Arayat: Ang Unang Aray

"Ang haraya ay ang pagliliwaliw ng isip, samantalang ang harayat ay ang pagliliwaliw sa BundokArayat."

Sa wakas ay natupad na ang pangarap kong umakyat ng bundok bilang isang lakwatsero. 

Ako sa una kong akyat.

Mapalad ako at Arayat ang unang bundok na naitala ko sa aking kasaysayan. Punung-puno ng mga 'di malilimutang karanasan at tanawin ang inuwi ko pagkababa ng Arayat.

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Madaling araw ng Linggo nang umalis kami sa isang bus terminal sa EDSA-Cubao. Bilang sabik ako sa unang akyat, alas-dos pa lang ay nasa terminal na ako kahit alas-kwatro na kami umalis. (Php 102.00 ang pamasahe hanggang SM Pampanga.) Kahit mabilis ang biyahe, ay marami kaming napagkwentuhan ni Ninang Mars mula sa mga tsismis na bumabalot sa panitikang pambata hanggang sa planong pag-i-storytelling sa bundok.

Pre-climb
(photo courtesy of Sir Bogart Toledo)

Pagkababa ng SM, dapat ay sumakay ng dyip papuntang Magalang (Php 35.00) at mula sa bayan ay sumakay ng traysikel papuntang jump-off sa Barangay Ayala (Php 70/100.00 kada traysikel) . Pero dahil bihira pa ang dumaraang dyip, napagdesisyunan namin na patusin na ang alok na ihatid kami ng van sa jump-off mismo. Medyo napamahal nga lang kami (Php. 140.00). Pero,sulit naman ang ibinayad sa tulin at lamig ng van. Nabawasan na rin nang ilang kilometro ang paglalakad mula Barangay Hall papuntang paanan ng bundok. (Aral: Magdala ng ekstrang pera.)

Mahaba-habang lakaran din ang Arayat. Inabot kami ng humigit-kumulang na 13 oras. Nagsimula kami ng bandang 7:15 ng umaga, at nakababa (na)ng 9:30 ng gabi. Bakit ang tagal? Bakit nga ba?

1.       Kailangang sulitin ang libreng malinis na hangin.

2.       Hindi p'wedeng palagpasin ang magagandang tanawin.  Dapat laging handa ang kamera.

3.       Masarap magpiknik at magsiyesta sa North peak.

4.       Sadyang mahirap akyatin/gapangin/babain ang matatarik, masasalimuot at madudulas na daan.

5.       Kailangang maghintayan at magtulungan. Kung di mo 'to kayang gawin, mag-solo climb ka na lang.

May mga Stations of the Cross na madadaanan
sa mga unang kilometro.

Ang kapatagan ng Pampanga

Hindi mailap ang ilang mga paru-paro sa tuktok .

Siya rin ba 'to?

Ang mala-Amazon River na Ilog ng Pampanga.

Bilang baguhan, marami akong natutunan tungkol sa mountaineering.

1.       Ang mga terminong  push, proceed, traverse, assault, take five, trail running, day hike, junction, sweeper, waterproofing, social at headlamp.

2.       Ang mga pangalan ng mga bundok sa Pilipinas. Ang mga naaalala ko mula sa mga kwentuhan nila ay Arayat, Manalmon, Balagbag, Pulag, Batulao, Makiling, Pico de Loro at Cristobal.

3.       Natuto akong magbasa ng trail signs. Hanapin lamang ang magkakapatong na tatlong bato o 'di kaya naman ang mga laso sa mga puno na p'wedeng wrapper ng tsitsirya, masking tape o totoong laso. Kapag nasa sangandaan (junction),   piliin ang mas malinis na daan.

4.       Magsuot ng leggings o damit na may mahabang sleeves.

5.       Ma'am at Sir ang tawagan ng mga mountaineers sa isa't isa.

Pinakamahirap na bahagi ng Akyat-Arayat: North-South Peak trail. Ang rappelling sa 90 degrees na bato nang walang gamit na lubid.

(photo courtesy of Sir Bogart Toledo)

Paboritong ulam ng karamihan (kasama na ang aso sa North peak): manok

Pinakanakaka-panic na pagkakataon: Nang biglang bumuhos ang ulan at pababa pa lang kami

Pinakabuwis-buhay na kuha: Ang jumpshot sa ibabaw ng bato kahit bangin na ang nasa likod nito.

(photo courtesy of Sir Ivan)

Good Samaritan Awardee: Si Ate Marlyn at ang kanyang pamilya (mga kasapi ng Back to Christ Foundation) na nagpatuloy sa amin sa compound nila.  Pinaligo kami at nag-alok na ihatid kami ng trak nila pabalik ng bayan ng Arayat.

Php 10.00 ang bayad sa pagligo.

Php 60.00 ang pamasahe sa trak.

Back to Christ compound

Earth Saver Awardee: Si Ma'am Jay na kinarir ang pamumulot ng mga botelya at plastic wrappers. Nakaka-inspire kaya tumulong na rin ako paminsan-minsan.

Isang bagsak para kay Ma'am Jay!
(photo courtesy of Mars Mercado)

Light Packer Awardee: Si Sir Ivan, ang batang lakwatsero. Kumusta naman ang body bag na dala at ang mapaghimalang kalo?

Feeding Program Specialist: Si Ma'am/ Ninang Mars na walang sawang namimigay ng mga kung anu-ano mula sa bitbit niyang sari-sari store. Runner-up si Ma'am Rax.

Official Photographer: Si Sir Migs at ang kanyang de-lenteng kamera.

Pinakamakwento at pinakamabirong Mountaineer(s): Si Sir Nino at Sir Bogart. Biruang walang pikunan.

Pinakabatang Mountaineer: Si Sir Christian at ang kanyang mga tattoo sa magkabilang braso.

Pinakadyaheng sandali: Ang putik na walang sawang kumakapit at nagpapabigat sa sapatos.

Pinakanakakakabang pagkakataon: Ang night trek na sinabayanng mga nakakabahalang mga ingay ng kalikasan.

Dapat walang takot sa dilim.

Pinakanakakainis na parte ng bundok: Ang mga basura at mga bakas ng mga vandals sa mga bato

Pinakamabagal na sandali:  'yong sandaling kita mo na ang mga ilaw sa kabayanan at dinig mo na ang mga sasakyan, pero wala ka pa ring makitang kalsada.

Pinakabanyagang nakasalubong: Ang mga Pranses na naka-shorts at spaghetti straps

(photo courtesy of Maam/Ninang Mars (in pink))

Sa kabuuan, hindi ako binigo ng Akyat-Arayat. Tinumbasan ng bundok na ito ang kasabikan ko para sa mga bagay na kakaiba. Hinigitan pa nga. Kinabukasan, kahit na nahuli sa trabaho at masakit ang mga kasu-kasuan, wala ni isang sandali na pinagsisihan ko ang pagpasok sa ganitong tunguhin sa buhay. Kahit ang pagsalampak sa gitna ng Victory Liner.

Para sa mga nangangarap na umakyat rin sa unang pagkakataon, ang unang hakbang ay ang pagkakaroon ng mga kaibigan/kakilala na mahilig rin dito.

Salamat Ninang Mars sa pagsama sa akin at sa paghahanap ng mga mababait na freelance mountaineers na nakasabay natin.

(photo courtesy of Sir Migs Siena)

Ikalawang hakbang ay ang paghahanda ng sarili. Itsek ang badyet ng pag-akyat. Itsek ang kalusugan. Itsek ang mga gamit na kakailanganin.

At ang huli, alamin ang lugar na pupuntahan. Alamin ang mga suggested itinerary. Magbasa ng mga blog comments ng mga nauna na. Matuto sa karanasan ng iba.

Hayan! Handa ka na!

(photo courtsey of Sir Bogart)

Sosyal Climbing for Beginners

Kamakailan lamang ay umakyat ako ng bundok sa unang pagkakataon bilang isang enthusiast. (Hindi muna mountaineer.) Naimbita lamang ako ng isang kaibigang matagal-tagal na ring "namumundok". (Salamat Ninang Mars).

Bago pa man ang araw ng pag-akyat ay naalala ko ang isang variation ng It's More Fun in thePhilippines meme.

Malalim kung susuriin ang pakahulugan sa akin ng larawan sa itaas, kaya daanin na lang natin sa isang pagsusulit.

  I.            Panuto: Bilugan ang titik ng tamang sagot.

(1) Bakit nagiging status symbol ng mga burgis ang mountaineering?

A.      Dahil siguro mahal ang mga trekking equipment.

B.      Dahil mas cool umakyat ng bundok kaysa magpapawis sa gym.

C.      Dahil mas astig ang Facebook  profile pic at cover photo kung panoramic ang view.

D.      Lahat ng nabanggit.

(2) Bakit kailangang Ingles ang gamiting wika sa karamihan ng mga travel blogs?

A.      Dahil mas maraming mayamang Inglesero ang interesado sa mountaineering.

B.      Dahil mas maaabot mo ang mga turistang banyaga.

C.      Dahil hindi gano'n kasosyal kung Filipino ang medium.

D.      Wala sa nabanggit.

Mainam rin na paminsan-minsan ay nagiging cynical at kritikal tayo sa mga bagay-bagay na pinapasok natin.   Nararapat na usisain, isa-isahin at linawin sa sarili ang mga dahilan kung bakit natin ginagawa ang isang bagay. Hindi mo maaaring i-label ang isang tao nang hindi mo sinusuri ang mga intensyon niya.

II.            Panuto: Sagutin ang mga sumusunod na katanungan nang walang pag-iimbot at nang  buong katapatan. Isulat ang kasagutan sa ayos ng talata na may limang pangungusap. Huwag kalimutang banggitin ang social philosophy na swak sa tanong.

(3) Social climber ka ba? Bakit /hindi? Kailan pa?

(4) Magbigay ng limang telltale signs na nagiging social climber na ang isang tao at balikan ang ikatlong tanong. Nagi-guilty ka na ba?

(5) Ano ang pinagkaiba ng sosyal na mahirap at sosyal na mayaman? Meron nga ba?

Kapag sinabi bang social climber, heto ba agad ang depinisyon:

social (mountain) climber

(plural so·cial climb·ers)

noun

somebody seeking social advancement: somebody who tries to rise in status by associating with people of a higher social class (disapproving)

Microsoft® Encarta® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Hindi ba p'wedeng,

A.    Mas mahal lang si Inang Kalikasan kaysa kay pusong-bato na mall?

B.    Ini-internalize lang ang Back to Nature peg ni Ralph Waldo Emerson?

C.    Pinapalakas lang si puso at mga daluyan ng dugo?

D.   Gusto lang pulutin ang mga basura ng mga naunang umakyat?

E.    At iba pang palusot.

Bonus question: Kung magiging bundok ka, alin at bakit?

So What's New?

Tihee! I'm back. But that doesn't mean that my self-imposed writing hiatus is over.

There are just so many things that happened in the past weeks. The bottled up experiences can't be held back anymore. School. Work. Social life. So here you go with the unnecessary updates.

March 

The school year ended with a bang! I just survived the most challenging school year. The managerial (Is that what you call it?) posts really made me go the extra mile as a teacher. I've told my previous level coordinator that being a plain subject teacher/class adviser is what I really dreamt of so I wanted it that way for the rest of my career. (Yeah, I sounded so mediocre.) But with the turn of events, I was promoted as a subject coordinator and the OIC of our level. And that was the beginning of the downfall of my sanity. Haha! Good thing that the other coordinators were there to guide me. Up to now, I am still in disbelief that I am fit for the job. Anyway, I've done my utter best to live up to the expectations of my superiors. And, of course, for the students.

This is so me, except that I won't sit on my books.
(photo courtesy of T.Ruth)

The best part of the school year: Seeing my pupils bloom; moderating a book club; witnessing the graduation of my first advisory class; landing a spot in the dance and speech choir competition; having my own table in the faculty room.

The challenging parts: Scouting movement (It really isn't for me.); Hosting a graduation ceremony; editing speeches; being a good example to your subordinates; dealing with people who are difficult to deal with.

April

The highlight of this month is the soul-nourishing work for All Together In Dignity (ATD) Fourth World Philippines' Festival of Learning. For two consecutive Saturdays, I have lived the dreams I had woven when I was still in UP: to

Volunteering for ATD gave me the illusion(?) that I have given back to the people. That I am not doing UP a disservice. The venues of the activities were so far from where I lived. That was the only challenge I hurdled. Three hours of travel time was no joke, especially on a summer day. But hey, if the prize is seeing the slightest smile of the kids when they hear your tell stories, then, bring it on summer sun.

Day 1- Intimate storytelling along the PNR train tracks.
(photo courtesy of Ms. Tracy Cruz)

Day 2-Performance/ Impromptu storytelling along the road
going to Nagtahan Bridge (photo courtesy of Ms. Tracy Cruz)

One thing that made me want to volunteer again in ATD's next activities is the people behind the group. Kuya Guy is so accommodating. Answering all my directions-related questions when my instincts led me to Paco Church. Ate Anne, Susan and Sana made each volunteer feel at home. I really felt their passion for service. Ms. Tracy is a blessing for the commuter me. Those free rides saved me from getting lost again in Manila. Laine and Janela would agree with me on that.


I may have not gone to the beach this summer. But without second thoughts, I have posted on my FB that: Solb na ang summer ko. Thanks ATD for this new experience! My summer has never been this so productive. Bonus na lang if I get to do this again:

Punta Fuego shore

Happy summer everyone!

WRAD: A Dose of Shel Silverstein

Happy World Read Aloud Day!

Take Action for Global Literacy, Celebrate the Power of Words, Change the World

Worldwide at least 793 million people remain illiterate.

Imagine a world where everyone can read...

World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology.

By raising our voices together on this day we show the world’s children that we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world.

It’s time to join the Global Literacy Movement.

For the WRAD, I'll be reading some poems by Shel Silverstein. He's one of the few foreign poets I know who can keep me awake for a good number of poems. You know that it's a Silverstein poem if

• it makes you smile, laugh, guffaw
• it makes you chant or sing the poem
• it inspires you to share the poem to your friends and if
• it is paired with an equally exquisite illustration

Geez! I hope there are more Shel Silversteins in the world.

Today, I'll be reading and rereading poems from 

My personal favorites are

• Ickle Me, Pickle Me and Tickle Me Too and
• Melinda Mae

Again, Happy World Read Aloud Day!

EDR 221 and All That Jazz

Our EDR 221(Literature-based Reading Program) class sustains my gusto for children’s literature.

Because of this class I have read books for kids, blog entries and news updates related to children's literature, author blogs and (comment) threads of discussions regarding children's literature. Then I realized that IT has engulfed a large portion of my heart (and budget). Our class has proven again that I am made to love IT. I have come to the point of no return.

National Children's Book Day 2011

Now I plan to live up to the unwritten expectations I have set for myself that circle on sharing my love for children's literature because nothing compares to the joy of 'being changed' as you flip, peruse and devour the pages of a book. I also plan to be a more dedicated children's book enthusiast by taking part in literacy campaigns and by balancing the genres of my children's book collection.

However, I still wonder if I have the needed skills to come up with a convincing literature-based reading program that I could (and should) present to my superiors. I also wonder if I could make the reading-writing connection happen in me. Do I have what it takes to become a writer for children too? Or should I just remain an enthusiast, a collector, a reader and advocate of children’s literature?

Nevertheless, I feel honoured and challenged at the same time when people compliment my zest for children's literature. Children’s literature has enabled me to do things I’ve never imagined before. I always show off my newly-autographed books to my pupils, co-teachers and friends.

Priceless.

 I celebrate over brief Facebook conversations and exchanges of ideas with my favourite authors. I’ve become a Booksale denizen. I’ve become a teacher who does book talks on a weekly basis. Sometimes, I label myself as a ‘professional’ stalker of children’s literature personalities--authors, illustrators, bloggers, advocates and the books themselves.

It may sound like a cliché, but children’s literature has made my life more colourful, more exciting and more worth-living.

The Days are Numbered

After reading the Newsweek article on new reading, a sudden surge of impulsive instincts has overthrown all my preconceived notions on e-book reading.

I first heard about it last year in a TV news report, then followed by a considerable number of facebook wall posts of my friends 'in the literary world' announcing that they have purchased  the e-book reader. I was a little skeptic (for lack of a better term) about it during that time.

Why would they want to replace books? What would happen to publishers? Would they have the same plight that Kodak Company had experienced when digital cameras dominated the market? How about the thousand collectors of brand-new and second-hand tomes? Would there be panic buying scenes?

The string of worries and fears seemed to be endless. Then unknowingly I have turned into a hypocrite, selective Luddite living in the twenty-first century. (According to the dictionary installed in my computer, a Luddite is an opponent of technological or industrial change. It was coined after Ned Ludd, 18th century farm worker in Leicestershire, England, who destroyed machinery.) My love for the physical book, particulary children's books, fueled the reluctance for the e-book but not to other gadgets (e.g. mobile phones, computer, mp3 player).

But after going through this article by Steven Levy, I was urged to make a better and more informed decision.

The mental weighing I have done tells me that for every downside of new reading there is a better upside, or three.  The first problem that comes to mind is the price of the Kindle. 

For a second-hand bookstore denizen like me, an internationally-published book priced at two hundred bucks would instantly elicit second-thoughts. (But this one really depends on a person's socio-economic status.) If your pocket couldn't afford a brand-new, hard-bound ShelSilverstein poem collection, then where's the hope of getting a pricey Kindle? This might not pose any problem to the middle and upper classes whose buying power commands (/is controlled by) these manufacturers and distributors, but for a mimimum wage earner it does. To a Marxist, new reading is another potent source of class struggles--particularly a digital divide.

After a closer look, one would find out that in the long run, a reader, i.e. Kindle-using reader, who buys e-book online would get more value for his money than the one who purchases physical books. A Kindle user could get away with the 30% to 50% mark-up or the postage and import costs that he has to pay to import books from England or the USA because in fact many out-of-copyright books are available for free already.  Thus, he'd be able to buy and read more works of literature. Soon, the price of an e-book and the reader would plummet once there are more publishers and manufactures who would succumb to this trend. 

One major argument that has stemmed out is the way this technology-mediated reading affects traditional typographic reading. Some educators have raised their brows when the supporters of new reading suggested that physical books be replaced with e-book readers. In that case, students won't hear their teachers  classic line" Class, bring out your (name of subject) book and open it to page (number)". Instead, it would be like this "Class, turn on your e-book reader and open the file…" For the new generation of teachers and students, this may sound sophisticated, thus, making learning more appealing.

With the memory capacity of an e-book reader, owners are entitled to a wider range of books--making it possible to learn a broader range of information that can be used for a variety of purposes. Technology, in this case, helps the reader realize the functional purpose of reading in one’s life--personally in the form of ludic or pleasure reading, professionally  and as an active member of the society.

The role of the teacher now becomes more challenging and extra exciting for he needs to provoke that something which physical books have elicited from their patronizers--the sense of wonder for learning. (Some call it serendipity.) I can see that there's a possibility for that sense of wonder to vanish from the e-book reading scene. With the bombardment of fast-paced images of computer and video games, technology has created a generation with shorter attention span. Nowadays, rarely would a reader stop and be fixated with a scene or  dialogue and savor the message and image it conveys. Readers in this generation couldn't resist the impulse of knowing how the loose ends in a story be tied. Teachers need to inject that "Aha" moment to their students, in this way giving justice to the effort exerted by men of letters.

The way reading would be taught gets more stimulating because photo, audio, and video sharing becomes easier. Visual and aural learners may find more motivation to participate actively in reading activities. Activating prior knowledge using pictures, songs and video clips wouldn't pose any problem given that the ratio of e-book reader to students is 1:1. Helping children with visual problems like myopia and hyperopia would easily be addressed because font size can be adjusted based on the need of the reader.  But drawing from experience, reading things on my computer screen has led to my declining eyesight.

An added job to the teacher is the need to teach children the proper handling of the e-book reader and the information it gives. Just like a book, an e-book reader should also be handled with utter care for just like any gadget, once trouble gets into the software or its hardware, repair, i.e. expensive repair, is needed.  Responsible handling of information must be instilled to the users. Gadgets like the e-book reader, plus internet connectivity, make plagiarism a constant lurking enemy.

Other pros of using e-book readers include the ease and comfort of carrying  lighter schoolbags--the top answer in an informal survey I've made among Grade 6 pupils in a private school and sparing trees from being cut off and making learning more fun (whatever they meant by that).

In the long run, it’s the education sector--the curriculum developers and education officials--who will decide whether new reading, i.e. the use of e-book readers, will be a boon or bane.

But for the meantime, let’s enjoy the remaining days of the physical books. Lend books,  scour through the shelves of your favourite bookstore, join book clubs, get the autographs of your favourite authors…for the days of the physical books are numbered.


Note: I wrote this paper for my Psychology of Reading class. Shoot! Academic writing is so challenging.

The Return of the Comeback

I don't know how to begin this entry. Perhaps I would just blabber about why I was away from the blogosphere for so long (which you don't need to know, but I still I want to talk about).

I am still not sure if it's the 'sweet-and-sour'  life as a grade school teacher which is better left unexplained that pulled me away from the writing muse.  Or it could be the equally demanding graduate school courses that made me forget that I have a blog where I can vent. Have I been too engrossed with all the books that I (have to) read 'simultaneously'. It could be the combination of these excuses. Or maybe I am just making up all these excuses to cover up the thing-which-must-not-be-named.

Nevertheless, it feels good to have written again something which is not required of me (e.g. reaction paper, test drafts, written reports).

Now, let me take you back to the last two months of2011. (This is the part where this post becomes quite personal, hence, you should stop reading and visit another webpage instead.)

November marked the commencement of another /scholastic endeavor. Naks! It was reminiscent of my first year in UP--the seemingly endless trips to different offices and buildings just to get that piece of paper that says " Jerson, you ain't dying yet. Go and chastise yourself. Enroll. You are physically fit". (Buti na lang libre ang medical exam pero hindi ang tuition.)

December 2011 is the best(est) month ever. I can give you a thousand reasons to support my claim, but one is enough--my God-given family. Naks! For the first time, the seven of us got to celebrate Christmas and New Year in our province. That's epic!

How about a family picture by the river?

Why?

My parents and youngest brother stay in Misamis Oriental. My two younger siblings live with me here in Bulacan. My eldest sister, with her husband, is based in Washington. Literally, we're all over the place.

Ideas have gone haywire, so I'll end this out-of-the-blue post with this:

The joy of having a family is the best gift that I could ever have.