Ewan

     Habang tinitingnan ko ang mga drafts sa aking blogger profile, nakatawag sa akin ng pansin ang mga pictures ng file na ito.  Hindi ko nagustuhan ang dating sulat ko tungkol dito, kaya I reverted it to draft at ginawan ng ibang istorya. hehe.

     By the way, ang mga pictures na nasa blog na ito ay pawang mga random picks ko lang sa archives ng pub.  Feel ko lang mag blog kaya narito ang mga pics.  Hmmm, gawan kaya natin ng istorya ang mga ito.

Stressed Faces.  Pagkatapos ng isang nakakapagod na biyahe at Day 1 sa isang press conference, hindi pa rin natinag ang 'vanity powers' ng The NORSunian staff.  Kahit haggard look at stressed, heto, nagpoposing parin. ja-ja-ja! Kilalanin niyo po silang lahat. Eto po. Front Row (left to right) Ate Rolyn Jane P. Catanus (EIC), Ate Mayette Hanna F. Diez, Leonil 'Shadasha' Dayado, Karlo Billy Rubia (ang nakatagong naka pink) and Kuya Ryan 'Adkinalambay' Gantalao. Second Row (from left to right) Kim Eden Felize Belnas, Kuya Rujonel F. Cariaga, Ariel Dizon, Ate Pricess D. Ebo (mukha lang ang makikita), Kuya Jessie P. Dolia, John 'Rotrot' Rio, Kuya Albert Umbac and the Agonized Loner. 

Imbestigahan natin ang larawang ito. 

Mula dito mahihinuha natin na: si Kuya Rujonel ay nagdadalawang isip na magpapicture, Si Ate Princess ay nag-eenjoy sa kanyang katabi, bored si Kuya Albert, bagong gising si Ariel, nag-iisip ng ipapakain sa amin si Leonil, prepared si Kuya Jessie, worried si Kuya Rotrot, grabe ang poise powers ni Kim at gutom na ako!

Posing sa vanity wall.  Parang sakit na kumakalat ang vanity sa loob ng opisina.  Honestly, hindi ko maaasahan na madadala pa ang ganitong sakit sa labas ng pub.  Kaya heto, nakakita lang ng vanity wall, eh, yun na!

Eto lang po sa ngayon.

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End of Blog

My Features

When I was asked to write a features article for the Filipino Month, this was my first composition. (Since I was asked to revise my article.) I would like to share this to you all. Enjoy!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Glimpse of the Past: Metamorphosis of the National Language
By The Vitreous Crystal

“It is unnecessary to demonstrate how essential it is for our people to have one language that can be used by all in their daily intercourse. Such language cannot be either English or Spanish, except perhaps if ever, only after many generations and at a very great cost. We cannot wait for long. We must as soon as possible be able to deal with another directly using the same language. We need its power more completely to wield us one into one strong nation. It will give inspiration and warmth to our popular movements and will accord to our nationality a new meaning to which we have never learned to give full and adequate expression.”

-        Manuel L. Quezon, Father of the National Language

     The Pearl of the Orient Seas is a country of diversity. Stretching 1,850 kilometers from north to south and 1,100 kilometers from east to west with 7,107 islands, it is an undeniable fact that language is a problem of this nation. Back to the colonial times, the kryptonite the conquerors has against the Filipino people is their diversity – the differences in language, ethnicity and beliefs.

     Before the colonial period, the Philippines is not a unified nation. Each island has its own language. Some of islands like those of the Visayas have several distinct languages; among them are Hiligaynon, Cebuano and Waray-Samar.

     The Spaniards have successfully dominated the land for 333 years. The country is easily penetrated by the foreign armada because of our forebears’ innocence. They take the advantage of it. They are ruthless and have no mercy. They are subject to physical abuse, racial discrimination and force labors. Filipinos are considered as second class citizens on their own land.

     In order to participate in the social functions during that time, one must have know-how in Spanish. Not all though know the language, as an effect, our ancestors experience inequality in the public, religious, and business leadership fields, with the Spaniards in monopoly in these positions.

     The Filipinos have the thirst for blood. They fight innumerable battles against his oppressors with bravery and fate. As he battles, in his mind are his children, his family and his nation whose souls seek for perfect clemency in the land of their Malayan fathers.

     But he never wins. He is never a victor in even one of his battles. One of the reasons, according to historians is the lack of unity which is trace to the difference of spoken tongues among groups. The Pampanggo has a hard time communicating to the Tagalog and the Bicolano has never understood what a Cebuano tries to say. With this dilemma at hand, it is very hard for Juan de la Cruz to lobby and plan for a victorious battle.

     The illustrados, with knowledge in politics and democracy from the West never forget their mother land’s struggle. Jose Rizal, our national hero is among them. As he travels the across the country, he realizes the need for a language that would unite the people.

     "Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika, ay masahol pa sa malansang isda" is one of his famous lines. From this, he wants to imply to the citizens of the nation a sense of national identity. He is not referring to a language merely as a communication tool but as an expression of one’s identity, of one’s individuality and social consciousness. Rizal, in his novel El Filibusterismo emphasizes the essence of language to the nation. He says that it is a symbol of liberty and ideals of the Philippines as a nation. This indeed is the vision inside his mind when using the pen for warfare.

     With the strong will to have a well-built national identity, the writers of the 1935 Constitution make steps to make a national language. Article XIV sec. 3 of this constitution states that the Congress shall take steps toward the development and adoption of a common national language based on one of the existing native languages.

     Two years after the implementation of the law, Manuel L. Quezon, then president, made significant efforts to establish a national language in this nation. In belief with Rizal’s aphorism, he realizes the need of unity of tongues. As a result, he signs an Executive Order which makes Tagalog as the basis of the then national language, "Pilipino".

     Tagalog is chosen for several reasons. Some linguists say that the number of speakers of the language have made a really great factor to this choice, some of them, explain that its Latin-like qualities as well as diverse lexicon were the reasons that have added weight to the decision. Moreover, some writers say that Tagalog is the right option because it is the language of the 1896 revolution. This though gains protests and oppositions. Non-Tagalog congressmen did not like the idea of "purismong Tagalog (pure Tagalog)" which coined terms such as salumpuwit (chair), salimpapaw (airplane) and sipnayan (mathematics), etc. Some ethnic groups complains on this since they cannot accept Tagalog as their own “wikang pambansa”.

     For more than thirty years, Pilipino is gaining popularity as the national language. People too are becoming conversant using it. However, arguments against Pilipino never dies, and it rise in the 1971 Constitutional convention. As a matter of fact, it is one of the heated subjects that dominated many conferences and meetings attended by delegates.

     At the end of the convention, the delegates have decided that the Legislative branch of the government shall take steps toward the development and formal adoption of a common language to be known as Filipino. Filipino is different form Pilipino. Pilipino refers to the pure Tagalog as national language while Filipino is the combination of different languages and dialects in the nation. According to the constitution, English and Pilipino are the official languages of the country.

     Barely there are details on the accomplishments of the National Assembly on Filipino. The cause is attributed to the situation of the country under the Marcos Regime (1972 – 1986). What’s clear is that the language is used as well as developed during the Martial Law in journalist’s battle for disseminating the truth behind the murders and corruption.

     After the dictatorial regime, another chapter of the National Language is opened. The 1987 Freedom Constitution, which is the current constitution of the land, eradicated the purist approach of the national language. The national language, Filipino, as defined in 1973 Constitution is now the language of the land. According to the new constitution, the national language will be enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages. It’s far different from Tagalog which limits its vocabulary on native words. Filipino borrows English words such as fisikal, mental, x-ray, cardinal; Spanish, like señora, llama, amigo and la mesa.

     Today, there is a language that unifies the Philippines as a nation, building within national identity and idealism. Since the language is his own, he can easily understand his Filipino brother. They become one family amidst the diversities they have. Conversing with the language made them one amidst differences, uniting a diverse nation.

     Rizal and Quezon’s dream of a strong nation is coming to pass. As Filipino is spread by the media and spoken in schools, the once blurry vision by our forefathers is getting clearer each day.  Seen on history, Filipino has made such significant roles in our state, from the liberation of the state against the military rule to today’s freedom of speech, from being an instrument of understanding during important speeches to law information dissemination.

     Filipino is no ordinary language. It’s a mirror of the Filipino society, a tool for understanding, a binder that joins the brown race in one accord. Its weakness is the people's weakness. Its strength is the men's strength.

Tatag ng Wikang Filipino, lakas ng Pagka-Pilipino!