Confiscation

We have our Arts class today, and we would be having a photo-taking activity because our lesson is about photography.

I bought my digicam with me for that, but my battery was drained. So I bought the charger in school too, and I plugged it on the outlet to have my and Koleen's battery charged.

Ber was playing a song loudly with his phone when Mr. Cejero got inside our room for our AP class. It was impossible for him not to hear it. He approached Ber, and in a calm façade he usually display when he is irked, he took his phone. Since the outlet where my charger is plugged was just beside Ber, he noticed it and he took it too.

Shit.
I was a bit nervous when he confiscated it, but I was already okay after a while. On the middle of his discussion, he noticed the buzzing sound Gallano makes as he talks in a low voice. Irked, Mr. Cejero threw the cloth used at blackboard eraser toward their direction. It landed on Ber's face, which was beside Gallano.

"Kahapon ka pa ah!" He yelled, looking at their direction. I don't know if it was directed to Gallano or to Bermundo, but yesterday, he threw the class attendance to Gallano's direction because he was talking too.

He fumed some more, but his anger was something I know. While he was fuming, Ber said something in disrespectful words and tone directed to Mr. Cejero. He said something like "Why did you threw that to me? It wasn't my fault!" in a tone like he was talking to someone his age and he was about to punch him on his face. I knew that Ber is loosing it.

Mr. Cejero cut off his words and he shouted in a terrifying way. "O, bakit?" I think that's what he said. Then I remembered what Remo said that Mr. Cejero is seriously angry if his nosestrils flare. Indeed, it did. His nostrils flared and the veins in his neck showed up.

This was the kind of anger I've never seen from Mr. Cejero.

We were silent for a while. Nagdabog siya at hinagis yung upuan ng teacher. He tried to continue the lesson, but was probably too annoyed to us that he stormed out of the room.

For a moment, I got a bit nervous about getting my charger. I've though of a dialogue to say when I get it, but Sir Buboy's anger scared me a bit. A bit, because it vanished after a while. Being someone who has guts and kapal ng muka really helps. XD

Koleen and I went to Mr. Cejero's office. I already had the "dialogue" on my mind. I was ready to reason out. Malakas kasi ang loob ko. I am not afraid to say what I feel, and voice out my opinions especially when I need to say it. Why, we're in a democratic country anyway, so there is a freedom in speech. He was the SSG adviser, at sa SSG ko rin naman natutunan ang mga ganitong bagay e.

"Sa'kin po yung battery charger. Pasensya na po kayo. Kasi po, kailangan po namin ng camera para sa Arts namin kasi po photography yung lesson namin. E lowbatt po yung batteries kasi hindi na charge sa bahay. Sorry po ah, magdadahilan ako. E kasi po.. sa tingin ko naman po, nilagay yung outlet na yun para magamit ng naman ng mga estudyante kung kailangan nila. Bakit po di ba, halimbawa sa TLE po, kailangan ng glue gun, di ba po okay lang isaksak yun sa outlet? O kaya po pag may party, dun din naman po sinasaksak yung sound system. Ayun lang po yung tingin ko. Saka hindi naman po sa kalokohan yun e. Di bale sana po kung cellphone yung chinacharge namin. Pero sorry po kasi nagcharge kami." I reasoned out in a polite way.

While I was talking, he cut my word off, "Hindi! May outlet dun para sa mga teachers. Para sa mga casette, pag kailangan. Ang laki-laki ng binabayaran ng school sa kuryente e." Medyo okay naman na yung salita niya. Galit, but it was the anger I know, unlike the outrage before.

When I asked him if I could get the batteries muna kasi it's our Arts class already, he roared "Hindi!" and told us to bring Ber first.

I am confident that we'll get it back. Because he isn't that angry anymore.

When I saw that Ber is back, I told him to go to Mr. Cejero's office so we could get his phone and my batteries and changer back. Ber was really pissed too, and I am afraid he will say or do something that will anger Mr. Cejero. I told him, "Ber, easy ka lang ah. 'Wag masyado mainit ang ulo mo. Estudyante lang tayo, teacher pa rin 'yon." He was angry because Mr. Cejero threw the cloth-eraser on him, when it wasn't his fault.

I don't have nothing against Sir Buboy. Maybe a little resentment before. He was my AP teacher for three years, and he barely attend our class to teach. And I really appreciate now that he's already teaching us--even he still couldn't attend the class regularly because he's busy as the Activity coordinator--and he's letting us copy notes, unlike before.

I am not just the kind of person who just keep my mouth shut. Even I am at fault, and admit it, I still want to say my reason in doing a particular thing. So they would know. I am a very vocal person, and people tend to misunderstand that. I know that some teachers think of me as someone who think highly of myself--which is not true--because of that kind of personality. I just want an open communication to avoid misunderstanding. I believe that it is better to talk and be embarrassed, so you will know that what you're talking about and believe in is wrong, than be quiet and remain as someone whose wrong beliefs are not corrected.

I know it's not right to charge batteries in school. But we did that during the English week activity, when the digicam batteries were drained. Of course, it was the teacher who instruct me to do that. But still, what I did today wasn't entirely bad. I know what I did is wrong, but my reasons are correct.

The only thing that I am thinking about is I am a SSG officer. The fourth year representative. Mr. Cejero might question it. Na SSG pa man din ako, ako pa gumagawa ng ganito.

But if he did that, I have my new reasons and dialogue. Haha.

Bakit, did they treated me as an SSG officer? I do not consider myself as one, nor did they consider me as part of them. Ket-ket lang naman ako e, pamalit kay Angel na hindi nakapunta nung Leadership Training. And if they were thinking about my fellow Liceans will say about an SSG officer who break rules, don't worry. Because I don't consider myself as an officer, I'm not placing SSG power in my hands, nor using it, therefore, they barely consider me as one too.

And what. There are SSG officers who break rules too. Maybe worse than me. Ako, kahit ganito ako, sumusunod ako sa dapat gawin ng SSG. Kapag sinabing gawin mo 'to, gagawin ko. Kapag sabihin magbayad ka para dito, magbabayad agad ako. Kapag sinabing ngayon ang deadline, magpapasa agad ako. So I don't think I am a bad SSG officer.

And if you're talking about the clubs we're holding, aba, kahit Glee Club lang ang hawak ko, I know I that I am doing SO MUCH MORE than them. Kung workload din lang ang pag-uusapan, mas marami naman akong ginagawa sa kanila. I'm working for the WHOLE school year, devoting my time EVERY Saturday and other days that they need us. I know I was able to do my work than they're doing theirs.

Haha. The SSG thingy wasn't asked naman.

Mr. Cejero was calm when we got back. He asked me if the charger is really mine, and I said it is. I uttered a low, sincere, humble "Sorry" and he said "Okay lang." and told me not to do it again.