if he’s fine, or support him through giving him my hugs and kisses - but, how could I? I would not make the first move.

Days passed and his life clock ticks more than the usual, this time- it’s becoming slower and slower.  I never remembered if I have kissed my father nor hugged him. But at that time, seeing him catching his breath, I kissed him. It was my first time to kiss him and after staying in the hospital for a day, he left us.

I believe my father and I still have an unfinished business. I never showed him how much I love him. I never thank him for the gift of life he has given me.

I never did and I hope that after sharing our story, he will feel the love that I have for him.

     

Half-point shoot to double majors
Karen Ann Vargas, 19
Mass Communication Senior

Life’s complications begin when one is faced with a dorky fork of choices. Whether when one would continue, aspire and dream more or rather pause, stop, and then move to somewhere else.

This encapsulates the decision I had to make: whether continue my double major communications and marketing course or drop one profession I’m having a difficult time handling. 

But a year later and after all those “pasakit sa ulo” in making balance sheets and income statements, I came to a realization that I’m definitely not into numbers.  Thus, taking up marketing course was a wrong decision.  So I just retired with all those columnar pads in accounting and just settle for video cams and newspapers in mass comm.  After all, when you really love what you’re doing, it doesn’t count as work anymore but a game that you just enjoy playing.