as tomorrow's do or die game between ateneo and la salles descends on us, it is interesting to read a foreign sports journalist's take on the intense arch-rivalry. this article is taken from the prestigious New York Times.
A Nation’s Passion Lives in a Rivalry of Green vs. Blue
By Raphael Bartholomew
QUEZON CITY, the Philippines, Sept. 21 — Senators, foreign diplomats, cabinet ministers, a smattering of Forbes’s 40 richest Filipinos, movie stars and enough professional basketball players to play five-on-five. They are the elite of Philippine society, and they all gather at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City to watch the men’s basketball rivalry between the universities Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle.
La Salle Coach Franz Pumaren said, “The janitors in Araneta always say, ‘If there’s an Ateneo-La Salle game, once everybody’s out of the coliseum, it still smells good because of the all the socialites watching.’ ”
In the basketball-crazed Philippines, where former players have become senators and nearly every public square has its own court, it is hard to imagine a crowd like this assembling for any other event. Kristie A. Kenney, the United States ambassador, attended the season’s first meeting between Ateneo and La Salle in late July.
Ateneo and La Salle are the most prestigious private universities in the country. The question of which institution provides a superior education is a toss-up; the tie breakers take place on the basketball court.
Although Ateneo and La Salle have similar upper-class student bodies, their respective basketball teams are very different.
The Ateneo players have a squeaky-clean image. The team’s prize freshman, Kirk Long, came from Faith Academy, a high school in suburban Manila for the children of foreign missionaries. Guard Eric Salamat’s surname means thank you in Tagalog.
La Salle’s players have a menacing swagger, with tattoos, headbands, shaved heads and chin-strap beards. In 2005, La Salle revealed that two of its players had used phony high school equivalency results in their applications, and the team was suspended for the 2006 season.
The teams also play different styles, with somewhat different results. The De La Salle Green Archers won four straight national championships from 1998 to 2001 thanks to its vaunted trapping defense.
“The dreaded press; you know your guards will turn over the ball against it,” said Joel Banal, who coached Ateneo in 2002 and 2003. “I used to have nightmares about it.”
Ateneo plays textbook basketball, with man-to-man defense and an inside-out offense that relies on post-up moves and perimeter shooting. The Blue Eagles won the 2002 championship, their only title in the last 17 years.
If Ateneo wins Sunday’s game against the University of St. Thomas, it will face La Salle for the fourth time this season, in the national semifinals. Ateneo has won two of their three meetings this season, games decided by a total of 6 points.
In each of these nail-biters, the 15,000-seat arena was sold out, with supporters standing in aisles and stairwells. Almost everyone on La Salle’s side of the coliseum wore green. On the other side, Ateneo’s fans wore blue. Marching bands blared fight songs as spectators on both sides chanted.
The frenzied crowds are often led by some of the most prominent alumni. Senator Richard Gordon, a former Ateneo cheerleader, is renowned for sideline antics like jumping on the scorer’s table to rile up the crowd. La Salle counts the former finance secretary José Pardo and the shipping mogul Enrique Razon Jr. among its supporters.
The rivalry allows Manila’s elites to relive their carefree college days, said Ricky Palou, Ateneo’s athletic director. “It’s the passion they have for their alma mater,” he said. “They become immature. They act like kids.”
The fans’ excessive behavior is matched by the largesse that the alumni lavish on their teams. A group from Ateneo installed the hardwood floor used for the 2000 N.B.A. All-Star Game at the university gym. Not to be outdone, Razon donated about $1 million, which went toward refurbishing La Salle’s sports center and financing athletic scholarships.
The heightened atmosphere of the rivalry puts coaches and players under enormous pressure. When Joe Lipa coached Ateneo in the late 1990s, the former president Corazon Aquino, whose daughter Kris is a 1992 graduate, would call Lipa to check on the team’s progress, said Ricky Dandan, Lipa’s former assistant.
“You can lose to all the other teams, but not to La Salle,” Banal said.
When his team defeated La Salle for the championship in 2002, it was “my most fulfilling accomplishment,” Banal said, adding: “After that championship it’s like the whole Filipino nation knew me. Like if you go to a restaurant, you eat, you’re paying your bill, somebody from Ateneo got it already.”
But the shame of losing also haunts players and coaches. In the final game of the 2002 national championship series, the La Salle star Mike Cortez missed 11 of 13 shots. Afterward, La Salle students and alumni accused Cortez of throwing the game. Although Cortez is now an all-star guard in the Philippine professional league, many fans still regard him as a game fixer.
The rivalry has loosened the bond of friendship between the teams’ coaches. Ateneo Coach Norman Black and Pumaren won several professional titles together in the late 1980s with the San Miguel Beermen.
“If you’re part of the rivalry, you just don’t like each other,” Black said. “Franz played for me and he was my assistant coach, but that has little bearing on what’s happening right now. He’s the coach of La Salle; I’m the coach of Ateneo. Let the chips fall where they may.”
Raphael Bartholomew, who did research at Ateneo de Manila University and was an adjunct lecturer there, is writing a book about Philippine basketball.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
the lonely planets of kc, maverick and ariel, and that lady on a white horse
One of my favorite shows during the late 90s until the start of the new millennium.was “Lonely Planet” shown on Discovery Channel. It was a travel show about the solo sojourns of the backpacking host, usually by my favorite, the clownish Ian Wright. What appealed to me about this show was that the host went around to check not the usual tourist itinerary but delved into the more exotic and the atypical of a certain country. The host would not be billeted in the regular Ramadas or the Hiltons, but would be housed in small inns or cabanas. If he is lucky, he might sleep alone but sometimes he had to share room with other backpacking and snoring guests. And if there was no place which could be rented out with pittance money, then the host just had to be content with sleeping under a tree. The show provided the viewers a roughing it method of a traveler different from the customary comforts and convenience of the sightseer toting his digital camera. If you wish, “Lonely Planet” was akin to “Amazing Race” except the guy in the “Lonely Planet” had no one to bicker with.
Interestingly, last Sunday night I got to catch three versions of Pinoy guests roughing it in different sites of the world. Sharon Cuneta’s eldest daughter gave us a glimpse of her life in oh la la Paris when she had stayed there for four years as a student. She introduced us to her pretty friends that have been her source of company and strength while living without Mommy Sharon around.
But I had to give it to the girl, ah este, the woman, KC. I was floored by the way she lived her life in Paris. Paris may be the city of high lifestyle, but KC decided to take less than privileged life in that city of lights. Her life was spartan. She would just take her bike to go to school, but then at one point the bike got lost to thieves. She would cook and would clean. But what took the cake for me was her small room which really looked like a dorm rented in a place near the University Belt. She could have asked for a grander apartment, and maybe a yaya around. But she did not. That’s my kind of girl, este woman.
On another channel, I got to see the wacky duo, Maverick and Ariel, exploring the truly enigmatic landscape of Nepal. If KC had a subdued stay in Paris, Maverick and Ariel tried hard to live it up as they were too happy to be rebaptized as Kapuso members (they always said it with glee). With Ariel donning his all plaid Burberry suit and tagging along his likewise all plaid Burberry briefcase, he and my tukayo Maverick explored with difficulty the exotic food that Nepal had to offer. At one restaurant which was like our own carinderia, Ariel had the audacity to bring his own plastic plates all the way from Shoemart. Although they got to feature how one streetfood was done, they refused to eat the hand prepared, and visually unappealing food. I guess they never got to learn the saying – “When in Nepal, do as the Nepalese do”. My kind of guys since their stint at ABC 5.
At the same time, on the Pinoy Movie Channel I caught snippets of the remake of “Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa” with the young Ruffa Gutierrez as the lady visitor who created havoc in a fishing village because of her sensual appeal cast upon the male inhabitants. Thus in a way at the tail end of the story she became the unwanted guest, most specially by the women. But my essential question regarding the film was how come the statuesque leading lady was riding a puny white horse. Couldn't the art director use a better looking white horse? Or did he just rely getting the animal from Tagaytay or Baguio where small equines abounded for traveling visitors. Obviously that hayop was not my kind of horse.
Interestingly, last Sunday night I got to catch three versions of Pinoy guests roughing it in different sites of the world. Sharon Cuneta’s eldest daughter gave us a glimpse of her life in oh la la Paris when she had stayed there for four years as a student. She introduced us to her pretty friends that have been her source of company and strength while living without Mommy Sharon around.
But I had to give it to the girl, ah este, the woman, KC. I was floored by the way she lived her life in Paris. Paris may be the city of high lifestyle, but KC decided to take less than privileged life in that city of lights. Her life was spartan. She would just take her bike to go to school, but then at one point the bike got lost to thieves. She would cook and would clean. But what took the cake for me was her small room which really looked like a dorm rented in a place near the University Belt. She could have asked for a grander apartment, and maybe a yaya around. But she did not. That’s my kind of girl, este woman.
On another channel, I got to see the wacky duo, Maverick and Ariel, exploring the truly enigmatic landscape of Nepal. If KC had a subdued stay in Paris, Maverick and Ariel tried hard to live it up as they were too happy to be rebaptized as Kapuso members (they always said it with glee). With Ariel donning his all plaid Burberry suit and tagging along his likewise all plaid Burberry briefcase, he and my tukayo Maverick explored with difficulty the exotic food that Nepal had to offer. At one restaurant which was like our own carinderia, Ariel had the audacity to bring his own plastic plates all the way from Shoemart. Although they got to feature how one streetfood was done, they refused to eat the hand prepared, and visually unappealing food. I guess they never got to learn the saying – “When in Nepal, do as the Nepalese do”. My kind of guys since their stint at ABC 5.
At the same time, on the Pinoy Movie Channel I caught snippets of the remake of “Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa” with the young Ruffa Gutierrez as the lady visitor who created havoc in a fishing village because of her sensual appeal cast upon the male inhabitants. Thus in a way at the tail end of the story she became the unwanted guest, most specially by the women. But my essential question regarding the film was how come the statuesque leading lady was riding a puny white horse. Couldn't the art director use a better looking white horse? Or did he just rely getting the animal from Tagaytay or Baguio where small equines abounded for traveling visitors. Obviously that hayop was not my kind of horse.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
singing into madness
My dad is into his own world once he gets into his singing. He manages to use the wireless Magicsing Microphone as he lays on his back (yes, he sings from his bed). Dad usually does his 50s and 60s ditties inside his own room, as if the neighbors, beside his area, really cared for his unkind talent. Nevermind the hideous pronunciation or the funny accent, my dad will kill to sing.
There was a time when I could not even distinguish whether my Dad was singing the lyrics or was already having his asthma attack. I just had to rush to his room; it turned out he was clobbering “Beautiful Sunday”. “Haa-haa-haa, beau-ti-ful Saaan-daayy”. Beautiful Sunday, indeed.
There is no denying, if there is anything Pinoys should be most proud of - it has to be our musicality. (I could have added the info that Philippines is the “texting capital of the world”. Alas that distinction goes already to China). No doubt about it, as a people we have the penchant to sing- and proudly many of us sing in all stages around the world, whether as a torch singer in a bluesy club in Saipan, a lead in a Broadway musicale, or a tranny evoking the musical stylings of Madonna in Tokyo. Yet not everyone gets to have the same acclaim in public performances around this town, in Pinoyland.
It seems today even our kind of musical talent can turn into a deathly act. Croon “My Way” at the videoke club as if it were your last. Somehow there is a possibility of you being shot down for unknownst reason other than your version was way better than the one done earlier by the vocalist who just turned criminal.
And last night, like the past Saturday nights, I became maniacal about what I was watching. I got to watch celebrities and semi celebrities birit their way into temporary madness at the Celebrity Duets. Some screeched, some shrieked, some bellowed and some bawled into fits of incomprehensible performances except for the one provided by the Artist Manager, Wyngard Tracy. Some of them did recognize their non-mastery that they had to resort to some kind of gimmickry. That could have been a better option than putting up a screaming match between the authentic and faux performers. All of these acts wasted for the sake of snatching a million grand for the favorite charity.
And yesterday, the panel of commentators ala American Idol was not put into use. Either the observers had enough of the ghastly routines and just walked out. Or they exactly knew that their kind of nudging was not reflective of the results thus there was no need for them at all. Other changes had to be instituted in the show to have more credible outcome. Each cellphone line was limited to submit ten text votes, and there was just a number of hours to do the text voting, not the usual one whole week. Hmmm, maybe the weeks before, the contestants themselves had to buy so much load and asked their employees and yayas to textvote nonstop until the following show.
Admittedly, there might be this perversed need for me to witness seemingly successful people reduced to wannabees. But wouldn’t it be a treat for all of us if each of them gets to sing “My Way” until they all disappear into some kind of oblivion. Hopefully no guns though.
There was a time when I could not even distinguish whether my Dad was singing the lyrics or was already having his asthma attack. I just had to rush to his room; it turned out he was clobbering “Beautiful Sunday”. “Haa-haa-haa, beau-ti-ful Saaan-daayy”. Beautiful Sunday, indeed.
There is no denying, if there is anything Pinoys should be most proud of - it has to be our musicality. (I could have added the info that Philippines is the “texting capital of the world”. Alas that distinction goes already to China). No doubt about it, as a people we have the penchant to sing- and proudly many of us sing in all stages around the world, whether as a torch singer in a bluesy club in Saipan, a lead in a Broadway musicale, or a tranny evoking the musical stylings of Madonna in Tokyo. Yet not everyone gets to have the same acclaim in public performances around this town, in Pinoyland.
It seems today even our kind of musical talent can turn into a deathly act. Croon “My Way” at the videoke club as if it were your last. Somehow there is a possibility of you being shot down for unknownst reason other than your version was way better than the one done earlier by the vocalist who just turned criminal.
And last night, like the past Saturday nights, I became maniacal about what I was watching. I got to watch celebrities and semi celebrities birit their way into temporary madness at the Celebrity Duets. Some screeched, some shrieked, some bellowed and some bawled into fits of incomprehensible performances except for the one provided by the Artist Manager, Wyngard Tracy. Some of them did recognize their non-mastery that they had to resort to some kind of gimmickry. That could have been a better option than putting up a screaming match between the authentic and faux performers. All of these acts wasted for the sake of snatching a million grand for the favorite charity.
And yesterday, the panel of commentators ala American Idol was not put into use. Either the observers had enough of the ghastly routines and just walked out. Or they exactly knew that their kind of nudging was not reflective of the results thus there was no need for them at all. Other changes had to be instituted in the show to have more credible outcome. Each cellphone line was limited to submit ten text votes, and there was just a number of hours to do the text voting, not the usual one whole week. Hmmm, maybe the weeks before, the contestants themselves had to buy so much load and asked their employees and yayas to textvote nonstop until the following show.
Admittedly, there might be this perversed need for me to witness seemingly successful people reduced to wannabees. But wouldn’t it be a treat for all of us if each of them gets to sing “My Way” until they all disappear into some kind of oblivion. Hopefully no guns though.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
spokening english 101
i have no illusion of being a paragon of knowledge in correct english usage....but i know many of us will be educated with this article from Philippine Post including me (or is it "including myself"?).
Starting the Year Right... with Proper English
Literature & Culture
By ALFRED A. YUSON
January 2002
One of the local titles included in my honor's list of books of 2001 was Leoncio P. Deriada's Little Lessons, Little Lectures, published and exclusively distributed by Seguiban Printers and Publishing House, of La Paz, Iloilo City.
I vowed to review this little "sleeper" of a book at a future date. Well, it might as well be now, so we can start the year on the right foot. Uhh, footing?
Deriada is a multi-awarded literary writer, a Palanca Hall-of-Famer on the strength of his first-prize awards in various categories. He writes stories, plays, essays and children's stories in English, has tried his hand at Kiniray-a and Hiligaynon, translates from those languages, teaches at the UP in the Visayas in Iloilo City. He serves as a bulwark of knowledgability in the seasonal writers' workshops held all over the country.
Leo has authored several books in numerous genres. An unpublished manuscript of his that I still recall with admiration is a short story for children titled "The Man Who Hated Birds." As a judges in that Palanca contest of some years back, I pushed for its acceptance as the run-away first-prize winner. I had no idea it was his entry, else I might have practiced some restraint, since we had been contemporaries as Silliman University instructors ages ago, and shared good memories of our kids learning to bike around the campus together.
A publisher should pry that manuscript off Deriada, assign it to one of our outstanding young illustrators (Jason Moss might be a perfect choice), and voila! We'll have another commendable children's book the PBBY can nominate for an international prize.
Anyway. Back to the welcome task at hand. A note says that Little Lessons, Little Lectures "was completed to satisfy the requirements of the G.E. Chair of Associate Professor of Communication and Humanities which the author occupied during the school year 1997-1998."
We should all be grateful that Deriada caused its eventual publication. Every English department in every public and private school in the country should have a copy. Better yet, all English teachers from grade school up should have one, and endeavor to share the book's wealth of instructive material with everyone who cares to unlearn all the bad things we've done and keep doing to the English language.
Perhaps Sec. Raul Roco can have his department, surely the most important and vital to our future, disseminate as many copies of this book as possible. Newspaper, magazine, and tv news editors also need it as bedside reading, else for whipping parvenu reporters into line.
Deriada says in his Foreword: "After forty-one years in the classroom, I think it is time for me to put into a volume the many, and various, little lessons, little lectures that I have been sharing with my students. These ... have been culled from various sources, some of them quite unorthodox: library books, hardbound as well as mimeographed textbooks, the English dictionary, the Reader's Digest, Jean Edades' column as well as various little conversations with her. But the biggest source of the materials -- that means the errors this book is trying to correct -- is my own classroom and the many Philippine publications like newspapers and magazines. Somehow, after many years of teaching English, reading Philippine newspapers and magazines and listening to Filipinos speak in meetings and conferences, during interviews, on the stage and on radio and television, I have a clear idea of the particular problems of Filipinos in using the English language. This book addresses these problems."
Remember Jean Edades? Someone should revive the idea of a little daily column like hers, and have it syndicated nationally.
On another aside, I note with appreciation that Deriada shares my oldtimer's regard for the erstwhile traditional convention of having a simple apostrophe signify the possessive, as in "Edades'" -- as against the updated "Edades's" -- which I am often reluctant to adopt. Why? Well, "Marcos's" and "Ramos's" may seem all right to ready followers of contemporary stylebooks, but I find it hard to suppress a giggle or wince over such occurrences as "Zeus's" and "Odysseus's."
This is not a book on grammar per se. Deriada delves into correct usage, alerts readers to common pitfalls, explains the effectivity of literary, figurative, and metaphorical language.
In any case, one can hardly be a purist with grammar these days. As they say, everyone makes misteaks. Or become prone to accepting what's been popularized, at the expense of an awareness of correctness.
As Deriada reminds us, "The popularity of the error alright is such that you might think it is acceptable. It is not. It is always an error. It has to be spelled in two words, all right. The authority is any English dictionary. Curiously, alright -- because probably of its popularity -- is listed in the biggest English dictionary I have ever seen. A copy is in the library of Silliman University. It is so big that one needs a wheelbarrow to move it about. What does the dictionary say opposite the misspelled entry? Not the approved spelling. Consult all right."
Deriada also reminds the reader that "in spite" is also spelled as two words, "full-pledged" is an awful if common local error, frequently replacing the correct "full-fledged," and that "cope" doesn't necessarily have to team up with "up" -- but more with "with." Further: "The verb avail always has a reflexive pronoun. Always. You do not say, 'I would like to avail of the services of a lawyer.' You say, "I would like to avail myself of the services of a lawyer.'
Here's something not too many editors or party planners know:
"A celebrant is one who officiates in a ceremony or ritual whereas a celebrator is one who celebrates an occasion."
Deriada derides the Filipino invention -- only because it's hoodwinked many of our speakers, writers, and academics -- of the non-English terms "votation," "aggrupation," and "masteral" as in "masteral studies." Well, "aggrupation" has been so embraced by otherwise distinguished Filipino journalists that we've seen it picked up by writer-editors in Hong Kong and Singapore. Just like the formerly non-existent word "insightful."
Deriada also notes, but more in jest: "Presidentiable, senatoriable, mayorable. There are no such English words. But these words are alive and kicking in the Philippines, threatening to be permanent contributions of Filipinos to the growth of English. If only for that, the world should thank our stinking politics."
It's that kind of a charmer's little volume. As the author admits, "a grammar book can be deadly in its dullness." Which is why he's chosen to write it in "an interesting, enjoyable manner," a manner that "might even be jocose."
Spelling and pronunciation are treated in such fashion.
"Almost always, ph is pronounced as f. But not in shepherd. This is sheperd, not sheferd. Remember this when you sing those Christmas carols in December. The sheferds in Bethlehem would just be like Facifica Falayfay saying, Ang safatos ni Fafa nafutikan."
Deriada wags a finger: "Electric lights and faucets are not opened or closed." And: "'I'll go ahead does not mean 'Mauna ako.'" He also relates how a moviehouse in Iloilo once flashed an announcement on the screen: "Something is wrong with our aircondition. Please bare with us."
Because some of these brief pieces appeared in a regional weekly in the early 90s, there are numerous references to Kiniray-a and Hiligaynon. But the titles of the 77 little chapters are themselves intriguing and instructive outright. As in: "The first syllable of breakfast does not sound like break." Or: "Folk rhymes with poke."
Reminds me of our generals who love to say "lawnch an offensive" instead of "launch," which is "lonz," as differentiated from the lobby lounge or lounge lizard. Then there's a columnist who used to have a tv talk show where he kept saying "country" as "count-tree." Pardon the possible obscenity, but it's "cun-tri."
Oh how we miss Pete Lacaba's column, "Carabeef Lengua" was it, where he raised jocose questions over such dubious Filipinisms as the DPWH's "accident-prone area."
Television stations would do well to hire either Deriada or Lacaba for live-in seminars on correct English usage. Attendees ought to be all of the twenty-something news reporters given so much premature liberty to conduct live stand-uppers. Might as well throw in the desk editors, news writers and news readers.
For our part, we still lament the most common incursions of Filipino English into a state of impropriety. The following peeves may still be seen or heard in utmost frequency in our print and broadcast journalism:
"Result to..." NOT! It's "result in..."
"Among these include..." OUCH! It's either "among these are..." or "these include..."
"The President assured that ..." As far as we know, "assured" is a transitive verb, needing a direct object, as in "...assured the public." To be safer about it, try the more formal "gave assurance..."
It's "a whopping sum," not "whooping" as favored by entertainment writers. And "premiere" should refer only to a special or advance performance, the very first, while "premier" means top-class, foremost, or someone in Tony Blair's position.
"Footage" as a collective noun is still preferable to the brutishly pluralized "footages," just as it's "furniture" and not "furnitures." "Fishes" and "medicines" are acceptable as distinct citations of varied numbers, but generally it should still be "fish" and "medicine" even when referring to many, especially of the same kind.
The dangling modifier is still very much around, as in "Entering the house, a wide lanai greeted us." Correct usage: "...we were greeted by a wide lanai."
And few college students seem to be able to distinguish the simple demands in the use of "could" as against "can." If you don't have the ear for it, the simple trick to remember is that more often than not, "could" relates to parallel past action. "I think I can. I thought I could."
I realize we can't all be specialists in language. But at the very least we should learn to avoid making signage that proclaims our shop to "Specialized in..." something or udder.
Alfred Yuson has edited various publications in the Philippines, aside from being a multi-awarded poet, novelist, essayist and short fiction writer. He is a founding member of the Philippine Literary Arts Council (PLAC), the Creative Writing Foundation, Inc., and the Manila Critics Circle, and is currently Chairman of the Writers Union of the Philippines. He also writes a regular arts and culture column for the Manila-based Philippine Star. He can be reached at kripbam@email.com.ph or through Philippine Post at editor@philpost.com.
Starting the Year Right... with Proper English
Literature & Culture
By ALFRED A. YUSON
January 2002
One of the local titles included in my honor's list of books of 2001 was Leoncio P. Deriada's Little Lessons, Little Lectures, published and exclusively distributed by Seguiban Printers and Publishing House, of La Paz, Iloilo City.
I vowed to review this little "sleeper" of a book at a future date. Well, it might as well be now, so we can start the year on the right foot. Uhh, footing?
Deriada is a multi-awarded literary writer, a Palanca Hall-of-Famer on the strength of his first-prize awards in various categories. He writes stories, plays, essays and children's stories in English, has tried his hand at Kiniray-a and Hiligaynon, translates from those languages, teaches at the UP in the Visayas in Iloilo City. He serves as a bulwark of knowledgability in the seasonal writers' workshops held all over the country.
Leo has authored several books in numerous genres. An unpublished manuscript of his that I still recall with admiration is a short story for children titled "The Man Who Hated Birds." As a judges in that Palanca contest of some years back, I pushed for its acceptance as the run-away first-prize winner. I had no idea it was his entry, else I might have practiced some restraint, since we had been contemporaries as Silliman University instructors ages ago, and shared good memories of our kids learning to bike around the campus together.
A publisher should pry that manuscript off Deriada, assign it to one of our outstanding young illustrators (Jason Moss might be a perfect choice), and voila! We'll have another commendable children's book the PBBY can nominate for an international prize.
Anyway. Back to the welcome task at hand. A note says that Little Lessons, Little Lectures "was completed to satisfy the requirements of the G.E. Chair of Associate Professor of Communication and Humanities which the author occupied during the school year 1997-1998."
We should all be grateful that Deriada caused its eventual publication. Every English department in every public and private school in the country should have a copy. Better yet, all English teachers from grade school up should have one, and endeavor to share the book's wealth of instructive material with everyone who cares to unlearn all the bad things we've done and keep doing to the English language.
Perhaps Sec. Raul Roco can have his department, surely the most important and vital to our future, disseminate as many copies of this book as possible. Newspaper, magazine, and tv news editors also need it as bedside reading, else for whipping parvenu reporters into line.
Deriada says in his Foreword: "After forty-one years in the classroom, I think it is time for me to put into a volume the many, and various, little lessons, little lectures that I have been sharing with my students. These ... have been culled from various sources, some of them quite unorthodox: library books, hardbound as well as mimeographed textbooks, the English dictionary, the Reader's Digest, Jean Edades' column as well as various little conversations with her. But the biggest source of the materials -- that means the errors this book is trying to correct -- is my own classroom and the many Philippine publications like newspapers and magazines. Somehow, after many years of teaching English, reading Philippine newspapers and magazines and listening to Filipinos speak in meetings and conferences, during interviews, on the stage and on radio and television, I have a clear idea of the particular problems of Filipinos in using the English language. This book addresses these problems."
Remember Jean Edades? Someone should revive the idea of a little daily column like hers, and have it syndicated nationally.
On another aside, I note with appreciation that Deriada shares my oldtimer's regard for the erstwhile traditional convention of having a simple apostrophe signify the possessive, as in "Edades'" -- as against the updated "Edades's" -- which I am often reluctant to adopt. Why? Well, "Marcos's" and "Ramos's" may seem all right to ready followers of contemporary stylebooks, but I find it hard to suppress a giggle or wince over such occurrences as "Zeus's" and "Odysseus's."
This is not a book on grammar per se. Deriada delves into correct usage, alerts readers to common pitfalls, explains the effectivity of literary, figurative, and metaphorical language.
In any case, one can hardly be a purist with grammar these days. As they say, everyone makes misteaks. Or become prone to accepting what's been popularized, at the expense of an awareness of correctness.
As Deriada reminds us, "The popularity of the error alright is such that you might think it is acceptable. It is not. It is always an error. It has to be spelled in two words, all right. The authority is any English dictionary. Curiously, alright -- because probably of its popularity -- is listed in the biggest English dictionary I have ever seen. A copy is in the library of Silliman University. It is so big that one needs a wheelbarrow to move it about. What does the dictionary say opposite the misspelled entry? Not the approved spelling. Consult all right."
Deriada also reminds the reader that "in spite" is also spelled as two words, "full-pledged" is an awful if common local error, frequently replacing the correct "full-fledged," and that "cope" doesn't necessarily have to team up with "up" -- but more with "with." Further: "The verb avail always has a reflexive pronoun. Always. You do not say, 'I would like to avail of the services of a lawyer.' You say, "I would like to avail myself of the services of a lawyer.'
Here's something not too many editors or party planners know:
"A celebrant is one who officiates in a ceremony or ritual whereas a celebrator is one who celebrates an occasion."
Deriada derides the Filipino invention -- only because it's hoodwinked many of our speakers, writers, and academics -- of the non-English terms "votation," "aggrupation," and "masteral" as in "masteral studies." Well, "aggrupation" has been so embraced by otherwise distinguished Filipino journalists that we've seen it picked up by writer-editors in Hong Kong and Singapore. Just like the formerly non-existent word "insightful."
Deriada also notes, but more in jest: "Presidentiable, senatoriable, mayorable. There are no such English words. But these words are alive and kicking in the Philippines, threatening to be permanent contributions of Filipinos to the growth of English. If only for that, the world should thank our stinking politics."
It's that kind of a charmer's little volume. As the author admits, "a grammar book can be deadly in its dullness." Which is why he's chosen to write it in "an interesting, enjoyable manner," a manner that "might even be jocose."
Spelling and pronunciation are treated in such fashion.
"Almost always, ph is pronounced as f. But not in shepherd. This is sheperd, not sheferd. Remember this when you sing those Christmas carols in December. The sheferds in Bethlehem would just be like Facifica Falayfay saying, Ang safatos ni Fafa nafutikan."
Deriada wags a finger: "Electric lights and faucets are not opened or closed." And: "'I'll go ahead does not mean 'Mauna ako.'" He also relates how a moviehouse in Iloilo once flashed an announcement on the screen: "Something is wrong with our aircondition. Please bare with us."
Because some of these brief pieces appeared in a regional weekly in the early 90s, there are numerous references to Kiniray-a and Hiligaynon. But the titles of the 77 little chapters are themselves intriguing and instructive outright. As in: "The first syllable of breakfast does not sound like break." Or: "Folk rhymes with poke."
Reminds me of our generals who love to say "lawnch an offensive" instead of "launch," which is "lonz," as differentiated from the lobby lounge or lounge lizard. Then there's a columnist who used to have a tv talk show where he kept saying "country" as "count-tree." Pardon the possible obscenity, but it's "cun-tri."
Oh how we miss Pete Lacaba's column, "Carabeef Lengua" was it, where he raised jocose questions over such dubious Filipinisms as the DPWH's "accident-prone area."
Television stations would do well to hire either Deriada or Lacaba for live-in seminars on correct English usage. Attendees ought to be all of the twenty-something news reporters given so much premature liberty to conduct live stand-uppers. Might as well throw in the desk editors, news writers and news readers.
For our part, we still lament the most common incursions of Filipino English into a state of impropriety. The following peeves may still be seen or heard in utmost frequency in our print and broadcast journalism:
"Result to..." NOT! It's "result in..."
"Among these include..." OUCH! It's either "among these are..." or "these include..."
"The President assured that ..." As far as we know, "assured" is a transitive verb, needing a direct object, as in "...assured the public." To be safer about it, try the more formal "gave assurance..."
It's "a whopping sum," not "whooping" as favored by entertainment writers. And "premiere" should refer only to a special or advance performance, the very first, while "premier" means top-class, foremost, or someone in Tony Blair's position.
"Footage" as a collective noun is still preferable to the brutishly pluralized "footages," just as it's "furniture" and not "furnitures." "Fishes" and "medicines" are acceptable as distinct citations of varied numbers, but generally it should still be "fish" and "medicine" even when referring to many, especially of the same kind.
The dangling modifier is still very much around, as in "Entering the house, a wide lanai greeted us." Correct usage: "...we were greeted by a wide lanai."
And few college students seem to be able to distinguish the simple demands in the use of "could" as against "can." If you don't have the ear for it, the simple trick to remember is that more often than not, "could" relates to parallel past action. "I think I can. I thought I could."
I realize we can't all be specialists in language. But at the very least we should learn to avoid making signage that proclaims our shop to "Specialized in..." something or udder.
Alfred Yuson has edited various publications in the Philippines, aside from being a multi-awarded poet, novelist, essayist and short fiction writer. He is a founding member of the Philippine Literary Arts Council (PLAC), the Creative Writing Foundation, Inc., and the Manila Critics Circle, and is currently Chairman of the Writers Union of the Philippines. He also writes a regular arts and culture column for the Manila-based Philippine Star. He can be reached at kripbam@email.com.ph or through Philippine Post at editor@philpost.com.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
stuck on you
There has been a flurry of reactions since the other day’s senate inquiry about the NBN Broadband Deal (not to be confused with bandwidth and the government's station, NBN Channel 4 as what happened to my Dad – all this time, he thought that the government tv station NBN was needing additional radio/tv frequency). The Black and White Movement gave its support as expected to Jose De Venecia III (or Joey but not to be confused with father, Jose De Venecia, Jr, the House Speaker). Speaker De Venecia stands by his son, and admits is torn between his love for his son and loyalty to the President.
FG Mike Arroyo through his spokesperson describes the younger De Venecia’s implication of himself as a blatant lie. The President dismisses his testimony as one vaudeville act. The sons, Mikey and Datu see it as just another political harassment that surely may affect his health. But what got me was the daughter Luli’s response; she saw it as a delusional action brought about by the witness’s past drug experience.
Well of course the presidential daughter has all the right to protect her father, but her reaction was not expected as it lacked her usual poise and composure. This newest allegation that perhaps her father became padrino in the NBN deal must have a struck a deep chord on Luli. Who knows - Luli with her brothers and Joey as sons and daughter from the same political agrupation could have come from the same social network.
I do not know how much and what kind of drugs De Venecia III did in the past. But if the person has been clean, why use his drug issue as a trump card against him. This seems to be an expedient excuse to negate a person’s story: dig up his crazy history and crucify a rehabilitated person. But of course, if all is fair in love and war, why not politics.
Usually it is the person who gets addicted into it that carries the stigma until thy kingdom come. These addicts may already have a troubled psyche to begin with. And to get out of it is an arduous journey that the recovering patient takes. And the person’s will and capacity to be an able part of society have to be acknowledged by everyone, maybe even by his adversary who may still have some remaining compassion for him.
There are many of them who are just eager and wanting to have a second chance in life, and it is truly a big downer if every curious action they take becomes suspect. It seems no amount of good they do and give will completely erase the stain of the past addiction. Yet someone has to take action that this kind of stigma be wrestled and diminished in a supposed humane and charitable society. And Luli who has a good head in her shoulders could have been more circumspect in her reaction, and instead counterattacked on other sensible issues related to the deal.
And if one really insists to be personal about it then Joey should have been criticized more on his atrocious hairstyling (well, not to be confused with his thinning hair as Luli had also so easily carped on).
FG Mike Arroyo through his spokesperson describes the younger De Venecia’s implication of himself as a blatant lie. The President dismisses his testimony as one vaudeville act. The sons, Mikey and Datu see it as just another political harassment that surely may affect his health. But what got me was the daughter Luli’s response; she saw it as a delusional action brought about by the witness’s past drug experience.
Well of course the presidential daughter has all the right to protect her father, but her reaction was not expected as it lacked her usual poise and composure. This newest allegation that perhaps her father became padrino in the NBN deal must have a struck a deep chord on Luli. Who knows - Luli with her brothers and Joey as sons and daughter from the same political agrupation could have come from the same social network.
I do not know how much and what kind of drugs De Venecia III did in the past. But if the person has been clean, why use his drug issue as a trump card against him. This seems to be an expedient excuse to negate a person’s story: dig up his crazy history and crucify a rehabilitated person. But of course, if all is fair in love and war, why not politics.
Usually it is the person who gets addicted into it that carries the stigma until thy kingdom come. These addicts may already have a troubled psyche to begin with. And to get out of it is an arduous journey that the recovering patient takes. And the person’s will and capacity to be an able part of society have to be acknowledged by everyone, maybe even by his adversary who may still have some remaining compassion for him.
There are many of them who are just eager and wanting to have a second chance in life, and it is truly a big downer if every curious action they take becomes suspect. It seems no amount of good they do and give will completely erase the stain of the past addiction. Yet someone has to take action that this kind of stigma be wrestled and diminished in a supposed humane and charitable society. And Luli who has a good head in her shoulders could have been more circumspect in her reaction, and instead counterattacked on other sensible issues related to the deal.
And if one really insists to be personal about it then Joey should have been criticized more on his atrocious hairstyling (well, not to be confused with his thinning hair as Luli had also so easily carped on).
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
sweating it out
The television was blaring its morning news. And I was not ready to rise from the bed, no not yet after trying to recover from yesterday’s hangover. It is rare these days that I get to drink some alcohol, but R2 and his family were about to transfer and eventually become tnts in that land of milk and honey so I had obliged R2’s despidida last Sunday. I just hope some beer won’t affect much my liver this time, although the last liver test gave good results.
According to the news the First Gentleman made a sudden departure to Hongkong last night. Hmm so soon. Maybe Mike Arroyo just got bored in Manila while recuperating from the serious heart operation about three months ago. At that time, his heart condition had been so grave, he was almost touch and go. But this time around, he is strong enough - so off he went – to China’s SAR.
As I had my brunch of deep fried asian style chicken balls, produced by SM Supermarket, ANC channel seemed to be covering an important congressional occasion. Yes, the senate inquiry on the ZTE broadband deal had Joey De Venecia as its special guest who was about to announce the “mystery man”. From the looks of deal, the Philippines was like entering into a contract wherein a person has to pay installment for 20 years when the cellphone he gets has to be replaced in two years time because of obsolescence. This broadband deal is to become another great white elephant, comparable to that wasted “Telepono ng Bayan” scheme where a smattering of phones had been installed yet had no line connection whatsoever.
Ho hum, not again. Mr. Mike Arroyo has been tagged as the mystery guy by De Venecia who tries very carefully not to implicate "his president Gloria". But it seems Gloria’s guy is all over the place. Why is Mike always around when anomalies are to be found? I thought he was just the president’s photographer. Maybe it is really about time that he leaves this country for good until the president finishes her term. Mike should seriously consider travel photography, but should do it outside the Philippines.
After Mike Arroyo, I had to focus on other Ateneans and R2’s team, La Salle while I was trying to break sweat in my treadmill just to wash out toxins brought about by the alcohol. On television was a step ladder match for second place of the semi-finals. After a convincing two wins against its arch rival la salle this season, Ateneo failed to capture the third game.
Sayang si Laterre ng Ateneo; if only he made a three point basket instead of the two pointer that he connected. And of course, Villanueva’s one free point shot made the difference for La Salle. The whole game was intense, even more during the last ten seconds. Hopefully, Ateneo wins its next fight, but it has to do it with the formidable UST, last year's champion.
R2 was satisfied, he told me over the phone. At least he got some happy memories as he toils in some backbreaking job in the US. Now I do not know about Mike Arroyo. Most likely he never got to watch the game. Maybe, he could be embarking into a new career as a travel photographer, taking some cityscape shots. But maybe not yet, as he needs to sweat out and figure out how he and the president can get out of another damning sordid mess.
According to the news the First Gentleman made a sudden departure to Hongkong last night. Hmm so soon. Maybe Mike Arroyo just got bored in Manila while recuperating from the serious heart operation about three months ago. At that time, his heart condition had been so grave, he was almost touch and go. But this time around, he is strong enough - so off he went – to China’s SAR.
As I had my brunch of deep fried asian style chicken balls, produced by SM Supermarket, ANC channel seemed to be covering an important congressional occasion. Yes, the senate inquiry on the ZTE broadband deal had Joey De Venecia as its special guest who was about to announce the “mystery man”. From the looks of deal, the Philippines was like entering into a contract wherein a person has to pay installment for 20 years when the cellphone he gets has to be replaced in two years time because of obsolescence. This broadband deal is to become another great white elephant, comparable to that wasted “Telepono ng Bayan” scheme where a smattering of phones had been installed yet had no line connection whatsoever.
Ho hum, not again. Mr. Mike Arroyo has been tagged as the mystery guy by De Venecia who tries very carefully not to implicate "his president Gloria". But it seems Gloria’s guy is all over the place. Why is Mike always around when anomalies are to be found? I thought he was just the president’s photographer. Maybe it is really about time that he leaves this country for good until the president finishes her term. Mike should seriously consider travel photography, but should do it outside the Philippines.
After Mike Arroyo, I had to focus on other Ateneans and R2’s team, La Salle while I was trying to break sweat in my treadmill just to wash out toxins brought about by the alcohol. On television was a step ladder match for second place of the semi-finals. After a convincing two wins against its arch rival la salle this season, Ateneo failed to capture the third game.
Sayang si Laterre ng Ateneo; if only he made a three point basket instead of the two pointer that he connected. And of course, Villanueva’s one free point shot made the difference for La Salle. The whole game was intense, even more during the last ten seconds. Hopefully, Ateneo wins its next fight, but it has to do it with the formidable UST, last year's champion.
R2 was satisfied, he told me over the phone. At least he got some happy memories as he toils in some backbreaking job in the US. Now I do not know about Mike Arroyo. Most likely he never got to watch the game. Maybe, he could be embarking into a new career as a travel photographer, taking some cityscape shots. But maybe not yet, as he needs to sweat out and figure out how he and the president can get out of another damning sordid mess.
Friday, September 14, 2007
poultry piqued by the priests
Some might think that this could be another kind of urban legend. Or it might just be a form of a ploy used by the religious to recruit young men to follow their spiritual lead. But I do know it is true; take it from me – Jesuit miseducated (joke). Some of the finest food that one can chomp on would be from tables of seminaries. Look at the rotund shapes under those priestly garments. Our clerics may have taken the vow of poverty but certainly not the vow of being famished.
I had the opportunity this week to go to Amici de Don Bosco, this eating place run supposedly by the Salesian priests. Why - the area itself is inside Don Bosco School at the corner of Pasay Road and Pasong Tamo. Just park the car at the nearby Walter Mart.
I have been to the place twice but I still expect that priests in brown cassocks serve the Italian based entrees. Instead, manongs and manangs in casual t-shirts man the trattoria which really looked like my highschool cafeteria. The management does not even try to impress its customers with some distinct Mediterranean ambiance. Yesterday though, an aria from a tenor (Pavarotti?) managed to waft around when the bulk of the customers diminished by 2 pm.
My last order about 6 months ago, lasagna al forno had been a success. This time I wanted to try something else – its popular rosemary chicken (P150.00) and equally popular profiteroles (P50). After lining up at their counters and making orders, in a jiffy the food came my way. Just had to show my order number ala Jollibee.
The serving was huge, almost half a chicken, garnished with quartered potatoes and sliced bread. The roasted chicken was tender and moist, as it was swimming in its juice. But pardon me, the food was a little too tasty for my taste – meaning, maalat that I had to wash down the saltiness with some pretasting of my dessert. Maybe, it was the strong flavor of the rosemary. Subtlety would do more for the recipe. The roasted chicken with some dessert midthrough the meal made the experience bearable.
Certainly, I loved the profitorole – the black and white combination. For every order one gets to have two cream puffs for the taking. One can have puffs either wrapped in white or black chocolate. Creamy custard filling generously oozed from wafers. Two thumbs up for two cream puffs. And in a reversal of roles, I forgive the priests for my chicken as I plan to go back soon for hopefully better choices.
When I went back to Walter Mart for my transportation, I could not resist taking a look at Amici’s gelato counter near the supermarket. There was an assortment of its delectable ice cream. Nice sight to behold. But another sugar feast? Who does eat ice cream after already having lunch time dessert?
In no time, I had the strawberry marble (P20). Am I guilty of sweetness avarice? Must be because of the salty chicken.
I had the opportunity this week to go to Amici de Don Bosco, this eating place run supposedly by the Salesian priests. Why - the area itself is inside Don Bosco School at the corner of Pasay Road and Pasong Tamo. Just park the car at the nearby Walter Mart.
I have been to the place twice but I still expect that priests in brown cassocks serve the Italian based entrees. Instead, manongs and manangs in casual t-shirts man the trattoria which really looked like my highschool cafeteria. The management does not even try to impress its customers with some distinct Mediterranean ambiance. Yesterday though, an aria from a tenor (Pavarotti?) managed to waft around when the bulk of the customers diminished by 2 pm.
My last order about 6 months ago, lasagna al forno had been a success. This time I wanted to try something else – its popular rosemary chicken (P150.00) and equally popular profiteroles (P50). After lining up at their counters and making orders, in a jiffy the food came my way. Just had to show my order number ala Jollibee.
The serving was huge, almost half a chicken, garnished with quartered potatoes and sliced bread. The roasted chicken was tender and moist, as it was swimming in its juice. But pardon me, the food was a little too tasty for my taste – meaning, maalat that I had to wash down the saltiness with some pretasting of my dessert. Maybe, it was the strong flavor of the rosemary. Subtlety would do more for the recipe. The roasted chicken with some dessert midthrough the meal made the experience bearable.
Certainly, I loved the profitorole – the black and white combination. For every order one gets to have two cream puffs for the taking. One can have puffs either wrapped in white or black chocolate. Creamy custard filling generously oozed from wafers. Two thumbs up for two cream puffs. And in a reversal of roles, I forgive the priests for my chicken as I plan to go back soon for hopefully better choices.
When I went back to Walter Mart for my transportation, I could not resist taking a look at Amici’s gelato counter near the supermarket. There was an assortment of its delectable ice cream. Nice sight to behold. But another sugar feast? Who does eat ice cream after already having lunch time dessert?
In no time, I had the strawberry marble (P20). Am I guilty of sweetness avarice? Must be because of the salty chicken.
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