What could be fun in studying new things and in going to school? A friend of mine once posted in his shout out that age is inevitable and that as we go old we gain knowledge. Therefore, we learn so many things here on earth as we grow old. Looking age at a good perspective for it is in knowledge we find contentment and happiness (love you Paul for this, my friend).

But some would say, "Enough about going to school". Many would surely like to have fun only and leave knowledge aside. Well, when I was still an undergraduate student I gained wisdom and had fun both at the same time. Even up to this very moment, I still love acquiring knowledge (hence I enrolled back to school) and still have some fun (I still drink and hang out with my friends) at the same time. I clearly remember moments with my friends everytime we drink. When people will get tipsy a little an argument is always brought up. Arguments about the things we have been acquiring from school; it may be about science, arts, etc. What's interesting is, everyone contributes about the topic that we are arguing about. As we savor more and more liquor, the more we talk and talk about the topic as deeper as we can get. We even find it good to study together while drinking but before doing that we should have finished reading about it before coming to the session for the arguments.

 I love the author Apuleius (a North-African) for what he wrote about knowledge and drinking: "There is a famed saying of a wise man about the pleasures of the table: 'The first wine-bowl quenches thirst, the second begets jollity, the third stirs up desire, the fourth sends mad.' But the bowls of the Muses have an opposite effect. The more you drink and the stronger the drought, the better is it for the good of your soul. The first bowl, given you by the elementary teacher, rescues you from ignorance; the second, proffered by the teacher of literature, sets you up with learning; third, brought by the rhetorician, arms you with eloquence." He himself was hungry for more and more knowlege. Yes, we got wasted everytime we drink but the knowledge we learned will never be taken from us. What we are doing is just another way of having fun while learning. It eases us to speak of the things inside our minds and loosens up everything.

As Apuleius further said, "These three draughts are enough for most men (bowl of Muses). But I have drunk other cups at Athens: the Imaginative draught of poetry, the clear one of geometry, the sweet one of music, the austere one of dialectic, and the nectar of universal philosophy, of which one can never have enough." This brought me back to what Paul posted, we can never have enough about knowledge and our brains will never get filled with things; but it is through knowledge that we will understand and will make us care and love.

Not all of us in this world is given a chance and have the priviledge to acquire knowledge we learn from school. For those who have, we should share and pass it on. The contentment of being a good student is to be a good teacher someday. We learn and understand and therefore we can teach things to anyone.

Of What the insect sounding band Name told Me...

They say that songs can mend broken hearts and souls. The Beatles tried mine. And I think they got me. I think they actually understood me so much that they got me singing along.

What You Doing

"...Would it be too much to ask you
What you're doing to me?

You got me running and there's no fun in it
Why should it be so much to ask of you
What you're doing to me?"

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

"I don't know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you"

With a Little Help with My Friends

"What do I do when my love is away?
(Does it worry you to be alone?)
How do I feel by the end of the day?
(Are you sad because you're on your own?)"

Hey Jude

"So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder"

I Don't Want to Spoil the Party

"I've had a drink or two and I don't care
There's no fun in what I do if she's not there
I wonder what went wrong I've waited far too long
I think I'll take a walk and look for her

Though tonight she's made me sad
I still love her
If I find her I'll be glad
I still love her"

Buwan ng Agham at Matematika

Ang buwan ng Setyembre ay nakalaan sa pagdidiwang ng Buwan ng Agham at Matematika. Ako at ang aking mga studyante sa kolehiyo ng sining at edukasyon ay naglaan ng iba't ibang gawain para sa nalalapit na pagdiriwang.

Sa pagnanais na maisama sa pagdiriwang ang kaalamang lokal, napag-isipan namin na gamitin ang ilang kagamitang at larong Pilipino sa iilang paligsahan.

Ang tema ng nalalapit na pagdiriwang ay "Pag-unawa sa Ekolohiyang Limbag natin Tungo sa mas Berdeng Ekonomiya". 

Sa lahat ng mga paligsahan, ang kinaabangan ng lahat ay ang Karera gamit ang Agham at Matematika. Sa larong ito gumamit kami ng mga kagamitang  Pilipino tulad ng bolang yari sa dahon ng niyog, bunot, at sago.

Ilan sa mga laro na aming sinama at inahalintulad ay ang tumbang preso at karerang kudkuran. Ang mga larong ito ay may mga mekanikang gumagamit ng Agham at Matematika. 

Ang ibang paligsahan tulad ng paggawa ng katawang palamuti ay may mekanikang dapat gumamit lamang ng mga katutubo at bagay na maari pang eresiklo. Higit sa lahat ay aking pinakaabangan ay ang paligsahang tinawag namin na "Banda Basura". Ito ay aking hinango sa nakita ko sa lakbay-aral natin sa Semarang, Indonesia. Sila ay gagawa ng tugtugin gamit lamang ang mga kagamitang binabasura na subalit maari pang pakinabangan. Kami ay maghahanda ng mga kakaning Pilipino para sa meryenda ng aming mga hurado.

Sa aming munting paraan kami ay masayang isama ang ilan sa ating lokal na kaalaman. :)

Enchanted

There arise at the horizon
The sun of today
When it sets at the west
The night stalks  for new magic
At top of the lush
Is lighted with delight
For the night is casted
With spell, and soon will be enchanted
Fairies fly...
Dancing... Singing...
The lullaby of the night
Sings for the fiest and celebration on sight.

note: From Multiply Apr. 17, 08

Your Sacrifice…

The thin air ignites a light

Magic dust seasons the night

There was once foretold

By the mistress of gold

In the golden gate, there awaits

The keeper of the white winter

Calling in a whisper.

Inviting you for a secret to uncover

To summon the creature of the tale

Who’s locked in a golden cell.

How can you resist?

Such magic and secret

Treasures untold

Surrounds the creature you are to meet

The mistress once told

Silver light of the night

Will come in sparks of bright.

Start to chant the rhymes at your might

So the keeper will hear you right.

Summon the creature with your lullaby

And hold the mistress’ buried possession

There in prison…

You’ll hear a cry

Of the awakened prisoner

Hold his hands, and set him free

Keep the gold and you will see,

The next prisoner will be me.

Note: from multiply May 21, '08

Si Manong Pawikan: Green Sea Turtle

Si Manong Pawikan, larawan ng karunungan, kalayaan at kapayapaan subalit ang tao ay sadyang marahas sa mga katulad niyang nilalang ng dagat. Ito ba ang kinagawi-an niyang paligid? Ayon sa kantang hango kay Manong Pawikan na gawa ni Joel Ayala: "Tahanan niyo ay pasan-pasan, wala ba kayong mapaglalagyan sa lupang kinagisnan?"Ang pasanin ang kanyang tahanan kung saan man siya mapadpad sa dagat ay sapat na na pabigat sa kanila. Huwag sana pa nating dagdagan.

Note:

I took the video of this Green Sea turtle just this morning at the Environmental Institute and Marine Sciences Laboratory, Silliman University after the 350 run for the Mangrove Forest. The Green Sea Turtle(Chelonia mydas) is the common English name. It is name such because its fats is colored green. It is recognized as an endangered species By International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is listed in The Philippine Red Data Book as one of the endangered species that we have here in the Philippines. This turtle has many local names but is generally called "Pawikan" in many dialects. Some names are: Talisayon/Magdarahit/Magdarait = Bicol; Bildog = Isabela, Daranawan/Wara-cara = Samar; Kutuan = Kuyo, Palawan; Pudno = Tausog and Samal; Puyukan = Mapon; Tortuga = Zamboanga and Basilan; Katuan = Zamboanga del Sur. They are solitary and migratory. The distribution of this turtle is around the Philippines. They are carnivorous when young but are exclusively vegetarian when adult. This turtle is dimorphic: when adult the male has longer tail (extending far beyond the exterior of its carapace) than the female. The sexual distinction of this species by external examination is only possible when it is adult. Courtship and mating of turtles happen near nesting sites (beaches). Their copulation usually lasts between 2 to 193 hours and is attended by several males.

Their population is threatened because of its economic importance (its meat, egg, and carapace are sold for food and crafts), wildlife trade, illegal fishing, uncontrolled predation, tourism and coastal development, ingestion of marine debris and plastic wastes.

How can we help?

1. Do not kill or injure our marine turtles.

2. Don't practice illegal fishing.

3. Do not gather their eggs and do not buy them for pets, decoration (carapace) and for food (to discourage wildlife trade and hunting).

4. Report people engaged in these illegal activities to the PCP-PAWB or to the DENR regional offices and other concerned agencies.

5. Do not litter or throw garbage in their habitat

6. If you see a turtle with metal tags/tags on the trailing edge of its front flippers, write down the serial number and species. Include also the date and place the turtle was spotted. NEVER REMOVE THE TAG! Then send the information to Pawikan Conservation Project, Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, NAPWNC, Quezon Avenue, Q.C., 1100 or in their site for more information (http://www.pawb.gov.ph/).

Let them be free in the ocean...

Season of Lent: My Fortress of Return

In this Lenten Season, I am far from my family. In my solitude I look back how it was with them. I even smile on thoughts when I never stopped asking my mother or father things about this season. I guess I was too small to comprehend the things that were happening around me back then. In this time of the year, I can't forget all the beliefs, stories, prayers, love, and unity of the people. All of these I experienced until now but may vary among us whether by intensity, by faith, by belief, or by practice. But every time, I attend processions like that of the Way of the Cross and the Santo Entero; everything is nostalgic. Memories keep on coming back. I miss home and I miss my family.

In this year's Lenten Season, I recalled some important beliefs and practices that I grew up with back from my hometown. And I guess, even here in Negros, they also practice what we do. When I was little I sometimes complain or asked my mother why can't I take a bath on Good Friday and that I have to wait for Easter Sunday to do it. She always answer me because Jesus died and that when somebody dies close to the family it is already a practice not to do the regular routine of taking a bath, combing your hair, cutting your nails, sleeping, and even sweeping the floor. We do this every time we are in a wake of somebody. I really don't know the real reason up to now but I still do it. Some would actually tell me that the reason of not doing these things is bad luck. The great catch of doing or following these beliefs just came to me this day. It is because Jesus is part of our family or in our family. So, we also do same practices during wakes of family and friends who passed away. Among the practices I experienced back then, the not taking a bathe is the hardest of them all, especially this time. The temperature is too high. Many people can't bear the heat by not taking a bath. Some would justify it by taking a bath so early in the morning of Good Friday, when the sun is still on its way up. Well, I can say that this climate change can really change even some of people's practices.

Other practices that I remember are the not wearing of red clothes and not frying or grilling any food. I am not so sure about the reason for not wearing red clothes and I don't even know why it is forbidden to do some frying and grilling. If my memory serves me right, wearing of red clothes is forbidden because it’s a form of mockery to the death of Christ. So, instead of wearing something red, wear something purple instead. As to the frying and grilling I still don't know the reason up to now. When I went to church this afternoon to attend the mass for the Seven Last Word of Jesus and for the procession of Santo Entero I saw a lot of people wearing red clothes. I guess they don't practice it anymore or they just don't know because they were not told or did not see it being practiced. As to the frying and the grilling of food, it is still a mystery to me and a lot are doing it even if it is Lenten Season here in Dumaguete. I saw people buying fried fish nuggets at the park this afternoon while waiting for the procession and worst I even bought and ate some as well. Back home, we eat rice porridge or champorado, rice cakes, and any of those kakanin that are not fried. If my mother knew, she will surely scold me for that.

The serious practices among all are the fasting and refraining from eating the usual food that we love to eat like meat. After Ash Wednesday, people refrain from eating meat and will stick to fish and vegetables. Some will actually do the strict fasting from Good Friday until the morning of Easter Sunday. This is because the body of Jesus lay in his tomb for three days before he rose again. I rarely see people do the strict fasting if there is somebody doing this, maybe because he/she is a devotee. I never completed the three day fasting myself every Lent. The great catch for this is the essence of sacrifice. Jesus made it to the cross while He was whipped, wounded, and bruised as part of the sacrifice for us to be saved. The strict fasting as a form of sacrifice cannot find equity with the struggles of Jesus in saving us, yet most of us if not all always fail to do a little sacrifice like fasting and not eating meat.  

The last one is not really a practice but an observation. Whenever Good Friday comes I am always fascinated of the fullness of the moon. I used to think before that the moon is full during Good Friday so that its light can serve as our guide against the element of evil in the dark while Jesus is dead. My mother will not permit us to go outside after six in the evening. She said creatures of the dark lurks and are just waiting for children for its victims. I was always terrified of the thought when I was a kid. Even in day time, we were not allowed to run or play outside for we might get bruised and wounded; that these will not heal fast until Easter Sunday when Jesus is alive again. After the procession this afternoon, I saw a lot of children running around and laughing. On my way home after the procession, I saw children staying at the boulevard. I guess they don't do it anymore. I found an interesting fact about full moon during Good Friday just today. Read the article. The great catch for this is that we need to stay together in our home during this season. We should pray together as a family as we remember how painful it was for Mary to see Her son hanging in the cross to save us and how much pain Jesus have to suffer just to save us. 

These were the thoughts I had while I was attending the mass of the Seven Last Word of Jesus and while I was walking with the procession for Santo Entero. The Lent Season always brings back memories, beliefs, practices, traditions, and faith. Among these, I am glad that the faith that we celebrate never ceases, never gone but is always strengthened.Recollect, reflect, repent, and refrain from sin for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit asked only a week from us to dwell on them. Let us not fail HIM for HE never failed us.

P.S. I took some pictures during the mass and the procession. Just click on this link