Connecting dots

Feels like I’ve lived a rather eventful life, all 27 years of it.

Much has happened since I learned to connect dots as a toddler in nursery school—I’ve since become so enamored with the activity that I’ve probably become guilty of connecting more than I ought to. A self-confessed conspiracy theorist, it’s always been an obsession to piece puzzles together, even if it meant making mistakes in the process. “I’m bound to crack the code,” I always end up convincing myself.

Now, I’ve been given the opportunity to share my thoughts and experiences, commentaries on the burning issues or even on the most personal, could be trivial, of advocacies and activities via print. And thinking of an appropriate name for my column, a journey on its own, was the first order of business—three of my favorites made it to a shortlist (one was a suggestion by dear friend and talented writer, Orly Cajegas). But Pointillisms became the obvious choice, after I put the question to a vote among close friends, family and colleagues.

(Pointillism [póynt’l ìzz?m] is an impressionistic style of painting in which a picture is constructed from dots of pure color that blend, at a distance, into recognizable shapes and various color tones. It can also be achieved thru pen and ink.)

The name made sense. It paid tribute to my roots (the Lopezes are an artsy-craftsy bunch; and my fine arts background taught me what pointillism is, thanks to my college teacher, Radel Paredes—another extremely talented, thought-provoking writer). More importantly, it explained pretty well what I wanted the column to be. I believe that the little points we make all add up, creating a bigger picture—and hopefully, ultimately, the Big Picture, crisp, clear, and true.

And so that is the goal—to contribute to development and the awareness of a people by raising little sensible points, in the hope that thereafter, people may draw their own conclusions from a myriad of choices on a given issue, eventually coming up with a well-informed choice or opinion.

We all know that there are several types—some points crack, puncture. Others enlighten, prick, sharpen. And there are those that give birth to a million other points.

This is a new challenge for me, a new role, and I am both excited and anxious. But I look forward nonetheless to exploring those points together, as I try to enjoy (with responsibility, of course) the freedom given me to raise even the most unpopular of points, so we may all see things, enjoy the view, from the perspective of others.

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Editor’s Note: Mike served as National Youth Commissioner in the past and was President Arroyo’s youngest appointee. Starting as an active student leader and volunteer in Cebu, he went on to be the youngest government representative to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Recognized for his work and his resolve to fight corruption, he was awarded and presented to His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan as one of The Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) in the world by the Junior Chamber International in Japan.

He obtained a degree in advertising at the University of San Carlos in 2005. Last year, four years after his graduation, USC conferred on him the Most Outstanding Alumnus honors, the youngest to be recognized throughout the school’s long history. He is currently a board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and a Haribon Ambassador for the Conservation of Natural Resources. A political communications strategist, he can be seen every Saturday as a mainstay panelist in ABS-CBN’s political talk-reality show, The Bottomline with Boy Abunda.