Am I real?

Sometimes, when I have nothing else to do except to lie down and wait for sleep to overpower me, I would think about the extremely bad things in life:

What will happen if I die? What will I die of and who will be coming to my wake? How useless I was for not being able to give back to my parents for all their hard work..

What will happen if I lose someone I love? Will I be crying as hard as those in television? Will there be times when I space out and find myself in a different place? What will I say or do if we meet again?

What will happen if I end up poorer than I am now?

I would cry just by thinking about all of these. And I never show my tears to anyone. They will just laugh at me and tell me I’m crazy or too paranoid, haha!

Five seconds later, when I exhausted my emotional self, I would think about happy and triumphant thoughts. (I don’t know about you, but I see this as an ‘exfoliating/rejuvenating’ process)

I would think about how happy I will be if I end up with someone I really loved and be able to share my future with him.

I would think about the children I will send to school—mine or not. I would think about how to reprimand them, teach them Math (a subject I am not good at) and watch them grow.

I would think about how will I be able to let my children taste how wonderfully I cook if I cannot cook right now.

And, I would smile until I sleep.

Mobile teaching program “Text2Teach” to expand in Visayas and Mindanao

Innovative mobile teaching program Text2Teach is set to go nationwide as it targets 850 new public elementary schools in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao for English, Math, and Science lessons beginning this year.

The plan was announced during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for Phase 4 of the program. Signatories are Department of Education Undersecretary Yolanda Quijano, Ayala Foundation Co-Vice Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Nokia Director for Community Involvement Gregory Elphinston, and Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu.

The fourth phase, to be implemented starting July, will finally make the program available not only in Luzon but across the country as the proponents work to bring Text2Teach to Visayas and Mindanao and to upgrade the 205 satellite schools from the earlier phases. By the end of Phase 3 in August, the total number of Text2Teach-enabled schools will have reached 555, benefiting about 40,000 pupils, and almost 1,800 school heads, teachers and DepEd officials.

Text2Teach Phase 4 also marks the beginning of a stronger partnership with the local government units. DepEd regional offices will play a vital role in teachers training while LGUs will provide bigger counterpart funding for the program. Phase 4 also sees Pearson Foundation returning to the program as a key component in developing new downloadable educational materials for English, Science and Mathematics.

Since its Philippine launch in 2004, Text2Teach has been aiding in improving the performance of students all over the country, particularly in the three basic subjects through downloadable educational videos using Nokia mobile phones and Globe internet connection.

Using the power of mobile technology, Grades 5 and 6 students can watch any of the almost 400 educational audio and video materials loaded in the Nokia N86 8MP phones and equipped with the Nokia Education Delivery (NED) application. NED allows teachers to download and easily access educational audios and videos on Math, Science and English specifically designed for the project, providing a highly effective visual aid for teachers. It also creates an interactive, student-focused learning environment in the classroom which makes the students eager to go to school.

Aside from the Nokia N86 8MP phone and educational videos, Text2Teach recipient schools also get a Globe SIM card provided with P150 worth of free pre-paid load monthly for one year, a 29-inch colored TV, 3-day teacher training and teachers guides.

Alma Abalos Fernandez, a teacher at Carael Elementary School in Dagupan City, pointed out that the effectiveness of the program is evident in helping students appreciate a complex subject like science.

“Before we had Text2Teach, I had to rely on my imagination. I gave a lot of examples and used a lot of visual aids to make sure they understand the subject. But with Text2Teach, there is a better appreciation of what is being discussed. You can also see that the students learn faster. Just show them the video and you capture their attention. The students also retain the lessons better because they can see actual images on the video. And we don’t have to spend much on visual aids anymore,” Fernandez related in the vernacular.

Aside from improved performance, Text2Teach also helps minimize student absenteeism since they are now excited to go to class and watch the videos.

PHOTO CAPTION: Signing the Memorandum of Agreement for Phase 4 of the Text2Teach program are (from L-R): Nokia Corporation Directorfor Community Involvement Gregory Ephinston, Ayala Foundation Co-Vice Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, DepEd Undersecretary Yolanda Quijano, and Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu.

###

For more information, pls. contact:

Ms. Yoly C. Crisanto
Head, Corporate Communications
Globe Telecom
Tel. No. 7302627
Fax No. 7393075
Email address: globe.corpcomm@gmail.com

weather or not

It has rained for days and days here in Pototan—contrary to the weather in Miagao. There, the sun would go on for days and days while in here, it seems like it’s the rain’s territory.

I remember wearing a lot of pajamas and jackets here. I could go for days without taking a good bath and live with not being mistaken to smell like our dogs. In the dorm on the other hand, I would sometimes take off my shirt—and be in my undies—while watching a movie in our room. Hahaha!

In Miagao, we could walk the streets without worrying about a single drop of water touching our feet. Here, you had better not go down your house. If there’s no puddle, there are raindrops resting on leaves of trees, waiting to fall.

What I just love about the rain and the cold weather here is that it gives me a good reason to sleep more than the required hours, snuggle in my bed under the covers even when the sun is already up; and to think of the usual thing that most girls my age would most probably think of when their minds go blank.

No, it’s more than just three letters.

haikus

Clouds pass from time to time,
and bring men a chance to rest
from looking at the moon.

-a haiku by Matsuo Basho

During our Literature class yesterday, we discussed haikus and poems. I was not particularly looking forward to this day (I even forgot to bring my copy of the poems). But when the discussion started, I feel like one of the “hagglers” in our modern-day wet market, sharing my own opinions when I had the chance.

I particularly liked this haiku. Because when our teacher asked us how we interpreted it, I already knew what to say. :)

I associated it with love, and loving. That men, while waiting for their true love, sometimes share experiences with other girls first. But when they meet “her”, the others will be nothing but wisps of passing clouds. He will pay them no more heed, because behind the clouds, “his moon” is there. (This version is much more poetic, the one I gave in class is more dramatic). Hahaha!

I earned a lot of teasing that day. My friends and our teacher poured all of it on me, teasing me for being “inspired” and “having a lot of boys”. What the-?! Hahahaha!

And before the day ended, I received phone calls from you. I was delighted to hear your voice once again, feeling queasy but excited just like it’s the first time I felt that way. :) I knew then, that like the haikus, I have given a new meaning to the dullness of everyday living. :))

a little too much

Just last night, Balay Kanlaon’s Auction Night was capped. It was entitled “Surivor Philippines: Kanlaon” with its famous tagline, “Who will be the last Kanlaon survivor?”, after the equally famous reality TV show from where the auction night’s title and theme was derived.

I would not have wanted to come. There were a lot of things to do and we just came home tired from the city. But as it was the one of the last auction nights that we are going to witness (kasi gagradweyt na po kami, hihi) and two of my friends have crushes among the auctionees, I decided to tag along.

Auction Nights in the UPV dorm history were never like this one. The entire production was carefully thought of and executed. All of the auctionees were thoroughly deliberated (good-looking, brains, body, etc.); it seems that the dormers of Balay Kanlaon were expecting a lot of people not only to attend, but to bid, most especially.

For one, the venue for the auction nights was always in the inner court of the dormitories. This time, they had half of the covered court transformed into the set of “Survivor Philippines”. There were torches, Aztec masks and all the “native-ness” that went along with it. The dormers of Balay Kanlaon also brought out chairs for the ones who bought VIP tickets. Lastly, the tarpaulins which were initially used as communication materials were hanged “clothesline-style”.

But that’s just some of the bright parts.

Over the years, Balay Lampirong, the other freshmen dormitory, usually got more money than Balay Kanlaon could accumulate. For one, Balay Lampirong required all of their male freshmen to be auctioned. Needless to do math, Balay Lampirong had more income than Balay Kanlaon does with only 10 auctionees.

Last year, however, the freshmen of Balay Kanlaon broke the record by banking on publicity and good-looking auctionees. If I remember correctly, the highest bidder purchased a guy for P6,000 (my 5-6 weeks worth of allowance)—the highest that have ever heard of.

This year, that record escalated even more (to think that BK only had ten auctionees). Now get this: the third auctionee, a female, was bought for P5000. And that’s just the third auctionee. The rest of the auctionees (numbers 1-8) average earnings were between P2000-6000. The last male auctionee was bought for P9000. The price of the last female auctionee: P10,400. OMFG. That’s roughly six weeks worth of college allowance or a semester’s tution fee!

I cringed at the thought of UP students becoming more and more inclined to commercialization (or overspending, for that matter)—the very thing which we are itching away from. There was one student who was a part of an organization fighting against fare increase, tuition hike and the commercialization of education. But he was there, and he bought an auctionee. It’s not that I’m meddling into his affairs or that I have a personal vendetta against him but I think that his act was kind of the opposite of what he was fighting for.

But then again, it’s his life and money. He can do whatever he wants to do with it. What saddens me is the inconsistency in his principles. But to give him the benefit of the doubt, he might be the friend of the auctionee and he was just trying to “save” her from the other bidders who might “exploit” her. I hope for his part that my second hunch is true.

I don’t know if BL’s earnings will exceed BK’s this year. I don’t know if those who bought auctionees are going to go hungry for a month or so. I don’t know if being an auctionee is an honor or a curse. But there’s one thing which really stuck with me after the event is: Didn’t the bidders think that too much money should be spent for a mere 24 hours with one person?

Google Images

A bird told me that BK earned roughly P24,000 that night ( several thousands more than what the previous auctions were able to earn)-that is if the bidders will pay. wehehe.

MMFF’s Rosario

When we were in our sophomore year, our teacher in our Advertising classes required us to watch at least two MMFF entries (Metro Manila Film Festival). The movie whore that I am, I saw that as a perfect way to devour a lot of films without having to spend my money (since it’s a need, I asked for money from my mother, hahaha!).

Then, I thought I made good choices: One Night Only (which had a really nice way of presenting it’s plot) and Ang Tanging Ina Nyong Lahat (which, I thought I have to watch before the hype and the series ended). But when my classmates began fussing about Baler, I realized that I failed to watch an important historically related film. Baler went on to win most of the awards like Best Cinematography and Best Musical Scoring.

This year’s MMFF is not much exciting. Most of the lead stars are the ones we can already tag as “suki” ng MMFF, including Kris Aquino for Dalaw, Ai-Ai Delas Alas for Ang Tanging Ina Niyo: Last na ‘To!, Marian Rivera for Super Inday and the Golden Bibe and definitely, Vic Sotto for Si Agimat at Si Enteng. Aside from Kris Aquino, whose infamous squeals and popularity gained her most of the celebrity viewers during the festival’s first screening, it is Vic Sotto who can be considered legendary. His Enteng Kabisote movies never fail to make out of the top three top-grossers, no matter how “infectiously uncharming” his humor is.

Aside from the aforementioned, we have RPG Metanoia (viva Philippine Film Industry for the 3D!), Shake, Rattle and Roll 12 (when will this ever end?), Father Jejemon (which is timely but incurs a lot of doubts from the public) and last but not the least, Rosario.

Jennylyn Mercado plays the role of a woman torn.

If not for a friend’s incessant prodding and several other good reviews, I would have chosen RPG Metanoia. After all, it’s not everyday that the film industry gets to offer fully-animated movies. But since I was in the mood for a historical film, I went along with my friends inside Cinema 5.

When we went in, there were no more than five people inside. We Filipinos are not much patrons of our own movies, aren’t we? On one hand, it would be good to have lesser amount of noise. MY friends and I promised each other that inside the cinema: walang kai-kaibigan. Nobody would ask anybody to go with her to the CR and all that…

Rosario basically tells the life of Manny V. Pangilinan’s grandmother, Rosario (played by Jennylyn Mercado), as narrated by Dolphy, Rosario’s son to one of Rosario’s nephews played by Manny Pangilinan himself. As a rich haciendero’s only daughter, Rosario had everything: a well-provided for education, attention and loving parents. When she arrived here in the country, her eyes—and later, heart—was caught by the hacienda’s administrator, Vicente (Yul Servo). Their “unblessed” love affair was short-lived when Rosario’s father discovered them lying together inside a barn. But the two ended up marrying each other anyway, when they fled to Manila. Rosario was never able to go back to their hacienda again anymore than Vicente vowed never to return there as well. When Vicente was stricken with TB, Rosario accepted her childhood friend Carmen’s offer to work as a secretary in their office. There, Rosario met and had an affair with Carmen’s boyfriend, Alberto (Dennis Trillo), which later reached the court. They were deported to Hong Kong. There, the character of Dolphy, Hesus, was born. When they returned to the country, Alberto left Rosario and never returned. A compassionate young man, Carding (Sid Lucero), took notice of Rosario and reawakened her love for playing the piano. In the end, she did not accept his offer to elope together.

I laud Jennylyn Mercado’s acting even though I was not exactly impressed. I believe she could have done better. If there were actors to praise in this movie, it would be Dolphy (whose tear-jerking narration was very convincing), Sid Lucero (when he ran amok upon learning that his uncle, played by Ricky Davao, took advantage of Rosario), Ricky Davao (whose character is very hate-able as his acting fitted him) and Dennis Trillo (who looked every inch “manyak” and “pabling”).

If MVP pays the movies’ crew as well as he does his own employees, then it would be the perfect explanation for the film’s impressive technical editing. The cinematography, musical scoring and overall editing are impeccable and have backed the historical excellence of the story itself. One knows a good story and editing if it stays on one’s mind long after he or she has viewed the movie.

I really liked how the movie ended. For me, hanging endings make a classic. One more thing is the movie poster. Unlike all the other MMFF entries (except perhaps Dalaw, which had half the poster Kris-dominated) which are trying to squeeze in every character in the movie—faded or not—Rosario had a simple yet emotionally appealing, near tears face of Jennylyn Mercado. To me, it looked like it can be internationally
competitive.

the movie poster (There was also one which really caught my eye, but I was not able to find it in Google)

Rosario should be made available to the public even after the MMFF concluded. It is a poignant movie which gives the viewers a bit of the Filipino culture, ironies included. It is a beguiling tale of love, atonement and self-expression. I was very satisfied when I left the cinema; my P150 was worth it. This is the kind of movie which Filipinos would be proud of. MVP should really start on investing in movies…

credits to Google for the photos

A new Bakoi

I had my laptop reformatted and installed with a new OS (Operating System). When it began showing signs of boredom and resilience towards my (yes, I admit, irritable) multitasking, I knew it was time for a change. LOL.

It cost me a few Manuel L. Quezons and two of my previously installed cleaners, but Bakoi has never looked better, brighter and faster. In fact, sometimes it looked chirpy. Don’t ask me why. :3

Pre-New OS, Bakoi refused to play music. Every time I would click on Media Player Classic, it hangs and crashes. It is also grumpy and movie-selective. One time, I played National Geographic’s The Gospel of Judas, it crashed again. But when I turned it on to play Vampire Diaries, I was able to finish two episodes and it did not crash. My laptop has biases, hahaha!

During Bakoi’s absence, I noticed that I had more time doing a few other things which I constantly put off when my laptop was still here. I realized that I had half of my undone homework in my laptop. But I had time to read, write in longhand, and reread a few selections assigned to us and many more. It’s funny how we let technology snatch away the “preciousness” of time and the sanctity of “manual” labor. See, when I write my homework, even if it only needs to be in a yellow paper, I would type it first. For some reasons, it’s easier because my fingers type almost as fast as my brain worked.

But Bakoi is back. I can reincarnate my WordPress account and download a few more PDFs to add to my growing collection of unread (and yes, maybe unappreciated) literatures. Hahahaa…

An All-out War Declaration Against Snotty Jeepney Drivers and Konduktors

photo taken from Google

1. Jeepney drivers and konduktors are badassing Filipino passengers but they are very nice to foreigners.

2. All tall passengers experience ‘ARAGUYSHITNAKABUNGGOULOKO’ once in their lives. I remember seeing a girl looking angrily at the jeepney’s upholstered ceiling when her head hit it while she was clambering up to get seated. When this happens to me, I laugh at myself for being too tall. Sometimes, this is a compliment, I guess.

3. Jeepney drivers who smoke do not put “No Smoking” signs in their jeepneys.

4. Jeepney drivers and konduktors who did not tie/secure their passengers’ bags properly were made to pay fines as high as P 1500. And when you are few of the lucky ones who get to ride in the same jeepney after the incident and you are carrying bags (never mind the sizes), they are going to ask you to pay exorbitant fees just so they could get back what they lost.

5. Konduktors and drivers delight at the sight of a sardine can-ish jeepney. Five minutes later when stopped by an LTO Officer, they grimace as they hand over their licenses.

6. Poor men. You pay in full but are made to give up your seats for people you do not even know.

7. If you have long legs, I would suggest sitting in front. Or suffer leg cramps because your legs are abnormally sticking out in the aisle. But if you are wearing shorts, be careful when sitting in front. Some drivers “accidentally” brush them.

8. Jeepney drivers shout at passengers who do not “haybol”. Regardless of age or state of health.

9. Jeepney drivers dish out nasty side comments to passengers who are wearing shorts but paid student fees. They never thought that UP exists.

10. When not told otherwise, jeepney drivers develop the habit of carelessly tossing bags/luggage on top of their jeepneys.

11. Some jeepney drivers and konduktors do not take passengers who fall short of going places indicated in front of their windshields. Sometimes they do, but then it rains complaints.

12. No matter how snotty drivers and konduktors are, they are in the opposite mode when there is a camera present. Or LTO Officers.

13. Jeepney drivers and konduktors turn into episodic versions of Charo Santos when they feel that they are being ‘abused’ (kulang bayad mo or gareklamo ka).

14. Almost always, they would nudge you to sit tighter together even when there is no more space to fart.

15. Jeepney drivers are guilty of blaring speakers. And they complain when they do not hear a passenger calling out for them to brake up.

16. When it rains, all your pores get 5-minute showers before the driver decides to put plastic covers.

The good thing is:

The mortal enemies of snotty jeepney drivers: properly briefed mothers.

lost in thought

These days I feel like the younger, unenlightened version of Siddharta Gautama. I have searched for answers but I do not seem to know the kind of questions to ask.

I feel like there is something lacking in everything I do, and no social networking site can give me the pleasure I need. I have searched for that something but it does not seem to know that I exist.

Ah, nagte-thesis na talaga ako.

Sir Tom, in one of our classes said, “Critical thinking begins from realizing that you are trapped in a situation which you want to get away from”. Right now, I have seen and felt the application of this quotation and it makes me feel all the more helpless.

All the books I read, the recess I’m taking, the websites I am visiting, stayed as what they were originally: panandaliang aliw. They can never take away the gravity of reality. They can try, but more often than not, they do not succeed. Sometimes, they aggravate the situation.

If the enlightenment I’m searching for were a mosquito, it might have sucked thousands of cc of blood in my body already. I’m sure it’s just right there, hiding in some dark corner. When I can finally see it, I swear I will abuse it. 

the break everyone is talking about

Ever since we were kids, we were taught the value of our favorite subject, Recess. Had I not decided to grow up, I would not have realized that the sole purpose of recess is to give us a break from the evil clutches of boring lessons and numbers floating in our brain.

But since the concept of Recess is equated with food and drinks, most of us refused to disrupt that idea. Even me, when I talk about Recess, I would refer to it as food break or drink break. Not the exact concept of break. Just the break itself.

A few minutes ago, Wila and I were on thesis mode. We cannot seem to come up with plausible solutions to some of the problems which kept coming back to us. So, when I went out and arrived back to see her holding a pair of black stockings while facing the mirror, I know it was time for a break—even when we were working only for an hour.

I asked her why she is in a pink plaid skirt and a gray blouse. She replied with a dismissive grunt and a half-smile, as if caught in the act. When I turned to her again, she already had a black overcoat. I sighed (like I’m totally new to it), stood up and handed her an off-white fedora. And our photo shoot started.

I made her do some poses—both compromising and not—and she happily obliged. Sadly, I cannot upload them here since it would violate some of WordPress’ rules. Hahaha! When I coaxed her to show her get-up to Bemjo and Jennie, who were a few rooms away, she had this “accomplice’s smile”. We ran back and forth, she afraid of being caught in the hullabaloo and I being tagged as a full-fledged stalker (or worst, a lesbian). Bemjo caught up with us along the hall because she was on her way to the wash area. For a brief five minutes, the upper level of Balay Madya-as was filled with maniacal laughter—the kind of break that I was not hoping to have but finally had.

I think breaks are God’s blessings—His own way of telling us that we need to stop for a moment and breathe. Breaks are the grunts between the snores, the corny jokes among the boring conversations, the sole yellow banana among the green other bananas and this blogging article in the midst of thesis writing. Breaks are a necessity in this fast-paced world. Even the witty KitKat commercials emphasize its importance.

If it were a course, I would kill to get a slot. XD