Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Comment allez-vous aujourd’hui?
Trés bien, merci.
Comment tu t’appelles?
Je m’appelle Benjie.
Quel est ton nom de famille?
Mon nom de famille est Alistado.
Où habitez-vous?
J’habite dans un petit village dans le Limbourg en Belgique avec mon epoux et mes beaux parents.
De quel pays viens-tu?
Je viens des Philippines.
Es-tu mariée?
Oui, je suis mariée avec un belge. Son nom est Benoit Valentin.
Quelle est ta nationalité?
Je suis Philippine.
Quel âge avez-vous?
Je suis âge de trente ans.
Quand est votre jour d’anniversaire?
Mon anniversaire est le six avril.
Quel est votre lieu de naissance? Où êtes-vous née?
Je suis née en Philippines.
Quand êtes-vous arriver en Belgique?
Je suis arriver le premier septembre deux mille sept.
Depuis combien de temps habitez-vous ici?
Je vis in Belgique déja un an et demi.
Travaillez-vous? Quel est votre travail?
Non, je ne travaille pas encore. Je suis étudiante.
Qu’est-ce que vous faites en ce moment?
J’etudie le néerlandais et le français.
Pourquoi etudiez-vous ces langues?
Parce que je vis ici. Je veux trouver un travail et communiquer facilement avec d’autres personnes.
Quelle langue parles-tu?
Je parle philippin, anglais, néerlandais et un petit peu français.
Tu as une grande famille?
Non, j’ai une petite famille et mon mari aussi.
Avez-vous des frères et des soeurs?
Non, je n’ai pas des frères et des soeurs. Je suis une fille unique.
Quel est votre passé-temps?
Mes passé-temps sont: écouter à la musique, regarder les films, prendre des photos, surfer sur le internet et visiter les beaux et historiques endroits.
Qu’est-ce que vous aimez?
J’aime la glace, le chocolat et les personnes amicales.
Qu’est-ce que vous adorez?
J’adore mon mari, ma famille et mes beaux parents aussi.
Qu’est-ce que vous détéstez?
Je detéste la discrimination raciale.
Aimez-vous habiter ici en Belgique? Pourquoi?
Oui, j’aime habiter ici parce que la situation économique est meillure que dans mon pays.
Décrivez-vous!
Je suis têtue, je corresponds facilement avec d’autres gens et je suis optimiste.
Quel est le travail de ton mari?
Mon mari travaille dans une fabrique d’automobile.
Avez-vous des enfants?
Non, je n’ai pas encore des enfants.
Comment va vos rapports avec vos beaux parents?
Nous correspondons trés bien. Je m’entends bien avec eux.
Avez-vous une bonne famille ici?
Oui, tout comme ma famille aux Philippines, ma famille ici est attentive, sympathique et trés bien.
C’est tout. Merci pour l’entrevue.
Merci. Au revoir.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Nakakatawa, nakakairita, nakakaloka…ano ba!? Sumusobra ka na!
Bato bato sa langit, ang matamaan ay ‘wag magagalit dahil pare-pareho lang tayong lahat. Nagtatapunan ng kanya-kanyang baho, nagmamalinis kahit saksakan naman ng dumi ang pagkatao. Ang pinakamahirap tanggapin sa lahat ay ang katotohanan na lahat tayo ay pare pareho lamang. Hindi tungkol sa estado ng buhay ang pinag-uusapan natin dito kundi ang ating pagkatao. Mahirap tanggapin ang katotohanan na lahat tayo ay hindi perpekto. Madali nating makita ang kamalian ng iba samantalang di natin nakikita ang sarili nating kahinaan at kamalian. Sinisiraan natin ang iba, sila din ay walang ginawa kundi ang siraan tayo. Nakakahiya mang aminin, pero aminin na natin na ang mga ito ay iilan lamang sa mga nakakahiya, nakakaloka, nakakairita at minsan nakakatawang katangian nating mga Pilipino. Di natin alam kung paano tayo mag-react, kung magagalit, ma-iirita, matatawa, maloloka o hahayaan na lang ba. Huwag na nating isali ang mga di Pinoy kasi tulad natin meron din silang masasamang katangian. ‘Ika nga, tangkilikin ang sariling atin.
Mahilig tayong maki-showbiz (tsismis) sa kapitbahay at walang pinipiling lugar o oras, kung magmamayabang ay daig pa ang pinakamalakas na bagyo, nagmamagaling na akala kung sinong pinakamagaling, nagtatalino-talinuhan na ang akala sa sarili ay siya na ang pinakamatalinong tao sa mundo. Dinaig pa si Rizal at kung makapintas ay sobra sobra na parang napakaperpekto at hindi nagkakamali kainlanman, manlalamang at di nagpapalamang, at napaka selosa na nagiging crab mentality.
Isa sa mga palaging napapansing kamalian natin ay ang pagsasalita natin lalong lalo na sa Ingles. Kung magsasalita tayo ng Ingles tapos nagkamali-mali ang mga grammar at bigkas, pinipintasan kaagad tayo ng ibang mga marurunong at inglesero kuno. Meron kasing dalawang klase ng mga pintasero: ang mga inglesero kuno na malapit nang allergic sa tagalog at ang mga bobong walang alam kundi ang mamintas, di naman eksperto at marunong. Meron ding dalawang klase ng taong pinipintasan: ang mga taong alam na alam nila na di nila kaya pero trying hard na pa ingles-ingles, mali-mali naman at baluktot at ang mga taong gustong matuto kaya nagi-Ingles. Ang iba kasi sa atin ay di mapalad na nakapag-aral sa mga prestihiyosong unibersidad at paaralan sa bansa at di nagkaroon ng mahusay na guro kaya hindi masyadong nalinang ang kagalingan sa pag-Ingles. Kung patas sana tayong lahat, wala sanang namimintas at pinipintasan. Kung baluktot at mali-mali man ang Ingles ng iba sa atin, ano pa kaya ang wikang Pilipino. Tulad kong bisaya, aaminin kong di lang ang Ingles ko ang nagkakamali kundi ang wika mismo natin, nagkakamali-mali rin ako lalong lalo na ang pagbigkas, napakatigas. Kasalanan ko bang ipinanganak at lumaki akong bisaya ang salita naming gamit sa bahay at ang iba sa atin na lumaking Ingles ang wika sa bahay o kaya’y nakatira sa lugar na pinapaligiran ng mga Puti. Kaya naman di ko masisisi kung ang iba sa atin ay nagi-Ingles. Kung minsan kasi nahihirapan tayong maghanap ng wastong salita na angkop kaya ang resulta nagiging Taglish tayo. Tumataas kaagad ang kilay ng iba kasi daw ba’t magi-Ingles ,mali-mali naman. Ano bang pakialam nila kung magi-Ingles tayo. Hindi naman siguro kabawasan sa pagiging pagkamakabansa natin kung magi-Ingles tayo. Di na sana inaprubahan pa ang Bilingual Education kung saan Filipino at Ingles ang gamit natin sa paaralan. At sana kung alam natin na mahina tayo at wala tayong alam, ‘wag na kasing magpa-epal (pumapel) at magmagaling kasi katawa-tawa ang kinalalabasan. Yung mga marurunong at mga inglesero, hayaan n’yo na lang kasi ang pagkakamali ng iba kung wala rin lang naman pala kayong maitutulong. Yung iba na mga inglesero na marurunong nagiging arogante dahil nga marunong, saksakan daw ng talino. Sa Pinas kasi, kung sino ang mas magaling mag-Ingles, siya ang mas nakakalamang at may “edge” daw. Totoo naman kaya hayaan n’yo na kasi naka-Promil sila kaya gifted at lumaki silang nagi-Ingles. Kung inglesero at inglesera sana mga magulang natin at nakapag-aral tayo sa magagandang paaralan, patas sana tayong lahat ngayon. Masakit man tanggapin ang katotohanan, pero yung iba sa atin meron na sana lahat ng tsansa sa buhay, di naman nag-aral ng mabuti. Karamihan din sa atin di rin mahilig magbasa. Kaya huwag na nating pahabain pa ang debate. Kung magaling eh di magaling, kung di naman, baka kulang lang ‘yan sa effort. Di naman siguro bobo kasi naniniwala ako na walang bobo kung nag-aaral ng mabuti liban na lang kung abnormal ka na talaga at syempre kasabay din ‘yan ng oportunidad at abilidad. Kung wala ka kahit dalawa man lang n’yan kahit todo-todo pa Ingles mo, walang mangyayari sa buhay mo.
Dito sa labas ng Pinas kapansin-pansin ang stilo ng mga Pinoy na parang sistemang hierarchical. Kung sino ang nauna at kung sino ang mas matagal ay siyang nakakaalam at nakakalamang. Meron namang katotohanan ‘yan. Kumbaga subok na ng panahon. Siyempre tulad sa Pinas, dapat nating respetuhin ang mga nakakatanda. ‘Ika nga, marami ka pang kakaining bigas at dahil nandito tayo sa labas ng ating bansa kaya marami pa tayong kakaining patatas. Pero sana ‘wag masyadong mag-abuso dahil di porke’t nauna kayo rito, may karapatan na kayong maghari-harian na parang alam na alam ang lahat. Andun na nga tayo, meron namang katotohanan na ang nauna at nakakatanda ay mas maraming alam at maraming napagdaanan na kaysa sa mga sumusunod lamang. Kung ipinanganak tayong sabay-sabay at nakapag-asawa ng Puti ng sabay-sabay, pare-pareho sana tayong lahat ngayon. Pero imposible namang mangyari ‘yan. Yung mga kumbaga “neophytes” daw, makinig kayo sa mga nakakatanda at mga nauna pero yung mga nakakasirang tsismis at mga walang kwentang kwento tungkol rin sa ating mga ibang kababayang Pinoy ‘wag na tayong makisali. Kumbaga sa Bisaya, “ayaw na pag-asin diha”. Di man natin aminin pero kung minsan ay di natin maiwasan, nakikitsismis din tayo. Tipikal kasi sa mga babae ang makipagtsismis lalong lalo na kung hindi tayo busy at wala tayong gawain. Pero kung sobra na ilabas na lang sa kabilang tenga. Huwag na nating patulan at palakihin pa baka mag-aaway away lang tayo sa walang katuturang bagay. Hindi naman tayo siniswelduhan para makinig sa mga kwentong walang kwenta at para maki-tsismis. Mabuti sana kung sasahurin natin ay euro dahil isa talaga ako na mag-partime listener o di kaya’y gawin ko na lang “career” ang pakikipag-tsismisan. Buti na lang, isa lang ‘yan sa mga hobby natin at yung iba naman passion na talaga.
Tayong mga Pinoy ay hindi talaga nagpapalamang lalong lalo na sa larangan ng pagmamayabang. Kung magmayabang ay daig pa ang pinakamalakas na bagyong dumating sa Pinas. Hanggang dito sa labas dala pa rin natin. Gusto natin na palaging tayo ang bida. Ang tao nga naman, kung ipinanganak na mayabang, lalaking mayabang at tatandang mayabang. Dito sa abroad kung may mga pagtitipon tayo o nagkataon na nagkita, syempre magpakilala sa isa’t isa. Isa sa mga tanong: ano bang natapos mo? o di kaya’y: ano bang trabaho mo sa Pinas noon? Magsisimula na ang “low pressure area” kasunod n’yan bagyo na talaga. Kesyo architect daw sa Pinas, kesyo nurse, kesyo teacher, kesyo malaki ang negosyo, kesyo may doctor’s o master’s degree, kesyo tinatambakan daw sila ng napakaraming diploma at certificates… blah…blah…blah…Parang nag-rorosaryo. At hindi lang yan, meron daw silang tatlong bahay, maraming apartment, may mansion, may kotse, may driver, may yaya at kung anu-ano pang “may”. Malaki daw ang kinikita 30k, 40k malapit nang maging milyon, daig pa ang sweldo ng presidente. Malaki daw ang kita sa sideline. Parang di naapektuhan sa krisis sa Pinas. Sana gawin namang konting kapani-paniwala ang kwento para di magmumukhang tangang mayabang. Langaw lang eh nagiging elepante na. Hindi naman kasi kapani-paniwala kung ganun tayo kayaman sa Pinas, tapos nagpapakahirap tayo rito sa pag-adjust sa lifestyle nila dito sa abroad, nagtatrabaho araw at gabi, naglilinis, nagtatrabaho ng illegal, etc. Di na lang tayo pupunta rito magpakahirap kung mayaman naman pala tayo sa atin. Di ba? Pero meron naming mga kababayan natin na may kaya talaga sa buhay at ipinanganak na talagang mayaman at piniling mamuhay at manirahan sa labas ng bansa at dito na rin nagkapamilya. Pero minsan di kasi natin maintindihan ang mga ugali nating mga Pinoy. Yung mga mayayaman at may mga pinag-aralan, sila yung mga kalimitang di masyadong nagyayabang at di isinisigaw ang yaman at talino nila sa buong mundo. Ito ang mga taong may “breeding” at maayos na napalaki ng mga magulang. At kung sino naman yung di masyadong mayaman, sila naman yung napakahangin. Dinaig pa ang may-ari ng SM at PAL. ‘Di na nga kagandahan, di pa matalino, mayabang pa. Saksakan na talaga ng kapangitan. Ipinagsisigawan talaga kung gaano karami ang diploma nila, kulang na lang sasampalin tayo ng kaliwa’t kanang diploma nila. Noon yun, nung nasa Pinas pa tayo. Ngayon andito na tayo sa abroad, patas na tayo lahat kasi pare-pareho tayong magsisimula talaga sa wala. Kumbaga sa giyera, andito tayo sa “neutral ground” kaya walang talo. ‘Wag mo nang ipagmayabang ang mga “accomplishments” at “achievements” mo noon sa Pinas kasi noon pa yun. Kumbaga sa artista, noon yun na sikat ka pa, ngayon laos ka na. Sa bagay, kung pinaghirapan mo nga naman ‘yon lahat, di maiiwasang magiging proud tayo pero ‘wag namang sobrahan na parang katawa-tawa na tayo sa iba. Kung walang-wala nga naman tayo, mabuti pa’y manahimik na lang din. Hayaan na natin silang magyabang kung yan din lang ang ikabubuti ng mga pakiramdam nila. Baka magkasakit sila kung di sila makapagyabang. Yung mga walang maipagmamalaki, ‘wag nang makisali pa sa “battle of the hurricane(s)”. Kakapit ka talaga sa kinauupuan mo. Mamili ka lang kung saan ka sasali, sa “battle of the brain” o sa “battle of the brainless”. Dalawa lang yan.. Sa bagay, iilan lang naman ang mga Pinoy na tinatawag nating “complete package” na maganda/gwapo, matalino, mayaman at may pinag-aralan. Kalimitan ay ang opposite.
Sana huwag nating kalimutan kung saan tayo nanggaling dahil hindi ibig sabihin na gumanda ang ating pamumuhay at sinisuwerte tayo ay hindi na tayo papalpak pa. Huwag nating kalimutan ang mga taong tumutulong at palaging nasa likod natin sumusuporta. Meron kasi tayong kasabihan na kung gaano kataas ang lipad, kung babagsak ay napalakas ang lagapak. Wala namang masama kung mag-aambisyon tayo. ‘Ika nga nila libre daw ang ambisyon kaya hayaan na natin kung minsan mag-iilusyon man tayo. ‘Wag natin masyadong seryosohin ang mga problema, krisis at ang buhay sa kabuoan dahil nakaka-stress at nakakabaliw ‘yan. Hayaan nating panatilihin ang ating pagkamasayahin dahil dito sa abroad, karamihan sa atin malayo sa mga mahal natin sa buhay, baka mabaliw lang tayo.
Ang hirap ng iba sa atin, nakakalimutan natin kung sino tayo. Para bang langaw na nakapatong lang sa likod ng kalabaw, feeling kalabaw na rin. Di porke’t nagkaroon lang tayo ng konting suwerte ay puwede na tayong magmalaki. Paano kung sasablay at babaliktad ang mundo? Minsan ilagay din natin ang sarili natin sa kalagayan ng iba kung sasaya o lulungkot ba ang buhay, kung dadanasin din ba natin ang dinanas nila, kung ganun din ba tayo ka malas o ka-suwerte, kung gaano kasaya ang buhay natin ngayon at lalo pa bang sasaya o kung malungkot ay lalo pa ba tayong lulungkot kung nasa kalagayan tayo nila. Huwag nating ikumpara ang mga sarili natin sa iba. Yung iba wala lang ibang mapiling pagkumparahin. Kalimitan ay ikinukumpara natin ang sarili doon sa mga taong alam natin na mas nakakalamang tayo. Yun kasi ang kaya nating gawin. Kung sa sabong, hindi patas ang laban. ‘Di ba nakakatawa ikumpara ang kakayanan ng tandang sa sisiw? Hinding-hindi kailanman tayo magkapareha ng kakayahan, abilidad, talino at kapasidad. Kung ano tayo ngayon at kung saan man tayo ngayon ay dahil ‘yan sa ating sariling kakayanan at pag-iisip at di porke’t marami tayong natapos, marami tayong awards, kaliwa’t kanan ang mga diploma at certificates at kahit pa ilang masters’, doctors’ degree pang natapos di ibig sabihin ‘nun na mas matalino at nakakalamang ka sa iba. Papel at mga parangal lang ‘yan. Ang buhay ay realidad at di lang basta-bastang papel at parangal. Tandaan natin na may mga taong magaling lang sa “theory” pero sa “practice” bobo naman, meron ding baliktad.
Iba sa atin ay napaka-selosa at napaka-insecure na nagiging dahilan sa isa sa pinakamasamang mentalidad na tinatawag nating “crab mentality”. Kung sino ang mas nakakaangat, pagtutulungan kaagad hilahin pababa. Bakit ba napakahirap na maging masaya sa tagumpay ng iba? Dahil nagseselos, dahil na-iinsecure sa tagumpay ng iba, dahil hindi matanggap ang katotohanan na meron pa palang iba na mas nakakalamang, mas matalino, mas maabilidad, mas magaling, mas maganda/gwapo pa kaysa sa ‘yo. Hindi ka ba masaya sa tagumpay ng kapwa mo Pinoy? Ba’t di tayo makipag-kompitensya ng patas. Tanggapin ang katotohanan na magkaiba ang abilidad, katauhan at pag-iisip natin. Tayo-tayo rin lang ang nagsisiraan. Buti sana kung uunlad ang mga buhay-buhay natin kung iiral ang “crab mentality” natin. Iisa lang naman ang gusto natin sa buhay, ang guminhawa kahit paano pero iba-iba nga lang ang mga paraan na gamit natin. Kaya bakit ba natin pagkumparahin ang mga sarili natin pagdating sa abilidad at pag-iisip? Kung ano mang paraan ang ginawa natin para makamit ang gusto natin sa buhay, ay wala nang pakialam ang iba dahil hindi naman sila ang nagpapalamon sa atin liban na lang kung natapakan natin ang pagkatao nila. Ang kinalalabasan at tagumpay natin ay depende sa oras at pagod na ibinuhos natin sa isang bagay. Tayong mga Pinoy ay may maraming mga kaaya-aya at magagandang ugali pero pag lumabas din ang ating mga di kagandahang mga ugali… nakakatawa, nakakairita, nakakaloka…tama na nga!...ano ba!? sumusobra ka na ha!
Mahilig tayong maki-showbiz (tsismis) sa kapitbahay at walang pinipiling lugar o oras, kung magmamayabang ay daig pa ang pinakamalakas na bagyo, nagmamagaling na akala kung sinong pinakamagaling, nagtatalino-talinuhan na ang akala sa sarili ay siya na ang pinakamatalinong tao sa mundo. Dinaig pa si Rizal at kung makapintas ay sobra sobra na parang napakaperpekto at hindi nagkakamali kainlanman, manlalamang at di nagpapalamang, at napaka selosa na nagiging crab mentality.
Isa sa mga palaging napapansing kamalian natin ay ang pagsasalita natin lalong lalo na sa Ingles. Kung magsasalita tayo ng Ingles tapos nagkamali-mali ang mga grammar at bigkas, pinipintasan kaagad tayo ng ibang mga marurunong at inglesero kuno. Meron kasing dalawang klase ng mga pintasero: ang mga inglesero kuno na malapit nang allergic sa tagalog at ang mga bobong walang alam kundi ang mamintas, di naman eksperto at marunong. Meron ding dalawang klase ng taong pinipintasan: ang mga taong alam na alam nila na di nila kaya pero trying hard na pa ingles-ingles, mali-mali naman at baluktot at ang mga taong gustong matuto kaya nagi-Ingles. Ang iba kasi sa atin ay di mapalad na nakapag-aral sa mga prestihiyosong unibersidad at paaralan sa bansa at di nagkaroon ng mahusay na guro kaya hindi masyadong nalinang ang kagalingan sa pag-Ingles. Kung patas sana tayong lahat, wala sanang namimintas at pinipintasan. Kung baluktot at mali-mali man ang Ingles ng iba sa atin, ano pa kaya ang wikang Pilipino. Tulad kong bisaya, aaminin kong di lang ang Ingles ko ang nagkakamali kundi ang wika mismo natin, nagkakamali-mali rin ako lalong lalo na ang pagbigkas, napakatigas. Kasalanan ko bang ipinanganak at lumaki akong bisaya ang salita naming gamit sa bahay at ang iba sa atin na lumaking Ingles ang wika sa bahay o kaya’y nakatira sa lugar na pinapaligiran ng mga Puti. Kaya naman di ko masisisi kung ang iba sa atin ay nagi-Ingles. Kung minsan kasi nahihirapan tayong maghanap ng wastong salita na angkop kaya ang resulta nagiging Taglish tayo. Tumataas kaagad ang kilay ng iba kasi daw ba’t magi-Ingles ,mali-mali naman. Ano bang pakialam nila kung magi-Ingles tayo. Hindi naman siguro kabawasan sa pagiging pagkamakabansa natin kung magi-Ingles tayo. Di na sana inaprubahan pa ang Bilingual Education kung saan Filipino at Ingles ang gamit natin sa paaralan. At sana kung alam natin na mahina tayo at wala tayong alam, ‘wag na kasing magpa-epal (pumapel) at magmagaling kasi katawa-tawa ang kinalalabasan. Yung mga marurunong at mga inglesero, hayaan n’yo na lang kasi ang pagkakamali ng iba kung wala rin lang naman pala kayong maitutulong. Yung iba na mga inglesero na marurunong nagiging arogante dahil nga marunong, saksakan daw ng talino. Sa Pinas kasi, kung sino ang mas magaling mag-Ingles, siya ang mas nakakalamang at may “edge” daw. Totoo naman kaya hayaan n’yo na kasi naka-Promil sila kaya gifted at lumaki silang nagi-Ingles. Kung inglesero at inglesera sana mga magulang natin at nakapag-aral tayo sa magagandang paaralan, patas sana tayong lahat ngayon. Masakit man tanggapin ang katotohanan, pero yung iba sa atin meron na sana lahat ng tsansa sa buhay, di naman nag-aral ng mabuti. Karamihan din sa atin di rin mahilig magbasa. Kaya huwag na nating pahabain pa ang debate. Kung magaling eh di magaling, kung di naman, baka kulang lang ‘yan sa effort. Di naman siguro bobo kasi naniniwala ako na walang bobo kung nag-aaral ng mabuti liban na lang kung abnormal ka na talaga at syempre kasabay din ‘yan ng oportunidad at abilidad. Kung wala ka kahit dalawa man lang n’yan kahit todo-todo pa Ingles mo, walang mangyayari sa buhay mo.
Dito sa labas ng Pinas kapansin-pansin ang stilo ng mga Pinoy na parang sistemang hierarchical. Kung sino ang nauna at kung sino ang mas matagal ay siyang nakakaalam at nakakalamang. Meron namang katotohanan ‘yan. Kumbaga subok na ng panahon. Siyempre tulad sa Pinas, dapat nating respetuhin ang mga nakakatanda. ‘Ika nga, marami ka pang kakaining bigas at dahil nandito tayo sa labas ng ating bansa kaya marami pa tayong kakaining patatas. Pero sana ‘wag masyadong mag-abuso dahil di porke’t nauna kayo rito, may karapatan na kayong maghari-harian na parang alam na alam ang lahat. Andun na nga tayo, meron namang katotohanan na ang nauna at nakakatanda ay mas maraming alam at maraming napagdaanan na kaysa sa mga sumusunod lamang. Kung ipinanganak tayong sabay-sabay at nakapag-asawa ng Puti ng sabay-sabay, pare-pareho sana tayong lahat ngayon. Pero imposible namang mangyari ‘yan. Yung mga kumbaga “neophytes” daw, makinig kayo sa mga nakakatanda at mga nauna pero yung mga nakakasirang tsismis at mga walang kwentang kwento tungkol rin sa ating mga ibang kababayang Pinoy ‘wag na tayong makisali. Kumbaga sa Bisaya, “ayaw na pag-asin diha”. Di man natin aminin pero kung minsan ay di natin maiwasan, nakikitsismis din tayo. Tipikal kasi sa mga babae ang makipagtsismis lalong lalo na kung hindi tayo busy at wala tayong gawain. Pero kung sobra na ilabas na lang sa kabilang tenga. Huwag na nating patulan at palakihin pa baka mag-aaway away lang tayo sa walang katuturang bagay. Hindi naman tayo siniswelduhan para makinig sa mga kwentong walang kwenta at para maki-tsismis. Mabuti sana kung sasahurin natin ay euro dahil isa talaga ako na mag-partime listener o di kaya’y gawin ko na lang “career” ang pakikipag-tsismisan. Buti na lang, isa lang ‘yan sa mga hobby natin at yung iba naman passion na talaga.
Tayong mga Pinoy ay hindi talaga nagpapalamang lalong lalo na sa larangan ng pagmamayabang. Kung magmayabang ay daig pa ang pinakamalakas na bagyong dumating sa Pinas. Hanggang dito sa labas dala pa rin natin. Gusto natin na palaging tayo ang bida. Ang tao nga naman, kung ipinanganak na mayabang, lalaking mayabang at tatandang mayabang. Dito sa abroad kung may mga pagtitipon tayo o nagkataon na nagkita, syempre magpakilala sa isa’t isa. Isa sa mga tanong: ano bang natapos mo? o di kaya’y: ano bang trabaho mo sa Pinas noon? Magsisimula na ang “low pressure area” kasunod n’yan bagyo na talaga. Kesyo architect daw sa Pinas, kesyo nurse, kesyo teacher, kesyo malaki ang negosyo, kesyo may doctor’s o master’s degree, kesyo tinatambakan daw sila ng napakaraming diploma at certificates… blah…blah…blah…Parang nag-rorosaryo. At hindi lang yan, meron daw silang tatlong bahay, maraming apartment, may mansion, may kotse, may driver, may yaya at kung anu-ano pang “may”. Malaki daw ang kinikita 30k, 40k malapit nang maging milyon, daig pa ang sweldo ng presidente. Malaki daw ang kita sa sideline. Parang di naapektuhan sa krisis sa Pinas. Sana gawin namang konting kapani-paniwala ang kwento para di magmumukhang tangang mayabang. Langaw lang eh nagiging elepante na. Hindi naman kasi kapani-paniwala kung ganun tayo kayaman sa Pinas, tapos nagpapakahirap tayo rito sa pag-adjust sa lifestyle nila dito sa abroad, nagtatrabaho araw at gabi, naglilinis, nagtatrabaho ng illegal, etc. Di na lang tayo pupunta rito magpakahirap kung mayaman naman pala tayo sa atin. Di ba? Pero meron naming mga kababayan natin na may kaya talaga sa buhay at ipinanganak na talagang mayaman at piniling mamuhay at manirahan sa labas ng bansa at dito na rin nagkapamilya. Pero minsan di kasi natin maintindihan ang mga ugali nating mga Pinoy. Yung mga mayayaman at may mga pinag-aralan, sila yung mga kalimitang di masyadong nagyayabang at di isinisigaw ang yaman at talino nila sa buong mundo. Ito ang mga taong may “breeding” at maayos na napalaki ng mga magulang. At kung sino naman yung di masyadong mayaman, sila naman yung napakahangin. Dinaig pa ang may-ari ng SM at PAL. ‘Di na nga kagandahan, di pa matalino, mayabang pa. Saksakan na talaga ng kapangitan. Ipinagsisigawan talaga kung gaano karami ang diploma nila, kulang na lang sasampalin tayo ng kaliwa’t kanang diploma nila. Noon yun, nung nasa Pinas pa tayo. Ngayon andito na tayo sa abroad, patas na tayo lahat kasi pare-pareho tayong magsisimula talaga sa wala. Kumbaga sa giyera, andito tayo sa “neutral ground” kaya walang talo. ‘Wag mo nang ipagmayabang ang mga “accomplishments” at “achievements” mo noon sa Pinas kasi noon pa yun. Kumbaga sa artista, noon yun na sikat ka pa, ngayon laos ka na. Sa bagay, kung pinaghirapan mo nga naman ‘yon lahat, di maiiwasang magiging proud tayo pero ‘wag namang sobrahan na parang katawa-tawa na tayo sa iba. Kung walang-wala nga naman tayo, mabuti pa’y manahimik na lang din. Hayaan na natin silang magyabang kung yan din lang ang ikabubuti ng mga pakiramdam nila. Baka magkasakit sila kung di sila makapagyabang. Yung mga walang maipagmamalaki, ‘wag nang makisali pa sa “battle of the hurricane(s)”. Kakapit ka talaga sa kinauupuan mo. Mamili ka lang kung saan ka sasali, sa “battle of the brain” o sa “battle of the brainless”. Dalawa lang yan.. Sa bagay, iilan lang naman ang mga Pinoy na tinatawag nating “complete package” na maganda/gwapo, matalino, mayaman at may pinag-aralan. Kalimitan ay ang opposite.
Sana huwag nating kalimutan kung saan tayo nanggaling dahil hindi ibig sabihin na gumanda ang ating pamumuhay at sinisuwerte tayo ay hindi na tayo papalpak pa. Huwag nating kalimutan ang mga taong tumutulong at palaging nasa likod natin sumusuporta. Meron kasi tayong kasabihan na kung gaano kataas ang lipad, kung babagsak ay napalakas ang lagapak. Wala namang masama kung mag-aambisyon tayo. ‘Ika nga nila libre daw ang ambisyon kaya hayaan na natin kung minsan mag-iilusyon man tayo. ‘Wag natin masyadong seryosohin ang mga problema, krisis at ang buhay sa kabuoan dahil nakaka-stress at nakakabaliw ‘yan. Hayaan nating panatilihin ang ating pagkamasayahin dahil dito sa abroad, karamihan sa atin malayo sa mga mahal natin sa buhay, baka mabaliw lang tayo.
Ang hirap ng iba sa atin, nakakalimutan natin kung sino tayo. Para bang langaw na nakapatong lang sa likod ng kalabaw, feeling kalabaw na rin. Di porke’t nagkaroon lang tayo ng konting suwerte ay puwede na tayong magmalaki. Paano kung sasablay at babaliktad ang mundo? Minsan ilagay din natin ang sarili natin sa kalagayan ng iba kung sasaya o lulungkot ba ang buhay, kung dadanasin din ba natin ang dinanas nila, kung ganun din ba tayo ka malas o ka-suwerte, kung gaano kasaya ang buhay natin ngayon at lalo pa bang sasaya o kung malungkot ay lalo pa ba tayong lulungkot kung nasa kalagayan tayo nila. Huwag nating ikumpara ang mga sarili natin sa iba. Yung iba wala lang ibang mapiling pagkumparahin. Kalimitan ay ikinukumpara natin ang sarili doon sa mga taong alam natin na mas nakakalamang tayo. Yun kasi ang kaya nating gawin. Kung sa sabong, hindi patas ang laban. ‘Di ba nakakatawa ikumpara ang kakayanan ng tandang sa sisiw? Hinding-hindi kailanman tayo magkapareha ng kakayahan, abilidad, talino at kapasidad. Kung ano tayo ngayon at kung saan man tayo ngayon ay dahil ‘yan sa ating sariling kakayanan at pag-iisip at di porke’t marami tayong natapos, marami tayong awards, kaliwa’t kanan ang mga diploma at certificates at kahit pa ilang masters’, doctors’ degree pang natapos di ibig sabihin ‘nun na mas matalino at nakakalamang ka sa iba. Papel at mga parangal lang ‘yan. Ang buhay ay realidad at di lang basta-bastang papel at parangal. Tandaan natin na may mga taong magaling lang sa “theory” pero sa “practice” bobo naman, meron ding baliktad.
Iba sa atin ay napaka-selosa at napaka-insecure na nagiging dahilan sa isa sa pinakamasamang mentalidad na tinatawag nating “crab mentality”. Kung sino ang mas nakakaangat, pagtutulungan kaagad hilahin pababa. Bakit ba napakahirap na maging masaya sa tagumpay ng iba? Dahil nagseselos, dahil na-iinsecure sa tagumpay ng iba, dahil hindi matanggap ang katotohanan na meron pa palang iba na mas nakakalamang, mas matalino, mas maabilidad, mas magaling, mas maganda/gwapo pa kaysa sa ‘yo. Hindi ka ba masaya sa tagumpay ng kapwa mo Pinoy? Ba’t di tayo makipag-kompitensya ng patas. Tanggapin ang katotohanan na magkaiba ang abilidad, katauhan at pag-iisip natin. Tayo-tayo rin lang ang nagsisiraan. Buti sana kung uunlad ang mga buhay-buhay natin kung iiral ang “crab mentality” natin. Iisa lang naman ang gusto natin sa buhay, ang guminhawa kahit paano pero iba-iba nga lang ang mga paraan na gamit natin. Kaya bakit ba natin pagkumparahin ang mga sarili natin pagdating sa abilidad at pag-iisip? Kung ano mang paraan ang ginawa natin para makamit ang gusto natin sa buhay, ay wala nang pakialam ang iba dahil hindi naman sila ang nagpapalamon sa atin liban na lang kung natapakan natin ang pagkatao nila. Ang kinalalabasan at tagumpay natin ay depende sa oras at pagod na ibinuhos natin sa isang bagay. Tayong mga Pinoy ay may maraming mga kaaya-aya at magagandang ugali pero pag lumabas din ang ating mga di kagandahang mga ugali… nakakatawa, nakakairita, nakakaloka…tama na nga!...ano ba!? sumusobra ka na ha!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Een Brief Voor Onze Leerkracht
Je bent een van de belangrijkste mensen die achter ons staan en die ons echt geholpen hebben. Je hebt ons welbeschouwd als belangrijke familieleden. Feitelijk hebt je meer tijd besteed aan ons dan aan je echte familie omdat je bijna de hele dag bij ons bent gebleven.
Om eerlijk te zijn, je bent niet alleen een goede, lieve en toegewijde leerkracht maar je bent een bijzondere en uitzonderlijke persoon die altijd glimlacht en die elke dag op school een positieve sfeer brengt. Zoals normale mens voel je soms misschien slecht, ziek of geen zin om aan ons les te geven maar toch komt je elke dag naar school en daardoor voelen we ons speciaal.
Elke niveau met je is misschien te kort maar de herinneringen die wij allemaal samen gedeeld hebben en de dingen die wij van je geleerd hebben, blijven met ons voor altijd. Je bent niet een gewone leerkracht maar ook een goede vriend(in) van ons allemaal. Je bent soms een consulent(e) of een raadgever of een vertrouweling. Zonder jou praten wij misschien nu nog geen Nederlands en hebben wij misschien veel moeilijkheden om werk te vinden en om ons in deze maatschappij aan te passen.
Je past je gemakkelijk aan aan ons en je komt goed overeen met ons ondanks onze verschillende eigenschappen, overtuigingen en buien. Je hebt een echt onmetelijk geduld voor ons. Zulke eigenschappen voor een leerkracht is echt uitzonderlijk.
Je bent eigenlijk een van de miskende helden in deze wereld die elke dag veel moeite doet om ons goed Nederlands te leren spreken. Maar jammer genoeg beseffen wij dat niet altijd.
Wij bedanken je voor alles wat je voor ons gedaan hebt. Deze brief is maar alleen een kleine en eenvoudige manier om je te bedanken voor je goede daden.
Een zeer dikke en grote BEDANKT!
Om eerlijk te zijn, je bent niet alleen een goede, lieve en toegewijde leerkracht maar je bent een bijzondere en uitzonderlijke persoon die altijd glimlacht en die elke dag op school een positieve sfeer brengt. Zoals normale mens voel je soms misschien slecht, ziek of geen zin om aan ons les te geven maar toch komt je elke dag naar school en daardoor voelen we ons speciaal.
Elke niveau met je is misschien te kort maar de herinneringen die wij allemaal samen gedeeld hebben en de dingen die wij van je geleerd hebben, blijven met ons voor altijd. Je bent niet een gewone leerkracht maar ook een goede vriend(in) van ons allemaal. Je bent soms een consulent(e) of een raadgever of een vertrouweling. Zonder jou praten wij misschien nu nog geen Nederlands en hebben wij misschien veel moeilijkheden om werk te vinden en om ons in deze maatschappij aan te passen.
Je past je gemakkelijk aan aan ons en je komt goed overeen met ons ondanks onze verschillende eigenschappen, overtuigingen en buien. Je hebt een echt onmetelijk geduld voor ons. Zulke eigenschappen voor een leerkracht is echt uitzonderlijk.
Je bent eigenlijk een van de miskende helden in deze wereld die elke dag veel moeite doet om ons goed Nederlands te leren spreken. Maar jammer genoeg beseffen wij dat niet altijd.
Wij bedanken je voor alles wat je voor ons gedaan hebt. Deze brief is maar alleen een kleine en eenvoudige manier om je te bedanken voor je goede daden.
Een zeer dikke en grote BEDANKT!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Kerstfeest en Nieuwjaar in de Filippijnen
Nu is het mijn tweede Kerstmis en Nieuwjaar hier in België maar ik heb altijd heimwee in deze periode omdat onze kerstperiode in de Filippijnen helemaal anders is. Ik verlang en mis altijd de Kerstmis en het Nieuwjaar daar vooral de 24ste kerstavond en 31ste oudejaarsavond. Ik pas me goed aan aan alles hier in België behalve de kerstperiode en het Nieuwjaar. Er is geen kerstperiode en Nieuwjaar zoals bij ons.
De Filippijnen is een arm land en sommige mensen hebben bijna niks vooral in deze crisis periode maar toch blijven de mensen vrolijk en hoopvol dat alles beter gaat worden. De kerstperiode tot het Nieuwjaar is de belangrijkste tijd van het jaar voor ons Filippijnse mensen. Niet alleen omdat wij van gastronomische feesten houden maar omdat familie belangrijk is voor ons. Kerstmis is de tijd wanneer een familie samenkomt. Meestal van de Filippijnse mensen die in buitenlanden werken of wonen, komen speciaal naar de Filippijnen terug om kerstfeest en oudejaarsavond mee te vieren. Zoals andere mensen, we zijn ook materialistisch. We houden van grote en dure geschenken. Sommige mensen hebben financieel moeilijkheden maar als het kerstperiode is, gaan ze geld lenen om hen huizen kerstdecoraties te versieren, om groot familiefeest te bouwen en om cadeaus te kopen voor hun kinderen, familieleden en vrienden. Wij doen dit niet omdat wij dikke nekken zijn maar ook omdat het de belangrijkste periode van het jaar is. Elk jaar houden wij familiereünie om naaste en verre familie te ontmoeten. Niet alleen familiereünie maar ook klasreünie. Wij beschouwen onze vrienden als belangrijke leden van onze familie.
De Filippijnen is een multicultureel land. Onze gewoontes en geloven zijn beïnvloed bij de landen die ons land binnendringen en veroverd hebben. Elke kerstvond en oudejaarsavond hebben we unieke gewoontes. Misschien buitenlanders vinden ze vreemd, belachelijk en onnozel maar toch doen we deze gewoontes elk jaar.
Negen dagen voor kerstmis hebben we speciale misviering. We noemen het “Misa de Aguinaldo” of “Misa de Gallo”. Wij geloven dat iedereen die deze 9 dagen misviering kan bijwonen, is zijn wens vervuld of heeft hij goed geluk voor het volgende Nieuwjaar.
Een groot deel van de bevolking in de Filippijnen is katholiek. Er zijn ook Moslems, protestanten en andere religieuze groepen maar als het kerstperiode is, ziet men geen verschil. Men ziet eenheid. Wij zetten onze religieuze geloofsovertuigingen terzijde. Kerstmis is niet alleen voor katholieke mensen maar voor iedereen.
Voor de meeste Filippijnse mensen, kerstmis betekent feesten, drinken en veel eten. Het is de tijd voor delen met de arme mensen vooral eten en dingen.
Als het stipt 12 middernacht in de kerstavond of in de oudejaarsavond is, zorgen we dat alle familieleden thuis zijn. Dit betekent eenheid en harmonie.
In de Filippijnen als de naam van de maand met –ber eindigt, beginnen sommige mensen te versieren. Als ik vroeger in onze stad rondwandelde, voelde ik de kerstsfeer maar hier in België is kerstperiode gewoon zoals elke dag. Met ons is het bijzonder maar hier is het niks. Hier hebben ze Sinterklas. Die is bekender in België dan de kerstman daarom versieren de meeste Belgen na 6 december.
Vorige kerstavond had ik een fijne avond met mijn man en schoonouders. We hebben een gezellig eten gehad maar ik voelde me alsof er iets mis was. Het was helemaal anders.
Onze typische oudejaarsavond in de Filippijnen vooral om middernacht is lawaaierig. Niet alleen het vuurwerk afschieten maar het is ook onze gewoonte om deksels van potten tegen elkaar te slaan, om toeters te toeteren en om luid muziek te spelen. Sommige mensen rijden hun auto of moto rond de stad met blikjes achter hun hangen en andere mensen laten gewoon de motor van de auto’s of moto’s draaien. Hoe meer lawaai, hoe beter het is. Omdat we geloven dat het de boze geesten verjaagd en ons geluk en voorspoed brengt. Buitenlanders vinden ons geloof en gewoontes misschien een beetje raar maar daardoor is kerstmis voor ons vrolijker en plezieriger. Hoe gekker, hoe beter.
Misschien ben ik nog niet gewend aan het kerstfeest hier in België of misschien heb ik me nog niet helemaal aangepast maar volgens mij is de kerst en oudejaarssfeer hier koud. Ik bedoel daarmee letterlijk en figuurlijk. In de Filippijnen voelde ik de warmte van kerstmis…letterlijk en figuurlijk.
Volgende week vieren we op woensdag oudejaarsavond. Wij zullen een gezellig etentje houden. Ik weet nog niet wat ik van 2009 moet verwachten. Ik doe geen nieuwjaarsbeloften omdat ik weet dat het moeilijk is om mijn beloften na te komen. Maar ik wens dat ik en mijn familie hier en in de Filippijnen gezond en gelukkig blijven, dat ik van Nederlands zal afstuderen en ook een beetje Frans kan praten, dat ik ook mijn rijbewijs zal behalen en een goede vaste job kan vinden. Ondanks de economische crisis en wereld problemen blijf ik altijd positief denken. Ik ben altijd dankbaar dat er veel mensen zijn die achter mij staan en ik ben ook dankbaar voor de mensen die mij geholpen hebben te komen waar ik nu sta.
De Filippijnen is een arm land en sommige mensen hebben bijna niks vooral in deze crisis periode maar toch blijven de mensen vrolijk en hoopvol dat alles beter gaat worden. De kerstperiode tot het Nieuwjaar is de belangrijkste tijd van het jaar voor ons Filippijnse mensen. Niet alleen omdat wij van gastronomische feesten houden maar omdat familie belangrijk is voor ons. Kerstmis is de tijd wanneer een familie samenkomt. Meestal van de Filippijnse mensen die in buitenlanden werken of wonen, komen speciaal naar de Filippijnen terug om kerstfeest en oudejaarsavond mee te vieren. Zoals andere mensen, we zijn ook materialistisch. We houden van grote en dure geschenken. Sommige mensen hebben financieel moeilijkheden maar als het kerstperiode is, gaan ze geld lenen om hen huizen kerstdecoraties te versieren, om groot familiefeest te bouwen en om cadeaus te kopen voor hun kinderen, familieleden en vrienden. Wij doen dit niet omdat wij dikke nekken zijn maar ook omdat het de belangrijkste periode van het jaar is. Elk jaar houden wij familiereünie om naaste en verre familie te ontmoeten. Niet alleen familiereünie maar ook klasreünie. Wij beschouwen onze vrienden als belangrijke leden van onze familie.
De Filippijnen is een multicultureel land. Onze gewoontes en geloven zijn beïnvloed bij de landen die ons land binnendringen en veroverd hebben. Elke kerstvond en oudejaarsavond hebben we unieke gewoontes. Misschien buitenlanders vinden ze vreemd, belachelijk en onnozel maar toch doen we deze gewoontes elk jaar.
Negen dagen voor kerstmis hebben we speciale misviering. We noemen het “Misa de Aguinaldo” of “Misa de Gallo”. Wij geloven dat iedereen die deze 9 dagen misviering kan bijwonen, is zijn wens vervuld of heeft hij goed geluk voor het volgende Nieuwjaar.
Een groot deel van de bevolking in de Filippijnen is katholiek. Er zijn ook Moslems, protestanten en andere religieuze groepen maar als het kerstperiode is, ziet men geen verschil. Men ziet eenheid. Wij zetten onze religieuze geloofsovertuigingen terzijde. Kerstmis is niet alleen voor katholieke mensen maar voor iedereen.
Voor de meeste Filippijnse mensen, kerstmis betekent feesten, drinken en veel eten. Het is de tijd voor delen met de arme mensen vooral eten en dingen.
Als het stipt 12 middernacht in de kerstavond of in de oudejaarsavond is, zorgen we dat alle familieleden thuis zijn. Dit betekent eenheid en harmonie.
In de Filippijnen als de naam van de maand met –ber eindigt, beginnen sommige mensen te versieren. Als ik vroeger in onze stad rondwandelde, voelde ik de kerstsfeer maar hier in België is kerstperiode gewoon zoals elke dag. Met ons is het bijzonder maar hier is het niks. Hier hebben ze Sinterklas. Die is bekender in België dan de kerstman daarom versieren de meeste Belgen na 6 december.
Vorige kerstavond had ik een fijne avond met mijn man en schoonouders. We hebben een gezellig eten gehad maar ik voelde me alsof er iets mis was. Het was helemaal anders.
Onze typische oudejaarsavond in de Filippijnen vooral om middernacht is lawaaierig. Niet alleen het vuurwerk afschieten maar het is ook onze gewoonte om deksels van potten tegen elkaar te slaan, om toeters te toeteren en om luid muziek te spelen. Sommige mensen rijden hun auto of moto rond de stad met blikjes achter hun hangen en andere mensen laten gewoon de motor van de auto’s of moto’s draaien. Hoe meer lawaai, hoe beter het is. Omdat we geloven dat het de boze geesten verjaagd en ons geluk en voorspoed brengt. Buitenlanders vinden ons geloof en gewoontes misschien een beetje raar maar daardoor is kerstmis voor ons vrolijker en plezieriger. Hoe gekker, hoe beter.
Misschien ben ik nog niet gewend aan het kerstfeest hier in België of misschien heb ik me nog niet helemaal aangepast maar volgens mij is de kerst en oudejaarssfeer hier koud. Ik bedoel daarmee letterlijk en figuurlijk. In de Filippijnen voelde ik de warmte van kerstmis…letterlijk en figuurlijk.
Volgende week vieren we op woensdag oudejaarsavond. Wij zullen een gezellig etentje houden. Ik weet nog niet wat ik van 2009 moet verwachten. Ik doe geen nieuwjaarsbeloften omdat ik weet dat het moeilijk is om mijn beloften na te komen. Maar ik wens dat ik en mijn familie hier en in de Filippijnen gezond en gelukkig blijven, dat ik van Nederlands zal afstuderen en ook een beetje Frans kan praten, dat ik ook mijn rijbewijs zal behalen en een goede vaste job kan vinden. Ondanks de economische crisis en wereld problemen blijf ik altijd positief denken. Ik ben altijd dankbaar dat er veel mensen zijn die achter mij staan en ik ben ook dankbaar voor de mensen die mij geholpen hebben te komen waar ik nu sta.
Gezond en gelukkig 2009 aan iedereen!!!
SPECTRUM OF LOVE by Walter Rinder
There is a much greater motivation than simply my spoken words.
For me to love, is to commit myself, freely and without reservation. I am sincerely interested in your happiness and well being. Whatever your needs are, I will try to fulfill them and will bend in my values depending on the importance of your need. If you are lonely and need me, I will be there. If in that loneliness you need to talk, I will listen. If you need to listen, I will talk. If you need the strength of human touch, I will touch you. If you need to be held, I will hold you. I will lie naked in body with you if that be your need. If you need fulfilment of the flesh, I will give you that also, but only through my love.
I will try to be constant with you so that you will understand the core of my personality and from that understanding you can gain strength and security that I am acting as me. I may falter with my moods. I may project, at times, a strangeness that is alien to you which may bewilder or frighten you. There will be times when you question my motives. But because people are never constant and are as changeable as the seasons, I will try to build up within you a faith in my fundamental attitude and show you that my inconsistency is only for the moment and not a lasting part of me. I will show you love now. Each and every day, for each day is a lifetime. Every day we live, we learn more how to love. I will not defer my love nor neglect it, for if I wait until tomorrow, tomorrow never comes. It is like a cloud in the sky, passing by. They always do, you know!
If I give you kindness and understanding, then I will receive your faith. If I give hate and dishonesty, I will receive your distrust. If I give you fear and am afraid, you will become afraid and fear me. I will give to you what I need to receive.
The degree of love I give is determined by my own capability. My capability is determined by the environment of my past existence and my understanding of love, truth and God. My understanding is determined by my parents, friends, places I have lived and been. Each experience is fed into my mind from living.
I will give you as much love as I can. If you show me how to give more, then I will give more. I can only give as much as you need to receive or allow me to give. If you receive all I can give, then my love is endless and fulfilled. If you receive a portion (part) of my love, then I will give others the balance I am capable of giving. I must give all that I have, being what I am.
Love is universal. Love is the movement of life. I have loved a boy, a girl, my parents, art, and nature. All things in life I find beautiful. No human being or society has the right to condemn any kind of love I feel or my way of expressing it, if I am sincere; sincerity being the honest realization of myself without hurt or pain for my life or any life my life touches.
I want to become a truly loving spirit. Let my words, if I must speak, become the restoration of your soul. But when speech is silent, does a man project the great depth of his sensitivity. When I touch you, or kiss you, or hold you, I am saying a thousand words.
– Walter Rinder –
This is for my beloved husband, Ben....
(December 22, 2008)
Learning the language is exhausting
When I first came here in Belgium last year in September, I did not understand anything about the language at all and did not even know how to speak or say a single word. But looking back, with just a span of one year and two months to be exact, I think I have made a huge and amazing development in learning the Dutch language. Now, I would be able to speak, comprehend, react and listen to other people especially the native speakers of the language and even write and spell the words. I may not be able yet to talk and understand perfectly the way Belgians do, but that is understandable enough: I did not grow up here and not even born here.
I am not a linguist and did not even study as one. But since I studied teaching, I had a little knowledge about how language learning works, how grammar works, discovering and exploring the uniqueness and nuances of language. Before, I did not value too much what my teacher explained over language because that time I found it so boring. My main concern before was just only to pass my subject, to write a good lesson plan and to perform it perfectly. It was boring for me because that was just mostly studies about different theories. Everyday, we were assigned to the different topics for report. Mostly, I understand what I read and reported but some not, maybe because the content of the text was difficult to fathom or probably I needed to reread the text or I was just too preoccupied with stress from the things to remember and study for my other subjects as well. Well, that was normally the life of a student. During those times we studied about the different theories of how language is acquired and learned. We studied about the theories of great contributors and proponents of human language, learning and development especially the contributions of Noam Chumsky, Sigmund Freud, Jean Piaget, et. al.
Language is an indispensable factor in a society and without it means havoc and chaos. Learning the language in a certain place is not easy especially the grammar, sentence construction and the pronunciation of words because every language is unique and complicated. Good thing that we, Filipinos speak English as a second language and that helped me understand and learn Dutch fast. The way I learn English as my second language in the Philippines applies to the way I learn Dutch as another second language. I remember my English teacher once said that in order to learn a certain language, we should learn and acquire it as much as possible like the children do. They learn most of the things basically at home. So when a child grows in an environment where the people around him speak pure English or pure Filipino or a combination of both, then the child naturally acquires the language fast. Although English is the second language in the Philippines and is taught from the very first day I stepped in my kindergarten school, I would say that my English is not yet perfect until now and I am too far to become proficient in the language. My grammar is always not perfect and I think my vocabulary is not as wide as the writers, editors or any language genius. But at least I tried my best to correct every faulty grammar I wrote or said or every imperfect pronunciation I said. Some Filipinos cannot speak or write or even articulate our own national language, how much more the English language? It is the same here in Belgium. Some Belgians cannot speak or write and even articulate Dutch impeccably. It is the same everywhere. Americans, Australians and Britons cannot speak or write flawless English. Sometimes we prefer to communicate slang terminologies because they are “in” and you are also considered “cool” and mostly the new generation invented new words that did not yet exist in the dictionary. Language develops fast like technology (or even faster). Language is dynamic. There are so many factors to consider before someone becomes proficient and fluent in the language. Remember: Nobody is perfect.
Books, teaching materials and school activities in school for the children or students should be as much as possible based on the actual happenings and events of our daily lives where they could relate or associate and not scripted. The way we learn to communicate using our mother language should also be the same way on how we should learn to communicate on our second language. How we were taught to talk and respond since we were young using our mother language must also be the same with our second language. Based on my own observation in my school where I am studying Dutch and French, they use texts and materials based on everyday happenings and events, which is really good and effective. We do not only learn the language but also the actual application of what we have learned. What I find interesting in Dutch and French is that these two languages have different manners in addressing someone of authority, in position, a friend, a colleague or a stranger in a formal or informal way while in English, it is always the same i.e. “you”. In English, “you” is always you no matter if you speak to the president, prime minister, your friend, or a colleague while in Dutch, “u/uw” for formal and “je/jij” for informal and in French, “vous” for formal and “tu” for informal. I do not have plans to scrutinize every word, every grammar or every sentence in Dutch and French because I am not planning to become a language specialist (hehehe). I just want to learn to communicate and understand the people around me and adapt and blend to the society so that I could at least make my life easier.
I met so many foreigners who are living here for so long and yet they could hardly communicate because they are probably not willing or interested, I am. Maybe they did not realize the importance of learning the language. Some of them said that English is very important because it is the universal language and almost everybody around the world speaks English, I agree. Every language is important. The size of the country does not make their language less important. But since I am living here now, then I must learn to communicate and socialized at least. Studying the Dutch language here is cheap and almost free but I just could not understand why some foreigners refuse to take that chance to learn and just take it for granted: “It’s just language, it’s nothing…I don’t need too much of that for my job.” Right…very right!!, why should someone waste his time grabbing the best chance and opportunity? It is very time and effort-consuming, exhausting and boring. They said that why should they waste their time learning the language when in the end they could not get a better job. This is Belgium so naturally the Belgians have all the priorities. They said, for foreigners like us, we should only work in a low paying job. If we have the qualifications and capabilities, then why not compete. There is nothing wrong with a healthy competition. Well, to be honest, I have ambitions. Imagine… what would the world be without our ambitions? Nothing. I am a competitive person. It is better to try and fail than regret and lament in the end because you have not even tried anything. Well, it is our personal choice, and this is mine. Others would probably like to learn the language but they do not have the time. There are reasons why other people do not have time to go to school and learn because they must work to support their family here, children, family in the Philippines, sickly parents, supporting the nephews and nieces, brothers and sisters and even the rest of the bloodline.
I am not a linguist and did not even study as one. But since I studied teaching, I had a little knowledge about how language learning works, how grammar works, discovering and exploring the uniqueness and nuances of language. Before, I did not value too much what my teacher explained over language because that time I found it so boring. My main concern before was just only to pass my subject, to write a good lesson plan and to perform it perfectly. It was boring for me because that was just mostly studies about different theories. Everyday, we were assigned to the different topics for report. Mostly, I understand what I read and reported but some not, maybe because the content of the text was difficult to fathom or probably I needed to reread the text or I was just too preoccupied with stress from the things to remember and study for my other subjects as well. Well, that was normally the life of a student. During those times we studied about the different theories of how language is acquired and learned. We studied about the theories of great contributors and proponents of human language, learning and development especially the contributions of Noam Chumsky, Sigmund Freud, Jean Piaget, et. al.
Language is an indispensable factor in a society and without it means havoc and chaos. Learning the language in a certain place is not easy especially the grammar, sentence construction and the pronunciation of words because every language is unique and complicated. Good thing that we, Filipinos speak English as a second language and that helped me understand and learn Dutch fast. The way I learn English as my second language in the Philippines applies to the way I learn Dutch as another second language. I remember my English teacher once said that in order to learn a certain language, we should learn and acquire it as much as possible like the children do. They learn most of the things basically at home. So when a child grows in an environment where the people around him speak pure English or pure Filipino or a combination of both, then the child naturally acquires the language fast. Although English is the second language in the Philippines and is taught from the very first day I stepped in my kindergarten school, I would say that my English is not yet perfect until now and I am too far to become proficient in the language. My grammar is always not perfect and I think my vocabulary is not as wide as the writers, editors or any language genius. But at least I tried my best to correct every faulty grammar I wrote or said or every imperfect pronunciation I said. Some Filipinos cannot speak or write or even articulate our own national language, how much more the English language? It is the same here in Belgium. Some Belgians cannot speak or write and even articulate Dutch impeccably. It is the same everywhere. Americans, Australians and Britons cannot speak or write flawless English. Sometimes we prefer to communicate slang terminologies because they are “in” and you are also considered “cool” and mostly the new generation invented new words that did not yet exist in the dictionary. Language develops fast like technology (or even faster). Language is dynamic. There are so many factors to consider before someone becomes proficient and fluent in the language. Remember: Nobody is perfect.
Books, teaching materials and school activities in school for the children or students should be as much as possible based on the actual happenings and events of our daily lives where they could relate or associate and not scripted. The way we learn to communicate using our mother language should also be the same way on how we should learn to communicate on our second language. How we were taught to talk and respond since we were young using our mother language must also be the same with our second language. Based on my own observation in my school where I am studying Dutch and French, they use texts and materials based on everyday happenings and events, which is really good and effective. We do not only learn the language but also the actual application of what we have learned. What I find interesting in Dutch and French is that these two languages have different manners in addressing someone of authority, in position, a friend, a colleague or a stranger in a formal or informal way while in English, it is always the same i.e. “you”. In English, “you” is always you no matter if you speak to the president, prime minister, your friend, or a colleague while in Dutch, “u/uw” for formal and “je/jij” for informal and in French, “vous” for formal and “tu” for informal. I do not have plans to scrutinize every word, every grammar or every sentence in Dutch and French because I am not planning to become a language specialist (hehehe). I just want to learn to communicate and understand the people around me and adapt and blend to the society so that I could at least make my life easier.
I met so many foreigners who are living here for so long and yet they could hardly communicate because they are probably not willing or interested, I am. Maybe they did not realize the importance of learning the language. Some of them said that English is very important because it is the universal language and almost everybody around the world speaks English, I agree. Every language is important. The size of the country does not make their language less important. But since I am living here now, then I must learn to communicate and socialized at least. Studying the Dutch language here is cheap and almost free but I just could not understand why some foreigners refuse to take that chance to learn and just take it for granted: “It’s just language, it’s nothing…I don’t need too much of that for my job.” Right…very right!!, why should someone waste his time grabbing the best chance and opportunity? It is very time and effort-consuming, exhausting and boring. They said that why should they waste their time learning the language when in the end they could not get a better job. This is Belgium so naturally the Belgians have all the priorities. They said, for foreigners like us, we should only work in a low paying job. If we have the qualifications and capabilities, then why not compete. There is nothing wrong with a healthy competition. Well, to be honest, I have ambitions. Imagine… what would the world be without our ambitions? Nothing. I am a competitive person. It is better to try and fail than regret and lament in the end because you have not even tried anything. Well, it is our personal choice, and this is mine. Others would probably like to learn the language but they do not have the time. There are reasons why other people do not have time to go to school and learn because they must work to support their family here, children, family in the Philippines, sickly parents, supporting the nephews and nieces, brothers and sisters and even the rest of the bloodline.
Anyway, now I am still studying Dutch and in first level in French language. I did not study the language like linguists do but I study these languages to be able integrate and blend to the society and of course, find a decent job here. My first three months here were not so simple since my in laws do not speak and cannot understand English. Sometimes I find it so annoying when I tried to explain something but I cannot express it in Dutch. But everyday actual communicating using the Dutch language at home and in school makes me better although my vocabulary is not yet wide enough to compete with the native speakers of the Dutch language and not yet good enough to start a conversation in a formal or informal situation or not too good to write a formal letter or cv for job hunting. But I am always thankful that I live in a surrounding where I get the chance to speak, listen, write and hear everyday Dutch. The more I actually practice and apply the language at home and in school the faster I learn and acquire it just like children do. I may like it or not, I have to communicate in Dutch everyday because I live in an environment where people hardly speak and understand English. I am not degrading anyone but I find it beneficial in my part. The only thing that is difficult for me to grasp most of the time is when they start talking in dialect but I did not plan to learn the dialect anymore since I am aiming to learn the formal language. It feels great knowing that I could speak and understand other language than just my mother language.
(November 21, 2008)
HADUOL NA SAB ANG PASKO
Bre na sab…Sa kaniadtong naa pako sa Pilipinas, basta –bre na ang katapusan sa ngan sa bulan, haduol na gayud ang Pasko. Ang among mga silingan mag iyahay na dayun ug putol ug kahoy para himuong krismastre. Ang uban pinintalan ug puti, ang uban hiktan ug gasikit nga silopin ug ang uban sad papilitan ug papel hapon. Ang uban magpabitay dayun ug parol, naa sad uban magpasiga ug seres. Ang mga adunahan, nindot kaayo ug dayan-dayan kay ang ilang krismastre plastik man, mahalon gayud, dayun sangko sa kisame, gilibutan ug mga dagkong regalo. Ang mga pobre sad, pinobre sad nga dayan-dayan, gagmay lang ang krismastre, gagmay sad ang mga regalo.
Akong mahinumduman sa kaniadtong bata pako (bata pa man gihapon ko ron, sa huna-huna), malipay gayud ko basta Pasko na kay aduna man dayun kami exchange gifts sa among tulunghaan. Tahian dayun ko ug maanindot nga bestida sa akong sastre nga inahan. Palitan sad ko sa akong amahan ug sapatos ug medyas sa Footstep kon makadawat na siya sa iyang bonus. Ang mga bata ron kay dili na mutaral ug baratuhon nga sapatos kundili ag mga mahalon gayud sama sa Adidas ug Nike. Inig sugod sa among party sauna sa Pasko, dunay sayaw duna sad kanta, dayun kaon, ulahi na ang pagbinayloay sa mga regalo. Sa wala pa ang party, naa kami hulbutanay sa kon kinsa among hatagan sa among regalo. Sa una ang kantidad sa among regalo kay baynte pesos pa unya butang gayud, dili pwede ang pagkaon. Dako na mana nga kantidad sauna nga panahon. Karon makalilisang na ang kantidad sa regalo sa mga kabataan kay ang mga presyo sad sa palaliton makalisang man pod. Wala man mi nakahibawo sauna kon kinsa amo hatagan kay di man ngan ang isulat sa papel nga among hulbuton. Basta among mahibaw-an nga kon baye, manita, ug kon laki, manito. Ang di nako mahikalimtan kay kada Pasko, ang kanunay nakong madawat nga regalo, puro gayud album. Sauna, sa dili pa nako abrehan akong regalo, makahibawo na gayud ko nga album kay pareha man ang gidak-on sa tanang regalo nga akong nadawat sa kaniadtong bata pako. Naa unta to’y regalo nga nalahi ang kadako, sus pastilang lipaya nako, wala usa nako abrehe kay pa-thrilling kunuhay. Gahuwat usa ko nga makauli ko sa among pinuy-anan. Sa dihang naabot nako sa amoa, gihinay-hinay nako paggisi ang putos sa akong regalo, “Sus! pastilan…Album man gihapon. Dako lang”.
Ako ug ang akong mga higala nga silingan sauna, basta –bre na gani. Magtigum nami ug taklob sa botelya sa Coke, Sprite, Kulafu, serbisa ug uban pa, kay among dukdukon, palaparon para ilansang sa lipak sa kawayan kay gamiton namo para manaygon sa kabalayan. Dayun naa sad mi lata sa Nido o Ovaltine para hapak-hapakon. Kada balay among pamaskuhan, kantang kinasingkasing gayud:
….joy to da lor, da wor is kam…let er bersing bersing…leter bing her…leter bing her, aniber aniytorsi, aniber aniytorsi…aniber, aniber aniytorsi…
Ang among mga kanta sauna puro ra mga chorus apan kinasingkasing gayud nga pagkanta. Basta tagaan mi sa tag-balay ug dos, pamati namo maayo gayud among pagkakanta. Usahay mukita mi ug dose, usahay sad diyes. Amo dayun nga bahinon. Malipay nako mabahinan ko ug dos kay ang lintoy sauna tag singko sentimos ang buok unya ang bakya tag diyes sentimos. Makapalit pako ug watusi balig piso.
Karon, kon ang mga bata mamasko sa kada balay, balibaran na tungod sa ka krisis sa panahon. Ingnun dayun nga, doy, day, sunod na lang adlaw mo balik. Ug tuod man kay mga bata pa lagi, mibalik intawon pagkasunod adlaw si dodoy ug si inday, apan balibaran gihapon, doy, day, sa sunod tuig na lang mo pamasko. Naa sad ubang bata nga ug tunulan nimo ug piso, dili na tiwasun ang kanta. Kantahan na lang dayun ta ug:
…tinkyu…tinkyu…ang iinot ninyo, tinkyu!!!…
Naa sad ubang bata nga dili mudawat ug tunulan nimo ug pan kay kwarta gayud kay ila man idula sa computer. Sa akong panahon, wala pa man nauso ang computer. Chinese garter pa man to, dakpanay, lupa-langit, shatong, tagu-anay ug tumba-lata. Karon high-tech na dula ug gamit nilang inday ug dodoy kay duna na dula sa computer, naa sab Wii, naa na sab iPod, naa sab cp kon cellphone ug uban pang nagkinaiyang modernong teknolohiya nga makapukan sa kaugmaon sa mga kabatan-onan, dili na dayun mo-skwela kay magsige na lang atubang sa computer. Makatabang man ang modernong teknolohiya para madali ang pagbuhat sa usa ka butang, apan lagi ang epekto grabe sab.
Ang panahon sa Pasko mao ang panahon sa panaghiusa ilabi na sa pamilyang Pilipino. Panahon usab sa mga tinuhuan. Basta Pasko, magluto dayun akong amahan ug pansit, kay pampataas kuno sa kinabuhi. Dili gayud ko pwede manumbalay o maglaag-laag sa among silingan nga adunay telebisyon basta hapit na ang alas dose sa kagabhion kay malihian kuno unya ko ug pagkalaagan. Basta pagtakna sa alas dose sa kagabhion, kinahanglan nga kompleto jud mi sa akong pamilya.
Karon kay dako na ug kalahian ang Pasko. Wala na kaayo manaygon kay wala na man sab magpadaygon. Kon manaygon, manginahanglan pa man ug permit. Ang mga seres nga dayan-dayan sa Pasko makasunog na man ug pinuy-anan. Ang mga kabatan-onan, dili na mudawat ug ginagmay nga kwarta kay kanang dinagko na gayud. Tungod ba kay nagka high-tech na kita ron? Tungod ba kini sa kalibutanong krisis sa ekonomiya? o tungod ba kini kay ang mga bata karon spoiled na? Kon Pasko, cellphone na ang regalo o play station o iPod.
Akong mahinumduman sa kaniadtong bata pako (bata pa man gihapon ko ron, sa huna-huna), malipay gayud ko basta Pasko na kay aduna man dayun kami exchange gifts sa among tulunghaan. Tahian dayun ko ug maanindot nga bestida sa akong sastre nga inahan. Palitan sad ko sa akong amahan ug sapatos ug medyas sa Footstep kon makadawat na siya sa iyang bonus. Ang mga bata ron kay dili na mutaral ug baratuhon nga sapatos kundili ag mga mahalon gayud sama sa Adidas ug Nike. Inig sugod sa among party sauna sa Pasko, dunay sayaw duna sad kanta, dayun kaon, ulahi na ang pagbinayloay sa mga regalo. Sa wala pa ang party, naa kami hulbutanay sa kon kinsa among hatagan sa among regalo. Sa una ang kantidad sa among regalo kay baynte pesos pa unya butang gayud, dili pwede ang pagkaon. Dako na mana nga kantidad sauna nga panahon. Karon makalilisang na ang kantidad sa regalo sa mga kabataan kay ang mga presyo sad sa palaliton makalisang man pod. Wala man mi nakahibawo sauna kon kinsa amo hatagan kay di man ngan ang isulat sa papel nga among hulbuton. Basta among mahibaw-an nga kon baye, manita, ug kon laki, manito. Ang di nako mahikalimtan kay kada Pasko, ang kanunay nakong madawat nga regalo, puro gayud album. Sauna, sa dili pa nako abrehan akong regalo, makahibawo na gayud ko nga album kay pareha man ang gidak-on sa tanang regalo nga akong nadawat sa kaniadtong bata pako. Naa unta to’y regalo nga nalahi ang kadako, sus pastilang lipaya nako, wala usa nako abrehe kay pa-thrilling kunuhay. Gahuwat usa ko nga makauli ko sa among pinuy-anan. Sa dihang naabot nako sa amoa, gihinay-hinay nako paggisi ang putos sa akong regalo, “Sus! pastilan…Album man gihapon. Dako lang”.
Ako ug ang akong mga higala nga silingan sauna, basta –bre na gani. Magtigum nami ug taklob sa botelya sa Coke, Sprite, Kulafu, serbisa ug uban pa, kay among dukdukon, palaparon para ilansang sa lipak sa kawayan kay gamiton namo para manaygon sa kabalayan. Dayun naa sad mi lata sa Nido o Ovaltine para hapak-hapakon. Kada balay among pamaskuhan, kantang kinasingkasing gayud:
….joy to da lor, da wor is kam…let er bersing bersing…leter bing her…leter bing her, aniber aniytorsi, aniber aniytorsi…aniber, aniber aniytorsi…
Ang among mga kanta sauna puro ra mga chorus apan kinasingkasing gayud nga pagkanta. Basta tagaan mi sa tag-balay ug dos, pamati namo maayo gayud among pagkakanta. Usahay mukita mi ug dose, usahay sad diyes. Amo dayun nga bahinon. Malipay nako mabahinan ko ug dos kay ang lintoy sauna tag singko sentimos ang buok unya ang bakya tag diyes sentimos. Makapalit pako ug watusi balig piso.
Karon, kon ang mga bata mamasko sa kada balay, balibaran na tungod sa ka krisis sa panahon. Ingnun dayun nga, doy, day, sunod na lang adlaw mo balik. Ug tuod man kay mga bata pa lagi, mibalik intawon pagkasunod adlaw si dodoy ug si inday, apan balibaran gihapon, doy, day, sa sunod tuig na lang mo pamasko. Naa sad ubang bata nga ug tunulan nimo ug piso, dili na tiwasun ang kanta. Kantahan na lang dayun ta ug:
…tinkyu…tinkyu…ang iinot ninyo, tinkyu!!!…
Naa sad ubang bata nga dili mudawat ug tunulan nimo ug pan kay kwarta gayud kay ila man idula sa computer. Sa akong panahon, wala pa man nauso ang computer. Chinese garter pa man to, dakpanay, lupa-langit, shatong, tagu-anay ug tumba-lata. Karon high-tech na dula ug gamit nilang inday ug dodoy kay duna na dula sa computer, naa sab Wii, naa na sab iPod, naa sab cp kon cellphone ug uban pang nagkinaiyang modernong teknolohiya nga makapukan sa kaugmaon sa mga kabatan-onan, dili na dayun mo-skwela kay magsige na lang atubang sa computer. Makatabang man ang modernong teknolohiya para madali ang pagbuhat sa usa ka butang, apan lagi ang epekto grabe sab.
Ang panahon sa Pasko mao ang panahon sa panaghiusa ilabi na sa pamilyang Pilipino. Panahon usab sa mga tinuhuan. Basta Pasko, magluto dayun akong amahan ug pansit, kay pampataas kuno sa kinabuhi. Dili gayud ko pwede manumbalay o maglaag-laag sa among silingan nga adunay telebisyon basta hapit na ang alas dose sa kagabhion kay malihian kuno unya ko ug pagkalaagan. Basta pagtakna sa alas dose sa kagabhion, kinahanglan nga kompleto jud mi sa akong pamilya.
Karon kay dako na ug kalahian ang Pasko. Wala na kaayo manaygon kay wala na man sab magpadaygon. Kon manaygon, manginahanglan pa man ug permit. Ang mga seres nga dayan-dayan sa Pasko makasunog na man ug pinuy-anan. Ang mga kabatan-onan, dili na mudawat ug ginagmay nga kwarta kay kanang dinagko na gayud. Tungod ba kay nagka high-tech na kita ron? Tungod ba kini sa kalibutanong krisis sa ekonomiya? o tungod ba kini kay ang mga bata karon spoiled na? Kon Pasko, cellphone na ang regalo o play station o iPod.
Ang espiritu sa Pasko kinahanglan magpabilin bisan sa kapit-os sa kinabuhi. Ang uban kay muingon dayun nga: Wala man mi Pasko ron kay krisis o Maot man akong Pasko ron kay mp3 ra akong nadawat, iPhone man unta to akong gusto. Ang tagaan sa regalo, mao pay mamili. Ang Pasko dili man pabonggahay ug dekorasyon ug preparasyon o padaghanay ug pamahalay ug regalo, kundili ang panaghiusa, panaghinigugmaay ug panagdait dili lang sa pamilya kundili sa tanang katawhan.
(November 19, 2008)
C’est la première fois que j’etudie le français
Je suis Benjie.
Mon nom de famille est Alistado.
Je suis une fille unique.
Mon père s’appelle Narciso et ma mère s’appelle Perla
J’habite à Hoeselt.
Je viens de Philippines.
J’ai vingt-neuf ans.
Je parle philippine, anglais, néerlandais et un petit peu français.
Je suis mariée avec un belg.
Mon mari est un fils unique.
Il s’appelle Benoit Jean-Marie.
Benoit est le-beau-fils de Narciso et Perla.
Il est un fils de Lutgarde et Jef.
Nous n’avons pas d’enfants.
Je suis la-belle-fille de Lutgarde et Jef.
Mon beau-père est Jef.
Ma belle-mère est Lutgarde.
J’ai le diplome d’institutrice, mais j’étais secretaire dans un bureau d’Avocat.
Maintenant, je ne travaille pas.
Mon mari est ouvrier dans un automobile de fabrique.
Je part tout les jours avec le bus parseque je n’ai pas mon permis de conduire.La langue français est difficile, mais je ferais de mon mieux.
(November 6, 2008)
Mon nom de famille est Alistado.
Je suis une fille unique.
Mon père s’appelle Narciso et ma mère s’appelle Perla
J’habite à Hoeselt.
Je viens de Philippines.
J’ai vingt-neuf ans.
Je parle philippine, anglais, néerlandais et un petit peu français.
Je suis mariée avec un belg.
Mon mari est un fils unique.
Il s’appelle Benoit Jean-Marie.
Benoit est le-beau-fils de Narciso et Perla.
Il est un fils de Lutgarde et Jef.
Nous n’avons pas d’enfants.
Je suis la-belle-fille de Lutgarde et Jef.
Mon beau-père est Jef.
Ma belle-mère est Lutgarde.
J’ai le diplome d’institutrice, mais j’étais secretaire dans un bureau d’Avocat.
Maintenant, je ne travaille pas.
Mon mari est ouvrier dans un automobile de fabrique.
Je part tout les jours avec le bus parseque je n’ai pas mon permis de conduire.La langue français est difficile, mais je ferais de mon mieux.
(November 6, 2008)
BEZOEK AAN HET STADSMUS EN ZOEKTOCHT IN HET CENTRUM VAN HASSELT
Vorige week bezochten de hele 2.3 Nederlandse cursisten en leerkrachten het centrum van Hasselt. Eerst gingen we naar “Het Stadsmus”, die vroeger Stedelijk Museum Stellingwerff-Waerdenhof noemde. Het museum belicht het historische, politieke en cultuurhistorische perspectief van Hasselt en haar inwoners. We hebben vragen en opdrachten gekregen waarvan we de oplossingen in het museum moesten zoeken. In de eerste zaal konden we het stadsplan van Hasselt vinden. In de zaal “Hasselt groeit” leerden we over “De Graven van Loon”, die de stad Hasselt lang geregeerd hebben zoals Arnold IV waar zijn beeld te paard nog staat op de Fruitmarkt in Hasselt. We leerden dat Hasselaars uithangborden hadden voor elk beroep zoals “De klomp” voor schoenmakers; “In den Boschwagen” voor transport en vervoer en “De helm” voor uitbaters en eigenaars van pension of hotels. Dan gingen we naar de zaal “Hasselt bidt” waarvan we een aantal mysterieuze gebeurtenissen en mirakels van Hasselt zagen, bij voorbeeld “ De dief op het hek” en “De cholera epidemie en longpest bij runderen verdwijnen”. We weten dat de Virga Jessebasiliek vroeger Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkerk noemde. In mei 1998 werd de kerk tot basiliek verheven door Paus Johannes Paulus II. Sinds 1682 wordt in de stad Hasselt de Virga Jesseprocessie of Maria-processie gehouden en de Hasselaars noemen het “het zevenste jaar” omdat het een zevenjaarlijks feest is. Dan zijn we naar de “Hasselt verdedigt” zaal gegaan. We weten dat in de Abdij van Herkenrode een speciale afdeling was die diende voor toevluchtsoord voor vluchtelingen. Het is ook het oudste burgerlijke gebouw van Hasselt dat vroeger de thuisbasis van het Elfde Linieregiment was. We hebben over Hendrik van Veldeke , die als dichter en schrijver bekend is, en andere bekende Hasselaren geleerd en ook over hun inbreng in Hasselt of in de hele Belgische geschiedenis zoals Dokter Louis Willems, ontdekker van het immuniteitsprincipe en ontwikkelaar van een eerste serum tegen longpest bij runderen; Steve Stevaert, de huidige gouverneur van Limburg; Axelle Red, zangeres, enz. In zaal “Hasselt werkt” leerden we over de industrie van vroeger in Hasselt zoals de keramiek, textiel en jenever maar nu weten we niet meer welke industrie nog in Hasselt centrum blijft.
Het tweede deel van onze opdrachten was een zoektocht in het centrum van Hasselt. We hebben ons verspreid. We gingen naar de Grote markt waar we met sommige oude Hasselaars hebben gesproken over de geschiedenis van Hasselt en ook hebben gevraagd over de historische standbeelden in het centrum zoals het standbeeld van het Borrel Mannetje en de standbeelden op een zitbank op de Grote markt. We leerden over de belangrijke kerken in het centrum: De Sint-Quintinuskathedraal en De Virga Jessebasiliek. We zijn ook in de Dorpsstraat geweest waar het standbeeld van de bekende Hasseltse dichter en schrijver, Hendrik van Veldeke staat. Eindelijk konden we van onze laatste opdracht genieten. Iedereen mocht een gratis drank naar keuze kiezen in de taverne “De Vogelzang” in de Demerstraat als we de taverne ten minste konden vinden.
(October 12, 2008)
Hirap na hirap na si Juan.
Kahit gaano kasama ng imahe ng Pilipinas sa ibang bansa, kahit saan man ako mapunta, Pilipino pa rin ako, magkapamilya at magkadugo kami ni Juan. Kasi walang Filipino channel rito sa bahay, nakikibalita ako sa internet, nakikibasa sa mga balita kung ano na ang nangyayari sa Pilipinas. Medyo matagal tagal rin na nawala ako sa Pinas. Malapit na rin akong mag-iisang taon dito sa Belgium. Napakatulin ng panahon. Wala pa ring pagbabago ang Pinas. Siguro edad lang ng mga tao ang nagbabago, pero ang gobyerno at ang ugali nating mga Pinoy, ganun pa rin. Araw-araw na binabasa ko ang balita sa internet, nakakasawa, nilalangaw at parang basura na nakalimutang itapon sa matagal na panahon, inuood na, pagbukas mo grabe at nakakasukang baho ang sasalubong sa’yo. Siguro sa ibang bansa, may kurakot din, pero di masyadong halata tulad ng sa atin. Garapalan na talaga. Para tayong ninanakawan sa harapan. At kahit kitang-kita mo na, di pa rin aamin. Ano kaya ang kahihinatnan ng Pilipinas sa hinaharap? Makaka-recover pa kaya tayo? Uunlad pa kaya ang Pilipinas? Iilan sa mga tanong na kahit kailan walang kasagutan. Minsan di maiwasang maihambing ko ang Pinas sa ibang bansa. Hanggang ngayon di ko maintindihan kung bakit tinatawag na “trapo” ang ating mga pulitiko. Kasi sa Bisaya, ang trapo, ibig sabihin panlinis, kahit marumi dahil ginamit na, nakakalinis pa rin. Pero mula noon hanggang ngayon, di ko maintindihan bakit sila tinatawag na trapo. Baka ‘kako nagkamali ng salita na ginamit, baka “dumi” at di “trapo”. Karamihan sa ating mga pulitiko at mga taong nagtatrabaho sa gobyerno ay mga dumi sa ating lipunan, pero may iba na malala na talaga, di lang dumi, kundi malalaking mantsa na sa lipunan, na kahit anong pangtanggal ng mantsa ang gagamitin mo, di pa rin mawawala. Andiyan pa rin, nakadikit. Wala naman silang nagawa sa lipunan kundi nakawan si Juan at kung meron man silang naitulong, siguro kaunti lang. Wala rin silang naitulong lalong lalo na sa mga mahihirap na tulad ni Juan. Ngayon, tumaas na ang presyo ng lahat ng ating mga pangangailangan, lalong-lalo na ang bigas at ibang pang-araw-araw nating kinakain. Pero wala naman silang ginagawa, puro tapunan lang ng baho sa isa’t-isa. Akala mo kung sinong malilinis. Ang daming eskandalo sa lipunan at karamihan na nasasangkot ay mga pulitiko o mga matataas na taong nagtatrabaho sa gobyerno, may mga pagdinig na ginagawa pero wala namang nangyayari. Di mo maintindihan kung ano na ang nangyayari ng mga nagdaan na eskandalo. Kasi bawat eskandalo ay tinatakpan ng bagong eskandalo. Nakakahiya na. Sa Pinas ang mahihirap ay lalong naghihirap at ang mga mayayaman ay lalong yumaman. Ang mga pulitiko at mga matataas na taong nagsiserbisyo sa gobyerno lang ang yumaman at kumakain ng 3 beses sa isang araw at naka cheding pa, kawawang Juan, lalo na ngayong isang kilo ng bigas ay singkwenta pesos na. Baka sa darating din na araw ay maglakad na lang si Juan kasi mataas na rin ang pamasahe. Di na kasya ang sahod ni Juan, kahit pansariling pangangailangan di mabili. Paano pa kaya ang pamilya ni Juan? Paano pa kaya ang edukasyon at pangangailangan ng limang anak ni Juan? Kawawa naman si Juan, paunti-unting pinapatay. Magtaasan man lahat ng bilihin sa ‘Pinas, ang mga pulitiko at mga matataas na tao na nasa gobyerno ay makakabili pa rin sila ng pagkain sa pang araw-araw. Kahit na aabot sa 100 pesos ang isang kilo ng bigas. Napakasarap ng buhay ng mga taong ito. Siguro di naman kalakihan ang sahod nila, pero di mo maintindihan kung saan nila kinukuha ang pera nila at nakakabili sila ng malalaking lupain, mamahaling kotse, malalaking mga bahay at mansyon, nakakapagbakasyon sa ibang bansa. Si Juan ang kawawa, kasi ang sahod niya ay di sapat at ninanakawan pa. Parang binabartolina si Juan, napakaliit, nakakatakot, napakadilim at di mo alam kung kailan ka makakalabas. Kailan pa kaya makakatikim si Juan ng kaginhawaan? Parang wala ng pagasa.
(July 20, 2008)
Vergelijkingen van mijn land met België
Toen ik hier in België eerst aankwam, zag ik onmiddellijk het verschil tussen mijn land en België… het weer, de planten, het voedsel, de huizen, de omgeving, de mensen, de taal, de tradities en de gewoontes, het dagelijkse leven, de economische en de politieke toestand in België en in de Filippijnen, opvattingen over het leven en de unieke eigenschappen en houdingen van de mensen hier en in de Filippijnen.
Het weer hier in België is helemaal anders. Omdat ik van een zonnig land kom, vind ik het weer in België verschrikkelijk. Nu is het zomer hier maar toch regent het altijd. Vroeger zag ik sneeuw alleen op de televisie…amaai!!! zo wit en mooi!!…Ik droomde altijd van een witte kerstmis. Toen ik in de Filippijnen was, wou ik eens echt sneeuw zien maar toen ik mijn eerste winter hier meemaakte, wilde ik geen sneeuw meer zien…zo afschuwelijk koud!!!… Een keer is genoeg maar dat gaat niet. Ik kan er niets aan doen. Het weer in de Filippijnen is echt goed zonnig vooral als je op het strand ligt. Er zijn plaatsen die koud zijn zoals de stad Bagiuo maar ook steden die vochtig zijn zoals mijn stad. Elk jaar bezoeken vele dodelijke en sterke tyfonen mijn land. Als het in België onweert, is het niet zo dodelijk en sterk als in mijn land.
De planten, bomen en bloemen hier zijn anders dan in de Filippijnen. Bloemen hier zijn mooi en kleurig. Bijna elk huis heeft een eigen tuin. Ik heb nog nooit ergens in de Filippijnen zo grote en mooie rozen gezien zoals hier. Alleen rijke Filippijnse mensen of mensen die eigenaar zijn van een groot stuk grond hebben een tuin voor of achter hun huis. België is geen tropisch land. De tropische producten hier zoals palm bomen, kokosnoten en tropische vruchten zijn te duur. Ik vind onze vruchten in de Filippijnen vers en echt lekker. Omdat ik nog niet aan de groenten hier gewend ben, mis ik altijd de Filippijnse groenten. Ik vind sommige Belgische gerechten lekker maar Filippijnse gerechten zijn nog lekkerder en smakelijker. Het vlees van varkens en runderen zijn hier vers en goed gecontroleerd. Maar de zee producten zoals vissen, kreeften en garnalen zijn hier meestal bevroren, duur en niet zo vers als in de Filippijnen omdat België geen eiland is.
De huizen zijn hier bijna geüniformeerd omdat ze allemaal bijna dezelfde materialen gebruiken. Misschien omdat er vier verschillende seizoenen in België zijn, moeten ze zichzelf goedbeschermen tegen de koude winter. Huizen hier hebben geen airconditioningsapparaten nodig, denk ik, maar in de Filippijnen wel. Onze huizen zijn van lichte materialen zoals houten en bamboeplanten of kokosplanten gemaakt daarom is het heel gevaarlijk voor brand.
Ik vind de omgeving hier in België schoon, proper en niet vervuild. Belgen zijn kampioen om afval te sorteren. Ze respecteren de natuur. Ze gebruiken niet veel auto’s en hun auto’s die 5 jaar oud zijn, moeten goed gecontroleerd worden. Ze fietsen graag niet alleen voor lichaamsconditie maar ook voor de natuur. Filippijnse mensen zijn tegenovergesteld van de Belgen. Filippijnse mensen sorteren geen afval en gooien overal alles weg. Huisvuil veroorzaakt verstopping in de rioleringen en als het dan hard regent, lopen de steden onder. Er zijn veel oude auto’s en fabrieken die de lucht vervuilen en alle dagen worden er veel bomen omgehakt zonder de bomen te vervangen.
Mijn Nederlandse taal is nog niet zo goed. Misschien kan ik spreken, begrijpen en schijven maar het is nog niet goed genoeg om een goede baan te vinden. Ik ben altijd fier dat ik nu al drie talen spreek en in de toekomst nog een meer hopelijk.
De economische toestand in de Filippijnen is heel slecht. Corruptie is overal. Ik beschouw het als een zware ziekte waar geen geneesmiddel voor is. Het wordt elke generatie erger en erger. Volgens mij hebben de Filippijnen geen goed vooruitzichten op de toekomst. Elk jaar zijn er duizenden afgestudeerde mensen die een vaste baan zoeken. Veel Filippijnse mensen doen iets illegaal omdat ze wanhopig zijn om in andere landen te gaan werken of te wonen want onze economie is heel slecht. Alleen de Filippijnse politicus en al rijke mensen worden rijker en rijker maar de arme mensen worden armer en armer. Er zijn veel luie mensen in de Filippijnen maar ik begrijp waarom zij lui zijn. Als jij je hele leven hard gewerkt hebt en alles duurder wordt maar je loon blijft hetzelfde, werk jij dan nog graag??? Armoede is overal in de Filippijnen. Heel lang geleden waren we een lid van “the tigers of Asia” maar onlangs zijn we niet meer lid. Als je ziek in de Filippijnen bent, ga je langzaam dood niet alleen omdat je geen geld hebt om het ziekenhuis te betalen maar ook omdat je geen eten meer kan kopen want de geneesmiddelen zijn heel duur en je krijgt geen uitkering. Er zijn wel goedkope geneesmiddelen maar die zijn niet goed want het zijn meestal namaak. De economische toestand hier in België is veel beter maar de politieke toestand hier en in mijn land zijn dezelfde, denk ik omdat we allebei een politieke crisis hebben. Ik denk dat gebeurt niet alleen hier of in mijn land maar dat is altijd normaal voor elk land en elke regering. De gezondheidsdienst hier in België is echt uitstekend. Arme Filippijnse mensen hebben bijna niets maar hier is het het tegenovergestelde want de mensen hier zijn zeer verwend met alles. Sommige Belgen die momenteel werkloos zijn, krijgen altijd een uitkering maar niet alleen de Belgen maar ook de mensen die van het buitenland komen. Volgens mij behandelt de Belgische regering iedereen goed niet zoals in de Filippijnen waar de politieke actieve mensen die de regering leiden, vullen hun eigen portemonnees en zakken.
Filippijnse mensen zijn gastvrij. Iedereen is welkom thuis wanneer je maar wilt. We zijn vriendelijk en vindingrijk. We zijn ook vrolijk ondanks armoede en behoeftigheid. Familie is heel belangrijk voor ons. Meestal wonen we samen onder een dak van oma en opa tot de kinderen en de kinderen van de kleinkinderen. Belgen zijn anders. Ze zijn ongastvrij want iedereen moet eerst een afspraak maken voor ze kunnen komen. Ik vind sommige Belgen onvriendelijk. Familie is niet belangrijk hier. Ouders gaan scheiden wanneer ze willen zonder nadenken of het goed is of niet goed is voor de kinderen. Belgen zijn ook harde werkers. Ze hebben een baksteen in hun maag. Ik schrijf dit blog volgens mijn eigen mening en opmerkingen als oefening voor de Nederlandse taal.
(July 17, 2008)
TOUGHER, THE BETTER…
I came from a poor family. My father was a security guard in a public school in our city and my mother is a dressmaker. Probably because I’m the only child, so their income was just enough for the three of us. It’s our parents’ dream to send us to a good school for a better education and to have a brighter future ahead of us. They are always willing to do everything for their children and even sacrifice just to meet both ends. Despite my parents’ low income, they were able to send me to a private catholic school. I was so lucky that I had a very good foundation. I believed that elementary school should always be the best because that is your foundation. It’s like building a house. The foundation must be strong and well-equipped with all the best materials so that no matter how strong the storm it will never be destroyed. Although our school was just a few distance from home, it was not easy for me going to school everyday especially that most of my classmates came from rich and well-to-do families. I remember that I had only 2 faded uniforms every grade level and a very old cheap worn out shoes. There were times that I didn’t have snacks or money to buy anything during break time and just stay in my seat and watched my classmates enjoying every bite. I didn’t enjoy my childhood like normal kids do. Although I am the only child, I was deprived with everything…toys, clothes, time to play, play with other kids and everything what the normal kids do and have. I had to be home early because I had house chores to do and since we didn’t have our own water, I had to go to our neighbour’s pump or well to get water and then I had to help my mother. In short, my childhood life was tough. Then I transferred to a public school where my father works. Luckily, I finished teaching course in college despite my parents’ income and the tuition fee increase. But teaching wasn’t my choice. My parents could not afford my choice. For the sake of respect, I did my best and was able to get good grades. I took the board exam for teachers just for the sake of completing what I had started. I never expected that I would pass. Despite all the tough times I went through I’ve always been thankful for it because it moulds me to be what I am right now. The way I think about doing something is influenced by my past experiences and where I am and who I am with right now, is a combination of opportunity and right timing.
(July 15, 2008)
Hoeselt: Het is er zo goed als thuis.
Lawaai…vochtig…motorvoertuigen…vervuild…kletsen…werkloze omstanders op de straat…dichtbij huizen…iedereen kent iedereen…grote vuilnisbakken op de voetpaden…hondenpoep en vuilnis…zwerfhonden en zwerfkatten…armoede…vriendelijke buren…vrolijke mensen…godsdienstig…gastvrij…dit zijn maar een paar negatieve en positieve beschrijvingen van mijn stad Dipolog in de Filippijnen.
Stil…koud…overal fietsen…proper…schoon…bijna geüniformeerde huizen…tuinen…kleurige bloemen…gelijkgeknipte planten…vuilnis sorteren…iedereen is druk bezig…mensen zijn soms vriendelijk en soms onvriendelijk vooral voor buitenlanders zoals ik…afspraken maken…verse broden…chocolade…pralines…privacy…dit zijn sommige negatieve en positieve beschrijvingen die ik opgemerkt heb toen ik in Hoeselt aankwam.
Dipolog is nog mijn thuis ondanks de negatieve dingen. Ik heb een goede en zorgzame family gehad. Ons huis was misschien niet groot en mooi maar ik voelde mij gezellig en aangenaam. We zijn geen grote familie en ook de familie van mijn man niet. Ik ben een enig kind en mijn echtgenoot ook. Toen ik samen met mijn ouders in Dipolog woonde, had ik geen vervelende momenten. We lachten altijd. Soms hadden we problemen maar zoals men gewoonlijk zegt: “c’est la vie!”
Nog anderhalve maand en dan woon ik een jaar in een dorpje in België: Hoeselt. Zoals in de Filippijnen heb ik ook een goede familie hier. Ik kom zeer goed overeen met mijn schoonouders. Het is niet gemakkelijk voor buitenlanders zoals ik om mij aan alles aan te passen vooral de taal en het weer. Ik en mijn man wonen samen met zijn ouders. Vroeger dacht ik dat het geen goed idee was. Ik was bang misschien kom ik niet overeen met hen maar van toen ik de eerste keer hier kwam, hebben we geen problemen gehad…tot nu. Mijn schoonouders spreken en begrijpen geen Engels. Mijn eerste 3 maanden waren niet altijd gemakkelijk om met hen te praten. Maar ik ben altijd dankbaar dat ze geen Engels spreken omdat ik mijzelf dwing om Nederlands te leren. Voor andere Filippijnse vrouwen die nog niet een jaar hier zijn, hebben veel meer moeilijkheden om zich aan te passen. Natuurlijk missen we onze familie in de Filippijnen maar als de mensen uit onze omgeving geen steun voor ons zijn en niet zorgzaam zijn dan word alles triestig en moeilijk. Daarom ben ik heel gelukkig en dankbaar dat ik een deel ben van mijn huidige familie. Dipolog is altijd mijn thuis maar Hoeselt is mijn tweede thuis zoals men gewoonlijk zegt: “eigen haard is goud waard, zoals het klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens.”
(July 10, 2008)
Het mooiste moment van mijn leven
Mijn eerste dag here in Belgie was het mooiste moment van mijn leven…nieuw land, nieuwe taal, nieuwe cultuur en andere mensen.Toen ik uit het vliegtuig stapte, voelde ik mij voor de eerste keer een vreemdeling. De sfeer was helemaal anders. Het was moeilijk om tegen mijn ouders vaarwel te zeggen. Het was ook moeilijk om dertien uren in het vliegtuig te zitten maar het is de moeite ruimschoots waard omdat ik hier in Belgie een goede, zorgzame en aanbiddelijke familie heb zoals mijn familie in de Filippijnen. Om naar hier in Belgie te komen en om alles te leren vooral Nederlands praten en schrijven waren voor mij de grootste stappen en uitdagingen van mijn leven. Om in een luchthaven te verdwalen was een ongelofelijke ervaring.
(July 8, 2008)
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