Knocking On Heaven's Door
The following is my EN12 reflection paper, my final requirement for the 2nd sem. I crammed it, yet again, and I'm really not a good writer, so it's not that good. Oh and sorry sa title, wala akong ibang maisip eh. hehe.
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Aldwin Calubad March 30, 2007
EN12 R05 Sir Miggy Escano Reflection Paper
Knocking on Heaven’s Door
It sucks how life has been constantly reminding me of our futile mortality.
Last December of 2006, it was caroling season for my organization, the Ateneo Christian Life Community (ACLC). It seemed like a typical caroling night, although the area we sang our hearts out on that night was located at Alabang, far from our territory. After three houses, we called it a night I was assigned as the driver of one of the transportations home. Daanghari Avenue, somewhere in Alabang, to me looked like a highway that goes straight, and I was speeding at around 80kph. Oh God, there was a curb, and a truck going the other way. It was too dark for me to notice. Out of instinct, I tried to turn while stepping on the breaks, and to no avail, it was disastrous. My crosswind literally flipped and tumbled, 810 degrees to be exact. Rolled twice (720 degrees) then landed left side up. Until now, the scene still haunts me: the passengers, whom I love, were screaming, the windshield was shattering right in front of me and the sickening feel of being inside a tumbling car was unbearable. After all the chaos, we were rushed into the hospital, Alabang Medical Center, and the ones confined, two friends and I, stayed for two nights and two days.
For the first time in my life, I escaped death. Rather, God saved us from it, that’s what I always tell people about the fateful accident. Imagine, the car tumbled a huge 810 degrees, who wouldn’t think that there were major injuries or even fatalities? There were but a few minor injuries. We were proclaiming the joy of His birth that day, and so He saved our lives, yet again.
A week after my dreadful accident, another catastrophe happened. Somewhere in Corinthian Gardens, the house of my friend and Xavier batchmate, Howell Yao, caught in flames due to faulty Christmas lights. Howell, his younger brother, and his mother didn’t make it. This was very big blow to his family and the Xavier community, including me. Losing three family members in one crash is very, very painful. I can’t imagine the excruciating emotional trauma for their loved ones.
The importance of life has clear to me ever since my accident, and the realization hit me even much more after what happened to Howell.
Many other friends and Xavier batchmates had too reflected on this after what happened to Howell. One of them was Thomas O, he wrote a reflection paper emphasizing on the importance of life, and how we should value it together with the loved ones we have; his message is something I can totally relate to and agree with. About a month and a half after the very unpleasant incident on Howell, Thomas got shot by burglars who intruded his house, also it was another big shock and painful trauma.
If these weren’t enough, another Xaverian batchmate, Justin Ong, died in a car crash about a month later. It was on the news, he was on the way home with friends from a party. A taxi cut right in front of them, and almost similar to what happened to me, they tumbled and hit a tree. Justin shielded the girl beside him, and he saved her life while sacrificing his own. He died a hero.
All these casualties happened within just three months, and picture how much these three traumatic months have changed the lives of family, friends, and batchmates, including myself. The point of life being very important has already been stressed on me a hundredfold, even more after what happened to Justin because what happened to him was almost very similar to what happened to me, like so, without a doubt, I feel very blessed indeed. Life is so unpredictable, it can be taken from you so easily by a fire, a gunshot, a crash, and in so many other ways. The cliché-ish old sayings that “we should live life to the fullest, make the most out of everything, and love everyone you love,” became so personal and significant to me. Right now, I just want to be a good companion to my friends, and especially a loving son to my family. I admit that my relationship with my family isn’t commendable, in particular with my dad, and it’s about time that I really give him the respect that he deserves. Especially now that he just suffered from a stroke a year ago. Last night I told a friend, who’s close to me, that he’s very important to me and I love him as a friend. Right now, I guess I want the people I love to feel that they really are valuable to me, before something happens to me again. Plus, I feel the need to get rid of any possible grudges. I have never liked keeping grudges, and now, I just want to promise that to myself even more. Right now, I just want to do sincerely everything that I love doing, and finally take my studies seriously. Trust me, it’s important to live life fully as if every day is your last.
Last night, I just came from the wake for Justin Ong. I’d like to quote Fr. Johnny Go, Xavier School Director, in what he said about death in the Mass’ homily. (I forgot the exact words so I’ll just mention it in my own words.) Death is something very hard to understand, and it’s inevitable, especially for the loved ones, to question God. Instead, we can just get this pain, wrap it around with prayers, and offer it to God. Accordingly, we could see how much He’s always, and forever will be there for us.
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Aldwin Calubad March 30, 2007
EN12 R05 Sir Miggy Escano Reflection Paper
Knocking on Heaven’s Door
It sucks how life has been constantly reminding me of our futile mortality.
Last December of 2006, it was caroling season for my organization, the Ateneo Christian Life Community (ACLC). It seemed like a typical caroling night, although the area we sang our hearts out on that night was located at Alabang, far from our territory. After three houses, we called it a night I was assigned as the driver of one of the transportations home. Daanghari Avenue, somewhere in Alabang, to me looked like a highway that goes straight, and I was speeding at around 80kph. Oh God, there was a curb, and a truck going the other way. It was too dark for me to notice. Out of instinct, I tried to turn while stepping on the breaks, and to no avail, it was disastrous. My crosswind literally flipped and tumbled, 810 degrees to be exact. Rolled twice (720 degrees) then landed left side up. Until now, the scene still haunts me: the passengers, whom I love, were screaming, the windshield was shattering right in front of me and the sickening feel of being inside a tumbling car was unbearable. After all the chaos, we were rushed into the hospital, Alabang Medical Center, and the ones confined, two friends and I, stayed for two nights and two days.
For the first time in my life, I escaped death. Rather, God saved us from it, that’s what I always tell people about the fateful accident. Imagine, the car tumbled a huge 810 degrees, who wouldn’t think that there were major injuries or even fatalities? There were but a few minor injuries. We were proclaiming the joy of His birth that day, and so He saved our lives, yet again.
A week after my dreadful accident, another catastrophe happened. Somewhere in Corinthian Gardens, the house of my friend and Xavier batchmate, Howell Yao, caught in flames due to faulty Christmas lights. Howell, his younger brother, and his mother didn’t make it. This was very big blow to his family and the Xavier community, including me. Losing three family members in one crash is very, very painful. I can’t imagine the excruciating emotional trauma for their loved ones.
The importance of life has clear to me ever since my accident, and the realization hit me even much more after what happened to Howell.
Many other friends and Xavier batchmates had too reflected on this after what happened to Howell. One of them was Thomas O, he wrote a reflection paper emphasizing on the importance of life, and how we should value it together with the loved ones we have; his message is something I can totally relate to and agree with. About a month and a half after the very unpleasant incident on Howell, Thomas got shot by burglars who intruded his house, also it was another big shock and painful trauma.
If these weren’t enough, another Xaverian batchmate, Justin Ong, died in a car crash about a month later. It was on the news, he was on the way home with friends from a party. A taxi cut right in front of them, and almost similar to what happened to me, they tumbled and hit a tree. Justin shielded the girl beside him, and he saved her life while sacrificing his own. He died a hero.
All these casualties happened within just three months, and picture how much these three traumatic months have changed the lives of family, friends, and batchmates, including myself. The point of life being very important has already been stressed on me a hundredfold, even more after what happened to Justin because what happened to him was almost very similar to what happened to me, like so, without a doubt, I feel very blessed indeed. Life is so unpredictable, it can be taken from you so easily by a fire, a gunshot, a crash, and in so many other ways. The cliché-ish old sayings that “we should live life to the fullest, make the most out of everything, and love everyone you love,” became so personal and significant to me. Right now, I just want to be a good companion to my friends, and especially a loving son to my family. I admit that my relationship with my family isn’t commendable, in particular with my dad, and it’s about time that I really give him the respect that he deserves. Especially now that he just suffered from a stroke a year ago. Last night I told a friend, who’s close to me, that he’s very important to me and I love him as a friend. Right now, I guess I want the people I love to feel that they really are valuable to me, before something happens to me again. Plus, I feel the need to get rid of any possible grudges. I have never liked keeping grudges, and now, I just want to promise that to myself even more. Right now, I just want to do sincerely everything that I love doing, and finally take my studies seriously. Trust me, it’s important to live life fully as if every day is your last.
Last night, I just came from the wake for Justin Ong. I’d like to quote Fr. Johnny Go, Xavier School Director, in what he said about death in the Mass’ homily. (I forgot the exact words so I’ll just mention it in my own words.) Death is something very hard to understand, and it’s inevitable, especially for the loved ones, to question God. Instead, we can just get this pain, wrap it around with prayers, and offer it to God. Accordingly, we could see how much He’s always, and forever will be there for us.