Reading

It is probably clear by now   where your life  stand as complete and fulfilled having experimented Francis Bacon’s three  ultimate gauge for an ultimate well-spent and successful life. But what now after you wrote any decent and fair write-ups or communication, you still feel that it  seems much is still found wanting and that there is   missing link somewhere in the way you write or express and that you are now feeling that you turn into more of a philosopher instead of an articulate writer.  Then cheer just the same as many writer starts as philosopher as they grapple the reality of life before they became efficient writer.  That’s a good start.  At least you’ve done the dirty job and just leave it there not arrogating the work of an editor-in-chief merely giving imprimatur to your work and repackaging your work into palatable journalistic piece.

 No problem as it is explainable.  But what an understatement, your instant reaction as fast as you register your protest might be.  But you’re right as it merely accounts for one third fulfillment of life’s completeness if we add planting a tree and raising a family, two other generally accepted gauge with finality, for an ultimately happy and well-spent life.

            Here’s the catch though. How could you write a decent and acceptable news or literary piece if you are not well read.  Sounds like which one between an egg or chick comes first unending question. It’s true that Juan de la Cruz was born with some writing sense, veteran journalist Virgil de los Santos intones, but that does not  guarantee  him the making of  an articulate writer let alone making  sense writing  if at all.  Unless you study and practice the craft using acceptable rules in grammar, punctuation, composition and tenses you can’t become one.  Art of reading is undoubtedly the first ever battle any aspiring media practitioner should grapple and master with if  you would carve a niche in your profession. That Wallace first master this skill is understandable.  But it is not that easy.

            So how Pinoy fares as reader? Fine, voracious, selective, analytical, gullible or lazy.  All of the above or it depends where you stand are both arguably correct.  Understandably so for isn’t it true that we are living under a Reading Republic.  For how could you explain proliferation of reading materials from comics to tabloids, magazines, gossip items to books  and periodicals spread neatly for sale on sidewalk vendors along the road or  bestsellers, paperback, history, biography, classics, stores, Filipiniana collections and yes , fiction on top of other references in libraries and commercial book centers.

 That Pinoy indeed reads is heartwarming showing that bookworm in us working hopefully for good.  Just how good that might be remains to be seen however.  That many of us will agree.  Naturally so depending on how reading is taken.  Passing lift perhaps in killing boredom.  Maybe as habit too of whetting one‘s appetite for news, gossips what have you instead of helping oneself draw lesson, wisdom and knowledge from.