Mediatization of the youth by Rev. Fr. Christian Buenafe
"The Computer and I"
Last November 13, 2008, a symposium on Mediatization of the youth was conducted in the Assumption College of Nabunturan with the exemplary efforts of Rev. Fr. Christian Buenafe. There were numerous topics discussed throughout the said activity, this particular topic struck me most.
Long ago, people seldom use computers since it wasn't widely needed then. However, as time passed by, the human race began to discover new necessities, which led to the invention of high-tech machines, gadgets and internet. This is now known as the MULTIMEDIA AGE, where different mediums of communication are used to transmit messages & ideas from one source to another.
One of the topics was the growth of internet. Internet has helped a lot of people especially students who surf the net to research something. It also gives information regarding the latest trends and gadgets; it could also serve as a channel to know the latest in business, peace and order situation of the country; and even updates in showbiz all around the globe. It also enables people for easy access of communication through online chatting.
While it could be a form of help to many, it is also a form of vice, mostly to teens. Though it is a kind of recreation, teens become addicted to online games which affects their concentration with their education, thus playing online games via internet becomes their vice. In some cases, internet has also been a channel through which immoral acts may be seen, performed or learned. Examples of this are the images of men and women which portray immorality and lust; which are not helpful or good for imagination, especially to children and those who are on puberty age. The tendency of this is that viewers may become influenced or curious to see more, or worst, to experience it.
Addiction to internet and its existing games also hinders the social growth and participation of a person with his family, his peers and his neighbors since it has become the reason why he may not want interaction with other people that surround him. He becomes isolated and engrossed with his computer that he becomes unaware and uncooperative with others.
Hence, multimedia age has brought many advantages, but just like any other creation of technology, it also carries a disadvantage which human must learn to prevent.
HAPAG NG PAG-ASA
Hapag ng pag-asa was a painting done by Joey Velasco. It was a painting which imitates the Last Supper of Leonardo da Vinci. In this particular obra of Joey Velasco, he used the human figures of real people, the images of the street children that he has encountered as he was on his journey searching the completion of his art.
He had seen a lot of faces and wonders yet he was mostly struck by the emotion he had seen in this children. He saw the innocence in their eyes, the look of love and hunger in their soul, and this has made him think of painting his own perception of The Last Supper.
The painting was extraordinary for me because it doesn’t only feature the street children showing their hunger for food; but it conveys deeper meaning as you look at it. It seems that those street children were much more deserving to have their seat with the Lord. They were innocent victims of life, of poverty, and of being neglected by those people who were suppose to care for them. The painting of Joey Velasco digs some emotions to those who seek compassion and to those who need protection.
It also expresses the love of God to his children, that despite the trespasses that we have done, He continually provides us with food, shelter, family and most especially His never ending LOVE!
The artist had recorded the video while telling how he painted the obra. And upon watching the short narration, he said that those children were very innocent that he cannot help thinking that he might be one of those who contributed pain to Jesus while He was persecuted before. One of the street children had told him his own perception of the painting. He had said that the painting shows their interaction with Jesus as they saw Him traveling, and seeing Him hungry, they asked Him to join their meal. It may be a humorous statement but, somehow it also made me realize that the child in the video was very sensible in spite the misery that he have experienced. It made me ask myself how insensitive I am with the small desires of Jesus from me. I felt so selfish because all I did was ask to him favors, yet I was not able to offer to Him the things that I should give back to Him. I have been bad, as many others are, but through the video and the painting, I realized that I should change my ways. It may not be easy but I’ll start it by obeying my parents, I cannot promise not to commit another sin, but I’ll do my best to be a good daughter.
The painting made me learn to love my family, my friends and most specially, God..
