Love your dila

A picture of Manuel Quezon always seems apt when discussing about Filipino language. 

I was reading through the Philippine Daily Inquirer a few days ago, when I came across an article that didn’t get my all out interest.  Butch Hernandez writes about mother tongue which, at first glance, all looked so technical to me (i.e. ZzZzzzzz).  But, since I already have a little idea on the subject, I read on and actually found it ... quite refreshing.

The gist?  Teach your kids Tagalog first (or Bisaya, Kapampangan....or whatever you actually use at home), before immersing his or her little brain in the delights of English. 

“Huh? Bakit?  Baka mahirapan siya sa school matuto ng English?  Kawawa naman ang bata, he will grow up barok, you know?” you might think.  

Well, apparently, he most probably will not.  On the contrary, if schooled in Multilingual Education (MLE) using the language he originally acquired at home (and of course, with enough encouragement and support from parents and teachers), he will have acquired a good level of understanding of not one, but two languages when he reaches the early grade levels.

 Check out the Inquirer article here and a supplement source I found here.

The other source I found delved on Multilingual Education and mentioned the ff:

1.  Children who have learned to read and write in their first language, learn to speak, read and write in the second and third languages more quickly.

2.  Learning first language or mother tongue strengthens acquisition of second and third languages.

3. Children who begun school in their first language with careful bridging to the two second languages were more competent in all areas of study that the children who did not.

So, take that (*blag*), Thomasites!

Learn English or die (I'm para-phrasing) - http://philippines1900.tumblr.com/post/263314340/thomasites

Sa madaling sabi, think of it as providing your child with good Filipino and excellent English, rather than a cute American accent but barok Tagalog.  

So go ahead, don’t be afraid.  Teach your kids Filipino.  It will be good for them, and their future English.

Piano in the background

Surfing the internet while the piano is playing in the background?

I love it.  And I get to hear that quite often, thanks to my teacher who takes our piano out for a spin almost daily. 

And since Christmas is fast approaching, I took a video of some favorite Christmas ditties:

Here's Silent Night:

She's still available for bookings this holiday season, just let me know so we can check her schedule.

Merry Christmas sa inyong lahat!

XOXO,

GeloCim

In this corner....

I found this figurine quite interesting.  While at Rockwell Mall, I saw this scrappy Mickey Mouse staring right at me.

Now, its not everyday I see a Mickey that's not either trying to look cute or just smiling.

Mickey Mouse (Php15,000)

 And what was beside it?  Aba, eh di si Kongresman!

Pac-Man (Php2,500) - cheaper material daw.  Pero meron pang isang mas mahal...

Yup, I think Manny Pacquiao has REALLY made it.  His own figurine, licensed by another company.  Astig.

The MINDstyle, is a Hong Kong-based company, the sales lady said.

These are available from The MINDstyle.  Nice and cute.  Click here to visit their website.

 The figurines actually come in a set of 2, basically Mickey vs Manny.

Manny, P16,000. vs. Mickey, P15,000

There are also interesting shirts on the same theme.  P1,200 each.

They also have The Godfather.  And how much do they go? A paltry P8,400 each.

I'd like to find out when they go on sale.  Maybe I'll buy some then.  As for now, they are nice eye candy.

XOXO,

GeloCim

New PH Bank Notes

FINALLY.

Feng Shui experts across the Philippines can now rest easy.  Ninoy Aquino is no longer somber, at hindi na naka-salumbaba.

Long thought to be a bit of "bad luck", this current note is now replaced by a smiling and youthful Ninoy Aquino.

At ceremonies held in Malacanan Palace today (December 16, 2010), the Banko Sentral Ng Pilipinas unveiled the new PH Peso Bills.

And yes, Cory Aquino cannot but help and smile that she now shares the P500 note with her husband (photo from gmanews.tv).

The new bills = I like.

Check out the news from GMA News (Channel 7), here.

The bills feature a more youthful portrait of our national heroes, they look quite happy to be there, and the reverse side showcases our beautiful natural resources.  I think, the BSP has done a good job.  

Serious si Diosdado.

I like the addition of the PH Seal.  Quite colorful.

President Aquino receives a strip of uncut mom and dad notes.

Nice.  I'd like to get my hands on them pretty soon.

XOXO,

GeloCim

Football!

I woke up today to news about Philippine Football.

I can't believe it, people are actually writing about this team and the sport (basketball is our poison of choice, after all)!  Its the game the whole world loves, except in the Philippines.  Well, I hope that's about to change.

Tonight at 7PM (8PM here in PH), the Azkals face the Merah Putih (Red and White) in our "home" game at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.  The Indons are the toughest in the field and quite frankly, it would be easy to think that our "street dogs" probably won't be reaching the finals after this.

Of course, the Indons are looking at making it a 2-game ambush of the the Filipinos (tonight and on Dec 19).

Merah Putih
(photo from AFF website via bleachersbrew.blogspot.com)

But, its been an improbable run so far at the AFF Suzuki Cup.  I say, BRING IT ON.

Younghusband interviewed at their practice session at University of Makati, PH
(from abs-cbnnews.com)

Despite the current politics and problems at the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) the Philippine Football team is now an overnight sensation, with TV coverage (finally!) to boot.  Plus, more girls are now taking notice.  Ayos!  Watch an interview here.

UNFAMILIAR SIGHT:  Talking about football on the internet (gmanews.tv)

And, here's another one from GMA Network:  click here

Check on these links from local PH newspapers.

1.  INQUIRER:  There's talk of hosting a Manila Beer Cup in 2011!  This bodes well for Philippine Football.  Click here.

2.  PHILIPPINE STAR: Noted Sports Columnist and fellow TLS/ DLSU alum Joaquin Henson writes about the ff:

 - petty politics in the utterly mismanaged PFF and why the home game wont be in Bacolod, PH:  Make clickie here

 - ousted PFF president on the warpath.  click here

3.  PHILIPPINE STAR: An interview with coach Simon McMenemy, only 4 months into the job:  here

Nice quote from the McMenemy and why I think the ousted PFF president is at the wrong side of the fence:

"(ousted PFF persident) Mr. Martinez wants to revamp the team and bring in a new coach. I don’t understand and it disappoints me. A lot of the boys were disappointed reading that. I cannot understand how he can even say that. It’s so disrespectful as if we haven’t done enough for the country."

4.  THE MANILA TIMES:  nice article.  here

5.  MALAYA BUSINESS INSIGHT:  here

My problem NOW is, where I can see it on local TV?  I dont think we have Star Sports and ESPN on Global Destiny Cable.  *argh*

The Azkals (picture from www.inquirer.net)

Go Azkals!

XOXO,

GeloCim

Full Day (Part 2): Pasig and Plaza Mexico

Listening.

 So, there we were on the boat waiting to arrive at the Plaza Mexico Station.

Taking a picture.

On the ferry (our ticket cost P45.00 each, or about US$1.00) from Guadalupe to Plaza Mexico Station, I could see we weren’t the only people who were on it for the first time.  The couple beside me didn't even mean to take the ferry.  After doing some errands in the morning, they saw the ferry station and decided to just go for a ride. Wala lang.  

Truly, the ferry is a good means of transport, a bit more relaxing than braving rush hour traffic.

Anyway, the Pasig brings back good memories.  But what's better, is that the river still has a future.

Think about it:  all those old building, give them a good re-touching, maybe even make them usable again (hey, I can see they do that all the time in Singapore), slap on some lights, and they will be stunning at night.  I found this conference on lighting to be held at UST in February.  Sana marami magpunta para mas lalo gumanda ang Maynila.  Pati na rin ang La Salle.  Click here for more information.

Imagine what a little lighting can do to these structures:

Escolta Station with a space age looking building behind it

El Hogar

El Hogar, mukhang malinis pa (got this from this site). 

Post Office

Quezon Bridge

Anyway, so when we got to Plaza Mexico, wala masyado tao.  Of course it was a Saturday.  But vendors were there (well, this one was)...  

And little kids just hanging around....

The "Plaza" and its surroundings, has seen better days.

Sana may lamp post...

I think the monument celebrates 400 years of Philippine-Mexican ties, mostly due to the galleon trade.

As per Mr. Ocampo here, the travel back to Mexico takes 1 year but is only 3 months to the Philippines.  I guess its something about the winds and stuff.  Hmmm.... di yata ako nakikinig. haha.

Nice, comfortable footwear was the order of the day.  Siempre lakaran ito.  Si Bryan lang ang naka-balat.  haha.

Nice feet.

XOXO,

GeloCim

Full Day. (Part 1)

A view of the Pasig and Intramuros, taken from the 24th floor of the World Trade Exchange Building.

I love Full Days.

You know those days?  The ones where they’re crammed with things to do?   

In contrast to a “busy” day, say, at the office (that can leave you feeling empty once you get home), full days are great!  Filled with things you love to do, Full days can, at the end of the day, make your mind race with thoughts of “I’d love to do that again!”, “How wonderful!”, and “What a treat this day has been!”.

I just got one of those last Saturday (December 11, 2010) when Mabuhay Guide (www.mabuhayguides.com) Bryan Ocampo decided to treat us to a great tour of Intramuros, the Walled City.

Bryan:  I know everything there is to know about the Pasig (well, he didn't actually say that). 

 THE PASIG AND ITS FERRY

We started the tour at the Pasig River ferry's Guadalupe station.  

No frills Pasig river ferry - Guadalupe Station

Meeting time was 9:30AM but I was running late, so I had to make a quick sprint toward the ferry station.  Good thing, the ferry leaves at 10 AM. 

Ah, I wasn't late for the trip, after all.

From what I can see of the ferry stations and boats, they are utilitarian and not for those seeking a romantic,  luxurious boat ride on the river.  There are schedules for trips and thus, it is important to know the trips before proceeding to the terminals.

I think this is an oil depot along the Pasig.

As an important “highway” to transport people and goods to and from the Manila Bay in the old days, businesses decided to locate their factories along the river side.  Of course, people also decided to be where the action is.  And voila!  Pollution is served.

 

The 27-kilometer river is dead, but not dead.  Its the same, but its just a shadow of its former self. 

Fishing for yummy fish (with pollutants)

Like in the old days, when my grandparents and my mother (with siblings) could afford to frolic, fish, and swim along the Pasig's pristine waters, people today still have not abandoned the river.  Kids still jump to it for a refreshing dip, and men find a free source of food at the river's edges.  Only its darker now, and can make you sick if you drink too much of the water.

One interesting side note in the ferry ride is that it passes through Malacanan Palace, and picture-taking is definitely NOT allowed.  A stern-looking coast guard person came onboard to make sure of that.  

It was either for security reasons, or they didn’t want too many people to find out they did some "remodeling" to the palace's facade.  Lion heads were installed during the time of President Joseph Estrada for good luck.

 

Hmmm.  

Note to self:  if you want to keep your house, NEVER put any lion heads on it.

Its Christmas time, in the ferry.

After, Malacanan, we were a few stations away from our drop off, point:  Plaza Mexico Station. 

Abangan...



XOXO,

GeloCim

FINALLY!

Toot, Toot.

Then, another.  Toot, Toot.

Toot, Toot.

"Who would be texting me tonight in 3 succeeding blasts?" I thought to myself.

This is what I got:

"Nice half by phl.  Limited vie scoreles. D host team migt have 70% of d poss bt dat 1 breakaway was d key play of d half.  Phl bckline holdng up dspite numerous atacks frm d viets."

HUH?!  That cant be right?  So I go take a look who its from. 

Its from writing whiz JP Abcede.  And he was apparently watching the AFF Suzuki Cup hosted by the Viets.  The game was live (December 5, 2010).

Good thing I have access to Star Sports tonight, and what a great surprise.  The PH booters were surprisingly holding their own in this game.  I mean, REALLY!?

 
This game was capped off by a beautiful and methodical shot, pointblank, to the heart of the Vietnamese goal, courtesy of PHIL.  That's Phil Younghusband, to the uninitiated.

Potah, di ka lang guwapo, scorer ka pa pre!  Its now 2-0, in favor of PH.  And that was that.

Some observations: Many foreign-sounding names on the PH line-up - Younghusband, Greatwich, goalie Etheridge, and De Jong, who looks a lot like that character from Glee.

I guess, all those OFW's sent abroad, we are now reaping the benefits.  :-)  If we cant find sufficient locals to fill the team, then might as well look abroad.  Cool!  Basta Pinoy, ayos yan. 

I hope this is a sign of a renaissance of sorts for Philippine football.  I'm tired of reading about negative write-ups regarding the Philippine Football Federation.  They should get their acts together...and it seems they ARE!

Anyway, I'm tired of cheering for Brazil, or Germany, or whatever team in the World Cup.  Sana tayo din.  (Ok, before this sounds like an overzealous Pinoy's wishful thinking...it is just one game versus VIE...  Still, PH is on top of Group B...they tied SG with 1-1...so this maybe the real deal, folks!).
 I checked out the Suzuki Cup website, there's a nice article as well on their draw versus soccer powerhouse Singapore. Make clickie, right here.

To the boys of Simon McMenemy, take a bow.  Its a long way to go, but this is a great first step.

Go Pilipinas!

 XOXO,

GeloCim