Promises to oneself… from start to finish

MANILA, Philippines - For the longest time, some of the bridges of Paris  among them the Pont des Arts and the Pont de l’Archevêché — lovingly carried the weight of love vows from all over the world. Pledges were written on padlocks by lovers, which were then attached to the foundations. The keys are then thrown into the River Seine — the final step in a commitment, supposedly, to last for eternity.

However, the structures themselves are crumbling under this immense burden, and city officials have decided to discourage the practice that has been one of the city’s most famous, or infamous, tourist attractions. Not only that — considering that it’s technically vandalism and presents a concrete hazard — all that metal is slowly being removed. And yes, romantics all over the world felt the blow.

In the Philippines, the Center for Institutional Communication of the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (DLS-CSB) has adopted a campaign inspired by the said poignant practice. Less gregarious but just as significant to those who partake of it, they have created an initiative on a whole new level to move students, faculty, personnel and guests to scribble promises to themselves against negative personal habits.

At the beginning of the school term, repurposed soda can pop tabs are attached with ribbons to pieces of paper, where individuals write a message to start one encouraging action and to end something undesirable, which hopefully has a positive impact on oneself and others.

These statements are then tacked or pinned on several corkboards around the school’s popular common areas, where many Benildeans and visitors gather.

“We want to touch on values and to achieve goals. The idea is for us to reflect about how one can change for the better. The template is very simple to follow, as it can accommodate almost any thought or desire,” explained DLS-CSB for Development and Institutional Relations vice chancellor Robin Serrano.

To gain initial momentum, the campaign was promoted by the College Varsity Badminton Players.

Allizandra Candelaria(left) playfully colors her page pink with an oath of responsibility against cramming. Glyvette Etis(right)  goes back to the basic values of love, generosity and forgiveness

“We initially selected athletes because they are well-known in the campus and are in the position to influence their fellow schoolmates,” remarked Serrano.

Badminton player Mikaela Reventar Dayanghirang chose, “I will start HUMILITY to end ARROGANCE” as her undertaking.

“One of the most important traits, in my opinion, is humility. We are in an environment where there are so many who think they’re better than everyone else. Being proud of yourself is one thing, but believing in the potential of others is a wonderful feeling as well — that together you can make great things happen,” she said.

Today, the corkboards are heavily strewn with various vows from the whole community, some of whom signed their names while many chose to remain anonymous.

“It is a great way to stay in focus. When you put it on paper, it seems all the more real — you have a constant and actual reminder that once upon a time, you made a promise to yourself, and that means you’re accountable to yourself as well,” shared B.S. in Information Systems major Charles Daniel.

“I wrote, ‘Start working very hard to end up as a successful person.’ Honestly, I still don’t know how to achieve this, but I think I owe it to my school as I learned so many wonderful lessons,” he went on to say.

Jureza Ong, on the other hand, a B.A. in Photography student and a member of the Blazers Taekwondo Women’s Team, stated that she finds challenges through failure.

“I want to ‘start strong to end failure.’ What drives me in competitions is the possibility that I may lose, but more important to me, is the fact that I can also succeed,” Ong expressed.

Benildean Chess Player Gino Cabual, who hopes to be an architect one day, imparted his practical contribution as well.

“I want to ‘start early to end procrastination,’” he confided.

“It’s such a tall order to find a balance between academics and tournaments. We must realize time is precious so we must not waste any of it through unnecessary delays. One has to strategize quickly and move immediately. This does not just happen in games but in real life as well,” he expounded.

Even the recycled pop tabs have their own journey to embark on.

At the end of the academic year, little goes to waste because the malleable trinkets — from their original purpose of sealing soda cans, and then converted as rings for the pledges — are ultimately collected and donated to be processed in aluminum plants, finding new life as sturdy and useful objects such as bicycles and wheelchairs.

Drawn out of the memories from the bridges of love in Paris, another gesture of the heart lives on in the halls of Benilde.