Tapos na kami apat na linggo. Wow.
Totoo nagaaral ako conte conte, lang. Itong araw sinabi kami "Palaam na" sa host family nating. Pumunta para tanghalian sa restaurante ng mga Bahay Kubo. Masarap at "treat" nating.
Ngayon, nakatira sa campus dorms. May maraming batas dito. Hwag lumakad doon kasi nasa mga dorm na babae. Dapat kaming tahimik kasi sa taas ng mga Sisters na babae. Dapat dumating sa alas nuebe ng gabi kasi may kurfew.
Intindihan na ako kasi aking nobia, Helen gumawa AFAP sa 1999. Sa "jail" sinabi siya. Mabuting pagkakataon para mag-aral- tama!
We've finished 4 weeks already. Wow. Today we said goodbye to our host family. We went to lunch at a restaurant with many "Bahay Kubos" or nipa huts. The food was delicious. It was our treat.
Now, we are staying in the campus dorms. There are many rules here. Don't walk there because it is near the women's dorm. You all must be quiet because you are upstairs from nuns. You must arrive here by 9pm because there is a curfew.
I understood this already because my girlfriend Helen did AFAP in 1999. She said it was like "jail". A good opportunity to study- Right!
Jason
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Tula Ko
Bakit gusto mong mag-aral Filipino?
Para makipagusap sa aking Lolo, diba?
Ah, totoo ba, Filipino ka ba?
Opo nga! Pero hindi Filipino lang,
Filipino, Lebanese, and Amerikano din.
Halo, halo ang lahi ko!
Nakitira ako sa San Francisco!
Humito,
Muna kayo, hinto sa pagkat narito.
Ako guro na nais tumulong na pagpapabuti
Na klima and ng kalasugan ng tao.
Dito sa Filipinas nais kong
iparating na maaring gamiting ang mantika,
sa halip na diesel.
Para patakbuhin ang mga sasakyan.
Mabaho ang usok ng sasakyan,
ginamitan and diesel,
Samantalong
Mabango naman ang usok mula sa sasakyan,
Na ginamitan ng mantika
2nd hand lang, 2nd hand lang, 2nd hand lang
Magiging maganda ang ating kinabukasan
Kung papalitan ang pamamaraan!
Para makipagusap sa aking Lolo, diba?
Ah, totoo ba, Filipino ka ba?
Opo nga! Pero hindi Filipino lang,
Filipino, Lebanese, and Amerikano din.
Halo, halo ang lahi ko!
Nakitira ako sa San Francisco!
Humito,
Muna kayo, hinto sa pagkat narito.
Ako guro na nais tumulong na pagpapabuti
Na klima and ng kalasugan ng tao.
Dito sa Filipinas nais kong
iparating na maaring gamiting ang mantika,
sa halip na diesel.
Para patakbuhin ang mga sasakyan.
Mabaho ang usok ng sasakyan,
ginamitan and diesel,
Samantalong
Mabango naman ang usok mula sa sasakyan,
Na ginamitan ng mantika
2nd hand lang, 2nd hand lang, 2nd hand lang
Magiging maganda ang ating kinabukasan
Kung papalitan ang pamamaraan!
"Gissing Sining " National TV show - 7/6/08
Our TV appearance on ‘Gising Sining” on NBN Channel 4 did not work out well. It would have been much better to have stayed home and studied instead. We waited for 3 hours and then went on during the last 10 minutes. Our coordinators asked us to write a poem in Filipino introducing ourselves. With some help I finished mine on the bumpy back and forth bus ride to Manila. That was challenging and I’m glad I didn’t suka because of it. We went on and according to alphabetical order I went first. The host urged me to speak and I started to do my poem in Tagalog. I did about half of it and looked up to breathe and saw several camera people giving me the “cut it” signal. I paused, took a breath and stopped with at “Walang panahon, ah…Salamat Po”. I then passed the mic to the next person in our group and so it went. Everyone else got to say their names and where they were from and that was it. That was the culmination of getting the last minute poem assignment the day before and all of our preparation for our spot on national television. I was the single poet from our group. They closed the show with a wildly talented singing group that we had fun listening to in the dressing room.
That was the same day 7/6/08 that AFAP had the big story in the Manila Times.
The reporter didn’t know what to do with my vegetable oil story, although I told her about it at length. So she just left it out. Too bad I guess, but I’m learning that getting press coverage is a lot about perseverance and not relying much on the press to get your message out. I think the exposure was good for the program though.
After the TV show we went out to dinner and performed our poems for each other. That was very satisfying. I believe that the world can always send challenges, but what matters more is how I respond to those situations. “It’s not about them, it’s about us and what we do now.” I keep saying. Or another version is “ it’s not about what they do to us, it’s about how we respond to it.” After all, my reaction is the only thing I truly have control over. So, we had a poetry jam for ourselves and that was beautiful.
I did learn new words- like pamamaraan- future.
The next day we had a very long midterm that I was inadequately prepared for- usually the case given the challenge and the amount of time available to study.
There’s a uniquely Filipino way of doing things that I’m learning about. It’s about many different supervisors telling you different things and then changing their minds randomly. Hard to predict or plan with this dynamic. You’re not supposed to directly say no or confront people- especially supervisors or elders, so instead you say ok and maybe and then do something different later. It’s something I’m trying to understand, although it feels dishonest to say to people. My US bias is coming into direct conflict with the cultural norm here.
That was the same day 7/6/08 that AFAP had the big story in the Manila Times.
The reporter didn’t know what to do with my vegetable oil story, although I told her about it at length. So she just left it out. Too bad I guess, but I’m learning that getting press coverage is a lot about perseverance and not relying much on the press to get your message out. I think the exposure was good for the program though.
After the TV show we went out to dinner and performed our poems for each other. That was very satisfying. I believe that the world can always send challenges, but what matters more is how I respond to those situations. “It’s not about them, it’s about us and what we do now.” I keep saying. Or another version is “ it’s not about what they do to us, it’s about how we respond to it.” After all, my reaction is the only thing I truly have control over. So, we had a poetry jam for ourselves and that was beautiful.
I did learn new words- like pamamaraan- future.
The next day we had a very long midterm that I was inadequately prepared for- usually the case given the challenge and the amount of time available to study.
There’s a uniquely Filipino way of doing things that I’m learning about. It’s about many different supervisors telling you different things and then changing their minds randomly. Hard to predict or plan with this dynamic. You’re not supposed to directly say no or confront people- especially supervisors or elders, so instead you say ok and maybe and then do something different later. It’s something I’m trying to understand, although it feels dishonest to say to people. My US bias is coming into direct conflict with the cultural norm here.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Jeepneys
My field of interest and work in the US is transportation. The idea of how people move ourselves and our things around has a huge impact on our daily lives, our sense of and the shape of our communities, our impact in society and as well, the world. It’s the filter or lens though which I see many things.
My regular commute to De La Salle University in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines takes about 35 minutes. 5 Minutes by motorized tricycle (usually a 125 cc motorcycle with sidecar attached- 20 pesos or $.44 each way), 15 minutes by Jeepney ( 6.5 pesos or $.14 each way) and 15 minutes walking though the beautiful campus (“priceless”).
Reflection….7/7/08
I remember my first ride in a Jeepeny. I was 13 years old and visiting my Stepfather’s family in Quezon City. We took a ride in one with my Mom, sister (3 years old then) and Stepfather. The main thing that I remember are my toes curling up inside my shoes as the Jeep sped along 6 inches from another Jeepney. Quiet chaos inside my head as I battled the urge to freak out. That could sum up a lot of that trip, really. I’ve been thinking back to that trip a great deal since then. More about that later….
For now…I have an idea…
You can tell a lot about a driver by the inside of their Jeepney. Is it clean,? Can you see through the floor to the ground below? Do the seats sway when it goes over a bump. Does the driver swear as he drives? It’s been a novel experience for me to ride in them on this trip. Depending on the driver and the time of day it can be smooth experience or much the opposite. It’s a complex matrix no doubt, but in short, when I see a clean inside with a trash can for passengers, and a smooth driver who’s not out for the checkered flag in morning traffic- it’s a good day.
Two weeks back our Jeepney was rear-ended by another Jeep. It happened in slow motion with tires squeeling from the vehicle behind, as it attempted to stop. The collision was at about 3 or 4 MPH when it bumped into the back of ours. Really it was kind of exciting. Matt and I got out and walked the rest of the way to our NGO assignment that day.
Most of the time here we are travelling with others in our student group. Yesterday however, I was feeling a sore throat coming on. I think I’m one of the last ones in the group to catch it. I went home early and before the spontaneous meeting called by our director and before the birthday party of another director that we were asked to pay for. I just left and went home to rest, eat raw garlic, drink lots of water and try to get better sooner. I rode by myself and I knew it was going to be problematic. I stand out here like a German in a Speedo at the beach (in the US). The drivers regularly “forget” to give me the correct change for my student fare. This one was doing the same thing. I made it easy for him by giving him at 50 peso bill, when my fare was only 6.5 pesos. It’s just easier to give them exact change. I had a politely encourage him to give me the rest of my change, but he just gave me 50 centavos less. Already sick and with a headache, I surveyed the situation. I took a deep breath and decided that I would stop trying to get my change. It ended up being one penny that I didn’t get. Oh well. Still though I didn’t like the principle of it. Then it started to rain very hard. The rest of the passengers got off and it was just the 2 of us. Not long after that, in the pouring rain, the driver grunted something to me and pulled over on the very narrow street. I reminded him of my stop politely and he just ignored me. I got out of the jeep and walked the rest of the 2 blocks in the rain where I got a ride the rest of the way on a tricycle. At home the neighbors (same family) let me into our host stay and I collapsed onto the bed.
I haven’t seen any women drivers here yet. I saw one woman driving what looked like her family in a tricycle last week, but that’s the only one so far. I don’t know if I’ll come up with a system to assess the relative safety or ease of a Jeepney trip from looking at the insides of the Jeep. We usually jump into the first available one. I think that being here, I’m just going to do what my other group member does and what probably more people than I can tell are doing… that’s pray.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Surrounded
Immersion.
It's the best way to learn, everyone says.
It's true, and to make the most of learning, I have to continually remind myself to breathe and relax. Otherwise, I'm in a state of allergic reaction and overload and I just want to retreat. Immersion is overwhelming at times. I think about this when I am bitten by mosquitoes at the table, at my desk, while I'm sleeping, on the bus.... I'm not used to that.
Yes, I'm taking my malaria pills- thanks to my superstar girlfriend Helen who sent them in the mail. I did leave home without them.
I think about this when everything inside me is close to boiling over. This morning I was happy to eat fried fish with breakfast, but not wanting to deal with the bones. Yesterday on the bus to Manila I didn't want to see continual trash or the color green. All of these are warning signs that I'm about overwhelmed. I imagine walking down the street and someone trying to steal my camera and me assaulting them and enjoying the workout...or at least wondering if I could keep a cool head if I was in that situation.
And probably the reason for some of this is that I'm about to take a midterm exam- and we had to go to Manila yesterday for a disaster of a TV program and it burned about 10 hours of our study time. Yes, though I am learning, I truly am.
I'll close with a highlight from this morning. A mellow Jeepeny driver, getting off early to do my 15 minute walk through the campus and getting great shots of Jeepneys spewing out exhaust. I've been looking to capture this photo since I've been here and I finally got it today!
Off now for my daily academic "jumping in."
:)
Jason
It's the best way to learn, everyone says.
It's true, and to make the most of learning, I have to continually remind myself to breathe and relax. Otherwise, I'm in a state of allergic reaction and overload and I just want to retreat. Immersion is overwhelming at times. I think about this when I am bitten by mosquitoes at the table, at my desk, while I'm sleeping, on the bus.... I'm not used to that.
Yes, I'm taking my malaria pills- thanks to my superstar girlfriend Helen who sent them in the mail. I did leave home without them.
I think about this when everything inside me is close to boiling over. This morning I was happy to eat fried fish with breakfast, but not wanting to deal with the bones. Yesterday on the bus to Manila I didn't want to see continual trash or the color green. All of these are warning signs that I'm about overwhelmed. I imagine walking down the street and someone trying to steal my camera and me assaulting them and enjoying the workout...or at least wondering if I could keep a cool head if I was in that situation.
And probably the reason for some of this is that I'm about to take a midterm exam- and we had to go to Manila yesterday for a disaster of a TV program and it burned about 10 hours of our study time. Yes, though I am learning, I truly am.
I'll close with a highlight from this morning. A mellow Jeepeny driver, getting off early to do my 15 minute walk through the campus and getting great shots of Jeepneys spewing out exhaust. I've been looking to capture this photo since I've been here and I finally got it today!
Off now for my daily academic "jumping in."
:)
Jason
Friday, July 4, 2008
What if?
Rent or Own
I’ve had the thought many times. Should I try and get into home ownership where I live or not. It’s pricey here in the SF Bay Area. Do I try and buy now or just rent until industrial collapse? Every day I see headlines and signs that things are not looking up. Or, at least to say the present course of economic policy, and economy based on power and death is about played out. I do think that things are ripe for a change. Instead of more of the inequity that we have now, what if we could build an economy that was honest about the real cost of things involved.
What if we changed priorities to things that could build and sustain life?
What enough of us started asking the question: What do you want for yourself, your family, your community, your world and all things in the next week, month, year, 5 years and so on? ...
and started shifting our priorities to reflect that and an economic system that was honest?
What if?
And why not?
Why not now?
The headlines are telling me that....
The world is waiting.
I’ve had the thought many times. Should I try and get into home ownership where I live or not. It’s pricey here in the SF Bay Area. Do I try and buy now or just rent until industrial collapse? Every day I see headlines and signs that things are not looking up. Or, at least to say the present course of economic policy, and economy based on power and death is about played out. I do think that things are ripe for a change. Instead of more of the inequity that we have now, what if we could build an economy that was honest about the real cost of things involved.
What if we changed priorities to things that could build and sustain life?
What enough of us started asking the question: What do you want for yourself, your family, your community, your world and all things in the next week, month, year, 5 years and so on? ...
and started shifting our priorities to reflect that and an economic system that was honest?
What if?
And why not?
Why not now?
The headlines are telling me that....
The world is waiting.
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