hiatus -
noun hi·a·tus \hī-ˈā-təs\
: a period of time when something (such as an activity or program) is stopped
a : an interruption in time or continuity : break; especially : a period when something (as a program or activity) is suspended or interrupted <after a 5-year hiatus from writing>
Hindi naman ako umabot ng five (5) years sa pagtigil ko sa pagsusulat. From my last post, it was June of 2014 so it took me seven (7) months of stopping. If you want to know the reasons, I'll give you... three. One is because I have no time of writing. The second one is I don't have an inspiration or even a good topic to begin with. And the last but definitely not the least is, I'm heavily lazy!
The last post (dated June 19th) was a prayer about committing a failure. Well, I know now why I am writing. I think I failed my main purpose, or goal, which is to write whatever I wanted to write. It is actually ironic because as of now, I am teaching subjects like Technical Writing and Advanced Expository Writing to my students. Tapos, hindi ako nagsusulat sa blog ko (na pinagmamalaki ko pa sa resume ko that I own this blog at may "since 2011" pa!). I failed with my plans. Narito pang naiisip kong magsulat ng novel at short stories dahil umaatikabo na naman ang creative mind ko. Again, it is a prayer. I'm always praying that I could grip a very good topic or perhaps, a spur-of-the-moment moment for me to realize that I am, again, going to back to writing.
Now here comes a job interview that only happened this morning. The interviewer got really interested in one of my skills which is blog-writing. I don't know, maybe I found a new fan (wow!) and maybe, she never had a chance of reading my blog. This put me back to my love, which is again, writing!
After my very last post, ang daming magaganda at pangit na mga pangyayari ang nangyari sa buhay ko. Beautiful things I will continue to cherish and not-so-beautiful things I need to let go and/or rearrange so that it will become beautiful. At ito ang na-miss ko sa pagba-blog, the brouhahas which I became famous of. I want to enliven the ideals of my blog, which is the acquisition of everyday's somethings. Sa loob naman siguro ng pitong buwan, ang daming "everyday's somethings" ang nangyari sa buhay ko, which is I need to acquiesce, este to acquire, or possibly reacquire.
Let me go back to the last seven months prior to this post.
FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY
I saw a post from my former professor and a very good friend of mine, Ma'am Neriz Gabelo, in our college batch group page on Facebook asking her former students who are now professionals (of course!) which among us are already MA graduates of English. Naghahanap kasi ang FEU Department of English ng mga instructors (part-time or full-time) for the first semester. When I saw the post, dali-dali akong nag-message kay Madame (we fondly call her that!) kung pupuwede ako, na mayroon pa lamang twenty-seven (27) units sa MA at hindi pa English ang ine-MA ko but Literature. She replied, telling me na tatanungin niya muna ang friend niyang nasa FEU. After few hours, it was a great news! Puwede raw.
The following day, I went to FEU. Na-late ako ng thirty minutes dahil after kong ibigay ang PRC ID ko sa Visitor's Lounge ng FEU (near BPI) eh hindi ko na alam kung saan ako pupunta. It is like a maze for me; I don't know where exactly the Arts Building is located. The last time I went to FEU was in 2004 when my dear high school unfortunately refunded her initial payment. After noon, wala na ulit. Dumaan ako sa ground level ng Nursing Building na dadaanan ko ang office ng IABF , with some rooms. I traversed to a big walkway in between the Education Building and Law Building. Then, nakita ko na ang quadrangle ng FEU. Wow! Ang laki! Naalala ko ang PLM, pero different siya dahil puro cement walkways at naka-fence ang grass nila. At ang daming students! Then, I was looking for the Arts Building and I don't know where to find it. I thought one building was AB, then I found out thanks to the nameplate, Science Building siya. Nagtanong na ako sa isang student kung nasaan ang Arts Building. Since medyo mahina ako sa directions especially my left and my right, I just went on, since I do not really like asking directions. I saw another nameplate from the glass window, Institute of Arts and Sciences. I went inside the office, akala ko yun na yun. The name of the person I am looking for is Dr. Emmanuel Gonzales, which happens to be the ninong of my good friend Juanito and Lyrize at their wedding. I went upstairs, sa 3rd floor at nakita ko ang office ng Department of English. Doon ko unang na-meet si Ma'am Linda (which is by now, I call her sweetly as T'yang Linda). Medyo nasungitan pa ako sa kanya noon kasi nagtanong ako kung saan ko makikita si Dr. Gonzales or Sir Manny. She pointed me to the office of International Studies. Walang tao sa office dahil nga naman lunch time. I texted Ma'am Gabelo that I am late and I am super nervous. I am also waiting for Aldrin (a good friend of mine). After few minutes, nagkita na kami ni Sir Manny. Nakakahiya dahil late ako because of the devilish traffic at SLEX and Buendia, matching paghihintay pa ng LRT. Kaunting interview, which is very informal thankfully, nasambit ko pa sa kanya na kaibigan kong matalik sila Yuan at Ly na inaanak niya sa kasal (which I also told him na nakita ko siya mismo sa wedding). Then, I went to the Department of English office kung saan ako unang pumunta. I met Sir Roger Bingculado, the Program Head of FEU Department of English. He asked me few questions. Then afterwards, mayroon na akong teaching load. The following day, I have a class.
Wow! I never imagined myself that I will be teaching college as easy as that. I only asked a question that if it is possible but it happened. At hindi lang ako part-time lecturer but a full-time. Initially, they gave me 15 units, hanggang naging 18, naging 21 at naging 24. Another wow moment for me! But my first days at FEU are not easy; it became bumpy and rough ride. When it comes to students, since they're college, they already know what might lead them if they did not do what they need to do. Meaning, kapag pabaya ka sa studies mo, good luck na lang sa grades mo. I became also independent in terms of what I want to teach. What my students wanted to learn, I will give it to them. Pero, may mga pagkakataon pa rin na para akong nagtuturo ng high school (read: first year college students). Others are looking at me still not believing that I am teaching them. Probably, we they first saw me, they never imagined, even realized that I am a college instructor. I introduced myself to the students, at napa-wow sila dahil raw ang bata ko pa to teach college. Then I thought, kapag ba college professor or instructor ka, kailangan matanda na or worst, matandang-matanda na? I said to myself, I will treat them as hungry kids wanting to learn the realities of life because college is a preparation stage for the real world.
Magaganda ang mga subjects na tinuturuan ko, Basic English, Academic Writing, Technical Writing and Business Communication. All about English, since according to the department, so far ang highest educational attainment ko ay ang bachelor's degree ko in Communication Arts-English. It was fun learning and teaching the subjects, well except Basic English since I forgot some grammar topics. Bagong-bago sa akin ang Business Communication and Technical Writing because it deals with business correspondence and everything about communication. Academic Writing is research writing so I lead them how to create chapters one to five of their so-called "baby theses." May mga natutuwa sa akin sa pagtuturo at may mga nagko-comment na masyadong subjective. Anyways, I don't even mind for as long as I'm doing my job pretty well. FEU students are well-rounded (except with my first year college students). During first semester, gustong-gusto ko yung klase ko na GED205, which are mostly IABF students, yung GED0117 ko na mga Internal Auditing students, HMGE107 na mga Tourism students (na medyo malaki ang atraso ko sa kanila dahil 7:30 am ang class ko sa kanila't lagi akong nale-late, and ENG3MC, which are better Mass Communication/Communication Arts students. They are all kind, responsible and at the same time, humble. May mga na-handle-an akong mga students but I just don't like the attitude since they belong to a good course which is highly expected. And of course, the dreadful first year college students, which they still don't know the harshness of college life (palibhasa, hindi pa nakakalasap ng bagsak!). For this semester, as what I've mentioned in the first part, Technical Writing and Advanced Expository Writing. Sadly from 24 units, naging 12 units ako but that's fine. Mababait naman ang mga students ko, so far, so good. In college, I did not bring my disciplinarian attitude from my previous institution dahil siyempre bawal (except in one incident in which, hindi na kaya ng pasensya ko, I uttered a very cursed word. Anyway, they deserve it!). Pero, may mga pagkakataong pinapakitaan ko sila ng katarayan ko, but in a blissful act. And thanks to technology, I can communicate to them through Facebook and text messaging kapag I can't come to school. Never did I imagine that I taught future media personalities, hoteliers and restaurateurs, businesspeople, accountants, medical technologists and lawyers. Even UAAP players and a courtside reporter (wow, special mention!).
Aside from the students, I gained new and lovely friends. Aside from T'yang Linda, Sir Roger and Sir Manny, I made a good friendship with Sir Bong Villanueva, Sir Stephen Ong, Sir Joey Santos, Ma'am Emi Felimer, Ma'am Kaye Riano, Ma'am Tess Doctor, Ma'am Vanessa Bernabe, Ma'am Mycah Chavez, Ma'am Cecille Ycong, Sir Michael Diezmo, Dr. Tuazon and of course, Sir Jenorie San Agustin. Whenever I'm in FEU, hindi ako nag-iisa, because I have so many friends that I can talk to, ask questions, absorb my predicaments and frown on my quandaries. Minsan nga, naiisip ko that I don't actually belong to these people dahil buti pa sila, matatagal na sa college samantalang ako, I am brand new. They are all treasured in my hearts, no matter what happened in our own destinies and career paths. Medyo nakakatakot kasi sa mga panahong ngayon sa college because of the dreaded K-12 curriculum, which will make college tilted to a different dimension. There will come a school year that no freshman will be studying because they need to finish another two years in high school, called senior high school. Whatever will happen to that system, so be it.
It was really fun teaching college students because they know the value of responsibility. And also, they are preparing themselves to become somebody soon. Even though I am not be thanked for those things, I know inside my heart that I touched their lives, helped them answering their questions and believed them that they can make it. May iba na nagpapasalamat because they passed, others probably forgot, or others did not mind at all that some time in their lives, I existed and gave them a legit grade, it's fine. This is a great opportunity for me to be part of one of the best universities in the Philippines.
TAMPURUROT TURNED FRIENDSHIP-OVER-BUT-NOT-REALLY-FRIENDSHIP-OVER-BUT-NOT-TALKING-TO-EACH-OTHER-FOR-THE-PAST-SEVEN-MONTHS
2014 was my most sensitive year. I became bossy with my sensitivities which is, ayaw na ayaw ko na nadedehado ako pagdating sa mga emotions and feelings. Call me maarte but I am like that! I became tampururot because, one is a challenge-turned-some-series-of-unfortunate-events while the other one is forgettable and insincere. I'm still hoping that we could get along but because of hectic schedule (sabihan niyo na akong gumagawa ng alibi, but maybe yes?), I don't have time... Or should I say, I don't have plans. Ang ayaw ko rin sa lahat yung pinipilit ako to make everything okay because, reality check, it is not okay. Siya na rin ang nagsabi that's why hindi siya present sa birthday ko because we're not okay. And I understand, because we're not okay. Pero hindi ako naniniwala sa "friendship over" dahil for the rest of our lives, we will remain friends. Sila na rin ang nagsabi na magkakapatid kami. Kung ang magkapatid nga, nag-aaway at hindi nagpapansinan na parang for a lifetime pero at the end of the line, nagbabati rin. I just don't like to be forced because it will not be a good help. And hindi rin naman dapat na kailangan may audience participation, na tatalunin pa ang live TV engagement nina Dingdong at Marian. It is truly sincere if it will happen by happenstance.
I know it will happen soon. Please allow my heart to get ready because the last time I checked on it, it is not yet.
CRUSH
I have a new crush and this time, this person is my contemporary. This person has a good gift in writing and in fact, this person has a continuous column in one of the biggest national newspapers in the country. In fairness naman, ang galing-galing niyang magsulat. Aside from the newspaper, contributor din siya sa mga kilalang magazines dito sa Pilipinas. Hopefully we could be classmates again next school year, and I do hope to meet this person soon enough. Malay natin, lalo na't mayroon siyang social media na kung saan mga katulad natin ang puwedeng magkaroon.
DEAR POPE FRANCIS, THANK YOU SA MALASAKIT! IKAW TALAGA ANG PEOPLE'S POPE!
January 19, 2015. I saw a picture via Twitter via Planefinder na nasa Philippine airspace na ang airplane na sinasakyan ni Pope Francis. As a Catholic, my heart is jumping. As a child of God, I feel that I'm so much excited to see my father after so many years. He is visiting our country, the Philippines. But truthfully, I didn't see Pope Francis but the messages of mercy and compassion by Jesus Christ, our Savior! Yung nakita mo ang mukha niya sa bintana ng SriLankan Airlines, gusto mo ng sumigaw at sabihan siyang "Welcome to the Philippines, Pope Francis!" At yung scene na paglabas niya sa eroplano, lumipad ang skullcap niya dahil sa lakas ng hangin sa Villamor Airbase. Yung simpleng "hi!" niya sa mga Pilipino. Kahit sa TV ko lang siya nakita, at hindi in person, feeling mo ang lapit-lapit mo na sa kanya at pupuwede ka na niyang basbasan! Kahit sa TV ko lang siya nafa-follow lalo na sa motorcade niya from Villamor Airbase to Apostolic Nunciature, ang sarap ng feeling na ang daming taong tuwang-tuwa dahil isang malaking tao, which we knew as the messenger of God is here to spread the mercy and compassion.
He went to Malacanang (since he's not only the Pope as the head of the Roman Catholic Church, but also a head of state of Vatican City, which is city-state), then straight to Manila Cathedral na kanyang pinakaunang misa sa Pilipinas (never forget to mention "Do you love me?" "Yes!" "Then, thank you very much!"), then to Mall of Asia Arena for the Meeting with the Filipino Families (who will forget the ailing kid which he blessed but unfortunately died). Nagpunta siya sa Tacloban, amidst Typhoon Amang. Well, he already experienced the waterproof power of the Filipinos! Of course, his homily (na kapag ang homily or messages niya ay sa Spanish, we knew it really came from his heart, from the voice of Jesus!). At yung sinabi niyang, "I am here to tell you that Jesus is Lord!" Sadly, one church volunteer killed while in service because of an accident. Yung pumunta siya sa UST for the interreligious meeting and Meeting with the Filipino Youth. Lalo na yung isa sa mga nag-message na batang babae asking him "Why God let all bad things happen to children?" At siya, him considered as the Pope, has no answer for the question, a very humble one! And the most important celebration during his Apostolic Visit is his concluding mass at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta. My dear sister went there pero masyado na siyang malayo (they are staying near the Lapu-Lapu monument, which is near Taft Avenue, imagine how far they are from the main altar!). And umuulan pa! Still, he was a charmer. He kissed kids, he blessed all the families, sick people, and even an ordinary Catholic.
I am such a Catholic, not saying I'm a good one, but when Pope Francis came, I was refreshed. Ito ang pagkakataong naging isa ang buong Pilipinas, despite of the religion they belong to. I never had a chance to see him in person, or too close but knowing that he's around, I feel better. It is such a privilege that a huge personality like Pope Francis chose the Philippines to celebrate the Word of God and to give us fruitful messages from Jesus' heart. Tama naman si Pope, he is not here because he is the Pope, he is here because of Jesus Christ! I saw Jesus in him, being so humble and meek. Whenever he goes around to meet people, he is like an ordinary priest, the only difference is he owns the whole Roman Catholicism. He was the one who told the world of His love. When he went back home to Rome on the 19th of January, totoo talaga ang sepanx or separation anxiety.
I will be one of the people to welcome him again, if he's coming back on 2016. I want to experience the Pope Francis effect!
BASHING AND UN-FOLLOWING
In one of the episodes of It's Showtime, sinabi ni Vice Ganda na noong nag-open siya ng kanyang social media account, ang dami raw galit na tao. Tama nga naman, kaunting kibit lang, or kahit simpleng post lang sa Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, hinding-hindi mawawalan ng pang-ookray, pangba-bash at pangliliit sa tao.
Vice Ganda has been one of the most powerful celebrities in the Philippines who uses social media as his way to reach out his fans, at siya mismo nalulungkot sa ganyan. They use social media to ax down people to their level. They use social media as weapon to destruct the brightness of a person. They don't even critique but criticize. They don't give opinions but judge without even knowing. Matatapang lang sila dahil hindi sila nakikita or nakikilala. In short, they're all lame and coward.
I have so many things to say about a certain celebrity or event pero I don't entirely shout it out in my social media accounts. I can say whatever I want to say because I have a freedom to do it. Pero yung iba, masyado na rin sila. They do not know the full story, kumbaga makapag-comment lang. And whenever they comment, masyado naman degrading and harsh, which is really unfair. I imagined, what if until now wala pa ring Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, may ganito pa rin kaya? Huwag na tayong magtaka kung magkakaroon ng World War III at ang nag-generate nito dahil lang sa isang pangit na comment sa isang picture (medyo OA, huwag naman sana!).
Because of continuous bashing, you are being un-followed. It is a good move, which should not be become a national headline. And you know what I mean! Hopefully, social media users may become aware of what they are saying. As what GMA 7 says, think before click. Para wala ng away!
CHICO LOCO
Before, I used to listen Papa Jack of Love Radio 90.7 through his radio show True Love Conversations. As his way of entertaining radio listeners, he will be answering three callers, telling about their own love stories. Until recently, medyo nase-stress na ako sa kanya dahil sa mga calls niya, sinisigawan na niya. He is always reprimanded and criticized about, but then, he is known for that. New year came, I switched to a new radio show weeknights, beginning at 9:00 pm and that's from their sister station, YES! FM 101.1. Entitled YES Diaries, it is hosted by Chico Loco.
As of the moment, I am listening to his radio show dahil sa maraming dahilan. Una, he hosts a one-man-show. Meaning, he can entertain me for the whole show. He makes laugh loudly because of his funny antics. Masaya kasi sa isang host na he/she shares what he/she experienced in reality at ganoon si Chico Loco (though ganoon din naman si Papa Jack, yun nga lang sumisigaw siya). Chico Loco shouts but for fun. At ang pinakanakakatuwa sa show niya: every time he has a caller and before they share their stories, sila muna ay kikilatisin, titingnan at ite-trace ang kanilang Guhit ng Kapalaran. May kakausap muna sa kanilang mga characters na mismong si Chico Loco ang bumoboses (if I'm not mistaken, aside from being a DJ, isa rin siyang voice talent!). Nandiyan at makakausap mo si Madam Chiki, ang baklang manghuhula at nagbibigay ng mga lucky anes, si Lola Kerps na may mga kuwento ng mga alamat ng kamatis, kamias, kamote at orange, si Kapitan Tutan na dating moviestar na nagbebenta ng Tutan's Hotdog at bibigyan ka pa niya ng kanyang mga DVD (read as dee-vey-dee) na mga pelikula niya, si Notnot, ang pinakaguwapong prinsipe ng kanilang kaharian (na kaboses ni Mojacko). So far, sila pa lang ang naririnig ko but according to Wikipedia, mayroon pa siyang ginagawang boses like Koyang (based from Kuya of PBB), Chiclet and Balitanga (as in sasabihan kang tanga!). Maganda pa boses kapag kumakanta.
He gives advices about life, aside from love, na may halong katarayan. I still love Papa Jack but for now, I will prefer to listen to Chico Loco because he is funny and absolutely talented. Well, if it is not because of the defunct Gabi Na, Gising Na show nila before every Friday, I will never meet and know Chico Loco (as if naman na nagkita na kami personally!).
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAYS
PNR is a real money saver for me. Dahil sa hindi na ganoong ka-stable ang pay ko, I need to frugal myself in my daily expenses, which includes public transportation. Kapag pauwi ako, lagi akong nage-LRT from Doroteo Jose to Gil Puyat, then BBL or Green Star going to our place. It costs me PHP120.00 (back and forth), which is not well compensated. New year started and I started using PNR trains going south to Laguna, for just PHP30.00. Minsan din naman ay nagpi-PNR ako going to Espana from Alabang for only PHP20.00. You have to be very mindful with the schedule. What I do, coming from FEU is I take a jeep ride to Tutuban, at lalakarin ko na yan hanggang sa Tutuban station ng PNR. I will wait for the 7:07 or 7:37 train ride going to either Calamba or Sta. Rosa. Bababa ako ng San Pedro then another jeep ride to our place. Imagine that from Manila to San Pedro, I only bought a ticket for PHP30.00 from PHP60.00 na dalawang sakay pa.
Since I am a self-proclaimed rail fan, how I wish the services of PNR are world-class and at par with LRT in terms of their trains. Nakakalungkot lang dahil, let's face it, pangit ang mga trains nila. Second hand JR lines ang ginagamit nila and it plies everyday at the railways na hindi naa-upgrade. May mga pagkakataon pang habang dumadaan ang train (especially in the Muntinlupa area), may mga nambabato. If you would notice with the windows, may mga grills dahil mahirap na't mabasag at makasakit pa ng pasahero. Another thing that is a disaster at PNR are the rush hours. Sobrang daming tao at talagang siksikan, na literally known to be a sardine can rolling along the tracks.
Apart from the lows and woes of LRT (lalo na ang EDSA MRT), sana bigyang pansin rin ng DOTC ang problema sa PNR. I still believe that some time soon, we will have our very first high speed rail, good passenger services that will cater the entire nation and commuter services na parang LRT lang din ang effect. Dahil diyan, talagang nasa daang matuwid tayo (which apparently, matuwid pa ba?). Just saying.
Hindi naman halatang-halatang sobrang tagal na noong huli akong nagsulat. As what I've mentioned, this is the essence of my blog. To share anything and everything under the sun. After seven months of not writing anything, this is what happened to me. Masyado akong naging madaldal. Actually from those that I've written, ang dami pang issues that I actually see and experience, malayuan man o malapitan.
I'm not going to promise because I'm dreadful of breaking it but I will make sure I will write. I will use the power of words to release what I feel inside me. And of course, my main goal, to entertain, inspire and teach my readers about everyday's somethings.
Writing will definitely be my most favorite macro-skill in English.
Sorry if it took very long to have a new one.
And I miss saying this after...
Toodles!
- meaning of hiatus is by Merriam Webster Online Dictionary.
