Habang nasa dyip kasama ang ilang kaibigan, napag-usapan ang isang magandang babae sa LRT na naka-spaghetti straps, at confident sa pagpapakita ng kanyang ma-kremang kili-kili dahil sa mainit na panahon at sa bagong lagay na deodorant.
Nauwi ang tawanan sa isang linguistic activity. Isa na namang serendipitous experience.
Na-curious tuloy kami sa mga salitang nauulit.
Nag-isip kami ng mga halimbawa--may gitling o wala.
kili-kili bukong-bukong mga balbal na katawagang pang-katawan (pribado)
tuktok siksik bilbil
liblib kuko (pwede na rin) dibdib
pokpok hithit ting-ting
Well, sinubukan naming mag-analyze. Siguro, safe kung sasabihin na ang mga salitang nauulit ay kargado ng positibo o negatibong pagpapakahulugan. At dahil nauulit nga, mas mabigat ang kahulugan nila kumpara sa ibang mga anyo ng salita. Mas may emphasis o diin kasi pag nauulit ang isang pantig o salita mismo.
Karamihan ng mga salitang balbal na terminong pang-katawan ay kargado ng mga negatibong pagpapakahulugan. Halimbawa na lamang ang kili-kili--na laging kadikit ang mga terminong putok, anghit, black underarms at maitim. Mga negatibong bagay ang naiisip natin kung nababanggit ang kili-kili.
Isa pang halimbawa ay ang bilbil. Tinuturing ng marami na makasalanang taba ang bilbil. Negatibo na naman. Kaya nga nauso ang mga negosyo nina Dra. Belo at ni Mr. Calayan.
Idagdag pa natin ang mga katawagang balbal sa mga pribadong bahagi ng tao. Isang taboo pa din ang paggamit sa kanila sa pang-araw-araw na pakikipagtalastasan.
Hanggang dito na lang muna. 'Pwede ka ring magbahagi ng iyong mga halimbawa, hypothesis at mga interpretasyon.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Si Mukhtaran Bibi at ang mga Munting Tinig
Kasalukuyan kong binabasa ang librong In the Name of Honor na ibinigay ng isang dating guro. Required reading daw to sa EDLR 101, nakalimutan ko na kung ano'ng course description, basta tungkol sa development of language and reading ang kursong 'yon. Naintriga ako. No'ng panahon naman namin, not a very distang past pa naman, ay di kami ni-require na magbasa ng kung anong nobela.
Tungkol ito kay Mukhtaran Bibi, isang Pakistani na ginahasa ng mga kalalakihan mula sa isang tribo ng mas mataas na caste bilang paraan ng pagbabalik-dangal sa kanilang "nasirang" karangalan. Biktima si Mukhtaran Bibi ng balikong tradisyon sa lugar nila kung saan oppressed ang mga kababaihan. Natutunan ko sa librong 'to kung gaano kalala ang sitwasyon sa mga lugar kung saan 'di pantay ang trato sa mga kababaihan at kung ano'ng maaaring mangyari (to the extreme level) sa mga tao, especially sa mga kababaihan, na hindi naturuang bumasa't sumulat--basic skills para tawaging literate ang isang tao.
To cut it short, sa halip na magpakamatay si Mukhtaran at mag-dwell sa kahindik-hindik na nakaraan, naisawalat niya sa mundo ang kanyang karanasan. Salamat sa midya, sa mga NGO at mga women's right activist. Exciting 'yong part na unti-unti niyang inaabot ang HUSTISYA. (Hindi ko na i-dedetalye.) Sa huli, nakapagpatayo siya ng isang paaralan sa kanilang lugar (first school for the girls) sa pag-asang sa pagkatuto ng mga kabataang babae at lalaki, unti-unting mabubuksan ang nakapinid na pag-iisip ng kanyang mga kababayan ukol sa pagkakapantay-pantay at edukasyon.
Habang binabasa ko 'to, parang kidlat na bumabalik sa aking gunita ang mga eksena sa pelikulang Mga Munting Tinig na pinagbidahan ni Alessandra de Rossi. Katulad ng lugar kung saan nadestino si Alessandra, hindi din gano'n kalaki ang pagpapahalaga sa edukasyon ng mga magulang ng mga mag-aaral ni Mukhtaran. Pero kung drama at drama lang rin ang pag-uusapan, mas mapapaiyak ka sa karanasan ni Mukhtaran. Naging mitsa siya ng isang malaking women's right movement sa Pakistan at sa mundo. Isa siyang inspirasyon sa libo-libong kababaihan na inabuso/inaabuso ng isang lipunang nagpapauto sa mga baluktot na paniniwala.
Salamat kay Mukhtaran Bibi at sa marami pang mga munting tinig na bumubilong sa isip ng marami na huwag puro pansariling pakikibaka ang atupagin. Na p'wede rin namang tumulong kahit isa ka sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong.
Tungkol ito kay Mukhtaran Bibi, isang Pakistani na ginahasa ng mga kalalakihan mula sa isang tribo ng mas mataas na caste bilang paraan ng pagbabalik-dangal sa kanilang "nasirang" karangalan. Biktima si Mukhtaran Bibi ng balikong tradisyon sa lugar nila kung saan oppressed ang mga kababaihan. Natutunan ko sa librong 'to kung gaano kalala ang sitwasyon sa mga lugar kung saan 'di pantay ang trato sa mga kababaihan at kung ano'ng maaaring mangyari (to the extreme level) sa mga tao, especially sa mga kababaihan, na hindi naturuang bumasa't sumulat--basic skills para tawaging literate ang isang tao.
To cut it short, sa halip na magpakamatay si Mukhtaran at mag-dwell sa kahindik-hindik na nakaraan, naisawalat niya sa mundo ang kanyang karanasan. Salamat sa midya, sa mga NGO at mga women's right activist. Exciting 'yong part na unti-unti niyang inaabot ang HUSTISYA. (Hindi ko na i-dedetalye.) Sa huli, nakapagpatayo siya ng isang paaralan sa kanilang lugar (first school for the girls) sa pag-asang sa pagkatuto ng mga kabataang babae at lalaki, unti-unting mabubuksan ang nakapinid na pag-iisip ng kanyang mga kababayan ukol sa pagkakapantay-pantay at edukasyon.
Habang binabasa ko 'to, parang kidlat na bumabalik sa aking gunita ang mga eksena sa pelikulang Mga Munting Tinig na pinagbidahan ni Alessandra de Rossi. Katulad ng lugar kung saan nadestino si Alessandra, hindi din gano'n kalaki ang pagpapahalaga sa edukasyon ng mga magulang ng mga mag-aaral ni Mukhtaran. Pero kung drama at drama lang rin ang pag-uusapan, mas mapapaiyak ka sa karanasan ni Mukhtaran. Naging mitsa siya ng isang malaking women's right movement sa Pakistan at sa mundo. Isa siyang inspirasyon sa libo-libong kababaihan na inabuso/inaabuso ng isang lipunang nagpapauto sa mga baluktot na paniniwala.
Salamat kay Mukhtaran Bibi at sa marami pang mga munting tinig na bumubilong sa isip ng marami na huwag puro pansariling pakikibaka ang atupagin. Na p'wede rin namang tumulong kahit isa ka sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
On Bourgeoisie and Selfishness
I had a memorable conversation with a former professor about career, life and other people last Tuesday.
It was the afternoon when she asked me to come over and put some order on her piles/tons of children's books. (She has more children's books than our college library's Childre's Book Section.) Good thing another former student assistant of her came by and helped me.
At five, we called it a day of tiresome sorting, shelving and sorting again (I had to devise a system). Of course, it wasn't for free (haha), 'though I would still have done it without getting anything in return. Teacher gave me her copy of
(an earlier edition of this one)
which I think every Reading teacher/major should have.
Then we headed to in
Katipunan for their first Super Panalo meals. They (Teacher and ex-co-SA) didn't know that that promo exists. There was something in the carbonara spaghetti and caesar salad that made me more comfortable chit-chatting with them. Way back then, I was this reserved, tight-lipped guy who'd seldom enter into any kind of banter. Some call it insecurity. Others label it as politeness.
But that afternoon, I was a certified FC. Feeling close.
I heard my self talk, not just listen. I listen to their personal accounts on teaching, career and life.
Since I know that they are so incline to children's lit,just as i am, I asked them if they've read
. I was expecting for a vigorous YES to be followed by a series of exchanges about the book's elements. But to no avail.
My teacher, who I look up to in terms of oozing passion for children's lit, mentioned the word BURGIS in her explanation. She doesn't want to go with the flow. The bandwagon failed. I got her point.
I have a very limited mind map of the word BURGIS. I almost equate it to selfishness. Then that afternoon I was pointed back to my
Oo nga naman. Unti-unti nang nadodomina ng mga foreign writers ang Reading list ko.
"Nabasa nga nila ang Hunger Games, e' ang
, nabasa na ba nila?", she quipped.
Then a sudden realization dawned on me.
Gosh, for the past two years how many times have I worn my volunteer's hat? How many stories have I read to less fortunate kababayan? How many locally-published books have I bought? How many times have I ignored the laments of
Then, they started suggesting ways on how to lessen the BURGIS in me; how to reach out to our kapwa-Pilipino. Then we sounded too idealistic.
Oh well, better have some ideals than have nothing at all.
It was the afternoon when she asked me to come over and put some order on her piles/tons of children's books. (She has more children's books than our college library's Childre's Book Section.) Good thing another former student assistant of her came by and helped me.
At five, we called it a day of tiresome sorting, shelving and sorting again (I had to devise a system). Of course, it wasn't for free (haha), 'though I would still have done it without getting anything in return. Teacher gave me her copy of
(an earlier edition of this one)
which I think every Reading teacher/major should have.
Then we headed to in
Katipunan for their first Super Panalo meals. They (Teacher and ex-co-SA) didn't know that that promo exists. There was something in the carbonara spaghetti and caesar salad that made me more comfortable chit-chatting with them. Way back then, I was this reserved, tight-lipped guy who'd seldom enter into any kind of banter. Some call it insecurity. Others label it as politeness.
But that afternoon, I was a certified FC. Feeling close.
I heard my self talk, not just listen. I listen to their personal accounts on teaching, career and life.
Since I know that they are so incline to children's lit,just as i am, I asked them if they've read
. I was expecting for a vigorous YES to be followed by a series of exchanges about the book's elements. But to no avail.
My teacher, who I look up to in terms of oozing passion for children's lit, mentioned the word BURGIS in her explanation. She doesn't want to go with the flow. The bandwagon failed. I got her point.
I have a very limited mind map of the word BURGIS. I almost equate it to selfishness. Then that afternoon I was pointed back to my
Oo nga naman. Unti-unti nang nadodomina ng mga foreign writers ang Reading list ko.
"Nabasa nga nila ang Hunger Games, e' ang
, nabasa na ba nila?", she quipped.
Then a sudden realization dawned on me.
Gosh, for the past two years how many times have I worn my volunteer's hat? How many stories have I read to less fortunate kababayan? How many locally-published books have I bought? How many times have I ignored the laments of
Then, they started suggesting ways on how to lessen the BURGIS in me; how to reach out to our kapwa-Pilipino. Then we sounded too idealistic.
Oh well, better have some ideals than have nothing at all.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
SCBWI-CCP Conference
Hear ye! Hear ye! All Children's book authors, illustrators, librarians, children's literature advocates, educators, readers, publishers,fans, professional stalkers of published authors and/or illustrators, budding writers and illustrators! Your attendance in the event below is required by the request of this blogger.
To those published authors and/or illustrators,please inform me beforehand if you can come, so I know which books I need to bring/buy. Hooray! See you there!
For more info about the conference, do visit this site.
To those published authors and/or illustrators,please inform me beforehand if you can come, so I know which books I need to bring/buy. Hooray! See you there!
For more info about the conference, do visit this site.
Monday, April 25, 2011
What Weh Means
Tatay na ako. Technically, ako na ang kuya/tatay / guardian / (insert default roles) ng isang 21-year old bachelor, 15-year old na dalagita at ng 2-year old naming si Rokia na nagluluksa pa rin yata sa pagkamatay ng dalawa niyang tuta.
Hindi naman bago sa akin ang ideya ng pagiging parent. Sa dalawang taon ng pagiging class adviser ng mga fourth graders, makailang ulit na rin akong tinawag na second parent, uncle, Daddy, Lolo( dahil sa patse ng puting buhok) at kung minsan Kuya ( na tawag nila sa mga janitorial staff). So I guess that's God's way of preparing me for this more arduous task.
At nasa'n ang tatay at nanay namin?
Nasa Misamis Oriental na sila kasama ang bunso namin. Sa isang liblib na baryo sa Barangay Cabalawan kung saan may 8,987 na nagtatayugang puno ng niyog, 740 ektaryang taniman ng mais, mani, talong,okra at 5,053 na alagaing manok,baboy, baka,kambing,kabayo at sigben. In short, nasa totoong Farmville sila. At kagaya ng Farmville, fictional lang ang mga numbers na sinabi ko.
Pero ang fact! Sanay na akong ma[hi]walay (Uy! Pagbabagong morpoponemiko) sa mga mahal sa buhay. Two years din akong nag-dorm/dumorm sa Narra Residence Hall--the only all-male dormitory in UP Diliman. Sige na i-qualify natin. Narra--the only all-biologically-male dorm in UPD. Fact, may Gumamela wing sa Narra in contrast to the wing Selda Tres. Pero, every weekend naman umuuwi ako sa aking San Jose del Monte, mahal kong bayan, 'di kailanman kita malilimutan primarily para mag-uwi ng labada at makasama ang pamilya ko.
Ngayon, kami na ang sagot sa labada namin. Pero in reality, ang dalagita namin ang magiging head laundry girl. Mapapraktis na namin ang lahat ng naituro sa amin ng mga titser, mga kaibigan at ng mga magulang. Ito na ang reality show na huhubog sa amin upang mas maging matatag, mas madiskarte at mas nagtitiwala sa Panginoon. It's a big leap of faith for our parents to leave us behind. (Pero sa US nga 'di ba, 18 years old pa lang, tini-train na to be independent. At ang mga witch sa Japan, like Kiki, pagtungtong ng trese kailangang umalis for a year at i-train ang sarili somewhere.)
It's a great responsibility. And it's also a proof that they trust and believe in us. That we have the power to be responsible individuals. So, with great power comes great responsibility. Wala na akong maisip e.
Anyway, sabi ng Nanay ko bago siya umalis--magpakabait daw ako. Pressure. Ang nasabi ko lang,
"Weh?"
Ang bait ko 'di ba?
But seriously, "weh" means Yes, I'll be a good brother, father, guardian rolled into one. May mga hang-ups pa din pero I promise that I won't let them down. Magsisimba na rin ako at sasali sa Praise and Worship team para 'di kunin ni Lord ang aking talent for hmmmm...singing. Ipa-practice ko rin ang authority vested upon me para mag-advise sa mga magpapasaway na kapatid o aso. "Weh" also means, Oo, ayaw mo kabalaka magpada ko ug kwarta para sa atong gipanday na balay ( don't worry, I'll be sending you some money for our house construction).
Weh = taking turns in doing the dishes and laundry + feeding the dog (and the neighbour's dogs); preparing meals--half-cooked, cooked, overcooked -laziness and the dreaded "mamaya na" habit.
The coolest of all wehs is this. I'll be blogging about our whereabouts every once in a while. Parang report lang.
And lastly, "weh" means Yes, we will miss you ,kahit luluwas kayo sa kabihasnan twice a month para mag-ym o FB chat tayo, and "weh" sana December na para magpa-Pasko tayo diyan sa Cabalawan.
P.S.
Ate and David, i-enjoy n'yo ang Washington.
Mama, Papa and Aaron, iligo n'yo kami sa Cabalawan River.
Jez at Apple, ano na?
Rokia, bantayan mo ang bahay.
Jerson,magpakabait ka. I-enjoy ang single life at ang multiple labels.
P.S. 2
Lord, take over.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Joy of Power-reading
I've never read or heard of the term power-reading
Di ko naman talaga alam ang legalities ng pag-ko-coin ng word.
Power-reading. I got the idea from it's relative power-tripping which means a self-aggrandizing action undertaken simply for the pleasure of exercising control over other people.
What I mean by power-reading (hyphenated ah), is simply the act of reading way beyond
a. the no. of pages that you read in a day, say double or triple or n times the no. of pages that you usually peruse.
b. the usual no. of words you read per minute. When I'm not power-reading, I utter every word as if the character has possessed me. The emotions. The accent. The oozing passion. But when I power-read, I read with my eyes, sometimes mumbling the words as if I'm cursing someone under my breath. Pero dapat f na f (feel na feel) pa rin ang bawat eksena sa kwento.
You are power-reading if you have experienced any of the following:
a. you skip meal/s once, twice because you're so engrossed with the book/character/plot/idea of reading
b. you deprive yourself of sleep (who cares if the story is worth the nausea the next day, yung tipong 2-3 hours lang ang tulog mo :)
c.related to point B: you sleep with the author beside you. I mean the author of the book you are reading. and you brag about it in your fb status. and you even call it one-night stand with __________. regardless of the gender of the author. Wag nang magdeny.
d. you crave for more of the story/author's other stories once the last chapter is over.
When do people power-read?
a. When they have very limited time for pleasure reading. Restricted by the amount of time spent in the office. Kahit nasa bus/jeep/fx ay nagbabasa. Dim light or broad day light.
b. when they need to return the book to their friend. when the overdue penalty is beyond a hundred bucks.
c when they really, really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really,really like the story. At egzoited na for the climax or the resolution.
Who should power-read?
You.
So get up, pick a book, read and live.
Happy power-reading!
P.S. This post is inspired by The Hunger Games trilogy and Bette Bao Lord's In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson. Both are present power-reading subjects.
Friday, April 8, 2011
The Luneta Experience
The Luneta Experience
April 7, 2011
I was on my way to Bayview Park Hotel for the Reading Association of the Philippines (RAP)'s annual convention. The venue happens to be adjacent to our very own Rizal Park (formerly called Bagumbayan), so it was an opportune time to revisit this historical landmark.
The pictures are the concrete evidence of my inclination to (photography, haha!) our Filipino heritage. (I think we should all have that inclination.)
Read this.
A couple in their 50s dating by the bay.
The grand fountain show in the morning.
JRC and JPR.
The park is a blend of beauty, history and (grim)social reality. There were lots of homeless kababayan all over the place. Maybe there are pimps (sorry for the language) who are in the look out for possible customers. Beggars of all ages plague the place.
What does this say about us? What will the foreigners who frequent this place tell about our tourism bureau? Are we giving them a good impression of our country?
I'm not saying that we put on a mask and pretend that everything in our country is fine. What do you think can we do about this?
April 7, 2011
I was on my way to Bayview Park Hotel for the Reading Association of the Philippines (RAP)'s annual convention. The venue happens to be adjacent to our very own Rizal Park (formerly called Bagumbayan), so it was an opportune time to revisit this historical landmark.
The pictures are the concrete evidence of my inclination to (photography, haha!) our Filipino heritage. (I think we should all have that inclination.)
The park is a blend of beauty, history and (grim)social reality. There were lots of homeless kababayan all over the place. Maybe there are pimps (sorry for the language) who are in the look out for possible customers. Beggars of all ages plague the place.
What does this say about us? What will the foreigners who frequent this place tell about our tourism bureau? Are we giving them a good impression of our country?
I'm not saying that we put on a mask and pretend that everything in our country is fine. What do you think can we do about this?
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