(I apologize in advance for typos)
The Little Prince is an extraordinary book that is able to transcend age. Its power to ignite thought is remarkable.
Dik already summarized the whole plot of the story. I would like to focus on the Little Prince’s exploration of the different planets. He encountered several people: the king, the vain man, the drunkard, the businessman, the geographer and the lamplighter. The Little Prince found one thing in common in all of them except for the lamplighter. They all thought of no one but themselves.
The king he encountered was so amazed by the fact the he had a subject in the presence of the Little Prince. He asked the prince to be a judge of himself. He said, “Then you shall pass judgment on yourself. That is the hardest thing of all. It is much harder to judge yourself than to judge others.” I like this statement because it is a genuine truth. People are so enthralled by the fact that can easily judge others. They mislead themselves into thinking that judging is the best way to finding a spot in this world. They forget that the person who they need to judge is no other than themselves. This is a universal truth I’m guilty of failing big time at.
The prince said that vain men never hear anything but praise. It’s so simple, yet full of depth. It’s like saying that all of us are vain in some sense because each one of us chooses what we want to listen to. We always hear, but we don’t always listen. It’s a simple, straight-forward lesson.
The drunkard and the businessman were found out to be the same. Both were going around a circle, not finding a purpose for what they do best- drink for the former and count for the latter. What the prince found out is a lack of reason and a lack of sense that most people are trapped in. We always give excuses and reasons to justify our actions, to show that it’s the better thing to do, only to find out we are nowhere far from where we started.
The character of the geographer for me exemplifies the difference between the book smart and the street smart. They say that the street smart are those who have explored and wandered enough to have gained so much knowledge about the daily happenings of life. They go beyond books. They extend to reality. While the book smart, on the other hand, are the reliable ones when it comes to trivial facts, always easy to memorize, yet unfortunately, what they know only goes as far as what they read. They lack something that the street smart has- the ability.
The geographer was the one who made the prince realize that he has left his flower alone in his planet to live, or better yet to die. By introducing the word “Ephemeral,” meaning threatened by imminent disappearance, the prince realized that what he has left behind, what he has taken care of all his life, is not eternal. What strikes me in this situation is the fact that while the geographer chose to make his life revolve around eternal things, the Little Prince chose to give his life for something that will not last forever. Yet, what the prince had was definitely more valuable.
At the end of every journey, the prince would always say how grown-ups are quite extraordinary. The Little Prince for me symbolizes a fresh point of view on things. I loved how he would always say he only has 3 volcanoes in his possession, one of which is extinct, and a flower, yet he feels like the richest person in the world. When he mentions the extinct volcano, he always says the line “who knows?” It is that hope in a supposedly dead entity that I admire most about him. The things that most of us would think are useless have so much value for the prince, only because he chooses to think that there is more to them that what we have come to believe they could offer. He was also describes as a person who would never stop asking the question until it is answered. It is that yearning to learn and understand that has helped the prince unravel the truths and the learning he has come to gained throughout that journey. It is that constant and relentless pursuit of answers that allowed him to discover.
My favorite part (which is surprising after my very long blog already) is the prince’s encounter with the fox. The word “tame” is the one word in the story that I believe has changed its meaning for me after reading the book. I usually associate the word with animals. Now, I realize it goes beyond that. They defined the word to mean “to create ties” and this meaning has brought a deeper sense to relationships in general. The prince, upon reaching the planet Earth, is dumbstruck at the sight of a thousand roses when all his life he only knew of the existence of one. He thought that the rose he has taken care of all his life is nothing special at all, only part of the ordinary group of flowers. But the fox proved to disagree. He said that because he has tamed that particular rose of his, it will stand out to be the only one amidst the thousand others.
People always find themselves in that situation- a struggle to see past the similarities of the people, places, and things we encounter everywhere and find something special, find something that we could say unique to us. What seems to be ordinary to others is special to us only because we choose and decide to make them so. It’s the time you’ve devoted to them that makes them special and that in turn makes you responsible for them.
A very long sharing, yet I feel I haven’t expressed them all. More to come then!
-Nik
Friday, October 29, 2010
TLP
My interpretation of the famous children book, The Little Prince.
I don’t remember if the pilot in the book was given a name. In any case, he started the book with some sort of a drawing- a snake that ate an elephant. Whenever he showed this drawing to adults, he'd have to explain that it's not a hat but a snake. He thinks that adults lack imagination.
He crashed in the dessert with enough water and he must learn to fix his plane for him to survive. Here comes the little prince.
The little prince asked him to draw a sheep. And he drew them but the little prince criticized his work. Finally, he drew a box and he said that the sheep was inside the box. Ironically he couldn’t see it but the little prince saw the sheep. Therefore, he grew up and lost some of his imagination.
The little prince tells his story, his planet, his explorations and adventures.
The little prince lives in a small planet with 3 volcanoes(2 active,1 extinct) and a flower.
The little prince tends a single flower. The flower is very vain and demands that he does certain things for her. The Little Prince complies, but he doesn’t really know why he loves the flower that much to follow her orders.
Her melodramatic, proud nature is what causes the prince to leave his planet and begin his explorations. Also, the prince’s memory of his rose is what prompts his desire to return. The little prince still loves her deeply because of the time he has spent watering and caring for her.
And her thorns are not there for her to protect her but she see it differently. Her thorns are useless if the sheep would come and eat her, but the rose said that her thorns make the lion afraid of her.
As the journey unravels, the little prince reaches Earth, he meets a fox that tells him the secret of life.
When the fox begs the little prince to tame him, the fox appears to be the little prince’s friend as well as his instructor. In his lessons about taming, the fox argues for the importance of ceremonies and rituals, showing that such tools are important even outside the strict world of grown ups.
The fox said
“One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes”
This is the most compelling line for me in this book. The most important things in life can’t be seen.
Moving forward..
When they(pilot and the prince) were looking for water in the desert. He searched for the well. I see this as teaching that lessons must be learned through personal exploration and not only from books or others' words.
And here comes the snake. The snake is so confident he has mastered life’s mysteries that he tells the prince he speaks only in riddles because he can solve all riddles. The snake is the only absolute. His poisonous bite. Unavoidable truth. Death.
In the end, the eyes can’t see what’s really important because what’s really important can be felt by the heart.
-DIK
I don’t remember if the pilot in the book was given a name. In any case, he started the book with some sort of a drawing- a snake that ate an elephant. Whenever he showed this drawing to adults, he'd have to explain that it's not a hat but a snake. He thinks that adults lack imagination.
He crashed in the dessert with enough water and he must learn to fix his plane for him to survive. Here comes the little prince.
The little prince asked him to draw a sheep. And he drew them but the little prince criticized his work. Finally, he drew a box and he said that the sheep was inside the box. Ironically he couldn’t see it but the little prince saw the sheep. Therefore, he grew up and lost some of his imagination.
The little prince tells his story, his planet, his explorations and adventures.
The little prince lives in a small planet with 3 volcanoes(2 active,1 extinct) and a flower.
The little prince tends a single flower. The flower is very vain and demands that he does certain things for her. The Little Prince complies, but he doesn’t really know why he loves the flower that much to follow her orders.
Her melodramatic, proud nature is what causes the prince to leave his planet and begin his explorations. Also, the prince’s memory of his rose is what prompts his desire to return. The little prince still loves her deeply because of the time he has spent watering and caring for her.
And her thorns are not there for her to protect her but she see it differently. Her thorns are useless if the sheep would come and eat her, but the rose said that her thorns make the lion afraid of her.
As the journey unravels, the little prince reaches Earth, he meets a fox that tells him the secret of life.
When the fox begs the little prince to tame him, the fox appears to be the little prince’s friend as well as his instructor. In his lessons about taming, the fox argues for the importance of ceremonies and rituals, showing that such tools are important even outside the strict world of grown ups.
The fox said
“One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes”
This is the most compelling line for me in this book. The most important things in life can’t be seen.
Moving forward..
When they(pilot and the prince) were looking for water in the desert. He searched for the well. I see this as teaching that lessons must be learned through personal exploration and not only from books or others' words.
And here comes the snake. The snake is so confident he has mastered life’s mysteries that he tells the prince he speaks only in riddles because he can solve all riddles. The snake is the only absolute. His poisonous bite. Unavoidable truth. Death.
In the end, the eyes can’t see what’s really important because what’s really important can be felt by the heart.
-DIK
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Numb.
I'm sick. I haven't used my tissue box until yesterday since I moved to my room. And I've forgotten how it feels like.
One person I know told me that when he's sick, he's more needy for attention and gets short-tempered. Well, who doesn't right?
This is the perfect time to feel like someone is there to take care of you, not even to stay up late when your body doesn't feel too good, but enough to make you feel like you were thought of, that at the very least, they did their best to stay up and be with you. And if they really couldn't, they'd sleep and not do anything else.
I've forgotten this feeling of numbness actually. This time on my bed, feeling drowsy and all gives me time to think, think of why people make petty lies, smallest, tiniest lies, why people make excuses, why people act the way they are, why people are so selfish, insensitive, proud, and so on. And then, I answer myself.
It's because I make them do so.
Who ever made me think this way?
At the time when my body is confused not knowing whether it's feeling cold or hot, drowsy or not, my mind is clear.
Timing is perfect. I'd gladly do the same for others.
-Nik
One person I know told me that when he's sick, he's more needy for attention and gets short-tempered. Well, who doesn't right?
This is the perfect time to feel like someone is there to take care of you, not even to stay up late when your body doesn't feel too good, but enough to make you feel like you were thought of, that at the very least, they did their best to stay up and be with you. And if they really couldn't, they'd sleep and not do anything else.
I've forgotten this feeling of numbness actually. This time on my bed, feeling drowsy and all gives me time to think, think of why people make petty lies, smallest, tiniest lies, why people make excuses, why people act the way they are, why people are so selfish, insensitive, proud, and so on. And then, I answer myself.
It's because I make them do so.
Who ever made me think this way?
At the time when my body is confused not knowing whether it's feeling cold or hot, drowsy or not, my mind is clear.
Timing is perfect. I'd gladly do the same for others.
-Nik
Tripping
I am not special. I am human, flawed and fallible in how I allow my ego and emotions to cloud my judgment, sense of integrity, honesty, and loyalty, from what we know is right. So I have my slip-ups.
I’m not being comfortable in who and what I am. or at least I used to be. Guilt is built that one can do more or better or not having done enough.
I may have gone reluctantly or protested in some opportunities, but chances are there was at least a minor element of my own choice involved in stepping in to that situation.
There are times when i feel guilty about something I’ve done. It propelled me to take action that will eliminate the guilt and clear my conscience.
DONE? No. Why? There’s a constant reminder that I’ve done it and I’m labeled as it is.
Guilt trip its a glorified manipulation. Into taking responsibility for someones feelings. Unfortunately, it ruins the time together, by focusing on the negative, rather than enjoying and appreciating the time.
Should I choose to take the guilt trip?
Whether i take it or not, someone would make me feel that I will never be good enough or do enough.
Not responding to guilt trips requires tremendous strength of character, confidence in myself that i’m making good choices and an unwillingness to buy into any ideas that you are less than. Along with this core is the recognition that I am not responsible for their own feelings. If they want to feel bad because I didn’t agree, that is entirely their issue.
I need to constantly remind myself that the guilt trip is actually about the person who is trying to give it and not about me.
IT IS NOT ABOUT ME! Are you for real???!
Am i advocating being uncaring or cruel? I’m saying I need to have appropriate boundaries and not let someone else manipulate my decision.
-DIK
I’m not being comfortable in who and what I am. or at least I used to be. Guilt is built that one can do more or better or not having done enough.
I may have gone reluctantly or protested in some opportunities, but chances are there was at least a minor element of my own choice involved in stepping in to that situation.
There are times when i feel guilty about something I’ve done. It propelled me to take action that will eliminate the guilt and clear my conscience.
DONE? No. Why? There’s a constant reminder that I’ve done it and I’m labeled as it is.
Guilt trip its a glorified manipulation. Into taking responsibility for someones feelings. Unfortunately, it ruins the time together, by focusing on the negative, rather than enjoying and appreciating the time.
Should I choose to take the guilt trip?
Whether i take it or not, someone would make me feel that I will never be good enough or do enough.
Not responding to guilt trips requires tremendous strength of character, confidence in myself that i’m making good choices and an unwillingness to buy into any ideas that you are less than. Along with this core is the recognition that I am not responsible for their own feelings. If they want to feel bad because I didn’t agree, that is entirely their issue.
I need to constantly remind myself that the guilt trip is actually about the person who is trying to give it and not about me.
IT IS NOT ABOUT ME! Are you for real???!
Am i advocating being uncaring or cruel? I’m saying I need to have appropriate boundaries and not let someone else manipulate my decision.
-DIK
Monday, October 25, 2010
2010 Trick or Treat - Canyon Ranch
I'd like to say in case people haven't noticed it yet. I love taking photos!
Every opportunity to shoot. I'd grab it.
Anyway, This weekend was hectic for me.
Saturday we surprised the boyfriend of her sister at Sentro, Serendra.
Sunday, Our community here in canyon ranch had a Trick or Treat for the kids. I was asked to help them and I obliged by taking photos of the event.
I stayed there for one hour and gave the kids their treats. and went to Nik. for mass. beer. booze. second chances. buzzkill. ALOK!
Here are some of the photos:
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Click here for the entire set
-DIK
Every opportunity to shoot. I'd grab it.
Anyway, This weekend was hectic for me.
Saturday we surprised the boyfriend of her sister at Sentro, Serendra.
Sunday, Our community here in canyon ranch had a Trick or Treat for the kids. I was asked to help them and I obliged by taking photos of the event.
I stayed there for one hour and gave the kids their treats. and went to Nik. for mass. beer. booze. second chances. buzzkill. ALOK!
Here are some of the photos:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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9
10
11
12
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Click here for the entire set
-DIK
Surprise Party for Rase
We were invited to attend Rase's surprise party prepared by Trish.
Background/ Family Ties
Rase is the boyfriend of Trish.
Trish is the sister of Nik.
Rase's family was there. So was Trish's family. and me. hehe. And some of their closest friends came to greet him.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RASE!
Here are some of the photos
Click here for the entire set
-DIK
Background/ Family Ties
Rase is the boyfriend of Trish.
Trish is the sister of Nik.
Rase's family was there. So was Trish's family. and me. hehe. And some of their closest friends came to greet him.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RASE!
Here are some of the photos
Click here for the entire set
-DIK
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Blinded by light series #3 - Nik after Gradpic
In preparation for Nik's Senior Portait. Nik went to Jesi Mendez and had her hair prepared by edgar. These guys are just glorified barbers.. Anyway, back to my topic. Nik prepared for this portrait shoot of her by having a dvd marathon with meredith grey and hoping that her pimple would go away. See the photos for pimple. /wink
After her proper shoot. Nik suggested we maximize and make use of her make up. What else is there to do but to shoot!
Here are the photos.
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More to learn.
-DIK
After her proper shoot. Nik suggested we maximize and make use of her make up. What else is there to do but to shoot!
Here are the photos.
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4
5
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10
11
More to learn.
-DIK
Friday, October 22, 2010
Graduation Pictures
Here are my unedited graduation pictures. FYI, the theme for the creative shot is "At the Core." Basically, you have to reveal a secret about yourself. If you don't get it, I'm a Jedi. HAHAHAHA. I'm a huge fan of Star Wars that's why. I used to collect all sorts of books, toys, etc. I was a bit obsessed. Well, who wouldn't be right? Thank you to all those who helped me conceptualize and find a costume!
ENJOY!
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3. This I'd just like to share. This is my failed attempt at smiling with no teeth showing. Sabi nga nung photographer, "Magisip ka na masarap na bagay para magreflect sa eyes mo. Ganun yun eh." Well, it doesn't work for me. HAHAHA
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6. The photographer said they're going to edit it and put the light on the lightsaber. So, let them be. haha
7.
I just couldn't do the game face. Malambot na Jedi.
I'll post the edited ones when I get them!
-Nik
ENJOY!
1.
2.
3. This I'd just like to share. This is my failed attempt at smiling with no teeth showing. Sabi nga nung photographer, "Magisip ka na masarap na bagay para magreflect sa eyes mo. Ganun yun eh." Well, it doesn't work for me. HAHAHA
4.
5.
6. The photographer said they're going to edit it and put the light on the lightsaber. So, let them be. haha
7.
I just couldn't do the game face. Malambot na Jedi.
I'll post the edited ones when I get them!
-Nik
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