Official poster of limbunan Movie
The Screening of the Cinemalaya Films will be held in the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila. Limbunan’s Gala Premiere is on July 10, 2010, 6:15 in the evening at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo.
For the complete screening schedule please read Read more…
My entire stay in Caraga has brought me to places I never thought I have, have taught me lessons more than I can imagine. I had a rich experience of life as it is. Rich experience of reality.
I was holding a map today and I took notice of the places I have been, and I am just inspired to remember every bit of it, to look back to the experience during my first step in these areas. Remember how it felt. Remember my purpose.
Just when we thought that the Philippines were the only country being hacked for the past weeks there goes the hijacking of Spain’s official site early this 2010. In the EU’s site, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s photo were replaced by Mr. Bean’s photo with a text: “hi there!” Zapatero is the Prime Minister of Spain. Read more…
Military General afraid to step on water and get wet?
I received a mail from my officemate Cathy… and along with the mail is an attached photo of this Man in uniform being carried by a civilian on the way to the “banca” (boat).
What do you think? Is that how our man in AFP should act? Embarrassing.
As I was watching the documentary about Cory last August 16, 2009, I cannot help but look back to the time of history of how hard was it for the Filipino People during the Dictatorial Regime, and so I look back beyond the Martial Law, there was these “conquistadores” — Spanish, Americans and Japanese. Where our people has fought long and hard for the sake of freedom. Our heroes for centuries have risked so much to gain the freedom were having now… from Lapu-lapu, Rizal, Bonifacio, Aguinaldo, and then comes Aquino. If you review history, there is a cycle of freedom and yet being enslaved again… another victory which again ended up to defeat, but then again, its freedom once more. Read more…
Two Sundays ago after our Pizza Trip at Picobello Restaurant, Coi, Fern, Sheng, Ayyi and I, headed to Mix FM Station for the ViewFinder episode where the guests happen to be our bosses. The topic was indeed interesting and real damn important – The Philippine Education System.
During the entire show, they were discussing the difference between education in the Philippines and Education abroad. A Master’s degree in the Philippines is only a College degree in other countries or even lesser… what could be so wrong in our Education System?
For one, Basic Education in the Philippines is only 8 years while in other countries their basic education allots 12 years, 6 years elementary and 6 years secondary. This could be one of the reasons on why quality education in the Philippines is poor compared to other countries. Another factor to consider is the enhancement of the way children are being taught. Please pardon me, there are a lot of good and exceptional educators in the Philippines, but there are also some who really need to adapt to new techniques for educating their students. Based on my observation, there are teachers who need to undergo training to enhance their teaching skills to help children learn better.
And I appreciate that the Department of Education (Deped) and the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) found a way on how to deal with problems such as this… by enhancing the Basic Curriculum to somehow keep up with the global world… and at the same time conducting trainings for teachers to somehow apply new strategy in their teachings. As what Ian D’arcy Walsh termed as: Higher order thinking skills.
Having to work in the Institute for Indigenous Peoples Education (IIPE) somehow opened my views on quality education in the Philippines, and somehow, I figured that there is a complete difference in the way kids are being taught in city compared to the rural areas. Of course, it is all because children in rural areas don’t have the kind of resources children in the Urban has. Another thing is that, some prefer to work than to study because of wanting to eat than to learn.
Seldom do you find a kid who shows interest in school in the rural areas… most of them help their parents work in the farm to have something to eat.
A good thing though that the government and private sectors, reached out to these areas who really needs education the most. In the countryside, children find it hard to learn to speak English and learn math, for the reason that they are exposed to a different world. Thus, it is where strategic way of teaching is needed for kids to learn better and to think for themselves, and that is why it pays to have a good teacher; I guess kids are not the only one who needs to be trained but teachers too. They need to study and adjust to the enhanced curriculum by undergoing training that is needed to improve their teaching method. And based on the Enhanced Curriculum offered by BEAM and DEPED, we are finding a way to develop quality education in the Philippines.
the lake
The stillness of water scares me,
It seems everything is silenced,
and the deepness of the lake is revealed,
What lies beneath is undefined,
and it frightens me knowing there’s no way of finding out,
but to sink unto its depthness
–written by: rhon–
We drove our way to Comval Province at 6:54 in the morning with Mrs. Norma Gonos (IIPE Director), Mrs. Josephine Calag (IIPE Project Officer) and Mai Gevera (PIA) and Manong Jun (Company Driver). We are heading particularly to the Golden Valley where the “Mansaka” Tribe is residing.
We are to make a Video Documentary about the tribe to be registered to National Library; the idea is to preserve the Cultural Heritage of the Tribe since some tribes were already accustomed to modernization.
Going to Panamin, Comval Province is quite difficult; you need to pass by a rough and bulky road before you can even get yourself to reach the place. Not to mention the threat of a landslide. But then we all resolved to get there whatever it takes…
Alas we arrived at the place after 4 hours of travel… we had our lunch at the area and right after a ritual is performed by a balyan, it was said that she is the only “Balyan” left. Hmmm… it made me remember Sherad Sanchez’s Film: “Ang Huling Balyan ng Buhi” I heard he went to the place and do some research… maybe this is where he got his film title. Well anyway… my documentation started the instant the Huling Balyan performed her ritual, which they termed as “Panawagtawag”.
The fun of documenting never stopped for me… I feel the need to know more about the tribe and the place… I figured there is a story to tell in that place… in spite the fact that majority of the residents does not live by traditions anymore… still, there are a few who live by these traditions. And just for you to know? Their story is worth telling… and I am indeed looking forward for that moment where I can show the world the beautiful and colorful story of different indigenous tribes in the Philippines. Dreaming again (lol) but who knows… it might just happen =)
