I received a forwarded message from my e–group today. I don’t usually read forwarded messages, but this one really caught my attention. The e-mail had screen shots of a blog. I chose not to divulge the name of the blogger as a respect, but I would say she really did exist(!). I have checked her profile and blog site (it was public). I even looked at her pictures. To make my story short, I have copied verbatim what she wrote on that blog. See if you can comprehend what her blog is all about. I have nothing against her but the language she chose to express herself has put her in a “funny light.” I wonder if she is aware at all that she is becoming as popular as Inday or maybe she did it on purpose, you know, to create a buzz. Anyway, below are the excerpts from her blog.
To my readers, I am not a critic of those who uses the English language to express themselves but somehow it is also a blogger’s responsibility to post articles which are understandable and easy to read. At this point, Rufa Mae Quinto comes to mind, in one of her movies, having nosebleeds whenever she is around people who speak English. If we can express ourselves better in our native language, so be it, but then some people like Jo wanted to stick it out with English no matter what. So, here goes:
“…somewhere in my past i been down and hurts of the Guy i love, i thought he is the one my only and last man but they not work it any more. Afterwards my tears fall and I hate him and I said to my self jo never fall inlove. Man is never be fair they’re idiot and no stick to one, well after a while my heart beats again and I am blush when I see this guy, he is good and funny, understanding… maybe she’ll be the one…..I missed the time when he holding hands with me and the time he treats me…I love the man who cares for me, understand me.,,,,,” (Blog title: Man your special”)
“…I count my blessing its so many blessing…first I finished my college I have a award in college a ward that never loose it its my diploma…no one can take it a highest education that may parents did it. 2nd I learned to love all over again(if sometimes causes of heart faillure broken hearted) 3rd I have a lot of friend that never leave me. 4th iam a youth coordinator and some of my friends in PYA en SK. I have a award also there way back 2000 iam become first runner up in Scrabble contest with JL also. I also award of being best student in my batch (outstanding Batch 1)…” (Blog title: its all about me)
Much as I want to share everything that she wrote, I prefer not to. My nose is bleeding right now!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Sa Hangin
Sa hangin ko ibubulong
mga pangarap kong urong-sulong
Dito, doon, laging walang direksyon
Sa hangin, sabay sa panalangin
Nakapako sa maraming hinaing
Tulad ng kanin sa mesang walang pumapansin
Kung sakaling dumating ka at maging akinSa melodya ng ihip ng hangin..
mga pangarap kong urong-sulong
Dito, doon, laging walang direksyon
Sa hangin, sabay sa panalangin
Nakapako sa maraming hinaing
Tulad ng kanin sa mesang walang pumapansin
Kung sakaling dumating ka at maging akinSa melodya ng ihip ng hangin..
Sa Hangin by Aprilyn Rodriguez is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at abrilya.blogspot.com.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Woman on Top
She’s one step ahead, always in front
Never to take a sip on someone else’s cup
Words too sharp, a sword that cuts
She twists her hair, glance somewhere
Powdered her nose, quite often, in a day
While figuring words she has to say
A knowing smile, powerful deceiving eyes
Her suits are black, in grays, or white
All plain, no nonsense frills
Did power lunches with flair
Aware that she can get away
With curves, to close another million deal.
Woman on Top by Aprilyn Rodriguez is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at abrilya.blogspot.com.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Lumban's Magic
 |
| Lumban River |
Lumban is situated south of Manila
But as I have said, Lumban has its own magic, maybe because I grew up there and the familiarity of faces and lifestyle is a potion by itself. I like it best in the early morning, when people start their day. Tatay waking us all up and buying pan de sal from our friendly panadero (baker), or the "tindera ng kakanin". The choices are endless. Three houses away from us, there's Ka Cely whose goto or lugaw (porridge) is very much sought after. And, yes, Ka Elsa, my street food source. Food is clean, inexpensive, delicious, and not preservative-laden. In the city, I never cook, so I usually grab my food fastfood-style. Name it and I knew where to get it. I am not much of a cook and thus even if my Tatay reminds me about this habit, I am not going to give it up just yet.
Anyway, among my favorite gastronomic delights in Lumban are nilablab na tilapia (grilled tilapia cooked in coconut milk), ginataang hipon (shrimp in coconut milk), and paksiw na ayungin (silver perch stewed in vinegar and ginger). The last one being my family's ultra favorite. These foods are always in my request list when I’m home. You can never have them authentic in the city, I bet!
Aside from food, I can sleep well in Lumban. When I am totally finding it hard to sleep, the three-hour bus ride is worth it, if only for a night or two of restful sleep. My room is small but the green-colored wall has its effects I think. Also, I have a great view from my window (not billboards!) and I don’t need air conditioning and except during summer, the cooler air in the province is more conducive for sleep and much, much cleaner. I remember a joke I made about city air to my sister while we were waiting for our bus in EDSA, that if one is to stand for hours in EDSA, inhaling all the fumes and all, it is very much like taking suicide because in the end you will either get sick from a respiratory disease and die from it.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Haiku V.1
1
I am a nobody
who hates somebody
because he likes everybody
2
the singing is over
all are now leaving
the blessing is given
3
One wears a crown
to serve his town
or his own
4
Tinawag ng antok
ang katawang pagod
Mga matang tumitiklop
I am a nobody
who hates somebody
because he likes everybody
2
the singing is over
all are now leaving
the blessing is given
3
One wears a crown
to serve his town
or his own
4
Tinawag ng antok
ang katawang pagod
Mga matang tumitiklop
Instructor 101
Crossing the fence from being the radical student to becoming a teacher proves to be a difficult transition. The once angst-ridden side of me had given way to the realities of life. The years had mellowed me, I think.
In the university I was in, it was an ordinary sight to see students joining rallies, demanding change from both the government and the school administration. I used to be a mere observer of these mass actions. My parents had carefully warned me about joining any, long before I passed the entrance exam. Thus, I heeded their advice, at least for a year.
When I started meeting with people whose orientation were on the left, it opened my mind to the social conditions grappling our society. I saw the difference between between those students who have and those who have not. Even during those times, one had to pay so much to acquire a good education even in a university known to be "makamasa"(pro-people). What more can you expect from other schools?
There were a lot of issues---conditions of the dormitory, hazing, Eileen Sarmenta rape case. I got myself involved in all these. In admission though, unlike some of my college buddies, I never fell into the trap of any Marxist organization. I've attended their orientations and listened to talks but my participation was limited to that. I went to the cause and not for the distinction of having been an alumna of so and so group. The academic organization was enough for me. However, I admired and respected those militant student leaders we had. They, at least, have the balls to serve the studentry.
In fairness, most of our professors were liberal, thus joining a rally wouldn't translate into a grade of "singko"as long as the student meets the academic requirements. Yeah, a true expression of academic freedom.
But that was years ago. I am now an official member of the rat race. Yes, the rat race. After graduation, I decided to take a month-long vacation before embarking on my mission: a JOB! Ironic as it may sound, teaching was at the bottom of my preferences. Nobility is not just in my blood.
That's what I thought. I was offered a secondary teaching position in Laguna. I fully enjoyed the job but it was also there that I searched for my integrity. As a teacher, one has to be knowledgeable, reasonable, and socially responsible. Education 9 described it as a multi-sided job. In educating these young minds, you need not only feed them with textbook data and force them to listening to rut. Ask Mr. Oscar Wilde, to quote, "Education is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught."
As a student, I used to be very conscious about my grades (oops, not until my dismal performance in college, which is another story). It was the only tangible proof of my "intellectual" prowess. My competitive nature got the ire of both both fellow students and teachers. My world revolves around books and numerical accomplishments. Call it manic pursuit of excellence. On a hindsight, I realized that real life experiences had taught me more that what I would have learned in the four-walled classroom.
Now, my dilemma as a teacher is making every lesson transcend conventional approaches. I am still lost somehow. (Obviously, that's why I take further studies). Sometimes, the am-I-worthy attitude just got hold of me. So this is how it felt to be on the other side?
The predicament does not end there. When students start to convey their demands, teachers more often than not, get caught in the middle. This is because they expect their teachers to have a stand. Being young, most of them see things only in black and white. No gray areas. Young people have a different perspective of things. I said, different, but not necessarily wrong. Idealism, is the common denominator among the youth and as much as we want to shrug it off as another phase, it has left indelible marks in our history. It is also necessary for some critical changes. Without the idealism of Rizal, Del Pilar, Ninoy, et. al, then our past would have been written differently.
Are we, therefore, allowed to speak our minds to our students without jeopardizing our career? I assume that to instill a sense of moral and social obligation, one has to affirm personal virtues. I do not want to create a fuss, I am simply asking a question. I am aware of my responsibility and I knew that foremost of which is to prepare them for their future by imparting knowledge--technical or not. Wasn't it the aim of those who formulated the curriculum?
Most teachers want to give their best. There's a sense of fulfillment whenever students learn a great deal from them. However, there are factors which limit them from accomplishing their goals. One I could think of is the number of students in a class. By golly, how do you expect one to handle a class of 50 and monitor them at the same time? In the laboratory, you can't help but sigh when they cannot obtain good results due to defective instruments. Worse is when the instruments are not available. In a situation like this, I would simply give then theoretical answers which is not enough to convince nor satisfy them. I never underestimate my students. They, after all, belong to the information age. One false answer and the next thing you know, you are bombarded with questions.
My idealistic years were over and I'm taking steps in adapting to the "normal" people. Normalcy, in my definition, is simply the accepted ways of this society. If you dare to be different, make sure you have the stomach for it or you'll end up a pariah. Compromising a principle is not always a sign of weakness. Adults call it "maturity". There are things that you cannot change right away. Bend a little. It's better than to break. The next best option to nothing.
In the university I was in, it was an ordinary sight to see students joining rallies, demanding change from both the government and the school administration. I used to be a mere observer of these mass actions. My parents had carefully warned me about joining any, long before I passed the entrance exam. Thus, I heeded their advice, at least for a year.
When I started meeting with people whose orientation were on the left, it opened my mind to the social conditions grappling our society. I saw the difference between between those students who have and those who have not. Even during those times, one had to pay so much to acquire a good education even in a university known to be "makamasa"(pro-people). What more can you expect from other schools?
There were a lot of issues---conditions of the dormitory, hazing, Eileen Sarmenta rape case. I got myself involved in all these. In admission though, unlike some of my college buddies, I never fell into the trap of any Marxist organization. I've attended their orientations and listened to talks but my participation was limited to that. I went to the cause and not for the distinction of having been an alumna of so and so group. The academic organization was enough for me. However, I admired and respected those militant student leaders we had. They, at least, have the balls to serve the studentry.
In fairness, most of our professors were liberal, thus joining a rally wouldn't translate into a grade of "singko"as long as the student meets the academic requirements. Yeah, a true expression of academic freedom.
But that was years ago. I am now an official member of the rat race. Yes, the rat race. After graduation, I decided to take a month-long vacation before embarking on my mission: a JOB! Ironic as it may sound, teaching was at the bottom of my preferences. Nobility is not just in my blood.
That's what I thought. I was offered a secondary teaching position in Laguna. I fully enjoyed the job but it was also there that I searched for my integrity. As a teacher, one has to be knowledgeable, reasonable, and socially responsible. Education 9 described it as a multi-sided job. In educating these young minds, you need not only feed them with textbook data and force them to listening to rut. Ask Mr. Oscar Wilde, to quote, "Education is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught."
As a student, I used to be very conscious about my grades (oops, not until my dismal performance in college, which is another story). It was the only tangible proof of my "intellectual" prowess. My competitive nature got the ire of both both fellow students and teachers. My world revolves around books and numerical accomplishments. Call it manic pursuit of excellence. On a hindsight, I realized that real life experiences had taught me more that what I would have learned in the four-walled classroom.
Now, my dilemma as a teacher is making every lesson transcend conventional approaches. I am still lost somehow. (Obviously, that's why I take further studies). Sometimes, the am-I-worthy attitude just got hold of me. So this is how it felt to be on the other side?
The predicament does not end there. When students start to convey their demands, teachers more often than not, get caught in the middle. This is because they expect their teachers to have a stand. Being young, most of them see things only in black and white. No gray areas. Young people have a different perspective of things. I said, different, but not necessarily wrong. Idealism, is the common denominator among the youth and as much as we want to shrug it off as another phase, it has left indelible marks in our history. It is also necessary for some critical changes. Without the idealism of Rizal, Del Pilar, Ninoy, et. al, then our past would have been written differently.
Are we, therefore, allowed to speak our minds to our students without jeopardizing our career? I assume that to instill a sense of moral and social obligation, one has to affirm personal virtues. I do not want to create a fuss, I am simply asking a question. I am aware of my responsibility and I knew that foremost of which is to prepare them for their future by imparting knowledge--technical or not. Wasn't it the aim of those who formulated the curriculum?
Most teachers want to give their best. There's a sense of fulfillment whenever students learn a great deal from them. However, there are factors which limit them from accomplishing their goals. One I could think of is the number of students in a class. By golly, how do you expect one to handle a class of 50 and monitor them at the same time? In the laboratory, you can't help but sigh when they cannot obtain good results due to defective instruments. Worse is when the instruments are not available. In a situation like this, I would simply give then theoretical answers which is not enough to convince nor satisfy them. I never underestimate my students. They, after all, belong to the information age. One false answer and the next thing you know, you are bombarded with questions.
My idealistic years were over and I'm taking steps in adapting to the "normal" people. Normalcy, in my definition, is simply the accepted ways of this society. If you dare to be different, make sure you have the stomach for it or you'll end up a pariah. Compromising a principle is not always a sign of weakness. Adults call it "maturity". There are things that you cannot change right away. Bend a little. It's better than to break. The next best option to nothing.
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