Thursday, February 26, 2009
So my nephew brought this publication he got from his school over to me. My first question was, "How much is this?" and he answered, "25 pesos"
I laughed telling him that in my school before, publications are given out for free. My friends and I would even ambush a lot of copies to use as seats when we decide to sprawl on the lawn and bask under the sun.
So anyway, that wasn't the issue. I started reading the paper (which only consists of 4 pages) and couldn't help but roll my eyes on the grammar. With my hands itching, I grabbed a pen and laid the paper on the table then I started correcting the mistaken grammars in the articles. Seriously, what were they thinking? It's the OFFICIAL SCHOOL PUBLICATION of my nephew's school and the grammars were very grade school-ish. I know they fucking have an editor-in-chief and English administrators who handle their paper, so why can't they be corrected?
Speaking of which, I also wanted to share the news I've seen about some books given out by the DepEd that have lots of mistakes and grammatical errors. There were spotted samples from some of the books, and I couldn't believe that those books actually slipped from the grip of the editors and went onto the hands of children. What would they learn then, those fucking mistakes that would already be hard to erase from their minds because they've seen it in books?
I know some people would react that it doesn't matter if you're good in English or not as long as you can help the society to progress. I strongly disagree. Philippines is a third wolrd country. I believe that the only thing that helps us stand up is through out extra skills which is speaking in English. The English language won't be taught in schools if it isn't damn important!
I know I'm not really a great English speaker, but I'm proud of my well-developed grammar. There was even once when my brother's patient brought her American husband in the clinic. So while the wife was in the chair, the husband and I were talking. He was also a nurse so we had something in common. Then he just randomly said, "Did you live in the States?" and I said, "No, I didn't." Then he said, "You're really good in speaking English, you know. It's like you've come from the States?"
I was really flattered. Some American saying that is really flattering. So I know I have the right to be confident of my English Speaking skill and my grammar. That's why I know that I have every fucking right to bash those people who plant a lot of false information to our kids nowadays, may it be in English grammar, or other educational concerns.
I laughed telling him that in my school before, publications are given out for free. My friends and I would even ambush a lot of copies to use as seats when we decide to sprawl on the lawn and bask under the sun.
So anyway, that wasn't the issue. I started reading the paper (which only consists of 4 pages) and couldn't help but roll my eyes on the grammar. With my hands itching, I grabbed a pen and laid the paper on the table then I started correcting the mistaken grammars in the articles. Seriously, what were they thinking? It's the OFFICIAL SCHOOL PUBLICATION of my nephew's school and the grammars were very grade school-ish. I know they fucking have an editor-in-chief and English administrators who handle their paper, so why can't they be corrected?
Speaking of which, I also wanted to share the news I've seen about some books given out by the DepEd that have lots of mistakes and grammatical errors. There were spotted samples from some of the books, and I couldn't believe that those books actually slipped from the grip of the editors and went onto the hands of children. What would they learn then, those fucking mistakes that would already be hard to erase from their minds because they've seen it in books?
I know some people would react that it doesn't matter if you're good in English or not as long as you can help the society to progress. I strongly disagree. Philippines is a third wolrd country. I believe that the only thing that helps us stand up is through out extra skills which is speaking in English. The English language won't be taught in schools if it isn't damn important!
I know I'm not really a great English speaker, but I'm proud of my well-developed grammar. There was even once when my brother's patient brought her American husband in the clinic. So while the wife was in the chair, the husband and I were talking. He was also a nurse so we had something in common. Then he just randomly said, "Did you live in the States?" and I said, "No, I didn't." Then he said, "You're really good in speaking English, you know. It's like you've come from the States?"
I was really flattered. Some American saying that is really flattering. So I know I have the right to be confident of my English Speaking skill and my grammar. That's why I know that I have every fucking right to bash those people who plant a lot of false information to our kids nowadays, may it be in English grammar, or other educational concerns.
Friday, February 06, 2009
The Fifth Mountain tells the story of the Biblical Prophet Elijah and his struggles as he tried to find his purpose and God's plans in his life.
Unlike in the Bible, the Fifth Mountain is written in a novel complete with descriptions and conversations of the whole story. It is more descriptive than what is in the bible. Paulo Coelho made out something interesting on a book that half of the population on earth wouldn't care to read.
For everyone who knows about the story of Elijah, you would of course be familiar with the King of Israel in his time, King Ahab marrying the Princess of Tyre, Jezebel who didn't believe in the one God but instead, forced her people to worship Baal, the Phoenician god.
Elijah was forced to leave his home and find another sanctuary in order to live and continue to carry out God's work. However just like some Prophets of his time, he was brought into a test that would falter his belief in the One God.
This story tells us on how God works in our lives. Not everyone who has been fortunate enough to hear God's voice would also be fortunate in his living. God gives each of us tests that we need to overcome and learn lessons from.
Because through these trials and hardships would we be able to understand our purpose in life and His existence. These trials would help us grow into a more intelligent and emotionally mature person by learning the lessons in our lives.
God indeed didn't abandon us when we all feel like He did. Instead of blaming Him, ourselves or others, let's just try to stand up again and rebuild the lost Faith we had and we wouldn't even realize that He has come back into our lives.
Unlike in the Bible, the Fifth Mountain is written in a novel complete with descriptions and conversations of the whole story. It is more descriptive than what is in the bible. Paulo Coelho made out something interesting on a book that half of the population on earth wouldn't care to read.
For everyone who knows about the story of Elijah, you would of course be familiar with the King of Israel in his time, King Ahab marrying the Princess of Tyre, Jezebel who didn't believe in the one God but instead, forced her people to worship Baal, the Phoenician god.
Elijah was forced to leave his home and find another sanctuary in order to live and continue to carry out God's work. However just like some Prophets of his time, he was brought into a test that would falter his belief in the One God.
This story tells us on how God works in our lives. Not everyone who has been fortunate enough to hear God's voice would also be fortunate in his living. God gives each of us tests that we need to overcome and learn lessons from.
Because through these trials and hardships would we be able to understand our purpose in life and His existence. These trials would help us grow into a more intelligent and emotionally mature person by learning the lessons in our lives.
God indeed didn't abandon us when we all feel like He did. Instead of blaming Him, ourselves or others, let's just try to stand up again and rebuild the lost Faith we had and we wouldn't even realize that He has come back into our lives.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
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