The Food

As first time parents-to-be, my hubby and I have a lot of conversations regarding our baby. But the one I am going to share today is a conversation which always makes me smile everytime i am reminded of it.

Last Thursday, October 15, 2009, my partner and i went out on a date. We picked some grocery items and then off we went to have dinner as it was after-work grocery errand. We decided to eat at Greenwich. We reviewed the events of the day and shared our plans for the next day.

Here comes our order, a layer of pizza and value meals. We were having fun eating and all of a sudden i asked " Pag naa na si baby, i-jollibee gihapon nato siya?" (When baby is born, will we bring her/him to jollibee as well?) Glester tenderly looked at me and asked "Asa man diay nimo siya plano dad-on?" (Where are you planning to take the baby?) Without butting an eyelash i answered "Sa library!"(to the library) with all the excitement of an expectant mother visualizing to read to and with her child. Glester's eyes danced in merriment to my confusion then it broke to laughter! still! I did not get it! What's wrong with my answer?!

Amidst his laughter he asked me to review my question, and still adamant i asked "why?is my answer wrong? " And he said "Pagkaon atong istoryahan, library pud naa sa imong hunahuna" (we are talking about food and there your mind goes to the library!) Ouch! crazy me! I broke into laughter and up till now i am not certain whether or not i should be embarrassed. But in the end, i chose to smile over it and be thankful, my husband can laugh on the idiosyncratic turns of my thoughts! :-)

On Palawan/Mindoro Folksongs

A friend, Leo Marconi, texted me this morning re: Mindoro and Palawan Folk Literature, folk songs in particular. i am not so certain if he means the lyrics or the background of the song. Anyhow, as both of us were busy the early part of the day, i just told him i will try to help look for what he needs. I am not so certain neither with the documents i have seen, as i did Bukidnon Indigenous Poetry and i went to the site myself to collect.

Anyhow, it will always be a pleasure and an honor to be a help to those who are interested in indigenous poetry.

for Mandaya background, one can visit this link
this article will give you an ample background about the tribe. The tribe though can be seen in the MIndanao area but then as different studies had shown, this article can give you idea on the similarities and differences of this tribe to other indigenous poetry.

for Mangyan background, you can visit this link
this article will give you insights about the tribe's origin, their religious beliefs, their system of government and their culture and tradition.

Mangyan, here is another site that can enrich one's understanding about the Southern Luzon's tribe: link
this is an article pertaining the different Mangyan groups showing their similarities and diversities. This article is another proof that indeed the Philippine Indigenous Groups have a lot of common but then still they have their own uniqueness which the "majority" have to see and appreciate yet.

This link is a for the Mangyan group which helps preserve the culture. feel free to visit their site and i am certain they would be glad to be of help when it concerns the preservation of the culture and literature of the tribe.

This net article link will give you a recent discussion and description of the tribe.

here is a sample of Mindoro Folk Song taken from http://www.pbase.com/zstudio3/mangyans_of_mindoro&page=1

ANG HARDINERO
(Oriental Mindoro song)

Di bagamaraming bulaklak saan man!
Makakapili ka Sarisaring kulay
Kung ang mapili mo'y ang bulaklak ng rosal
Di ibig pitasin sa sanga at tangkay Di bagama
Di mo ba gatanto na ako'y asusena
Ang hardinero ko'y si Ama't si ina?
Bago ka pumitas bulaklak sa sanga
Sa hardinero'y magsabi ka muna

The next three links will connect you to Filipino folksongs site:

link1
link2
link3

Lastly, here are link1 and link2 that would connect you to the songs i have found in relation to Mindoro folksongs, but having read about the language and the people these seem to be Ilonggo songs, anyhow for anyone interested, i hope this helps still.

I hope these entries will help awaken all Filipinos that there is yet a great need to salvage our indigenous poetry. That we are very rich culturally, all we need to do is to acknowledge and appreciate it and finally WORK on it.

On my next entry, i will try to enrich my site through the article reviews pertaining the different tribes of the Philippines. I hope these links will enrich your appreciation and understanding of the need to preserve and cultivate the pride and respect each indigenous tribe deserves.

Will you listen?

Texting or sending messages through SMS had been in the Philippines since time immemorial. At times it is irritating especially when people insensitively put you on these "Send to many" list, then send you messages which are far-fetched. But the, there are a lot of benefits taken from this "send to many" lists... Here is one text message my sister, Marvi had sent me:

Loving someone must really be not as easy as most teeners imagine it. As it consists of very simple principles yet these principles require so much humbleness and love.

Ten Ways to Love People
(True and Biblical)


1. Listen without interrupting (Prov1:13)

This means putting your heart and mind and your whole being in the process of conversation. It also means cutting the thoughts that would like to slip out of your mouth or the solution that might be the answer to a problem shared for example. It simply means keeping quiet and observant no matter how much you wanted to voice out your comments.

2. Speak without accusing ( James 1:19)
This means swallowing the pride and making your point straight while making certain the other person knows it is the act that you do not approve and not the person itself. It means asking open-ended questions and making the person know you would believe whatever he or she say, only that you just wanted to hear it straight from him or her.

3. Give without sparing (Prov21:26)
To give is not to keep anything. It means putting your heart on the item itself. As Mother Teresa puts it, it hurts the giver when she/he gives but then it is giving when amidst the pain happiness is felt more.

4. Pray without ceasing ( Collossians1:9)
The answer to every prayer is sent everyday, only we need to recognize. If we do not recognize right away, we should intensify our prayers a,d if we already have recognized we should intensify it even more. It is also a way of saying to PRAY is to BELIEVE you already have received it.

5. Answer without arguing (Prov17:1)
This means to answer questions without being defensive. It is putting in mind that the person is simply asking because he/she is concerned about you. As the Bible puts it, gentle words drive away anger.

6. Share without pretending (Ephesians4:15)
This statement simply means, enjoying the act of sharing or opening your self to different possibilities with your partner.

7. Enjoy without complaint (Philippians2:14)
This means putting your whole self in the activity knowing that "time" really belongs to your partner or friend.

8. Trust without wavering (Corinthians13:7)
This means believing your partner will always be true and loyal to you. That no matter what people say, it is his/her word versus them, and that it is knowing that his/her word weighs heavier than anyone around you.

9. Forgive without punishing (Colossians3:13)
When we say "It's alright" it means, we are not thinking of getting even. Our "it's alright" must be an equivalent to "let us both learn from it" and let us both grow from the experience.
*** if you say you are sorry, mean it. try to avoid doing the same mishap again. it is very important, our partner feels secured by seeing our effort to be a better person for our self and our loved ones.***

10. Promise without forgetting (Prov13:12)
this means keeping your words and making certain you fulfill whatever you say to your partner. It is another way of saying, never forget to REMEMBER.

Loving our self is the best gift we can give both to our self and the people who matter to us. As in loving ourselves, it radiates and it is seen and understood by the way we deal with people. Loving means listening and trusting! It is a beautiful world especially when shared with special someone. So why wait for the morrow when loving could begin NOW. Let us listen and let our ears eyes says aloud I LOVE YOU

it's over!

exactly a minute from now, i have completed Bookworm Adventure... though i had played in for a long time, still the thought that i have finally accomplished the game and had won over Codex made me really excited.

i play this game only to relax and since we are rather very busy lately, i really can't play that often, but today i am definitely glad and happy as finally, i have won!

word games are really good for people of all ages. it would be excellent for children with the parents guide of course!


Image source: http://www.angryflower.com

Groovin Tags

This is the tag given to us by Bobbie, the owner/manager of Groovin' tag and our dear friend. It is our wedding souvenir. A lot of our friends like it because of its uniqueness. That tag over there is actually an AMBIGRAM, meaning the words/names are readable in the other viewpoint. I was really delighted when i first saw it especially with our names on. I'm kinda proud that our names matched, because not all names are compatible.

There are lots of designs available for you to choose from, you can even customize. You can use them on your gadgets as name tag, key chain, even dog tag.

You can find their booth on these locations, also they are in Malaybalay, Bukidnon during Kaamulan Festival then to Davao City during Araw Ng Dabaw celebration.

Cebu
Main Branch Parkmall
E-Mall
island Mall Mactan


Cagayan de Oro City
Lim Ket Kai Mall
SM City CDO

Luzon
SM Fairview
Gateway Mall

The First Heartbeat

Last Saturday, October 3, 2009, my hubby Glester and I went to visit my OB-Gyne, Dr. Richelle Acuna at the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital at Maramag, Bukidnon. We were to meet her at 1P.M. it was my monthly prenatal schedule.

So went our afternoon, Dr. Ging met us and she told me we would listen to our baby's heartbeat. We were four in the room, my doctor, my hubby and my mama, Rovi. i was not so certain what to feel but i am certain i am very excited. the Doppler instrument was then placed on my top my womb, and whoa! i heard a horse-like tramping in the wilderness. Believe me, i thought of a paradise when i heard the sound, i wan't so certain what that was as it was my first time to hear it. Dr. Ging said, "Siya na yon! (That is her/him, the gender of our baby wasn't known yet as she/he must be covering it yet-- maybe for surprise effect!)" MY! is it real? am i hearing it right? Can't believe up till now there is this precious life inside me! So this is it-- being a WOMAN!

In my glee, i looked at Glester who's face spells awe and happiness. I can read clearly his almond-shaped eyes saying "I love you and the baby!" i never thought, i'd feel this kind of joy.

So on the counting of the heartbeat go, and all of a sudden when i asked Glester, "Did you hear that?" He answered in his usual carefree way "Murag baki! Murag tingog sa baki!" (It sounds like frog! Like the sounds of frogs!" I can't help but laugh along in his good spirit! Indeed, the baby's heartbeat has the power to make you imagine a many thousand things... but on top all that, it makes you think of heaven here on earth!

The Paper

Today, i read one paper that took my interest for two reasons.

First, it was about Philippine Indigenous Poetry, my line of interest and my topic on my Master's Thesis,

Second, it seemed to be a mirror of my own paper.

So went i into reading the whole paper, to my disappointment, i saw what i was dreading to see. the words i had used in my own paper with a little change, but almost the same still. though he had acknowledged me in some parts, still he had changed very minimal words from my work and so somehow i thought, it wasn't fair still.

i did not know what to feel, but later, i just realised i was deeply disappointed. anyhow, it would not be used instead, he was given an idea or suggestion on how to go about his work.

i am sure, there are alot of researchers in indigenous literature who would be happy he had been interested in the field, but ONE thing i am certain, we would be very happy if he would do his job honestly.

anyhow, for anyone who wishes to work on Philippine Indigenous Poetry, let us help one another in preserving the literary wealth of the original settlers of the land. For us neophytes, let us be inspired by the dedication, consistency and honesty of the experts in the field.

MABUHAY Philippine indigenous literature! :-)



photo taken from http://ecx.images-amazon.com