I love to reiterate cliches and allow me to site this famous speech from John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country."
Our country the Philippines has been blessed by the freedom of speech fruit of our democratic way of life. However these days had been routinely in doubt if these gift would bring us up or drag us down. It caught my attention tonight while watching the news about a student from the University of the Philippines so called "iskolar ng bayan" (national scholar) shouting and disrupting the formality of the ceremony. Students from this institution has always been infamous for this act, fearless to fight for rights and freedom. This fearlessness that I adore so much however sometimes this fearlessness had been too much a nagger, irritating, and just ricocheting the ill effect instead of rectification.
I had been part of this elite university once in my life but I can attest not all professors and students in the University of the Philippines agree to what these loud students been fighting in an ill mannered way. The national hero Jose Rizal regarded the youth as the hope of the motherland, years had passed and all those youth had become adults and yet we still continue to hope and rear again new youths for new hopes in a cycle. How long shall we hope and why are we still the same? Why is it the Philippines still part of the third world? Because we ourselves do not know how to start fixing ourselves. What do you think you can do to become a good citizen? Honor yourself and establish integrity. Know how to respect yourself. If you want to send a message to authorities, deliver it in a way your education had brought you up. All students from the University of the Philippines had their tuition fees paid by the government. Even some students would say they pay in full is a big lie because that full tuition they are paying is not even the equivalent full tuition paid by students in private universities.
If we still continue to inculcate in our mind that leaders of these country are not worth at all, so who will? Why don't we just find ways to the solution instead of becoming an add on burden from being a social nagger. It's good to be a watch dog, becoming vigilant, and to notice things which we think is wrong. However not that much that we forgot to respect ourselves and not to the point that we ourselves do not know how to compromise that we have roles and responsibility for the betterment of this country. Not that much that we do not attend our classes just to join the rally on the streets. Not that much that we are already disrupting the traffic bothering other people of their businesses. Not that much that we are destroying public properties by putting up graffiti of protests and burning school facilities. Not to the point that you are climbing the mountains to join the communists just because you are dissatisfied how the country is being run. Try to fix yourself, try to think how you will make the Philippines better in optimism. Just try and surely you will realize that somehow you also missed something to nag yourself.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Filipino the way I am
I consider myself as Filipino, a full blooded Filipino with hispanic tradition and influence and some oriental background. I am not saying I have a Spanish blood or whatsoever feature, because I don't see that in myself. My great grandparents are mestizos (Spanish looking) and would speak fluently and pray in Castilian, but it all wiped out from generations. Some of my relatives still have the feature but I don't see any hispanic feature in me if I compare myself to the full blooded Iberian or Filipino mestizo, none at all, nada!
But Regardless of blood, undeniably. The fact that we are using Spanish words everyday though not a complete sentence, practice the hispanic way of adoring God, hispanic way of preparing food and table, hispanic attitude and manners (e.g. delecadeza y palabra de honor), spanish family names, streets, towns and cities etc... All these things are not from Zimbabwe nor from Iraq but from Spain. Which means deny it or not, latinity is within our realms.
There are still Filipinos who were born at the wrong place and time nowadays, these people still condemns the existence of Spanish culture and would smash you down of their rhetoric antics. Claiming Spain is an oppressor until today. You can't blame them. If by chance they would see a Spanish Armada on Manila Bay today, they'll surely look for their "bolos"(knife) and shout "sulong"(attack)! These are the people when in history class felt the emotion and got fixated to the events and lost their orientation to the present and future.
We cannot change history, we cannot deny those oppression, but we must also cultivate the good things that those foreign countries gave us. We are Filipinos, and the way we are today is the way of our past. It is our rights to reminisce or ignore but we can't change nor twist history.
But Regardless of blood, undeniably. The fact that we are using Spanish words everyday though not a complete sentence, practice the hispanic way of adoring God, hispanic way of preparing food and table, hispanic attitude and manners (e.g. delecadeza y palabra de honor), spanish family names, streets, towns and cities etc... All these things are not from Zimbabwe nor from Iraq but from Spain. Which means deny it or not, latinity is within our realms.
There are still Filipinos who were born at the wrong place and time nowadays, these people still condemns the existence of Spanish culture and would smash you down of their rhetoric antics. Claiming Spain is an oppressor until today. You can't blame them. If by chance they would see a Spanish Armada on Manila Bay today, they'll surely look for their "bolos"(knife) and shout "sulong"(attack)! These are the people when in history class felt the emotion and got fixated to the events and lost their orientation to the present and future.
We cannot change history, we cannot deny those oppression, but we must also cultivate the good things that those foreign countries gave us. We are Filipinos, and the way we are today is the way of our past. It is our rights to reminisce or ignore but we can't change nor twist history.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The Rainy June of 2009
At around 4:00 pm in the afternoon today I ended my work receiving to an irate customer with foul mouth full of usual profanities. Disputing of is his service despite explanation that he hadn't paid yet. He hang up on me and in split seconds another call pop up and another customer complaining and shouting that her sidekick is not getting a signal. So difficult to adjust your emotion from one call to another.
I went out the building, the clouds are getting thicker and about to pour any moment. As soon as I alarmed my car to open, rain started to fall. I run to my car, switched it on and waited for few minutes before maneuvering out the parking area. I turned on the radio to listen at FM music, lightnings and thunders reign the dark sky. Cars fog lights turned on. The whole city of Iloilo got the strongest shower after summer this year though no forecast of storm.
Like a rain, humans tends to pour their emotions spontaneously without warning. You can just be struck by a lightning and shaken by a thunder. I pulled over and let the heavy rain subside. If I could have continued driving despite the condition I might get a higher chance of getting an accident. If a person is so mad and would never stop yelling, never answer back or explain rather stay calm and be quiet. He'll get his silence after he pours all out his emotions.
I went out the building, the clouds are getting thicker and about to pour any moment. As soon as I alarmed my car to open, rain started to fall. I run to my car, switched it on and waited for few minutes before maneuvering out the parking area. I turned on the radio to listen at FM music, lightnings and thunders reign the dark sky. Cars fog lights turned on. The whole city of Iloilo got the strongest shower after summer this year though no forecast of storm.
Like a rain, humans tends to pour their emotions spontaneously without warning. You can just be struck by a lightning and shaken by a thunder. I pulled over and let the heavy rain subside. If I could have continued driving despite the condition I might get a higher chance of getting an accident. If a person is so mad and would never stop yelling, never answer back or explain rather stay calm and be quiet. He'll get his silence after he pours all out his emotions.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
The Dawn and Challenge
Today, there were people in my work place who were ask to leave the company not of economic recession but because of the standard the company is imposing. The standard is just and rightful prerogative of the company to achieved its goal and sustain growth and competence. It is so sad to admit that these people are nice and been like a good friends for quite some time.
I felt bad and hurt of had happened to them. Instead I should celebrate for passing the company's tests and examinations I feel more disappointed. I really felt sorry, that some of them are bread winners and had sacrifice a lot for the dreaded schedule and yet after few days they will be ask to leave.
Life is mean and bossy. We need to overcome its challenge to float over the sucking current. I mean we should keep pace to what life demands. If it's asking us to jump, jump! Discover your potential and get serious. Life isn't a joke after all.
For my good friends who lost their job today, never felt apathy and self pity. No one is dumber than the one who survives because of memorization. Intellectuals are always the victim of a formatted megabyte brain modern society. Intellectuals who can articulate and talk about life impromptu never given a chance of recognition but solely for those who can only live and gain success by low level intelligence.
The dawn of robotic memory has just begun. I'll never convert my brain into such fad. I'll survive by my initiative.
I felt bad and hurt of had happened to them. Instead I should celebrate for passing the company's tests and examinations I feel more disappointed. I really felt sorry, that some of them are bread winners and had sacrifice a lot for the dreaded schedule and yet after few days they will be ask to leave.
Life is mean and bossy. We need to overcome its challenge to float over the sucking current. I mean we should keep pace to what life demands. If it's asking us to jump, jump! Discover your potential and get serious. Life isn't a joke after all.
For my good friends who lost their job today, never felt apathy and self pity. No one is dumber than the one who survives because of memorization. Intellectuals are always the victim of a formatted megabyte brain modern society. Intellectuals who can articulate and talk about life impromptu never given a chance of recognition but solely for those who can only live and gain success by low level intelligence.
The dawn of robotic memory has just begun. I'll never convert my brain into such fad. I'll survive by my initiative.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Instant Mami
Instant Mami (Instant Noodles)
Have you ever felt so down in your life? That everything seems to be hopeless? Right now, I am in a total dilemma. I wanted to rectify myself from being lost. It’s early morning now 3:00 am Sunday night of January. I can’t close my eyes and dream the solutions for this inner conflicts. I went up from bed and write instead, re-channeling my confusions and despair into writings. My ego cannot manage enough so I queued in for the defense mechanism called displacement but this isn’t about madness.
After graduating in college in 2005, the real world after is so tough and challenging. Living in the Philippines is so hard for a newly graduate. Competitions and Connections are the two ways to get a job. Competition is common because it happens anywhere in the world. But Connections? Well, you can compete with your credentials but you’ll surely drag down over those who got godfather, uncles, cousins, or distant relatives in general. They were born lucky, and I use to call them “Instant Mami” (Instant Noodles). The dirty culture is a continuous process and it runs from generations. The Philippine laws are more precise to prohibit this dirty practices but the laws seems limited on government agencies (yet I doubt) and just a figures written in paper for private companies.
I was able to find a job in two companies consecutively right after I graduate. Maybe I am lucky enough to have it but I am proud to say I am not an “Instant Mami”. When I quit my job to process something very important for a future career in far away lands. The moment I wake up every morning, I felt the ambiance despair and disappointments when I see the statistics of unemployment rates of the country on TV. I came to realize that I am part of it. I quit because I need to prioritize something. What if I never had a job since graduation, or had a job but never had the tangency from my profession?
There are thousands of graduates every year. But the chance of finding a job is a shoot in a blue moon. Even applying to work abroad requires to have a longer experience. But how can you have that longer experience if you can’t have a job within your country? Luckily, with remedial blessing of this proliferating Call Centers and English tutorials for Koreans started mushrooming every cities. The government even brag this achievements on the Philippine televisions that they can provide jobs for Filipinos. Well, I say thank you so much because our Engineers, Nurses, Pharmacists etc. ended up receiving calls from the U.S. and some become an English Tutors to the Koreans. What kind of country do we have? When will this country provide proper jobs for the degree we earned? When will this country inspire the pupas that the time they explore the world, el dorados of nectars are waiting for them?
I am not an activist. Never in my life I shouted on street protesting against the government. I view life full of hope and understanding. I adhere to the principle that no society, government, or country perfect enough to please its citizenry. I am just a human being who can feel the disappointments in life though not necessarily mine. I am just an ordinary Filipino who noticed something is polluting and savaging each Filipinos' full potential.
Have you ever felt so down in your life? That everything seems to be hopeless? Right now, I am in a total dilemma. I wanted to rectify myself from being lost. It’s early morning now 3:00 am Sunday night of January. I can’t close my eyes and dream the solutions for this inner conflicts. I went up from bed and write instead, re-channeling my confusions and despair into writings. My ego cannot manage enough so I queued in for the defense mechanism called displacement but this isn’t about madness.
After graduating in college in 2005, the real world after is so tough and challenging. Living in the Philippines is so hard for a newly graduate. Competitions and Connections are the two ways to get a job. Competition is common because it happens anywhere in the world. But Connections? Well, you can compete with your credentials but you’ll surely drag down over those who got godfather, uncles, cousins, or distant relatives in general. They were born lucky, and I use to call them “Instant Mami” (Instant Noodles). The dirty culture is a continuous process and it runs from generations. The Philippine laws are more precise to prohibit this dirty practices but the laws seems limited on government agencies (yet I doubt) and just a figures written in paper for private companies.
I was able to find a job in two companies consecutively right after I graduate. Maybe I am lucky enough to have it but I am proud to say I am not an “Instant Mami”. When I quit my job to process something very important for a future career in far away lands. The moment I wake up every morning, I felt the ambiance despair and disappointments when I see the statistics of unemployment rates of the country on TV. I came to realize that I am part of it. I quit because I need to prioritize something. What if I never had a job since graduation, or had a job but never had the tangency from my profession?
There are thousands of graduates every year. But the chance of finding a job is a shoot in a blue moon. Even applying to work abroad requires to have a longer experience. But how can you have that longer experience if you can’t have a job within your country? Luckily, with remedial blessing of this proliferating Call Centers and English tutorials for Koreans started mushrooming every cities. The government even brag this achievements on the Philippine televisions that they can provide jobs for Filipinos. Well, I say thank you so much because our Engineers, Nurses, Pharmacists etc. ended up receiving calls from the U.S. and some become an English Tutors to the Koreans. What kind of country do we have? When will this country provide proper jobs for the degree we earned? When will this country inspire the pupas that the time they explore the world, el dorados of nectars are waiting for them?
I am not an activist. Never in my life I shouted on street protesting against the government. I view life full of hope and understanding. I adhere to the principle that no society, government, or country perfect enough to please its citizenry. I am just a human being who can feel the disappointments in life though not necessarily mine. I am just an ordinary Filipino who noticed something is polluting and savaging each Filipinos' full potential.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Filipinos' Little Spanish and More English
Today my mom started renovating her room and we hired a carpenter. The renovation was a call to the modern design of the interiors she saw on magazines and television. We were actually brainstorming and directing all the this and that. As I observe them working, I heard one shouting at his companion “Largo! Largo!” I was surprise and suspecting that it is a Spanish word. How come he was able to use it. I don’t even use that word in usual daily communication. I tried to think deeper the meaning of the word. I waited to the response of the second person. He brought in a long lumber. Then I think “Ahh maybe it means long” as we also called “Pantalon” (Pants) as delargo or de Largo (in proper context). That probably why we use commonly the word delargo to describe the long pants.
There are thousands of Spanish words in Filipino language. You cannot compose a Filipino sentence without a Spanish word on it, maybe not really be a sentence but surely in a paragraph. If you are a spanish speaker you might probably understand what I am trying to say on this Filipino Ilonggo sentence: “Gusto ko ang sapatos nga barato pero alta kalidad” which means “I like cheap shoes but with high quality.” In Spanish: “Me gustan los zapatos baratos pero de alta calidad” If you go to the market and buy something surely you will hear a lot Spanish numbers. If you are going to ask a prize they will answer you using Spanish numbers or English numbers. For example; “How much is the pork?” Possible answer you may hear: “ Cuarenta cada kilo” or they may also say “Forty per Kilo”, then if you ask someone about the time, they may answer you in Spanish or in English. Usually older Filipinos use the Spanish phrases, but if you ask a younger person they will surely use the English phrases.
What is also unique with Filipinos is our names. Usually our first names are in English but our family names are in Spanish. For example; Michael Perez, Christine Lopez, Peter de Leon. Our identity as Filipinos has been totally influence by the western culture. Our names are just a representation of the two foreign dominations, Spain in 1521 and the United States in 1899.
The Philippines (Filipinas) is named after King Philip II of Spain (Rey Filipe II de España), and it became a territory of the Viceroyalty of the New Spain which was governed from Mexico City until the early 19th century, when Mexico obtained independence. From the 1820's, the archipelago was ruled directly from Madrid, Spain. The Philippines for 333 years as Spanish province (Provincia del Mar) is not enough to become a total Spanish speakers like Mexico and the rest of Latin America. Well, it is also a good thing that we Filipinos was able to preserve our own native tongue with more than 170 native languages (dialects) all over the archipelago. Somehow, I am also disappointed that the gift of Latinity to the Filipinos by the Spaniards is continually lost in time.
Each region of islands in the Philippines has its own dialect. To be able to communicate with each other Spanish language was being used for three centuries. Spanish is the Philippines’ first national language. Before the American came, Philippines is almost Hispanized through an exchange culture between Spain through Mexico. With the decline of Spain's power over its colony is the time and rise in power of the United States. The Philippines made English as the co-official language. Eventually the Filipino in 1937 realized to seek its own identity. They Established Tagalog (a dialect spoken in Manila, the capital city) being called Filipino as the official language of the Philippines. From then on we got three major languages; Spanish, English, and Filipino. Not until the 1980's when Spanish was officially removed as part of the country's major language.
I am happy to think that until now there are still Spanish creoles left existing in some provinces of the Philippines. Such as in the province of Zamboanga where they speak almost or broken Spanish, being blamed to the Spaniards in history who did not teach the locals well.
The Philippines became a Christian nation because of Spain and having a Democratic government because of the United States of America. The Americans was the first to build public schools in the Philippines with English as medium of instruction. Until now, the Filipinos enjoy this gift as fluent English speakers in Asia and with half to extinct Latinity.
There are thousands of Spanish words in Filipino language. You cannot compose a Filipino sentence without a Spanish word on it, maybe not really be a sentence but surely in a paragraph. If you are a spanish speaker you might probably understand what I am trying to say on this Filipino Ilonggo sentence: “Gusto ko ang sapatos nga barato pero alta kalidad” which means “I like cheap shoes but with high quality.” In Spanish: “Me gustan los zapatos baratos pero de alta calidad” If you go to the market and buy something surely you will hear a lot Spanish numbers. If you are going to ask a prize they will answer you using Spanish numbers or English numbers. For example; “How much is the pork?” Possible answer you may hear: “ Cuarenta cada kilo” or they may also say “Forty per Kilo”, then if you ask someone about the time, they may answer you in Spanish or in English. Usually older Filipinos use the Spanish phrases, but if you ask a younger person they will surely use the English phrases.
What is also unique with Filipinos is our names. Usually our first names are in English but our family names are in Spanish. For example; Michael Perez, Christine Lopez, Peter de Leon. Our identity as Filipinos has been totally influence by the western culture. Our names are just a representation of the two foreign dominations, Spain in 1521 and the United States in 1899.
The Philippines (Filipinas) is named after King Philip II of Spain (Rey Filipe II de España), and it became a territory of the Viceroyalty of the New Spain which was governed from Mexico City until the early 19th century, when Mexico obtained independence. From the 1820's, the archipelago was ruled directly from Madrid, Spain. The Philippines for 333 years as Spanish province (Provincia del Mar) is not enough to become a total Spanish speakers like Mexico and the rest of Latin America. Well, it is also a good thing that we Filipinos was able to preserve our own native tongue with more than 170 native languages (dialects) all over the archipelago. Somehow, I am also disappointed that the gift of Latinity to the Filipinos by the Spaniards is continually lost in time.
Each region of islands in the Philippines has its own dialect. To be able to communicate with each other Spanish language was being used for three centuries. Spanish is the Philippines’ first national language. Before the American came, Philippines is almost Hispanized through an exchange culture between Spain through Mexico. With the decline of Spain's power over its colony is the time and rise in power of the United States. The Philippines made English as the co-official language. Eventually the Filipino in 1937 realized to seek its own identity. They Established Tagalog (a dialect spoken in Manila, the capital city) being called Filipino as the official language of the Philippines. From then on we got three major languages; Spanish, English, and Filipino. Not until the 1980's when Spanish was officially removed as part of the country's major language.
I am happy to think that until now there are still Spanish creoles left existing in some provinces of the Philippines. Such as in the province of Zamboanga where they speak almost or broken Spanish, being blamed to the Spaniards in history who did not teach the locals well.
The Philippines became a Christian nation because of Spain and having a Democratic government because of the United States of America. The Americans was the first to build public schools in the Philippines with English as medium of instruction. Until now, the Filipinos enjoy this gift as fluent English speakers in Asia and with half to extinct Latinity.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
My 2nd Anniversary as a United States Professional
Two years ago I went to Hong Kong to take the National Council Licensure Examination. Lying down my bed this morning mesmerizing the moment I walk around the Chinese soil full of hope to pass the State Board Examination of the United States of America. It seems only yesterday that I tried to lost myself in Queensroad completing my dinner with a hot pot.
Hong Kong is far advanced than Manila, as it is being called an international city. The young people speaks English well and with Chinese accent. The older people barely understand and speaks English. I am totally impressed of its modernity unparalleled to Manila or any Philippine cities. Call me a caveman but the thing that excites me is the scanning system for transportation. The Hong Kongers just placed their cards on the scanning machine when they ride the bus and the subway. Some would place the card on the bottom of their bags and just try to put the whole bag over the scanning machine, or inside the wallet and putting the whole wallet on top of the scanner. I sound so naive and funny writing this things. One thing I hope from this and that is a hope for a modern Philippines. We only have a swipe system for our metro, and we only have few lines. I heard that the Philippine government is planning to add and extend more metro lines. I wish the budget will really be on the project and not on the politicians' pockets.
I feel sad, really sad, when my dad opened my room this morning asking me to drive him to the city to get his plane ticket because he is going back to United States for his work. When will I get my own plane ticket for the U.S. and start working as a professional? I renewed my American license already but I am still here in the exotic islands of the Philippines. When will I start staring at the skyscrapers? I hope next year I will write on my blog my third anniversary wearing thick clothes preparing for the upcoming winter in New York City.
Sigh! I am so disappointed but hopeful.
Hong Kong is far advanced than Manila, as it is being called an international city. The young people speaks English well and with Chinese accent. The older people barely understand and speaks English. I am totally impressed of its modernity unparalleled to Manila or any Philippine cities. Call me a caveman but the thing that excites me is the scanning system for transportation. The Hong Kongers just placed their cards on the scanning machine when they ride the bus and the subway. Some would place the card on the bottom of their bags and just try to put the whole bag over the scanning machine, or inside the wallet and putting the whole wallet on top of the scanner. I sound so naive and funny writing this things. One thing I hope from this and that is a hope for a modern Philippines. We only have a swipe system for our metro, and we only have few lines. I heard that the Philippine government is planning to add and extend more metro lines. I wish the budget will really be on the project and not on the politicians' pockets.
I feel sad, really sad, when my dad opened my room this morning asking me to drive him to the city to get his plane ticket because he is going back to United States for his work. When will I get my own plane ticket for the U.S. and start working as a professional? I renewed my American license already but I am still here in the exotic islands of the Philippines. When will I start staring at the skyscrapers? I hope next year I will write on my blog my third anniversary wearing thick clothes preparing for the upcoming winter in New York City.
Sigh! I am so disappointed but hopeful.
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