In Nomine

In San Beda (where I spent my formative and rebellious years) Latin is not dead. It never will be.

One of the earliest words I learned is PAX. It means peace. Obviously, because of the many places PAX is plastered, I was desensitized with the word. Somehow, I was oblivious to its meaning and its effect until later.

The other two important Latin words are ORA et LABORA. Literally, it means work and prayer. This is the guiding principle of the Benedictines and of Bedistas, too. The terms go hand in hand. While working you could pray. While praying you could work. Both words are never static. They demand dynamism but not craving for attention.

The fourth one I learned by accident. It is never overtly displayed in school. The word is SERVIAM, I will serve. How did I get to know about it?

You see, every end of the quarter, they give out special awards to so-called honor students. If you attain a certain average, you get a recognition card or pin. I am never grade-conscious. It just so happens that I enjoy reading. So, when tests (oral or written) come, I know the answer. All my classmates know that during exam week, I do not review. I relax.

So it was a surprise to me when my name was called. (I did not even recompute my grades when the report card was given. I just handed it over to my parents to sign.) I was hurriedly pinned with what would become a blessing and a curse.

The Serviam pin (I never wore it school. In fact, I kept it my cabinet.) was a foot-in-the-door for me. I never had any problem dealing with any teacher or administrator (until 4th year---hahaha).

But for all its glitter, it was a curse, too. My classmates and schoolmates tend to shy away from me. It was, as if, I had a very contagious disease. I was marked as a nerd, an uncool guy in school. Nevertheless, it did not bother me. I was a loner, anyway.

The biggest impact of the pin was its twin: the responsibility to tutor others. "What?"

That is what SERVIAM means: to help others. I did not regret it, though. Fast-forward to today, I am an educator.

Now, the concept of helping has branched out into a different direction: helping the CAUSE. You ask what the CAUSE is? Go to this site and be happy helping: www.graphics99.org