THE GT OBSERVER

    God Bless the Philippines

God bless our cherished Philippines
Land of treasures, mountains, and seas
Of sugar canes and  their central plains
Guide her, O God, and these our pleas.

Watch over our dear Philippines
Through the emergence of progress
That you have never before seen
Of unity, we have to address.

We love our country, our birthland
We love the freedom that we earned
The shore, the lake, the foamy strand
The love and beauty that we have learned.

THE GT OBSERVER

 The Boy Scout Oath

"On my honor, I'll do my best to do my duty to God and country. To help other people at all times. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight, help me, God."

During my Elementary days, I was a cute, small kid who, during an exercise on the Boy Scouts pyramid building. was always at the top. proudly reciting the Boy Scout Oath and ending with a right-hand salute.
There was a Philippine Military Training (PMT). In College, there was the Reserve Training Course (ROTC). This is a two-year requirement, or you cannot graduate. At Zamboanga A E College, Zamboanga City, I  took the Air Force Reserve Training, and at the Andres Bonifacio College, Dipolog City, I took the Army ROTC. 

By the way, my learning journey has a colorful beginning and has no ending. At this point, I am still a disciple of learning. even with the advent of the computer, the smartphone, and the AI. (Artificial Intelligence.) Thanks to the Phoenicians, the ancient traders. No man is an island.

At a public school, I freely had my elementary education. My high school was at a religious private school from my freshman year to junior year. And my Senior year was with Ateneo de Zamboanga, Zamboanga City. An all-boys Catholic school.. I graduated with honors as a Salutatorian due to a lack of residence. At that time, I was with Dr. Paquito Barrios, who paid for my school tuition. I was groomed to take up a Medical Tech (which was a Two-year course) as the doctor was planning to put up a private clinic.

Yet the wind of change carried me to the Zamboanga School of Arts and Trade to take up Drafting, but the class was temporarily closed due to the lack of student enrollees. Meanwhile, a kindhearted pilot, Capt. Cervero came to my succor and offered me a job to maneuver a pilot boat as foreign vessels can't dock without the guidance of the wharf Pilot.

Addendum:  At Ferrer High School, I was one of the top four students. Unknowingly to my classmates, the English and Literature teacher, Mrs. Inclan, assigned me to check the test papers.
However, beyond my expectations at the Zamboanga AE College, in the Law class of Atty. Romulo Plagata, I checked the test papers. This was in the Law class of Atty. Romulo Plagata. During this time, I was also a Literary Editor of the Campus college paper. 

I was taking a Bachelor of Science in Education degree majoring in History and minoring in English. There was an intramural debate between the College of Law and the College of Education. The topic: That electoral campaign must be limited to 3 months. The Educators were on the affirmative side with two High School Valedictorians and one Salutatorian. To ensure the win, a plan of attack was made with  the broadcast and media. They were seasoned guys of the profession. They were buddies. The result was triumphant. The Educators won. It was the first in the College Intramural history in debate. It was always the Lawyers, the College of Law.

In my last days of College, I was elected as president of the College Student Council. I was privileged to find a Graduation speaker. I knocked at the door of the mayor of Zamboanga City, Mr. Cesar Climaco. He was not available at that time, but luck emerged in the former seminarian and the Director of the Philippine Muslim College in Jolo, Sulu, Mr. Rodulfo Canivel, who was in Zamboanga City to recruit teachers to teach in High School and College, and also a band instructor. I told Mr. Canivel that they are available. They are my classmates and new graduates. Tell them to come with you and see me at the City Hotel. Thank you very much, sir, I politely answered.

In retrospect, my school days were colorful. I was at the crossroads of a decision on what really makes sense in being a Homo sapiens. At the end of the day, I realized I am a man of flesh, bones, and blood.

The Lover

 Lovepoem

Adrift in the shimmering cryptic yesterday
Glowing remarkably in the smithy of my heart
With abysmal ignorance generating delay
The power of unstoppable love's part.

Pressing the pulse of endless palpitation
Punctuated once in a great while by reflection
On the University of Experimentation and Realization

I love this life
Pregnant with strife
Teeming with wonders
Beauty, love, and lovers.

By: Greg Intas Trabanca. Published in October 8, 2002
The International Library of Poetry
1 Poetry Plaza, Owings Mills, MD 21117
www. poetry.com

 5751 N Jersey Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60659

To Whom It May Concern: 

This is to certify that Salvador Ortanez, Jr. a lessee has entered into an agreement with the Lessor, Gregory Trabanca for the apartment building at 6234 N. Washtenaw Ave. Chicago, 60659 

This is to certify further that he has to pay the two- month payments of Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00) from January and February 2025 to a total of One Thousand Two Hundred Dollars (1,200.00).


Done this 25th day of February 2025.


Lessor -  Gregory Trabanca

Lessee - Salvador Ortanez, Jr.

The Recorder

 Dear Everyone,

With all due respect, I am inspired to be with you this day in this building that I am familiar with. We are all Recorders, Storytellers, Caregivers, Engineers, and Drivers.

Recorder - We always record anything we do: in our mind, in our notes - digital or hard copy. Obviously, we are all familiar with the keys of the typewriter, phone, computer

Storytellers: We all have stories to tell - true or false.

Caregivers: We are all - we care for those who need care - the sick, the lonely, the hopeless, the what-ever-will be-will be, the fateful, and the faithless.  

Nurses: the Florence Nightingale."The Lady with the Lamp"
(A Nightingale is a tiny bird best known for its powerful and beautiful song.)

Florence Nightingale: Born on May 12, 1820, in a Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Died on August 13, 1910 in Mayfair, London, England. She is British and known for her Pioneering Modern Nursing.

Awards: She received the Royal Red Cross Lady of Grace of the Order of John St. award in 1904 and the Order of Merit in 1907. In 1908, she laid the foundation of Professional Nursing at St. Thomas Hospital in London- the first Secular Nursing School in the world, now part of King's College, London. 

Reforms: These included empowering health care for all sections of British society, advocating better hunger relief in India, helping to abolish prostitution laws that were hard for women, and expanding the acceptable form of female participation in the workforce.

Engineers: We are all - in the modern world, engines are everywhere, handy and easy to use. Operating them is just a touch or a click of the fingers.

Drivers: We are all. Even the child can drive toys. Reading this could drive you to heights of inspiration 

King Solomon said, As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

Humans are unconquerable as they are the masters of their fate and the captains of their souls. -William Ernest Henley (Invictus.)

By: Greg Intas Alcala Caponong Gonzaga Trabanca
gtrabanca@ gmail.com    773 814 0728