It's been a while since I stopped writing...I miss writing for it stirs up the passion that's been hiding in my veins. It voices out the melancholy of thy soul...

LITANIES OF A LETHARGIC

My dear, I knew from the start, this would happen.
I knew from the beginning, you'll have to go your own way.
It had been whispered in my lobes that I should be braced,
For your settling in would be temporary and my heart would be filled with agony.

At first, my only wish is that you'd let me into your world
and let me prove that SOMEONE, in my entity, really cares for you.
My love is unconditional, I knew it from the start.
There's this feeling that I am born for you and a hope that you are born for me.

My dear, can't you hear my heart calling?
Why do you keep on heeding your warnings?
Am I not worth keeping?
Why did you keep me from falling?
In a jiffy, you and I collided,
Like a star my love exploded.
You made me believe dreams do come true,
That God is good too.

But now you've lost your appetite too,
and without much ado you'd left me too.
Waves set in, thunder roared, glasses broke,
My voice can no longer be heard.
I'm lost... I'm doomed... I've fallen apart...
My love, my love had been torn into pieces.
Left me bleeding, memoirs keep on reminiscing...
Can you tell me where in the world could I live in
without having been reminded of this excruciating feeling?

How to Write an Article for Your School Newspaper-from wikiHow

Do you want to write for the school paper?  If you would like to begin or join a newspaper club at your school, then please read on.

Steps

1. Join the journalism class or newspaper club. If there isn't one, talk to the appropriate authorities about starting one.
   
2. Find out what is going on at your school. Are there any special events coming up? Any big changes planned? What school issues do your classmates care about? Go around the school and look for interesting events. Some students might be graduating early, some might be starting a school club, others can be selling candy, key-chains, or school spirit buttons. You never know what might be interesting to the students and teachers!
   
   • Remember that your job for the school is very important and it should be taken responsibly. That means that you can't write stupid articles about two of the students dating or breaking up just because it is the only thing interesting. The people in the article will deny the claim, and you'll get fired for writing deceitful articles about two students a lot of the other students probably don't even know. You can, however, write articles about a student getting suspended or expelled, because it probably would be true. Although, it will not always be true, probably just a rumor that some jerk started spreading around the school.
     
3. Interview the people involved, such as classmates, teachers and other school faculty.
   
4. Write your article in a way that your target audience will understand.
   
5. When you're putting together your newspaper, add color and pictures.
   

Tips

• Think of articles that are interesting. Nobody will want to read a newspaper filled with boring things!
  
• Try having opinion pieces in your paper.
  
• Think of a cool title name for your article. This will draw the reader into the article.
  
• Have fun with it. Writing will be easier if you have fun and adventure with the aspect of the press.
  
• You can include the week's lunch menu! Some people are actually intrigued by lunch menus, and will make everybody anticipate Taco day! Lunch menus are important to know when you're writing a school newspaper. Remember to include lunch prices for those who don't get free lunch.
  

Warnings

• Make sure to not offend anyone with your articles!
  
• Don't try too hard when you write; in the end, it just looks bad.

On Why Voice-Manila Cannot Be A Student-funded Publication by Paul Henry Santiago

Before the main topic, an introduction is in order.

For starters, the Voice-Manila (hereafter referred to as Voice) is the official school and student publication of the Technological Institute of the Philippines-Manila (TIP-M). Its office is located at the second floor of Building 3 of the Casal campus. Currently, the publication staff numbers to about twenty. The publication’s senior staff is comprised of the editorial board (Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editor, Managing Editor) and the editorial staff (News Editor, Features and Literary Editor, Filipino Editor, Photography Editor and Circulations Manager, Chief Layout Artist). The position of Chief Layout Artist is vacant, as there is no eligible staff for promotion as I was writing this article. There are also two advisers, the English Adviser and Filipino Adviser.

The publication provides scholarships for its staff. There are two scholarships given: first is a 100% discount on tuition fees and the second is no fees except for Development Fee, Computer Fee, Industry Software Fee and ID. A staff only has to pass all of his enrolled subjects in order to avail of the scholarship, aside from performing well in the publication. The editorial board and editorial staff also receive monthly allowance.

The publication releases four regular issues, two in each semester, and a special issue which is commonly a literary folio. The Voice-Manila also holds a competitive examination annually in order to recruit new members.

Now for the main topic. This article will tackle why it seems impossible for the Voice to obtain its independence from the administration of TIP-M. This is a result of my three years of stay inside the publication, throughout which I was able to talk with various persons about the status of the publication, observe the students’ concern – or lack thereof – for the Voice, experience the censorship that the paper undergoes and the publication staff’s lack of fervor in pursuing autonomy, among others.

As a reminder, what follows is my opinion about the topic. I do not speak on behalf of the Voice. Also, I am no longer a member of the publication, as I have already graduated last March.

Now that the formalities have been settled, let’s get on with the topic, shall we?

According to past issues of the Voice, the publication was suspended in 1972 due to Martial Law. It was revived in October 1981 after a student referendum. Back then, the Voice was considered the publication of the student body. Come 1991, it suddenly became known as the school and student publication of TIP and continues to be so.

One of the reasons as to why the publication remains far from being independent is the students. They are resigned to the notion that the Voice is “pro-administration” and as such do not expect any hard-hitting or critical articles from it. This has also contributed to their indifference to the publication. They get the latest issue of the Voice, read and discuss a few articles in it, and wait for the next release. The students are content with being reactive for only a few weeks to the issues tackled by the publication.

I call those students “The Beautiful Ones,” mindful of nothing but their grades, happy inside their respective Ivory Tower. It is a shame that apathy has taken deep root within the students.

There are numerous times I had to explain to classmates and friends why the Voice cannot print articles critical of the school administration. As students, I believe it is their right to know the issues affecting them and the school. Sadly, the Voice can only play the part to a certain degree. To paraphrase a colleague and friend, “Malabong maging malaya ang dyaryo (Voice) dahil ayaw ng mga estudyante. Kailangang manggaling sa kanila ang pagkilos.”

Another reason is the Supreme Student Government (SSG). As the student council, it is their duty to represent the students in talks with the administration and serve as advocate of student rights. However, the council is plagued with indifferent student who mostly border on traditional student politics. Instead of being a true student council, the SSG often chooses to succumb to the school administration, fearful of retaliation if they do something that can be labeled as “activism.”

In the recent consultation regarding tuition and other fee increases (ToFI), the council was not able to play its part, questioning only the various fees collected by the school. They did not even ask the administration for any guarantees that the fees be used accordingly (concerning the 70-20-10 incremental fees set by CHED Memorandum Order No. 14, prior to its suspension). They also “agreed” to the increase in tuition and miscellaneous fees, although I was told that they did not sign any certificate of agreement. I have yet to confirm the report.

The SSG has the power to hold a student referendum. As such, they are vital to attaining the publication’s independence. However, as long as the officers elected into the council are cowardly student “leaders” (read: blind-eyed pro-administration dogs) with no concept of progress and change, the arena of student politics in TIP will remain as gibberish as it is. - Paul Henry Santiago, June 2007

A Clip from youtube