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, I was always at the top. proudly reciting the Boy Scout Oath and ended it with a right-hand salute.

In the High School, 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. In Zamboanga A E College, Zamboanga City, I took the Air Force ROTC, and when I transferred to 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 in time, 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 traders of antiquity. No man is an island.

Looking back to the good old days. I started my elementary year in the public school, then Ferrer High School, 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. at that time. I graduated with honors as a Salutatorian due to a lack of residence. At that time, I was a working student with Dr. Paquito Barrios, who was responsible for my school tuition. I was groomed to take up a Medical Tech in Manila (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 was requested by him to check the test papers, which were in an Essay type. This was in the Law class of Atty. Romulo Plagata. During this time, I was also a Literary Editor of the Campus college paper. 

At this juncture, I was taking a Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a major in History and a minor in English. There was an intramural debate between the College of Law and the College of Education. The topic: The electoral campaign must be limited to 3 months. The Educators were on the affirmative side. Among us three, two were High School Valedictorian and one Salutatorian. To ensure our advantage, we have to have a very good plan of attack furnished with the compliments of my friends in 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

Speech

"In an increasingly conflict world, all we need is certainty." It is a fictional quote on a fictional show, but in many ways it is real.

My fellow Zanortehanon, good evening  I'm so happy and honored to be with you on this memorable moment as your keynote speaker and inducting officer of the newly elected DYC officials. My message tonight will be short and clear, so sit back and relax.

The intellectual and spiritual life of humans on earth is not a circle, round and complete, but a parabola that opens upward and runs into infinity. As you navigate along that endless path, you will come to realize that every task and achievement is coupled with a challenge and responsibility.

Tonight marks DYC's new beginning of a new challenge and responsibility as you embrace your 39th year of dedication to humanity For decades, you remained steadfast, a soothing figure through times of conflict and uncertainty. Your continued emphasis on patience, friendship, a strong community focus, and considering the needs of others are as important today as they were when your group was founded all those years ago.

Certainly, as you move along and continue to do your good work, you will face challenges, and will not be easy. But whatever those challenges may be, stand firm and remain united, for there are no challenges beyond your strength and beyond your capability. Each challenge can be handled with relative ease if you seek God's blessings and are not deterred by the setbacks that often fall in our life

Our life is a series of unfolding, and our struggle to be the best in every stage of life is a common element of the human condition. But moving through life fully in concert with others, requires friendships, commitment, and much energy. It demands self-love, unconditional acceptance, patience, and the ability to take risks. This assortment of characters is just the beginning. More is required, much more if you want a real experience of belonging to those around you. However, the real freedom to be who you are can only be found among a circle of friends who committed themselves to you, just as you committed yourselves to them.

You learn what you appreciate about people by listening to what concerns you. You are certain to learn more when you acknowledge that which displeases you in the experience that fascinates your attention. Think positively and learn to calm your mind. A calm mind creates many good ideas and relaxes a troubled heart. To me, these approaches are times and I commend them to everyone.

Within the window of space and time, there is no more satisfying feeling than doing and finishing a task set up by yourselves, work with patience and care so that your fellow citizens and others may enjoy the fruits of your hard work.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all and your family a healthy and joyful Christmas and a peaceful New Year! 

Thank you and God bless everyone.

The Dollar Notebook

 The Month  of May 1973

This is the month of remembering

A scenario with life and love
A moment of passion burning
A letter we send through a dove.

The tidal wave of Zamboanga sea
Awaken us in our deep dream
Together the instinct is to flee
We swiftly sink down as a team.

And like seaweeds, our bodies
Float to the four edges of the earth
A roll of passionate eddies
And all the while someone has to search.

Then on the lovely frothy shore
We are holding a lovely red rose
Seems to be waiting forever more
Therefore it is, and how it goes.