[Amarinth]

hi rosa! i'm glad you asked the question [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

tolkien's works have indeed influenced me greatly in my life, especially in my personal struggle to cope with, understand and participate in the political tapestry that so painfully agitates the state of our nation every now and then. ever since i read lotr, a space in my psyche has been occupied by something precious, something that has helped me "see" through all the upheaval, uncertainty and stark hopelessness of our own society, to see into a future in it. that something i call "a hobbit's chance" and it is through such determined hope that i have survived still full of goodwill and passion for my native land.

i remember when i was in college a long time ago, a student leader was assassinated in our campus. in his grave are written the epithet, immortal words of frodo at the grey havens: "for it is so...some will lose it...so that others may keep it." i cried a lot then, and since then a shadow of bittersweet sadness passes me by when i come across the name of frodo. but knowing frodo and knowing this leader made me understand and appreciate so much the sacrifice of many, mostly unseen, "ringbearers" in our country.

frodo lives!