About the poet

my college life = my pen + my calculator

Marites A. Guico is currently (an exhausted) Accountancy student, at the same time, the editor in chief of Phoenix, official student publication of Lyceum of the Philippines University - Batangas.

She is a consistent winner in regional and Luzonwide press conferences since her freshman year in college. Her winnings include:

Regional Higher Education Press Conference

• 1st place Copyreading and Headline Writing AY 2005-06
• 2nd place Copyreading and Headline Writing AY 2006-07
• 4th place Poetry Writing AY 2006-07
• 2nd place Copyreading and Headline Writing AY 2007-08
• 6th place News Writing AY 2007-08

Luzonwide Higher Education Press Conference

• 1st place Copyreading and Headline Writing AY 2005-06
• 3rd place Copyreading and Headline Writing AY 2007-08

She is also the editor in chief of JPIAn Exclusive, official student publication of the College of Business Administration for two consecutive years and general secretary of Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) during her junior year.

Marites also actively participates in schoolwide contests. She was hailed as finalist in the Math-Sci Prodigy Quiz, as sponsored by the General Education department, AY 2006-07. She won second place in the Interview Contest, also during the GE days, AY 2007-08. Moreover, she was a member of the Debating Team which secured the championship in the recently held Mission Statement Awareness Week, AY 2008-09.

She finished high school in University of Batangas, wherein she was the managing editor of Westernian Pioneer, official student publication of the same school. She was also a consistent winner during the division schools press conferences. Her winnings include:

• 1st place Copyreading and Headline Writing AY 2003-04
• 2nd place Copyreading and Headline Writing AY 2004-05
• 9th place News Writing AY 2004-05

She won 2nd place in an essay writing contest sponsored by the Sangguniang Kabataan and was awarded Outstanding in School Paper, AY 2004-05.

Marites spent her elementary days in San Miguel Elementary School where she was consistent first honor. She graduated Valedictorian, and she also received the Edgar L. Mendoza Award for Academic Excellence.

Gee Martin, August 14, 2008

I wrote this 3 years ago for the inside back cover of the "Compilation of Poems" I made, and as I read it, I could just smile in disbelief.

I was like collecting credentials before! All throughout school days, I was thinking of my resume, how it would look like, what (and how much) I'll put there. Yes, I used to assess my value through my accomplishments.

I never really planned to be a writer. It just happened. All I know is that even at a young age, I can't express myself better than when I'm holding a pen.

Before I knew it, my pen has already brought me to various contests, where I got to know (and I felt like I belong to) smart people at my age. Then it has brought me to the stage, where I was being congratulated, applauded, and admired. It felt good.

And since it dawned on me that I excel in that area, plus I was enjoying it, I banked on it as my strength. It made me feel significant, that I'm not any other ordinary student, that I belong to the roster of achievers at the campus.

The innocent intention of my pen to express, turned into a desire to impress. I enjoyed the "glory of the by-line" whenever my articles are being published. I enjoyed being known, and my works being read. And slowly, it stole my posture of humility. Pride crept in me.

Upon graduation, naturally, I also graduated in campus journalism. I didn't want to have it as my profession, since I arrogantly wanted to prove that somehow, I am versatile. Pride. I had so high hopes for myself. I was determined to continue collecting credentials and prove that I am not a nobody.

And so when God touched my stubborn heart, one issue that I had a hard time dealing with is my already full-blown pride, especially when I would encounter verses in the Bible that directly speaks about it. ...That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

But God is forever faithful. He slowly removed my self-absorption that prevented me from really marveling in His greatness. He revealed more of Himself to me, that I may focus less on my ego. "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2)

One day, I was organizing my closet and I saw the various-shaped medals and various-sized certificates that used to be very precious to me. I have come to realize that yes, they gave me happiness, but not joy. Having them was fulfilling, but only temporarily. They are a big part of me, but they do not totally define who I am.

Then I heard a beautiful song "Who Am I". I actually put the lyrics as the "About Me" in my facebook page. The song tells us that no matter how small we are in this world, we are valuable in God's eyes, not because of who we are and what we've done, but because of who He is and what He has done on the Cross. (Please watch the following video).

 

Now, do I mean that the gift, which God has blessed me with, will just be useless? Shall I just take it for granted? No. Because the pen which had stolen my posture of humility is the same pen that I'm gonna use, not to boast* about myself and my accomplishments anymore, but to exalt the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

From now until forever, I am still on to accomplishing many great things, but not for myself already... but for God's glory.

          *Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:31)