out of hibernation

BACOLOD CITY- "Sapped energy and siphoned creativity..A monumental case of writer's block forced incapability of even stringing a simple sentence.."

This best describes the reason why I quit filling up a column space of the two newspaper I have been writing for,that is nearly four years now.

I don't know but something inside me forced(?)into coming out of writing hibernation to write my thoughts on anything under the sun,so here I am trying to make sense on what to write on my first piece.

I have been consistent in the mission of all the columns in different papers I have written for. That is i don't want to write for the sake of filling up a space. That is not what opinion writers do.

I actually stopped writing columns for my Bacolod- based newspapers as I found local issues too parochial. For me,opinion writing is more than just mere flowing of creative juices. Opinion writing should be aimed not only to inbform but also enlighten readers of inportant issues which impact on their lives.Columnists should give readers an analysis beyond sheer statistics and biased facts.It is the reponsibility of columnists to mol;d public minds for them to make the right decisions.

Thus, if I write just for the sake of filling up column space, I might as well not waste it on mere poetryas it would be of use to readers whose main concern is to survive each day.

Let me re-affirm this columnists commitment. I will write about more than parochial issues especially if it concerens the political squabbles of politicians and their unquenchable thirst for power. Life and living is more than just that.

This precious space will be more about analysis of current socio- economic and political issues.I will go beyond more than just scratching the issues on the surface. I will do my best to give you the real picture that others's either can't see or refused refused to see and undertands because of personal biases.

Sociologist and columnist Randy david in his introduction to a book compilation of his columns in the Philippine Daily Inquirer,with the title "Nation,Self and Citizenship:An Invitataion to Philippine Sociology",said:

"The quality of mind that C.Wright Mills called 'the sociological imagination' consists of the ability to view social reality as it is projected from three coordinates- history, society and biography. The individual who possess a sociological imagination,Mills says, is able to understand her personal circumstances in relation to the structural features of her society..."

David furhter says, "...The Filipino nation is unfinished business and therefore it is underestandable that in a public discourse that nation's needs take moral precedence over invidual fulfillment."

Filling this space is beyond space filler but both an individual fulfillment on an unfinished business.

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