One Country, One Language

"Children are efficient language learners, but they also learn quickly which language tools get them ahead and which do not. They will not learn a language simply because their parents or grandparents wish them to; they learn a language to use it." 

- D. Whalen and K. D. Harrison, language specialists

Dr. Jose Rizal once said, Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa hayop at malansang isda.

We Pilipinos are in debt to one man for having a national language. The Philippines has a lot of dialects and to be able to unite the Pilipinos, he issued a proclamation declaring that the Tagalog language be adopted as the national language. This man, Pres. Manuel L. Quezon, saw the poor state of our country. We are not free because we were under the American forces. He also noticed the disintegration of the people. Because of this, he strived to become a leader that could speak to resolve the poor state of the Pilipino masses. The adoption of a national language that will connect the Pilipinos was one of his greatest contributions.

Contemplation

After the leaves have fallen, we return
To a plain sense of things. It is as if
We had come to an end of the imagination.

I must consider more closely this cycle of good and bad days which I find coursing within myself. Passion, attachment, the urge to action, inventiveness, performance, order all alternate and keep their orbit; cheerfulness, vigor, energy, flexibility and fatigue, serenity as well as desire.

Some experience of lecturing in ICT had convinced me that the necessity of making things plain to some students was one of the very best means of clearing up the obscure corners in one's own mind.

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.

It's called a blog! I must say "It no longer bothers me that I may be constantly writing some articles; by this time, I have found several and dearly enjoyed knowing them all."

Oh, yes. The Internet! A self-sufficient and self-contained discipline, important for its own sake. By providing a coherent, intelligible account of the past, it satisfies a profound human yearning for knowledge about its own roots. I am now well-educated on this. We are free. We can access the Internet any time we want. And yes, say, I have accessed the Internet without even knowing its parts!

I don’t really understand why, but before this revelation everything was enveloped in a kind of mist.

Le Insights

I was sitting yesterday, reading Hon. Benigno Simeon Aquino III's 4th SONA when he said we shall follow "ang tuwid na daan." Upon reading this, I felt like standing up and saying, "Oh no! Not again."

I am impatient to learn his sentiments on the problems the country is facing now.

"This uneasiness has produced acts absolutely unjustifiable; but I hope they will provoke no severities from their governments. A consciousness of those in power that their administration of the public affairs has been honest, maybe. So far as I have yet seen, they do not appear to threaten serious consequences."
- Thomas Jefferson

I know, he is cool, reserved in political conversations, but free and familiar on other subjects, and a very attentive, agreeable person to do business with. It is not impossible to have a clearer, better organized lead...

I am glad that the construction of the Aluling Bridge is complete. I have been following with great interest the course of other countries, what if we should also follow such course?

I congratulate you, dear President, on the great success the Administration has so far made. I will continue to hope and pray for your assertive leadership.

 

Stop Hunger Now!

 

 The stomach is a bottomless pit, a hole as big as the world...

Hunger affects hundreds of millions of people. The world produces enough food to feed all its people, but that food is not distributed equally among the rich and poor or across national boundaries. In addition, war, drought, or pestilence can produce local outbreaks of mass starvation.

Children suffer from the effects of starvation more quickly than adults. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), malnutrition contributes to the deaths of more than 6 million children under age five each year. Typically, starving children develop a condition called malnutrition, which is characterized by a wide array of health problems, including extreme weight loss, stunted growth, weakened resistance to infection, and impairment of intellect.

"The war against hunger is truly mankind's war of liberation."
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy, U.S. President

Due to poverty, basic needs are not met, such as food.
What the government should be doing is giving actions to mitigate hunger and malnutrition. We should increase awareness on these issues, and there should be an advocate for stronger political action to end hunger.

"The earth has enough knowledge and resources to eradicate this ancient scourge. Hunger has plagued the world for thousands of years. But ending it is a greater moral imperative now than ever before, because for the first time humanity has the instruments at hand to defeat this cruel enemy at a very reasonable cost."
- Sen. George McGovern

We have the ability to provide food for all within the next three decades.

The world should see hunger and malnutrition eradicated from human population... and all together, let's end it NOW.

"The day that hunger is eradicated from the earth there will be the greatest spiritual explosion the world has ever known. Humanity cannot imagine the joy that will burst into the world."

- Federico Garcia Lorca, Spanish Poet

Letter to the Philippine President

Ilocos Sur National High School

Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

June 25, 2013

The Honorable Benigno S. Aquino III
Malacañang Palace 

Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila

Dear Mr. President:

I believe I now understand and appreciate better your role in our country.

The direction you seem to be going indicates Philippines is in for great leadership, and I will be glad if my fears continue to be proven wrong. We are naturally keeping a wondering eye on what will happen, and while any opposition or criticism may not be the most popular thing when you are leading so well, you must know that as an individual I am interested because what you do or do not do in the next 3 years could have a serious effect upon the whole country.

While I am very happy over your obviously fine start as our President, I particularly call your attention with regard to all matters pertaining to the security of the citizens:

About the socio-economic problems of the Filipino citizens; Sir, I think you should go out from the Malacañang to see the current situation of the Filipino masses. Have a field work and it will help you connect with citizens especially the poor and unmarginalized. I also have concerns about our country's diplomatic matters. We are dealing with very rich and powerful countries and I think it is not wise to piss them off, though I can see that you are targeting a peaceful way of settling these matters. I just want to see these matters done immediately as peaceful as possible. We cannot afford a war but I believe that a quick and sincere peace treaty will resolve this.

I thank you for what you have done so far; I also congratulate you on the great success the Administration has so far made. I will continue to hope and pray for your assertive leadership.

May God give you strength and the energy to accomplish your most difficult task.

Respectfully yours,

Louise Mae Ferido