Sulyap Sa Yaman Ng lahi

Panitikang Filipino

2010-05-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

Panitikan sa Pilipinas
Mula sa Tagalog na Wikipedia, ang malayang ensiklopedya

Ang Panitikan sa Pilipinas ay pangunahing tumutukoy sa umiiral, umuunlad, at namamayaning uri at anyo ng katutubong panitikan sa bansang Pilipinas. Subalit nakakasama rin dito ang mga panitikang nilikha at ginawa ng mga Pilipinong nasa labas ng sariling bansa, sapagkat inakdaan ang mga ito ng mga Pilipino, o ng may-lahing Pilipino sa malawak na nasasakupan ng paksa. Dahil dito, tinatawag ding Panitikang Pilipino ang Panitikan ng Pilipinas. Sa kasalukuyan, tinatawag din itong Panitikang Filipino, sapagkat kinabibilangan ng mga likhang pampanitikang nagmula sa at kinabibilangan ng iba’t ibang wika sa Pilipinas.

Mayaman ang Pilipinas sa sari-saring anyo at hubog ng panitikan na naglalarawan sa kalinangan ng mga Pilipino. Kabilang sa mga ito ang kuwentong-bayan, maikling kuwento o maikling katha, sanaysay, tula, dula, nobela, drama, balagtasan, parabula, bugtong, salawikain, kasabihan, pabula, alamat, tanaga, bulong, awiting-bayan, epiko, pelikula, at mga iskrip na pangradyo, pangtelebisyon at pampelikula

Kahulugan ng Panitikang Pilipino

May iba’t ibang mga manunulat at mga dalubahasang Pilipino ang nagbigay ng kahulugan sa panitikan ayon sa kanilang pananaw bilang mamamayan ng Pilipinas. Kabilang sa mga ito sina Joey Arrogante, Zeus Salazar, at Patronicio V. Villafuerte, bukod pa sa iba.

Noong 1983, para kay Arrogante, isang talaan ng buhay ang panitikan kung saan nagsisiwalat ang isang tao ng mga bagay na kaugnay ng napupuna niyang kulay ng buhay at buhay sa kanyang daigdig na kinabibilangan. Ginagawa ito ng isang tao sa pamamagitan ng malikhain pamamaraan.

Noong 1995, inilarawan ni Salazar ang panitikan bilang isang lakas na nagpapagalaw sa lipunan. Dinagdag pa niyang isa itong kasangkapang makapangyarihan na maaaring magpalaya sa isang ideyang nagpupumiglas upang makawala. Para sa kanya, isa rin itong kakaibang karanasang pantaong natatangi sa sangkatauhan.

Mga katangian ng Panitikang Pilipino

Isang paglalantad ang panitikan ng mga katotohanang panlipunan at ng mga kathang-isip na guni-guni. Hinahaplos nito ang mga sensorya ng tao: ang pantanaw, pandinig, pang-amoy, panlasa, at pandama. Noong 2000, binigyang katangian ito ni Villafuerte bilang isang buhay ngunit payak na salitang dumadaloy sa katawan ng tao. May buhay ang panitikan sapagkat may sarili itong pintig at dugong mainit na dumadaloy sa mga arteryo at bena ng bawat nilalang at ng isang buong lipunan. Sa kasong ito, sa mga Pilipino at sa kanilang lipunang ginagalawan.[6]

Kapag binasa ang panitikan, pinagmumulan ito ng madamdaming emosyon sa isang tao o pangkat ng mga tao, sapagkat sinulat ang mga ito ng kapwa tao.

Sa kasalukuyan, madali at magaang ang pamamaraan ng pagkalat at pagpapamudmod ng panitikan sa Pilipinas. Dahil ito sa makabagong mga kaunlaran sa larangan ng teknolohiya. Bukod sa mga nasusulat na salita sa mga aklat, radyo, at telebisyon, kumakalat din ang panitikan sa pamamagitan ng mga kagamitang elektronika, katulad ng grabador ng tinig at tunog (tape recorder), diskong kompakto (compact disk), plaka, mga tape ng VHS, at mga kompyuter. Dahil sa internet, naging maginhawa at madali ang pagkuha ng impormasyong pampanitikan. Isa nang instrumento ito para sa mga mambabasang Pilipinong may pagpapahalaga at pagmamalaki sa kanilang pinagmulan, kasaysayan, at kalinangan o kultura.

Kahalagahan ng Panitikang Pilipino

May kaakibat na kahalagan ang panitikan para sa mga Pilipino. Isa itong uri ng mahalagang panlunas na tumutulong sa mga tao upang makapagplano ng sari-sariling mga buhay, upang matugunan ang kanilang mga suliranin, at upang maunawaan ang diwa ng kalikasan ng pagiging makatao. Maaaring mawala o maubos ang mga kayamanan ng isang tao, at maging ang kanyang pagiging makabayan, subalit hindi ang panitikan. Isang halimbawa nito ang pangdadayuhan ng ibang mga Pilipino. Bagaman nilisan nila ang kanilang bayang sinilangan, ang panitikan ang kanilang tulay sa naiwan nilang bansa.

Sa panlipunan, pambansa, at pandaigdigang kaukulan, isa ang panitikan sa pinagbabatayan ng pagkakaroon ng tagumpay at kabiguan ng isang bansa at ng ugnayan ng mga bansa.

Pag-aaral ng Panitikang Pilipino

Isang malaki at mahalagang bahagi ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas ang pag-aaral at pagkakaroon ng kurikulum na ukol sa panitikang Pilipino.[4] Bilang isang kurso sa paaralan, dalubhasaan, o pamantasan, ginagamitan ang pag-aaral ng Panitikan sa Pilipinas ng makasaysayang pananaw. Sinasaklawan nito ang kasaysayan ng Panitikang Pilipino sa iba't ibang panahong pinagdaanan ng bansang Pilipinas. Sakop din nito ang mga mga uri at anyo ng Panitikang Pilipino, paglinang nito, mga manunulat, mga bayani, at mga mithiin ng sangkabansaan.

Biag ni Lam-Ang ni Pedro Bukaneg (Ilocano Epic) by clark's request

2010-04-24T05:04:00.000-07:00

Sina Don Juan t Namongan ay taga Nalbuan, ngayon ay sakop ng La Union. May isa silang anak na lalaki. Ito'y si Lam-ang. Bago pa isilan si Lam-ang, ang ama nito ay pumunta na sa bundok upang parusahan ang isang pangkat ng mga Igorota na kalaban nila.

Nang isilang si Lam-ang, apat na hilot ang nagtulong-tulong. Ugali na nga mga Ilokano noong una na tumulong sa mga hilot kung manganganak ang maybahy nila ngunit dahil nga wala si Don Juan, mga kasambahay nila ang tumulong sa pagsilang ni Namongan.

Pagkasilang, nagsalita agad ang sanggol at siya ang humiling na "Lam-ang" ang ipangalan sa kaniya. Siya rin ang pumili ng magiging ninong niya sa binyag. Itinanong pa rin niya sa ina ang ama, kung saan naroron ito, na di pa niya nakikita simula pa sa kanyang pagkasilang. Sinabi na ina ang kinaroroonan ng ama.
Makaraan ang siyam na buwan, nainip na si Lam-ang sa di pagdating ng ama kaya't sinundan niya ito sa kabundukan. May dala siyang iba't- ibang sandata at mga antng-anting na makapag-bibigay-lakas sa kamiya at maaaring gawin siyang hindi makikita. Talagang pinaghandaan niya ang lakad na ito.

Sa kaniyang paglalakbay, inabot siya ng pagkahapo kaya't namahinga sandali. Naidlip siya at napangarap niyang ang pugot na ulo ng ama ay pinagpipistahan na ng mga Igorote. Galit na galit si Lam-ang s nabatid na sinapit ng ama kaya mabilis na nilakbay ang tirahan ng mga Igorote. Pinagpupuksa niya ang mga ito sa pamamagitan ng dalang mga sandata at anting-anting. Ang isa sy kaniyang pinahirapan lamang saka inalpasan upang siyang magbalita sa iba pang Igorote ng kaniyang tapang, lakas at talino. Umuwi si Lam-ang nang nasisiyahan dahil sa nipaghiganti niya an pagkamatay ng ama niya.

Nang siya'y magbalik sa Nalbuan, taglt ang tagumpay, pinaliguan siya ng ilang babaing kaibigan sa ilog ng Amburayan, dahil ito'y naging ugali na noon, na pagdating ng isang mandirigma, naliligo siya. Matapos na paliguan si Lam-ang, nanagmatay ang mga isda at iba pang bagay na may buhay na nakatira sa tubig dahil sa kapal ng libag at sama ng amoy na nahugasan sa katawan nito.

Sa kabutihan naman may isang dalagang balita sa kagandahan na nagngangalang Ines Kannoyan. Ito'y pinuntahan ng binatang si Lam-ang upang ligawan, kasama ang kaniyang putting tandang at abuhing aso. Isang masugid na manliligaw ni Ines ang nakasalubong nila, Si Sumarang, na kumutya kay Lam-ang, kaya't sila'y nag-away at dito'y muling nagwagi si Lam-ang.

Napakaraming nanliligaw ang nasa bakuran nina Ines kaya't gumawa sila ng paraan upang sila ay makatawag ng pansin. Ang tandang ay tumilaok at isang bahay ang nabuwal sa tabi. Si Ines ay dumungaw. Ang aso naman ang pinatahol niya at sa isang igalp, tumindig uli ang bahay na natumba. Nakita rin ng magulang ni Ines ang lahat ng iyon at siya'y ipinatawag niyon. Ang pag-ibig ni Lam-an kay Ines ay ipinahayag ng tandang. Sumagot ang mga magulang ng dalaga na sila'y payag na maging manugang si Lam-ang kun ito'y makapagbibigay ng boteng may dobleng halaga ng sariling ari-arian ng magulang ng dalaga.

Nang magbalik si Lam-ang sa Kalanutian, kasama si Namongan at mga kababayan, sila Ines ay ikinasal. Dala nila ang lahat ng kailangan para sa maringal na kasalan pati ang dote. Ang masayang pagdiriwang ay sinimulan s Kalanutian at tinapos sa Nalbuan, kung saan nanirahan ang mag-asawa pagkatapos ng kasal nila.

Isa parin s kaugalian sa Kailukuhan, na pagkatapos ng kasal, ang lalaki ay kinakalilangang sumisid s ilog upang humuli ng rarang (isda). Sinunod ni Lam-ang subalit siya ay sinamang palad na makagat t mapatay ng berkakan (isang urinng pating). Ang mga buto ni Lam-ang na nasa pusod ng dagat ay ipinasisid at pinatapon ni Donya Ines sa isang kalansay at tinakpan ng tela. Ang tandang ay tumilaok, ang aso ay kumahol at sa bisa ng engkanto, unti-unting kumilos ang mga buto.

Sa muling pagkabuhay ni Lam-ang, ang mag-asawa ay namuhay nang maligaya, maluwalhati at matiwasay sa piling ng alagang putting tandang at abuhing aso.

KAY ESTELLA ZEEHANDELAAR Salin ni Ruth Elynia S. Mabanglo Mula sa Mga Liham ng Isang Prinsesang Javanese

2010-04-24T04:59:00.000-07:00

Japara, Mayo 25, 1899

Ibig na ibig kong makilala ng isang “babaeng moderno” iyong babaeng malaya, nakapagmamalaki’t makaakit ng aking loob! Iyong masaya, may tiwala sa sarili, masigla’t maagap na hinaharap ang buhay, puno ng tuwa at sigasig, pinagsisikapan hindi lamang ang sariling kapakanan at kundi maging ang kabutihan ng buong sangkatauhan.

Buong kasabikan kong sinasalubong ang pagdating ng bagong panahon; totoong sa puso’t isip ko’y hindi ako nabibilang sa daigdig ng mga Indian, kundi sa piling ng aking mga puting kapatid na babae na tumatanaw sa malayong kanluran.

Kung pahihintulutan lamang ng mga batas ng aking bayan, wala akong ibig gawin kundi ang ipagkaloob ang sarili sa mga nagtratrabaho;t nagsisikap na bagong kababaihan ng Europe; subalit nakatali ako sa mga lumang tradisyong hindi maaaring suwayin. Balang araw maaaring lumuwag ang tali at kami’y pawalan, ngunit lubhang malayo pa ang panahong iyon. Alam ko, maaaring dumating iyon, ngunit baka pagkatapos pa ng tatlo o apat na hebenerasyon. Alam mo ba kung paano mahalin ang bago at batang panahong ito ng buong puso’t kaluluwa kahit nakatali sa lahat ng batas, kaugalian at kumbensyon ng sariling bayan. Tuwirang sumasalungat sa kaunlarang hinahangad ko para sa aking mga kababayan ang lahat ng mga institusyon naming. Wala akong iniisip gabi’t araw kindi ang makagawa ng paraang malabanan ang mga lumang tradisyon naming. Alam kong para sa aking sarili’y magagawa king iwasan o putulin ang mga ito, kaya lamang ay may mga buklod na matibay pa sa alinmang lumanag tradisyon na pumipigil sa akin; at ito ang pagmamahal na inuukol ko sa mga pinagkakautangan ko ng buhay, mga taong nararapat kong pasalamatan sa lahat ng bagay. May karapatan ba akong was akin ang puso ng mga taong walang naibigay sa akin kundi pagmamahal at kabutihan, mga taong nag-alaga sa akin ng buong pagsuyo?

Ngunit hindi lamang tinig nito ang umaabot sa akin; ang malayo, marikit at bagong-silang na Europe ay nagtutulak sa aking maghangad ng pagbabago sa kasalukuyang kalagayan. Kahit noong musmos pa ako’y may pang-akit na sa aking pandinig ang salitang “emansipasyon”; may isang naiibang kabuluhan ito, isang kahulugang hindi maaabot ng aking pang-unawa. Gumigising ito para sa hangarin ang pagsasarili at kalayaan- isang paghahangad na makatayong mag-isa. Ang puso ko’y sinusugatan ng mga kondisyong nakapaligid sa akin at sa iba, buong lungkot na pinag-aalab ang mithiin kong magising ang aking bayan.

Patuloy na lumapit ang mga tinig na galing sa malayong lupain, umaabot sa akin, at sa kasiyahan ng ilang nagmamahal sa akin at sa kalungkutan ng iba, dala ntio ang binhing sumupling sa aking puso, nag-ugat, sukmibol hanggang sa lumakas at sumigla.

Ngayo’y kailangang sabihin ko ang ilang bagay ukol sa sarili upang magkakilala tayo.

Panganay ako sa tatlong babaing anak ng Regent ng Japara. Ako’y may anim na kapatid na lalki at babae. Ang lolo kong si Pangeran Ario Tjondronegoro ng Demak ay isang kilalang lider ng kilusang progresibo noong kapanahunan niya. Siya rin ang kaunaunahang regent ng gitnang Java na nagbukas ng pinto para sa mga panauhin mula sa ibayong dagat-ang sibilisasyong Kanluran. Lahat ng mga anak niya’y may edukasyong European, at halos lahat ng iyon (na ang ilan ay patay na ngayon) ay umiibig o umibig sa kanlurang minana sa kanilang ama; at nagdulot naman ito sa mga anak nila ng uri ng pagpapalaking nagisnan nila mismo. Karamihan sa mga pinsan ko’t nakatatandang kapatid na lalaki ay nag-aral sa Hoogere-Burger School, sng pinakamataas na institusyon ng karunungang matatagpuan ditto sa India. Ang bunso sa tatlong nakatatandang kapatid kong lalaki’y tatlong taon na ngayong nag-aaral sa Netherlands at naglilingkod din naman doon bilang sundalo ang dalawa pa. Samantala, kaming mga babae’y bahagya nang magkaroon ng pagkakataong makapag-aral dahil na rin sa kahigpitan n gaming lumang tradisyon at kumbensyon. Labag sa aming kaugaliang pag-aralin ang mga babae, lalo’t kailangang lumabas ng bahay araw-araw para pumasok sa eskwela. Ipinagbabawal n gaming kaugalian na lumabas man lamang ng bahay ang babae. Hindi kami pinapayagang pumunta saan man, liban lamang kung sa paaralan, at ang tanginglugar na pagtuturong maipagmamalaki ng syudad naming na bukas sa mga babae ay ang libreng grammar school ng mga European.

Nang tumuntong ako ng ikalabindalawang taonng gulang, ako ay itinali sa bahay-kinailangang “ikahon” ako. Ikinulong ako at pinagbawalang makipag-uganayan sa mundong nasa labas ng bahay, ang mundong hindi ko na makikita marahil liban kung kasama ko na ang mapapangasawang estranghero, isang di-kilalang lalaking pinili ng mga magulang ko, ang lalaking ipinagkasundo sa akin nang di ko namamalayan. Noong banding huli, nalaman kong tinangka ng mga kaibigan kong European na mabago ang pasyang ito ng mga magulang ko para sa akin, isang musmos pa na nagmamahal sa buhay, subalit wala silang nagawa. Hindi nahikayat ang mga magulang ko; nakulong ako nang tuluyan. Apat na mahahabang taon ang tinagal ko sa pagitan ng makapal na pader, at hindi ko nasilayan minsan man ang mundong nasa labas.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko pinalipas ang mga oras. Ang tanging kaligayahang naiwan sa aki’y pagbabasa ng mga librong Dutch at ang pakikipagsulatan sa mga kaibigang Dutch na hindi naman ipinagbawal. Ito-ito lamang ang nagiisang liwanag na nagpakulay sa hungkag at kainip-inip na panahong iyon, na kung inalis pa sa akin ay lalo nang nagging kaawa-awa ang kalagayan ko. Lalo sigurong nawalan ng kabuluhan ang buhay ko’t kaluluwa. Subalit dumating ang kaibigan ko’t tagapagligtas-ang Diwa ng panahon; umalingawngaw sa lahat ng dako ang mga yabag niya. Nayanig sa paglapit niya ang palalo’t matatag na balangkas ng mga lumang tradisyon. Nabuksan ang mga pintong mahigpit na nakasara, kusa ang iba, ang iba nama’y pilit at bahagya lamang ngunit bumukas pa rin at pinapasok ang mga di-inanyayahang panauhin.

Sa wakes, nakita kong muli ang mundo sa labas nang ako’y maglabing-anim na taon. Salamat sa Diyos! Malalabasan ko ang aking kulungan nang Malaya at hindi nakatali sa isang kung sinong bridegroom. At mabilis pang sumunod ang mga pangyayari nagpabalik sa aming mga babae ng mga nawala naming kalayaan.

Nang sumunod na taon, sa oras ng pagtatalaga sa poder ng bata pang Prinsesa (bilang Reyna Wilhemina ng Netherland), “opisyal” na inihandog sa amin ng mga magulang naming an gaming kalayaan. Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa aming buhay, pinyagan kaming umalis sa bayan naming at pumunta sa siyudad na pinadarausan ng pagdiriwang para sa okasyong iyon. Anong dakila tagumpay iyon! Ang maipakita ng mga kabataang babaeng tulang naming ang sarili sa labas, na imposibleng mangyari noon. Nasindak ang “mundo” nagging usap-usapan ang “krimeng” iyon na dito’y wala pang nakagagawa. Nagsaya an gaming mga kaibigang European, at para naman sa amin, walang reynang yayaman pa sa amin. Subalit hindi pa ako nasisiyahan. LAgi, ibig kong makarating sa malayo, mas malayo. Wala akong hangaring makapamista, o malibang. Hindi iyon ang dahilan ng paghahangad kong magkaroon ng kalayaan. Ibig kong malaya upang makatayo ng mag-isa, mag-aral, hindia para mapailalim sa sinuman, at higit sa lahat, hindi para pag-asawahin nang sapilitan.

Ngunit dapat tayong mag-asawa, dapat, dapat. Ang hindi pag-aasawa ang pinakamalaking kasalanang magagawa ng isang babaeng Muslim. Ito ang pinakamalaking maipagkakaloob ng isang katutubong babae sa kanyang pamilya.

At ang pag-aasawa para sa amin-mababaw pa ngang ekspresyon ang sabihing miserable. At paano nga ba hindi magkakaganoon, kung tila ginawa lamang para sa lalaki ang mga batas, kung pabor para sa lalaki at hindi para sa babae ang batas at kumbensyon; kung ang lahat ng kaluwaga’y para sa kanya lang?

WIKA - KAHULUGAN, PINAGMULAN

2010-04-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

Wika

Katuturan

Binanggit ni Austero et al (1999) mula kay Gleason na “ang wika ay masistemang balangkas ng sinasalitang tunog na isinaayos sa paraang arbitraryo. Ang mga tunog ay hinugisan/binigyan ng mga makabuluhang simbolo (letra) na pinagsama-sama upang makabuo ng mga salita na gamit sa pagpapahayag.”

Dagdag naman nina Mangahis et al (2005) na ang wika ay may mahalagang papel na ginagampanan sa pakikipagtalastasan. Ito ang midyum na ginagamit sa maayos na paghatid at pagtanggap ng mensahe na susi sa pagkakaunawaan.

Kahalagahan ng Wika

Mahalaga ang wika sapagkat:

1. ito ang midyum sa pakikipagtalastasan o komunikasyon;
2. ginagamit ito upang malinaw at efektivong maipahayag ang damdamin at kaisipan ng tao;
3. sumasalamin ito sa kultura at panahong kanyang kinabibilangan;
4. at isa itong mabuting kasangkapan sa pagpapalaganap ng kaalaman.

Katangian ng wika

1. Ang wika ay isang masistemang balangkas dahil ito ay binubuo ng mga makabuluhang tunog (fonema) na kapag pinagsama-sama’y sa makabuluhang sikwens ay makalilikha ng mga salita (morfema) na bumabagay sa iba pang mga salita (semantiks) upang makabuo ng mga pangungusap. Ang pangungusap ay may istraktyur (sintaks) na nagiging basehan sa pagpapakahulugan sa paggamit ng wika.

1. Ponolohiya o fonoloji – pag-aaral ng fonema o ponema; ang fonema ay tawag sa makabuluhang yunit ng binibigkas na tunog sa isang wika. Halimbawa ay ang mga fonemang /l/, /u/, /m/, /i/, /p/, /a/ at /t/ na kung pagsama-samahin sa makabuluhang ayos ay mabubuo ang salitang [lumipat].

2. Morpolohiya o morfoloji – pag-aaral ng morfema; ang morfema ay tawag sa pinamakamaliit na makabuluhang yunit ng salita sa isang wika. Sa Filipino ang tatlong uri ng morfema ay ang salitang-ugat, panlapi at fonema.

Salitang-ugat = tao, laba, saya, bulaklak, singsing, doktor, dentista

Panlapi = mag-, -in-, -um-, -an/-han

Fonema = a

*tauhan, maglaba, doktora

c. Sintaksis – pag-aaral ng sintaks; sintaks ay ang tawag sa formasyon ng mga pangungusap sa isang wika. Sa Filipino, maaaring mauna ang paksa sa panaguri at posible naman ang kabaligtaran nito. Samantalang sa Ingles laging nauuna ang paksa.

Hal. Mataas ang puno.

Ang puno ay mataas.

The tree is tall. (hindi maaaring ‘Tall is the tree.’ o ‘Tall the tree.’)

d. Semantiks – pag-aaral ng relasyon ng salita sa bawat isa sa iisang pangungusap; ang mga salita sa pagbuo ng pangungusap ay bumabagay sa iba pang salita sa pangungusap upang maging malinaw ang nais ipahayag.

Hal. Inakyat niya ang puno.

Umakyat siya sa puno.

Makikita na nang ginamit ang pandiwang [inakyat] ang panghalip ng aktor sa pangungusap ay [niya] at ang pantukoy sa paksa ay [ang]. Samantalang sa ikalawang pangungusap ang pandiwa ay napalitan ng [umakyat] kaya nakaapekto ito sa panghalip ng aktot na dati’y [niya] ngayo’y [siya] sa. Imbis na pantukoy na [ang] ay napalitan na ng pang-ukol na [sa]. Nagkaiba na ang kahulugan ng dalawang pangungusap.

2. Ang wika ay binubuo ng mga tunog. Upang magamit nang mabuti ang wika, kailangang maipagsama-sama ang mga binibigkas na tunog upang makalikha ng mga salita. (Tingnan ang ponolohiya)

3. Ang wika ay arbitraryo. Lahat ng wika ay napagkakasunduan ng mga gumagamit nito. Alam ng mga Ilokano na kapag sinabing [balay], bahay ang tinutukoy nito. Sa Chavacano naman ay [casa] kapag nais tukuyin ang bahay at [bay] naman sa Tausug samantalang [house] sa Ingles.

4. Ang wika ay may kakanyahan. Lahat ng wika ay may sariling set ng palatunugan, leksikon at istrukturang panggramatika. May katangian ang isang wika na komon sa ibang wika samantalang may katangian namang natatangi sa bawat wika.

Halimbawa

Wikang Swahili – atanipena (magugustuhan niya ako)

Wikang Filipino – Opo, po

Wikang Subanon – gmangga (mangga)

Wikang Ingles – girl/girls (batang babae/mga batang babae)

Wikang Tausug – tibua (hampasin mo), pugaa (pigain mo)

Wikang French – Francois (pangngalan /fransh-wa/)

Mapapansin sa wikang Swahili (isang wika sa Kanlurang Afrika) isang salita lamang ngunit katumbas na ng isang buong pangungusap na yunik sa wikang ito. Sa Filipino lamang matatagpuan ang mga salitang opo at po bilang paggalang. Sa Subanon naman, mayroong di pangkaraniwang ayos ng mga fonema gaya ng di-kompatibol na dalawang magkasunod na katinig sa iisang pantig na wala sa karamihang wika. Sa Ingles naman, isang fonema lamang ang idinagdag ngunit nagdudulot ng makabuluhang pagbabago. Sa Tausug naman ang pagkabit ng fonemang /a/ ay nagdudulot na ng paggawa sa kilos na saad ng salitang-ugat. Sa French naman, mayroon silang natatanging sistema sa pagbigkas ng mga tunog pangwika.

5. Ang wika ay buhay o dinamiko. Patuloy na nagbabago at yumayaman ang wika. Nagbabagu-bago ang kahulugan ng isang salita na dumaragdag naman sa leksikon ng wika.

Halimbawa: BOMBA

Kahulugan

a. Pampasabog

b. Igipan ng tubig mula sa lupa

c. Kagamitan sa palalagay ng hangin

d. Bansag sa malalaswa at mapanghalay na larawan at pelikula

e. Sikreto o baho ng mga kilalang tao

6. Lahat ng wika ay nanghihiram. Humihiram ang wika ng fonema at morfema mula sa ibang wika kaya’t ito’y patuloy na umuunlad. Gaya sa Chavacano, binibigkas na ang ‘ka’ na hiniram sa Visaya bilang kapalit ng ‘tu’ at ‘bo’. Ang Filipino ay madalas manghiram gaya ng paghiram sa mga salitang [jip, jus at edukasyon] na mula sa Ingles na [juice], [jip] at Kastilang [educaćion].

7. Ang wika at kultura ay magkabuhol at hindi maaaring paghiwalayin.

8. Ang wika ay bahagi ng komunikasyon.

9. Nasusulat ang wika. Bawat tunog ay sinasagisag ng mga titik o letra ng alfabeto. Ang tunog na “bi” ay sinasagisag ng titik na ‘b’. Ang simbolong ‘m’ ay sumasagisag sa tunog na “em”.

10. May level o antas ang wika.

Antas ng wika

1. formal at di-formal – di-formal na wika ang wikang ginagamit ng tao sa ka-edad samantalang formal naman ang wikang gingamit ng tao sa nakatataas o nakatatanda
2. lingua franca – wikang ginagamit ng karamihan sa isang bansa; sa Pilipinas ang Filipino ang lingua franca ng mga tao
3. kolokyal o lalawiganin – wikang ginagamit ng mga tao sa lalawigan gaya ng Chavacano, Tausug, Cebuano, Ilonggo, Visaya at iba pa
4. balbal o pangkalye – wikang ginagamit ng tao na halos likha-likha lamang at may kanya-kanyang kahulugan gaya ng wika ng mga tambay at bakla – halimbawa ang mga salitang ‘eklavush’, ‘erpat at ermat’ at ‘cheverloo’.
5. edukado/malalim – wikang ginagamit sa panitikan, sa mga paaralan at pamantasan, sa gobyerno, sa korte at iba pang okasyong profesyunal

Teorya ng pinagmulan ng wika
x. Teorya sa Tore ng Babel – Ang teoryang ito ay nahalaw mula sa Banal na Kasulatan. Ayon sa pagsasalaysay, noong umpisa’y iisa ang wika ng tao na biyaya ng Diyos. Dahil sa nagkakaunawaan ang lahat, napag-isipang magtayo ng isang tore upang hindi na magkawatak-watak at nang mahigitan ang Panginoon. Nang nabatid ito ng Panginoon, bumaba Siya sa lupa at sinira ang tore. Nang nawasak na ang tore, nagkawatak-watak na ang tao dahil iba-iba na ang wikang kanilang binibigkas kaya nagkanya-kanya na sila at kumalat sa mundo.
x. Teoryang Bow-wow – Sinasabi sa teoryang ito na nagkaroon ng wika ang tao dahil noong umpisa’y ginagaya nila ang tunog na nililikha ng mga hayop gaya ng tahol ng aso, tilaok ng manok at huni ng ibon.

x. Teoryang Ding-dong – Maliban sa tunog ng hayop, ginagaya naman daw ng tao ang tunog ng kalikasan at paligid gaya ng pagtunog ng kampana, patak ng ulan at langitngit ng kawayan.

x. Teoryang Pooh-pooh – Ang tao ay nakalilikha ng tunog sanhi ng bugso ng damdamin. Gamit ang bibig, napabubulalas ang mga tunog ng pagdaing na dala ng takot, lungkot, galit, saya at paglalaan ng lakas.

x. Teoryang Yo-he-ho – Isinasaad dito na nagsimula ang wika sa indayog ng himig-awitin ng mga taong sama-samang nagtatrabaho.

x. Teoryang Yum-yum – Sinasabi sa teoryang ito na ang wika ay nagmula sa pagkumpas ng maestro ng musika at sa bawat kumpas ay nagagawa niyang lumikha ng tunog mula sa kanyang labi.

Kung Tuyo Na Ang Luha Mo, Aking Bayan ni Amado V. Hernadez

2010-04-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

Lumuha ka, aking Bayan; buong lungkot mong iluha
Ang kawawang kapalaran ng lupain mong kawawa:
Ang bandilang sagisag mo’y lukob ng dayong bandila,
Pati wikang minana mo’y busabos ng ibang wika,
Ganito ring araw nang agawan ka ng laya,
Labintatlo ng Agosto nang saklutin ang Maynila,

Lumuha ka, habang sila ay palalong nagdiriwang,
Sa libingan ng maliit, ang malaki’y may libangan;
Katulad mo ay si Huli, naaliping bayad-utang,
Katulad mo ay si Sisa, binaliw ng kahirapan;
Walang lakas na magtanggol, walang tapang na lumaban,
Tumataghoy, kung paslangin; tumatangis, kung nakawan!

Iluha mo ang sambuntong kasawiang nagtalakop
Na sa iyo’y pampahirap, sa banyaga’y pampalusog:
Ang lahat mong kayamana’y kamal-kamal na naubos,
Ang lahat mong kalayaa’y sabay-sabay na natapos;
Masdan mo ang iyong lupa, dayong hukbo’y nakatanod,
Masdan mo ang iyong dagat, dayong bapor, nasa laot!

Lumuha ka kung sa puso ay nagmaliw na ang layon,
Kung ang araw sa langit mo ay lagi nang dapithapon,
Kung ang alon sa dagat mo ay ayaw nang magdaluyong,
Kung ang bulkan sa dibdib mo ay hindi man umuungol,
Kung wala nang maglalamay sa gabi ng pagbabangon,
Lumuha ka nang lumuha’t ang laya mo’y nakaburol.

May araw ding ang luha mo’y masasaid, matutuyo,
May araw ding di na luha sa mata mong namumugto
Ang dadaloy, kundi apoy, at apoy na kulay dugo,
Samantalang ang dugo mo ay aserong kumukulo;
Sisigaw kang buong giting sa liyab ng libong sulo
At ang lumang tanikala’y lalagutin mo ng punglo!

WALANG PANGINOON ni Deogracias Rosario

2010-04-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

Nang makita ni Marcos sa kanilang lumang orasan na ang mahabang hintuturo ay malapit nang sumapit sa ika-12 samantalang nakapako na sa ika-8 ang maikling daliri, hindi niya malaman kung saan siya magtutungo. Isiniksik niya ang kanyang ulo kahi't saan. Saka ang dalawa niyang hintuturo ay ipinapasak sa mga butas ng kanyang tainga. Ayaw niyang marinig ang animas. Ayaw niyang mapakinggan ang malungkot na palo ng bakal sa malaking kampanang tanso sa kampanaryo ng simbahan sa kanilang bayan. Gayon man, kahi't saan siya magsiksik, kahi't saan siya magtago, kahi't na anong gawin niyang pagpapasak sa kanyang tainga ay lalong nanunuot sa kanyang pandinig ang malungkot na tinig ng batingaw.

"Tapos na ba?" Tapos... ang sunud-sunod namang itinutugon ng kanyang ina na paniwalang-paniwala hindi nga niya naririnig ang malungkot na animas.

"Ngunit, Marcos…" ang baling uli ng matandang babae sa anak. "Bakit ayaw mong marinig ang oras na ukol sa kaluluwa? Iya'y nagpapagunita sa mga tao na dapat mag-ukol ng dalangin sa ikaluluwalhati ng mga kaluluwang nasa kabilang buhay. Una-una'y ang iyong ama, ikalawa'y ang kapatid mong panganay, ikatlo'y ang kapatid mong bunso, saka… saka si Anita." Ang huling pangalan ay binigkas na marahan at madalang ng matandang babae.

Si Marcos ay hindi kumibo. Samantalang pinapangaralan siya ng kanyang ina, ang mga mata niyang galling sa pagkapikit kaya't nanlabo pa't walang ilaw ay dahan-dahang sinisiputan ng ningas, saka manlilisik at mag-aapoy.

Hindi rin siya sumasagot. Hindi rin siya nagsasalita. Subali't sa kanyang sarili, sa kanyang dibdib, sa kanyang kaluluwa ay may pangungusap, may nagsasalita.

"Dahil din sa kanila, lalung-lalo na kay Anita, ayaw kong marinig ang malungkot na tunog ng batingaw," ang sinasabi ni Marcos sa sarili. Kinagat niya ang kanyang labi hanggang sa dumugo upang huwag ipahalata sa ina ang pagkuyom ng kanyang damdamin.

Akala ng ina'y nahuhulaan niya kung ano ang nasa loob ni Marcos. Sa wari ng matanda ay nababasa niya sa mga mata ng anak ang lihim ng puso nito. Naiisip niyang kaya nalulungkot si Marcos ay sapagka't hindi pa natatagalang namatay si Anita. Ang magandang anak ni Don Teong, mayamang may-ari ng lupa nilang binubuwisan. Nalalaman ng ina ni Marcos na lahat ng pagsisikap nito sa bukid, lahat ng pag-iimpok na ginagawa upang maging isang ulirang anakpawis ay ukol kay Anita. At siya'y namatay! Naramdaman din ng ina ni Marcos kung gaano kakirot ngang maging malungkutin ang kanyang anak. Ito ay kanyang ibig libangin. Ito ay nais niyang aliwin. Kung maaari sana'y mabunutan niya ng tinik na subyang sa dibdib ang kanyang anak.

"Lumakad ka na Marcos, sa kubo nina Bastian. Tila may belasyon sila, o, baka kailanganin ang mabuting mang-aawit at manunugtog ng gitara," ang sabi ng ina. "Walang pagsalang masasayahan ka roon."

"Si Inang naman," ang naibulalas na lamang ni Marcos. Iyan lamang ang kanyang nasasabi nang malakas. Sa kanyang sarili'y naidugtong niya na hindi masusukat ng kanyang ina kung gaano ang pait para sa kanya ang pagkamatay ni Anita, palibhasa'y lingid sa kaalaman ng matanda ang tunay na nangyari sa pagkamatay nito.

Kung nalalaman lamang ni Inang ang lahat, ang nasasabi niya uli sa kanyang sarili samantalang minamasdan niya ang isang ulilang bituin sa may tapat ng libingan ng kanilang bayan, na ipinapalagay niyang kaluluwa ni Anita, "disi'y hindi ako itataboy sa kasayahan."

Pinag-uusapan pa lamang ng mag-ina nang umagang yaon ang malaki nilang kapalaran sapagka't mabuti ang lagay ng tanim nilang palay nang isang utusan sa bahay-pamahalaan ang dumating taglay ang utos ng hukumang sila'y pinaaalis sa kanilang lupang kinatatayuan. Sinasamsam ni Don Teong na ama ni Anita ang lahat ng lupa nilang sinasaka.

"Inang, matalim ba ang itak ko?" ang unang naitanong ng anak sa ina matapos matunghayan ang utos ng hukuman.

"Anak ko!" ang palahaw na pananangis ng matandang babae, sabay lapit sa leeg ng anak. "Bakit ka mag-iisip nang gayon, sa tayo na lamang dalawa ang nabubuhay sa daigdig?"

Ang tinig ng matanda ay nakapagpalubag ng kalooban ng binata. Gayon man, sa harap ng bagong pithaya ng may-ari ng lupang kanilang binubuwisan, ay isa-isang nagbabalik sa alaala niya ang malungkot na kasaysayan ng kanilang lupang sinasaka.

Ang sabi'y talagang sa kanunu-nunuan ng kanyang ama ang naturang lupa. Walang sino mang sumisingil sa kanila ng buwis at walang sinumang nakikialam sa anumang maging bunga ng kanilang mga tanim, maging mais o tubo, o kaya'y maging anuman sa mga gulay na tanim nila sa bakuran.

Subali't nang bata pa ang kanyang ama ay may nagsukat ng lupa sa sinsabing kanila. Palibhasa'y wala silang maibabayad sa manananggol, ang pamahalaan ay nagkulang ng malasakit sa kanilang karalitaan upang tangkilikin ang kanilang katwiran at karapatan. Sa wakas ay napilit silang mamuwisan nang di nila makuhang umalis doon.

Noong bata pa si Marcos, ang bayad nila'y isang salapi lamang isang taon sa bawat ektarya ng lupang kanilang sinasaka. Subalit nagtatagal, unti-unti na silang nababaon sa pagkakautang sa maylupa dahil sa mga kasunduang ipinapasok sa pana-panahon, gaya ng takipan at talinduwa.

Kaya namatay ang ama ni Marcos ay dahil sa malaking sama ng loob kay Don Teong. Ang kapatid niya'y namatay din sa paglilingkod sa bahay nito, at higit sa lahat, nalaman niyang kaya namatay si Anita ay sapagka't natutop ng ama nakipagtagpo minsan sa kanya sa loob ng halamanan, isang gabing maliwanag ang buwan.

Saka ngayo'y paalisin naman sila sa kanilang bahay at lupang binubuwisan?

Si Anita ay lihim na naging kasintahan ni Marcos, mahigit nang isang taon noon. Sapul nang dumating si Anita sa kanilang bayan buhat sa pag-aaral sa isang kolehiyo ng mga madre sa Maynila, si Marcos ay nagsimpan na ng malaking pag-ibig sa kanya. Alam ni Marcos ang kanyang kalagayan na halos ay lumaki sa ibabaw ng kalabaw at sa pagtikin sa kanilang damo sa ilog.

Si Marcos ay natapos lamang ng katesismo sa iskuwelahan na silong ng kumbento sa kanilang bayan at natutong sumulat sa pisara ng malaking numero. Nguni't gayon man, nagsikap siyang idilat ang kanyang mga mata sa liwanag ng kabihasnan at pagkaunlad. Katutubo kay Marcos ang hilig sa pagkatuto sapagaka't sa pag-anib niya sa mga samahang pambayan ay natuklasan niyang walang mabuting paaralan kundi ang pahayagan. Walang aklat, walang pahayagan at lingguhan sa sariling wika na hindi binabasa ni Marcos, kahi't manghiram lamang kung wala na siyang ibili. Nagbasa rin siya ng nobela at ibang akdang natutuhan niya sa wikang Tagalog o kaya'y salinwikang nito.

Lalo na nang magsimpan siya ng pag-ibig kay Anita, wala siyang inaalagata sa kanyang buhay kundi ang baling araw ay maging karapat-dapat sa mga kamay ng anak ni Don Teong na may-ari ng lupa nilang sinasaka. Isa pa'y bukod sa naniniwala siya sa kasabihan, "Ang lahat ng tao, kahi't hindi magkakakulay ay sadyang magkakapantay," tinatanggap din niya ang palasak ng kawikaang "Ang katapat ng langit ay pusalian." Dahil diyan kaya kahi't bahagya ay hindi siya nag-atubili ng pagsisimpan ng pag-ibig kay Anita.

At naiibig naman siya ng anak ni Don Teong. Bakit hindi siya maiibig? Minsan si Anita ay namangka sa kanilang ilog, gumiwang ang bangka at nahulog sa tubig. Si Marcos noon ay nasa lamo at lihim niyang sinusundan ang bakas sa tubig ni Anita. Nang makita niya ang malaking sakuna ay lumundag siya sa ilog ata sa pamamagitan ng langoy na hampas-tikin ay inabot niya si Anita na kumakamot sa ilalim ng ilog. Matapos niyang kalawitin ng kaliwa niyang bisiig sa may baba ang dalaga ay bigla niyang isinikdaw ang dalawa niyang paa sa ilalim kaya't pumaibabaw sila, at sa tulong ng pagkampay ng kanyang kamay at pagsikad ng dalawa niyang paa ay nakasapit sila sa pampang.

"Marcos, matagal na naman kitang iniibig," ang pagtatapat ni Anita sa binata, makaraan ang may ilang buwan buhat nang siya'y mailigtas.

Tatlumpung araw ang taning sa mag-ina upang lisanin ang lupang gayong ang sabi ay ari ng kanilang ninuno at binubuwisan na nila at sinasamsam pa ngayon. At saka silang mag-ina ay itinataboy. Sino ang hindi magdadalang-poot sa gayong kabuktutan.

Dahil sa kanyang ina, natutong magtiim si Marcos ng kanyang mga bagang. Kinagat niya ang kanyang mga labi upang huwag mabulalas ang kanyang galit. Kinuyom niya ang kanyang mga kamay hanggang matimo sa palad niya ang kanyang mga kuko.

Isang takipsilim nang marinig niya sa kampanaryo ng kanilang simbahan ang malungkot na agunyas. Una muna ang malaking kampana saka sumunod ang maliit. Bang! Teng! Bang! Teng! Babae ang nalagutan ng hinihinga. Maliit naman ang kanilang bayan upang malihim pa kung sino ang binawian ng buhay. Wala siyang nalalaman na may sakit kundi si Anita. Dahil sa pagkatutop sa kanila isang gabi, ang dalaga ay sinaktang mabuti ng ayon sa nagbalita kay Marcos ay mata lamang ang walang latay.

Buhat noon ay nagkasakit na si Anita. Araw-araw ay tumatanggap si Marcos ng balita. At nang tangkain niyang dumalaw minsan ay hinarang siya ni Don Teong na may hawak na rebolber. Susuong din sana si Marcos, subalit nagdalawang-loob siya. Maaaring maging dahilan iyon ng bigla pang pagkamatay ng kanyang iniibig, bukod sa magiging subyang sa kanyang ina kung siya ay mawawala.

Ang huling dagok na ito sa kanya ni Don Teong ay isinaman na lamang niya sa talaan ng pagmamalupit sa kanya ng mayamang may-ari ng lupa nilang binubuwisan, pag-agaw ng lupa sa kanila. At saka noo'y pagtatangka pa sa kanyang buhay. Pinakahuli nga ang pagkamatay nang tuluyan ni Anita, na ayon sa balita niya'y nalagutan ng hiningang siya ang tinatawag. Saka nitong huli ay pagpapaalis sa kanilang lupang kinagisnan at pinagyaman sa tulo ng kanilang pawis na mag-anak.

Ngunit si Marcos, isang manggagawang hubog sa palihan ng bagong panahon, lumaki ang puso sa mga pagtitiis. Naging maluwag nga ang kanyang dibdib sa pagtanggap ng pang-aapi ng may-lupa. Hanggang noong bago mamatay si Anita, akala niya'y maaari pa siyang makalunok ng bagong pag-upasala ng itinuturing niyang panginoon. Datapwat nang tanggapin niya ang utos ng hukuman na pinaalis sila roon, talagang nagdilim ang kanyang isip. Noon pa'y naisip na niyang gawing batas ang kanyang kamay, yamang hindi na niya matatamo ang katarungan sa hukuman ng mga tao.

"Huminahon ka anak ko," ang sabi ng kanyang ina. "Hindi natutulog ang Bathala sa mga maliliit. Magtiis tayo."

Hindi niya itinuloy ang paghanap sa kanyang itak na matalas. Pagkakain niya ng agahan, nilibang niya ang kanyang ina saka lumabas sa bukid. Gaya rin ng dati'y sinakyan niya ang kanyang kalabaw na lalong mahal niya sa lahat sa limang alaga niya. Lumabas siya sa bukid at hinampas niya ng tanaw ang karagatan ng namumulang ginto. Pagdaramdam at panghihinayang ang ngumatngat sa kanyang puso. Gaanong pagod ang kanyang pinuhunan upang ang palay nila'y magbungang mabuti? Saka ngayo'y pakikinabangan at matutungo lamang sa ibang kamay.

Napapalatak si Marcos sa ibabaw ng kanyang kalabaw. Ibig mang pagdiliman ang isip kung nagugunita ang utos ng hukuman, ang alaala naman ng kanyang ina'y walang iniwan sa bahagharing sumusugpo sa nagbabalang unos. Dadalawa na lamang sila sa daigdig at ayaw niyang pabayaan ang kanyang ina; ipinangako niyang hahandugan ng kaligayahan ang nalalabing buhay nito, bago malagutan ng hininga ang kanyang ama.

Dahil nga sa kanyang ina, kaya naisip niya ang kabutihan kung sila'y magsasarili: "Tutungo sa hilaga at kukuha ng homestead. Kakasundo ng mga bagong magsasaka; paris ni Don Teong, kailangang magkaroon din ako ng gayak paris niya."

Kabalintunaan man ang sinabi ng anak ay hindi na nag-usisa ang ina palibhasa'y nababatid niyang sa dibdib ng binata ay may isang halimaw na natutulog na hindi dapat gambalain upang huwag magising. Wala siyang nalalaman kundi tuwing takipsilim, kung nakaligpit na ang mga tao sa nayon ang buong kagayakan ay isinusuot ng kanyang anak saka lumalabas sa bukid. May dalawang linggong gayon nang gayon ang ginagawa, hanggang isang araw ay tawagan siya ng pansin ng matanda.

"Marcos," sabi ng matanda. "Dalawang lingo na lamang ang natitira sa ating taning ay hindi mo ginagawa ang pakikipagtuos kay Don Teong… kung may magiging sukli man lamang tayo sa ating ani ngayon?"

"Huwag ka pong mabahala, Inang," sabi ng mabait na anak. "Nalaglag po ang dahon sa kanyang kapanahunan."

Talinghaga na naman ang sinabi ni Marcos. Gayon man may nagunita siyang isang bagay na ibig niyang malaman sa anak.

"Bakit hindi mo iniuwi ang kalabaw sa bakuran?" Tinutukoy niya ang kalabaw na mahal na mahal sa lahat ni Marcos.

Maaaring magpakahinahon si Marcos, subali't ang huling kapasiyahan ni Don Teong ay namukaw ng lahat ng kanyang pagtitimpi. Ayaw niyang gumamit ng dahas, subalit…

Nagunita niya ang sinabi ni Rizal. "Walang mang-aalipin kung walang magpapaalipin." Napailing siya sa harap ng gayong masaklap na katotohanan. Patung-patong na ang ginagawang pamamaslang sa kanya ni Don Teong – takalang dapat nang kalusin. Nagunita rin ni Marcos ang marami pang ibang kasama, katulad din niya, na sa kamay ng mayamang si Don Teong ay walang iniwan sa mga leeg na manok na unti-unting sinasakal hanggang makitil ang hininga sa hangad na mahamig na lahat ang kayamanang gayong minana sa kanilang mga ninuno ay iba ngayon ang may-ari at nagbubuwis pa.

"Kailangang maputol ang kalupitang ito!" Ang tila pagsumpa sa harap ng katalagahang ginawa ni Marcos.

"Bakit ka bumili ng pulinas, gora, suwiter, at latigo, anak ko?" ang tanong ng matanda kay Marcos, isang araw na dumating siyang pagod na pagod sa naturang dala-dalahan.

"Inihahanda ko po iyon sa pagiging panginoon natin, paris ni Don Teong," ang nakatawang sagot ng anak. "Kung tayo po'y nakaalis na rito, tayo'y magiging malaya," ang tila wala sa loob na tugon ng anak.

Ang totoo, ang naturang kalabaw ni Marcos ay nakapugal sa hanggahan ng lupang sarili ni Don Teong. Kung takipsilim ay isinusuot na lahat ni Marcos ang pulinas, ang gora, at ang suwiter, saka dala ang latigong katulad ng pamalo ni Don Teong. Pagdating niya sa pook na kinapupugalan ay saka aasbaran ng palo ang kalabaw hanggang sa ito'y umuungol na ang alingawngaw ay abot hanggang sa kalagitnaan ng bayan. Kung dumating siya'y dinaratnan niya ang kanyang inang matuwid ang pagkakaluhod sa harap ng isang maitim na Santo Kristo sa kanilang silid na naiilawan ng isang malaking kandila.

"Salamat, anak ko, at dumating ka," ang sasabihin na lamang ng matanda. "Akala ko'y napahamak ka na."

Si Don Teong ay may ugaling maglibot tuwing hapon sa paligid-ligid ng kanyang lupa. Ang ipinanganganib ng ina ni Marcos ay baka magkasalubong ito at ang kanilang panginoon, ay hindi makapagpigil ang isa't isa. Nalalaman din ng matandang babae na laging may dalang rebolber sa baywang ang mayamang asendero buhat nang magkaroon ng alitan dahil sa lupa, kaya lagi niyang inaalaala ang pag-alis-alis ni Marcos.

Subalit isang hapon, samantalang payapang inihahanda ng mag-ina ang kanilang pag-alis, walang iniwan sa putok ng bulkan ang balitang kumalat sa bayan na si Don Teong ay namatay sa pagkasuwag ng kalabaw. Sinabi ng mga nakakita na pagkakita pa lamang ng kalabaw kay Don Teong ay tila may sinumpang galit sapagka't bigla na lamang sinibad ang matanda at nasapol ang kalamnan ng sikmura ng matulis na sungay ng hayop. Pagkasikwat sa katawan ng asendero ay tumilapon pa sa itaas at paglagpak ay sinalo naman ng kabilang sungay.

Ang katawan ni Don Teong ay halos lasug-lasog nang iuwi sa bayan, wasak ang suwiter sa katawan at saka ang pulinas. Kumilos agad ang maykapangyarihan upang gumawa ng kailangan pagsisiyasat subali't ang lahat ng matuwid ay nawalan ng halaga sa hindi kumikilos na ayos ng kalabaw na animo'y wala sa loob ang ginawa niyang napakalaking pagkakasala.

Nang malamang kay Marcos ang kalabaw, bawat isa'y nagkatinginan. Hindi nila malaman kung papaanong ang poot ni Marcos kay Don Teong ay nagtungo sa alaga niyang hayop.

Si Marcos ay nakatingin din sa orasan nang gabing yaon. Tatlong minuto na lamang ang kulang sa ika-8 ng gabi. Hindi siya gumagalaw, hindi siya nababahala.

Tumugtog ang animas. Hindi na gaya ng dating ayaw niyang marinig ito. Sa halip na idalangin, ang kaluluwa ng mga namatay, ang naisip niya'y ang matapang niyang kalabaw.

"Mapalad na hayop na walang panginoon," ang kanyang naibulong.

BANYAGA ni Liwayway Arceo

2010-04-18T23:58:00.000-07:00

MUKHANG ARTISTA! Artista nga ba? Artista?

Mula nang dumating is Fely kangina ay hindi miminsang narinig niya ang tanong na iyon na tila ngayon lamang siya nakita. Gayong umuuwi siya dalawang ulit sa isang taon – kung Araw ng mga Patay at kung Pasko. O napakadalang nga iyon, bulong niya sa sarili. At maging sa mga sandaling ito na wala nang kumukibo sa tumitingin sa kanya ay iyon din ang katanungang wari ay nababsa niya sa bawat mukha, sa bawat tingin, sa bawat matimping ngiting may lakip na lihim na sulyap.

At mula sa salamin sa kanyang harapan ay nakita niya si Nana Ibang sa kanyang likuran. Hinahagod ng tingin ang kanyang kaanyuan. Matagal na pinagmasdan ang kanyang buhok. Hindi ito makapaniwala nang sabihin niyang serbesa ang ipinambasa sa buhok niya bago iyon sinuklay. Nandidilat si Nana Ibang nang ulitin ang tanong.

“Serbesa ba ‘kama, bata ka, ha?”

Nguniti siya kasabay ang mahinang tango. At nang makita niyang nangunot ang noo nito, idinigtong niya ang paliwanag. “Hindi masama’ng amoy, Nana.”

Ngayon, sa kanyang pandinig ay hindi nakaila sa kanya ang pagtuon ng tingin nito sa kanyang suot. Sa leeg ng kanyang terno na halos ay nakasabit lamang sa gilid ng kanyang balikat at tila nanunuksong pinipigil ang pagsungaw ng kanyang malusog na dibdib. Sa kanyang baywang na lalong pinalantik ng lapat na lapat na saya. Sa laylayan naito na may gilit upang makahakbang siya.

“Ibang-iba na ngan ngayon ang...lahat!” at nauulinigan niya ang buntung-hiningang kumawala sa dibdib ng matandang ale.

Napangiti siya. Alam niyang iyonm din ang sasabihin ng kanyang ina kung nakabuhayan siya. Pati ang kanyang ama na hindi naging maligoy minsan man, sa pagkakaalam niya, sa pagsasalita. Iyon din ang narinig niyang sabi ng kanyang Kuya Mente. At ang apat niyang pamangkin ay halos hindi nakahuma nang makita siya kanginang naka-toreador na itim at kamisadentrong rosas. Pinagmasdan siya ng kanyang mga kanayon, mula ulong may taling bandanna, sa kanyang salaming may kulay, hanggang sa kanyang mag mapulang kuko sa paa na nakasungaw sa step-in na bukas ang nguso.

“Sino kaya’ng magmamana sa mga pamangkin mo?” tanong ngayon ng kanyang Nana Ibang. “Ang panganay sana ng Kua mo...matalino...”

“Sinabi ko naman sa Inso...ibigay na sa ‘kin papapag-aralin ko sa Maynila. Nag-iisan naman ako. Ang hirap sa kanila...ayaw nilang maghiwa-hiwalay. Kung sinunod ko ang gusto ni Inang...noon...kung natakot ako sa iyakan...” Tumigil siya sa pagsasalita. Alam niyang hindi maikukubli ng kanyang tinig ang kapaitang naghihimagsik sa kanyang dibdib.

“Tigas nga naming iyakan nang lumawas ka...” ayon ni Nana Ibang.

“Noon pa man, alam kong nasa Maynila ang aking pagkakataon. Sasali ba ‘ko sa timpalak na ‘yon kung hindi ako nakasisigurong kaya ko ang eksamen?” Malinaw sa isip ang nakaraan.

Hindi sumagot si Nana Ibang. Naramdaman niyang may dumaping panyolito sa kanyang batok. “Pinapawisan ka an, e. Ano bang oras ang sabi no Duardo na susunduin ka?”

“Alas-tres daw. Hanggang ngayon ba’y gano’n dito?” at napangiti siya. “Ang alas-tres, e, alas-singko? Alas-kuwatro na, a! Kung hindi lang ako magsasaya, di dinala ko na rito ang kotse ko. Ako na ang magmamaneho. Sa Amerika...”

“Naiinip ka na ba/” agaw ni Nana Ibang sa kanyang sinabi.

“Hindi sa naiinip, e. Dapat ay nasa oras ng salitaan. Bakit ay gusto kong makabalik din ngayon sa Maynila.”

“Ano? K-kahit gabi?”

Napatawa si Fely. “Kung sa Amerika...nakapunta ako at nakabalik nang nag-iisa, sa Maynila pa? Ilang taon ba ‘kong wala sa Pilipinas? Ang totoo...”

Boglang nauntol ang kanyang pagsasalita nang marinig niya ang mahinang tatat ni Aling Ibang. At nang tumingin siya rito ay nakita niya ang malungkot na mukha nito. At biglang-bigla, dumaan sa kanyang gunita ang naging anyo nito nang makita siya kangina.

Ang pinipigil na paghanga at pagtataka sa kanyang anyo. Ang walang malamang gawing pagsalubong sa kanya. At nang siya ay ipaghain ay hindi siya isinabay sa kanyang mga pamangkin. Ibinukod si ng hain, matapos mailabas ang isang maputi at malinis na mantel. Hindi siya pinalabas sa batalan nang sabihin niyang maghuhugas siya ng kamay. Ipinagpasok siya ng palanggana ng tubig, kasunod ang isa niyang pamangking sa pangaln at larawan lalo niyang kilala sapagkat patuloy ang kanyang sustento rito buwan-buwan. Iba ang may dala ng platitong kinalalagyan ng sabong mabangong alam niyang ngayon lamang binili. Nakasampay sa isang bisig nito ang isang tuwalyang amay moras. At napansin niyang nagkatinginan ang kanyang mga kaharap nang sabihin niyang magkakamay siya.

“Ayan naman ang kubyertos...pilak ‘yan!” hiyang-hiyang sabi ng kanyang hipag. “ ‘Yan ang uwi mo...noon...hindi nga namin ginagamit...”

Napatawa siya. “Kinikutsara ba naman ang alimango?”

Nagsisi siya pagkatapos sa kanyang sinabi. Napansin niyang lalong nahapis ang mukha ng kanyang Nana Ibang. Abot ang paghingi nito ng paumanhin. Kung hindi ka ba nagbago ng loob, di sana’y nilitson ang biik sa silong, kasi, sabi...hindi ka darating...

Wala nga siyang balak na dumalo sa parangal. Ngunit naisip niya – ngayon lamang gagawin ang gayon sa kanilang nayon. Sa ikalimampung taon ng Plaridel High School. Waring hindi niyan matatanggihan ang karangalang iniuukol sa kanya ng Samahan ng mga Nagtapos sa kanilang paaralan. Waring naglalaro sa kanyang isipan ang mga titik ng liham ng pangulo ng samahan. Parangal sa unang babaing hukom na nagtapos sa kanila.

Napakislot pa si Fely nang marinig ang busina ng isag tumigil na sasakayan sa harapan ng bahay. Alam na niya ang kahulugan niyon. Dumating na ang sundo upang ihatid siya sa bayan, sa gusali ng paaralan. Hindi muna niya isinuot ang kanyang sapatos na mataas at payat ang takong.

“Sa kotse n,” ang sabi niya kay Nana Ibang. Ang hindi niya masabi: Baka ako masilat...baka ako hindi makapanaog sa hagdang kawayan.

Ngunit sa kanyang pagyuko upang damputin ang kanyang sapatos ay naunahan siya ng matanda. Kasunod niya ito na bitbit ang kanyang sapatos. Sa paligid ng kotse ay maraming matang nakatingin sa kanya. Ang pinto ng kotse ay hawak ng isang lalaki, na nang mapagsino niya ay bahagya siyang napatigil. Napamaang.

“Ako nga si Duardo!”

Pinigil niya ang buntung-hiningang ibig kumawala sa kanyang dibdib. Nang makaupo na siya ay iniabot ni Nana Ibang ang kanyang sapatos. Yumuko ito at dinampot naman ang tsinelas ba hinubad niya. Isinara ni Duardo ang pinto ng kotse at sa tabi ng tsuper ito naupo.

“Bakit hindi ka rito?” tanong niya. Masasal ang kaba ng kanyang dibdib. “May presidente ba ng samahan na ganyan?”

“A...e...” Hindi kinakailangang makita niyang nakaharao si Duardo. Napansin niya sa pagsasalita nito ang panginginig ng mga labi. ‘A-alangan...na ‘ata...”

Nawala ang ngiti ni Fely. Sumikbo ang kanyang dibdib. Si Duardo ang tanging lalaking naging malapit sa kanya. Noon. Ngayon, nalaman niyang guro ito sa paaralang kanilang pinagtapusan. At ito rin ang pangulo ng Samahan ng mga Nagtapos.

“Natutuwa kami at nagpaunlak ka...” walang anu-ano’y sabi ni Duardo, “Dalawampu’t dalawang taon na...”

“Huwag mo nang sasabihin ang taon!” biglang sabi ni Fely, lakip ang bahagyang tawa. “Tumatanda ako.”

“Hindi ka nagbabago,’ sabi ni Duardo. “Parang mas...mas...bata ka ngayon. Sayang...hindi ka makikita ni Menang...”

“Menang?” napaangat ang likod ni Fely.

“Kaklase natin...sa apat na grado,” paliwanag ni Duardo. “Kami ang...” at napahagikhik ito. “Kamakalawa lang isinilang ang aming pang-anim...’

“Congratulations!” pilit na pilit ang kanyang pagngiti. Tila siya biglang naalinsanganan. Tila siya inip na inip sa pagtakbo ng sasakyan.

“Magugulat ka sa eskuwela natin ngayon,” patuloy ni Duardo nang hindi na siya kumibo. “Ibang-iba kaysa...noon...”

“Piho nga,” patianod niya. “Hindi naman kasi ‘ko nagagawi sa bayan tuwing uuwi ako. Lagi pa ‘kong nagmamadali...”

“Pumirmi na nga rin kami sa bayan kaya hindi naman tayo nagkikita...”

Bagung-bago sa kanyang paningin ang gusali. At nang isungaw niya ang kanyang mukha sa bintana ng sasakyan ay nakita ang mga nakamasid sa kanya. Isinuot niya ang kanyang salaming may kulay. Tila hindi niya matatagalan ang nakalarawan sa mukha ng mga sumasalubong sa kanya. Pagtataka, paghanga, pagkasungyaw. Aywan niya kung alin.

At nang buksan ni Duardo ang pinto ng kotse upang makaibis siya ay lalong nagtimunig ang kahungkagang nadarama sa kanyang mga mata. Tila hindi na niya nakikilala at hindi na rin siya makilala pa ng pook na binalikan niya.

Ang Bato Ni Jose Corazon de Jesus

2010-04-18T23:48:00.001-07:00

Tapakan ng tao, sa gitna ng daan;
Kung matisad mo’y iila-ilandang
Ngunit pagkatapos, pag ika’y namatay,
Bato ang tatapak sa bangkay mo naman

Batong tuntungan mo sa pagkadakila,
Batong tungtungan ko sa pamamayapa;
Talagang ganito sa lapad ng lupa
Ay hali-halili lamang ang kawawa

Balot ng putik, marumi’t maitim
Tinapyas at, aba! Brilyanteng maningning!
Sa putik din pala ay may bituin din
Na hinahangaan ng matang titingin

Maralitang tao’y batong itinatapon,
Sa lusak ng palad ay palabuy-laboy;
Nag-aral at, aba! Noong makaahon,
Sa mahirap pala nar’on ang marunong

Ang batong malaki’y kay daling mabungkal,
Ang batong brilyante’y hirap matagpuan,
Ubod laking tipak, mura nang matimbang.
Ga-mata ng isda’y pagkamahal-mahal.

Talagang ganito, madalas mamalas
Sa alimasag man ang malaki’y payat;
May malaking kahoy sy sukal sa gubat,
May mumunting damo, ang ugat ay lunas.

Ang bato sa ilog, ayun! Tingnan mo ba!
Batong nasa agos, makinis, maganda,
Batong nasa gilid, bahay ng talaba,
Sadlakan ng dumi at nilulumot pa.

O, batas ng buhay! Ang ayaw kumilos,
Habang tumatanda’y lalong nilulumot.
Kapag agos ng palad, ang takot sa agos.
Malayong matutong lumangoy sa ilog

Tatlong tungkong bato, nagtutuwang-tuwang
Nang makaluto ka ng kanin sa kalan
Mapurol mang gulok at kampit na batingaw,
Mapapatalim din ng batong hasaan.

Sa tao, ang bato, aklat ang kagaya,
Ang talim ng isip, tabak ang kapara;
Hasa ka nang hasang sumulat-bumasa,
Bukas-makalawa’y magiging pantas ka.

Kapag, nagkapingki bato mang malamig,
May talsk na apoy na sumasagitsit;
Ang noo ng tao, kapag nagkiskis,
Apoy ng katwiran ang tumitilamsik!

At saka ang bato ay may katarungan,
Taong nilulunod na bato ang pataw,
Kung taong masama’y di na lumulutang,
Ngunit kung dakila’y pumapaibabaw

Republikang Basahan ni Teodoro Agoncillo

2010-04-18T23:46:00.001-07:00

Republikang Basahan
Teodoro Agoncillo (_TULA_)

Republika baga itong busabos ka ng dayuhan?
Ang tingin sa tanikala'y busilak ng kalayaan?

Kasarinlan baga itong ang bibig mo'y nakasusi,
Ang mata mong nakadilat ay bulag na di mawari?

Ang buhay mo'y walang patid na hibla ng pagtataksil
Sa sarili, lipi't angkan, sa bayan mong dumaraing!

Kalayaan! Republika! Ang bayani'y dinudusta.
Kalayaan pala itong mamatay nang abang-aba!

Kasarinlan pala itong ni hindi mo masarili
Ang dangal ng tahanan mong ibo't pugad ng pagkasi.

Malaya ka, bakit hindi? Sa bitaya'n ikaw'y manhik,
At magbigting mahinahon sa sarili na ring lubid!

Kalayaan - ito pala'y mayron na ring tinutubo
Sa puhunang dila't laway, at hindi sa luha't dugo!

Humimbing kang mapayapa, mabuhay kang nangangarap,
Sa ganyan lang mauulol ang sarili sa magdamag.

Lumakad ka, hilain mo ang kadenang may kalansing,
Na sa taynga ng busabos ay musikang naglalambing!

Limutin mo ang nagdaan, ang sarili ay taglayin,
Subalit ang iniisip ay huwag mong bibigkasin!

Magsanay ka sa pagpukpok, sa pagpala at paghukay,
Pagkat ikaw ang gagawa ng kabaong kung mamatay.

Purihin mo ang bayaning may dalisay na adhika,
Ngunit huwag paparisan ang kanilang gawi't gawa.

Republika na nga itong ang sa inyo'y hindi iyo,
Timawa ka at dayuhan sa lupain at bayan mo!

Kalayaan! Malaya ka, oo na nga, bakit hindi?
Sa patak ng iyong luha'y malaya kang mamighati!

Sa simoy ng mga hangin sa parang at mga bundok,
Palipasin mo ang sukal ng loob mong kumikirot.

Ksarinlan! Republika! Kayo baga'y nauulol,
Sa ang inyong kalayaa'y tabla na rin ng kabaong?

Repblika! Kasarinlan! Mandi'y hindi nadarama,
Ang paglaya'y sa matapang at sa kanyon bumubuga!

Bawat hakbang na gawin mo sa Templo ng Kalayaan
Ay hakbang na papalapit sa bunganga ng libingan!

Ang paglaya'y nakukuha sa tulis ng isang sibat,
Ang tabak ay tumatalim sa pingki ng kapwa tabak.

Ang paglaya'y isang tining ng nagsamang dugo't luha,
Sa saro ng kagitinga'y bayani lang ang tutungga.

Bawat sinag ng paglayang sa karimlan ay habulin,
Isang punyal sa dibdib mo, isang kislap ng patalim!

Gutom ni Wilfredo P. Virtusio

2010-04-18T23:42:00.000-07:00

Kita talaga ni Bobot ang nangyari. Hagip na Hagip ng kotse ang batang anak ni Aling Gunding . Umilandang at bumagsak sa sementadong bangketa. Sabog ang ulo.

Pumunta siya sa unang gabi ng lamay. Nagtaka siya. Ang dami kasing pagkain : soft drinks, juice, tinapay na may margarina, fried chicken. ‘Samantalang sina Aling Gunding , alam niya, ay walang pagkain madalas. Wala na kasing asawa at lima ang anak.

Pareho lang naman ang buhay nila ni Aling gunding. Kahit nga may tatay pa silang magkakapatid, gutom pa din sila. Madalas nga, minsan lang sila kumain maghapon.
Kung biglang nagkaroon ng maraming pagkain sila Aling Gunding, narinig niya sa mga kwentuhan ng mga nagsisipaglamay.

“Nagbayad kasi ‘yong nakasagasa” sabi ni Petrang Bungangera. “Balita nga,” sabad naman ng isa, “sagot ang lahat ng gastos.”

“Saka, binayaran pa raw ng libu-libo bukod sa mga gastos,” sabi pa ng isa.
Suwerte talaga, naisip din ni Bobot. Sabi tuloy niya sa nanay niya.

“Namatay lang ‘yong anak, ang dami na ka’gad pera,” sabi niya. Pinandilatan siya ng nanay niya. “Sus, s’werte ba ‘yo’y namatayan na nga …”

Pero swete talaga, parating naiisip ni Bobot. Lalo na kung nasa bahay siya at nakikitang nag-aaway ang tatay at nanay niya. Istambay kasi ang tatay niya. Madalas pang lasing. Naglalaba lang ang nanay nila para kumain sila. Kaso, pito sila.

“Kung me pera lang kami,” madalas ay naiisip niya. Di sana sila ganoon, sana, di sila sa iskwater nakatira. Sana, di parating nag-aaway ang nanay at tatay niya. Sana, di nahinto sa eskwela… pati ang mga kapatid niya.

Marami pa ngang sana kung may pera lamang sila… kaso, wala nga.

Kaya, hayun gutom sila. Nangyari tuloy, ewan niya talaga kung bakit, minsa’y nagpunta na lamang siya sa bungad ng malaking kalsada. Pinapanood niya ang nagdaraanang sasakyan. Dyip, Trak, bus, kotse. Marami, magaganda, magagarang kotse. Kasingganda niyong nakasagasa sa anak ni Aling Gunding. Mayayaman ang sakay. Kasing yayaman niyong may-ari ng kotseng nakasagasa sa bata.

“Ano kaya kung…”
Pero hindi niya Itinuloy ang iniisip. Natakot siya. Sigurado, masakit iyon. Saka, parang narinig niyang hindi tinatanggap sa langit iyong gumagawa niyon. Saka, nalungkot din siya. Siyempre iiyak ang nanay niya. Baka hindi na siya makakalaro.

“Pero kung…”
Di na maglalaba ang nanay niya. Di na iiyak si Boyet at iba pa niyang maliliit na kapatid. Di na kasi magugutom

Hapon na lamang ay patayu-tayo na siya sa bungad ng malaking kalsada. Inabo na siya ng dilim. Ayaw pa niya umuwi. Kung puwede nga lang, di na siya uuwi. May sakit kasi ang nanay niya. Kung may ilang araw na. Ubo ng Ubo. Siguro may TB na nga, paris ng sabi ni Boyet.

Gabi na naroon pa rin siya. Masakit na ang tiyan niya. Parang papel na nilamukos ang bituka iya. Kasi, kahapon pa siya di kumakain ng kahit na ano. Siguro, Iyak ng iyak sa bahay sina Boyet. Mas lalo kasing di nakatitiis ng gutom ang mga kapatid niya.

Nahilo na siya. Kung anu-ano na ang mga nakikita niya. May etrelyang kung anu-ano ang kulay. May lobong sari-sari rin ang kulay, lumilipad nilalaro ng hangin papunta sa langit. Totoo kaya ang langit?

Pagkatapos nakita niya ang kotseng iyon. Kulay asul. Maka-uniporme ang tsuper. Saka iyong babae sa likuran, ang garbo ng ayos. Ang kikintab ng mga Alahas.

Patakbong sinalubong ni Bobot ang Kotse.

Bangkang Papel ni Genoveva Edroza-Matute

2010-04-18T23:30:00.000-07:00

Nagkatuwaan ang mga bata sa pagtatampisaw sa baha. Ito ang pinakahihintay nilang araw mula nang magkasunud-sunod ang pag-ulan. Alam nilang kapag iyo’y nagpatuloy sa loob ng tatlong araw ang lansangang patungo sa laruan ay lulubog. At ngayon, ay ikalimang araw nang walang tigil ang pag-ulan.

Ilang maliliit na bata ang magpapalutang ng mga bangkal papel, nariyang tinatangay ng tubig, naroong sinasalpok at inilulubog, nariyang winawasak.

Sa tuwi akong makakikita ng bangkang papel ay nagbabalik sa aking gunita ang isang batang lalaki. Isang batang lalaking gumawa ng tatlong malalaking bangkang papel na hindi niya napalutang sa tubig kailanman...

Isang batang lalaking nagising sa isang gabi, sa mag dagundong na nakagugulat.
Sa loob ng ilang saglit, ang akala niya’y Bagong Taon noon. Gayon ding malalakas na ugong ang natatandaan niyang sumasalubong sa Bagong Taon. Ngunit pagkalipas ng ilan pang saglit, nagunita niyang noon ay wala nang ingay na pumapatak mula sa kanilang bubungan.
Sa karimla’t pinalaki niya ang dalawang mata, wala siyang makitang ano man maliban sa isang makitid na silahis. Hindi niya malaman kung alin ang dagundong ng biglang pumuno sa bahay ang biglang pagliliwanag. Gulilat siyang nagbalikwas at hinanap nang paningin ang kanyang ina.

Nagsunud-sunod ang tila malalaking batong gumugulong sa kanilang bubungan. Ang paggulong ng mga iyo’y sinasaliwan ng pagliliwanag at pagdidilim ng bahay, ng pagliliwanag na muli. Samantala’y patuloy ang pagbuhos ng ulan sa kanilang bubungan, sa kanilang paligid, sa lahat ng dako.

Muling nahiga ang nagbalikwas at ang tinig niya ay pinatalagos sa karimlan.

“Inay, umuulan, ano?”

“Oo, anak, kangina,” anang tinig mula sa dulo ng hihigan.

“Inay,” ang ulit niya sa karimlan, “dumating na ba ang Tatay?”

Sumagot ang tinig ngunit hindi niya maunawaan. Kaya’t itinaas niya nang bahagay ang likod at humilig sa kaliwang bisig. Sa kanyang tabi;y naroon ang kapatid na si Miling. Sa tabi nito’y nabanaagan niya ang katawan ng ina, at sa kabila naman nito’y nakita niya ang banig na walang tao.

Ibinaba niya ang likod at iniunat ang kaliwang bisig. Naramdaman niya ang sigis ng lamig ng kanyang buto. Mula sa nababalot na katawan ni milng ay hinila niya ang kumot at ito’y itinakip sa sariling katawan. Bahagyang gumalaw ang kapatid, pagkatapos ay nagpatuloy sa hindi pagkilos. Naaawa siya kay Miling kaya’t ang kalahati ng kumot ay ibinalot sa katawan niyon at siya’y namaluktot sa nalabing kalahati.

Naramdaman niya ang panunuot ng lamig sa kanyang likod. Inilabas niya ang kanag kamay sa kumot at kinapa ang banig hanggang sa maabot niya ang sahig.
Anong lamig sa sahig, ang naisip niya, at ang kanang kamay ay dali-daling ipinasok muli sa kumot.

“Inay,” ang tawag niyang muli, “bakit wala pa si Tatay? Anong oras na ba?”
“Ewan ko,” ang sagot ng kanyang ina. “Matulog ka na, anak, at bukas ay magpapalutang ka ng mga bangkang ginawa mo.”
Natuwa ang bata sa kanyang narinig.
Magkakarerahan kami ng bangka ni Miling, ang aki’y malalaki’t matitibay...hindi masisira ng tubig.

Dali-dali siyang nagbangon at pakapa-kapang sumiksik sa pagitan ng kapatid at ng kanyang kausap. Idinaan niya ang kanyang kamay sa pagitan ng baywang at bisig ng ina. Naramdaman niya ang bahagyang pag-aangay ng kaliwang bisig niyon. Ang kanang kamay noo’y ipinatong sa kanyang ulo at pabulong na nagsalita:

“Siya, matulog ka na.”

Ngunit ang bata’y hindi natulog. Mula sa malayo’y naririnig niya ang hagibis ng malakas na hangin. At ang ulang tangay-tangay noon.

“Marahil ay hindi na uuwi ang Tatay ngayong gabi,” ang kanyang nasabi. Naalala niyang may mga gabing hindi umuuwi ang kanyang ama.

“Saan natutulog ang Tatay kung hindi siya umuuwi rito?” ang tanong niya sa kanyang ina. Ngunit ito’y hindi sumagot.

Sinipat niya ang mukha upang alamin kung nakapikit na ang kanyang ina. Ngunit sa karimlan ay hindi niya makita.

Bago siya tuluyang nakalimot, ang kahuli-hulihang larawan sa kanyang balintataw ay ito. Tatlong malalaking bangkang yari sa papel na inaanod ng baha sa kanilang tapat...
At samantalang pumapailanlang sa kaitaasan ang kahuli-hulihang pangrap ng batang yaon, ang panahon ay patuloy sa pagmamasungit. Ang munting bahay na pawid ay patuloy sa pagliliwanag at pagdidilim, sa pananahimik at pag-uumugong, sa pagbabata ng walang awing hampas ng hangin at ulan...

Ang kinabukasan ng pagtatampisaw at pagpapaanod ng mga bangkang papel ay dumating... Ngunit kakaibang kinabukasan.

Pagdilat ng inaantok pang batang lalaki ay nakita niyang nag-iisa siya sa hihigan. Naroon ang kumot at unan ni Miling at ng kanyang ina.

Pupungas siyang bumangon.
Isang kamay ang dumantay sa kanyang balikat at nang magtaas ng paningin ay nakitang yao’y si Aling Berta, ang kanilang kapitbahay.

Hindi niya maunawaan ang tingin noong tila naaawa.
Biglang-biglang naparam ang nalalabi pang antok. Gising na gising ang kanyang ulirat.
Naroon ang asawa ni Aling Berta, gayon din sina Mang Pedring, si Alng Ading, si Feli, at si Turing, si Pepe. Nakita niyang ang kanilang bahay ay halos mapuno ng tao.
Nahihintakutang mga batang humanap kay Miling at sa ina. Sa isang sulok, doon nakita ng batang lalaki ang kanyang ina na nakalikmo sa sahig. Sa kanyang kandungan ay nakasubsob si Miling. At ang buhok nito ay walang tigil na hinahaplus-haplos ng kanyang ina.
Ang mukha ng kanyang ina ay nakita ng batang higit na pumuti kaysa rati. Ngunit ang mga mata noo’y hindi pumupikit, nakatingin sa wala.

Patakbo siyang lumapit sa ina at sunud-sunod ang kanyang pagtatanong. “Bakit, Inay, ano ang nangyari? Ano ang nangyari, Inay? Bakit maraming tao rito?”
Ngunit tila hindi siya narinig ng kausap. Ang mga mata noo’y patuloy sa hindi pagsikap. Ang kamay noo’y patuloy sa paghaplos sa buhok ni Miling.

Nagugulumihang lumapit ang bata kina Mang Pedring at Aling Feli. Ang pag-uusap nila’y biglang natigil nang siya’y makita.

Wala siyang narinig kundi... “Labinlimang lahat ang nangapatay...”
Hindi niya maunawaan ang ang lahat. Ang pagdami ng tao sa kanilang bahay. Ang anasan. Ang ayos ng kanyang ina. Ang pag-iyak ni Aling Feli nang siya ay makita.
Sa pagitan ng mga hikbi, siya’y patuloy sa pagtatanong...
“Bakit po? Ano po iyon?”

Walang sumasagot sa kanya. Lahat ng lapitan niya’y nanatiling pinid ang labi. Ipinatong ang kamay sa kanyang balikat o kaya’y hinahaplos ang kanyang buhok at wala na.
Hindi niya matandaan kung gaano katagal bago may nagdatingan pang mga tao.
“Handa na ba kaya?” anang isang malakas ang tinig. “Ngayon din ay magsialis na kayo. Kayo’y ihahatid ni Kapitan Sidro sa pook na ligtas. Walang maiiwan, isa man. Bago lumubog ang araw sila’y papasok dito... Kaya’t walang maaaring maiwan.”

Matagal bago naunawaan ng bata kung ano ang nagyari.
Sila’y palabas na sa bayan, silang mag-iiba, ang lahat ng kanilang kapitbahay, ang maraming-maraming tao, at ang kani-kanilang balutan.
Sa paulit-ulit na salitaan, sa sali-salimbayang pag-uusap ay nabatid niya ang ilang bagay.
Sa labinlimang nangapatay kagabi ay kabilang ang kanyang ama...sa labas ng bayan...sa sagupaan ng mga kawal at taong-bayan.

Nag-aalinlangan, ang batang lalaki’y lumapit sa kanyang ina na mabibigat ang mga paa sa paghakbang.

“Inay, bakit pinatay ng mga kawal ang Tatay? Bakit? Bakit?”
Ang mga bata noong nakatingin sa matigas na lupa ay isang saglit na lumapit sa kanyang mukha. Pagkatapos, sa isang tinig na marahang-marahan ay nagsalita.
“Iyon din ang nais kong malaman, anakm iyon din ang nais kong malaman.”
Samantala...

Sa bawat hakbang na palayo sa bahay na pawid at sa munting bukid na kanyang tahanan ay nararagdagan ang agwat ng ulila sa kanyang kabataan.

Ang gabing yaon ng mga dagundong at sigwa, ng mga pangarap na kinabukasan at ng mga bangkang papel – ang gabing yaon ang kahuli-hulihan sa kabataang sasansaglit lamang tumagal. Ang araw na humalili’y tigib ng pangamba at ng mga katanungang inihahanap ng tugon.
Kaya nga ba’t sa tuwi akong makakikita ng bangkang papel ay nagbabalik sa aking gunita ang isang batang lalaki. Isang batang lalaking gumawa ng tatlong malalaking bangkang papel na hindi niya napalutang kailanman...

An excerpt from Self-Reliance of Ralph Waldo Emerson

2009-09-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, — that is genius. There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide. The power which resides in him is new in nature and none but he knows what that is not which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace. if you would be a man, speak what you think today in words as hard as cannon balls, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today. Ah, then, exclaim the aged ladies, you shall be sure to be misunderstood. Misunderstood! It is a right fool's word. Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.

Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession.

Semi Final Exam in English III (Oral Communication)

2009-09-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

This was the Oral Examination given by our teacher Ms. Retchie Macalalad, hehe it's kinda difficult but we hope, we can do it, hehe...

Have this photocopied. Read and understand the steps on writing and delivering speeches. Make your own speech. Choose your topic below. Your semiFinal Exam will be divided into two; your speech and self-reliance. The copy of self-reliance is at the last part.

1. “All our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them.” ~Walt Disney
2. “Be who you are and say what you feel”
3. “Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.”
4. “Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.”
5. “Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.”
6. “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as long as you do not stop.”
7. “Be not ashamed of crimes and thus make them crimes.”
Steps on writing and delivering speeches

First, the audience. Who are they? Why are they there? What are they interested in? How much do they already know about your subject? Ask questions until you have these answers and are clear about your listeners. The more you know about them, the more comfortable you will be when in front of them.

Now, your topic. Presumably, you were asked to speak in the first place in the hope that you would be able to share information about a topic you know something about. Research your topic thoroughly. Go to the library to find current facts, recent articles on the subject and good quotations. Interview other experts to round out your material.

In short, gather more information than you'll possibly be able to use in your speech. Imagine the self-confidence at your presentation when you know that "there's lots more where that came from".

The best speakers make their presentations sound spontaneous and conversational even when they are memorized. The way they do this is to learn the speech in outline form, instead of word for word. Your outline should contain the Opening, the Message and the Wrap up.

Your opening remarks set the tone of the whole presentation. Audiences make up their minds very quickly. The purpose of your opening is to grab attention. We must assume that our audience is generally as busy and preoccupied as we are. So we first need to get their attention with a question, 'grabber' words, humor or an interesting visual.

"Grabber" words are designed to startle, shock or at least cause your listener to want to listen to what's coming next. The first sentence of this article is an example. A funny comment or an eye-catching visual is always an effective way to get the attention of your listeners in a hurry. Obviously, any of these openings must be relevant to your message, or they will confuse your listeners.

Once you have their attention, it's time to relate your main message. Organize your main points around only one or two main messages. It's helpful for you to ask yourself "what do I want these people to be thinking or doing as a result of my presentation?” As you make your points, you can keep relating back to the main message.

Most professional speakers say it's best to flow the presentation from the general to the more specific and from the known to the unknown. This is how you avoid losing your audience.
If you're presenting statistics, facts or numbers, try to avoid spewing them all at once. Space them out. Even better, relate the facts and figures to something familiar. Instead of saying "twenty percent of you will .....", say "One in five of you will ...".

The Wrap up of your speech is where you "ask for the order". This is where you summarize the main points in a sentence or two, then state your main message. If you are asking for a decision, urging action or leaving them with a key thought in mind, now is the time to do it.
Once you have prepared your speech, write the key points in outline form or on 3" x 5" index cards. This will help to prompt you through your speech without sounding as if you are reading it word for word.

In the days leading up to your speech, practice, practice, practice. Stand in front of a full-length mirror and give your speech. Tape yourself, then replay the tape listening for poor grammar and filler words such as "Ah", "Uh" or "You know".

Before it's your turn to take the podium, breathe deeply and focus all your attention on your message. We feel nervous and anxious when we think about ourselves. Think about the content of your message and especially, on the first two or three sentences of your presentation.
Once you've been introduced, walk to the podium, pause for a deep breath, smile, then begin. Pick out three or four people in the audience who are in different sectors of the room and talk to them. Pick out people who seem to be having a good time.

Keep an eye on the time. Surprisingly, time will pass quickly when you are presenting. You don't want to overstay your welcome. From time to time, during your talk, pause for a beat or two to let important points sink in. This also lets your audience catch up with you as they think about what you're saying.

What you say last is likely to be what is remembered longest, so don't finish with "that's all I have to say". Instead, end on a note of intensity. Choose a quotation, anecdote or line that leaves the audience laughing or thoughtful. Think of this last sentence as the one that will invoke applause.

Speaking of applause, you may just discover how much you enjoy the sweet sound of applause and encouragement. It can be almost addictive.

Step 1
Before you start a speech first you have to ask yourself what your main idea is. Outline the key components of your main idea and the ultimate goal for your speech. It should look something like this :Main idea :What is the main idea I want to get across?Goal :What do I want people to learn from my speech?This should be simple, people generally learn two or three key points, it is better to do a speech which is clear and well thought out with a couple simple points than a long speech which confuses people.

Step 2
A basic speech consists of three main elements ( just as in a commentary or paper)Introduction – A summary of what the points you want to get across. This gets the attention early on and it sets the tone for your speech. If you begin early on with a long introduction or a confused introduction, people will start to “tune out”. The following speech is about sailing. I wish to talk to you about this because it has been an important part of my life, and it made me the person today. Maybe you won’t ever sail in your life but you might become more open to the idea of sailing. "An introduction should be interesting, to the point and not too long. Your voice should be confident and loud, which will engage the audience from the start.

Step 3
This should have your main ideas within the speech. Again, it should be a couple of points for a ten minute talk. For example :1. What sailing is2. Why I like it3. The freedom I get from sailing.4. some of the drawbacks of sailing. Within those points you should have sub points like this :What Italian food is :It is a food that came from Italy. It includes many pastasOne of the main ingredients are cheese and sauce Bread and sauce made one of the more famous dishes called pizza. Now you have a paragraph of one of your key points. After you have made the categories, you simply make them full coherent sentences

Step 4
Now you are ready for the Conclusion- This should sum up all of your key points and serves as a reminder of what you just talked about.“ Finally, I would like to say that Italian food for me is one of the most delicious and satisfying foods in the world. There are many types of pasta and sauce and it has served to give my family a sense of unity through food... if you haven’t tried Italian food you have no idea what you are missing!”

Tips & Warnings
• Avoid retelling the speech again; simply point out your key points in different words.
• Try not to be too long, and sometimes it is a good idea to have something witty or funny at the end of a speech.
• Make sure that your key points are related to each other, find a way to relate them to each other.
• Don’t make points that have nothing to do with your main idea or speech.
• Avoid repeating yourself over and over, if you have said “ My mother is an inspiration, we don’t need to hear it again in your speech.
• Remember to speak slowly, loudly and clearly.
• Don´t sound rehearsed, try to be natural .
• Avoid using words like “ um”, “ It’s like” or “ I don’t know” which make you sound doubtful of what you are saying.
• Understand and know your topic, if you don’t understand your audience certainly won’t.
• Avoid words that you don’t understand just to sound interesting.
• Be interested in your topic, even the most boring topic can be interesting if you make it engaging!
• Don't go off in tangents, stay focused on your main points if not you can easily confuse your audience.

An excerpt from self-reliance

To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, — that is genius. There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide. The power which resides in him is new in nature and none but he knows what that is not which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace. if you would be a man, speak what you think today in words as hard as cannon balls, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today. Ah, then, exclaim the aged ladies, you shall be sure to be misunderstood. Misunderstood! It is a right fool's word. Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.
Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession.

In Exile by Anton Chekhov

2009-09-06T23:47:00.000-07:00

OLD SEMYON, nicknamed Canny, and a young Tatar, whom no one knew by name, were sitting on the river-bank by the camp-fire; the other three ferrymen were in the hut. Semyon, an old man of sixty, lean and toothless, but broad shouldered and still healthy-looking, was drunk; he would have gone in to sleep long before, but he had a bottle in his pocket and he was afraid that the fellows in the hut would ask him for vodka. The Tatar was ill and weary, and wrapping himself up in his rags was describing how nice it was in the Simbirsk province, and what a beautiful and clever wife he had left behind at home. He was not more than twenty five, and now by the light of the camp-fire, with his pale and sick, mournful face, he looked like a boy.

"To be sure, it is not paradise here," said Canny. "You can see for yourself, the water, the bare banks, clay, and nothing else. . . . Easter has long passed and yet there is ice on the river, and this morning there was snow. . ."
"It's bad! it's bad!" said the Tatar, and looked round him in terror.
The dark, cold river was flowing ten paces away; it grumbled, lapped against the hollow clay banks and raced on swiftly towards the far-away sea. Close to the bank there was the dark blur of a big barge, which the ferrymen called a "karbos." Far away on the further bank, lights, dying down and flickering up again, zigzagged like little snakes; they were burning last year's grass. And beyond the little snakes there was darkness again. There little icicles could be heard knocking against the barge It was damp and cold. . . .

The Tatar glanced at the sky. There were as many stars as at home, and the same blackness all round, but something was lacking. At home in the Simbirsk province the stars were quite different, and so was the sky.

"It's bad! it's bad!" he repeated.
"You will get used to it," said Semyon, and he laughed. "Now you are young and foolish, the milk is hardly dry on your lips, and it seems to you in your foolishness that you are more wretched than anyone; but the time will come when you will say to yourself: 'I wish no one a better life than mine.' You look at me. Within a week the floods will be over and we shall set up the ferry; you will all go wandering off about Siberia while I shall stay and shall begin going from bank to bank. I've been going like that for twenty-two years, day and night. The pike and the salmon are under the water while I am on the water. And thank God for it, I want nothing; God give everyone such a life."

The Tatar threw some dry twigs on the camp-fire, lay down closer to the blaze, and said:

"My father is a sick man. When he dies my mother and wife will come here. They have promised."

"And what do you want your wife and mother for?" asked Canny. "That's mere foolishness, my lad. It's the devil confounding you, damn his soul! Don't you listen to him, the cursed one. Don't let him have his way. He is at you about the women, but you spite him; say, 'I don't want them!' He is on at you about freedom, but you stand up to him and say: 'I don't want it!' I want nothing, neither father nor mother, nor wife, nor freedom, nor post, nor paddock; I want nothing, damn their souls!"
Semyon took a pull at the bottle and went on:
"I am not a simple peasant, not of the working class, but the son of a deacon, and when I was free I lived at Kursk; I used to wear a frockcoat, and now I have brought myself to such a pass that I can sleep naked on the ground and eat grass. And I wish no one a better life. I want nothing and I am afraid of nobody, and the way I look at it is that there is nobody richer and freer than I am. When they sent me here from Russia from the first day I stuck it out; I want nothing! The devil was at me about my wife and about my home and about freedom, but I told him: 'I want nothing.' I stuck to it, and here you see I live well, and I don't complain, and if anyone gives way to the devil and listens to him, if but once, he is lost, there is no salvation for him: he is sunk in the bog to the crown of his head and will never get out.

"It is not only a foolish peasant like you, but even gentlemen, well-educated people, are lost. Fifteen years ago they sent a gentleman here from Russia. He hadn't shared something with his brothers and had forged something in a will. They did say he was a prince or a baron, but maybe he was simply an official -- who knows? Well, the gentleman arrived here, and first thing he bought himself a house and land in Muhortinskoe. 'I want to live by my own work,' says he, 'in the sweat of my brow, for I am not a gentleman now,' says he, 'but a settler.' 'Well,' says I, 'God help you, that's the right thing.' He was a young man then, busy and careful; he used to mow himself and catch fish and ride sixty miles on horseback. Only this is what happened: from the very first year he took to riding to Gyrino for the post; he used to stand on my ferry and sigh: 'Ech, Semyon, how long it is since they sent me any money from home!' 'You don't want money, Vassily Sergeyitch,' says I. 'What use is it to you? You cast away the past, and forget it as though it had never been at all, as though it had been a dream, and begin to live anew. Don't listen to the devil,' says I; 'he will bring you to no good, he'll draw you into a snare. Now you want money,' says I, ' but in a very little while you'll be wanting something else, and then more and more. If you want to be happy,' says I, the chief thing is not to want anything. Yes. . . . If,' says I, 'if Fate has wronged you and me cruelly it's no good asking for her favor and bowing down to her, but you despise her and laugh at her, or else she will laugh at you.' That's what I said to him. . . .

"Two years later I ferried him across to this side, and he was rubbing his hands and laughing. ' I am going to Gyrino to meet my wife,' says he. 'She was sorry for me,' says he; 'she has come. She is good and kind.' And he was breathless with joy. So a day later he came with his wife. A beautiful young lady in a hat; in her arms was a baby girl. And lots of luggage of all sorts. And my Vassily
Sergeyitch was fussing round her; he couldn't take his eyes off her and couldn't say enough in praise of her. 'Yes, brother Semyon, even in Siberia people can live!' 'Oh, all right,' thinks I, 'it will be a different tale presently.' And from that time forward he went almost every week to inquire whether money had not come from Russia. He wanted a lot of money. 'She is losing her youth and beauty here in Siberia for my sake,' says he, 'and sharing my bitter lot with me, and so I ought,' says he, 'to provide her with every comfort. . . .'

"To make it livelier for the lady he made acquaintance with the officials and all sorts of riff-raff. And of course he had to give food and drink to all that crew, and there had to be a piano and a shaggy lapdog on the sofa -- plague take it! . . . Luxury, in fact, self-indulgence. The lady did not stay with him long. How could she? The clay, the water, the cold, no vegetables for you, no fruit. All around you ignorant and drunken people and no sort of manners, and she was a spoilt lady from Petersburg or Moscow. . . . To be sure she moped. Besides, her husband, say what you like, was not a gentleman now, but a settler -- not the same rank.

"Three years later, I remember, on the eve of the Assumption, there was shouting from the further bank. I went over with the ferry, and what do I see but the lady, all wrapped up, and with her a young gentleman, an official. A sledge with three horses. . . . I ferried them across here, they got in and away like the wind. They were soon lost to sight. And towards morning Vassily Sergeyitch galloped down to the ferry. 'Didn't my wife come this way with a gentleman in spectacles, Semyon?' 'She did,' said I; 'you may look for the wind in the fields!' He galloped in pursuit of them. For five days and nights he was riding after them. When I ferried him over to the other side afterwards, he flung himself on the ferry and beat his head on the boards of the ferry and howled. 'So that's how it is,' says I. I laughed, and reminded him 'people can live even in Siberia!' And he beat his head harder than ever. . . .

"Then he began longing for freedom. His wife had slipped off to Russia, and of course he was drawn there to see her and to get her away from her lover. And he took, my lad, to galloping almost every day, either to the post or the town to see the commanding officer; he kept sending in petitions for them to have mercy on him and let him go back home; and he used to say that he had spent some two hundred roubles on telegrams alone. He sold his land and mortgaged his house to the Jews. He grew gray and bent, and yellow in the face, as though he was in consumption. If he talked to you he would go, khee--khee--khee,. . . and there were tears in his eyes. He kept rushing about like this with petitions for eight years, but now he has grown brighter and more cheerful again: he has found another whim to give way to. You see, his daughter has grown up. He looks at her, and she is the apple of his eye. And to tell the truth she is all right, good-looking, with black eyebrows and a lively disposition. Every Sunday he used to ride with her to church in Gyrino. They used to stand on the ferry, side by side, she would laugh and he could not take his eyes off her. 'Yes, Semyon,' says he, 'people can live even in Siberia. Even in Siberia there is happiness. Look,' says he, 'what a daughter I have got! I warrant you wouldn't find another like her for a thousand versts round.' 'Your daughter is all right,' says I, 'that's true, certainly.' But to myself I thought: 'Wait a bit, the wench is young, her blood is dancing, she wants to live, and there is no life here.' And she did begin to pine, my lad. . . . She faded and faded, and now she can hardly crawl about. Consumption.

"So you see what Siberian happiness is, damn its soul! You see how people can live in Siberia. . . . He has taken to going from one doctor to another and taking them home with him. As soon as he hears that two or three hundred miles away there is a doctor or a sorcerer, he will drive to fetch him. A terrible lot of money he spent on doctors, and to my thinking he had better have spent the money on drink. . . . She'll die just the same. She is certain to die, and then it will be all over with him. He'll hang himself from grief or run away to Russia -- that's a sure thing. He'll run away and they'll catch him, then he will be tried, sent to prison, he will have a taste of the lash. . . ."
"Good! good!" said the Tatar, shivering with cold.
"What is good?" asked Canny.
"His wife, his daughter. . . . What of prison and what of sorrow! -- anyway, he did see his wife and his daughter. . . . You say, want nothing. But 'nothing' is bad! His wife lived with him three years -- that was a gift from God. 'Nothing' is bad, but three years is good. How not understand?"

Shivering and hesitating, with effort picking out the Russian words of which he knew but few, the Tatar said that God forbid one should fall sick and die in a strange land, and be buried in the cold and dark earth; that if his wife came to him for one day, even for one hour, that for such happiness he would be ready to bear any suffering and to thank God. Better one day of happiness than nothing.
Then he described again what a beautiful and clever wife he had left at home. Then, clutching his head in both hands, he began crying and assuring Semyon that he was not guilty, and was suffering for nothing. His two brothers and an uncle had carried off a peasant's horses, and had beaten the old man till he was half dead, and the commune had not judged fairly, but had contrived a sentence by which all the three brothers were sent to Siberia, while the uncle, a rich man, was left at home.
"You will get used to it!" said Semyon.
The Tatar was silent, and stared with tear-stained eyes at the fire; his face expressed bewilderment and fear, as though he still did not understand why he was here in the darkness and the wet, beside strangers, and not in the Simbirsk province.

Canny lay near the fire, chuckled at something, and began humming a song in an undertone.

"What joy has she with her father?" he said a little later. "He loves her and he rejoices in her, that's true; but, mate, you must mind your ps and qs with him, he is a strict old man, a harsh old man. And young wenches don't want strictness. They want petting and ha-ha-ha! and ho-ho-ho! and scent and pomade. Yes. . . . Ech! life, life," sighed Semyon, and he got up heavily. "The vodka is all gone, so it is time to sleep. Eh? I am going, my lad. . . ."

Left alone, the Tatar put on more twigs, lay down and stared at the fire; he began thinking of his own village and of his wife. If his wife could only come for a month, for a day; and then if she liked she might go back again. Better a month or even a day than nothing. But if his wife kept her promise and came, what would he have to feed her on? Where could she live here?

"If there were not something to eat, how could she live?" the Tatar asked aloud.

He was paid only ten kopecks for working all day and all night at the oar; it is true that travelers gave him tips for tea and for vodkas but the men shared all they received among themselves, and gave nothing to the Tatar, but only laughed at him. And from poverty he was hungry, cold, and frightened. . . . Now, when his whole body was aching and shivering, he ought to go into the hut and lie down to sleep; but he had nothing to cover him there, and it was colder than on the river-bank; here he had nothing to cover him either, but at least he could make up the fire. . . .
In another week, when the floods were quite over and they set the ferry going, none of the ferrymen but Semyon would be wanted, and the Tatar would begin going from village to village begging for alms and for work. His wife was only seventeen; she was beautiful, spoilt, and shy; could she possibly go from village to village begging alms with her face unveiled? No, it was terrible even to think of that. . . .
It was already getting light; the barge, the bushes of willow on the water, and the waves could be clearly discerned, and if one looked round there was the steep clay slope; at the bottom of it the hut thatched with dingy brown straw, and the huts of the village lay clustered higher up. The cocks were already crowing in the village.

The rusty red clay slope, the barge, the river, the strange, unkind people, hunger, cold, illness, perhaps all that was not real. Most likely it was all a dream, thought the Tatar. He felt that he was asleep and heard his own snoring. . . . Of course he was at home in the Simbirsk province, and he had only to call his wife by name for her to answer; and in the next room was his mother. . . . What terrible dreams there are, though! What are they for? The Tatar smiled and opened his eyes. What river was this, the Volga?
Snow was falling.
"Boat!" was shouted on the further side. "Boat!"
The Tatar woke up, and went to wake his mates and row over to the other side. The ferrymen came on to the river-bank, putting on their torn sheepskins as they walked, swearing with voices husky from sleepiness and shivering from the cold. On waking from their sleep, the river, from which came a breath of piercing cold, seemed to strike them as revolting and horrible. They jumped into the barge without hurrying themselves. . . . The Tatar and the three ferrymen took the long, broad-bladed oars, which in the darkness looked like the claws of crabs; Semyon leaned his stomach against the tiller. The shout on the other side still continued, and two shots were fired from a revolver, probably with the idea that the ferrymen were asleep or had gone to the pot-house in the village.

"All right, you have plenty of time," said Semyon in the tone of a man convinced that there was no necessity in this world to hurry -- that it would lead to nothing, anyway.

The heavy, clumsy barge moved away from the bank and floated between the willow-bushes, and only the willows slowly moving back showed that the barge was not standing still but moving. The ferrymen swung the oars evenly in time; Semyon lay with his stomach on the tiller and, describing a semicircle in the air, flew from one side to the other. In the darkness it looked as though the men were sitting on some antediluvian animal with long paws, and were moving on it through a cold, desolate land, the land of which one sometimes dreams in nightmares.

They passed beyond the willows and floated out into the open. The creak and regular splash of the oars was heard on the further shore, and a shout came: "Make haste! make haste!"

Another ten minutes passed, and the barge banged heavily against the landing-stage.

"And it keeps sprinkling and sprinkling," muttered Semyon, wiping the snow from his face; "and where it all comes from God only knows."

On the bank stood a thin man of medium height in a jacket lined with fox fur and in a white lambskin cap. He was standing at a little distance from his horses and not moving; he had a gloomy, concentrated expression, as though he were trying to remember something and angry with his untrustworthy memory. When Semyon went up to him and took off his cap, smiling, he said:

"I am hastening to Anastasyevka. My daughter's worse again, and they say that there is a new doctor at Anastasyevka."

They dragged the carriage on to the barge and floated back. The man whom Semyon addressed as Vassily Sergeyitch stood all the time motionless, tightly compressing his thick lips and staring off into space; when his coachman asked permission to smoke in his presence he made no answer, as though he had not heard. Semyon, lying with his stomach on the tiller, looked mockingly at him and said:
"Even in Siberia people can live -- can li-ive!"
There was a triumphant expression on Canny's face, as though he had proved something and was delighted that things had happened as he had foretold. The unhappy helplessness of the man in the foxskin coat evidently afforded him great pleasure.

"It's muddy driving now, Vassily Sergeyitch," he said when the horses were harnessed again on the bank. "You should have put off going for another fortnight, when it will be drier. Or else not have gone at all. . . . If any good would come of your going -- but as you know yourself, people have been driving about for years and years, day and night, and it's alway's been no use. That's the truth."

Vassily Sergeyitch tipped him without a word, got into his carriage and drove off.

"There, he has galloped off for a doctor!" said Semyon, shrinking from the cold. "But looking for a good doctor is like chasing the wind in the fields or catching the devil by the tail, plague take your soul! What a queer chap, Lord forgive me a sinner!"

The Tatar went up to Canny, and, looking at him with hatred and repulsion, shivering, and mixing Tatar words with his broken Russian, said: "He is good . . . good; but you are bad! You are bad! The gentleman is a good soul, excellent, and you are a beast, bad! The gentleman is alive, but you are a dead carcass. . . . God created man to be alive, and to have joy and grief and sorrow; but you want nothing, so you are not alive, you are stone, clay! A stone wants nothing and you want nothing. You are a stone, and God does not love you, but He loves the gentleman!"

Everyone laughed; the Tatar frowned contemptuously, and with a wave of his hand wrapped himself in his rags and went to the campfire. The ferrymen and Semyon sauntered to the hut.

"It's cold," said one ferryman huskily as he stretched himself on the straw with which the damp clay floor was covered.
"Yes, its not warm," another assented. "It's a dog's life. . . ."
They all lay down. The door was thrown open by the wind and the snow drifted into the hut; nobody felt inclined to get up and shut the door: they were cold, and it was too much trouble.

"I am all right," said Semyon as he began to doze. "I wouldn't wish anyone a better life."
"You are a tough one, we all know. Even the devils won't take you!"
Sounds like a dog's howling came from outside.
"What's that? Who's there?"
"It's the Tatar crying."
"I say. . . . He's a queer one!"
"He'll get u-used to it!" said Semyon, and at once fell asleep.
The others were soon asleep too. The door remained unclosed.

The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe

2009-08-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hear the sledges with the bells-
Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle, tinkle; tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
While the stars that over sprinkle
All the heavens, seem to twinkle
With a crystalline delight;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.

Hear the mellow wedding bells,
Golden bells!
What a world of happiness their harmony foretells!
Through the balmy air of night
how they ring out their delight!
From the molten-golden notes,
And an in tune,
What a liquid ditty floats
To the turtle-dove that listens, while she gloats
On the moon!
Oh, from out the sounding cells,
what a gush of euphony voluminously wells!
How it swells!
How it dwells
On the Future! How it tells
Of the rapture that impels
To the swinging and the ringing
Of the bells, bells, bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!

Hear the loud alarum bells-
Brazen bells!
What a tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells!
In the startled ear of night
how they scream out their affright!
Too much horrified to speak,
They can only shriek, shriek,
Out of tune,
In a clamorous appealing to the mercy of the fire,
In a mad expostulation with the deaf and frantic fire,
Leaping higher, higher, higher,
With a desperate desire,
And a resolute endeavor,
Now- now to sit or never,
By the side of the pale-faced moon.
Oh, the bells, bells, bells!
What a tale their terror tells
Of Despair!
How they clang, and clash, and roar!
What a horror they outpour
On the bosom of the palpitating air!
Yet the ear it fully knows,
By the twanging,
And the clanging,
How the danger ebbs and flows:
Yet the ear distinctly tells,
In the jangling,
And the wrangling,
How the danger sinks and swells,
By the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bells-
Of the bells-
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
In the clamor and the clangor of the bells!

Hear the tolling of the bells-
Iron Bells!
What a world of solemn thought their monody compels!
In the silence of the night,
How we shiver with affright
At the melancholy menace of their tone!
For every sound that floats
From the rust within their throats
Is a groan.
And the people- ah, the people-
They that dwell up in the steeple,
All Alone
And who, tolling, tolling, tolling,
In that muffled monotone,
Feel a glory in so rolling
On the human heart a stone-
They are neither man nor woman-
They are neither brute nor human-
They are Ghouls:
And their king it is who tolls;
And he rolls, rolls, rolls,
Rolls
A paean from the bells!
And his merry bosom swells
With the paean of the bells!
And he dances, and he yells;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the paean of the bells-
Of the bells:
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the throbbing of the bells-
Of the bells, bells, bells-
To the sobbing of the bells;
Keeping time, time, time,
As he knells, knells, knells,
In a happy Runic rhyme,
To the rolling of the bells-
Of the bells, bells, bells:
To the tolling of the bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells-
Bells, bells, bells-
To the moaning and the groaning of the bells.

This poem can be interpreted in many different ways, the most basic of which is simply a reflection of the sounds that bells can make, and the emotions evoked from that sound. For example, "From the bells bells bells bells/Bells bells bells!" brings to mind the clamoring of myriad church bells. Several deeper interpretations exist as well. One is that the poem is a representation of life from the nimbleness of youth to the pain of age. Growing despair is emphasized alongside the growing frenzy in the tone of the poem. Another is the passing of the seasons, from spring to winter. The passing of the seasons is often used as a metaphor for life itself. The poem also suggests a Poe theme of mourning over a lost wife, courted in sledge, married and then killed in a fire as the husband looks on. The tolling of the iron bells reflects the final madness of the grief-stricken husband.
The sounds of the verses, specifically the repetitive "bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells," lie on a narrow line between sense and nonsense, causing a feeling of instability. The series of "bells" echo the imagined sounds of the various bells, from the silver bells following the klip-klop of the horses, to the "dong, ding-dong" of the swinging golden and iron bells, to screeching "whee-aaah" of the brazen bells.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

A. Students must observe the following.
a. Pitch
b. Loudness
c. Flexibility
d. Emphasis
e. Pronunciation
f. Posture
g. Gesture
h. Rate
i. Enunciation
j. Delivery

B. Make sure that you look up the meanings of unfamiliar words contained in the poem.

C. Employ actions in your poem. See to it that they suit to the meaning or interpretation of the poem.

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One of These Days by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1928)

2009-08-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

Monday dawned warm and rainless. Aurelio Escovar, a dentist without a degree, and a very early riser, opened his office at six. He took some false teeth, still mounted in their plaster mold, out of the glass case and put on the table a fistful of instruments which he arranged in size order, as if they were on display. He wore a collarless striped shirt, closed at the neck with a golden stud, and pants held up by suspenders He was erect and skinny, with a look that rarely corresponded to the situation, the way deaf people have of looking.

When he had things arranged on the table, he pulled the drill toward the dental chair and sat down to polish the false teeth. He seemed not to be thinking about what he was doing, but worked steadily, pumping the drill with his feet, even when he didn't need it.

After eight he stopped for a while to look at the sky through the window, and he saw two pensive buzzards who were drying themselves in the sun on the ridgepole of the house next door. He went on working with the idea that before lunch it would rain again. The shrill voice of his elevenyear-old son interrupted his concentration.

"Papa."

"What?"

"The Mayor wants to know if you'll pull his tooth."

"Tell him I'm not here."

He was polishing a gold tooth. He held it at arm's length, and examined it with his eyes half closed. His son shouted again from the little waiting room.

"He says you are, too, because he can hear you."

The dentist kept examining the tooth. Only when he had put it on the table with the finished work did he say:

"So much the better."

He operated the drill again. He took several pieces of a bridge out of a cardboard box where he kept the things he still had to do and began to polish the gold.

"Papa."

"What?"

He still hadn't changed his expression.

"He says if you don't take out his tooth, he'll shoot you."

Without hurrying, with an extremely tranquil movement, he stopped pedaling the drill, pushed it away from the chair, and pulled the lower drawer of the table all the way out. There was a revolver. "O.K.," he said. "Tell him to come and shoot me."

He rolled the chair over opposite the door, his hand resting on the edge of the drawer. The Mayor appeared at the door. He had shaved the left side of his face, but the other side, swollen and in pain, had a five-day-old beard. The dentist saw many nights of desperation in his dull eyes. He closed the drawer with his fingertips and said softly:

"Sit down."

"Good morning," said the Mayor.

"Morning," said the dentist.

While the instruments were boiling, the Mayor leaned his skull on the headrest of the chair and felt better. His breath was icy. It was a poor office: an old wooden chair, the pedal drill, a glass case with ceramic bottles. Opposite the chair was a window with a shoulder-high cloth curtain. When he felt the dentist approach, the Mayor braced his heels and opened his mouth.

Aurelio Escovar turned his head toward the light. After inspecting the infected tooth, he closed the Mayor's jaw with a cautious pressure of his fingers.

"It has to be without anesthesia," he said.

"Why?"

"Because you have an abscess."

The Mayor looked him in the eye. "All right," he said, and tried to smile. The dentist did not return the smile. He brought the basin of sterilized instruments to the worktable and took them out of the water with a pair of cold tweezers, still without hurrying. Then he pushed the spittoon with the tip of his shoe, and went to wash his hands in the washbasin. He did all this without looking at the Mayor. But the Mayor didn't take his eyes off him.

It was a lower wisdom tooth. The dentist spread his feet and grasped the tooth with the hot forceps. The Mayor seized the arms of the chair, braced his feet with all his strength, and felt an icy void in his kidneys, but didn't make a sound. The dentist moved only his wrist. Without rancor, rather with a bitter tenderness, he said:

"Now you'll pay for our twenty dead men."

The Mayor felt the crunch of bones in his jaw, and his eyes filled with tears. But he didn't breathe until he felt the tooth come out. Then he saw it through his tears. It seemed so foreign to his pain that he failed to understand his torture of the five previous nights.

Bent over the spittoon, sweating, panting, he unbuttoned his tunic and reached for the handkerchief in his pants pocket. The dentist gave him a clean cloth.

"Dry your tears," he said.

The Mayor did. He was trembling. While the dentist washed his hands, he saw the crumbling ceiling and a dusty spider web with spider's eggs and dead insects. The dentist returned, drying his hands. "Go to bed," he said, "and gargle with salt water." The Mayor stood up, said goodbye with a casual military salute, and walked toward the door, stretching his legs, without buttoning up his tunic.

"Send the bill," he said.

"To you or the town?"

The Mayor didn't look at him. He closed the door and said through the screen:

"It's the same damn thing."

The Last Judgment by Karel Čapek

2009-08-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

The notorious multiple-killer Kugler, pursued by several warrants and a whole army of policemen and detectives, swore that he’d never be taken. He wasn’t either – at least not alive. The last of his nine murderous deeds was shooting a policeman who tried to arrest him. The policeman indeed died, but not before putting a total of seven bullets into Kugler. Of these seven, three were fatal. Kugler’s death came so quickly that he felt no pain. And so it seemed Kugler had escaped earthly justice.

When his soul left his body, it should have been surprised at the sight of the next world – a world beyond space, grey, and infinitely desolate – but it wasn’t. A man who has been jailed on two continents looks upon the next life merely as new surroundings. Kugler expected to struggle through, equipped only with a bit of courage, as he had in the last world.

At length the inevitable Last Judgment got around to Kugler. The judges were old and worthy councilors with austere, bored faces. Kugler complied with the usual tedious formalities: Ferdinand Kugler, unemployed, born on such and such a date, died… at this point it was shown Kugler didn’t know the date of his own death. Immediately he realized this was a damaging omission in the eyes of the judges; his spirit of helpfulness faded.

“Do you plead guilty or not guilty?” asked the presiding judge.
“Not guilty,” said Kugler obdurately.
“Bring in the first witness,” the judge sighed.

Opposite Kugler appeared an extraordinary gentleman, stately, bearded, and clothed in a blue robe strewn with golden stars.

At his entrance, the judges arose. Even Kugler stood up, reluctant but fascinated. Only when the old gentleman took a seat did the judges again sit down.

“Witness,” began the presiding judge, “omniscient God, this court has summoned you in order to hear your testimony in the case against Kugler, Ferdinand. As you are the supreme truth, you need not take the oath. In the interest of the proceedings, however, we ask you to keep to the subject at hand rather than branch out into particulars – unless they have a bearing on this case.”

“And you, Kugler, don’t interrupt the witness. He knows everything, so there’s no use denying anything.”

“And now, witness, if you would please begin.”
God, the witness, coughed lightly and began:

“Yes. Kugler, Ferdinand. Ferdinand Kugler, son of a factory worker, was a bad, unmanageable child from his earliest days. He loved his mother dearly, but was unable to show it, this made him unruly and defiant. Young man, you irked everyone! Do you remember how you bit your father on the thumb when he tried to spank you? You had stolen a rose from the notary’s garden.”

“The rose was for Irma, the tax collector’s daughter,” Kugler said.

“I know,” said God. “Irma was seven years old at that time. Did you ever hear what happened to her?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“She married Oscar, the son of the factory owner. But she contracted a venereal disease from him and died of a miscarriage. You remember Rudy Zaruba?”

“What happened to him?”

“Why, he joined the navy and died accidentally in Bombay. You two were the worst boys in the whole town. Kugler, Ferdinand, was a thief before his tenth year and an inveterate liar. He kept bad company, too: old Gribble, for instance, a drunkard and an idler, living on handouts. Nevertheless, Kugler shared many of his own meals with Gribble.”

The presiding judge motioned with his hand, as if much of this was perhaps unnecessary, but Kugler himself asked hesitantly, “And… what happened to his daughter?” “What’s she doing right now?”

“This very minute she’s buying thread at Wolfe’s. Do you remember that shop? Once, when you were six years old, you bought a colored glass marble there. On that very same day you lost it and never, never found it. Do you remember how you cried with rage?”

“Whatever happened to it?” Kugler asked eagerly.

“Well, it rolled into the drain and under the gutterspout. Right now it’s still there, after thirty years. Right now it’s raining on earth and your marble is shivering in the gush of cold water.”

Kugler bent his head, overcome by this revelation. But the presiding judge fitted his spectacles back on his nose, and said mildly, “Witness, we are obliged to get on with the case. Has the accused committed murder?”

“He murdered nine people. The first one he killed in a brawl, and it was during his prison term for his crime that he became completely corrupted. The second victim was his unfaithful sweetheart. For that he was sentenced to death, but he escaped. The third was an old man whom he robbed. The fourth was a night watchman.”

“Then he died?” Kugler asked.

“He died after three days in terrible pain,” God said. “And he left six children behind him. The fifth and sixth victims were an old married couple. He killed them with an axe and found only sixteen dollars, although they had twenty thousand hidden away.”

Kugler jumped up. “Where?”

“In the straw mattress,” God said. “In a linen sack inside the mattress. That’s where they hid all the money they acquired from greed and penny-pinching. The seventh man he killed in America, a countryman of his, a bewildered, friendless immigrant.”

“So it was in the mattress,” whispered Kugler in amazement.

“Yes,” continued God. “The eighth man was merely a passerby who happened to be in Kugler’s way when Kugler was trying to outrun the police. At that time Kugler had periostitis and was delirious from the pain. Young man, you were suffering terribly. The ninth and last was the policeman who killed Kugler exactly when Kugler shot him.”

“And why did the accused commit murder?” asked the presiding judge.

“For the same reasons others have,” answered God. “Out of anger or desire for money, both deliberately and accidentally-some with pleasure, others from necessity. However, he was generous and often helpful. He was kind to women, gentle with animals, and kept his word. Am I to mention his good deeds?”

“For the same reasons others have,” answered God. “Out of anger or desire for money, both deliberately and accidentally – some with pleasure, others from necessity. However, he was generous and often helpful. He was kind to women, gentle with animals, and kept his word. Am I to mention his good deeds?”

“Thank you,” said the presiding judge, “but it isn’t necessary. Does the accused have anything to say in his own defense?”

“No,” Kugler replied with honest indifference.

“The judges of this court will now take this matter under advisement,” declared the presiding judge, and the three of them withdrew.

Only God and Kugler remained in the courtroom.

“Who are they?” asked Kugler, indicating with his head the men who just left.

“People like you,” answered God. “They were judges on earth, so they’re judges here as well.”

Kugler nibbled his fingertips. “I expected… I mean, I never really thought about it. But I figured you would judge since…”

“Since I’m God,” finished the stately gentleman. “But that’s just it, don’t you see? Because I know everything, I can’t possibly judge. That wouldn’t do at all. By the way, do you know who turned you in this time?”

“No, I don’t,” said Kugler, surprised.

“Lucky, the waitress. She did it out of jealousy.”

“Excuse me,” Kugler ventured, “but you forgot about that good-for-nothing Teddy I shot in Chicago.”

“Not at all,” God said. “He recovered and is alive this very minute. I know he’s an informer, but otherwise he’s a very good man and terribly fond of children. You shouldn’t think of any person as being completely worthless.”

“But I still don’t understand why you aren’t the judge,” Kugler said thoughtfully.
“But why are they judging… the same people who were judges on earth?”

“Because man belongs to man. As you see, I’m only the witness. But the verdict is determined by man, even in heaven. Believe me, Kugler, this is the way it should be. Man isn’t worthy of divine judgment. He deserves to be judged only by other men.”

At that moment, the three returned from their deliberation. In heavy tones the presiding judge announced, “For repeated crimes of first – degree murder, manslaughter, robbery, disrespect for the law, illegally carrying weapons, and for the theft of a rose; Kugler, Ferdinand, is sentenced to lifelong punishment in hell.

“Next case please: Torrance, Frank.”

“Is the accused present in court?”

Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa ni Liwayway Arceo

2009-08-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

Ilang gabi nang ako ang kapiling niya sa higaan. Tila musmos akong dumarama sa init ng kanyang dibdib at nikikinig sa pintig ng kanyang puso. Ngunit, patuloy akong nagtataka sa malalim na paghinga niya, sa kanyang malungkot na pagtitig sa lahat ng bagay, paghikbi...

2

Ilang araw ko nang hindi nadadalaw ang aklatan: ilang araw ko nang hindi nasasalamin ang isang larawang mahal sa akin: bilugang mukha, malapad na noo, hati-sa-kaliawang buhok, singkit na mga mata, hindi katangusang ilong, mga labing duyan ng isang ngiting puspos-kasiyahan...Sa kanya ang aking noo at mga mata. Ang aking hawas na mukha, ilong na kawangki ng tuka ng isang loro, at maninipis na labi, ay kay Ina...

3

Sa Ina ay hindi palakibo: siya ay babaing abilang at sukat ang pangungusap. Hindi niya ako inuutusan. Bihira siyang magalit sa akin at kung nagkakagayon ay maikli ang kanyang pananalita: Lumigkit ka!...At kailangang ‘di ako makita. Kailangang ‘do ko masaksihan ang kikislap na poot sa kanyang mga mata. Kailangang ‘di ko namamalas ang pagkagat niya sa kanyang labi. Kailangang ‘do ko na makita ang panginginig ng kanyang mga daliri. Ito rin ang katumbas ng kanyang mariing huwang kung mayroon siyang ipinagbabawal.

Ang ngiti ni Ina ay patak ng ulan kung tag-araw: ang bata kong puso ay tigang na lupang uhaw na uhaw...

4

Minsan man ay hindi ko narinig na may pinagkagalitan sila ni Ama bagama’t hindi ko mapaniwalaang may magkabiyak ng pusong hindi nagkakahinampuhan. Marahil ay sapagkat kapwa sila may hawak na kainawaan: ang pagbibigayan sa isa’t isa ay hindi nalilimot kailanman.

5

Kung gabi ay hinahanap ko ang kaaliwang idinudulat ng isang amang nagsasalaysay tungkol sa mga kapre at nuno at tungkol sa magagandang ada at prinsesa; ng isang nagmamasid at nakangiting ina; ng isang pulutong ng nakikinig na magaganda at masasayang bata.

Ngunit, sa halip niyon ay minalas ko si Ama sa kanyang pagsusulat; sa kanyang pagmamakinilya; sa kanyang pagbabasa. Minamasdan ko kung paano niya pinapangunot ang kanyang noo; kung paano niya ibinubuga ang asong nagbubuhat sa kanyang tabako; kung paano siya titingin sa akin na tila may hinahanap; kung paano niya ipipikit ang kanyang mga mata; kung paano siya magpapatuloy sa pagsulat...

Si Ina ay isang magandang tanawin kung nanunulsi ng mga punit na damit; kung nag-aayos ng mga uhales at nagkakabit ng mga butones sa mga damit ni Ama. Sa kanyang pagbuburda ng aking mga kamison at panyolito – sa galaw ng kanyang mga daliri – ay natutunghan ko ang isang kapana-panabik na kuwento. Ngunti, ang pananabik na ito’y napapawi.

Kabagu-tbagot ang aking pag-iisa at ako ay naghahanap ng kasama sa bahay: isang batang marahil ay nasa kanyang kasinungalingang gulang o isang saggol na kalugud-lugod, may ngiti ng kawalang-malay, mabango ang hininga, may maliit na paa at kamay na nakatutuwang pisilin, may mga pisngi at labing walang bahid-kasalanan at kasiya-siyang hagkan, o isang kapatid ba kahulihan ng gulang, isang maaaring maging katapatan...

6

Sakali mang hindi nagkagalit si Ina at Ama, o kung nagkakagalit man ay sadyang hindi ipinamamalay sa akin, ay hinahanap ko rin ang magiliw na palitan ng mga titig, ng mga ngiti, ng mga biruan.

Sapat na ang isang tuyot na aalis na ako sa pagpapaalam ni Ama. Sapat na ang naningil na ang maniningil sa ilaw o sa tubig o sa telepono upang sakupin ang panahong itatagal ng isang hapunan. Sapat na panakaw sa sulyap ni Ama upang ipadamang may naririnig siya.

Mabibilang sa mga daliri ng aking dalawang kamay kung makailan kaming nagpasyal: Si Ama, si Ina at ako. Malimit na ako ang kasama ni Ina; hindi ko nakitang sinarili nila ang pag-aaliw.

7

Inuumaga man si Ama sa pag-uwi kung minsan ay hindi ko kinapapansinan ng kakaibang kilos si Ina. Nahihiga rin siya pagdating ng mga sandali ng pamamahinga at kung nakatutulog siya o hindi ay hindi ko matiyak.

Marahil ay ito ang tunay na madarama ng kataling-puso ng isang taong inaangkin ng madla...

Ngunit, walang pagsisisi sa kanyang tinig.

8

Ilang taon na ngayon ang nakaraan nang minsang may ibinalik na aklat ang aming tagapaglaba: yaon daw ay nakuha niya sa isang lukbutan ng amerikana ni Ama. Ibinigay ko yaon kay Ina: yaon daw ay talaarawan ni Ama.

Kinabukasan ay may bakas ng luha ang mga mata ni Ina. Kapansin-pansin ang lalo niyang hindi pagkabo buhat noon. Lalo siyang naging malungkot sa aking paningin.

Ano ang nasa isang talaarawan?

9

Lasing na lasing si Ama. Karaniwan nang umuuwing lasing si Ama ngunit, kakaiba ang kalasingan niya nagyong gabi. Hinihilamusan siya ni Ina ng malahiningang tsaa, ngunit wala itong naibigay na ginhawa.

Hindi rin kumikino si Ina: nasa mga mata niya ang hindi maipahayag na pagtutol.

Sapagkat may isusulat ako...sapagkat ikamamatay ko ang pighating ito...sapagkat...sapagkat...sapagkat...

10

Idinaraing ngayon ni Ama ang kanyang dibdib at ulo: hindi raw siya makahingang mabuti.

Marahil ay may sipon ka, ani ina. Sinisinat ka nga.

Isang panyolitong basa ng malamig na tubig ang itinali ko sa ulo ni Ama. Wala siyang tutol sa aking ginagawa. Sinusundan niya ng tingin ang bawat kilos ko.

Ang kanyang mga bisig, buhat sa siko hanggang sa palad, at ang kanyang binti, buhat sa tuhod hanggang sa mga talampakan, ay makailan kong binuhusan ng tubig na mainit na inakala kong matatagalan niya – tubig na pinaglagaan ng mga dahong ng alagaw. Kinulob ko siya ng makakapal na kumot matapos na inumin niya ang ibinigay kong mainit na tubig na pinigaan ng kalamansi.

Nakangiti si Ama: Manggagamot pala ang aking dalaga!

Sinuklian ko ng isang mahinang halakhak ang ngiti niyang yaon: hindi ako dating binibiro ni Ama.

Sana’y ako si na sa mga sandaling yaon: sana’y lalo kong ituturing na mahalaga ang nadarama kong kasiyahan...

11

Nabigo ako sa aking pag-asa: nakaratay nang may ilang araw si Ama. Halos hindi siya hinihiwalayan ni Ina: si ilalim ng kanyang mga mata ay may mababakas na namang maiitim na guhit.

Anang manggagamot ay gagawin niya ang lahat ng kanyang makakaya. Ngunit, ayaw niyang ipagtapat sa akin ang karamdaman ni Ama.

12

Ipinaayos ngayon ni Ama ang kanyang hapag. Nililinis ko ang kanyang makinilya. Idinikit ko ang kagugupit na kuwentong kalalathala pa lamang. Pinagsama-sama ko ang mga papel sa kanyang mga kahon.

Ang pang-ilalim na kahon ng kanyang hapag ay nagbigay sa akin ng hindi gagaanong pagtataka: may isang kahitang pelus na rosas at isang salansan ng mga liham. Maliliit at mga bilugang titik bughaw na tinta sa pangalan ni Ama sa kanyang tanggapan ang mga nasa sobre.

13

Ang larawan sa kahitang pelus ay hindi yaong hawas na mukha, may ilong na kawangki ng tuka ng isang loro, maninipis na labi. Sa likod niyon ay nasusulat sa maliliit at bilugang mga titik sa bughaw na tinta: Sapagkat ako’y hindi makalimot... Ang larawan ay walang lagda ngunit nadama ko ang biglang pagkapoot sa kanyang at sa mga sandaling yaon ay natutuhan ko ang maghinanakit kay Ama.

14

Bakit sa panahong ito lamang tayo pinaglapit ng pangyayari? Higit marahil ang aking katiwasayan kung hindi ka dumating sa aking buhay, bagamat hindi ko rin marahil matitiis na hindi maipagpalit ang aking kasiyahan sa isang pusong nagmamahal. Totoong ang kalagayan ng tao sa buhay ang malimit maging sagwil sa kanyang kaligayahan...

15

Naiwan na natin ang gulang ng kapusukan; hindi na tayo maaaring dayain ng ating nadarama. Ngunit, nakapagitan sa atin ngayon ang isang malawak na katotohanang pumupigil sa kaligayahan ang hindi natin maisakatuparan ay buhayin na lamang natin sa alaala. Panatilihin na lamang natin sa diwa ang katamisan ng isang pangarap; sana’y huwag tayong magising sa katotohanan...

16

Nakita ko siya kagabi sa panaginip; sinusumbatan niya ako. Ngunit, hindi ko balak ang magwasak ng isang tahanan. Hindi ko maatim na mangnakaw ng kanyang kaligayahan; hindi ko mapababayaang lumuha siya dahil sa akin. Ang sino mang bahagi ng iyong buhay ay mahal sa akin; ang mahal sa akin ay hindi ko maaaring paluhain...

17

Ang pag-ibig na ito’y isang dulang ako ang gumaganap ng pangunahing tauhan; sapagkat ako ang nagsimula ay ako ang magbibigay-wakas. Ipalagay mo nang ako’y nasimulang tugtuging nararapat tapusin. Gawin mo akong isang pangarap na naglalaho pagkagising. Tulungan mo akong pumawi sa kalungkutang itong halos pumatay sa akin...

18

Ngunit, bakit napakahirap ang lumimot?

19

Nadama ko ang kamay ni Ina sa aking kanang balikat: noon ko lamang namalayan na may pumasok sa aklatan. Nakita niya ang larawang nasa kahitang pelus na rosas. Natunghan niya ang mga liham na nagkalat sa hapag ni Ama.

Si Ina ay dumating at lumisang walang binitiwang kataga. Ngunit, sa kanyang paglisan ay muling binati ng kanyang palad ang aking balikat at nadarama ko pa ang salat ng kanyang mag daliri; ang init ng mga iyo, ang bigat ng kanilang pagkakadantay...

20

Ang katahimikang namagitan sa amin ni Ina ay hindi pa napapawi. Iniiwasan ko ngayon ang pagsasalubong ng aming mga titig; hindi ko matagalan ang kalungkutang nababasa ko sa mga paninging yaon.

21

Hiningi ni Ama ang kanyang panulat at aklat-talaan. Nguni, nang mapaniwala ko siyang masama sa kanyang ang bumangon ay kanyang sinasabi: Ngayon ay ang aking anak ang susulat nang ukol sa atin...At sa anya’y isang dalubhasang kamay ang uukit niyon sa itim na marmol. Ngunit, hindi ko maisatitik ang pagtutol na halos ay pumugto sa aking paghinga.

Nasa kalamigan ng lupa ang kaluwalhatian ko!

Kailanman ay hindi ko aangkining likha ng aking mga daliri ang ilang salitang ito.

22

Huwag kang palilinlang sa simbuyo ng iyong kalooban; ang uang tibok ng puso ay hindi pag-ibig sa tuwina...Halos kasinggulang mo ako nang pagtaliin ang mga puso namin ng iyong Ina...Mura pang lubha ang labingwalang taon...Huwag ikaw ang magbigay sa iyong sarili ng mga kalungkutang magpapahirap sa iyo habang-buhay...

Muli kong nadama ang tibay ng buhol na nag-uugnay ng damdamin ni Ama sa akin.

23

Kinatatakutan ko na ang malimit na pagkawala ng diwa ni Ama.

Si Ina ay patuloy sa kanyang hindi pagkibo sa akin, patuloy sa kanyang hindi pag-idlip, patuloy sa kanyang pahluha kung walang makakita sa kanya...

24

Ang kanang kamay ni Ina ay idinantay sa noo ni Ama at ang pagtatanan ng isang nais tumakas na damdamin sa kanyang dibdib ay tinimpi ng pagdadaop ng kanyang ngipin sa labi.

Naupo siya sa gilid ng higaan ni Ama at ang kaliwang kamay nito ay kinulong niya sa kanyang mga palad.

Magaling na ako, mahal ko...magaling na ako...sa muli mong pagparito ay sabihin mo sa akin kung saan tayo maaaring tumungo...ang moog na itong kinabibilangguan ko’y aking wawasakin...sa ano mang paraan...sa ano mang paraan...

Ang malabubog na tubig na bumabakod sa mga pangingin ni Ina ay nabasag at ilang butil niyo ang pumatak sa bisig ni Ama. Mabibigat na talukap ang pinilt na iminulat ni Ama at sa pagtatagpo ng mga titig nila ay gumuhit sa nanunuyo niyang labi ang isang ngiting punung-puno ng pagbasa. Muling nalapat ang mga durungawang yaon ng isang kaluluwa at hindi niya namasid ang mga matang binabalungan ng luha: ang mga salamin ng pagdaramdam na hindi mabigkas.

25

Nasa mga palad pa rin ni Ina ang kaliwang kamay ni Ama: Sabihin mo, mahal ko, na maaangkin ko na ang kaligayahan ko...

Kinagat ni Ina nang mariin ang kanyang labi at nang siya’y mangusap ay hindi ko naaming kay Ina ang tinig na yaon: Maaangkin mo na, mahal ko!
Ang init ng mga labi ni Ina ang kasabay ng kapayapaang nanahanan sa mga labi ni Ama at nasa mga mata man niya ang ilaw ng pagkabigo sa pagdurugtong sa isang buhay na wala nang luhang dumadaloy sa mga iyon: natitiyak niya ang kasiyahang nadama ng kalilisang kaluluwa...

BABANG LUKSA ni Diosdado Macapagal

2009-08-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

“Tulang Pampango"

Salin ni Olivia P. Dantes ng "PABANUA” ni DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL

Isang taon ngayon ng iyong pagpanaw
Tila kahapon lang nang ika’y lumisan;
Subalit sa akin ang tanging naiwan,
Mga alaalang di – malilimutan.

Kung ako’y nasa pook na limit dalawin
Naaalala ko ang ating paggiliw;
Tuwa’y dumadalaw sa aking paningin
Kung nagunita kong tayo’y magkapiling.

Kung minsan sadya kong dalawin ang bahay
Na kung saan unang tayo’y nag-ibigan ;
Sa bakura’t bahay , sa lahat ng lugar ,
Itong kaluluwa’y hinahanap ikaw.

Sa matandang bahay napuno ng saya
Sa araw na iyo’y pinagsaluhan ta;
Ang biyayang saglit , kung nababalik pa
Ang ipapalit ko’y ang aking hininga.

Bakit ba, mahal ko, kay- agang lumisan
At iniwan akong sawing – kapalaran
Hindi mo ba talos , kab'yak ka ng buhay
At sa pagyaon mo’y para ring namatay ?

Marahil tinubos ka ni bathala
Upang sa isipa’y hindi ka tumanda ;
At ang larawan mo sa puso ko’t diwa
Ay manatiling maganda at bata.

Sa paraang ito kung nagkaedad na
Ang puting buok ko’y di mo makikita
At ang larawan kong tandang tanda mo pa
Yaong kabataan taglay na tuwina

At dahil nga rito, ang pagmamahalan
Ay hanggang matapos ang kabataan,
Itong alaala ay lalaging buhay,
Lalaging sariwa sa kawalang-hanggan.

Kaya, aking , mahal , sa iyong pagpanaw
Tayo’y nagtagumpay sa dupok ng buhay,
Ang ating pagsintang masidhi’t marangal
Hindi mamamatay, walang katapusan

Ang kaugalian ng ninuno natin
Isang taon akong nagluluksa mandin;
Ngunit ang puso ko’y sadyang maninimdim;
Hanggang kalangitan tayo’y magkapiling.

Panambitan (Tula/Bikol)

2009-08-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

Salin ni Ma. Lilia F. Realubit ng "PANAMBITAN" ni Myrna Prado

Sa pagsulat ng tula, dapat ay piling-pili ang mga salitang gagamitin. Sa pamamagitan ng mga salitang pinili dapat mapalutang ang matingkad na diwang nais ipahayag ng makata. Napakahalagang sangkap ng tula ang kagandahan at kariktan. Kinakailangan din na ang mga larawang diwa ay pumukaw ng imahinasyon ng mambabasa.

Sa paggamit ng simbolismo at tayutay ay may mga impresyon at kakintalan na maiiwan ang tula sa isipan ng mambabasa. Ang imahismo ay isang teoryang pampanitikan na nagsasaad ng mga imahe na nagpapahayag ng kahulugan.

Sa tulang Panambitan, isang tulang Bicol na isinulat ni Myra Prado na isinalin sa Filipino ni Lilia Realubit ay ito ang kalalabasan ng paglalapat ng teoryang imahismo sa bawat saknong ng tula.

Panambitan (Tula/Bikol)

Bakit kaya dito sa mundong ibabaw
Marami sa tao'y sa salapi silaw?
Kaya kung isa kang kapus-kapalaran,
Wala kang pag-asang makyat sa lipunan.

Mga mahihirap lalong nasasadlak,
Mga mayayaman lalong umuunlad,
Maykapangyarihan, hindi sumusulyap,
Mga utang-na-loob mula sa mahihirap.

Kung may mga taong sadyang nadarapa,
Sa halip na tulungan, tinutulak pa nga;
Buong lakas silang dinudusta-dusta
Upang itong hapdi'y lalong managana.

Nasaan, Diyos Ko, ang sinasabi Mo
Tao'y pantay-pantay sa balat ng mundo?
Kaming mga api ngayo'y naririto
Dinggin Mo, Poon ko, panambitang ito.

Former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino Died

2009-08-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

This Article came from INQUIRER.net

Cory Aquino dies

By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 05:18:00 08/01/2009

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino has passed away.

She was 76.

Her son Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III confirmed that she died of cardio-respiratory arrest at exactly 3:18 a.m. Saturday at the Makati Medical Center.

Mrs. Aquino has been diagnosed with colon cancer early in 2008 and has been confined at the Makati Medical Center for more than a month.

Mrs. Aquino, widow of Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., will be remembered as an icon of democracy, having led a military-backed popular revolt in 1986 that ousted a dictator who ruled the country for 20 years.

At about 5 a.m. outside the hospital, Noynoy read a statement announcing the death of his mother.

The statement read:

"Our mother peacefully passed away at 3:18 a.m., August 1, 2009, of cardio-respiratory arrest.

“She would have wanted to thank each and every one of you for all the prayers and your continued love and support. It was her wish for all of us to pray for one another and for our country.

“Hinihiling po ng aming pamilya ang kaunting panahon para makasama namin ang aming mahal na ina.

“Later today, we will be announcing further details of her wake para sa lahat ng ating mga minamahal na kababayan na nais magbigay ng respeto sa aming ina. Maraming salamat po.”

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed her condolences to the family of the former President, Arroyo's press secretary said.

The President is set to declare a week of national mourning, said Press Secretary Cerge Remonde in a live phone patch from the US where he is accompanying Arroyo who is on official visit there.

Remonde said the President could cut short her trip but that they were going to discuss the matter when they get to New York, their next stop after Washington D.C. where she met President Barack Obama at the White House.

Arroyo is expected to be back in Manila on August 5.

Remonde also said that under the law, all presidents were entitled to a state funeral but added that this would be subject to the family's approval.

Popular TV host Boy Abunda, a close friend of the Aquino family, told reporters on Saturday that the Aquinos were praying the Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary when Cory gave her "last deep breath.”

Abunda said all five children of Mrs. Aquino, and her close friends and relatives were at her bedside when the former leader passed away.

After that last breath, Abunda said, Mrs. Aquino's children quietly cried.

"Malungkot. Tahimik na nag-iiyakan. Tahimik, except for Kris who was very quiet," he said, referring to the youngest daughter of Mrs. Aquino.

"Kris was very quiet. She was displaying such courage pero noong dindadala palabas mga labi ni Tita Cory... because you have to remember that Kris was in the hospital, Kris was by the side of her mother since July 20 hanggang sa mga oras na yun. Hanggang ngayon si Kris ay nasa tabi ng kanyang ina," Abunda said.

He said a Mass, officiated by Fr. Catalino Arevalo, was held after Mrs. Aquino's death.

Abunda said Arevalo is a very close friend of the former leader and had been officiating a Mass for her at the hospital.

A family driver of the Aquinos was seen loading stuff into a white Toyota Hi-Ace van parked at the back entrance of the hospital. He said the boxes and luggage belonged to Kris who left the hospital early Saturday morning. With a report from Niña Calleja and Gil Cabacungan Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pres. Gloria Arroyo, Memmorable Lines in SONA 2009

2009-07-29T04:32:00.000-07:00

I want to share the some lines in Pres. Arroyo's SONA 2009.

She's very confident in delivering her message. Just comment for this line.. hehe... thanks...

As I Observed to her speech, she's much thankful in the congress, maybe because as we can see 80% of the senators are her critics.

"At the end of this speech I shall step down from this stage…
but not from the Presidency.
My term does not end until next year.
Until then, I will fight for the ordinary Filipino.
The nation comes first.
There is much to do as head of state—to the very last day..."

"A few days ago, Moody’s has just announced the upgrade of our credit rating, citing the resilience of our economy. The state of our nation is a strong economy. Good news for our people, bad news for our critics…"

"I did not become President to be popular. To work, to lead, to protect and preserve our country, our people, that is why I became President. When my father left the Presidency, we were second to Japan. I want our Republic to be ready for the first world in 20 years…"

"Had we listened to the critics of those policies, had we not braced ourselves for the crisis that came, had we taken the easy road much preferred by politicians eyeing elections, this country would be flat on its back. It would take twice the effort just to get it back again on its feet—to where we are now because we took the responsibility and paid the political price of doing the right thing. For standing with me and doing the right thing, thank you, Congress…"

"Some say that after this SONA, it will be all politics. Sorry, but there’s more work…."

"Nakinabang ang pitong milyong entrepreneurs sa P165 billion na microfinance. Nakinabang ang 1,000 sa economic resiliency plan. Kasama natin ngayon ang isa sa kanila, si Gigi Gabiola. Dating household service worker sa Dubai, ngayon siya ay nagtatrabaho sa DOLE. Good luck, Gigi…"

"Our efforts prodded the pharmaceutical companies to come up with low-cost generics and brands like RiteMed. I supported the tough version of the House of the Cheaper Medicine Law. I supported it over the weak version of my critics. The result: the drug companies volunteered to bring down drug prices, slashing by half the prices of 16 drugs. Thank you, Congressman Cua, Alvarez, Biron and Locsin…."

"To those who want to be President, this advice: If you want something done, do it hard, do it well. Don’t pussyfoot, don't ponder and don’t say bad words in public."

"Namana natin ang pinakamatagal ng rebelyon ng Komunista sa buong mundo.We inherited an age-old conflict in Mindanao, exacerbated by a politically popular but near-sighted policy of massive retaliation. This only provoked the other side to continue the war… In these two internal conflicts, ang tanong ay hindi, “Sino ang mananalo?” kundi, bakit ba kailangang mag-away ang kapwa Pilipino tungkol sa mga isyu na alam ng dalawang panig over issues na malulutas naman sa paraang demokratiko."

"Real government is about looking beyond the vested to the national interest, setting up the necessary conditions to enable the next, more enabled and more empowered generation to achieve a country as prosperous, a people as content, as ours deserve to be…."

"The noisiest critics of constitutional reform tirelessly and shamelessly attempted Cha-Cha when they thought they could take advantage of a shift in the form of government. Now that they feel they cannot benefit from it, they oppose it."

"As the process of fundamental political reform begins, let us address the highest exercise of democracy…voting! In 2001, I said we would finance fully automated elections. We got it, thanks to Congress…"

"A man-made calamity is already upon us, global in scale. As I said earlier, so far we have been spared its worst effects but we cannot be complacent. We only know that we have generated more resources on which to draw, and thereby created options we could take. Thank God we did not let our critics stop us…"

"As the campaign unfolds and the candidates take to the airwaves, I ask them to talk more about how they will build up the nation rather than tear down their opponents. Our candidates must understand the complexities of our government and what it takes to move the country forward. Give the electorate real choices and not just sweet talk…"

"Meanwhile, I will keep a steady hand on the tiller, keeping the ship of state away from the shallows some prefer, and steering it straight on the course I set in 2001…"

"However much a President wishes it, a national problem cannot be knocked out with a single punch. A President must work with the problem as much as against it, and turn it into a solution if I can…"

"There isn’t a day I do not work at my job or a waking moment when I do not think through a work-related problem. Even my critics cannot begrudge the long hours I put in. Our people deserve-a-government that works just as hard as they do…"

"A President must be on the job 24/7, ready for any contingency, any crisis, anywhere, anytime…"

"Everything right can be undone by even a single wrong. Every step forward must be taken in the teeth of political pressures and economic constraints that could push you two steps back-if-you flinch and falter.. I have not flinched, I have not faltered. Hindi ako umaatras sa hamon…"

"And I have never done any of the things that have scared my worst critics so much. They are frightened by their own shadows…"

"In the face of attempted coups, I issued emergency proclamations just in case. But I was able to resolve these military crises with the ordinary powers of my office. My critics call it dictatorship. I call it determination… We know it as strong government…"

"But I never declared martial law, though they are running scared as if I did. In truth, what they are really afraid of is their weakness in the face of this self-imagined threat…"

"I say to them: do not tell us what we all know, that democracy can be threatened. Tell us what you will do when it is attacked…"

"I know what to do:"

"I know what to do, as I have shown, I will defend democracy with arms when it is threatened by violence; with firmness when it is weakened by division; with law and order where it is subverted by anarchy; and always, I will try to sustain it by wise policies of economic progress, so that a democracy means not just an empty liberty but a full life for all…"

"I never expressed the desire to extend myself beyond my term. Many of those who accuse me of it tried to cling like nails to their posts…"

"I am accused of misgovernance. Many of those who accuse me of it left me the problem of their misgovernance to solve. And we did it…"

"I am falsely accused, without proof, of using my office for personal profit. Many of those who accuse me of it have lifestyles and spending habits that make them walking proofs of that crime…"

"We can read their frustrations. They had the chance to serve this good country and they blew it by serving themselves…"

"Those who live in glass houses should cast no stones. Those who should be in jail should not threaten it, especially if they have been there…"

"Today the Philippines is weathering well the storm that is raging around the world. It is growing stronger with the challenge. When the weather clears, as it will, there is no telling how much farther forward it can go. Believe in it. I believe…"

"We can and we must-march-forward-with-hope, optimism and determination."

"We must come together, work together and walk together toward the future."

PGMA SONA 2009 Full Text

2009-07-29T04:21:00.000-07:00

"This was part of our history now. The STATE OF THE NATION'S ADDRESS of the President of the Philippines."

"This was the full text of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's State of the Nation Address last July (SONA 2009) is available here."

PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO'S 9TH STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS
During the 3rd Joint Regular Session of the
14th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines
Session Hall, Batasan Pambansa Complex
Batasan Hills, Quezon City
July 27, 2009

Thank you, Speaker Nograles, Senate President Enrile, Senators, Representatives, Vice President de Castro, President Ramos, Chief Justice Puno, Ambassadors, friends...

The past twelve months have been a year for the history books. Financial meltdown in the West spread throughout the world…

Tens of millions lost their jobs; billions across the globe have been hurt—the poor always harder than the rich. No one was spared…

It has affected us already. But the story of the Philippines in 2008 is that the country weathered a succession of global crises in fuel, in food, then in finance and finally the economy in a global recession, never losing focus and with economic fundamentals intact…

A few days ago, Moody’s has just announced the upgrade of our credit rating, citing the resilience of our economy. The state of our nation is a strong economy. Good news for our people, bad news for our critics…

I did not become President to be popular. To work, to lead, to protect and preserve our country, our people, that is why I became President. When my father left the Presidency, we were second to Japan. I want our Republic to be ready for the first world in 20 years…

Towards that vision, we made key reforms. Our economic plan centers on putting people first. Higit sa lahat ang layunin ng ating mga patakaran ay tulungan ang masipag na karaniwang Pilipino. New tax revenues were put in place to help pay for better healthcare, more roads, a strong education system. Housing policies were designed to lift up our poorest citizens so they can live and raise a family with dignity. Ang ating mga puhunan sa agrikultura ay naglalayong kilalanin ang ating mga magsasaka bilang backbone ng ating bansa, at bigyan sila ng mga modernong kagamitan to feed our nation and feed their own family….

Had we listened to the critics of those policies, had we not braced ourselves for the crisis that came, had we taken the easy road much preferred by politicians eyeing elections, this country would be flat on its back. It would take twice the effort just to get it back again on its feet—to where we are now because we took the responsibility and paid the political price of doing the right thing. For standing with me and doing the right thing, thank you, Congress…

The strong, bitter and unpopular revenue measures of the past few years have spared our country the worst of the global financial shocks. They gave us the resources to stimulate the economy. Nabigyan nila ang pinakamalaking pagtaas ng IRA ng mga LGU na P40 billion itong taon, imparting strength throughout the country and at every level of government…

Compared to the past, we have built more and better infrastructure, including those started by others but left unfinished. The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway is a prime example of building better roads. It creates wealth as the flagship of the Subic-Clark corridor.

We have built airports of international standard, upgraded domestic airports, built seaports and the RORO system. I ask Congress for a Philippine Transport Security Authority Law….

Some say that after this SONA, it will be all politics. Sorry, but there’s more work….

Sa telecommunications naman, inatasan ko ang Telecommunications Commission na kumilos na tungkol sa mga sumbong na dropped calls at mga nawawalang load sa cellphone. We need to amend the Commonwealth-era Public Service Law. And we need to do it now….

Kung noong nakaraan, lumakas ang electronics, today we are creating wealth by developing the BPO and tourism sectors as additional engines of growth. Electronics and other manufactured exports rise and fall in accordance with the state of the world economy. But BPO remains resilient. With earnings of $6 billion and employment of 600,000, the BPO phenomenon speaks eloquently of our competitiveness and productivity. Let us have a Department of ICT….

In the last four years tourism almost doubled. It is now a $5 billion industry…

Our reforms gave us the resources to protect our people, our financial system and our economy from the worst of shocks that the best in the west failed to anticipate….

They gave us the resources to do reforms para palawakin ang suportang panlipunan and enhance spending power….For helping e raise salaries through joint resolution, thank you Congress.

Cash handouts give the most immediate relief and produce the widest stimulating effect. Nakikinabang ang 700,000 na pinakamahihirap na pamilya sa programang Pantawid Pamilya.

Our preference is to invest in projects with the same stimulus effects but also with long-term contributions to national progress….

Sa pagpapamahagi ng milyun-milyong ektaryang lupa, 700,000 na katutubo at mahigit isang milyong benepisyaryo ng CARP ay taas-noong may-ari na ng sariling lupa. Hinihiling ko sa Kongreso na ipasa agad ang pagpapalawig ng CARP, at dapat ma-condone ang P42 billion na land reform liabilities dahil 18% lamang ang nabayaran mula 1972. Napapanahon dahil it will unfreeze the rural property market. Ang mahal kong ama ang nag-emancipate ng mga magsasaka. Ii-mancipate naman natin ngayon ang titulo….

Nakinabang ang pitong milyong entrepreneurs sa P165 billion na microfinance. Nakinabang ang 1,000 sa economic resiliency plan. Kasama natin ngayon ang isa sa kanila, si Gigi Gabiola. Dating household service worker sa Dubai, ngayon siya ay nagtatrabaho sa DOLE. Good luck, Gigi…

Nakinabang ang isang milyong pamilya sa programang pabahay at palupa, mula sa PAG-IBIG, NHA, community mortgage program, certificates of lot awards, at saka yung inyong Loan Condonation and Restructuring Act….

Our average inflation is the lowest since 1966. Last June, it dropped to 1.5%. Paano nakamit ito? Proper policies lowered interest rates, which lowered costs to business and consumers.

Dahil sa ating mga reporma, nakaya nating ibenta ang bigas NFA sa P18.25 per kilo kahit tumaas ang presyo sa labas mula P17.50 hanggang P30 dahil sa kakulangan ng supply sa mundo. Habang, sa unang pagkakataon, naitaas ang pamimili ng palay sa mga magsasaka, P17 mula sa P11…

Dahil sa ating mga reporma, nakaya nating mamuhunan sa pagkain—anticipating an unexpected global food crisis. Nakagawa tayo ng libu-libong kilometro ng farm-to-market roads at kasama ng pribadong sector, natubigan ang dalawang milyong ektarya. Mga Badjao gaya ni Tarnati Dannawi ay tinuruan ng modernong mariculture. Umabot na sa P180,000 ang kinita niya mula noong nakaraang taon. Congratulations, Tarnati. We will help more fisherfolk shift to fish farming with a budget of P1 billion…

Dahi dumarami na naman daw ang pamilyang nagugutom, mamumuhunan tayo ng bago sa Hunger Mitgation program na nakitang mabisa. Tulungan nito ako dito Kongreso…

Mula noong 2001, Nanawagan tayo ng mas murang gamot. Nagbebenta na tayo ng mga gamot na kalahating presyo sa libu-libong Botika ng Bayan at Botika ng Barangay sa maraming dako ng bansa. Our efforts prodded the pharmaceutical companies to come up with low-cost generics and brands like RiteMed. I supported the tough version of the House of the Cheaper Medicine Law. I supported it over the weak version of my critics. The result: the drug companies volunteered to bring down drug prices, slashing by half the prices of 16 drugs. Thank you, Congressman Cua, Alvarez, Biron and Locsin….

Pursuant to law, I am placing other drugs under a maximum retail price. To those who want to be President, this advice: If you want something done, do it hard, do it well. Don’t pussyfoot. Just do it. Don’t say bad words in public.

Sa health insurance, sakop na ang 86% ng ating populasyon…

Sa Rent Control Law ng 2005 hanggang 2008, hanggang sampung porsyento lang maaaring itaas taon-taon ang upa. Iyong kakapirma nating batas naglagay ng isang taong moratorium, tapos pitong porsyento lang ang maaaring itaas. Salamat, Kongreso….

Noong isang taon, nabiyayaan ng tig-P500 ang mahigit pitong milyong tahanan bilang Katas ng Pantawid Koryente para sa mga small electricity users….

Iyong power rates, ang EPIRA natin ang pangmatagalang sagot. EPIRA dismantled monopoly. But minana natin iyong power purchase agreements under preceding administrations, so hindi pa natin makuha iyong buong intended effect. Pero happy na rin tayo, dahil isang taon na lamang iyan. The next generation will benefit from low prices from our EPIRA. Thank you…

Samantala, umabot na sa halos lahat ng barangay ang elektrisidad. We increased indigenous energy from 48% to 58%. Nakatipid tayo sa dollars tapos malaki pa ang na-reduce pa iyong oil consumption. The huge reduction in fossil fuel is the biggest proof of energy independence and environmental responsibility. Further reduction will come with the implementation of the Renewable Energy Act…and the Biofuels Act….again, thank you.

The next generation will also benefit from our lower public debt to GDP ratio. It declined from 78% in 2000 to 55% in 2008. We cut in half the debt of government corporations from 15% to 7. Likewise foreign debt from 73% to 32%. Kung meron man tayong malaking kaaway na tinalo, walang iba kundi ang utang, iyong foreign debt. Past administrations conjured the demon of foreign debt. We exorcised it….

The market grows economies. A free market, not a free-for-all…

To that end, we improved our banking system to complement its inherent conservatism. The Bangko Sentral has been prudent. Thank you, Governor Tetangco, for being so effective. The BSP will be even more effective if Congress will amend its Charter….

We worked on the Special Purpose Vehicle Act, reducing non-performing loans from 18% to 4% and improving loan-deposit ratios….

Our new Securitization Law did not encourage the recklessness that brought down giant banks and insurance companies elsewhere and laid their economies to waste. In fact, it monitors and regulates the new-fangled financial schemes. Thank you, Congress….

We will work to increase tax effort through improved collections and new sin taxes to further our capacity to reduce poverty and pursue growth. Revenue enhancement must come from the Department of Finance plugging leaks and catching tax and customs cheats. I call on tax-paying citizens and tax-paying businesses: help the BIR and Customs spot those cheats…

Taxes should come from alcohol and tobacco and not from books. Tax hazards to lungs and livers, do not tax minds. Ang kita mula sa buwis sa alak at sigarilyo ay dapat pumunta sa kalusugan at edukasyon. Sa kalusugan, pondohan ang Philhealth premiums ng pinakamahihirap. Ponhodhan ang mas maraming classroom at computers…..

Pardon my partiality for the teaching profession. I was a teacher….

Kaya namuhunan tayo ng malaki sa edukasyon at skills training….

Ang magandang edukasyon ay susi sa mas mabuting buhay, the great equalizer that allows every young Filipino a chance to realize their dreams…

Nagtayo tayo ng 95,000 na silid-aralan, nagdagdag ng 60,000 na guro, naglaan ng P1.5 billion para sa teacher training, especially for 100,000 English teachers. Isa sa pinakamahirap na Millennium Development Goals ay iyong Edukasyon para sa Lahat pagdating ng 2015, na nangunguhulugang lahat ng nasa edad ay nasa grade school. Halos walang bansang nakakatupad nito. Ngunit nagsisikap tayo. Binaba natin ang gastos ng pagpasok. Nagtayo tayo ng mga eskwela sa higit isang libong barangay na dati walang eskwelahan, upang makatipid ng gastos ng pasahe ang mga bata. Tinanggal natin ang miscellaneous fees para sa primary school.

Hindi na kailangan ang uniporme sa mga estudyante sa public schools…

We assist financially half of all students in private high schools….

We have provided 600,000 college and post-graduate scholarships. One of them Mylene Amerol-Macumbal, finished Accounting at MSU-IIT, went to law school, and placed second in the last bar exams–the first Muslim woman bar topnotcher. Congratulations…

In technical education and skills training, we have invested three times that of three previous administrations combined. Narito si Jennifer Silbor, isa sa sampung milyong trainee. Natuto siya ng medical transcription. Now, as an independent contractor and lecturer for transcriptions in Davao, kumikita siya ng P18,000 bawat buwan. Good job.

The Presidential Task Force on Education headed by Jesuit educator Father Bienvenido Nebres has come out with the Main Education Highway towards a Knowledge-Based Economy. It envisions seamless education from basic to vocational school or college….

It seeks to mainstream early childhood development in basic education. Our children are our most cherished possession. In their early years we must make sure they get a healthy start in life. They must receive the right food for a healthy body, the right education for a bright and inquiring mind—and the equal opportunity for a meaningful job….

For college admission, the Task Force recommends mandatory Scholastic Aptitude Tests. It also recommends that private higher education institutions and state universities and colleges should be harmonized. It also recommends that CHED will oversee of local universities and colleges. For professions seeking international recognition—engineering, architecture, accountancy, pharmacy and physical therapy—it recommends radical reform: 10 years of basic education, two years of pre-university, three years of university…

Our educational system should make the Filipino fit not just for whatever jobs happen to be on offer today, but also for whatever economic challenge life will throw in their way….

Sa hirap at ginhawa, ang ating overseas Filipinos ay pinapatatag ang ating bansa. Iyong padala nilang $16 billion noong isang taon ay record. Itong taon, mas mataas pa….

I know that this is not a sacrifice joyfully borne. This is work where it can be found—in faraway places, among strangers with different cultures. It is lonely work, it is very hard work….

Kaya nagsisikap tayong lumikha ng mga trabahong maganda ang bayad dito sa atin so that overseas work will just be a career choice, not the only option for a hardworking Filipino in search of a better life…

Meanwhile, we should make their sacrifices worthwhile. Dapat gumawa tayo ng mga mas malakas na paraan upang proteksyonan at palawak ang halaga ng kanilang pinagsikapang sweldo. That means stronger consumer protection for OFWs investing in property and products back home. Para sa kanila, pinapakilos natin ang Investors Protection Task Force….

Hindi ako nag-aatubiling bisitahin ang ating taong bayan at ang kanilang mga hosts sa buong mundo – mula Hapon…hanggang Brazil, mula Europa at Middle East hanggang sa American Midwest, nakikinig sa kanilang mga problema at pangangailangan, inaalam kung paano matulungan sila n gating pamahalaan—-by working out better policies on migrant labor, or by saving lives and restoring liberty….

Pagpunta ko sa Saudi, pinatawad ni Haring Abdullah ang pitong daang OFW na nasa preso. Pinuno nila ang isang buong eroplano at umuwi kasama ko….

Mula sa ating State Visit to Spain, it has become our biggest European donor. At si Haring Juan Carlos ay nakikipag-usap sa ibang mga bansa para sa ating mga namomoblemang OFW. Ganoon di si Sheikh Khalifa, ang Prime Minister ng Bahrain….

Pagpunta ko sa Kuwait, Emir al-Sabah commuted death sentences. For overseas workers, maraming salamat.

Our vigorous international engagement has helped bring in foreign investment. Net foreign direct investments multiplied 15 times during our administration.
Kasama ng ating mga Together with our OFWs, they more than doubled our foreign exchange reserves. Pinalakas ang ating piso at naiwasan ang lubhang pagtaasng presyo. They upgraded our credit because our reserves grew by $3 billion while those of our peers have shrunk…..

Our international engagement has also corrected historical injustice. The day we visited Washington, Senator Daniel Inouye successfully sponsored benefits for our veterans as part of America’s fiscal stimulus package…

I have accepted the invitation of President Obama to be the first Southeast Asian leader to meet him at the White House, this week…

That he sought us the Philippines testifies to our strong and deep ties…

High on our agenda will be peace and security issues. Terrorism: how to meet it, how to end it, how to address its roots in injustice and prejudice—and most and always how to protect lives…

We will also discuss nuclear non-proliferation. The Philippines will chair the review of the nuclear weapons non-proliferation Treaty in New York in May 2010. The success of the talks will be a major diplomatic achievement for us….

There is a range of other issues we will discuss, including the global challenge of climate change, especially the threat to countries with long coastlines. And there is the global recession, its worse impact on poor people, and the options that can spare them from the worst.

In 2008 up to the first quarter of 2009 we stood among only a few economies in Asia-Pacific that did not shrink. Compare this in 2001, when some of my current critics were driven out by people power, Asia was then surging but our country was on the brink of bankruptcy…

Since then, our economy has posted uninterrupted growth for 33 quarters; more than doubled its size from $76 billion to $186 billion. The average GDP growth from 2001 to the first quarter of 2009 is the highest in 43 years.

Bumaba ang bilang ng nagsasabing mahihirap sila, mula 59% sa 47%. Kahit na lumaki ang ating populasyon, nabawasan ng dalawang milyon ang bilang ng mahihirap. GNP per capita rose from a Third World $967 to $2,051. Lumikha tayo ng walong milyong trabaho, an average of a million per year, much, much more than at any other time…

In sum:

We have a strong economy in a strong fiscal position to withstand political shocks…
We built new modern infrastructure and completed unfinished ones.
The economy is more fair to the poor than ever before…
We are building a sound base for the next generation…
International authorities have taken notice that we are safer from environmental degradation and man-made disasters…

As a country in the path of typhoons and in the Pacific Rim of Fire, we must be as prepared as the latest technology permits to anticipate natural calamities when that is possible; to extend immediate and effective relief when it is not….The mapping of flood- and landslide-prone areas is almost complete. Early warning, forecasting and monitoring systems have been improved, with weather tracking facilities in Subic, Tagaytay, Mactan, Mindanao, Pampanga…

We have worked on flood control infrastructure like those for Pinatubo, Agno, Laoag, and Abucay, which will pump the run off waters from Quezon City and Tondo flooding Sampaloc. This will help relieve hundreds of hectares in this old city of its age-old woe…

Patuloy naman iyong sa Camanava, dagdag sa Pinatubo, Iloilo, Pasig-Marikina, Bicol River Basin, at mga river basin ng Mindanao…

The victims of typhoon Frank in Panay should receive their long-overdue assistance package. I ask Congress to pass the SNITS Law…

Namana natin ang pinakamatagal ng rebelyon ng Komunista sa buong mundo.

Si Leah de la Cruz isa sa labindalawang libong rebel returnee. Sixteen pa lang siya nang sumali sa NPA. Naging kasapi sa regional White Area Committee, napromote sa Leyte Party Committee Secretary. Nahuli noong 2006. She is now involved in an LGU-supported handicraft livelihood training of former rebels. We love you, Leah!

There is now a good prospect for peace talks both with both the Communist Party of the Philippines and the MILF, with whom we are now on ceasefire….

We inherited an age-old conflict in Mindanao, exacerbated by a politically popular but near-sighted policy of massive retaliation. This only provoked the other side to continue the war…

In these two internal conflicts, ang tanong ay hindi, “Sino ang mananalo?” kundi, bakit ba kailangang mag-away ang kapwa Pilipino tungkol sa mga isyu na alam ng dalawang panig over issues na malulutas naman sa paraang demokratiko.

There is nothing more that I would wish for than peace in Mindanao. It will be a blessing for all its people, Muslim, Christian and lumads. It will show other religiously divided communities that there can be common ground on which to live together in peace, harmony and cooperation that respects each other’s religious beliefs…

At sa lahat ng dako ng bansa, kailangan nating protektahan an gating mamamayan kontra sa krimen — in their homes, in their neighborhoods, in their communities.

How shall crime be fought? Through the five pillars of justice. We call on Congress to fund more policemen on the streets…

Real government is about looking beyond the vested to the national interest, setting up the necessary conditions to enable the next, more enabled and more empowered generation to achieve a country as prosperous, a people as content, as ours deserve to be….

The noisiest critics of constitutional reform tirelessly and shamelessly attempted Cha-Cha when they thought they could take advantage of a shift in the form of government. Now that they feel they cannot benefit from it, they oppose it.

As the process of fundamental political reform begins, let us address the highest exercise of democracy…voting!
In 2001, I said we would finance fully automated elections. We got it, thanks to Congress…

At the end of this speech I shall step down from this stage…but not from the Presidency. My term does not end until next year. Until then, I will fight for the ordinary Filipino. The nation comes first. There is much to do as head of state—to the very last day...

A year is a long time. Patuloy ang pamumuhunan sa tinatawag na three E’s ng ekonomiya, environment at edukasyon. There are many perils that we must still guard against…

A man-made calamity is already upon us, global in scale. As I said earlier, so far we have been spared its worst effects but we cannot be complacent. We only know that we have generated more resources on which to draw, and thereby created options we could take. Thank God we did not let our critics stop us…

As the campaign unfolds and the candidates take to the airwaves, I ask them to talk more about how they will build up the nation rather than tear down their opponents. Our candidates must understand the complexities of our government and what it takes to move the country forward. Give the electorate real choices and not just sweet talk…

Meanwhile, I will keep a steady hand on the tiller, keeping the ship of state away from the shallows some prefer, and steering it straight on the course I set in 2001…

Ang ating taong bayan ay masipag at maka-Diyos. These qualities are epitomized in someone like Manny Pacquiao….Manny trained tirelessly, by the book, with iron discipline, with the certain knowledge that he had to fight himself, his weaknesses first, before he could beat his opponent. That was the way to clinch his victories and his ultimate title: ang pinakadakilang boksingero sa kasaysayan………. Mabuhay ka, Manny!

However much a President wishes it, a national problem cannot be knocked out with a single punch. A President must work with the problem as much as against it, and turn it into a solution if I can…

There isn’t a day I do not work at my job or a waking moment when I do not think through a work-related problem. Even my critics cannot begrudge the long hours I put in. Our people deserve-a-government that works just as hard as they do…

A President must be on the job 24/7, ready for any contingency, any crisis, anywhere, anytime…

Everything right can be undone by even a single wrong. Every step forward must be taken in the teeth of political pressures and economic constraints that could push you two steps back-if-you flinch and falter.. I have not flinched, I have not faltered. Hindi ako umaatras sa hamon…

And I have never done any of the things that have scared my worst critics so much. They are frightened by their own shadows…

In the face of attempted coups, I issued emergency proclamations just in case. But I was able to resolve these military crises with the ordinary powers of my office. My critics call it dictatorship. I call it determination… We know it as strong government…

But I never declared martial law, though they are running scared as if I did. In truth, what they are really afraid of is their weakness in the face of this self-imagined threat…

I say to them: do not tell us what we all know, that democracy can be threatened. Tell us what you will do when it is attacked…

I know what to do:

I know what to do, as I have shown, I will defend democracy with arms when it is threatened by violence; with firmness when it is weakened by division; with law and order where it is subverted by anarchy; and always, I will try to sustain it by wise policies of economic progress, so that a democracy means not just an empty liberty but a full life for all…

I never expressed the desire to extend myself beyond my term. Many of those who accuse me of it tried to cling like nails to their posts…

I am accused of misgovernance. Many of those who accuse me of it left me the problem of their misgovernance to solve. And we did it…

I am falsely accused, without proof, of using my office for personal profit. Many of those who accuse me of it have lifestyles and spending habits that make them walking proofs of that crime…

We can read their frustrations. They had the chance to serve this good country and they blew it by serving themselves…

Those who live in glass houses should cast no stones. Those who should be in jail should not threaten it, especially if they have been there…

Our administration, with the highest average rate of growth, recording multiple increases in investments, with the largest job creation in history, and which gets a credit upgrade at the height of a world recession, must be doing something right, even if some of those cocooned in corporate privilege refuse to recognize it…

Governance, however, is not about looking back and getting even. It is about looking forward and giving more—to the people who gave us the greatest, hardest gift of all: the care of a country.

From Bonifacio at Balintawak to Cory Aquino at EDSA and up to today, we have struggled to bring power to the people, and this country to the eminence it deserves…

Today the Philippines is weathering well the storm that is raging around the world. It is growing stronger with the challenge. When the weather clears, as it will, there is no telling how much farther forward it can go. Believe in it. I believe…

We can and we must-march-forward-with-hope, optimism and determination.

We must come together, work together and walk together toward the future.

Bagamat malaking hamon ang nasa ating harapan, nasa kamay natin ang malaking kakayahan. Halina’t pagtulungan nating tiyakin ang karapat-dapat na kinabukasan ng ating Inang Bayan.

And to the people of our good country, for allowing me to serve as your President, maraming salamat. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Please Hear What I Am Not Saying

2009-07-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

Don't be fooled by me.
Don't be fooled by the face I wear
for I wear a mask, a thousand masks,
masks that I'm afraid to take off,
and none of them is me.

Pretending is an art that's second nature with me,
but don't be fooled,
for God's sake don't be fooled.
I give you the impression that I'm secure,
that all is sunny and unruffled with me, within as well
as without,
that confidence is my name and coolness my game,
that the water's calm and I'm in command
and that I need no one,
but don't believe me.
Please!

I dislike hiding.
I dislike the superficial games
The superficial phony games.
I'd really like to be genuine and spontaneous and me
but I need your help
Your hand to hold
Even though my mask would tell you,
Otherwise,

It will not be easy for you
Long felt inadequacies make my defense strong
The nearer you approach to me
the blinder I may strike back.
despite what the books say about man
I am irrational.
I fight against the very thing that I cry out for.
You wonder Who I am?
You shouldn't
For I am every man and every woman who wears a masks
Don't be fooled by me
Atleast not by the face i wear...

Quotes about Jackson on day of memorial service

2009-07-07T15:12:00.000-07:00

Thois Article Came From Yahoo....By The Associated Press

Comments on Michael Jackson on the day of his memorial service:

"I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine! I just wanted to say I love him so much." — Jackson's daughter, Paris, who broke down in tears.

___

"Michael, when you left us, a part of me went with you. ... I will treasure the good times, singing, dancing, laughing. ... We will never understand what he endured ... being judged, ridiculed. How much pain can one take? Maybe, now, Michael, they will leave you alone." — Marlon Jackson.

___

"Michael always knew he could count on me to support him or be his date. ... We had a bond and maybe it was because we both understood what it was like to be in the spotlight from a very, very young age. I used to tease him and say, `I started when I was 11 months old. You're a slacker. You were like 5?' Both of us needed to be adults very early, but when we were together, we were two little kids having fun. ... M.J.'s laugh was the sweetest and purest of anyone I've known." — Brooke Shields.

___

"He created a comfort level, where people that felt they were separate became interconnected with his music. ... Those young kids grew up from being teenage, comfortable fans of Michael's to being 40 years old and being comfortable to vote for a person of color to be the president of the United States of America. Michael did that. Michael made us love each other. Michael taught us to stand with each other." — The Rev. Al Sharpton.

___

"I'm here representing millions of fans around the world who grew up listening to Michael, being inspired and loving Michael from a distance. ... Somehow when Michael Jackson sang and when he danced ... we felt he was right there. ... He made you believe in yourself." — Queen Latifah.

___

"When he did his iconic moonwalk, I was shocked. It was magic. Michael Jackson went into orbit and never came down. Though it ended way too soon, Michael's life was beautiful." — Motown Records founder Berry Gordy.

___

"This is a moment that I wish that I didn't live to see come. But as much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good and I do know that as much as we may feel — and we do — that we need Michael here with us, God must have needed him far more." — Stevie Wonder.

___

"Michael was a personal love of mine. A treasured part of my world ... " — Smokey Robinson, reading a note from longtime Jackson friend Diana Ross at Tuesday's memorial service in Los Angeles.

___

"You don't think you'll live to see them gone. ... He is going to live forever and ever and ever and ever." — Smokey Robinson.

___

"We miss you, Michael." — Mariah Carey, after singing "I'll Be There" at Jackson's memorial service.

___

"There are certain people in our popular culture that just capture people's imaginations. And in death, they become even larger. Now, I have to admit that it's also fed by a 24/7 media that is insatiable." — President Barack Obama, who was asked about the outpouring of emotion related to Michael Jackson's death during an interview with CBS while he was in Moscow.

___

"They're holding up well in part because they're a strong family ... a big family, religiously devout family. Therefore, they have a sense of insulation of their faith." — The Rev. Jesse Jackson, on how Michael Jackson's family is coping.

___

"He was a true gift and there are very few that have come to the magnitude of influence that he had on the world." — Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

An Appointment with Love

2009-07-03T04:53:00.000-07:00

In six minutes Lt. Blandford would meet the woman he thought he loved. He had corresponded with her for over a year, but he had never met her or seen her picture. Would he be surprised or disappointed?

Six minutes to six, said the clock over the information booth in New York's Grand central Station. The tall young Army lieutenant lifted his sunburned face, and narrowed his eyes to note the exact time. His heart was pounding with a beat that shocked him. In six minutes he would see the woman who had filled such a special place in his life for the past thirteen months, the woman he had never seen, yet those written words had sustained him unfailingly.

Lieutenant Blandford remembered one day in particular, the worst of the fighting, when his plane had been caught in the midst of a pack of enemy planes.

In one of his letters, he had confessed to her that he often felt fear, and only a few days before his battle, he had received her answer: "Of course you fear...all brave men do. Next time you doubt yourself, I want you to hear my voice reciting to you: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me"... He had remembered and it had renewed his strength.

Now he was going to hear her real voice. Four minutes to six.

A girl passed close to him, and Lieutenant Blandford started. She was wearing a flower, but it was not the little red rose they had agreed upon. Besides, the girl was only about 18, and Hollis Meynell had told him she was 30. "What of it?" he had answered. "I'm 32." He was 29.

His mind went back to that book he had read in the training camp. Of Human Bondage, it was; and throughout the book were notes in a woman's writing. He had never believed that a woman could see into a man's heart so tenderly, so understandingly. Her name was on the bookplate: Hollis Meynell. He had got hold of a New York City telephone book and found her address. He had written, she had answered. Next day he had been shipped out, but they had gone on writing.

For 13 months she had faithfully replied. When his letters did not arrive, she wrote anyway, and now he believed he loved her, and she loved him.

But she refused all his pleas to send him her photograph. She had explained: "If your feeling for me has any reality, what I look like won't matter. Suppose I'm beautiful, I'd always be haunted by the feeling that you had been taking a chance on just that, and that kind of love would disgust me. Suppose I'm plain (and you must admit that it is more likely), then I'd always fear that you were only writing because you were lonely and had no one else. No, don't ask for my picture. When you come to New York, you shall see me and then you shall make your decision."

One minute to six... Then Lieutenant Blandford's heart leapt.

A young woman was coming toward him. Her figure was long and slim; her blond hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears. Her eyes were blue as flowers, her lips and chin had a gentle firmness. In her pale green suit, she was like springtime come alive.

He started toward her, forgetting to notice that she was wearing no rose, and as he moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips.

"Going my way, soldier?" she murmured.

He made one step closer to her. Then he saw Hollis Meynell.

She was standing almost directly behind the girl, a woman well past 40, her graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump; her thick-ankled feet were thrust into a low-heeled shoe. But she wore a red rose on her rumpled coat.

The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away.

Blandford felt as if though he were being split into two, so keen was his desire to follow the girl, yet so deep was his longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned and upheld his own; and there she stood. He could see that her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible; her grey eyes had a warm twinkle.

Lieutenant Blandford did not hesitate. His fingers gripped the worn copy of Human Bondage which was to identify him to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, a friendship for which he had been and must ever be grateful...

He squared his shoulders, saluted, and held out the book toward the woman, although even while he spoke he felt the bitterness of his disappointment.

"I'm Lieutenant John Blandford and you -- you are Miss Meynell. I'm so glad you can meet me. May - may I take you to dinner?"

The woman's face broadened in a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is all about, son," she answered. "That young lady in the green suit, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said that if you asked me to go out with you, I should tell you that she's waiting for you in that restaurant across the street. She said that it was kind of a test."

Earth System Science

2009-06-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

Earth System Science

One of the great scientific challenges of the 21st century is to forecast the future of planet Earth. As human activities push atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane concentrations far beyond anything seen for nearly half a million years (prompting the strongest statement yet from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that human activities are warming the world), we find ourselves, literally, in uncharted territory, performing an uncontrolled experiment with planet Earth that is terrifying in its scale and complexity.

Wrestling to understand these challenges is the young, and still emerging, discipline of Earth System Science (ESS). Polar-ice and ocean-sediment cores (the Vostok ice core from Antarctica, for example) provide a picture of the last half-million years of Earth's history unimaginable even two decades ago, and mark the emergence of ESS as the discipline that deals with our planet as a complex, interacting system. ESS takes the main components of planet Earth--the atmosphere, oceans, freshwater, rocks, soils, and biosphere--and seeks to understand major patterns and processes in their dynamics. To do this, we need to study not only the processes that go on within each component (traditionally the realms of oceanography, atmospheric physics, and ecology, to name but three), but also interactions between these components. It is the need to study and understand these between-component interactions that defines ESS as a discipline in its own right.

Physicists have long understood the "Goldilocks effect"--why, in general terms, Earth's natural blanket of atmospheric CO2 and distance from the Sun make the planet "just right" for life, neither too hot (like Venus) nor too cold (like Mars). James Lovelock's penetrating insights that a planet with abundant life will have an atmosphere shifted into extreme thermodynamic disequilibrium, and that Earth is habitable because of complex linkages and feedbacks between the atmosphere, oceans, land, and biosphere, were major stepping-stones in the emergence of this new science. We still do not understand all these feedbacks and cannot, yet, build a model that reproduces changes in Earth's temperature and atmospheric composition revealed by the Vostok ice core, but these problems now hold center stage in ESS.

There are also numerous other interrelated challenges for this emerging discipline. Do species' identities matter in biosphere-geosphere interactions, or is life simply "green slime"? What are the main feedbacks influencing planetary inorganic-organic carbon dynamics? How does human domination of the global nitrogen cycle, or rapid urbanization, impact on other components of the Earth system? How do we link models of geophysical processes to those describing human socioeconomic activities? The time scales involved in such questions range from hundreds to hundreds of millions of years, and involve processes that are highly nonlinear, presenting considerable challenges for modelers.

The greatest challenge for the new discipline, however, is to provide prescriptions that will reverse current human abuse of planet Earth, signposting routes to a sustainable future. The biggest barriers to rapid progress are institutional. Comparisons between ESS and medical science are telling. Scientists and engineers from many disciplines routinely work together within institutions and organizations to improve human health. We would be startled if it were not so. The health of the planet is a different story. Although a few pioneering individuals and institutions around the world recognize the need for the strong interdisciplinary work that defines ESS, in the main we lack the organizations to nurture this new discipline. There are, as far as I am aware, no undergraduate degree courses in ESS. A mere handful of U.S. and European institutions (including Penn State, the University of California at Irvine, the University of Maryland, the Danish Centre for Earth System Science, the Potsdam Insitute, and ETH in Zurich) offer graduate programs and the kind of interdisciplinary working environments that are essential for the rapid development of ESS. The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) serves as a pioneering focus for ESS, but lacks the resources to do more. Funding agencies, compartmentalized into traditional disciplines, are ill-equipped to rise to the new challenges posed by ESS.

It is hard to imagine a more important discipline than Earth System Science. We urgently need to overhaul our thinking and rejig our institutions to allow this crucial new science to flourish.

What is a system?

Systems science is the interdisciplinary field of science, which studies the nature of complex systems in nature, society, and science. It aims to develop interdisciplinary foundations, which are applicable in a variety of areas, such as engineering, biology, medicine and social sciences.
A system is defined as a collection of interacting objects. The Earth and its atmosphere defines the Earth system. A system consists of three basic elements: (1) a functioning set of components, (2) a flow of energy which powers them, and (3) a process for the internal regulation of their functioning called feedback

Earth as a System

Earth is a complex, evolving body characterized by ceaseless change. To understand Earth on a global scale means using a scientific approach to consider how Earth's component parts and their interactions have evolved, how they function, and how they may be expected to further evolve over time. This visualization adapted from NASA helps explain why understanding Earth as an integrated system of components and processes is essential to science education.
Understanding our planet as an integrated system of components and processes is a fundamental part of Earth and space science research. Just as the human body is composed of interrelated systems that control specific bodily functions, Earth's four principal components — the atmosphere (air), lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), and biosphere (life) — perform critical roles that, together, support and sustain life on the planet.
Nothing influences the subsystems that contribute to Earth's dynamic behavior more than heat. Heat comes from two sources: solar energy and radioactivity in the Earth's core. Because of the angle at which the Sun strikes Earth, Earth's surface is heated unevenly. This creates Earth's three major climate zones — tropical, temperate, and polar — which then influence what types of life flourish in different locations.
The uneven heating also controls weather systems. The heat absorbed by the oceans and carried by its currents is constantly being released into the atmosphere. This heat and moisture drive atmospheric circulation and set weather patterns in motion. The weather patterns then influence vegetation, as well as erosion and sediment transport.
The other heat source, deep within Earth's core, is responsible for plate tectonics, which gives the Earth its physical character: mountain ranges and valleys, ocean basins and lake beds, and islands and trenches. The heat from Earth's core generates convection cells within its mantle, which help drive plate activity.
Ever since the first photos were sent back from space, our view of Earth has changed. Remote sensing instruments, such as satellites, allow us to better understand the interrelationships between the different subsystems. For instance, recordings made by remote and Earth-based instruments show that significant surface warming has occurred over the past three decades. Knowing this, scientists are working to determine how this will affect — and already is affecting — the entire Earth system.

Environmental Problems
A variety of environmental problems now affect our entire world. As globalization continues and the earth's natural processes transform local problems into international issues, few societies are being left untouched by major environmental problems.
Some of the largest problems now affecting the world are:

Acid Rain

The term acid rain refers to what scientists call acid deposition. It is caused by airborne acidic pollutants and has highly destructive results.

Scientists first discovered acid rain in 1852, when the English chemist Robert Agnus invented the term. From then until now, acid rain has been an issue of intense debate among scientists and policy makers.
Acid rain, one of the most important environmental problems of all, cannot be seen. The invisible gases that cause acid rain usually come from automobiles or coal-burning power plants.

Acid rain moves easily, affecting locations far beyond those that let out the pollution. As a result, this global pollution issue causes great debates between countries that fight over polluting each other's environments.
For years, science studied the true causes of acid rain. Some scientists concluded that human production was primarily responsible, while others cited natural causes as well. Recently, more intensive research has been done so that countries have the information they need to prevent acid rain and its dangerous effects.

The levels of acid rain vary from region to region. In Third World nations without pollution restrictions, acid rain tends to be very high. In Eastern Europe, China, and the Soviet Union, acid rain levels have also risen greatly. However, because acid rain can move about so easily, the problem is definitely a global one.

Air Pollution

Every day, the average person inhales about 20,000 liters of air. Every time we breathe, we risk inhaling dangerous chemicals that have found their way into the air.

Air pollution includes all contaminants found in the atmosphere. These dangerous substances can be either in the form of gases or particles.

Air pollution can be found both outdoors and indoors. Pollutants can be trapped inside buildings, causing indoor pollution that lasts for a long time.

The sources of air pollution are both natural and human-based. As one might expect, humans have been producing increasing amounts of pollution as time has progressed, and they now account for the majority of pollutants released into the air.

Air pollution has been a problem throughout history. Even in Ancient Rome people complained about smoke put into the atmosphere.

The effects of air pollution are diverse and numerous. Air pollution can have serious consequences for the health of human beings, and also severely affects natural ecosystems.

Because it is located in the atmosphere, air pollution is able to travel easily. As a result, air pollution is a global problem and has been the subject of global cooperation and conflict.

Some areas now suffer more than others from air pollution. Cities with large numbers of automobiles or those that use great quantities of coal often suffer most severely from problems of air pollution.

Global Warming

On June 23, 1988, James Hansen, the director of the Goddard Institute at NASA, told the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources that global warming was a reality and that is was extremely dangerous.

Global warming, also known as the greenhouse effect, immediately received international attention. Scientists, environmentalists, and governments around the world took an interest in the subject.

Global warming is called the greenhouse effect because the gases that are gathering above the earth make the planet comparable to a greenhouse. By trapping heat near the surface of the earth, the greenhouse effect is warming the planet and threatening the environment.

Many scientists criticized Mr. Hansen's report, and the debate over global warming continues today.

Current fears stem largely from the fact that global warming is occurring at such a rapid pace. Models are predicting that over the next century, the global temperature will rise by several degrees.

Some scientists still do not think that the effects of global warming are as severe as some people say. They think that droughts, hurricanes, and floods often blamed on global warming might actually have other causes.

One major difficulty in studying global warming is the fact that weather data only exists for the last century and a half. As a result, understanding the present and predicting the future are very difficult.

Hazardous Waste

In addition to releasing gases and particles into the atmosphere, humans produce waste that is dumped on the environment. Often, this waste is hazardous and dangerous to both nature and human life.

The levels of dangerous wastes continue to grow. Industries and individuals continue to be largely unaware of this major environmental problem.

As a result, many people and industries are failing to prevent the creation of hazardous waste or to limit the negative effects it produces.

Individuals often throw out goods without realizing that they are headed for a landfill and could be dangerous for the environment. No matter where people put these hazardous waste materials, there is always a chance that they could find their way into the ground, and eventually into our bodies.

Corporations usually want to avoid the costs associated with having to limit creation of hazardous waste. Consequently, they build landfills on site and fill them with waste, or sometimes pay to have their waste removed. Often, hazardous materials are transported to areas that accept money to take the waste.

It may prove very difficult to reduce hazardous waste in the future. Unlike many other environmental problems, waste creation is something people do not often think about.

In the future, people may have to reduce not only their generation of hazardous waste, but also their consumption of many products that end up in landfills.

Ozone Depletion

The ozone layer protects the Earth from the ultraviolet rays sent down by the sun. If the ozone layer is depleted by human action, the effects on the planet could be catastrophic.

Ozone is present in the stratosphere. The stratosphere reaches 30 miles above the Earth, and at the very top it contains ozone. The suns rays are absorbed by the ozone in the stratosphere and thus do not reach the Earth.
Ozone is a bluish gas that is formed by three atoms of oxygen. The form of oxygen that humans breathe in consists of two oxygen atoms, O2. When found on the surface of the planet, ozone is considered a dangerous pollutant and is one substance responsible for producing the greenhouse effect.

The highest regions of the stratosphere contain about 90% of all ozone.

In recent years, the ozone layer has been the subject of much discussion. And rightly so, because the ozone layer protects both plant and animal life on the planet.

The fact that the ozone layer was being depleted was discovered in the mid-1980s. The main cause of this is the release of CFCs, chlorofluorocarbons.

Antarctica was an early victim of ozone destruction. A massive hole in the ozone layer right above Antarctica now threatens not only that continent, but many others that could be the victims of Antarctica's melting icecaps. In the future, the ozone problem will have to be solved so that the protective layer can be conserved.

Smog

In many areas around the word, smog has reached extraordinary levels. Some governments have quickly reacted with severe measures in response to the problem.

The word smog is a combination of the words smoke and fog. The term was invented by a Glasgow public health official, Des Voeux.

Smog causes a smoky dark atmosphere to arise over cities. It decreases visibility, and creates a haze throughout the area.

Numerous studies have monitored smog throughout the world. Some of the world's dirtiest cities have millions of inhabitants, all of whom are threatened by the smog.

Modern Los Angeles suffers severely from smog, as London did in the 19th century. These two areas released certain chemicals into the air and created a foggy atmosphere. In London, where fog levels have now fallen far below those of years ago, people were often unable to see their hands and sometimes could not walk around.

It took a long time for governments to act to control smog. The Clean Air Act of 1970 in the United States limited legal smog levels. The Environmental Protection Agency now measures levels of smog and regulates smog producers.
Despite government action to reduce them, smog levels remain very high in many cities. Even those areas that do successfully reduce smog may be the victims of smog blown in from other locations.

Water Pollution

Attention for water pollution exploded in the 1980s. The oil spill of the Exxon Valdez showed many around the world just how horrible the effects of water pollution could be.

However, even the Exxon Valdez spill barely touched the surface of the problem of water pollution. The ship spilt only 5% of the oil spilt that year, and oil is just one of many pollutants that people dump into the water every year.
Every year, 14 billions pounds of sewage, sludge, and garbage are dumped into the world's oceans. 19 trillion gallons of waste also enter the water annually.

The problem of ocean pollution affects every nation around the world. This is especially true because water is able to transport pollution from one location to another.

For many years, chemicals were dumped into bodies of water without concern. While many countries have now banned such behavior, it continues to go on today.

As the world has industrialized and its population has grown, the problem of water pollution has intensified. The simple fact that millions of people live along coastlines and near rivers means that these bodies of water are likely candidates for heavy and destructive pollution.

It is hard to know now what our oceans will look like in the future. Just how damaged they will be by pollution is uncertain.

Overpopulation

The world's population has been booming for years. The population is now threatening to reach the stage where there are simply too many people for the planet to support.

Around 1850, the world population reached one billion. By 1987, it was at five billion and still rising rapidly.
Third World nations are responsible for a great deal of the population growth. In 1989, about 90% of the people being born were in developing countries. The populations of Third World countries are expected to continue to boom.
The United Nations Population Fund predicts that by the middle of the next century, the world's population will stabilize at about 14 million people. If fertility rates were decreased to 2.1 births per woman, population stabilization could be achieved sooner.

In 1968, Paul Ehrlich published The Population Bomb. The book described how the world population had risen, citing the discovery of agriculture as the cause. The book predicted that population growth would result in widespread famine and even nuclear war. While some of his predictions turned out to be false, famine did occur at high levels in later years.

Overpopulation has been disastrous for the planet. Greater populations have polluted and consumed more, ruining the environment and creating or intensifying a variety of problems. Also, with the food supply limited, increases in population make shortages in many parts of the world even worse.

Rain Forest Destruction

The atmosphere and oceans are not the only parts of the environment being damaged. Rain forests are being quickly destroyed as well, and their survival is questionable.

E.O. Wilson, a biologist at Harvard, called the depletion of rain forest areas "the greatest extinction since the end of the age of dinosaurs."

Unlike some environmental issues, rain forest depletion has fortunately received significant public and media attention.
Despite the opposition to the cutting down of rain forests, the problem continues. Every year, Brazil chops down an area of forest the size of the state of Nebraska.

In addition to the Amazon's rain forests, many other forests are being cut down as well. In Indonesia, Zaire, Papua-New Guinea, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, and Venezuela, rain forests that were once great have been lost.

According to some estimates, 50 million acres of rain forest are cut down every year. The United Nations says the figure is closer to 17 million acres. The World Wildlife Fund says that every minute, 25 to 50 acres are cut or burned to the ground.

The world's growing population has been a primary cause of rain forest destruction. More people need land to live on and wood products to consume. Limiting population growth may be the first in a series of steps that would limit the destruction of the rain forests.

Debate ( argumentative statement II) part II

2009-06-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

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My Latest picture @ Batangas Capitol
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this was the argumentative statement of my other classmates. my topic was about mathematics. to abolish the math subject. here are their statements..

SALONGA, MARY LORD P.
BSCS121
ENGLISH

PROPOSITION:

REGULAR SCHOOLING IS BETTER THAN HOME SCHOOLING

I believe that regular schooling is better than homeschooling because it allows the child to be expose and to have social interaction with other people outside the home and it help him/her to experience the real life while homeschooling precludes the children in experiencing the real life.

I must admit that in home schooling the child is more focus in his/her studies, but is that enough? I think it’s not enough. They must also know how to apply that knowledge in real life. However, the goal of public education is not to teach students simply how to read, solve math problems, or to solve scientific equations. If that was the case, home schooling would be the best option for everyone.

The mission of regular public schools, the supporters argue, is to teach kids those skills – and then how to use and apply them through meaningful, necessary interactions with their peers and teachers. That, in essence, is the focus of many regular public schools: relationships. Those relationships can only truly be formed in regular schools. Students can only truly learn how to problem-solve with their peers if they are in a regular public school. Students can only learn how to handle and overcome peer pressure if they are faced with it in a regular school.

In home schooling, most of the home learners spend their days isolated from society and with workbooks at hand. If that was the case how they can make friends and built a good relationship with others. How can they survive life if they haven’t experience things outside their homes? For the children who have been home schooled, their chances of making new friends are limited, depending on their family situation, and for home schooled children that have siblings, those siblings become the primary friends.

Regular school also provides a solid curriculum. People who are against home schooling argue that parents cannot provide their children with the same level of academic stability and opportunity. Parents who home school their children have to rely upon either their own planned curriculums, or curriculums that they find – curriculums that differ widely and thus can lead to different levels of academic preparedness.

Home schooling fail due to lack of financial aspects and lack of qualified teachers. Most teachers chose to work in regular school because in regular schools they can get or have benefits that home school can’t give. It only means that not all parents can be a qualified teacher for his/her child.

In regular schooling the child can know his/her weaknesses and strength inside the classroom. Some says that the chaos of the classrooms is actually what the child needs to succeed. It is the place where the child can enhance his/her talents and abilities. In regular school he/she can stand on his/her own because he/she knows that no one will help him/her, in short he/she will be independent unlike in home schooling, because he/she knows that his/her parent is always there to give help when he she needs help, he/she will always be dependent.

BISCO, MARY JEAN B.
BSCS121
ENGLISH

DEFENSE STATEMENT:

LIVING TOGETHER WITHOUT THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE

Marriage is a holy sacrament of God. It is tradition that couple must have. Marriage justifies couple of being legally husband and wife. It symbolizes a man and woman as they become one.

Marriage is important. Before living together at one house, man and woman should be married first. For it is under God’s sacraments.

Man and woman can live together even without marriage in the matter that they love and understand each other, but facing the reality in our community there are gossipers. Even both love each other, living together, it is in their mind that they are not married. If the reason of not being married is financial problem, the church offered free wedding ceremonies during 14th day of February.

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with my groupmates in english, we are group III
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Debate (Argumentative statement)

2009-06-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

The Batangas Capitol

Defense Statement:

Mathematics subject in Computer courses must be removed.

Argumentative Statement:

Students just like us, BS. Computer Science whose studying mathematics subject in which we analyze that it’s just a waste of time because it has no relevance to our course. I think that we are wasting our time for computing so many formulas, law of sine, law of cosine, area of triangle in which when we will apply for our job we can’t use it because it is not applicable in computer related jobs. In some cases although math can teach us how to be patient according to others, I think not only math can teach us how to be patient. We can learn it also in other subject or by ourselves.
As I surf the net for so many times. I always chat with other people and in many cases I encountered people whose computer graduate in which they work without applying the knowledge they gain from studying mathematics. They became call center agents, data encoder, teacher in computer but they didn’t compute for the area of triangle, law of sine and cosine. They waste their time studying it and sometimes it became their problem because they don’t know how to pass it. It became the hindrance for them to graduate their desired course. I’m not talking about all math, basic math is ok but just like Algebra and Trigonometry, almost ¾ of the topics are irrelevant and a waste of time, effort and money. The only math that we must focus is basic math. The major subjects must be increase the length of time rather than computing and computing for those crapped topics in mathematics.
As a student of computer course, do you think we can’t make computer if we don’t know the angle of elevation?, Angle of depression?. We can’t correct the errors of computer system without studying Area of triangle?, Law of sine?, Law of Cosine?, Trigonometric functions?. I think we can without those topics. The only thing we must learn is basic and relevant to our course. Students must focus on their major subjects because that is more important and that knowledge gained from major subjects is the knowledge that will find ways to reach the success in life.

The Batangas Capitol

Iraq-born teen cracks maths puzzle

2009-05-30T00:25:00.000-07:00

A woman teaches maths in Ouagadougou. A 16-year-old Iraqi immigrant living in Sweden has cracked a maths puzzle that has stumped experts for more than 300 years, Swedish media reports say.

(AFP/File/Romaric Hien)

Thu May 28, 8:41 am ET

STOCKHOLM (AFP) – A 16-year-old Iraqi immigrant living in Sweden has cracked a maths puzzle that has stumped experts for more than 300 years, Swedish media reported on Thursday.

In just four months, Mohamed Altoumaimi has found a formula to explain and simplify the so-called Bernoulli numbers, a sequence of calculations named after the 17th century Swiss mathematician Jacob Bernoulli, the Dagens Nyheter daily said.

Altoumaimi, who came to Sweden six years ago, said teachers at his high school in Falun, central Sweden were not convinced about his work at first.

"When I first showed it to my teachers, none of them thought the formula I had written down really worked," Altoumaimi told the Falu Kuriren newspaper.

He then got in touch with professors at Uppsala University, one of Sweden's top institutions, to ask them to check his work.

After going through his notebooks, the professors found his work was indeed correct and offered him a place in Uppsala.

But for now, Altoumaimi is focusing on his school studies and plans to take summer classes in advanced mathematics and physics this year.

"I wanted to be a researcher in physics or mathematics; I really like those subjects. But I have to improve in English and social sciences," he told the Falu Kuriren.

Deadly secret of Komodo's bite

2009-05-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

Tue May 19, 3:31 am ET

SYDNEY (AFP) – The world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon, has a snake-like venom in its bite which sends victims into shock and stops their blood from clotting, according to Australian research.

It had been widely believed that deadly bacteria in the carnivorous lizard's mouth helped kill its prey.

But magnetic resonance imagery has for the first time uncovered venom glands containing a shock-inducing poison which increases blood flow and decreases blood pressure, scientists say.

Lead researcher Bryan Fry said three-dimensional computer imaging comparing the Komodo's bite with that of Australia's saltwater crocodile showed it used a "grip and rip" pulling manoeuvre to tear deep wounds, similar to a shark or sabre cat.

Fry surgically removed a venom gland from a terminally ill Komodo at Singapore Zoo for the study, and said it contained a highly toxic poison which would induce potent stomach cramps, hypothermia and a drop in blood pressure.

The venom also blocked the blood's clotting ability, he said.

"Such a fall in blood pressure would be debilitating in conjunction with blood loss and would render the envenomed prey unable to escape," he said.

"These results are congruent with the observed unusual quietness and apparent rapid shock of prey items."

Komodos are the world's heaviest lizard, typically weighing 70 kilograms (150 pounds) and growing up to three metres (10 feet) in length.

They are native to several Indonesian islands and are considered a vulnerable species, with only a few thousand left in the world.

They live on a diet of large mammals, reptiles and birds but have been known to attack humans.

An Indonesian fisherman was in March mauled to death by a Komodo dragon after he ventured into a remote island sanctuary for the giant killer lizards.

Ampalaya and Malunggay Recipe

2009-05-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

Ampalaya and malunggay con sardines

This recipe was came from this site http://sweetbitesbybang.com/?p=49

I will be sharing a healthy and simple recipe using healthy vegetables, malunggay leaves and ampalaya fruit.

Most people hate ampalaya (bitter melon or bitter gourd) because of its bitter taste. But, ampalaya is a nutritious vegetable and cure to some illness. It’s a good source of Vitamin B, iron, calcium, and phosphorus. It has twice the amount of beta carotene in broccoli and twice the calcium content of spinach. Studies show that it has possible benefits in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. According to “olds”, it can also be a remedy for anemia, because it helps rebuild blood supply.

Here are some tips in preparing ampalaya: To remove some of its bitter taste, it can be slight soaked in salty water before cooking, squeeze it, and rinse it afterwards. The salt neutralizes the bitter taste in it.

Meanwhile, Malunggay, known scientifically as Moringa oleifera Lamk, is one of the world’s useful plants. Malunggay leaves are an excellent source of vitamin A and B, and minerals such as calcium and iron. It is also called a mother’s best friend because it helps boost milk production in breastfeeding moms.

And here are the ingredients needed for this simple recipe:

1 clove of garlic 1 small onion 1 can sardines with red sauce 1 cup malunggay leaves 1 large ampalaya

Procedure: 1. Sauté onion and garlic and add the sardines. 2. Add ½ cup of water and simmer for 2 minutes. 3. Put the ampalaya then cover and simmer for another 5 minutes. 4. Finally, add the malunggay leaves and simmer for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

My husband is not an “ampalaya-eater”, but he liked this dish.

Happy cooking!

visit the website for more recipes... enjoy and stay healthy...

Hiding Places of Basking Shark, Found

2009-05-07T15:44:00.000-07:00

Basking Sharks' Hiding Places Found
Emily Sohn, Discovery News

May 7, 2009 -- For centuries, scientists have wondered where basking sharks go in the wintertime. Now, they have an answer -- and it's full of surprises.

In the western Atlantic, the world's second largest fish swims all the way from New England to the Bahamas and across the equator to South America, a new study finds. Scientists have long thought that basking sharks spent all of their time in cooler waters.

"This is equivalent to finding polar bears in Kansas," said lead researcher Greg Skomal, a marine biologist with Massachusetts Marine Fisheries in Martha's Vineyard. "This was a mind-blowing discovery for us."

Basking sharks have long been shrouded in mystery. These fish, which can measure 35 feet or longer, are known to live in temperate waters around the world. Yet, no one has ever examined a newborn basking shark. No one has seen a pregnant female. No one knows where the animals give birth.

And until recently, no one knew where they spent much of their time, particularly in the winter.

To learn more, Skomal and colleagues attached a new type of satellite tracking tag to 25 basking sharks off the coast of Cape Cod, Mass. Once each tag was attached to a shark, it collected data on depth, temperature and light levels for a preprogrammed amount of time -- from 12 days to more than a year. When its time was up, the device popped off the animal and sent its data back to the researchers.

Tags came off in a wide range of locations, the scientists reported today in the journal Current Biology, from New England to the coast of Brazil in the Southern Hemisphere. Other locations included the Sargasso Sea, the Puerto Rico Trench, and the Guyana coast.

Five sharks traveled more than 2,400 kilometers (nearly 1,500 miles). One spent a month hanging out near the mouth of the Amazon River.

A closer look at data from six sharks showed that the animals traveled at depths of between 200 meters (650 feet) and 1,000 meters (3,300 feet). Some stayed at those levels for up to five months. The animals appeared to seek out water in an ideal temperature range.

In the eastern Atlantic, recent tagging studies showed that basking sharks that live near the United Kingdom spend their winters hibernating in deep waters offshore. But basking sharks in the western Atlantic appear to do something completely different, according to the new work. Skomal was so surprised by the results, he reanalyzed the data.

"We've opened up a whole new world of implications into the life history and ecology of these fish and how they live," Skomal said. "To be able to do that in the 21st century for an animal that has been studied for eons is what fascinates me."

It's still not clear why some basking sharks travel such long distances. After all, it takes a lot of energy to make the trip, and there is plenty of food closer to home. Skomal suspects that tropical waters aid with reproduction, by offering a safer nursery habitat, a better food supply, or warmer conditions for pregnant sharks and their newborns.

"This is hypothetical," Skomal said, "To the level where I'm just putting my neck out there."

The new findings may help people better protect basking sharks, said Robert Kenney, a biological oceanographer at the University of Rhode Island in Narragansett. The species is currently listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

"If all of a sudden, you are finding that a population is spending part of its life somewhere that you didn't consider," Kenney said, "Then you have to expand what you think about when you are trying to manage them."

The study also helps fill in what has long been a black hole in our understanding of what makes basking sharks tick.

"The more we learn about big fish," Kenney said, "The more we find out they do things we didn't expect them to do."

October 31, 1991 Issues and events Archive

2009-05-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

This was the Archive issues over the world dated as October 31, 1991.

this was came from (http://www.encyclopedia.com/The+Washington+Post/publications.aspx?date=19911031&pageNumber=1) visit the site for more uinformation. just follow the link...

Bizarre Night at Fights Leaves Many Mystified; Three Shot Outside After Melee in Ring

Oct 31, 1991; William Gildea; Christine Spolar

China-Iran Nuclear Tie Long Known; Intelligence Reported On Aid, Official Says

Oct 31, 1991; R. Jeffrey Smith

Halloween Can Haunt Troubled Personalities; Patients Often Relive Childhood Trauma

Oct 31, 1991; David Brown

Israel, Arabs Meet for Historic Peace Talks; Bush and Gorbachev Exhort Wary Delegates to Bring About Comprehensive Accord

Oct 31, 1991; Jackson Diehl

Lawmakers Overrule High Court

Oct 31, 1991; Ruth Marcus

Senate Approves Civil Rights Bill, Will Comply Itself

Oct 31, 1991; Helen Dewar

Thornburgh's 44-Point Lead Vanishes; Wofford Draws Even With Populist Message in Pennsylvania Senate Race

Oct 31, 1991; Dale Russakoff

Foley's Misdirected Resolve

Oct 31, 1991; MARY McGRORY

CORRECTION

Oct 31, 1991

47 Hurt in Evacuation Drills On McDonnell Douglas Jet; One Woman Paralyzed in FAA-Mandated Test

Oct 31, 1991; Don Phillips

Victim's Clothing Admissible in Smith Case; Trial Judge Bars Defense From Introducing Evidence of Unwed Motherhood

Oct 31, 1991; Mary Jordan

D.C. Firefighter Faces Charge of Simple Assault

Oct 31, 1991

TODAY IN CONGRESS

Oct 31, 1991

Hurricane-Force Storm Slams Into East Coast

Oct 31, 1991

Indicted Mayor Surrenders

Oct 31, 1991

Striking Nurses Vote to Return

Oct 31, 1991

Job Discrimination Bill Would Not Apply to Case Against Seattle-Based Cannery

Oct 31, 1991; Ruth Marcus

Foley Says Tax Relief No Longer Likely This Year

Oct 31, 1991; Eric Pianin

AFL-CIO Membership Is Shifting; Survey Shows Growing Strength Among Government, Service Unions

Oct 31, 1991; Frank Swoboda

Conservatives Gain College Panel Spots

Oct 31, 1991; Kenneth J. Cooper

Documents Law: 30 Years and Out; Historians and Civil Libertarians Hail Victory Over Bureaucracy

Oct 31, 1991; Al Kamen

Food Stamp Recipients Increase

Oct 31, 1991; Dana Priest; Spencer Rich

Political Left Is Left, Right Is Right, But Perhaps the Twain Shall Meet

Oct 31, 1991; Paul Taylor

Postal Change Benefits Baltics

Oct 31, 1991; Dana Priest; Spencer Rich

Canadian Health Costs

Oct 31, 1991

Off to a Good Start

Oct 31, 1991

The Tax Cut Question

Oct 31, 1991

Make a Decision on Mr. Clarke

Oct 31, 1991

The Harvard Forecast

Oct 31, 1991

For the Record

Oct 31, 1991

Gun Control and Public Safety

Oct 31, 1991

Higher Minimum Wage - Guaranteed Job Loser

Oct 31, 1991

`Iron Curtain' (Cont'd.)

Oct 31, 1991

Nuns: Beyond the Stereotypes

Oct 31, 1991

The Democrats' Audacious Take on Soviet Aid

Oct 31, 1991; Jim Hoagland

Last Chance For an Energy Policy

Oct 31, 1991; J. Bennett Johnston

Trick or Treat in the Needle Trades

Oct 31, 1991; Ralph Oman

Who's Better Off These Days?

Oct 31, 1991; George F. Will

French Seek 4 Libyans in Jet Bombing;1 Suspect Also Linked To 1988 Pan Am Blast

Oct 31, 1991; William Drozdiak; George Lardner Jr.

Grain Crop Falls 30%, Soviets Say; Harvest Figures Raise Fear of Bread Shortage

Oct 31, 1991; Margaret Shapiro

Vietnam Underlines Cooperation on MIAs; Deputy Foreign Minister Points Out That U.S. Is Receiving Classified Data

Oct 31, 1991; David Ignatius; William Branigin

Americans Still in Haiti Feel Weight of Sanctions; Embassy Urges 10,000 Remaining to Leave

Oct 31, 1991; Lee Hockstader

Relief Fleet Stymied Near Dubrovnik; Navy Search Delays Aid to Besieged City

Oct 31, 1991

Soviet Party Made Bogus Documents; Official Said to Find Counterfeit Cache

Oct 31, 1991; Margaret Shapiro

Bush, Gorbachev Set Clear Destination, Offer Vague Road Map

Oct 31, 1991; David Hoffman

Gorbachev Says Little On Mideast; Address Focuses On Soviet Changes

Oct 31, 1991; Fred Hiatt

THE MIDEAST PEACE CONFERENCE; BUSH; `Peace Is Possible' in the Mideast

Oct 31, 1991

GORBACHEV; `We Have a Unique Opportunity'

Oct 31, 1991

2 Boxing Fans Wounded By Gunfire Ask: Why Us?; Barbers Shot After D.C. Fight Recall Horror

Oct 31, 1991; Gabriel Escobar

Recession-Minded House Easily Defeats $25 Billion Foreign Aid Measure

Oct 31, 1991; Guy Gugliotta

D.C.'s Boxing Carnival

Oct 31, 1991; TONY KORNHEISER

Eagles Tested Players for AIDS;Team Physician: No Positives in `Routine' Screening

Oct 31, 1991; Mike Freeman

Excessively Lily-Livered

Oct 31, 1991; ANDREW BEYER

GW's Patterson Goes One-on-One With Toughest Foe;Senior Guard, Battling Cancer, Says Count Him in for '92-93

Oct 31, 1991; Leonard Shapiro

Oilers Toss Redskins Change of Pace;Moon-Operated, 7-1 Run-and-Shoot Has Petitbon Digging Deep

Oct 31, 1991; Richard Justice

Sources Say Williams Back in Washington;But Bullets Forward Not Back With Team

Oct 31, 1991; David Aldridge

Bando Taps Garner To Manage Brewers

Oct 31, 1991

COLLEGES

Oct 31, 1991

FOR THE RECORD

Oct 31, 1991

King's Name Arises in Probe

Oct 31, 1991

MARATHON

Oct 31, 1991

Newman Wrestles With a Manager's Quandary

Oct 31, 1991; Michael Wilbon

TENNIS

Oct 31, 1991

AROUND THE NFL

Oct 31, 1991

Indian Group to Protest at Sunday's Game

Oct 31, 1991; Leonard Shapiro

Now, Bowl Alliance Seeks to Secure Conference Runners-Up Too

Oct 31, 1991; Steve Berkowitz

Cavs' Receiver Out

Oct 31, 1991

Notre Dame Looks for No. 700, Winless Navy Looks for Respect

Oct 31, 1991; Robert Fachet

NBA PREVIEW: 1991-92; EASTERN CONFERENCE

Oct 31, 1991; David Aldridge

Hot Pursuit Behooves Young Bulls Not to Let Winning Get Old

Oct 31, 1991; David Aldridge

ROOKIES TO WATCH

Oct 31, 1991; David Aldridge

NBA PREVIEW: 1991-92; WESTERN CONFERENCE

Oct 31, 1991; David Aldridge

AROUND THE NBA

Oct 31, 1991

Hornets Sign Johnson; He'll Debut Friday;Six-Year Contract Totals $20 Million

Oct 31, 1991

Suns Cut Carroll

Oct 31, 1991

Act One Surprises Beaupre; Shuts Out Penguins; What's the Encore?

Oct 31, 1991; Dave Sell

AROUND THE HIGH SCHOOLS

Oct 31, 1991; Frank Hughes;Gene Wang;Karl Hente

TENNIS;Lee's Griepentrog Takes Northern Region Title

Oct 31, 1991; David Sternberg

Farma Way Injured, Out of Classic

Oct 31, 1991; Andrew Beyer

`Sunrise' Tops Off Marlboro With Record-Setting Cup Run;Delp-Trained Horse Wins $40,000 Race by 7

Oct 31, 1991; Jim Brady

DIGEST

Oct 31, 1991

House Begins Debate on Bill To Reform Banking Industry

Oct 31, 1991; Jerry Knight

ICF Kaiser Gets Oakland Fire Contract; Fairfax Firm's Unit To Supervise Cleanup

Oct 31, 1991; Martha M. Hamilton

Landmark on the Auction Block;NBW's Elegant Headquarters Building to Be Sold by FDIC

Oct 31, 1991; Jacqueline L. Salmon;Kirstin Downey

New Home Sales Fell 12.9 Pct. Last Month;Bush, Aides Again Mull Economic Package

Oct 31, 1991; John M. Berry;Ann Devroy

Poll: Tax Cut Won't Spur Spending;Most Say They Favor Saving, Cutting Debt

Oct 31, 1991; Steven Mufson

Salomon Pays $30 Million In Settlement; Revco Investors Say No Hint of Problems

Oct 31, 1991; Robert J. McCartney

Dow Gains 9.84 Points On Rates Speculation

Oct 31, 1991

ROUNDUP

Oct 31, 1991

COG's Rosy Forecast of Jobs and Population Growth Needs a Close Look

Oct 31, 1991; Rudolph A. Pyatt Jr.

USF&G Reports $25 Million Loss in Quarter

Oct 31, 1991

A Teenager Finds Room for Hope; Christine Royce Has Leukemia and a New Place to Dream

Oct 31, 1991; Elizabeth Kastor

Carlos Fuentes Mirror Image; The Latin American Author's Reflections on Politics & Reality

Oct 31, 1991; David Streitfeld

The Haunting Tale of Mary Surratt; They Hanged Her in 1865. Did Her Ghost Escape the Gallows?

Oct 31, 1991; Michael Farquhar

Middendorf Gallery's Bleak Picture; Local Art Dealer Beset by Debt, Partners' Allegations of Fraud

Oct 31, 1991; Jo Ann Lewis

The Odds Man Out

Oct 31, 1991; ART BUCHWALD

Music; `Lloyd Webber's' Superstar; Michael Crawford in a Slick Show

Oct 31, 1991; Joseph McLellan

Brand New Heavies

Oct 31, 1991; David Mills

Israel `Cachao' Lopez

Oct 31, 1991; Mike Joyce

PERSONALITIES

Oct 31, 1991

Putting the Oomph Into Orff

Oct 31, 1991; Joan Reinthaler

Washington Ballet's Double Debut

Oct 31, 1991; Alan M. Kriegsman

THE TV COLUMN

Oct 31, 1991; John Carmody

New on Tape

Oct 31, 1991; Hal Hinson;Richard Harrington;Tom Shales;Rita Kemp

Ted Turner's Double Play

Oct 31, 1991; Tom Spain

The Definitive O'Keeffe;Complete Catalogue of Artist's Work Due

Oct 31, 1991; Jo Ann Lewis

Foreign Youngsters Get in Spirit of Halloween

Oct 31, 1991; Marylou Tousignant

`Horror' House Hits Abortion; Church Uses Theme To Convey Message

Oct 31, 1991; Evelyn Hsu

Horses of Another Color; Pair Pulls Carriage in Battle Over Buggies

Oct 31, 1991; Lynda Richardson

In Fairfax, a Personal Fight to the Finish; Moore-Davis Campaign Stays Long on Spite, Short on Specifics

Oct 31, 1991; John Ward Anderson

Md. Shifts Cost of Care For Poor; Hospitals May Recoup With Increased Rates

Oct 31, 1991; Retha Hill

Authorities Suspect Foul Play In Disappearance of Md. Woman

Oct 31, 1991; Jim Naughton

District Beckons Hollywood

Oct 31, 1991; Nell Henderson

3.7% Raise Set for '93

Oct 31, 1991; Mike Causey

RECALL; Toy That Runs On, Favors That Aren't

Oct 31, 1991

U-Va. Council Protests Fraternity Sanctions

Oct 31, 1991; Frank Cope

One Woman's Quest For a Quiet Meal; 2 Fairfax Restaurants Bar Her Guide Dog

Oct 31, 1991; Jane Seaberry

Poll Shows Public Opposes Longer School Year; Wilder Aides Keep Pushing

Oct 31, 1991; John F. Harris

16-Year-Old Pleads Guilty To Killing Girlfriend, 14

Oct 31, 1991; Patricia Davis

John F. Latimer Dies; GWU Professor Emeritus

Oct 31, 1991

All Supervisors in Va. County Charged With Embezzlement

Oct 31, 1991

D.C., Unions Reach Pact On Raises

Oct 31, 1991; James Ragland

D.G. McConnell Dies at Age 55; NASA Official

Oct 31, 1991

Guilty Plea in Driver's Permits Scheme

Oct 31, 1991

Jet Loses Equipment During Testing in Md.

Oct 31, 1991

Man Slain in District Is Identified

Oct 31, 1991

Off-Duty Capitol Heights Officer Is Slain

Oct 31, 1991

School Bus Driver Drug Testing Upheld

Oct 31, 1991

Sen. Robb Hires New Press Secretary

Oct 31, 1991

Tax Poll Makes Md. Officials Go Figure; In Survey, Public More Likely to Back Increases for Specific Needs

Oct 31, 1991; Richard Tapscott

Bithmarks - Scientific Facts

2009-05-05T19:57:00.000-07:00

This is the Website Where i get this article... (http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22111/73466-holy-mole-y--bare-naked-birthmarks)

Holy Mole-y! Bare Naked Birthmarks

All pregnant women spend nine months hoping and praying that their children will be born healthy and normal. Ten fingers and ten toes is the standard baby wish, and anything beyond that is a blessing. I was born with all my digits, but imagine my parents’ surprise when they turned me over to find my lower back covered with an angry red splotch. I was one of the one in ten children born every year with a vascular birthmark. There are many different types of birthmarks, which can appear on almost every part of the body. I sometimes felt self-conscious about my own, but growing up, very few of my friends have some sort of birthmark, whether it was a brown smear on an arm, a red port wine stain on the face, or in one friend’s case, a single purple toe. Birthmarks are extremely common, and luckily, they’re usually harmless. It’s not clear why some people get them and some don’t, but they occur most often in Caucasian children and up to five times more often in girls. They are sometimes apparent at birth, but some types of birthmarks develop soon after. There are many old wives’ tales about birthmarks; they are the sign of a mother’s unfulfilled wishes, the result of something the mother ate during pregnancy, or the product of a traumatic birth. The truth is much less sensational … they are not mom’s fault and they’re not contagious. Some birthmarks can have a genetic component, but most simply occur at random. Although having a birthmark in the Middle Ages might have gotten you accused of witchcraft, most marks today don’t have any serious or lasting effects on a person’s health.

Birthmarks fall into one of two categories: pigmented or vascular. Pigmented birthmarks are a result of an overgrowth of melanocytes, the cells that regulate the pigment in our skin. Pigmented birthmarks are very common, including marks such as café-au-lait spots, moles, and Mongolian blue spots.

Café au lait spots are coffee-colored spots that can appear anywhere on the body, although the smooth, rounded marks are usually found on the torso or lower body. Some children have multiple spots, and although they don’t fade, they are usually harmless. However, if you detect several of these spots, it could potentially be a symptom of a nerve disease and you should have them checked out by a doctor.

Mongolian blue spots are curious, flat, bruise-like spots that often appear on a baby’s buttocks or lower body. This type of birthmark occurs most often in darker-skinned babies and is named for Attila the Hun, whose children were all said to carry the mark. Mongolian blue spots range in color from blue to black to grey, and almost always fade within a few years.

Moles are a very common form of pigmented birthmark. Many fair-skinned people have a multitude of moles, usually brown or black in color. People with many moles have a slightly higher chance of developing skin cancer and should take precautions when in the sun. Some congenital moles can be abnormally large, but plastic surgeons can remove them. Just removing the mole, though, doesn’t reduce the chance of skin cancer, and anyone with moles should stock up on sunscreen.

Vascular birthmarks are malformations of blood vessels and capillaries near the skin. Sometimes the vessels are abnormally wide, and sometimes there are simply too many of them, but they deliver a larger volume of blood to the affected area, causing colored marks and skin distortions.

Macular stains are also sometimes called salmon patches, angel kisses, or stork bites. They are flat-pink or red marks that comprise the bulk of vascular birthmarks. The harmless marks occur most often around the face, head, or the nape of the neck, and usually fade after childhood.

Hemangiomas can occur as either a raised mark on top of the skin or they can grow inward. They are bright red and usually raised or bumpy. Most hemangiomas are small and fade after childhood, but some can be large and leave a scar. Although hemangiomas are not usually dangerous, marks that occur near the face or head can interfere with breathing or vision, and should be monitored by a doctor. Sometimes they’re called strawberry hemangiomas because of the bumps on their surface.

Port wine stains are the most severe and distressing of birthmarks, since they are often dark red or purple, and often highly visible. Mikhail Gorbachev’s famous forehead birthmark is an example of a port wine stain, although most of these marks occur on the face. Although not life threatening, they can affect the shape of the face, since the abundance of blood flow to the area can sometimes cause the skin to become stretched or distorted. Many people with port wine stains choose to undergo laser therapy to shrink the stain, since with age, the mark can take on a pebbled texture or affect vision and speech.

Although most birthmarks are harmless and painless, a large birthmark can cause anxiety and shame for kids, who might also be prone to teasing or uncomfortable questions from classmates. For birthmarks that cause self-esteem issues or anxiety, medical intervention is possible. Some choose to have the mark treated with laser therapy to shrink the birthmark or make it less noticeable, and some use cosmetics to cover the discoloration. Some marks such as large moles or ingrown hemangiomas can be excised with plastic surgery. Any birthmark, once removed, can come back, so often the easiest thing to do is to leave it alone. Any birthmark that begins hurting, itching, bleeding, or becomes infected should always be examined by a doctor right away.

Although they can be confusing to kids, our birthmarks become part of our identity. I know that I got off comparatively easy by having a birthmark that’s hidden by clothes, but I can’t even imagine my back without what my mom has always referred to as my “strawberry.” I even credit my birthmark from saving me from silly fashion trends—because of its location, I was never tempted to get a lower-back tattoo. I’ll take a splotchy, red birthmark over that any day.

Computer science graduate aims to make life easier

2009-05-02T15:49:00.000-07:00

Friday, 1 May 2009, 10:29 am
Press Release: University of Waikato

Media Release
April 30, 2009

Waikato computer science graduate aims to make life easier (and safer) for us all

Waikato computer science graduand Gian Perrone has his sights set on making all our lives easier. He’s interested in developing mathematical proofs to guarantee the software that drives everything from mobile phones to jumbo jets.

“It’s strange how we tolerate huge amounts of software failure,” says Perrone, who graduates from the University of Waikato on May 4. “If anything else in our lives failed as much as software does, we wouldn’t stand for it. I’m interested in giving software engineers the same tools and techniques as say civil engineers use for building bridges.”

Perrone, who came to university aged 16 from Hillcrest High School, has spent the last year concentrating on research under the supervision of Dr David Streader, a senior research fellow at Waikato University’s internationally recognised formal methods research group.

Perrone is currently eyeing up PhD opportunities in Europe and the United States to continue his work on formal methods, a relatively young field in computer science which aims to develop mathematical proofs and formulae for guaranteeing software.

“There’s lots of work being done on developing mathematical proof techniques and engineering techniques, but there are huge advances still to be made,” he says.

“One interesting area is ubiquitous computing – the computers all around us that we don’t always see, such as cellphones, eftpos machines, smart cards. We just don’t yet have a good handle on how to manage the complexity of the way all these things interact – and we need to develop tools and techniques to do that.”

Perrone has combined his university studies with part-time work programming for a local IT company, and has already completed a full masters research thesis – which will count as his honours project. “That project was basically about improving software quality by automating error detection.”

He says computer science students shouldn’t be put off by the maths involved in formal methods. “It’s a bit like learning to write a foreign language after you’ve learned to speak it,” he says. “I was never particularly good at maths at school, but as I developed an understanding of the concepts, the mathematical notation became easier.”

ends

Julio at Julia - ABS-CBN (Theme Song)

2009-04-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

Kapag umikot na ang mundo
iikot din ang buhay ng tao
mayroong sya at mayroong dusa
wag ka lang magpapatalo

Kung ikaw ay nag-iisa
sa landas na iyong tinatahak
wag mawawalan ng pag-asa
sa mithiing pakikibaka

Si Julio at Julia
Kambal ng Tadhana
di susuko sa pagsubok

Kapag uminog na ang buwan
bago pa sumikat ang araw
bagong pag-asa'y matatanaw
tadhana na ang syang pupukaw

Kapag umikot na ang mundo
iikot din ang buhay ng tao
bagong pag-asa'y matatanaw
tadhana na ang syang pupukaw

bagong pag-asa'y matatanaw
tadhana na ang syang pupukaw

Bayani - ABS-CBN (Theme Song)

2009-04-27T13:44:00.001-07:00

Bayani

Ikaw ang unang nagbuo ng bayang Pilipino
Ikaw ang unang lumaban sa pananakop ng dayuhan
Ikay ang nagsindi ng ilaw
Ikaw ang nagbigay ng liwanag sa kahulugan at katuwiran
sa halaga ng kalayaan

bayani, salamin ng aking panata, salamin ng aking panata
liwanag sa isipan, bayani, tanglaw sa ating daan
bayani...bayani...bayani...

ATBP theme song - Abs-Cbn

2009-04-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

ATBP

halina mga bata
ngumiti matuwa
makisaya at mag aral
at iba pa

araw araw ay mag bilang - isa! dalawa! tatlo!
tumula at magbasa - a! b! c!

maglaro at magsaya
tayo ng kumanta
awit titik bilang at iba pa
awiti titik bilaaaaaaaang...
at iba pa!

Sineskwela - ABS-CBN (Theme Song)

2009-04-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

Narito Ang Theme Song ng Sineskwela:

Bawat bata may tanong
ba't ganito? ba't ganon?
hayaang buksan ang isipan
sa science o agham!

tayo na
sa sineskwela
tuklasin natin ang siyensya
buksan na ang pag-iisip
tayo'y likas na scientist

kaya't habang maaga
mag aral ng siyensya
sa teknolohiya ang buhay ay gaganda

tayo na
sa sineskwela
tuklasin natin ang siyensya
buksan na ang pag-iisip
tayo'y likas na scientist

tayo na
sa sineskwela
tuklasin natin ang siyensya
kinabukasan ng ating bayan
siguradong makakamtan

Sa sineskwela tiklasin natin ang syensya
daigdig ay sasaya salamat sa siyensya...

Best Original TV Show Theme Songs

2009-04-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

Naggagandahan ang mga Theme song ng mga palabas na ito. Na pawang mga orihinal at talagang ipinasadya para umangkop sa mga palabas:

Sineskwela
Matinik
Epol Apol
Bayani
Hiraya Manawari
Awit, Titik, Bilang atbpa.
Julio At Julia

HirayaManawari - ABS-CBN ETv (Lyrics)

2009-04-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

Gusto kong abutin ang tayog ng ulap
Gusto kong sisirin ang lalim ng dagat
Gusto kong akyatin ang tuktok ng bundok
Tuklasin ang hiwaga sa puso ko'y, bumabalot

Koro I: (Handa Awit.. )

Hiraya Manawari, Hiraya Manawari
Mga pangarap natin ating abutin
Ang kapangyarihang nasa puso natin
Hiraya manawari ating abutin

Kaya kong pakawalan ang hiwaga sa aking puso
Kaya kong hawakan init ng aking pangarap
Kaya kong isabog liwanag na aking taglay
Liwanag na nagsisilbing tanglaw ko sa patutunguhan

Koro II: (Handa Awit.. )

Hiraya Manawari, Hiraya Manawari
Mga pangarap natin, ating abutin
Sa lakas ng isipan at busilak na kalooban
Hiraya manawari ating abutin

Maraming Salamat kay: gidget sa pagbabahagi niya ng Lyrics nito.. nakuha ko ito sa http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080911001833AAt7VWC website na ito.. hehe..

This are Stories on adventures to different worlds, battles against evil forces, inspirational stories on friendship, family and principles in life, instill moral values through a child’s creative imagination.

Kung Natatandaan nyo pa ang mga episode ng HirayaManawari, eto ang mga episode ...

Volume 1
• Si Mithi at si Maya (self-disciplne)
• Boses (Humility)
• Batang Smart (Honesty)
• Daigdig ng Makalat (self-discipline, cleanliness / orderliness)

Volume 2
• Daliri Discount (Patience / Righteousness)
• Obra Maestro (Integrity / Courage)
• Elemento 1 & 2 (Honesty / Truthfulness / Responsibility)

Volume 3
• Lumang Tanghalan (Forbearance / Compassion / Forgiveness)
• Si Martin, Magiting (Courage to Face One's Fears)
• Ang Kuya Kong Maton (Respect / Courage to Face One's Responsibility)

Volume 4
• Palaruan (Compassion)
• Tanawin Mula sa Bintana (Self-Control / Forgiveness)
• Nang Makialam si Luntian 1 & 2 (Respect for other people's property / Truthfulness)

Volume 5
• Eggward (Respect / Honesty)
• Ang Kulay Indigo (Responsibility / Cooperation)
• Varsity Jacket (Confidence to be oneself)
• Isang Gabi sa Buhay ni Lester (Self-worth)

Volume 6
• Prinsesang Dalisay (Purity)
• 20 Tina (Self-worth)
• Ang Shorts ni Alejandro (Self-Confidence)
• Aklat (Curiosity / Resourcefulness)

Volume 7
• Imbisibol 1 & 2 (Humility / Golden Rule / Love)
• Pader (Peace, Co-existence)
• Regalo (Benevolence)

Volume 8
• Ate (Love / Self-Esteem)
• Anino (Friendship / Humility)
• Tren ni Isaw 1 & 2 (Love)

Volume
• Bad Boys (To do good and be kind)
• Awit ni Kuya (Cheerfulness / Physical Affection)
• Ciel 1 & 2 (Family Bond / Love)

Volume 10
• Tabby (Acceptance)
• Faith 1 & 2 (Faith / Mutual Support)
• Daddy ni Dinggay (Family Belonging / Communication)

Volume 11
• Batang Skawt (Responsibility / Dependability)
• Hiyas (Harmony with Nature)
• Ang Lihim na Buhay ng mga Estatwa (Decisiveness / Caring)
• Apolonio sa Kaharian ng Hardinia (Respect and care for Living Things)

Volume 12
• Bulalakaw (Compassion / Friendship)
• Haring Mapet (Integrity / Honesty)
• Si Ria at ang Higante (Harmony through effective communication)

Volume 13
• Ihip ng Hangin (Love / Understanding)
• Jessie (Friendship / Courage)
• Yakap (Communication / Understanding)
• Saranggola (Love / Understand)

Volume 14
• Ang Agimat ni Ingkong Tano (Courage)
• Ang Hiwaga ni Bre-Ar (Self-Reliance / Trustworthiness)
• Ang Nga Lola (Self-Discipline)
• 1305 (Generosity / Joyfulness)

Volume 15
• Ang Hiling ng Palamuting Anghel (Hope/Love)
• Anak ng Salamangkero (Love)
• Tumba-tumba (Respect for Elders)
• Saranggola ni Boyet (Family Belonging)

More Than 1,500 Stolen Afghan Artifacts Return to Kabul

2009-04-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

With so much bad news coming out of Afghanistan these days—a resurgent Taliban, spreading violence, and a booming opium trade—it might be easy to overlook another tragedy taking place: Across the war-shattered nation, scavengers, looters, and thieves are pillaging antiquities from more than 1,500 ancient sites around the country and smuggling them abroad. "It's like a sickness that kills us slowly," said Omara Khan Masoudi, director of the National Museum of Afghanistan. "Every day, we lose a bit more of our cultural heritage."

But now Afghanistan is finally getting something back. The British government, with the help of the National Geographic Society and the British Red Cross, has returned 3.4 tons of stolen antiquities that were confiscated over the past six years at London's Heathrow Airport. On February 17, a Red Cross freighter plane touched down at the Kabul Airport, carrying the looted treasure back to its homeland. The artifacts are now at the National Museum. Returning the enormous shipment took more than a year to organize, and involved the cooperation of participants from around the globe.

The Heathrow collection includes more than 1,500 objects spanning thousands of years of Afghan culture: a 3,000-year-old carved stone head from the Iron Age and hand-cast axe heads, cut rock crystal goblets, and delicate animal carvings from the Bactrian era, another thousand years earlier. The oldest artifacts in the collection include a marble figure of an animal showing similarities to artifacts dating to the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, dating as far back as 8,000 years.

The collection also contains gilded bronze pieces, coins, and ornately inscribed slabs dating from Afghanistan's early Islamic period (8th-9th centuries A.D.) and treasures from the Medieval Islamic period (10th-14th centuries A.D.) that serve to replace the decimated collection at the National Museum, which was hit by a rocket in 1993 during the civil war, then repeatedly looted. Lost and Found Through a quarter-century of violence, Masoudi and his staff somehow managed to save about 90 percent of the National Museum's masterpieces, an incredible feat. But the museum still lost about 70,000 objects, most of them from the reserve inventory kept in storage.

Two 12th century metal trays in the Heathrow hoard are nearly identical to ones that were previously on display. Plus there are a number of magnificent metal objects from the Ghaznavid era, including a bronze brazier in the form of a peacock.

Museum director Masoudi, who has spearheaded efforts to locate Afghan antiquities scattered around the globe, first heard about the objects piling up at Heathrow from British diplomats posted to Kabul. He contacted U.S. archaeologist and National Geographic Fellow Fredrik Hiebert, an expert on ancient Central Asian cultures, who arranged with officials in the U.K. to come to London and examine the artifacts.

It was not the first time Hiebert and Masoudi had worked together. Hiebert spent periods from 2004 to 2006 in Kabul cataloguing a priceless collection of 22,000 gold Alexandrian-era objects known as the Bactrian Hoard. For many years, experts believed this collection, discovered in 1978 by Soviet archaeologist Viktor Sarianidi, had been stolen during Afghanistan's decade-long civil war or even melted down by the Taliban regime. The Bactrian gold was "rediscovered" in 2003, hidden in a locked vault beneath Kabul's Presidential Palace. Hiebert, Sarianidi, and Masoudi were all on hand for the stunning moment when Afghan officials pried six boxes open and found the entire collection intact.

Hiebert said he felt similar amazement the first time he saw the antiquities amassed at Heathrow.

"When I did an initial look, my eyes popped out and I said, 'They all look like they are from Afghanistan.' It was like seeing old friends again."

Heritage Under Attack

Helped by Carla Grissmann, an American expert on Afghan cultural heritage who has been working with the National Museum since 1973, and a British Museum curatorial team, Hiebert compared the objects in the Heathrow hoard to tens of thousands of missing items from the museum's collection.

"None of the Heathrow objects came from the museum," Hiebert said. "They are from recently illegally excavated sites exported without permit."

Most of the Heathrow collection will end up in the museum's reserve collection and replace the many objects stolen during the civil war, Hiebert said. Only about 10 percent of the recovered items are museum-display quality, in part because antiquities excavated illegally get robbed of their identity. Without the original excavation context—which provides critical information allowing scholars to piece together a full picture of ancient cultures—ancient objects lose most of their significance, said Hiebert.

But that didn't lessen the significance for anyone involved in getting the Heathrow collection back home.

"Traditionally our work has focused on protecting human beings and ensuring their health and well-being," said Michael Meyer of the British Red Cross. "However, there has been increasing recognition of the deleterious effect on civilian populations when their cultural sites and property are destroyed."

Afghanistan has a cultural heritage that is among the world's richest. Crisscrossed by the Silk Road, the mountainous nation was a melting pot of ancient cultures and religions, a repository for precious objects from China, India, Egypt, Rome, and Greece. The 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, however, launched almost three decades of vicious fighting, turning the country from an archeologist's paradise into a nightmare.

Rocket attacks ravaged ancient sites and museums. Precious objects were stolen. Ai Khanoum, the 4th century B.C. settlement in northern Afghanistan and one of the primary cities of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, was almost completely looted. In 2001, the Taliban blew up the giant 6th-century A.D. sandstone Buddhas in Bamiyan.

Today, the tragedy continues. Poor villagers lacking other sources of income use shovels and wheelbarrows to cart off precious objects from historic spots around the country, while criminal gangs smuggle the loot to Pakistan and onwards.

The Kabul government remains too cash-strapped, and too caught up fighting the Taliban-led insurgency, to do anything about it. (Afghanistan's own Ministry of Culture was the target of a suicide bomb attack last October.) And despite efforts to raise awareness among Pakistani customs and law enforcement officials, the situation is no better across the border.

Conflict zones like Iraq and Colombia are generally vulnerable to treasure hunters, but the extent of the pillaging in Afghanistan puts the country in a class of its own.

Airport of Antiquities

The vast majority of the thousands of artifacts confiscated every year at Heathrow, the world's busiest airport, come from Afghanistan, according to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Department (HMRC). And the Paris-based International Council of Museums (ICOM) believes that's just a fraction of the total quantity smuggled out of the country annually.

"The extent of the problem is very, very serious," said Jennifer Thévenot, who heads the fight against illicit traffic at ICOM.

Working with Masoudi, ICOM maintains a "Red List" of Afghan antiquities at risk that is distributed to museums, auction houses, border crossings, and customs points where there is known to be heavy illegal traffic.

Heathrow Airport is one such heavy traffic gateway, because many ancient Afghan objects trafficked through Pakistan get smuggled out on flights to the U.K.

Using the Red List as reference, HMRC agents started performing random searches on passengers arriving from Pakistan in 2002, finding thousands of ancient objects tucked into suitcases or hidden in false compartments. In many cases, antiquities are declared by arriving passengers, who falsely describe them or assign a low value on the declaration forms in order to hide the true nature of the goods.

Once they seize objects, HMRC agents work closely with experts from the British Museum and the U.K. Department for Culture, Media and Sport to determine their true identity and, if possible, to arrange their repatriation.

Hiebert calls repatriations like this one a critical part of Afghanistan's psychological healing.

"If we can use this transfer to put some Bronze Age and Islamic Age materials back on display," he said, "that will help repair the horrible looting that went on for 25 years."

Masoudi, who has previously welcomed back stolen artifacts from Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway, is calling on other nations to round up and return Afghan antiquities.

"Every time I see a piece return home, it is a meaningful moment, not just for me, but for all the museum staff," he said. "I feel like a parent recovering a lost child. I am very emotional when it arrives."

Lost Crusaders' Tunnels Found Near Palace on Malta

2009-04-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

For centuries it's been said that the crusading Knights of Malta constructed an underground city on the Mediterranean island of Malta, sparking rumors of secret carriageways and military labyrinths. Now a tunnel network has been uncovered beneath the historic heart of the Maltese capital of Valletta, researchers say. But the tunnels—likely from an ahead-of-its-time water system—may render previous theories all wet.

The newfound tunnels are said to date back to the 16th and early 17th centuries, when the knights—one of the major Christian military orders of the 11th- to 13th-century Crusades—fortified Valletta against Muslim attack.

The tunnels were uncovered on February 24 during an archaeological survey of the city's Palace Square in advance of an underground-garage project.

"A lot of people say there are passages and a whole new city underground," said survey leader Claude Borg of the Valletta Rehabilitation Project. "But where are these underground tunnels? Do they exist?

"We've now found some of them, at least."

First Sign of Subterranean Valletta

Experts think the newly revealed tunnels—though tall enough to allow human passage—formed part of an extensive water system used to pipe vital supplies to the city.

The tunnels were found beneath Palace Square, opposite the Grandmaster's Palace. Once home to the leader of the Knights of Malta, the palace today houses Malta's legislature and the office of the Maltese president.

First, workers found what's believed to have been an underground reservoir just under the paving stones of Palace Square.

Near the bottom of the reservoir, some 40 feet (12 meters) down, they discovered a large opening in a reservoir wall—the entrance to a tunnel, which runs half the length of the square and connects to channels, some of which lead toward the palace.

Efforts to follow these branches have so far failed, as they were blocked off at some later date, Borg said.

Restoration architect Edward Said, of the Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna (Malta Heritage Trust), describes the discovery as "just the tip of the iceberg." Said suspects the tunnels formed part of a state-of-the-art plumbing system, complete with ancient passageways for access and maintenance.

Thousand-Year-Old Fighting Force

Also known as the Knights Hospitaller and the Order of St. John, the Knights of Malta, established in 1099, gained a formidable military reputation as enemies of Muslims during the Crusades, a series of Christian military campaigns that originally had the goal of capturing Jerusalem.

In 1530 Holy Roman Emperor Charles V offered the knights the island of Malta for the princely sum of one falcon a year.

The Christian order, though vastly outnumbered by Ottoman Turks, triumphed in the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.

The experience, though, inspired them to found the fortress city of Valletta on a high peninsula that was secure but lacking in natural water sources.

Water security was a major priority during the city's construction, the goal being to maintain the supply even during future sieges, according to Said.

"They soon realized that the rainwater and the wells they had were just not enough," he said.

Water was therefore transported to the city from valleys to the west via an aqueduct, the remains of which still stand.

The Palace Square location of the newfound tunnels supports the idea that the network was intended for water, the team said.

The tunnel apparently fed a grand fountain in Palace Square via the underground reservoir. The fountain was later moved when the British ruled the island, from 1814 to 1964.

"This fountain marked the very important achievement of getting water to the city," survey leader Borg said.

Centuries-old lead pipes and metal valves for operating the fountain have been found, according to Said. The tunnel's connecting branches may have included service passages used by the Knights' chief hydraulic engineer, or fontaniere.

"Together with his team, [the fontaniere] was in charge of monitoring and maintaining the fountains and conduits," Said added. "They were also responsible for switching off the fountains at night."

Knights of Sanitation

Other rumors of underground Valletta include a secret carriageway from the city to the palace of the Roman Catholic inquisitor—charged with rooting out heretics—under Valletta's harbor.

Such tales of secret military passages have more solid foundations, according to Said, since underground passages do run beneath the battlements protecting Valletta's landfront.

But Said suspects many of the subterranean legends spring from water-supply and drainage tunnels.

Valletta was hit by plague in the 17th century, when the 1340s Black Death epidemic still loomed in people's minds, he said.

"They wanted to make sure this problem never happened again," Said added.

In fact, the city's plumbing system was highly advanced for the 16th and 17th centuries, he noted.

By comparison, major cities like London and Vienna "were still wallowing in their own muck."

The Knights of Malta Today

In 1798 Napoleon banished the knights from Malta. Today, based in Rome but still called the Order of Malta, they are involved mainly in humanitarian enterprises.

Still, this month the Maltese government announced that, following the discoveries, the underground-garage plan has been shelved.

A new fountain, based on the original, is slated for the square, and Said is hopeful that the secret tunnels will eventually be opened to the public—one more reminder of the knights that still bear the island's name.

Earth Day Facts: When It Is, How It Began, What to Do

2009-04-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

From not-so-humble beginnings in 1970, when 20 million participated across the U.S., Earth Day has grown into a global tradition, with a billion expected to take part in 2009. Find out when it is, how it started, how it's evolved, and what you can do.

Every day, the saying goes, is Earth Day. But it's popularly celebrated on April 22. Why?

One persistent rumor holds that April 22 was chosen because it's the birthday of Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union.

"Lenin's goal was to destroy private property and this goal is obviously shared by environmentalists," the Capitalism Magazine Web site noted in a 2004 article perpetuating the theory.

Kathleen Rogers, president of Washington, D.C.-based Earth Day Network, which was founded by the original organizers of Earth Day, scoffs at the rumored communist connection.

She said April 22, 1970, was chosen for the first Earth Day in part because it fell on a Wednesday, the best part of the week to encourage a large turnout for the environmental rallies held across the country.

"It worked out perfectly, because everybody was at work and they all left," she said.

In fact, more than 20 million people across the U.S. are estimated to have participated in that first Earth Day.

(PICTURES: The First Earth Day--Bell-Bottoms and Gas Masks.)

Earth Day is now celebrated every year by more than a billion people in 180 nations around the world, according to Rogers.

Mad People and a Frustrated Politician

Earth Day's history is rooted in 1960s activism. The environment was in visible ruins and people were mad, according to Rogers.

"It wasn't uncommon in some cities during rush hour to be standing on a street corner and not be able to see across the street" because of pollution, she said.

Despite the anger, green issues were absent from the U.S. political agenda, which frustrated U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, whose campaigns for the environment through much of the 1960s had fallen flat.

First Earth Day "Took off Like Gangbusters"

In 1969 Nelson hit on the idea of an environmental protest modeled after anti-Vietnam War demonstrations called teach-ins.

"It took off like gangbusters. Telegrams, letters, and telephone inquiries poured in from all across the country," Nelson recounted in an essay shortly before he died in July 2005 at 89.

"The American people finally had a forum to express its concern about what was happening to the land, rivers, lakes, and air—and they did so with spectacular exuberance."

Nelson recruited activist Denis Hayes to organize the April 22, 1970, teach-in, which today is sometimes credited for launching the modern environmental movement.

By the end of 1970, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had been born, and efforts to improve air and water quality were gaining political traction.

"It was truly amazing what happened," Rogers said. "Blocks just tumbled."

Earth Day Evolves

Amy Cassara is a senior associate at the World Resources Institute in Washington, D.C., who analyzes global environmental trends.

She noted that, since Earth Day started, environmentalism has moved from a fringe issue to a mainstream concern. "As many as 80 percent of Americans describe themselves as environmentalists," Cassara said.

Environmental issues today, however, are less immediate than dirty air, toxic water, and a hole in the ozone layer, she added.

For example, the impacts of global climate change are largely abstract and difficult to explain "without coming off as a doomsday prognosticator," Cassara said.

"As we become more industrialized and our supply chains become less transparent, it can be more difficult to understand the environmental consequences of our actions," she noted.

Earth Day Network is pushing the Earth Day movement from single-day actions—such as park cleanups and tree-planting parties—to long-term commitments.

"Planting a tree, morally and poetically, requires taking care of it for a really long time, not just sticking it in the ground," Earth Day Network's Rogers said.

To help make the transition, the organization is aligned with a hundred thousand schools around the world, integrating projects with an environmental component into the year-round curriculum.

"They announce the results on Earth Day, so Earth Day becomes a moment in time," Rogers said.

Cassara, of the World Resources Institute, said her organization uses Earth Day to convene with leaders in the movement and assess progress in their campaigns.

"[Earth Day] doesn't raise awareness among the general public in the same way that it used to. But it still provides a benchmark for reflection among those of us in the environmental community," she said.

What to Do on Earth Day?

For those whose inner environmentalist speaks loudest on April 22, Earth Day Network's Rogers encourages them to make a public commitment to take an environmental action.

"We are headed for a billion commitments to do something green," Rogers said. "And that doesn't mean think about it—it means do something."

Commitment ideas promoted by the Earth Day Network include pledging to educate friends and family on global warming or buy green products such as energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

The commitments are part of a yearlong initiative called the Green Generation, which leads up to the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010.

(See pictures of quirky Earth Day stunts.)

According to Rogers, everyone is part of this generation, which marks the transition from the industrial revolution to the green revolution.

"It is also about the green generation of energy and the generation of green jobs. ... The name [Green Generation], whenever I say it to people, they have their own idea of what it means, which is exactly what we want."