jun.anteola

Mahal ang bigas. Mahal ang gasolina. I still can’t get over the shock, the horror and the anger about the previous week’s tragedy at sea. Some issues at work remain unresolved…

Still, I can’t complain much.  The orthodontics training is halfway through. The old folks are enjoying their dream vacation. The “wayward” bro decided to go back to school, and has enrolled in his choice of study. The favorite nephew is a bundle of pleasant surprises and pride, day in and out. The sis-in-law’s niece/adopted little sister is unwell, but has a sure chance of recovering sooner…

Today I decided to reconcile with someone, and it’s overwhelming how this singular act seems to have opened for a flood of forgiveness over transgressions done by others too. I am at peace.

I won’t be this grateful hadn’t there been upsets and adversities earlier. And with the way things are right now, I am blessed, more than I have asked for.

Best Days  (Juice)

Am I happy - maybe not
But I never wanna lose what I got
I wouldn’t trade it for anything dear to my heart, oh no
You take the good times with the bad
How else would you know happy from sad
Sooner or later
Youre gonna have to finally look back
And you’ll look back and see
What happened in between
And you’ll appreciate
Each and every single day
*The pop of the cork
And the cling of the glasses
We toast to the future
And we drink to the past
It might not be easy
But nevertheless
These are the best days (of our lives)
Sometimes the weather can be rain
But one day it will be sunny again
Without the clouds of life
It’s just another sunny day
Repeat*
These are the times
That I will never forget
These are the best days (of our lives)
And you’ll look back and see
What happened in between
And you’ll appreciate
Each and every single day
Repeat*
It might not be easy
But nevertheless
These are the best days (of our lives)

My five-year-old nephew threw a fit tonight and all because he made one mistake over his spelling. We were waiting for someone to have dinner with and while at it, his papa played a spelling game with him and his cousins. One of them got two, the other got none right, while our Hughie got four out of five. It took him the whole time fussing about it, up until we got to the dimsum house. From the surprise at seeing him get teary-eyed because he didn’t get 100% correct, to the amusement at hearing him blame his papa for giving them a difficult word and his declaration that it was his father who couldn’t spell right, to the annoyance at all the hysteric he was making… our attempts at telling him that it is alright to make a mistake just wouldn’t calm him down - he sure got us all thinking.

After dinner, we asked him to spell the offending word again. If only to drive to him that he can learn from making mistakes. This time he got it right, and a huge smile it was that we got, and banter away he did like he didn’t get us so stressed earlier.

It leaves me wondering now how frustrating it must be for his mother (who takes care of him full time) and his teachers at prep school whenever this happens, and what they do to deal with it. Perhaps constant reassurance that it’s ok, because it may take long before he gets to understand and appreciate it.

I’ve noticed he takes offense when he doesn’t get something right the first time, too. And my suspicion is, he expects the same from others, be they his friends, or us adults with him. He doesn’t like to get back to old lessons as well. The slightest disappointment gets him wailing… sulking…

Do these sound familiar to you?

I just hope it’s a passing stage, as I can imagine how debilitating it can be to his learning. So far, so good. He’s starting kinder 2 tomorrow.

I had the chance to view ABC5’s feature of Batad: Sa Paang Palay (Benjie Garcia and Vic Acedillo Jr. , 2006)tonight and it’s a very welcome respite from the usual tv melodrama fare the family is forced to watch on weeknights. I wasn’t able to catch the very beginning of the film, and had to look for its title in the internet. Such is my admiration for it, I had to know the production details. A simple online search not only gave me that, but led me to commendable, reliable reviews as well, by Rianne Hill Soriano and Eboy Donato , to name a few.

The credible acting, beautiful scenery, apt music, its revelation of a culture largely unfamiliar, the light and simplified presentation of an otherwise complex subject matter, the uncontrived humor — all made for viewing that draws the viewer into the story of an adolescent Ag-ap, wanting to leave his village to pursue a perceived better life outside of it. If only he has a good pair of shoes. Personally, its allegory struck a cord in me, the promdi professional stuck in small city Oz.

I find it ironic that on commercial breaks, the station showed PBA adverts extolling its new and upcoming stars, who are mostly Fil-Am, judging by the accented Tagalog. I’m not a big fan of basketball, more so with PBA. I’d rather watch NBA where, for me, the real hoop action is. I have nothing against the PBA drafting “foreign” players. If they can deliver, well and good. And at least, they’re acknowledging their Philippine roots. But I’d be happier if it looks into the potentials of young Filipino men in the provinces, who dream just as high and can achieve bigger things if given the chance, the proper programs to develop them and ensure continuity. There should be, there could be, but they must be ineffective. Otherwise we won’t have to look for athletes from beyond our shores.

In saying this, I am showing partiality towards homegrown players. This, because I am thinking that imports are already better off, and have the edge of doing better in life and not just in basketball, compared to their provincial/local counterparts. I am not familiar with the backgrounds of these Fil-Ams, but having at least one foot on good old US of A is an advantage in case things don’t work out fine here in RP. The local boys only have pitiable classrooms, extended families and bogus leaders to fall back on. Correct me if I’m so wrong.

…wala lang… naisip ko lang.

I’ve been tagged by Chuck, and before I run out of bloggies to pass it to, I better do this STAT. I’ve got a few more pending. There’s one that I had promised to do by Independence Day, but other things got in the way. And then I only noticed recently (through my Incoming Links section) that Jim and Jonas had tagged me as well. I’ve answered a similar tag earlier though. There are more, but those have passed their time, I guess.

The supposed title to this is “Ten Things I Hate“, but I find the term hate too strong. Let’s just say things I don’t agree with, or least like.

FOOD: Most fresh water fish. They stink, and I don’t know why but the smell makes me feel like I’m eating either dirt or rust. Not that I’ve eaten those before. And I specially don’t like it when fish is stewed/ in broth. What’s the point? Take a fish out of the water, kill it and put it back to float? And have you tried ostrich meat? It was like eating cardboard. Curiosity got me trying carabeef before, it’s pungent. (parang hindi nag deodorant si Enteng Kalabaw)

FRUITS: Tiesa. The color, the texture, smell, the taste…. everything is wrong about it. Marang. It makes me nauseous. It is sweet, but it smells like overripe… well, fruit. While most people abhor durian, I don’t. I don’t even find the odor offensive.

VEGGIES: I used to skip the veggies, but since I had to go on a diet I’ve learned to like them. It’s an acquired taste, I suppose, but only if they’re steamed, and stir-fried. My father is Ilocano but I can never understand his appetite for dinengdeng. The soup base looks like someone washed his dirty laundry with it. I know I’m missing something when I see him savor what he makes, enough to feed six, in one sitting. I can only name a few vegetables that I haven’t learned to like… alugbati and saluyot come to mind. And that gourd they make into loofahs? (I have forgotten the local name. Patola, it is, says Antuken) The mere mention of these makes me shudder.

PEOPLE: Backstabbers. Fair weather friends. People who only think of benefiting from a relationship. A few incompetent slowpokes at city hall/ in civil service. Social climbers who have no clue over where they’re at and what they’re doing. People who disturb/invade my peace and privacy. I am not a loner, just autistic self-contained, and I value my personal space. But I’m friendly.

EVENT/SITUATION/INCIDENT: When I’m made to do things and I’m not prepared. I like to take my time looking into details. But it seems that many achievements I’m most proud of came about when I’m rushed to beat a deadline. I don’t know why.

TV SHOWS/MOVIES: I’m quoting Azrael on this, “Wowowee, just coz of the host. I firmly believe he’s a dick.” Then there’s Kokey. He/it looks like a moving piece of sh**. Deal or No Deal, because of Kris Aquino. She’s irritating when she wants the attention all to herself. I don’t know why she is hosting? Just look at the big difference between her and Edu Manzano in Pilipinas, Game KNB? Not much talent there. She just thrives on intriga, either about her or her unwilling and helpless contestants. She and Ruffa must like dinengdeng. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, because of the Oompah Loompah. I wanted to puke.

MUSIC: The cursing and profanity in rap. Country music, except for LeeAnn Rhymes (she’s cute, and I love her songs). It makes me feel like I’m in a pub, alone. So alone.

HOUSEHOLD CHORES: Everything.

THINGS AROUND THE WORLD: War, and all acts of violence. In this day and age, when man should have already learned the lessons of wars past, we’re still at it. Because some still feel supreme, as others feel threatened. Because even as the world becomes smaller, we fail to recognize that our differences should make life enriched, rather than conflicted. All forms of abuse. Drug trafficking. Third world woes.

And then there are the likes of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Be afraid. Be very afraid for our children.

THINGS ABOUT MYSELF: I procrastinate. I can get over-confident with myself, of what I can do. And then expect too much, so that when I don’t measure up, I get extremely disappointed and frustrated, losing interest altogether. That should explain why I have a lot of unfinished business in my to-do list. Also, my temper flares up when I’m overwhelmed. When I’m in such a mood, beware… I lash out if people talk to me, if not give them the look.

 

Now, the fun part. Since lately I’ve been bloghopping (and made friends with) over fellow Bisaya bloggers’ pages, I’m spreading it to them…

Tinuod nga Botbot, Geda, Radueriel, Doc Norwin, Nep, Michael, GirlfromDipolog, Chase , Carlota and Jerry. Do as you please, guys… write as is, or in Bisaya. That would be interesting.

Does it only happen to me, but it seems that when I look desperately for things, I can’t find them… only to recover them when I’m looking for something else, or nothing at all? I was deleting clutter on this computer and found stashed on drive D this article I thought I had lost when I unintentionally deleted several posts on my Live Writer. I wrote this late January, but for whatever it is worth, I’m reposting…

Every last Thursday of the month, my local dental society meets and since February is National Dental Health Month in the Philippines, focus was on activities for its kick off in a few days. This is the third year we are at it, and when previously we had only one week, we now have a whole month of observance. Whether this ploy really works remains to be seen over a long time. We need more than public awareness. There has to be working systems and sound policies which ensure that awareness translates into action. Only then can we say that we didn’t do it all in vain.

Pardon me for starting with a pessimistic note, but we Filipinos belong to the least healthy when it comes to our teeth (the whole mouth and associated structures, included), and I don’t see any improvement any time soon. I’d like to support my opinion with figures, but related data are rather outdated, if not limited. So I am basing them from observations as a private practitioner and from the occasional outreaches I am involved in. Continue reading this entry »

“But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown. ” - Carl Sagan (astronomer)

I had the chance to attend my alma mater’s Central Student Council induction last Saturday, August 11th. I am faculty adviser to the College of Dentistry’s student council anyway, and my dean asked me to go on his behalf.

Going has become a yearly habit, and nothing much has changed in the program. We were also in the same venue, ate the same food, saw the same people. It has become humdrum, dreary, uninteresting for me. The saving grace was seeing and hearing Misamis Occidental governor Leo Ocampos, who is a product of and has taught in the same school, and was my mentor during my few years as student leader. This charismatic man persuades through his outright sense of humor. He doesn’t give lengthy speeches, he just jokes. And without anyone knowing it, we’re nodding in agreement.

I couldn’t agree more with his points on being proactive, rather than reactive. Continue reading this entry »

It’s been a week since my last entry, and before I lose momentum again, I’d better post something. It’s not the lack of material to write about, for ideas come in unexpected times and places. But I couldn’t be bothered to stop and jot them down, which I often regret when my WordPress page nags me to type something… anything.

Blogging can be a demanding commitment, too. If only because readership stats taking a steady dive isn’t a pleasant thing to see. Even if I had earlier on told myself that it’s mainly for leisure, and that I can’t be pressured. I lost much opportunity for link love when I failed to join the recently concluded Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs of 2007. I got nominations from Jim and Massa P, and hadn’t procrastination set in, could have had fun at least. I can never be at par with those who won, but being in the list on its first two weeks was exciting, and being recognized by two of my most favored bloggers was gratifying.

The piled up memes, tag games and invitation posts, are another story. Getting them sure gets me worked up. But putting ideas into writing needed more push. I guess I should have paid more attention in Mrs. Andoy’s Journalism class. And Mrs. Gamotin’s S-V, S-V-O, S-V-IO-O chant shouldn’t have been boring! And maybe, I shouldn’t aim so much to impress.

Regretful and repentant, I’m back.

The title is inspired by a phrase found in a submitted article at Nakanampucha!

Care for some cake?

Well, ok, this wasn’t my birthday cake. But the idea came as an afterthought, after all of it was already gone. Right out of the blue, after quite a long hiatus, I felt the urge to write about the surprise party, the cake and the people who were with me. I was specially touched by the gesture, it made me hale and hearty enough to spring back from the slump and blog again.

I had no plan of making a fuss about turning older. In fact, I dreaded the thought of it. I was cool with being 35 last year, but 36!?! How close is that to 75!?! It felt like I have crossed the defining line between young and old. I was hoping nobody would remember, except my family, of course. My father’s birthday comes the day after mine, and as he never enjoys parties, we both are used to celebrating it in silence. I was fine about the thought that it should be over soon without anyone noticing. Continue reading this entry »

Rain.

Friends.

Smiles.

Love.

Dreams.

Sunshine.

Wind.

Joy.

BlueSky.

Tears.

Words.

Reasons.

People.

Life.

YOU.

Just counting my blessings.

A text message received from a friend this morning.

I’m off to church… 

I haven’t updated this site until now, as I’ve been kept busy by an OFW brother who was on vacation recently. (He has acquired British citizenship but works in New York, so that does qualify him as an OFW still, doesn’t it? Ang gulo!)

Distraction out, I have yet to recover and get warmed up again to blogging. But a comment from broadcast journalist Adrian Ayalin got me checking out his newer entries, and the article on naked out-of-school youth protests did strike a chord. I was in my alma mater’s student council for some time. This topic deserves a better treatment, but you’ll have to forgive if I just give a rundown of random thoughts. Forgive my title, too. My mind still lingers on the pasalubong chocolate and designer watch. Kalat.

To my knowledge, we have yet to have a Magna Carta of Students to define and guide over the issue on existence and breadth of the right to accessible education and its balance with the educational institutions’ necessary academic freedoms. Students are finding it harder to get and maintain an education, as yearly tuition fee increases by 10% may be too prohibitive for most. It could be higher for some schools, particularly private tertiary institutions as the Commission on Higher Education has suspended its own directives which limit these hikes. Schools, on their part, need to raise in order to survive and keep up with the demands of an supposedly progressive system.

Continue reading this entry »