fernandothegreat

[fernandothegreat]

Waiting

First of all, we don’t have an OFW in our family nor we don’t have OFW relatives but we have relatives that are residents outside the country as they’ve migrated, so they are not really OFWs to me. The text affected me because we are all very familiar with the word "migration" because some people want to go to another country to live, and most of the time the reason is for them to work there. Migration has become a solution for most Filipinos – it has become some sort of culture, actually – because they think that working in other countries will sustain their needs, particularly in terms of income, especially if they want to support their families. But if we're going to know the stories of some OFWs, their life wasn't good, because the person/employee they're working with isn't a good one. Waiting is a family game that was broken up by a mother who wanted to give her children a better life. Sacrifice and love for family are the key. The pain of being apart from them and working a job beyond your comfort zone just for your family's needs. It's all about fighting and staying strong in a nation far from home, but knowing that this is all for your family and wanting a better future for them. Waiting is a family game brought together because of the circumstances under which a mother wants to give her children a better life. Ron Darvin wrote the story of "Waiting" for the Filipino Overseas Workers whose lives were not good, where most of them were suffering from homelessness because they were far away from their families. They work in another country to fulfill the needs of the family. The video was so noisy for me because I can’t exactly understand the words she was singing so I just searched the lyrics of the song and then when I read it, it’s all about how independent she is, and that she can do everything she wants with no attachments to anything, having nothing and being nothing. It’s like she was bullied or like the person/employee she was working for is not a good one she was just like a slave there but she doesn’t have a choice because she needs to work to have income and I think she was a little depressed so she became rebellious.

[fernandothegreat]

What happened to Us

Nature’s beauty is pleasing to the eye

The moon, the sun, the trees and the sky.

Don’t you think we should protect it before it dies?

Before you hear the rest of worlds cries.

 Our people called people if they don’t act humane

There really is no one else to blame.

Islands to cities and cities to malls

How did it turn into this one big fall?

 Shouldn’t people be guilty, angry, or sad?

Why can’t no one see how it all went bad.

When it’s in front of our eyes, our deepest demise

We could have all been in this great paradise.

 Is no one awake?

Tell me it isn’t true

Is not the world I imagined

For me and for you.

[fernandothegreat]

Why the English is Bad

Some Americans use it, particularly when they know that we can speak English better than they do. As a matter of fact, English is not the language we use every day. It's just a secondary language used in certain areas of study or communicating with foreign citizens. The same thing happens when some foreign people use our language. In certain ways, English is a medium method used to interact with people around the world. Apart from that, it may have been the source of peace through communication between nations. Used as an instruction medium. To give great impressions to the teachers , particularly to those who learn English. The text, why do they say that our English is bad, focused on how there were still persistent errors in writing and speaking of Filipino students. You can consider the fact that for most Filipinos, English is not their mother tongue. It is difficult to practice speaking in English when you can’t practice it at home as most of your family members will not be speaking to you in English. It helps if you can hang out with other people who speak in English which can help promote your fluency and use in the language. So what is the writer’s goal in writing the text why do they say that our English is bad? To inform and promote what factors hinder student growth in developing their English proficiency. it's all about mostly students that use English in wrong way even they are teached well (sorry for the wrong grammar).

[fernandothegreat]

Life of Filipinos

I think the real message of the anecdote is that Filipinos will always love their families by remembering them. Through sending their families at home balikbayan boxes, it can send a message to say that love will always prevail even though you are far away from each other. That distance is ultimately nothing for a person who loves you. Overseas Filipino Workers are working hard in order to buy stuff for their loved ones, may it be the most popular things outside, even if there are good ones here in the Philippines. Filipinos love balikbayan boxes because they are usually filled with imported items such as food, chocolates, clothing, clothing, shoes, accessories, bags, perfumes, and more. These goods are costly in the Philippines, which is why Filipinos are excited to get them absolutely free of charge. Even though balikbayan boxes are full of material things, they are more important than their contents, because the balikbayan boxes themselves symbolize the love for family and friends, and it symbolizes that family and friends are always in their thoughts/minds. To the Filipinos, it means, “you are always with me, even if you are very far away from me”. In the Philippines, there is a saying that goes “Iba pa rin talaga kapag nasa sariling bansa”.  And because of that, I think that a lot of our OFWs suffer from homesickness. In my experience, my aunt, who works abroad, is always telling us that they miss us and that she has always wanted to go home, because she struggles to express her feelings and communicate with others due to the language barrier she has with the people in a foreign country. More importantly, there is no better listener and adviser when you have problems other than your family. I think that Filipinos who are abroad are proud of being Filipinos. OFWs, or even the Filipinos who migrate in a certain country, always apply the traits and values of the Filipino culture with other foreign people. They still act Filipino even when they’re not in the Philippines anymore. They carry their culture with them everywhere they go, like for example when they are raising a foreign child, they accept or treat him/her as their own child or as part of a family because close-knit family ties are part of what being a Filipino is. They do this by teaching the child the morals and values of culture, like being courteous and showing respect to the elders, lending a helping hand whenever someone is in need of it, being generous, and many other things. That is one reason why Filipinos should be proud of being a Filipino. It’s because of their morals. For me, I think the author is proud of his Filipino fellow. In this story, he demonstrates that we shouldn't be ashamed of being a Filipino citizen. He did this by raising the Filipino's positive attitude and deep-rooted culture towards families, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers through the little things like remembering them, through sending them balikbayan boxes.

[fernandothegreat]

Justice system in the Nation

 The Philippines holds unbalanced scales

Of truth and lies by pigs disguised as males

The question of why they speak so bold

of their actions that reflect a heart that’s cold

remains to boggle minds, confuse thoughts

of people both young and wrinkled old

 Is money really a root of satisfaction

Enough to betray an entire nation?

Is a position of power really a means of corruption,

so normal among officials, that people aim to avoid during election?

Is decency really difficult to abtain

when it’s supposed to be the bare minimum state of a human’s brain?

 Political dynasties run deep in money and blood

so hardcore they drag opponents in the mud

maybe that’s why there’s so much injustice in the system

we allow families to run countries like it’s their own kingdom

 Don’t you think it’s time to change the way we choose?

I’m sure at this point there’s nothing left to lose.

[fernandothegreat]

ORMOC

Sa ormoc, ari nato Makita

Ang kanindut sa mga tao

Ang ga ingun nila kay ang Ormoc City

Ari ang mga gwapa ug gwapo ga puyo.

 Damo kaytag naagian pero mao ang kiingun nasad nila na

Ang ormoc, mobangon ug di mag pa lupig

Pareha atong Yolanda grabeh ka guba pero ato Nakita na nibangon gud ang Ormoc.

Katong una gamay kayning ormoc pero karun pede nata moingun ug

Dako naning ormoc, daku na ug paglambo kining ormoc city.

 Niana sila na lay daw ang ormoc, pero katung ga sulti ana

Ky wapa diay kaari ug ormoc

Kung maka ari sila laayon kaha sila? Diba di?

Kita ga lipay ta ari, pero katong una di ky lahi atong mayor

Pero karun bago natong mayor si Richard Gomez,

Siya ang rason ngano nindut naning ormoc karung panahona.

 Ormoc hangtod sa karon, limpyu gihapon

Nagpadayon ug laban, nagpadayon ug usbong.

[fernandothegreat]

The story reflects the Philippine society as a very traditional society. That the boys or men should be the one to work all the time and the one who will provide the needs of their family, and that without them, the family would be dysfunctional. It reflects the gender bias and gender roles about a traditional society. Right now, it doesn’t exist because these days both parents can or will go and find work to support their family. Sometimes, even the mother is the one who works and the father is the one who stays at home and takes care of the house and the children.

[fernandothegreat]

The text has affected me in a way where it speaks aloud the fact that you are always safe, especially when it comes to your feelings and your close partners. But that they can also just backstab you whenever they want to do it. Basically, don’t mess with other people’s feelings, or really just don’t mess with anyone because you don’t know what kind of karma you’ll get. Prelude refers to an introductory piece of music, which is typically an orchestral opening to an opera act, or a piece that precedes a fugue. Because her husband was singing even when he was dead, his wife can still hear his voice that was singing. It was like an opera for her because her husband was a “famous singer”. Nenita is the strong woman who always loved her husband even though he did so many things that were quite unforgivable, like cheating and many more. Nenita is very disappointed because her husband cheated on her even though they made a vow when they were married, but she still nursed him until his death. For me personally, if my wife will cheat on me, I wouldn't give her the same grace. It's bye bye for me. I felt frustrated because of what her husband did. He had a wife, and yet it seemed like that wasn't enough. He asked for more. I could not tolerate it as well if I was Nenita but her husband probably has reasons. However, Nenita continued to nurse him despite how badly he treated her. She killed him slowly, using something that no one could suspect that it was her. The friend of Nenita which is the “herbalista”, felt angry towards her friend's husband. She was mad with the husband because he did bad stuff even though he was married to Nenita. In turn, the “herbalista” gave Nenita the poisonous plant, which allowed her to plot her husband's untimely demise.

[fernandothegreat]

SUPERDOCTOR

In an urban village, there was a family of 7. There were 5 children living with their father and mother. The father worked as a doctor while the mother stayed at home. They were a happy, close-knit family. They always bonded and were living peacefully in a day to day basis.

 One unsuspecting day, a problem stunned their family so hard that it gave them heartbreak. Their mother had been diagnosed with cancer on her kidneys, and it had already been found to be stage 4 cancer. They were then told that she only had 3 years to live, but that if she kept her body in a good and healthy shape, there was a possibility that she’d go on to live longer. The family didn’t worry about it because they knew and they saw that their mother was a strong and resilient person, and that she had energy to beat the cancer on her own. She then succeeded her own 3-year deadline and they all lived on.

 5 fated years later, there was a pandemic. It was called the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Shortly after, their mother was infected with COVID-19, as she already had previous ailments that made her immune system slightly weaker than the rest. She was fighting both the cancer and the disease, but her kidney cancer problem grew worse. She could not pee anymore and the medications were not effective because of the comorbidities. Her biggest problem was in peeing, as her kidneys had been too damaged, that with the new virus dominating her system. She did not empty her bladder often enough, sometimes going a couple of days without emptying it all the way, which resulted in a urinary tract infection (UTI) for her. Over time, she developed incontinence.

 What happened next was expected. The entire family was infected with the virus. What they did not expect was that slowly each of them would die – the mother first, the firstborn, and then the next three children in order. The father, who was a doctor, wanted to kill himself, because he lost his wife, and most of his children, and although his youngest was still alive, the child was still infected by the virus. He had started to blame himself, and his thoughts were clouded with so much darkness that he started planning his death.

 One day, he woke up to his son standing at the foot of his bed, completely healed. They both hugged, and cried in rejoice. The father, who once lost hope, gained a new sense of hope and faith that one of his family was still alive. He had been enlightened that he had to be strong to raise the youngest child on his own. From then on, he vowed never to leave and never to lose hope. He promised to do his best to work and find a cure for the wretched virus that almost took his entire family away from him.

 He went on to turn his grief into power to fuel him to do research and work with scientists to find a cure, keeping in mind that he wouldn’t let anyone in the world experience what the COVID-19 virus did to him and his family.

[fernandothegreat]

The Safe House

A safe house is like a place you live in where you feel safe like no one can hurt you there. There was a daughter and a father and the father’s friends and the daughter thought they were relatives. One time the daughter was watching tv with her father and his friends. They were watching the news when the daughter wanted to watch cartoons. Her father’s friends scolded her because they were watching news where the president was in, which at that time was Ferdinand Marcos. They were swearing and calling Ferdinand Marcos names while watching him on the television. The guys were mad at Ferdinand Marcos. Her father and his friends were rebels of  Marcos’s rulership, because Marcos was a dictator in his time. They hid there in the “safe house”, and they were like that even when there was a little girl. The daughter then grew up, and when she was 10 years old, the police came knocking on their door and arrested the father. She saw her father and his friends get arrested, and she was shocked because her father was gone, and she was forced to live in her grandmother’s house. A few years later, the daughter goes back to the “safe house” because she wanted to start new memories because we all know that her childhood was sad and not fun (she saw her father get arrested in front of her own eyes). She had an innocent younger brother, which left her no choice but to be the mature one in the “safe house” since her father was taken. The daughter was big and mature now. One day, someone knocked on the door. When she opened it, she did not recognize the old person who knocked, but she knew it was a familiar face. She was not aware that the old person was one of his father’s friends, in the safe house with her when she was young. The old person was looking for her father, and she answered that he was gone and in prison. She felt pity towards the old man, because clearly the old man had no place to stay and wished to stay in the “safe house” again, just like they did in the past, in order to hide, and in order to feel safe. Although the old man said, “thank you” when the daughter said that her father was gone, she closed the door on him even when he expected her to welcome him in. Her reason was that he was still her father’s friend in the past. And that she came back to make new memories, start a new life, and forget the past. She doesn’t want old and bad memories to keep resurfacing on her mind. She doesn’t want it to be the same “safe house” they used to stay in, just to hide someone. She didn’t want to be involved should there be a problem. The daughter made the right decision and did the right thing because it’s like if you let the old man in then it would have brought the same vibe as before like chaos and fear. If she still let him, then it would have been the same as before. Her mindset about having a “new life” will just be a phrase, it will just pass by like wind in the air. It was the right decision so she can start a new life for herself just like she planned for. I really understand her, felt what she was going through even though I’m a boy. I can imagine how things happened and I can feel what she was feeling back then. Like if I was the girl, I would do the same thing. She was very sad because she and her younger brother witnessed all the very bad things in front of them. It was just a real-life story but the message directed to me is that if you want to change then it’s up to you to discipline yourself about what you want and what you deserve to enter in your life, no matter how much pity you feel or how bad you feel about the decision you will make just to start a new life.

[fernandothegreat]

Abused from my brother

I am from bruises and cuts From black eyes and lame excuses From brother please stop! to leave me alone I am from sadness From countless tears rolling down my face From never ending pain I am from lies A secret I've always kept From begging for it to end I am from blisters From never being good enough From fists beating down like hail I am from darkness From fear Never being able to just be me I am from my brother’s cruel words My mother doing nothing From running away I am from God From hardship From life I am from Matt From are you ok? You need to tell someone I am from fighting To talking and crying Giving in and Giving up I am from a past Never able to be forgotten From my brother’s abuse

[fernandothegreat]

Rizal and History

The way I see Jose Rizal now is the same way I see the God of Heroes. It’s like he’s the God of Heroes in the Philippines because he did so many things for this country. I think the greatest contribution of Rizal in our country is his writings, sayings and published works, like the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, because without these, we won’t be aware of what they (the Spaniards) have done to us. Without these, we would not know our history well. The lines from the poem serve as flashback a few months before Rizal visited Padre Faura on the observatory in Ateneo Municipal. Padre Faura thought that they will just talk about the stars but instead, the talk cruised to other topics like purgatory. Vividly, Rizal knew of his impending death, which is the reason why he asked about purgatory. A star is a big, hot ball of fire. Stars are born to do its duty and function in the universe, which is to give heat and light to the planets and other heavenly bodies. Once it reaches the coldest temperature, it will stop living but it will continue to shine as if it is not dead. The star in the poem refers to Jose Rizal. Like a star, he was born to do his purpose here on Earth. It is to bring hope and light not just to the Filipinos but also to other nations who suffered the same way we witnessed it to be in the hands of the foreign subjugator. Like a star that is a million miles away from us, his light will still continue to shine conquering our mind and soul through his literature and artworks.

[fernandothegreat]

The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata

Guide Questions: What is the relationship between reading and revolution in the past? What is the importance of reading and nurturing a nation of readers?

In the old days where media was not as accessible as it is today, newspapers were mostly the means of getting information. Literacy was mostly a privilege, and for people to get information about events and happenings, gatherings were the usual mode of spreading it. There was either a town crier who would announce the news, or somebody who would gather up a crowd and read aloud articles from the newspaper. Reading (back then and up until now) usually elicits ideas and emotions, especially if it was information that was against their own beliefs or principles. There were scandalous news, news that would threaten the people in authority or the government. If the public found out the form of oppression, discrimination and maltreatment by the wealthy upperclassmen, reactions would be significant enough to become the “spark” to plotting against the ones in position. The news that was published back then would also otherwise be suppressed by the government and as such, is also why a lot of them were published or distributed in secret, or if found out, banned and burned. 

Words can ignite feelings, and stories can inspire action. Revolutions usually come from within a person, and could spread like wild fire to communities with like-minded people. With supporting knowledge from reading novels like Noli Me Tangere the same way Raymundo Mata did, the fuel is kept consumed, which will be the one to keep the fire burning from inside. 

[fernandothegreat]

The Origin of my Barangay

Barangay Milagro was a sitio of Barangay Dolores named Sitio Pikas in which no one is living there. According to folks, there were two siblings named Vicenter and Olegio Togunon who looks for firewood near the river. While they were cutting the tiny branches of trees, Vicente felt that something was thrown to him. He asked his younger brother to stop flingin on him. But, Olegion refused to agree he didn't throw anything. For the third time, he noticed that it was coming from the Anagasi Tree. He curiously ran into the Anagasi Tree, he was surprised when he saw sparkling object like the size of a match stick. He get the object and hurriedly brought it home without bringing any firewood at all. They let their parents Mamerta Sumaya and Alipyo Togunon know about it. But, when they saw it, it was an image of Sr. San Jose. It was kept at the kaban of the couple. 

At night, Mamerta had a dream in which Sr. San Jose introduce and confirm her that he was the image brought by her sons Vicente and Alipyo. Sr. San Jose asked her not to be kept inside the kaban since he felt scorching. Mamerta nervously woke up and quickly opened the kaban. In her surprise the image was gone, she looked for it everywhere until she found it in a shoe. They decided to make a box case where Sr. San Jose will be laid. 

From then on, the miracle story about Sr. San Jose spread from neighboring barangays. Lost of people from different places visited the place since the image of Sr. San Jose did miracles such as healing sickness, they offered candles and prayers. Later, the story was known to the city named Ogmok. Alipyo was arrested together with the image of Sr. San Jose by the city Tenyente since he was scattering false miracle and deceiving people. He was imprisoned at the Casa and the image of Sr. San Jose was burned. After the incident, the person who burned the image was paralyzed and image remain undestroyed. The paralyzed person got mad an dtested how the image did its miracles. He talked in bitterness to the image and made a deal to it. If he can walk again, he will walk by kneeling in going to the chapel and release Alipyo from being imprisoned. Days later, the person healed from being paralyzed. Then, he commit to walk by kneeling in going to the chapel and released Alipyo from being imprisoned at the casa. From then on, the place was called Milagro.

(story taken from: http://ormoc.gov.ph/culturalmapping/heritage-detail.php?h=1809)