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How to be a Creative Non Fictionist?

Nonfiction—the “fourth genre” (along with poetry, fiction, and drama)—is a literary field affecting bestseller lists, writing programs, writers’ workshops, and conferences on the study of creative writing, composition/rhetoric, and literature. It is often labeled and/or limited as “creative” or “literary” nonfiction and subdivided into essay, memoir, literary journalism, personal cultural criticism, and narratives of nature and travel. A vital and growing form, nonfiction has, until now, needed a sustained discussion about its poetics—both the theory and the craft of the genre (Root, 2007)

Writing creative nonfiction, especially well, is a craft and takes patience, persistence, and a strong narrative voice to get it right. Today, we will guide both readers and writers through the innovative and stimulating ways of how creative nonfiction is written.

1. Understand the genre 

- It makes life easier for the readers to familiarize the genres. If they have a general idea about how research reports work, they can read them faster and make sense of the information in them more quickly. Think of it that way. 

2. Conduct Interviews

-The aim of developing these skills is to be able to assess the suitability of the candidates being interviewed for a particular job. 

3. Don’t have biased opinions

- Bias is disproportionate weight in favor of or against an idea or thing, usually in a way that is closed-minded, prejudicial, or unfair.   

4. Avoid the passive voice

- One of the many reasons why writers are advised to avoid using passive voice  is that passive sentences tend to be wordier than active sentences.Another problem with using passive voice is that it makes the object of the action the subject of the sentence, which can make the sentence difficult to follow.

5. Show don’t tell

- It is a technique used in various kinds of texts to allow the reader to experience the story through action, words, thoughts, senses, and feelings rather than through the author's exposition, summarization, and description. 

6. Be factual and creative

- Writers must extract meaning through factual details and must combine the fact of detail with the literary extrapolation necessary in rendering meaning from an observed scene.

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Why CREOTEC?

(Testimonial) 

I chose CREOTEC because I simply could not find any other provider that offered training programs to the academe through the provision of training equipment and learning systems designed to promote skills-based training in the field of engineering and technical-vocational courses. CREOTEC provides technical training on areas that include mechatronics, electricity and electronics, consumer electronics, software, information technology, test and measurement, automotive, communication automotive, communication, medical training system and green environment trainer. It also offers Industry Work Immersion on Senior High Students and this event will discuss how to address the need to narrow the gap of the academe and industry with regard to the skills preparation of high school students and introduction to different technical training equipment in the field of information technology, engineering, and electronics that will enhance capability of teachers in developing OBE and self-paced modules. I truly recommend CREOTEC for training programs here in Cebu.

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Sticks & Syringes

18 years ago, when the sky was covered in black satin and stars seemed to hang and twinkle around the crescent moon, a little girl was born. She would later be then called: “Trixia”, although she wished she was named after the phase of the moon. Dogs howled (maybe to warn the world in what danger awaits it) and Maria, her mother, would then breathe out a rather heavy sigh from the pain of childbirth. She would grow up to become a really quiet child, which scared everyone. “She isn’t mute, is she?”, they asked as they quietly looked at her from behind. She would just sit on a chair and look at everything around her while her cousins ran around the whole house, barefooted and getting scolded by her aunts. She liked feeding her white duck stuffed toy with milk and watching ‘Caps Amazing Stories’ with her little brother. She was awfully awkward and odd. She remembered one particular incident which made her wonder and face palm every time she looks back to it today.

When she was seven and her mother was away from work, she went out to the kitchen and grabbed a knife from the counter. She planned to kill herself. Her logic was that if she would do that then, she wouldn’t have to worry later on about having a painful death, sparing herself from a painful end. Only, it didn’t work because she was using a butter knife to slice her arm, barely even made a cut. On her third and fourth grade, she went to live in Cagayan. She liked her life there and didn’t want to return to her home in Cebu. She liked it so much, she didn’t mind her brother crying in the airport as he looked at her teary-eyed when she was walking away. She would stay at the open back of a pick-up truck as her aunts drove around the city at night. The cold breeze of the night whipped on her bare skin as she watched the busy city at night time, keeping her eyes wide awake when they pass the bridge, where she would see the black ocean underneath, with the moon’s light shimmering on it’s silky wave. However, she would go back to Cebu on her fifth and sixth grade due to some complications. Her happy nights and fun days were replaced with exhausting minutes which she spent cooking, cleaning, walking kilometers away from school and going to a classroom where kids like her call her ‘uyamot’. 

She spent her secondary education as a Night High School in Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion. This period of her life is where she found a treasure chest of memories she vowed to look back and reminisce every once in a while, when she became too exhausted and drained. She bonded with different people and became friends with people who have made her who she is today. She is a montage of everyone she’s crossed paths with and everything she’s been through. She, along with her friends, would go ghost hunting each night, turn off the lights by themselves and roam around the campus in complete darkness, with no source of light other than the moon and the star’s light peeking from the window. This happened before they got caught because her friend screamed from the second floor.

December 10, 2016 marked her fleeing away from her home. She went from one house to another for a week and finally settled in her school’s dormitory on January 4, 2017.  The dorm was at first, a foreign place. This was just a corner of the school she failed to see, and every time she’d get inside, she feels as if she is in a completely different place. It was a great struggle to adjust. Too many people, Pinamungahan, Toledo, Dalaguete, Agusan del Sur, Zamboanga, San Fernando, Leyte, Daan Bantayan, Madridejos and many other places, where they all come from. ‘Melting pot of culture’ was a group of people and it was everyone in the dormitory combined.

She often got called for sleeping in the upper canteen when they are supposed to go to mass during dawn. She had so many offenses, she forgot what they were. She got in so much fights and her relationship with everyone else was morose. But piece by piece, she started to understand. She often wondered why she was there, and the answer came to her as clear as a day.  

In the walls of the dormitory, were pieces of memories buried by it’s ancestors long ago, and she, along with her ‘ates’, are tucking in their own, to build a stronger foundation. She learned to see everyone else in a whole new light and saw that in each one of them was a lesson, a story she must respect and learn from. Each pair of eye had seen beauties and wonders she had also learned to see in her own when she started to talk to them. 

This juncture of her life has called her to choose a path. She must choose her calling. Which job or career would she choose to undertake? There were hundredths, yet only one must be chosen. She fancied herself in professions that would give her the most benefit. Law, medical, accountancy. Something that could make her life easier by a profession that summons bills in no time. Her brother was going to become an engineer and she was going to support him in his studies. She doesn’t want him to go through the things she’s gone. She is going to build a house and a home for him, along with her entire family.

But deep inside her, she wanted to become someone who would cultivate. She wanted to spark passions and plant inspirations. Her mother offered to give her a bigger allowance in exchange for being a nurse. She contemplated for days and her mind was crazed with the idea of cold hard cash to spend more delicious snacks. But at the end of the day, she realized the fulfillment and satisfaction of seeing passions ignited and seeing children soar higher to reach their dreams, was far more important than the fulfillment blue bills could ever make. Sticks and Syringes both have the ability to heal, restore and inspire. She was choosing the former.

And so, it was settled, the next chapters of her life would contain the story of a woman learning to empower and nurture others. She is coming for the future, and she is coming with a stick.

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FRIENDSHIP

Our friends are like flowers, they also bloom and grace with so much love. A friend is such a delicate and fragile word. Fragile because it could break any second like furniture, moving it from the truck and Delicate because like a flower it is beautiful but it will also die so our friends are meant to hold and should be cherish forever. Cutting our good friends is like cutting our good days because they are the ones who keeps our life fragrant. Our friends are essential for the successful of well-being of every person. We are never envious of their accomplishments and success because we are always here guiding them of the things they have become in life. They always brings out the best in us so their success is also our success. We are strongly bond together and no one can ever break our friendship together. On the lighter note, they reward us for all the goodness we had given to them in times of need and the makes us smile when we forgot how to lifts us up when we are feeling down or we can’t lift ourselves. No friendship is perfect so we always face different ups and downs but still we remain faithful and loyal to each other. Our friends is the one who never deserts us and is our inseparable companion in times of happiness and in sorrow because no matter things are going through or whatever challenges we were facing , we always keep a positive outlook on everything. They always protect each other from being hurt emotionally or physically. It really takes time and patience to build a strong friendship and achieve trust between each one of us. They are like our sisters from another mother because I love how the universe let our paths met. Aside from that, we can’t wait seeing our friends successfully reaching out their goals and accomplishments in life. With all the hardwork and their dedication in life, we can’t wait to see them waving their diplomas saying that they already achieved their own individual aspirations in life. They’re such a blessing to everybody that’s why they are the most precious possessions that one can have in their life. 

People say that nothing succeeds like success whether it is ours or achieved by other people whenever an opportunity is presented. We will really be proud of our friends for all the things they had accomplished and achieved in life because we definitely see how they overcome their perseverance, hard work and sheer determination all throughout the years. We must always remember that the secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well but people must understand that it takes a lot of times and efforts to be successful in life. We must wait for the flower to bloom in its time just like our friends.

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The 3rd Christine

There are many Marys in the world, and Anns and Elizabeths, in fact, one might say there are as many Marys in the world, as there are Christines. They are all very different, as you are from everyone else and as everyone else is from each other. But I have met one particular Christine whom I would say left quite a big piece of herself with me.

It started after she was recruited to live inside the dorm. She was unpacking her belongings, revealing a colorful assortment of shirts and clothing. “Those are very nice feathers.” I commented as I bended down to see her display of art materials scattered on the white-tiled floor. When she didn’t reply, my eyes shifted it’s focus on a diary-looking book. It had a cute white lacy handle and a girl with a cat walking down a street on it’s front cover. I started to walk towards it and I touched to feel it’s smooth texture. Seeing as she said nothing to hint disapproval, I gave myself my own permission of opening it.

I flipped the cover as it revealed the first page, containing dominantly white empty spaces and a “Christine” calligraphied on blue sign pen. My fingers lightly flipped it to turn to the next page which left me in an utter shock. Among the white spaces of the whole sheet, a figure of a drawn picture ethereally breathed life in the immobile and lifeless white dominance a sheet of paper could muster. Vibrant, vividness and life. It was as if I could touch Adele’s soft skin and viscous hair through the flat surface. Admiration was an avalanche coming at bay, I stared at the lady unpacking in front of me, I looked at her hands and thought that ‘those are what fairy’s hands are made of, those hands have magic in them.’

My eyes feasted on her other drawings and sketches as they always had an invisible light of magnificence and realism emanating from them. She could create a world in a single sheet of paper. She has created her own empire in the strokes her Mongol 2 Pencil or CrayPas made. She would portray beauty and life in the magic her hands could create.

I grew fascinated with her art and I sometimes find myself getting lost in the gallery of canvases and bondpapers filled with her emotions, thoughts , aspirations and dreams. Soon enough, I started seeing her in the traces of herself she left in the corners of her drawing. She could be anyone there, or everyone. My fondness of her grew as it reached the point of blossoming into a very close bond of friendship. ‘Ate Jam! Ate Jam! Did you know..’ were the words I first uttered when I arrived home. Bit by bit, I had then came to realize that she was the most selfless person I know.

Giving me her delicious snacks, even when she had none left for herself, listening even when her eyelids are drooping down from being too tired and listening even more, no matter how much I talked about myself and how much I whine and complain about the unfairness of life, setting aside the fact that she has thorns of her own and problems to worry.

One particular thing I do remember about her is she invests much of her effort in being better at conversing and writing in the English language. Her school system during her elementary days focused more in learning Mathematics and HeKasi. She was filled with worry during her junior high school when she transferred to the City and has then considered her predicament in the use of this language. I remember most of our moments were spent as we sat on beds and asked each other questions, requiring the other to make a speech about it. The duet of our laughters echoed in the stillness of the night and added to the variety of noise made in the buildings and the quiet Ayala Road.

She would sneak some textbooks from the speech lab, read them to herself and practice. She would teach a little child the language so she could fare better in it. For a Filipino teacher, she was driven by the eagerness of learning so much that she became a person who leaves so many reflections and realizations for everyone to see, only when one looks a little more closely.

Last year, when I heard she was leaving, I was dumbfounded and my mouth went agape at the one who broke the news to me. I was the last one to know about it. I cried so much at the terrace, my eyes never felt as puffy and red before. I didn’t know what I would do without her. Who would I talk to when I get home? Who would listen to my nonsense talks? What would I do if I didn’t know how to solve a problem? Who would tell me an advice? Millions of questions made me cry even harder. I didn’t take this event lightly. When she left, her bed felt empty. Everything was dull, and again, the feeling of loneliness washed over me. I was alone again. She hugged me and asked for an apology. I never replied, simply asking her why she didn’t tell me.

Days and months after that, I have been better than I was before, but I still couldn’t shake off some of the emotions lingering inside me everytime I go home and see an empty bed. Time seems hollow and nothing seems to be in place. That was one event I had a hard time in moving on.

Then, just this December 5, as I was scrolling down her facebook page to see her pictures, which her co-workers posted after surprising her with a birthday cake , I saw something which caught my attention. Her office mates gave her a cake with “Happy Birthday, Crescent!” written on a red syrup on the chocolate ganache. I was shocked and baffled at the same time. Seeing that she wasn’t online, I went to asked my kuya about it. Typing down the chatbox:

“Kuya, nganong happy birthday Crescent( Kuya, why happy birthday, Crescent?)”? I waited for a few minutes before getting a reply: “Crescent man iyang gidala nga pangalan sa iyahang work sa ESL.”

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The Caged Birds That Sing

“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful”, was what Malala Yousafzai said that inspired a lot of people especially the youth to speak up for the better, and encourage each of us to change the world, no matter what nationality, age or gender. 

“We refuse to stay quiet!”, citizens cried raising their banners in front of the building that was home for public officials for years. Their passion and dream fizzled and burned brighter than the heat of the sun prickling their skins, scarred by injustice. A grenade-like looking weapon disappeared in the crowd, releasing a smoke that brought tears to their eyes. “We are like caged birds!”, came the cry of a woman in her mid-80’s as she stumbled on the ground. A man stood up, with tears rolling down his cheeks, “Yes!  We are caged birds!”, he says, trying to regain composure in his voice before shouting: “But WE ARE CAGED BIRDS THAT SING FOR JUSTICE!”

In the Philippines, recently, activism is seen as an act of rebellion and unlawful use of violence and intimidation for political/social purposes, thus, opposing its actual definition and disregarding its essence in the society and politics. Activism is living a life for others, it recognizes that the world is not for anyone to survive on or conquer but everyone to share. It is very sensitive to the issues of the world it was created because of the bombarded problems of the world.

We do not know much about activism but as we have observed those movements, protests, and rallies are the activists’ way of reaching out to the government especially those who are part of the minority. It is their way of expressing themselves about certain issues in the country that for them, are not given proper solution by the government.

“As to how I feel about their current situation, I can say that I feel sad and disappointed at the same time. Not only in the government but also to those people.” Laarni stated.

Disappointments were expressed due to, first and foremost, the government, for treating them violently and unjustly because in the first place, that would not be happening if programs are created properly and are implemented to address the concerns of the people especially the minority. Looking at the other side of the situation, the people are also to blame because there are certain groups that actually promote violence in the way that they are doing their movements. Laarni believes that the government is probably only trying to control the situation, unfortunately, they also resort to violence to the point that they are already violating human rights. “Basically, I feel sad and disappointed especially to those who resort to violence instead of promoting peace.” Laarni explained.

“I believe that activism is not stupid, it is not uncivilized, and it is not an act of rebellion.” Therese expressed.

People in power refuse to understand why they are fighting because the problem does not affect them. We are very privileged to be in a situation that we do not have problems banging on outdoors and that the very people who we vote to protect us and to make our lives better are the very ones that care very little about us and want us gone. Our current situation now really shows the true colors of the administration. They would rather shed blood than for me people to tell them that they have failed. We believe that majority of the uninvolved lack empathy mostly because we are starting to believe that poverty cannot be eradicated.

“It’s like we are back to the times of when the Spanish still colonized us and everyone who went against was immediately killed. Activists are the warriors of justice and they are everything that the government despises.” Therese continued.

 The Government desires the citizens to be puppets and they want the lowly to continue being ignorant. They do not want people to be aware and enlightened with what is really going on, therefore, brainwashing the people into believing activists are criminals, they are terrorists who they are out to intimidate the privileged.

It is really sad that now activists are being maltreated, threatened for their lives just for yearning for a positive change for the country’s community and economy. Because of this, some Filipinos are afraid to be activists, they are frightened to express their political opinions and protest political administrations. We are losing our sense of justice. We are losing justice in the Philippines that only the rich may prevail and the poor are left to suffer.

Being a democratic country, speaking our minds is supposed to be one of the most crucial things needed in order to mold our country. These activists are supposed to be opinion leaders, the voice of the people. They speak out what we, the public, are thinking. So if this is the general reaction of the government or perhaps even of a part of the public who are most probably heavily influenced by none other than the current government themselves, then it is a betrayal of the basic human right: to have a right to opinion.

“The voice for justice is never a crime. The state is made by and for the people, it is rightful that we must raise our voices, as the move of the government affects not just them, but the whole nation.” Glenn stated. /

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CREOTEC: The partner of Grade 12 students in CIC- Cebu in their Work Immersion

Work immersion is a key feature in the Senior High School curriculum and refers to the part of that consists of 80 hours of hands-on experience or work simulation which Grade 12 students will undergo to expose them to the actual work setting and to enrich the competencies provided by the school. The intention of Work Immersion is to provide Senior High School learners with opportunities to become familiar with the workplace, simulate employment, and to apply their competencies in areas of specialization/ applied subjects in actual work environments.

CREOTEC Philippines Incorporation is a member company of EMS Group and it was established last October 2015. CREOTEC offers its training program to the academe through the provision of training equipment and learning systems designed to promote skills-based training in the field of engineering and technical-vocational courses CREOTEC provides technical training on areas that include mechatronics, electricity and electronics, consumer electronics, software, information technology, test and measurement, automotive, communication automotive, communication, medical training system and green environment trainer. Each training equipment comes with theoretical and experiment manual for quick reference of the users. However, CREOTEC Philippines, Inc. designed a learning system which provides specific training equipment for each subject with especially designed workbook for Teachers and Learners.

The Mission of the company is “To be an excellent solutions provider among globally competitive electronics manufacturing services.”

The Vision of the company is  “To achieve globally competitive status through partnership and constant innovation in: Quality, Productivity, Value Chain and Human Resources.”

The Quality Policy of the company is “For every product and service we provide, we will exceed our customers’ requirements in Quality, Cost and Delivery through relentless pursuit for Excellence and Continuous Improvement in everything we do.”

Mdm. Erlinda Gallur the principal in CIC-Cebu in Senior High School Department said “We choose CREOTEC for Grade 12 work immersion because its work immersion program is comprehensive and has been systematically organized and design for Senior High School (SHS) students. It provides varies venues for skills development of students in their respectful strands.”

“It offers a well-organized classroom extension, hands-on activities and professional ethics which developed students skills and attitudes in the workplace setting, which they don’t learn inside the classroom.” Mdm. Gallur added.

She recommended CREOTEC to other school for their work immersion and said

“Yes definitely we recommend CREOTEC to other school for their work immersion, we have been with CREOTEC for 3 years and we are very satisfied with the program and the services they offered to our Grade 12 students.”