...of Summer Classes and Climbing Trees

The term “summer classes” was a foreign concept to those who had their elementary and high school education during the 90’s and the years before that. Most especially, to a kid who grew up in provincial towns and barrios during those times, the closest idea that they can conceive out of the term “summer class” was of their manong or manang spending the humid summer days studying in the city while they can spend those class-free days swimming in the river or planning tactics on how to snatch some Indian mangoes from the neighbor’s yard without getting caught. 

Back then, summer classes were only for manongs and manangs who were studying in a university or college in the city. Summer classes were only used as a term by the most well-off kids in the school as an excuse for learning how to play the piano or violin and some other instruments that majority of the kids their age haven’t had the opportunity to learn. Moreover, my concept as an impressionable elementary kid during the early 90’s was that summer classes were only for those who didn’t do well during the whole school year----that it was like a sort of punishment. For how couldn’t it be such, I thought, when because of this so called “summer class”, one couldn’t do the things that kids should supposed to do during summer, and that is playing to the heart’s content? In short, during those times, “summer class” wasn’t really a part of the vocabulary of elementary or high school students because it didn’t really involve them anyway.

We couldn’t really pinpoint the exact cause. Maybe it’s the need for the kids to be able to catch up with the fast changing trends and evolving ideas. Maybe, it’s because of parents who have to hold more than one job to make both ends meet, and therefore, would entrust their kids to the school and different training centers since they don’t have the time to watch over them during those supposed to be class-free days. Maybe, it’s because of the increasing stiff competition in all areas that only those who are highly skilled enough can stand out. Maybe, it’s just the fact that everyone seems to be into it so, “why not follow the trend?”. Or maybe, it’s just an eventual cumulative process of these several reasons that in the past few years, it seems that the “summer class” trend has come crashing in as a big wave, totally changing students’ and parents’ concept of summer. All of a sudden, everyone, from five-year old kids to impressionable 16-year old teenagers, is pre-occupied by their own specific summer class and activity. And the summer classes range from academic subjects, to dance classes, to photography, to acting and drama lessons, and even cooking----the list appears to be endless. As early as the month of January or February, parents already plan the summer activity that they would enroll their kids into, and that’s aside from the summer course in their kids’ school which offers prerequisite subjects and lessons for the next school year. So the supposed to be class-free summer days turns into a one whole itinerary of activities.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not against summer classes. As a teacher, I appreciate the fact that because of the taking of prerequisite subjects during summer, teaching that particular subject in the coming school year is like sailing in less-turbulent seas. I also understand the desire of the parents to let their children explore and develop their skills by letting them enroll in different summer activities and programs. However, what I am opposed about is the fact that with the rigid and scheduled activities prepared for the kids, there is no time for the “make-believe” plays, there is no time for imagination, there is no time for “kid’s time”. Take for example, I have encountered several parents who are so eager for their kids to become good at everything that they enroll their kids to take prerequisite subjects in school, then they proceed to their swimming class, attend their speech and drama class, and do some ballet and dancing classes in between. And imagine 7 and 8 year old kids doing that? Now, do not wonder anymore why we often hear kids saying “I’m bored!”. That’s probably because during the brief in-betweens of the prepared activities for them or when their gadgets are off limits, they couldn’t think of ways to interest themselves. That’s because, the current scenario of planning their activities for them including what they should do during their spare time don’t really allow them to maximize the full potential of their imagination.

These are the changing times we say. I couldn’t agree any less to that. However, if there’s something that doesn’t change, it’s the fact that kids need play and enough room for imagination. And what we mean by play and room for imagination is not something that we readily provide or carefully plan but something that we leave to the kids to figure out for themselves. Enrolling the kids in summer classes definitely helps them in many ways. Not only do they learn new skills which may come in handy in the next coming years but they also learn to interact with other kids and develop their social skills. However, when it consumes all the time and energy of young kids such that there is no room for rest and imaginative play, then it becomes unhealthy. Maybe, we need to relearn a thing or two about the childhood and the summers of the 90’s and the years before that. Yes, the kids who grew up during those times didn’t have summer classes but they grew up just perfectly fine. That’s because during those summers, the world was their classroom.

Personally, it was during summer in which I learned to ride the bike, learned to choreograph our dance and song number for the fiesta and Flores de Mayo without a formal dance and voice classes, learned to deliver and project different roles depending on the story of our balay-balay and that’s without a formal acting class, learned the art of leadership during the laying of the rules of games such as panagu-ay and piko, learned that sometimes you have to be bruised to get to the top the moment I learned to climb and conquered my first tree. Yes, we didn’t have well planned itinerary for our summer activities during those times but if there was something that was developed within us because of the spare time given and entrusted solely for us, it was imagination.

And just like what Einstein said, the true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. As much as we want our kids to become wholistic learners, let’s try giving them something else, something very vital. Imagination.

Half Full?

No. It's definitely half empty!!!!!!!

Forgive my pessimism, but for any balikbayan (ehem! ehem!), a luggage which is half-full is definitely half-empty!!! Hahaha. See how astute my ideas are? tsk...tsk....

With the never-ending  pasalubong checklist which turns me into a paranoid OC, even my bursting positiveness (naks!) couldn't lead me to believe that my luggage is half-full.

But for today, when I neatly arranged the contents for the nth time, I was struck with the fact that I'll be in my beloved Pinas in less than two weeks.

So I'll stop being pathetic for awhile by debating myself over and over whether my luggage is half-empty or half-full. I'll just enjoy this warm, fuzzy feeling that I'll soon be home.

OOOOOHHHLAAAALAAA!!! I'M GOING HOME! :)

Let the (Water) War Begin!

HAPPY SONGKRAN FESTIVAL THAILAND!

This yearly event during the peak time of clicking hot days of April is like the new year celebration of Thai people. Instead of polka dots, people wear flowery clothes. Instead of blastering and shimmering-splendid fireworks display, the whole Thailand turns into a one, big battle field----with every people perfectly armed and geared for war, that is, water war so to speak.

This is like our San Juan festival in the Philippines, but the intensity is 10x that of our celebration. Everyone splashes water at just about anybody and when I say splashing of water, I don't mean sprinkling of water or that from the water guns only. Those are only reserved for the weaklings, hahahaha! When I say splashing, I mean, SPLASHING WITH A BUCKETFUL OF WATER! Sometimes, A BUCKETFUL OF ICE-COLD WATER! Being grouchy and grumpy is a BIG NO-NO. So, during these times, everyone is splashing and being splashed upon while happily giggling and laughing, and saying kapkun kah (thank you). If you do that in Pinas even though it's San Juan festival, you would even be in a grave danger of being slapped or shouted upon. So, for us first-timers, it's an exhilarating  and liberating feeling to splash water into friends and complete strangers without getting that  "go-to-hell" look. Plus, you wouldn't get strange looks from people while walking the crowded downtown streets when you're completely soaked with water since everyone is soaking wet anyway!

In my case, I tried to project the "don't mess with me" aura just to try if I can pull it through without getting splashed up to the clock tower. We passed by three groups of "splashers" and nobody even dared to point a water gun at me and inside, I was like SUPER gleeful while thinking: "Wohoo! Effective, gumagana!". 


But just after the third station, while my pride was a GAZILLION TIMES higher because of my plan working out perfectly, I felt a cold whip hitting my back and realizing that a bucketful of cold water was splashed on me---not at my face, but on my back (Patalikod kung tumira! hahaha)!

My plan was an EPIC FAIL. So there I was, dripping and nursing my bruised pride because it went gazooooooombiiiing downwards because of the fact that my PLAN FAILED (i-reiterate ba?). I wasn't spared after all, even with the don't-mess-with me look, and all!

So since being grumpy is OUTDATED , there I was dripping, shivering, with bruised pride, but definitely giggling. :)

Unlimited Mileage----Tracing the Transition of the Philippines’ Transport System

To understand a certain country, one doesn’t actually need to look any further or even do an in-depth research. All you have to do is to observe its roads.

The road, ranging from a busy highway to a quiet avenue, is like an open book about a certain place or a nation in general. A nation’s history consisting of its long years of struggle to attain and preserve its freedom and to achieve a better economic and political status can actually be encapsulated in that one single place. The present state of a nation, including the way of life and condition of its people can be observed through its roads. It’s like a plane mirror that can only reflect an image of the object placed in front of it----nothing less, nothing more.

Philippines, from its country lanes to its superhighways, has a rich history when it comes to the evolution of its roads and its transport system. Being an archipelago, transportation is a vital force that drives this nation into action by connecting all its three major islands. However, long before the RORO (Roll On, Roll Off) and the boom of low fares offered by plane companies, the streets all over the country have witnessed a steady transition when it comes to its forms of transportation. It is interesting to trace this transition and ponder on what it tells about the life of its people at a particular time.

The evolution of transportation in our nation is interesting enough. What’s more is that lately, I’ve come to observe that it may be a unique feature of our country but it in one way or another, it shares the same features in the evolution of the transport system of other nations.

With the increase in the number of Filipinos working abroad, most particularly among neighboring Asian countries, it is a comfort to think that there are bits and pieces of foreign culture that somehow, remind these migrant Filipinos of our homeland. Here in Thailand, the first observable thing that makes this foreign place somehow closer to home is its almost identical modes of transportation to the Philippines.

A Taste of the 18th Century Rolls Royce 

The occasional thumping sound of the horse’s hooves on concrete roads coupled with the ringing of the bell to call the attention of tourists and locals, add a small-town charm to the streets of Lampang, a northern city in Thailand. The colorful horse-drawn carriages with the drivers in cowboy costumes is a normal sight in this place as this form of transportation is not only for tourism purposes but is a typical form of transportation in this city.

The first few weeks of getting used to the sight of horse-drawn carriages traipsing Lampang’s busy streets together with motorcycles, cars, and buses was an equally awkward and amusing moment as we are used to seeing horse-drawn carriages we call as kalesa only in major tourist spots in our country like Intramuros or during fiestas and cultural celebrations.

The kalesa gained popularity during the Spanish regime in the Philippines. It must have acted as the 18th century Rolls Royce of the Philippines as it was only the affluent people, which include the noble and the officials, who could afford to experience a kalesa ride. At the moment however, with just Php 500 or less in Intramuros and some tourist spots in the country, anyone can enjoy the luxury once enjoyed only by the elite group of the Philippine society.



Panay’s Version of Hogwarts Express 

For Ilonggos, long before knowing about MRT and LRT and even long before the invention of the bullet trains, we had our Panay Railway Transport System. This 117-km railway line connects Iloilo City to the Province of Capiz.

I would remember how the older folks in Passi, my hometown, would talk about how they used to travel by trains. For someone who has idealized an actual functioning railway system into something like the Hogwarts Express, I was too amazed with the idea of traveling to different points in central Panay by train since the railway is just about a hundred meters away from our house. Since the operations of this railway ceased around in 1985, I only witnessed the bagon during my early childhood years as the remnant of what once used to be as a fully functioning railway transport system.

As much as we love riding the modern subways because they are traffic jam free, but the old models of trains appeal more to most of us because of their charm. Connecting Bangkok to its different provinces is a railway system very much like the Panay Railway Transport, based from actual descriptions of those who were able to experience it and also from old articles and clippings. Yes, the travel might be slower as compared to when taking the bus, but it’s a whole lot cheaper, safer, and more comfortable especially when taking night trips since they offer overnight bunks to passengers.



The Taxi of the Masses 

For those who have grown up in the province, the tricycle (we say it as trisikel, or trisikol) is a vital part of the day-to-day chores and activities. The tricycle is a motorcycle with a built-in sidecar and is supported by three wheels for mobility and balance.

Who could have grown up without riding in a supposed to be 5-seater vehicle, filled with 8 or more people not to mention the sacks of vegetables or charcoal or any other goods tied up on the roof of the side-car and on every available space? And when the driver starts to stand to induce more force when the road is uphill or downhill, sometimes, you would just wish for a faster and less fearful form of possible death. Moreover who haven’t experienced the tricycle “joyrides” during their student days in which you would all beg manong driver to bring you all home, only that the poor manong driver doesn’t have any idea that your homes are on different points around the town area, as if strategically placed far away from each other? Each one of us has our own tricycle stories and anecdotes. I remember that during my first conscious tricycle ride, the fare was just 50 cents and that was back in the early 90’s. Now about 20 years later, the rate has reached to Php 8.

Tourists might be slightly amused upon seeing the “taxi” sign on a vehicle very much like our own tricycle on the streets of the major cities in Thailand. Locally called as tuktuk, so named because of the sound of its engine, this vehicle has a maximum seating capacity of 3 persons. Although the fare is not exactly as cheap as our own tricycle, even more expensive than the real taxis because of their tourism appeal, tuktuk is highly recommended for touring around a busy city like Bangkok as it can easily weave in and out of the traffic.



The Undefeated King of the Road 

We are a “jeepney” nation. With just a spare change of Php 7.50, one can almost go to any destination around the city inside the range of 4-5 kilometers, and just add more or less one peso per succeeding kilometer. The jeepney has come a long way from being a World War II surplus and has undergone several transitions while retaining the Filipino creativity, innovativeness, and ingenuity. Although its existence is being threatened by government regulations and rising costs, the fact that it still floods the different streets in the Philippines proves that it’s still the undisputed king of Philippines’ roads.

Thailand has its own jeepney-like vehicle locally called silo. However, unlike our jeepney which is covered by a magnitude of colors and almost resembles like a moving work of art with its paintings and stickers following a specific theme, the silo is monochromatic----usually yellow, pink or dark blue in color. It is way smaller with a seating capacity of only 9 persons. Although it makes you feel like a little bit closer to home because of its “jeepney-feel”, but here’s the downside of riding the silo---the fare within a 5-kilometer range is 20 baht which is more or less 28 pesos.

Around the World in One Day

Wohoo!!!!

I visited several countries in just a span of 4 hours. And what's more, the countries are just 10 steps away from each other!

This year, the Royal Flora in Chiang Mai featured some structures and landscapes of several countries all around the world for their yearly winter festival. We've got a WHOLE BUNCH of good pictures! Be prepared, my face will be flooding the screen again----me and my awkward, crazy poses! Hahaha! :)

(Dear Self. One day, we'll be visiting these places, and by that time, FOR REAL! *wink*)

I Got Your Point. Thus, this late commentary.

When the raging emotions over the video entitled “20 Reasons Why I Dislike the Philippines” have finally somewhat dissipated, I think this is a more appropriate time to provide a commentary that is not based on boiling rage. Had I written something about this particular topic weeks before, when the video went viral and the net was flooded with haters, mostly Filipinos, the content of this write-up would have been definitely seething with resentment and condemnation for Mr. Jimmy Sieckza. I would have even definitely waged an all-out word war.

As a Filipino who admits to still having goose bumps and who gets teary-eyed over the singing of the Philippine National Anthem during international competitions (and that’s including during Pacquiao’s matches, apparently) or every time the country is being represented, I admit to having gone ballistic the moment I saw the video.

Let’s lay down the cards here. I didn’t particularly enjoy the video, nor did it appear humorous to me as it had that effect on several people. I condemn the fact that Mr. Sieckza seemed to bask in the glory of being a citizen of a first world country. The way he delivered his piece on the video was uncalled for and totally appears to be ostentatious. On the other hand, however much painful it is to admit, the things Mr. Sieckza apparently dislikes about the country to the point of “annoying” and “pissing” him off as he said it, are the ugly realities that we have to deal with.

Admit it or not, we couldn’t even point a single issue presented in the video and declare it as having been presented wrongly or with exaggeration at the very least, since we all know for a fact that if we do that, it would just lead us to a deeper pit. The issues presented are basic truths. In fact, ego aside, credits should be given to Mr. Sieckza for being way too observant, noticing the problems of this nation considering the fact that he is a foreigner, when these problems I assume seem to have been positioned exactly on the blind spots not only of the leaders of this country but of a good portion its people.

Ours is a country with a proud history of having fought invaders armed only with blind faith and a strong desire to attain independence, a country that is being heralded as the pearl of the orient seas, a country that claims to produce “world class Filipinos”. However, I sometime cringe inwardly the moment these positive trademarks and attributes are scraped off from the surface and we are forced to deal with the real state of the nation.

Just a few weeks ago, I invited a foreigner friend to come visit the Philippines some time and he good-naturedly told me, “I heard it’s not safe for foreigners to visit your country.” It was a big slap on my face. Though I explained the real score and then went on rambling about reasons why he should visit the country, even those sounded as mere bluffs on my ears. Why? Because at that moment, I was flooded with the realization that perhaps, we have come to the point when we have all developed over-the-top skills of sugar-coating the real state of the country. And if we have indeed, then we’re too far away from the possibility of rising from the deep pool of poverty and economic instability. For how can a problem be addressed unless there is a realization that there is in fact, a problem?

What exactly happened to us? I can only assume this:

We stopped dreaming big dreams for our country. We have lost hope over the fact that we can actually rise above our “developing nation” status. We have become tolerant, perhaps too calloused of the problems posed at us that we have forced ourselves to become desensitized. We have resorted to that weak form of escape. It even scares me that we are at a point when we’ve become so used to these problems that we say, “Pabay-I na lang ina. Wala na ta mahimo dira.” We really actually don’t have a clear sense of direction of where this country is heading. Thus, the unfinished buildings, the uncovered street holes, the unorganized traffic coupled with the never-ending honking of horns, the half-hearted security guards. So with these realizations, I couldn’t have the heart to fully despise Mr. Sieckza for having the guts--- the way he presented it filled with haughtiness, aside---to present issues that we consciously desensitized ourselves from.

The fact that we went mad, we raged, a big group even waged a web war against the makers of the video couldn’t definitely solve the issues posed at us. On the other hand, those reactions were glimmers of hope that we have not completely fallen into desensitization. We reacted because despite the fact that we don’t have the full confidence on the idea of our nation rising up from poverty and all the issues attached to it, we wouldn’t settle over the idea of the world looking down on us because we know for a fact that if we really put our hearts and minds over a particular matter, we can do better than anybody else.

Just as there are countless ways to kill a cat, there are also several ways to solve this big mess that we have made as a nation. Let the others post videos and commentaries about their “20 Reasons Why I Like Philippines”, those are good starters. Let those security guards start doing their jobs the right way upon feeling the guilt and shame of watching themselves smile and wave at the camera while Mr. Sieckza is talking in the foreground of how they appear to be useless in case of real emergencies. Demand for foods which are handled only the proper way. Flush the toilet bowl as a courtesy for the next user in public toilets-----it might sound simple, but if the habit is developed in each one of us, then it’s one big problem down. Only honk when it’s necessary. March on the streets to be heard if you must, if you think that might be a way to awaken the public and those who are holding seats in the government. Let’s not just stop on defending ourselves through word wars when our egos are hit, bull’s eye. Let’s go beyond from being emotional people, into logical people who take responsibility, people who move into action. The basic point is, each one of us has a certain responsibility to this nation that only we can do. So, let’s channel our boiling emotions regarding this recent issue into doing what we have to do, with unwavering determination and with unbridled passion comparable to the rage which we exhibited over the posting of Mr. Sieckza’s video. 

 As for the whitening products loaded with UV protection, that’s probably the last in our list of concerns. If I may be asked however, I’ll give this particular issue an exemption. Let’s give it a break. It’s summer anyway.

Yay! I'm Officially Writing for a Local Paper!

No matter how many times my articles have been published in several papers, you think I would just be uber cool about it and act nonchalant as if it's no big deal. But actually, the so-called glory of the byline definitely has the power to turn the normally "stoic" me (Hahaha! This needs an explanation since my friends would ragingly disagree with this!),  into a secretly dancing diva. Yes, that's one of my dirty little secrets-----I dance.Whenever I get published, I secretly go to my room and dance this little jig of mine coupled with a silent "happy scream", which I hope nobody sees, since all the respect for me would definitely fly out of the windows once I'm seen with this lame excuse for a dance.

So officially, I am a columnist of Panay News. Thanks, to Manang Aiza, a writer friend who offered this cool opportunity to write and get published again. Forgive me for being so overly dramatic about this but the idea of a tiny space reserved for me just gives me this happy-kind-of-being-stressed state. Yes, no matter how others would romanticize the idea of writing, in real life my dear folks, it's a stressful process----much more with the idea that other people would get to read and criticize your work.

I'm just happy because even though I'm far away from 'pinas (naks, ang arte pakinggan), but I get the chance to share my thoughts on current issues and share some of my daily life anecdotes (As if my life is soooooo interesting, duh!). Plus the BIG BONUS is that my nanay would get to see my picture on a boxed column every Tuesdays and Thursdays! Isn't that a delight? ;)

Seriously, this is actually more of a responsibility than an opportunity. The fact that whatever you write in this tinie-winie space could affect other's viewpoints and could stop or make them move to action, is something that can equally give you a heady rush and at the same time, weigh heavily on your shoulders

However, I'm totally built for this. I can take criticisms well as much as appreciation-----that's the kind of humility that any aspiring and struggling writers surely develop. Frankly, it's not without great effort. Here's my dose of inspiration/challenge from Bob Ong: "Hindi lahat nabibigyan ng boses sa papel. kaya 'di dapat sayangin ang pribilehiyo na mailapat ang isip sa isang babasahin. Ipayakap mo ang buong papel sa sariling salita. Angkinin mo ang bawat sulok ng espasyo na ipinagkatiwala sa'yo. Dahil hindi ka nadadagdagan sa paggamit sa mga sulating hindi mo gawa, nananakawan ka lang ng napakahalagang punasan ng tinta."

So, I am definitely claiming my tinie-winie writing space. ;)