Taking Pride in the Filipino Language

I wonder how my students can pass the UPCAT when they don't even know what mangangalakal is or sinamantala or kamangmangan.

Nevertheless, we do have an Araw ng Wika (not a Linggo or Buwan), actually, it was more of Oras ng Wika, so the kids were asked to make a poster related to the geographical regions of the Philippines.

Unfortunately, Filipino is just a third language here, as more emphasis is given to English and Mandarin. And their AP, which is my counterpart subject, is taught in English.

Yes, they do speak Tagalog, but their knowledge of deeper Filipino words such as those you find in Fili or Noli is a bit wanting.

It's a pity that in our society, to be considered upper class, or educated, you'd have to speak in English. The Italians don't. Have you ever heard Giorgio Armani or Miuccia Prada conduct an interview in English? I haven't. Their attitude is, "Go hire an interpreter and speak to me in Italian."

I wish we had that pride as well for Filipino.

Kian's Shooting Hits Close to Home

I am writing this because the killing of Kian delos Santos has hit close to my line of work.

I am an adviser this year and these are my adorable S4 students.

They are just 2 years younger than Kian and I think this picture was taken the same day that poor boy was shot as he was begging for his life.

Unbeknownst to us, as we were enjoying this groupie (we all had to wear flowery shirts that day), that one of their contemporaries will never be able to achieve his dreams.

If God wielded his magic wand and placed Kian here in this picture, he would not have died that day.

Unfortunately for Kian, his house did not have high walls to prevent the intrusion of policemen.

He did not live in a condo where intruding police would have to contend with the condo security and the condo association, before making any moves.

He did not live in a gated community where the neighborhood association would have demanded the proper papers before any arrests are made.

Kian did not have wealthy parents who can give him a relatively sheltered life, with a chauffeur on call, to whisk him to and from school.

If someone accused him of being a drug dealer, a drug runner, a drug user, or a drug whatever, he cannot use the line, "I will sue you for libel, see you in court!" to frighten his accusers.

And people who are born on the wrong side of the tracks, whether here or in America, usually gets the wrong side of the stick and God only knows if they ever will get justice for the wrong done to them.

I say, just spare the poor drug users. Send them to rehab or send the small fry pushers to jail.

Just concentrate on the bigger fish, the mayors, generals, the top brass, who allow this drug trade to flourish. I'm sure the public has no sympathy for scum like them.

Our Condolences To Our Brave Soldiers who Died in Marawi

While we are enjoying the relative comfort of our homes, our soldiers are out there fighting to defend our freedoms and our comfortable way of life.

The soldiers whose pictures appear below have paid the ultimate price so that we can continue to live in peace.

In this anniversary of our 119th year of independence, we offer our deepest condolences to their families and we thank them for their bravery.

God bless them and their families.