A strong Pillar of the Kingdom

Legally Yours Chester Cabalza: Pimentel v. Executive Secretary

2011-09-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

Legally Yours Chester Cabalza: Pimentel v. Executive Secretary

2011-08-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

Alternative English teaching methodologies

2010-06-27T21:14:00.000-07:00

Alternative English teaching methodologies
(Part two)
By KEITH WRIGHT
June 2, 2010, 3:00pm
Over the last six to seven decades, a wide range of approaches to teaching English to speakers of other languages have evolved.
This week, six additional and different methods are briefly considered.
• LEXICAL APPROACH contends that the knowledge of words and phrases is a far better foundation to build a new language than learning grammatical structure.
Emphasis is given to the studies of lexemes, the fundamental units of English. Learners are taught how an English word can sometimes represent one or more than one lexeme, e.g. oxygen = one lexeme (one meaning, one use – a colourless, odourless gas); bank = more than one lexeme, e.g. a bank of computers; an investment bank; the bank of a river, etc.
• NOTIONAL-FUNCTIONAL APPROACH focuses on notions, i.e. time, place, cost, person, quantity, emotional attitudes, beliefs – and emphasizes the use of language for a specific function, i.e. asking, questioning, enquiring, describing, applauding, criticizing, requesting, explaining, etc.
This approach is common in basic conversational language courses and publications where everyday, notional words and functional sentences are used, e.g. What time is it? Is this the train to Paris? My name is Maurtia.
• DIRECT APPROACH places its teaching focus on speech with a major emphasis on phonetics for pronunciation proficiency. Using the principles of visualization, association and learning through the senses, the Direct Approach teaches with pictures, activity and play in a similar way that a child learns their native language.
Grammar is learned by practice rather than by rules or precepts to develop natural, automatic responses. While the Direct Approach advocates that teaching be conducted by a native speaker, it contends that the mother tongue should be avoided in the learning situation as much as possible.
• PHONIC APPROACH teaches the relationship between particular sounds and symbols (letters) or symbol combinations (clusters). A characteristic of the English language is that symbols and symbol combinations can often make more than one sound just as different symbols and symbol combinations can make the same sound, e.g., the sound k… can be made by “c”, “k”. “q” and “ck”.
Phonics is widely used for teaching how to decode written words for pronunciation purposes and spoken words for spelling and writing purposes. While different phonics methods vary in what they teach, their commonality is their teaching how the sounds and symbols of sub-parts of words are connected to form spoken and written words.
The 4S Approach To Literacy And Language is also a phonic-based, teaching methodology but is one that goes to greater heights in imparting literacy and language-related skills. 4S focuses also on the relationship that exists between words in English, on the multi-meaning attributes of numerous words in context, on the symbol combination-syllabic structure of words, as well as on the provision of Keys.
• PRESENTATION, PRACTICE AND PRODUCTION (PPP) adopts a three-stage approach. First, teachers present the context and the language situation when the meaning and the structural form of the new language components are explained and demonstrated.
Second, learners use the new language contextually by practicing making sentences, both verbally and in writing, in a controlled, directed way, using models to work from as required.
It is at the third, production stage that learners are given the opportunity to be more creative in the application of what has been learnt, either working individually or in pairs.
While many teachers use this method today, critics contend the approach can lack flexibility and that lessons can become too ‘teacher-centred’. PPP is also the basis of the traditional method uses for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) that is commonly known as ESA – Engage – Study – Activate.
• GRAMMAR - TRANSLATION METHOD teaches learners to systematically find equivalent or similar words and grammatical concepts in sentences and word lists in their own native language and then translate them to the foreign language being learned, e.g. English, and vice versa.
Teachers applying the Grammar – Translation Method need to be bilingual with a high level of proficiency in the native language. Some critics argue that the method can stifle learners from getting the kind of natural language input necessary to acquire the language. However, its acceptance and success made it the main language teaching and learning method for two centuries and it is still practiced in many varying forms today, in some cases blended with less systematic literary methods.
Unlike the Literary Method that used classical literary texts to teach learners to imitate the writing style of a foreign language, the Grammar-Translation Method, as its name suggests, sought to expose learners to both foreign and native text that exhibited key grammatical concepts and could be translated in both directions. It was, in part, a system of translation.
Next week: The Silent Way, the Situational Approach, the Suggestopaedia method, Task-Based Learning, the Whole Word, and Look And Say Approach.
To obtain a free copy of PDF teaching Chart: Symbol Combinations That Make different Sounds, e-mail your request to: contact@4Sliteracy.com.au
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Physical communication and body language

2010-06-27T21:12:00.000-07:00

Physical communication and body language
(Part Three)
By KEITH W. WRIGHT
December 10, 2009, 9:18am
This week, as we continue our study of body language as a non verbal communication (NVNVC) tool, we will discover that the position and use of the head is one of the NVC keys.
LEANING THE HEAD TO ONE SIDE
Leaning the head may be a sign of disinterest, impatience or boredom, that is, if it not physical and is actually the remedial response to a pain in the neck. If the head is turned and the listener is looking away, it is usually an indication of lack of interest, or even disbelief, in what is being said.
When a listener loses attention or does not agree with what is being said, it is almost natural to look or glance elsewhere. However, one must remember that certain people are more kinaesthetic than auditory and unless they are “doing’’ something with their hands, they can be very easily distracted.
PHYSICAL RESPONSES
When a listener is in disagreement with what is being said, physical responses may include rubbing or scratching the chin, touching the side of the face, scratching the ear, fiddling, doodling or staring away for an indefinite period.
The constant crossing and re-crossing of the legs and shifting one’s seated position can also be a sign of the person feeling mentally threatened, challenged or uncomfortable about the topic being explored.
INTENSE EYE CONTACT
Negatively, making intense eye contact might be a way of the receiver indicating that he or she does not trust the deliverer enough to take their eyes off them even for a moment.
In contrast, lack of eye contact can indicate a negative attitude and opposition or disinterest.
To make the issue a little more confusing, consistent or intense eye contact might indicate that a person is thinking positively about what the speaker is saying or has said. On the other hand, individuals who are basically shy or suffer from low self-esteem or even from mentally-related disorders, may have great difficulty making eye contact without a degree of physical discomfort.
Eye contact can also have a cultural significance. In most western countries, it customary for children to be inculcated at a very early age that eye contact should be made when speaking to someone. In contrast, in some other cultures, it is deemed improper to intensely look at someone or “eye-ball” another person similar to rules that apply in some correctional centers in the West.
The significance of eye contact becomes clouded even further when it is part of an arms–folded response. Some psychologists argue that this is a sign of a person who is bothered by something else at the time and that he or she is hoping that the issue can be discussed.
Again if eye contact is being made but the person is inattentive and is doodling or fiddling with some object, it could mean that their mind is on something else also.
The use of the eyes and specifically what part of the other person’s head is being looked at, is also believed to be of significance by some who have researched the issue of eye contact. For example, looking at one of the speaker’s eyes and then to the other and finally to the forehead, is said by some to be a sign that the receiver is taking a position of authority in a conversation.
If the person, having looked progressively at both eyes then looks at the nose, they are indicating their acceptance of the evenness or equality of the communication. However, if the final object of sight is the lips, it is suggested that the action could have romantic or amorous connotations.
When a person repeatedly blinks during an interview, questioning or a conversation, the issue of his or her veracity arises and the possibility of their not telling the whole truth comes to the fore.
While the above reactions are all believed to have a variety of specific communication-related meanings, it would be unwise not to also take into consideration the fact that some people have physical disabilities and impairments can cause them to physically act or react in a different way in what are, in the main, unexpected or abnormal situations.
In next week’s column we shall consider some possible interpretations of Body Language Actions involving the face, the eyes, the head and the hands.

Important role in intonation in speech

2010-01-06T03:14:00.000-08:00

by Lynda Stucky

f you have ever learned another language you know how difficult it is to master. There are different pronunciations of sounds, different grammar rules and some intonation or inflection changes that are complicated and difficult to remember in speech. Unless you are one of the lucky people who is very talented at learning other languages easily, you may find yourself applying the rules of your language to the new language you are trying to learn.

One of the most difficult tasks for foreigners to learn is the stress patterns and melody of English. Inappropriate stress can change the entire word or sentence so much that the message is unrecognizable to the listener. When we were babies, we listened carefully to the speech patterns of the people in our environment. We began babbling by imitating the melody of speech we heard the adults around us use. Learning pitch patterns as a child is easier than learning new patterns as an adult. However, mastering intonation will greatly benefit the non-native speaker's intelligibility in conversation.

Our inflection rises when we ask a question and falls when we make a statement. Intonation is the part of speech that creates emphasis, tone, variety and new meaning by making changes in pitch and loudness.

Consider the following sentence. Try to say it in a very staccato way by giving each syllable the same amount of time. Make the sentence in a monotone voice (no changes in pitch or loudness).

"The issue was discussed."

Now, say the sentence and lengthen the vowel in the first syllable of "issue" (ISsue) and the second syllable in "discussed" (disCUSSED). Really exaggerate the length of those vowels. Also, get higher in pitch when you say them. You have just modified the melody of speech!

No matter what country a person comes from, there will be differences between languages. Here are some other examples that often create challenges to overcome for non-native English speakers.

1. Mandarin Chinese relies on tone differences to make different words. One word may have four different tones and each tone has four different meanings. In English that happens some but not as often. (Consider PROject and proJECT.)

2. Some languages have more pitch changes on individual vowels in words to indicate different word meanings.

3. In Japanese, some tone differences signify a change in the grammar of the sentence.

4. Some languages place equal stress on every syllable with limited variation in loudness or pitch so it is more of a monotonic language.

The task of learning the melody of American English comes easily to those of us who grew up speaking it. But for a non- native speaker, it takes time, practice and perseverance. In order to be better understood in the workplace, on the telephone or giving presentations, the melody of speech is a critical piece in order for the listener to understand the speaker's message. It is even considered to be more important than pronunciation of sounds. Mastering this aspect of speech will greatly benefit the communication effectiveness between two speakers.

Six rules of Subject Verb agreement

2010-01-06T02:54:00.000-08:00

There are a few of us who could use some quick lessons in the use of subject and verb in English. You may have read a lot of rules and completed many sets of exercises to get them right, but here are six simple rules that will make it easy to comprehend and retain the lesson learnt.

Rule 1 - A singular subject uses a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

How simple can it get?

Ex -The boy plays. ( Singular subject, singular verb)

The boys play. ( Plural subject, plural verb)

Rule 2 - When you use some or all in a sentence, the verb can be either singular or plural depending on whether the subject can be counted or not.

Ex- Some of the chairs in the conference room are wobbly. ( You can count the chairs.)

Some of the tea from the teapot has spilt on the carpet. ( Tea is a non count subject.)

You can count tea if it were served in tea cups and thus if you say ” Six of the tea cups are cracked”, you will be right!

Rule 3 – When you use each, everyone, someone, anyone then the verb is always singular.

Each of you is responsible for the outcome.

Everyone in class has to have completed the exercise by Thursday.

Someone has to pick me up at the station tomorrow.

Rule 4 – When you use together with, along with or as well as even though they behave like conjunctions and link two phrases, the form of the verb will depend on the first subject.

If the first subject is singular, then the verb used is singular too.

The teacher ( First subject)along with the students ( Second subject) was at the marathon.

The students( first subject)together with the teacher( second subject) were at the celebrations after the marathon.

Rule 5 – When you use neither or either without the or and nor then the verb will always be singular. For ex -

Neither of the dresses she showed me was out of the world.

Will you prefer tea or coffee?

Either of them is ok.

Rule 6 - When neither or either is used in a sentence with the or and nor then the verb will always take the form of the second subject.

Neither Rajen nor his colleagues (second subject is plural) were at the meeting.

Either the engineers or Nair ( Second suject is singular) is representing the company at the conference.

The Logic of Elfland

2009-11-26T18:18:00.000-08:00

My first and last philosophy, that which I believe in with unbroken certainty, I learnt in the nursery. I generally learnt it from a nurse; that is, from the solemn and star-appointed priestess at once of democracy and tradition. The things that I believed most then, the things that I believe most now, are the things called fairy tales. They seem to me to be the entirely reasonable things. They are not fantasies: compared with them other things are fantastic. Compared with them religion and rationalism are both abnormal, though religion is abnormally right and rationalism abnormally wrong. Fairyland is nothing but the sunny country of common sense. It is not earth that judges heaven, but heaven that judges earth; so for me at least it was not earth that criticised elfland, but elfland that criticised the earth. I knew the magic beanstalk before I had tasted beans; I was sure of the Man in the Moon before I was certain of the moon. This was at one with all popular tradition. Modern minor poets are naturalists, and talk about the bush or the brook; but the singers of the old epics and fables were supernaturalists, and talked about the gods of brook and bush. That is what the moderns mean when they say that the ancients did not "appreciate Nature", because they said that Nature was divine. Old nurses do not tell children about the grass, but about the fairies that dance on the grass; and the old Greeks could not see the trees for the dryads.
But I deal here with what ethic and philosophy come from being fed on fairy tales. If I were describing them in detail I could note many noble and healthy principles that arise from them. There is the chivalrous lesson of "Jack the Giant Killer"; that giants should be killed because they are gigantic. It is a manly mutiny against pride as such. for the rebel is older than all the kingdoms, and the Jacobin has more tradition than the Jacobite. There is the lesson of "Cinderella", which is the same as that of the Magnificat- exaltavit humiles . There is the great lesson of "Beauty and the Beast"; that a thing must be loved before it is lovable. There is the terrible allegory of the "Sleeping Beauty", which tells how the human creature was blessed with all birthday gifts, yet cursed with death; and how death also may perhaps be softened to a sleep. But I am not concerned with any of the separate statutes of elfland, but with the whole spirit of its law, which I learnt before I could speak, and shall retain when I cannot write. I am concerned with a certain way of looking at life, which was created in me by the fairy tales, but has since been meekly ratified by the mere facts.
It might be stated this way. There are certain sequences or developments (cases of one word following another), which are, in the true sense of the word reasonable. They are, in the true sense of the word, necessary. Such are mathematical and merely logical sequences. We in fairyland (who are the most reasonable of all creatures) admit that reason and that necessity. For example, if the Ugly Sisters are older than Cinderella, it is (in an iron and awful sense) necessary that Cinderella is younger than the Ugly Sisters. there is no getting out of it. Haeckel may talk as much fatalism about the fact as he pleases: it really must be. If Jack is the son of a miller, a miller is the father of Jack. Cold reason decrees it from her awful throne: and we in fairy land submit. If the three brothers all ride horses, there are six animals and eighteen legs involved: that is true rationalism, and faryland is full of it. But as I put my head over the hedge of the elves and began to take notice of the natural world, I observed an extraordinary thing. I observed that learned men in spectacles were talking of the actual things that happened-dawn and death and so on -as if they were rational and inevitable. They talked as if the fact that trees bear fruit were just as necessary as the fact that two and one trees make three. But you can easily imagine trees not growing fruit; you can imagine them growing golden candlesticks or tigers hanging on by the tail. These men in spectacles spoke much of a man named Newton, who was hit by an apple, and who discovered a law. But they could not be got to see the distinction between a true law, a law of reason, and the mere fact of apples falling. If the apple hit Newton's nose, Newton's nose hit the apple. That is a true necessity: because we cannot conceive the one occurring without the other. But we can quite well conceive the apple not falling on his nose; we can fancy it falling ardently through the air to hit some other nose, of which it had a more definite dislike. We have always in our fairy tales kept this sharp distinction between the science of mental relations, in which there really are laws, and the science of physical facts, in which there are not laws, but only weird repetitions. We believe in bodily miracles, but not in mental impossibilities. We believe that a Bean-stalk climbed up to heaven; buth that does not at all confuse our convictions on the philosophical question of how many beans make five.
Here is the peculiar perfection of tone and truth in the nursery tales. The man of science says, "Cut the stalk, and the apple will fall"; but he says it calmly, as if one idea really led up to the other. The witch in the fairy tale says, "Blow the horn, and the ogre's castle will fall"; but she does not say it as if it were something in which the effect obviously arose out of the cause. Doubless she has given the advice to many champions, and has seen many castles fall, but she does not lose either her wonder or her reason. She does not muddle her head until it imagines a necessary mental connection between a horn and a falling tower. But the scientific men do muddle their heads, until they imagine a necessary mental connection between an apple leaving the tree and an apple reaching the ground. They do really talk as if they had found not only a set of marvellous facts, but a truth connecting these facts. They do talk as if the connection of two strange things physically connected them philosophically. They feel that because one incomprehensible thing constantly follows another incomprehensible thing the two together somehow make up a comprehensible thing. Two black riddles make a white answer.
In fairyland we avoid the word "law"; but in the land of science they are singularly fond of it. Thus they will call some interesting conjecture about how forgotten folks pronounced the alphabet, Grimm's Law. But Grimm's Law is far less intellectual than Grimm's Fairy Tales. The tales are, at any rate, certainly tales; while the law is not a law. A law implies that we know the nature of the generalisation and enchantment; not merely that we have noticed some of the effects. If there is a law that pick-pockets shall go to prison, it implies that there is an imaginable mental connection between the idea of prison and the idea of picking pockets. And we know what the idea is. We can say why we take liberty from a man who takes liberties. But we cannot say why an egg can turn into a chicken any more than we can say why a bear could turn into a fairy prince. As ideas , the egg and the chicken are further off each other than the bear and the prince; for no egg in itself suggests a chicken, whereas some princes do suggest bears. Granted, then, that certain transformations do happen, it is essential that we should regard them in the philosophic manner of fairy tales, not in the unphilosophic manner of science and the "Laws of Nature". When we are asked why eggs turn to birds or fruits fall in autumn, we must answer exactly as the fairy godmother would answer if Cinderella asked her why mice turned to horses or her clothes fell from her at twelve o'clock. We must answer that it is magic . It is not a "law", for we do not understand the general formula. It is not a necessity, for though we can count on it happening practically, we have no right to say that it must always happen. It is no argument for the unalterable law (as Huxley fancied) that we count on the ordinary course of things. We do not count on it; we bet on it. We risk the remote possibility of a miracle as we do that of a poisoned pancake or a world-destroying comet. We leave it out of account, not because it is a miracle, and therefore an impossibility, but because it is a miracle, and therefore an exception. All the terms used in the science books, "law", "necessity", order", tendency", and so on, are really unintellectual, because they assume an inner synthesis which we do not possess. The only words that ever satisfied me as describing Nature are the terms used in the fairy books, "charm", spell", enchantment". They express the arbitrariness of the fact and its mystery. A tree grows fruit because it is a magic tree. Water runs downhill because it is bewitched. The sun shines because it is bewitched.
I deny altogether that this is fantastic or even mystical. We may have some mysticism later on; but this fairy-tale language about things is simply rational and agnostic. It is the only way I can express in words my clear and definite perception that one thing is quite distinct from another; that there is no logical connection between flying and laying eggs. It is the man who talks about "a law" that he has never seen who is the mystic. Nay, the ordinary scientific man is strictly a sentimentalist. He is a sentimentalist in this essential sense, that he is soaked and swept away by mere associations. He has so often seen birds fly and lay eggs that he feels as if there must be some dreamy, tender connection between the two ideas, whereas there is none. A forlorn lover might be unable to dissociate the moon from lost love; so the materialist is unable to dissociate the moon from the tide. In both cases there is no connection, except that one has seen them together. A sentimentalist might shed tears at the smell of apple-blossom, because, by a dark association of his own, it reminds him of his boyhood. So the materialist professor (though he conceals his tears) is yet a sentimentalist, because, by a dark association of his own, apple-blossoms remind him of apples. But the cool rationalist from fairyland does not see why, in the abstract, the apple tree should not grow crimson tulips; it sometimes does in his country.
This elementary wonder, however, is not a mere fancy derived from the fairy tales; on the contrary, all the fire of the fairy tales is derived from this. Just as we all like love tales because there is an instinct of sex, we all like astonishing tales because they touch the nerve of the ancient instinct of astonishment. This is proved by the fact that when we are very young children we do not need fairy tales: we only need tales. Mere life is interesting enough. A child of seven is excited by being told that Tommy opened a door and saw a dragon. But a child of three is excited by being told that Tommy opened a door. Boys like romantic tales; but babies like realistic tales - because they find them romantic. In fact, a baby is about the only person, I should think, to whom a modern realistic novel could read without boring him. This proves that even nursery tales only echo an almost pre-natal leap of interest an amazement. These tales say that apples were golden only to refresh the forgotten moment when we found that they were green. They make rivers run with wine only to make us remember, for one wild moment, that they run with water. I have said that this is wholly reasonable and even agnostic. And indeed, on this point I am all for the higher agnosticism; its better name is Ignorance. We have all read in scientific books, and, indeed, in all romances, the story of the man who has forgotten his name. This man walks about the streets and can see and appreciate everything; only he cannot remember who he is. Well, every man is that man in the story. Every man has forgotten who he is. One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star. Thou shalt love the Lord the God; but thou shalt not know thyself. We are all under the same mental calamity; we have all forgotten our names. We have all forgotten what we really are. All that we call common sense and rationality and practicality and positivism only means that for certain dead levels of our life we forgot that we have forgotten. All that we call spirit and art and ecstasy only means that for one awful instant we remember that we forgot.

Duterte receives traffic ticket

2009-10-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

Duterte receives traffic ticket By Edith Regalado (The Philippine Star) Updated September 26, 2009 12:00 AM

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - This time the tough guy got caught.
Pistol-packing Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was flagged down by traffic enforcers shortly after midnight yesterday and was issued a ticket for not wearing the required protective helmet while driving his Yamaha Virago 750 motorcycle along Sandawa Road corner MacArthur Highway in this city.
Traffic enforcers also accosted Romerico de la Cruz, Duterte’s security aide, who was driving a separate motorcycle also without helmet.
Superintendent Noel Fermin, chief of the city’s Traffic Management Center, said that he and 18 of his men were manning a checkpoint along Sandawa Road when they chanced upon two men on motorbikes not wearing helmets.
“We flagged down the two vehicles and it was only when it came near us that we realized it was Mayor Duterte. I told him he was being arrested for not wearing helmet because he asked me what his violation was,” Fermin said.
He said the mayor, known as a toughie in his bailiwick, did not resist when his driver’s license was taken from him.
Ten other motorcycle drivers who were also apprehended erupted into wild applause when Duterte and his bodyguard were issued their respective Temporary Operator’s Permits. Fermin said he forwarded the mayor’s license and TOP to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) yesterday morning.
LTO said Duterte would pay a total of P1,777.63 as fine and will be required to attend a driver’s seminar before his license will be released.
The mayor said he admitted his mistake and is ready to face the consequences.
Christopher Go, Duterte’s executive assistant, said the mayor has always abided by traffic rules, security checks and body frisks in airports and hotels.
“The mayor would always insist that he would be checked and frisked. He would even take off his shoes if required in airports. He does not want to be exempted even if some airport personnel would usually say he could proceed without being checked,” Go said.
Fermin said Duterte never pulled rank over the traffic officers.
“He did not scold us or ask us not to apprehend him. He was even the one who insisted that he be ticketed. He wanted to be treated just like any other traffic violator,” he said.

Tribute to the King

2009-10-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

I AM A SOLDIER.

Have given up life for the great cause. Have lay down oneself offered as a tribute to the Almighty. Have pledge allegiance to commit and render faithful service.

Brave. Courageous. Defender. Sentinel. I am for the Father’s glory. I am bound to win every battle to come my way. No room for stupidity. No room to fail the King. Only the promise to fulfill.

For the Father, I am a Fighter. I fight for what is right. I fight to win. I win and win more. I have chosen this field. I have chosen to beat losing. I chose to be of service to the King.

Nothing but the truth ( Movie)

2009-10-13T19:10:00.001-07:00

Nothing But the truth (Movie)

If you were a reporter, how long could you keep your source's identity? This was the gist of Nothing But The Truth movie. Rachel Armstrong (Kate Beckinsale who was named by Esquire Magazine as the sexiest woman alive) was imprisoned for not disclosing the identity of her source after her article about the findings of a covert CIA operative hit the newsstand.

At first I could not understand Rachel's adamancy in Nothing But The Truth movie that caused her husband to accidentally fall in love with another woman while Rachel's still in prison. The last time she saw her son was on the first day of her incarceration and she hasn't seen him since then. She's willing to give up everything just to protect her source's identity.

If I were Rachel, I think I would hand over the identity of my main source to the FBI to avoid durance. But not Rachel. Her reason? You better watch Nothing But The Truth movie to better understand Rachel's stance.

Tagalog Morphology

2009-08-24T01:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~bdsamuel/pdfs/tagalog.pdf

Another 2

2009-08-24T01:33:00.000-07:00

http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd465.pdf

Another

2009-08-24T01:30:00.000-07:00

http://nlp.csie.ncnu.edu.tw/~shin/acl-ijcnlp2009/proceedings/CDROM/ALR-7/pdf/ALR-719.pdf

New site 2

2009-08-24T01:26:00.001-07:00

http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/research/centers/adric/nlp/downloads/2NNLPRS/%5CPaper%5CTan.pdf

New site

2009-08-24T01:22:00.001-07:00

http://www.sil.org/asia/Philippines/sipl/SIPL_1-1_053-074.pdf

Illonggo Cont 1

2009-08-24T00:43:00.000-07:00

Family: Austronesian
Subfamily: Western Malayo-Polynesian
Genus: Meso-Philippine

Hiligaynon

WALS coordinates: 10° 15′ N, 123° E

spoken in Philippines

Alternative Names

Ethnologue:	Hiligaynon
Ruhlen:	Hiligaynon
Routledge:
Other:	Ilonggo
ISO 639-3:	hil

Features

Feature	Value	References
Morphology
Reduplication	Productive full and partial reduplication	Zorc 2001
Nominal Categories
Distributive Numerals	Marked by prefix	Llamzon 1978 (96)
Position of Pronominal Possessive Affixes	No possessive affixes	Wolfenden 1975 (passim)
Word Order
Order of Subject, Object and Verb	VSO	Wolfenden 1975 (69, 89, 108)
Order of Subject and Verb	VS	Wolfenden 1975 (69, 89, 108)
Order of Object and Verb	VO	Wolfenden 1975 (69, 89, 108)
Order of Adposition and Noun Phrase	Prepositions	Wolfenden 1975 (26-27)
Order of Genitive and Noun	Noun-Genitive	Wolfenden 1975 (47)
Order of Adjective and Noun	No dominant order	Wolfenden 1975 (passim)
Order of Demonstrative and Noun	Demonstrative-Noun	Wolfenden 1975 (passim)
Order of Numeral and Noun	Numeral-Noun	Wolfenden 1975 (56-59)
Order of Degree Word and Adjective	No dominant order	Wolfenden 1975 (23-24)
Relationship between the Order of Object and Verb and the Order of Adposition and Noun Phrase	VO and Prepositions	no references
Relationship between the Order of Object and Verb and the Order of Adjective and Noun	Other	no references
Simple Clauses
Negative Morphemes	Negative particle	Wolfenden 1975 (passim)
Polar Questions	Question particle	Wolfenden 1975 (passim)
Lexicon
Hand and Arm	Different	Titrud 1978
Finger and Hand	Different	Titrud 1978
Tea	Words derived from Sinitic cha	Ibelgaufts and Ibelgaufts 1999

Add for final project

2009-08-24T00:42:00.000-07:00

Ilokano & Waray Wikipedias / Tayabas Tagalog / Why?

Well, howdy strangers!

[insert apology for justifying my neglect of this blog]

I thought I'd take a break from working on my anthropology mid-term project to give this blog a much-needed update. Anthropology is really fascinating, I tell you. It is on my short list of possible double majors or minors that I can add in addition to my planned linguistics major.

There are two items of interest that I would like to get out there. On Wikipedia, there were two proposals to get Wikipedias for two Philippine languages, namely Waray-Waray and Ilokano.

The proposal was approved; there are now 5 Philippine-language Wikis (Tagalog, Cebuano, and Kapampangan in addition to the aforementioned two). I was quite surprised and quite puzzled about Ilokano - there is a huge Ilokano presence on the internet as well as being the 2nd-most spoken Philippine language in the United States (with university courses to boot). But yet, it's last one.

In any case, both Wikipedias have been very active; the Waray one has 482 articles and the Ilokano one has 105 (the owner of Mannurat.Com, Roy Aragon, being very active). Very impressive!

The URL's for the encyclopedias are:

Ilokano Wikipedia - http://ilo.wikipedia.org
Waray Wikipedia - http://war.wikipedia.org

So, congratulations.

In other news, I have borrowed a book called A Lexicographic Study of Tayabas Tagalog written in 1971 by E. Arsenio Manuel of the University of the Philippines.

This interested me a lot. I speak Manila Tagalog, but I have some roots to Quezon Province. My great-grandmother Estelita Fermin Sundita was born there in 1903. Where exactly, I don't know. I have contradictory information on the town where she was born. Her passport from the 1970's and her Social Security Application say Atimonan, but the birth records of her children born in the 1920's say Lucena City. Anyway, Lola Estelita died in California when I was 5 and she was the only great-grandmother I ever knew.

The author relies on dozens of informants from all over Lucena City - he elicited information starting in the 1940's until 1953. The author mentions some sociolinguistic factors as to when the non-standard dialect is used - and the reactions (i.e., laughter and ridicule) it gets.

He considers the dialect to be "Central Tagalog" (what about south?) which is based on geography. He also makes mention of what appears to be subdialect areas such as Tayabas-Pagbilao-Sariaya, Unisan-Gumaka-Pitogo, and San Narciso-Katan-awan.

He also briefly mentions some phonological features particularly the preservation of the glottal stop when it occurs between a consonant and a vowel (called malaw-aw) - tam-is, ngay-on, dinug-an, but-o, and big-at. There is also the tendency to pronounce oo as uu and noo as nuu.

The rest of the book is basically a one-way dictionary from Tayabas Tagalog to Manila Tagalog and English. It wasn't quite as I expected, but I guess it's useful in a way.

Here are some sample entries:

gá. (Kat[an-awan].) Ba, baga. Ano ga. Kumusta!
An interrogative postpositional article

náay. 1. Naiyon, naayon, ayon. HIndi mo ba makita? Naay! Naay mandin sa sahig!2. Naay pa (gin. sa pagsusumbong ng mga bata sa magulang kung inuulitan o inaatig ng iba, at nagpapatuloy ng pag-uulit pagkatpos sawayin o pagsabihan).
1. There it is. Same as náiyon, náayon, ayón. 2. Náay pa, to call attention to the fact that someone is still bothering him after the other boy has been told not to (an expression often used by children addressing their plaint to their parents).

sabád. Sagot ng di kausap, ng di tinatanong. Sumabad, magsalita nang di kinakausap. Sa dalawang magkapulong, ang humalo sa usapan nang di inaanyayahan ay sumasabad sa usapan. Pasabadsabad, pásalitsalit o pasangit-sangit sa usapan. Sabát, o abát, din.
Reply of a person not asked or spoken to. Sumabád, to take part in a conversation without being invited; to speak or talk without being called to participate; to intercept the talk of two or more persons. Pasabád-sábad, to interrupt the conversation frequently. Sábat or abat also.

suwís (from Spanish. juez, judge). Magsusuwis, dadalaw ang pinunong-bayan sa bukid, linang, o nayon; ang pinunong-lalawigan sa bayon o nayon. Suwisan, ang ganiyang pagdalaw o pagsisiyasat na tinutugunan ng piging at kasayahn ng mga tagalinang o tagabayan. Wika ng isang makata:

Sa mga soisan, ibang pagtatao
kasalan, binyagan, ....
pag walang achara'y pati taga Centro
di lubhang ganahan sa piging na ito.
- Aurelio Obispo, "Tulang Paligsahan" (1929)

Term derived from juez (de ganado), judge of pastures, who during the Spanish regime inspected livestock of the farm and outlying barriors for the purpose of taking a census of animals, etc. Suwís has now a political significance, being an official visit or inspection of the barrio, by a municipal authority, or the town by the provincial governor or other high officials. Suwisan, the official visitand the popular reception combined used to be the biggest event in the lives of barrio folks.

Perhaps the most interesting entry was this:

tanó (at and + ano what). Bakit?
Why? What for? And so why? And so what?

The reason why I find this interesting is that in Naga Bikol, they use taano or ta-no for "why." In Legazpi, it is ngata - other Bikol dialects have hadaw, nata and ta-daw.

I also learned that in Tagalog, bakit is composed of bakin at. I wondered, then, if there was such a phrase as bakin at ano. I looked at the University Michigan's site, and found no such phrase.

However, I did find both of them mentioned side by side. In Joaquín de Coria's 1872 Nueva gramática tagalog, teórico-práctica, I found that, curiously, bakin meant because and at ano meant why.

On another page, it defined bakin to mean "why, and it is also an unusual verb. It is used in the negative. Examples. Forgive the enemies, don't you guys see that God forgives sinners, his enemies? Patauaring ninyo ang manga caauay, ¿di baquinang panginoong Dios ay nagpapatauar sa manga macasalanang tauong caauay niya? You reprimand me for my sins, but why do you do the same? Aco,i inaauyang mo nang casalanan co ay, baquin icao ay gayon naman ang gaua mo? -- And why you too? Baquin icao? Why you all? Baquin cayo?

In Constantino Lendoyro's 1902 Tagalog language, bakin, bakit, and at ano are listed as words for "why."

So, very interesting stuff. I wish I could find the answer to all this, but so far, it's still a mystery. Why were there two why's?

English 13 Hiligaynon Morphology draft

2009-08-24T00:19:00.000-07:00

Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) Language

February 27, 2009 by admin

Filipinos from other regions have a general impression of the Ilonggos as “malambing”, meaning sweet or affectionate. It can be attributed to our language. We speak with a sing-song intonation that could sound very sweet to the ears of a non-Hiligaynon speaker.

I am sometimes torn whether to refer to our language as Hiligaynon or Ilonggo. Most non-Ilonggos and even the Ilonggos would refer to our language as Ilonggo. I’m neither a historian nor an expert in linguistics but through various articles I came across, Ilonggo is what you call the people that inhabit or whose ethnic origin is Western Visayas. Hiligaynon is the lingua franca of the people of Western Visayas for there exist other languages such as Kinaray-a of Antique, Capiz and the hinterlands of Iloilo and Akeanon of Aklan.

In Negros Occidental, Hiligaynon is widely spoken by the majority especially in the west coast while in the east coast facing Cebu people speaks Cebuano. Seldom can you hear Kinaray-a except perhaps from those who are Kinaray-a speakers living in Negros Occidental.

Ilonggo historian Henry Funtecha has some interesting insights on why Hiligaynon is the dominant language of the province. Rich families from the lowland of Iloilo migrated to Negros during the boom of the sugar industry. They became hacienderos and became prominent families. They brought with them sugarcane farm workers (sacada) from Antique and the hinterland towns of Iloilo where Kinaray-a was widely spoken. Imagine if you were a sacada during those times and your amo (boss) is speaking in Hiligaynon, you would probably be speaking the language of your employer too.

If you want to learn Hiligaynon, just download the Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) Language Packet being used by the US Peace Corps. Learning to converse in Hiligaynon is easy but learning the intonation is not. But if you want to learn Hiligaynon you have to start somewhere.

The language pack cotains phrases for daily communication needs. Even for Ilonggos this tutorial can come in handy if you want to review your Hiligaynon. Sometimes when we use English in our daily conversations we tend to forget correct usage of our own language.

Who said Hannah Montana are only for Kids?

2009-02-26T17:51:00.000-08:00

Miley Cyrus is the biggest star in Hollywood. With sold-out concerts, millions of merchandise and clothing lines all about her. Ad mist of the bad reports about her, still Miley is very visible in the limelight. She just ROCKS. That's it!
Her acting is very hard to ignore . Plus the show itself is very powerful. It successfully captured the minds of millions of viewers not only in America but on other parts of the world or even the whole world !!.In addition to that she really is a good performer. I watched her performance at the Obama night show singing one of her upcoming movie songs ( surely a hit ) " The Climb " showed how versatile this girl was. I thought shes only good with rock music but i stand corrected. Just 16 , her sold-out Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus Concert scored big Not to mention her high rated show in Disney Channel. If you compare her to other artist like Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez and Vannesa Hudgens who are both " pacute thing shall i say" , Miley is much more a performer and a good actress. Too bad she has a western culture of being liberated and normally,, human defense to all the bad critics accused to them is the hype sentence " Nobody's Perfect"... One of her hit songs...
She gave justice to the song " Girls Just wanna have fun". I';ve her performance and she very good at it. When talking plainly about art, Miley performs way too far compare to the names mentioned above. The only thing that puts her down is her personal life. Truly in this physical world you cant have " The Best of both world " even you are a celebrity. I cant forget to mention her T.V. guesting in M.T.V. singing 7 things..... she totally rocks the stage. Her upcoming movie " The Hannah Montana the movie" will surely hit the box office. The world was looking forward to it... It a must see movie. Check out the trailer and see it for yourself.

Man, Woman and Child by Erich Segal ( RD vol.4 1980)

2009-02-26T17:29:00.000-08:00

What if suddenly in no where a 10 year old boy approach you and claim that he is your son? Same thing in the 1980 story of Reader Digest Man, Woman and Child written by Erich Segal. The story involves the family of Robert and Sheila Beckwith (a perfect happy family) and Jean-Claude a 10 year old boy from Robert past. It showed how a boy could possible shatter a perfect family. A touching story of a forgiveness specially the character of Jean-Claude)
Not Fun of condensed book? So am I. Not until my teacher in Philippine Constitution lend me this book. Since then , condessed book interest me. Nice story. Two-thumbs up!

Luring with coffee

2009-02-26T03:02:00.000-08:00

I remember it was during my Ate Renren BSN years when we frist discover Miko's Brew Cafe in Tagum City. Since then , I choose to have a dinner in Coffee Shops rather than restaurants, fast food chains or even mandarin restros. Now a certfied ( After almost 4 years ) RN, we are so thankful to the Almighty Father for all the priveleges and blessing he had showered unto us and once again enjoying the great tasting food and beverages this cafe has to offer .

In the tune of Bossa Nova music with matching radiant light-blending illumination, surely there is no doubt that Mikos Brew is the best escape for those empty stomach craving for a modest, healthy and satisfiable meal.

My all time favorite is the Mocha Frappucino with matching sizzzzling clubhouse sandwich...

Masarap talaga

I also tried , the Passion Frappucino creme and Hazelnut Latte plus the chicken and ham wheat bread with lettuce and veggies on it. Another is the Singaporean Bun matching Mocha Frappuccinu creme that gives a taste of Asean dishes. I love this place... I hope to bring with me next Ken-ken, Ate Chicky, of course the Manaday Family,,, ( Manang Vic, will surely love this place))

Anyways,,, I thank the Father for giving me a chance to dine in a classic high price cafe like her. "Alone, i cannot afford this place( Tinuod gyud)".. Truly the Father is always so good.... HHHEHEHHHEHE

I give all the glory and thankgiving to the Father Alimighty through his Appointed Son...

The -gry- puzzle

2009-02-25T23:47:00.000-08:00

Words that End in Gry

Without a doubt the most common question we receive from visitors to Fun-with-words.com is about the famous "-gry" puzzle, so we've decided to put the story of this curious puzzle on the site. Here it is.

The puzzle is essentially this: There are three English words ending in "-gry". Two are "angry" and "hungry". What is the third one?

There is no other common word ending in "-gry", so how did the puzzle come about? It first appeared in print in 1975.

Perhaps the answer to the original version of the puzzle was meagry or aggry (as in "aggry bead"). There are over 100 obsolete words that end in "-gry" (see below), and these two were in use until fairly recently. However, since there is no longer a real answer to this, modern versions of the puzzle have turned from being puzzles to being riddles. There are perhaps as many as a dozen versions in circulation - each with a different answer!

Words Ending in Gry

We shall look at each of eight versions of the "-gry" puzzle, and their answers. (Some of these are discussed by Chris Cole in "Wordplay: A Curious Dictionary of Language Oddities".)

1. Think of words ending in "-gry". "Angry" and "hungry" are two of them. There are only three words in "the English language." What is the third word? The word is something that everyone uses every day. If you have listened carefully, I have already told you what it is.

The answer is language.
It is the third word of "the English language". The question needs to be spoken, otherwise the quotation marks give away the trick. This version apparently originated in 1996.

2. "Angry" and "hungry" are two words in the English language that end in "-gry". "What" is the third word. The word is something that everyone uses everyday. If you have listened carefully, I have already told you what it is.

The answer is what.
The question states that "what" is the third word, then it asks for the third word. Again this version needs to be spoken to be effective.

3. There are three words in English that end in "gree." The first two are "angry" and "hungry," and if you've listened closely you'll agree that I've told you the third one.

The answer is agree.
It is a phonetic version of the riddle, asking for words that end in the sound "gree," but tricks people into thinking about the letters g-r-y by giving the two examples.

4. There are three words in the English language that end in the letters g-r-y. Two are "hungry" and "angry." Everyone knows what the third word means, and everyone uses it every day. What is the third word?

The answer is energy.
The question asks for a word ending with the three letters g-r-y, but does not stipulate that they must be in that order.

5. There are at least three words in the English language that end in g or y. One of them is "hungry," and another one is "angry." There is a third word, a short one, which you probably say every day. If you are listening carefully to everything I say, you just heard me say it three times. What is it?

The answer is say.
The question must be said in such a way that the word "or" sounds like the letter "r". Once more, to be effective it is crucial that this version is spoken rather than printed. This version is first known to have appeared in 1997.

6. There are three words in the English language that end in "-gry." Two words that end in "-gry" are "hungry" and "angry." Everyone knows what the third word means, and everyone uses them every day. If you listened very carefully, I have already stated to you what the third word is. What are the three words that solve this riddle?

The answer is I am hungry.
The question asks for three words that end in "-gry", but does not say that they each must end in "-gry."

7. There are three words in the English language that end in "-gry." One is "angry" and the other is "hungry." Everyone knows what the third one means and what it stands for. Everyone uses them every day. And if you listened carefully I've given you the third word, what is it?

The answer is three.
It is the third word in the question, and the rest of the question is irrelevant: a red herring designed to put the solver off.

8. There are only three words in the English language, all adjectives, which end in "-gry." Two are "angry" and "hungry"; the third word describes the state of the world today. What is it?

This is the (presumed) original version of the puzzle from 1975. The possible answers (if obsolete words, names, and hyphenated compounds of "angry" and "hungry" are allowed) are plentiful. Most of the 124 listed below were in the 1933 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, and all have appeared in some major dictionary of English:

affect-hungry	fire-angry	MacLoingry	Seagry
aggry	Gagry	mad-angry	self-angry
Agry	girl-hungry	mad-hungry	selfe-angry
ahungry	gonagry	magry	sensation-hungry
air-hungry	gry	malgry	sex-angry
anhungry	haegry	man-hungry	sex-hungry
Badagry	half-angry	managry	Shchigry
Ballingry	hangry	mannagry	shiggry
begry	heart-angry	Margry	Shtchigry
bewgry	heart-hungry	maugry	sight-hungry
boroughmongry	higry pigry	mawgry	skugry
bowgry	hogry	meagry	Sygry
braggry	hogrymogry	meat-hungry	Tangry
Bugry	hongry	menagry	Tchangry
Chockpugry	hound-hungry	messagry	Tchigry
Cogry	houngry	music-hungry	tear-angry
cony-gry	huggrymuggry	nangry	th'angry
conyngry	hund-hungry	overangry	tike-hungry
cottagry	Hungry Bungry	Pelegry	Tingry
Croftangry	hwngry	Pingry	toggry
diamond-hungry	iggry	Podagry	ulgry
dog-hungry	Jagry	Pongry	unangry
dogge-hungry	job-hungry	pottingry	vergry
Dshagry	kaingry	power-hungry	Vigry
Dzagry	land-hungry	profit-hungry	vngry
eard-hungry	Langry	puggry	war-hungry
Echanuggry	leather-hungry	pugry	Wigry
Egry	ledderhungry	red-angry	wind-hungry
euer-angry	life-hungry	rungry	yeard-hungry
ever-angry	Lisnagry	scavengry	yird-hungry
fenegry	losengry	Schtschigry	Ymagry

If all this has left you feeling a little disappointed that there is no proper answer to the words that end in gry puzzle, then have a go at this one:
There are two common words in the English language that end in "-shion". Can you think what they are? (This one isn't a trick question! We promise!)

Rizal

2009-01-08T22:42:00.000-08:00

When i was browsing for youngblood article I accidentally click the highlighted word "journey back" with a quotation lead of Rizal. The truth is , I study the writings of Rizal not because I appreciated him or I'm loyal to my obligation to our country and reading Rizal's work will make me a responsible citizen but because I am force to do so. Rizal is not a part of my life now. Could he pay my tuition fees in school and other miscellaneous? Could he solve the problem in our society now? If he couldn't even solve the problems before and with all the advancement of technology resulting to the revolution of smaller problems to big one don't tell me he could this time! But once again my feeble mind prove me i was fallible. There are more important things to consider rather than the things that circulates us. Rizal was more than just a book and more than just a matchbox.!

This article helps me a lot in appreciating more of Rizal's works.

The Journey Back
By Jose Ma. Montelibano
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 01:38:00 01/09/2009

Jose Rizal wrote:

“...They gradually lost their ancient traditions, their recollections — they forgot their writings, their songs, their poetry, their laws, in order to learn by heart other doctrines, which they did not understand, other ethics, other tastes, different from those inspired in their race by their climate and their way of thinking. Then there was a falling off, they were lowered in their own eyes, they became ashamed, of what was distinctly their own, in order to admire and praise what was foreign and incomprehensible, their spirit was broken and they acquiesced.”

How, then, can Filipinos reclaim their spirit, reconnect to the soul of our traditions, recover our ancient writings, our songs, our poetry and our laws? How can our hearts intuit our doctrines, reinstall our ethics and our ways? How can we find the rhythm of our climate, our language, our way of thinking and understanding? How can we rediscover our identity, our culture, and our pride in them? Is it possible, or is what is native and unique in us gone forever?

Some will question why we need to reclaim what could be obsolete or what simply cannot be reclaimed. There are those who say, "Move on, forget the past, or you will get stuck there." And others cannot simply see the relevance of what Rizal said in today's moment.

I am not a historian, nor am I a behavioral scientist, having taken no formal courses and training in either field. But I am curious human being, and I would like to think of myself as one whose curiosity has its own sense of discriminating between the substantial and the peripheral. I remember when I was first asked to write in this electronic publication in early 2001 and was given the option how many times a week I would like to do so. I chose once a week because I could not see myself consistently writing anything of import more than once a week.

My lack of formal training is made up by a life of experimentation after the curiosity, and I have dabbled not only in causes that may have seemed flaky in the beginning to the conventional mind (like the green movement and alternative medicine) but also delved deeply into the understanding of the great faiths of the world. All these were part of an intuitive need to discover, or re-discover. Somehow, the happiness of a blessed childhood, the success of an intense corporate career, and the general comfort of life only made me curious later at why there was so much misery in the lives of so many Filipinos.

It was not easy for me to accept the usual accusations hurled against people who have more by radicals espousing the cause of people who have little or nothing at all. While it is true that my parents were born rich from even richer grandparents, there is no evidence despite a rather extensive and complete knowledge of family tree dating to almost 300 years that any of my ancestors were beneficiaries of a colonial past. My grandparents were rich because my grandfather was an astute businessman who was more Chinese than the suspected European lineage of our family name. His siblings and relatives were not anywhere as rich although they were not poor either. The Spanish authorities exiled him to the Marianas Islands after he was caught financing the rebellion and evolution in the late 19th century, convincing me all the more than he made his money his way and not from the loot of colonial masters.

When all lands were confiscated by the throne of Spain, Filipinos experienced a shocking transition from being farmers and producers to being tillers and laborers. It was a grotesque degeneration that forced a highly civilized, productive and creative people to adapt to superior force, to the greed and exploitation of foreign masters. Resourcefulness turned away from creative options to perverse ways to cling to life. A prayerful, celebratory people took a bizarre descent towards what had been transcended long before.

Our ancestors were symbolized by the engineering agricultural wonder known as the rice terraces, the beautiful colors and weaves of native cloth and costumes, the intricacy of designs in extremely minute gold jewelry and the science of preserving human bodies for centuries in an environment constantly attacked by unusually high moisture or humidity fearfully. In less than three hundred years, now known as Filipinos, our resourcefulness turned to guile, our generosity turned to commercial hospitality, our “bayanihan” shrank and built familial walls, and our nobility dirtied itself for survival and gain.

What is done is done, and what is past cannot be restored. But what we lost can be recovered because what we lost was a proud spirit, what we lost was a noble soul. A spirit that aspires and strives for the lofty, a soul that cares deeply for the other and is ready to die for love and honor, these can be recovered, these can be made to shine again as what is ugly and lowly can be decomposed and buried forever.

Finance and technology have proven to be quite inutile against corruption. Our poverty and misery is not a matter of ignorance, it is a matter of greed and exploitation by a few over the very many, by force of superior power and now by force of superior rank. The crime of the Filipino people is the submission, the subservience and the resignation against leadership that is aptly described in the Tagalog phrase as "bantay-salakay," the protector taking advantage of people in need of protection.

It is not proficiency of English, it is not information technology, it is not foreign investments that can raise the quality of life of the Filipino; it is the return of a noble culture, a refined value system which once put on the pedestal honor as king, generosity as queen, creativity, integrity, honesty as heirs to the throne. It is not the poor that has debased society but those who made them poor, those with power, with wealth, with knowledge, with technology, but without the heart for others, without the godliness of leadership, without the nobility of the soul.

The journey back is the journey out of our dark and foul pit, the journey back is the journey to the light, the journey back is to remember what we lost, our writings, our songs and poetry, our laws and our ethics, the journey back makes possible the journey forward.

According to Maam Maribel Lanticse, the best way to write is to duplicate-duplicate it style-. This article really inspires me a lot. Hope so I can write like this using my own style of writing> To the writer ....... great and very good job..

2008-12-04T21:12:00.000-08:00

Helloo.....

Still, i cant believe I'm Here in Tagum City. Of course , what do you expect me to say ,,,,, I miss my home there in Davao City. But as a matured Kingdom citizen , i must be strong no matter what. I'm doing my Second Column about Course Discrimination in my new school. Good Luck to me....... " AJA" Praise The Father !!!!!!!

Real Issue at the real time

2008-12-03T20:03:00.000-08:00

When Ate graduated from college, many people have raised opinions. All of them were very happy for her achievement. They used sweet words to describe her while other guests simply came by and congratulated her. One thing that was common among them was the question;” Where do you want to work aboard? “
It’s a slap on the face of every Filipino knowing that our country nurses are predestined to work abroad. Are we slaves of other countries?

Six hundred Filipinos have gone to Dubai to seek for greener pastures everyday. Others wanted to escape from this disintegrating country. I can’t blame them. Who will be proud of being a Filipino if this country is suffering from poverty? Who will be proud to be a Filipino if in every corner our government officials are creating bunch of controversies everyday? Who will be proud to be a Filipino if until now there is no peace in Mindanao? Who will be proud of being a Filipino if our economy only depends in dollar remittances of the OFWs?

THE MEDIA

The media always feed us bad news. It’s like eating a garbage everyday. Petty crimes, accidents and even killings has become an everyday scenario to us.

Covering a vast number of audience, the National Television must be picky on what they present on-screen. Program segments, commercials, shows etc. must be carefully selected. After all, dying is normal no need to broadcast it.

Drama

The congress in the Philippines has become the grand arena of all-time drama. Senators and congressmen are always debating and arguing. They keep on fighting for the lime light. These officials are degree holders. They have graduated from prominent and prestigious intuitions such Harvard, Oxford, Princeton, UNY, U.P. Ateneo and others. But have they made a change? Until now, the Pasig river is still polluted. Our country continues to deteriorate economically and morally. Graft and corruption in rural and urban places continue to plague the society resulting to the loss of revenues to the government and in the increase of criminality. We could admit that they are truly highly-intellect individuals but then, they have failed to fulfill their duties and responsibilities as public servants.

Since they have been given the power to lead the government, to run and manipulate laws, they work most of the time inside air conditioned rooms, having negations and convictions with other of officials and prominent business tycoons. However, on the other side, farmers on their tattered clothes are burned under the scorching heat of the sun.

Is this what you call democracy? Or just a plain Hypocrisy?

Instead of arguing and fighting each other, why don’t we involve ourselves into these problems? If we can’t even solve minors problems how much more major ones? The real issue is not our politics. It’s all about us, Filipinos on how we could contribute in alleviating the worsening situation of our country.

Imagine if all Filipinos, from different walks of life, unite and join hands together we could turn this country into a progressive nation where justice is attained by every citizen. If all of us will instill the spirit of nationalism in our hearts, surely the problems that burden our country will be eradicated in no time. The truth is we are not united and we must be.

Let’s cleanse our hearts and minds. Let’s deny ourselves and be a sentinel of goodness. For this is the key that will unlocked the chains that binded us from achieving development and prosperity. But before we can solve complex problems, we need to solve first simples ones. This is the real issue at the real time that I would like to stress to all Filipinos. If all of us have the heart that cares, poverty will gradually vanish. These are small simple things. We don’t need to be politicians to serve the country. Being a responsible citizen it already enough. Change doesn’t acknowledge title. It only needs a heart that is willing to submit itself.

My vision for a better nation doesn’t end here. Time will come our fellowmen will no longer leave us behind just to work overseas. This vision might seem very difficult to achieve, but with determination and trust in divine providence, not impossible