Your Identity

Our Filipino language borrowed much from the English language. Sometimes, we even find it hard to translate these “English” words to their original Filipino equivalent. I just realized this when we had our debate in Filipino last week. At the peak of our debate, we just shift to speaking the English language instead of speaking in Filipino. We just frequently have our own construction of Filipino words like, mag- maintain, paki-explain, the worst and the most funny phrase we could ever say is, “paki-step ng break”.

It is so sad to note for us Filipinos that we always go for English as the medium for instruction when we don’t even go for the perfection of our own language. We would all agree to this because we can have trade relations to the whole world if we can speak to other people of different races. But, is this the real reason why we want to learn this precious foreign language? Don’t we deny that we want to learn the English language so we can work for international companies and save our own souls from the poverty of our own country? So we can get out of the mess in the Philippines by working abroad and work for the foreigners or perhaps be their slaves? Am I right, or am I right? I just hope I’m totally wrong but I know I’m just near to the right answer.

Now, it is still debatable whether we should use English as the medium for instruction even though laws or bills have been passed allowing this to happen. One of the politicians that I know of that strongly supports this law is one of the Cebuano congressmen. He made it clear with his speech when the painting on longest continuous canvass for the cause of the preservation of marine life was launched. He really tackled on the theme of the event. He was really troubled why it is in Filipino when we don’t understand much of our Filipino language. It should have been in English. Then, he talked more on advantages of the bill rather than talking about the good points of the event.

Anyway, I could care less of what he was babbling about although, he persuaded me a bit on why we should use English as the medium for instruction. Sorry, but I could barely remember how he convinced me.

Some of the books that I like are from the works of Bob Ong. His second book was entitled: “Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ang mga Pilipino?” It talks about the culture and traditions of the Filipino that seems funny to other races and which they could criticize. Bob Ong’s job here is to give justifications to our peculiar culture and give counter-criticisms to them who criticize us.

There is a portion in that book where he asked the reader to translate some of the English words to Filipino. You might as well give your best shot on this.

Effective
Handicraft
Multiplication
Bone
Seed
Radiation
Soil
Land
Oxidation
Chemical Reduction
Nimbus Cloud
High Tide
Fog
Cloud
Electricity
Electromagnet
Electroflow
Electric Field

With these, you may laugh at our language that it is so poor that we can’t even translate it to our own language; that we always depend on our foreign language and borrow from them but, think again.

The translations of these words are borrowed from the different dialects: Visaya, Pangasinense, from the Kampampangans, and the Batangueños. They constitute our Filipino language. This is the power of our archipelago! Don’t be bothered by the answers to the items, but if you insist, just read the book yourself and you would get to discover more of who you are as a Filipino.

A Broad Horizon

I know that every other senior is going to blog* about the JS Prom. It is the talk of the town lately. “How was the food? The ambience? The Prophecy? Legacy?” or “the overall package?!” These are some of the questions that teachers and parents asked us. But, on the intimate side of things, everyone else is talking and asking “How’s was your last dance?” or “Who was your last dance?” or “Who were the persons you danced with?” and “How was your night with your special someone?”

These are just some of the FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions). There are many who really care about those things. There are many who fell in love that night. Indeed there are many miracles that happened that night. But, I never experienced such kind of sensation. Anyway, I never wished I did. The bad thing here is that I could never relate to what my friends share to me. I wish I could help them somehow. In the first place, I never knew what feeling is.

I really had a vague idea of what love really is, although I have my own ideas of what it is for me. Love is in a relationship where both parties give and take. It is unselfish. To sum it all up, it is doing something good to someone. But, I still never knew the feeling.

For me, you love someone when you want to change him or her for the good and at the same time; you are also willing to change for the better for the one you love. That is my cause of loving. You may think my questions and ideas are too shallow. Maybe you will think that I never tried loving someone. Loving is caring. Convince me that I’m wrong, if I really am.

There are many persons and instances that God gave me to show what love is, to let me know what it is and share this precious loved to others.

My purpose in life is to do well to everyone and do everything in moderation. In Buddhism, do the middle way. I tried to control myself from all the temptations in this world as possible and prevent sin. I always try to live as well as I can be. With the help of my God, I know I can survive in this world. Praying is our communication. He is my strength.

God called me to confirm my Christian life. And at this point, he let me listen to his word. Love is never about the feeling. The feeling may sometimes come to a decline but that doesn’t mean that your love has faded away. If this happens, the best thing that we could do is to pray that we may continue to care for the one wee love. Of course, ups and downs would never be lost in loving.

Love and everything is going to be all right.


Blog* v. to write about a topic and post it on your own blogspot.