Øn b31n9 a Jeje

The Jejemons have finally reached national popularity. Thanks to the overacting Filipinos who fed news programs and TV shows. The Department of Education added more spice when it jumped into the bandwagon, showed despise over this seemingly pandemic language “breakdown” and declared an “all-out war” against Jejemons—as if they have nothing more serious problems to think about. To the DepEd, what you should look into are the TEXTBOOK scandals (among other issues) that your office has been involved, and not the way Filipinos TEXT.

As much as I can, I tried avoiding discussions about Jejemons in threads and e-mails, since I don’t see this as anything important to discuss. However, I think it is high time that I share my opinion since I have observed that most of my students in Foundations have already identified themselves as Jejebusters (anti-Jejemon group). In this entry, I shall try to enumerate my views regarding this “language phenomenon” as much and as briefly as I can. (Disclaimer I am neither a language expert nor a linguist, I am merely a Language student.)

1. Creating language

Jejenese isn’t anything new. Every now and then, humans create and re-create language for different purposes. Why? Because humans are rationale beings, and because language is dynamic. In 2005, Sophie Nichol, a PhD student at Deakin University published an article at the Australian Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society. She explored the linguistic creativity of gamers in online communities. These particular groups labelled their language as “leet speak” or “1337 5p34k” a language that incorporates language and digits. Primarily, the purpose of these groups is to create a sort of “exclusivity” i.e. if you can’t understand this language, then it means you’re not part of this community.

The same purpose is evident among Jejemons. However, I find it funny because people who don’t understand them (and don’t want to understand them) hated them, although there are really reasons to hate. I think the only problem among Jejemons is their lack of sociolinguistic competence, i.e. their ability to use appropriate language in particular situations. They have embraced the language too much that they use it outside their speech community.

2. Language Sub-Cultures

I found it amusing when my high school and college classmates remembered the same “language creation” that emerged in the 90s (yeah…it shows my age). If I remember it well, certain groupies started to use the “GA” language (it wasn’t labelled as GA, I just named it as such for discussion purposes) so that other people, especially our teachers won’t understand them. My classmates, mostly females, mastered adding “GA” in every syllable that they would utter. Thus, “NAKITA MO BA SI PEDRO? YUNG SYOTA NI MARIA?” becomes “NAGAKIGITAGA MOGO BAGA SIGI PEGEDROGO? YUGUNG SYOGOTAGA NIGI MAGARYAGA?” They even practiced and reached that level of fluency from which they would utter sentence very quickly.

The same process happens now. Every generation would “invent” something that would eventually become a fad. The “GA” language died eventually, so will the Jejemon, which brings me to my 3rd point.

3. Jejebusting

I was tagged on a Facebook photo which shows a Jejebusting tool—something that looks like an insecticide. I laughed when I saw it, not because of the intended message, but because of the futility of the cause. Years of scientific research has proven how insects evolved and eventually became immune with insecticides. We might have killed some, but never the entire species. The same goes with Jejebusting. It’s just an exercise in futility. The best tool for Jejebusting—if there is any—would probably be indifference. Language is a tool for communication. If someone texts you using Jejenese and you ignore it, they would eventually shift from Jejenese to “normal” mode (if they really intend to transact and interact). At the end of the day, the Jejemons are the ones that should be alarmed and not us, because their sort of language would never become codified and formalized—unless, of course, if their number grows on a massive scale that they would outnumber the “normal” group.

4. Brain-based language research

If there’s anything that the “normal” group should worry, it should be our difficulty in decoding Jejenese. In 2008, Perea et. al. stated that “In sum, despite the fact that digits and letters may have different cortical mechanisms when they are presented together with other digits or letters (Polk et al., 2002), the cognitive system regularizes the shape of the leet digits (and letter-like symbols) embedded in words with very little cost.” This should worry us because if we find it difficult to decode Jejenese, or if we are too slow in decoding, then there might be something wrong in our cortical mechanisms, which may affect the way we think and understand.


Language is complex and to attribute the continuously declining English proficiency of Filipino students, in this sense grammar and spelling, to Jejenese would be too hasty, if not fallacious.

At a certain point in every rationale human being’s life, he/she becomes part of a certain language group. We may not want ourselves to be tagged as a Jejemon, but we were, we are. It just has a different name.

REPLEKSYON

Eunice (4 y.o.): Kuya Matt! Kuya Matt! Pakinggan mo [sabay turo sa dibdib] tumitibok noh? Kay Ate Leiah din tumitibok e. Sa’yo?

Matt: [thin smile] Hmmm…sige nga… pakinggan mo nga…

Eunice: Tumitibok din! Ang galing!

***

Bawat araw tumatanda tayo. Pero hindi araw-araw ay may pinagkakatandaan tayo. Nainggit ako sa pagka-inosente ni Eunice. Takbo lang sila ng takbo, laro lang ng laro. Hindi siya nababahala sa kung ano’ng meron sa paligid; ni hindi niya alintana ang eleksyon at ang kaakibat nitong kaguluhan.

Bawat araw ay bagong buhay. Pero madalas, tayo mismo ang kumikitil sa ating mga sarili dahil pinipilit nating isipin na mahirap ang buhay, na malungkot ang buhay, na maraming problema sa buhay. Sa lahat ng nabanggit, natatabunan ng mga pang-uri ang pangalan na s’yang dapat na maging sentro ng usapan. Mahirap, malungkot, maraming problema. Pero hindi ba’t yung buhay palang ay dapat ng ipagpasalamat?

Bawat araw ay may bago. Pero madalas ang tinitignan natin at binibigyan ng atensyon ay ang mga bagay na meron na tayo. Mahirap nga naman talagang baguhin ang nakasanayan na.

Bawat araw ay bagong aral. Pero madalas, hindi natin ito iniintindi dahil akala natin alam na natin ang lahat. Madalas iniisip nating kaya na natin, pero ang totoo, hindi pa naman pala. Madalas na nadidisgrasya ang taong maraming alam.

Bawat araw ay may dapat ipagpasalamat. Pero madalas hindi tayo nakukuntento, at ito…ito ang pinagmumulan ng hirap, lungkot, at problema.

Guilty ako sa lahat ng pinagsasabi ko sa itaas, at malamang, ikaw rin. Pero kung matutunan nating bitiwan lahat ng mga suntok sa buwan na pangarap natin, kung yayakapin natin ang katotohanang hindi natin kayang alamin at gawin lahat, at kung simulang tanggapin kung ano tayo at kung ano’ng meron tayo, pihadong magiging masaya ang buhay ng tao.

***

Ngayon, ilagay mo yung kanang kamay mo sa tapat ng dibdib mo at damhin ang tibok ng puso mo…

Tumitibok ba?

Ang galing no?

Election Fallacies

Since the election carnival started its tour, I have been asked by a number of friends, students, co-teachers, and relatives about “my president”. Since then too, I have been silent about the name and the reason beyond the silence. At the time I upload this post, I will see to it that everyone has already cast their ballot so as not to instigate any form of campaigning or propagandizing. Generally, I decided not to discuss anything election-related as much as I can because of the following fallacies:

Fallacy 1: Election = “Change”

I believe in the power of democracy, of having one’s voice heard through his/her vote. However, I beg to disagree on the “power of election” as it is perceived by Filipinos. In my analysis, the beauty of election is limited to “change” which may be merely defined as “transition of power and leadership”. Thus, I find it rather odd to see Filipinos squabbling about elections with the mindset that if so and so wins, their lives will “change”.

Most Filipinos see elections as and and-all-be-all solution. This is the most dangerous election fallacy. Yes, the government and its leaders play a vital role in the “changes” within the society, but I strongly believe that the “change” that we’re looking for is within us. Society changes because its major stakeholders, i.e. individuals, decide to change.

The gods in Olympus feed on human worship, so are the politicians. The moment Filipinos start considering that these politicians are mere fallible and normal human beings as we do, is the moment change will commence. The moment Filipinos start choosing education over trivial things is the moment change will abound.

I come from a poor family, and I’m not saying we’re rich now. But at least now, we eat more than three times a day, unlike before; at least now, we have something to pay for our bills. Did any politician help us get out of poverty? NONE. Ate and I struggled in PUP and PNU to get our degrees, get a job, and contribute to our family.


Fallacy 2: The power of the candidate

Fallacy 2 is strongly related to fallacy 1. Most candidates think that they’re gods, that they can pull the Philippines out of poverty since they were able to pull themselves out of poverty, that they can end poverty by simply ending something. But everyone knows it’s not as simple as that. These candidates should remember that they can’t do everything they want (provided that they also believe in Democracy). Sadly, the world is run by money, and people tend to embrace that ideal, which then fuels these blood sucking insects (to borrow Gore Vidal’s analogy, “poli” = many & “tics” = blood sucking insects).

Fallacy 3: Rich & Poor are equal during elections

This ideology may be true at some point, but never in its entirety. In concept, the rich and the poor are supposed to be equal during elections because everyone is only entitled to a single vote. However, some poor people would tend to sell their votes for a price. Yes, vote-buying and vote-selling is never acceptable. But can you blame them? They who are always burdened on how to make ends meet? For these people, a vote is of lesser importance as compared to food or money. Hence—though not entirely too—it may be fallacious to say that the rich and the poor are equal, because the poor would always have narrower options than the rich.

Fallacy 4: Voting for the “winnable”

Surveys have conditioned the mind of most Filipinos, and the worst result of this is to vote for the “winnable”. One day, while on a jeepney going to PNU, I overheard a passenger saying, “Ok sana si _____ kaso naman walang kapana-panalo. Sayang lang boto ko.” The stupidest election-related argument I have ever heard. A person who votes simply because of being swayed by surveys and popularity should never expect change. Voting is supposed to be a result of careful analysis and assessment. Voting a candidate should be based on personal criteria and not of audience impact.

***

Call me a pessimist, but I just don’t believe that “change” will happen soon, not because we lack good candidates, but because we decided not to change. The “change” that we have decided to have is mere surface value, e.g. how AkoMismo became more of a fad than a movement. How frustrating.

I voted for a person who believes in the same God as I do; someone who, like me, believes that he alone cannot do it. I voted him not because I believe him, but I believe in Him.

Let us all hope and pray for a clean and peaceful election turn out.

Payback

Today, I had the chance to read another article from one of my favorite columnists, Michael Tan, and as usual, his article inspired me to write.

Today’s article is a very simple one; he talked about the Cum Laudes, which he preferred translating as “with praise” rather than the usual “with honors”

But indeed, who should be praised? Those who had medals hung upon their necks during the graduation day?

His answer was indirect. He answered by discussing a most recent development in the University of the Philippines, the RSA (Return Service Agreement). The idea is not new. It simply states that UP graduates, specifically those from the UP College of Medicine, would be compelled to serve the country for two years after they graduate. If they fail to return the service within five years after graduating, they will be compelled by law to pay back double the cost of their education, minus the tuition they paid. Upon entry to UP, a freshman will sign a memorandum of agreement which stipulates the RSA.

After reading the article, I can’t help but ask how UP can be so aggressive and somehow fast in making productive moves such as this, and why PNU can’t. [Although in fairness, they have yet to prove their might by implementing this plan.]

They focus on doctors and I don’t see any reason why this should not be applied in the premier institution for Teacher training. Anyway, DOST scholars in PNU are also bound by the same concept.

Implementing such an agreement in PNU would create a big impact in salvaging PNU from a possible “natural death” and later on rescuing the Philippine education system from the mire that it has been sunk. Most students in PNU do not really want to become teachers. Most of them were sent there by their parents because of cheap tuition. And this seemingly simple problem becomes the root cause of the degrading quality of students. Most students just come to school for the heck of attending and not for learning and creating “scholarly outputs”. Most unfortunately, these spoils affect the potentials. Weeding out the rotten fruits would retain the freshness and potency of those who really want to teach.

But then again, I can just dream for PNU. I can only contribute by doing my part—teach.

The Beauty of Psalms 23

Almost every Christian is familiar with the ever famous Psalms 23 [probably equally popular as John 3:16]. In my case, I have repetitively memorized, sang, and even mimed this chapter during my Sunday School days at church.

But true enough, with constant study and reading, new realizations come about. Indeed, memorizing it isn’t enough.

Three weeks ago, we were once again privileged to hear the Word of God from a writer’s point of view—Mrs. Evelyn Miranda-Feliciano’s. She began by lauding David for his writing prowess—summing up everything that he wants to say in 6 verses. Indeed, as what Shakespeare said, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Moreover, David exudes a basic requirement for being a writer. He states everything vividly and he extracts his words and arranges them based on experiences, observations, and imaginations.

I am not a Bible scholar, nor a Literature major, but I will try my best to present the beauty of Psalms 23 and recreate what Mrs. Feliciano shared to us.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

Verse 1 shows contentment and refuge. In two simple sentences, David showed how confident he is. The verse also shows trust and faith in God. Moreover, this begins the “literariness” of the verse, since it previews David’s play of words and metaphors. Here he starts by showing that God is the shepherd, and he [David] is the sheep. Since he was a shepherd himself, he was able to create a picture of someone/something fearful [sheep] and someone brave, courageous, and strong [the Lord].

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

In verse 2, he continues to express his confidence; this time adding a serene and peaceful milieu, i.e. “green pastures” and “quiet waters”. He succeeds in being coherent as well, because grazing animals like sheep need a sort of “utopic” place such as what David pictured out. However, one very important lesson that I’d like to stress out is the fact that God merely LEADS us beside the quiet waters. It wasn’t mentioned that God will GET a cup and FEED us with it. In short, this verse tells us that God WILL GUIDE, but it’s up to us whether to drink or not, i.e. “nasa D’yos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa”.

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Sheep easily get stressed. In fact, when a sheep is scared it experiences a state of shock to the extent of being petrified, literally. In verse 3, David shows how the Lord restores the soul of a sheep whenever it gets stressed out or scared.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

Another characteristic of a sheep is its inability to know where to go. This is the reason why it needs a shepherd. In human terms, sheep are G.I. (geographically idiot). However, in verse 4, David presents a sheep who is G.I. but at the same time G.G. (God-guided). Indeed, a sheep guided by its shepherd will not be in trouble because a responsible and loving shepherd will fight even the fiercest wolves in order to protect his sheep.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Verse 5 unravels the fact that God has plans for us. And despite struggles and problems, God’s plan is at the center of it. Another important thing to note is the last two lines of this verse. These two lines show how God provides to those who believe, to those who follow. Verse 5 also shows the shift from the metaphor. Here, David prepares the reader to move out of the sheep and apply his reflections to individual lives.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

From beginning to end, David presents an aura of “sureness”, a kind of confidence that most of us don’t have; the kind of enduring confidence amidst enemies, problems, and personal struggles. Hence, Verse 6 serves as a motivation and a reminder. Motivating us that having faith in God results in good life, and Reminding us that those who believe will be with God, FOREVER.

The Case of Ringo Quijano

Yeah, you can call this entry corny.

I’m hooked with “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo”. It’s probably what Jen always tells me whenever I criticize her being hooked with Pinoy Big Brother, “Baket? Wala ka bang kabakyaan sa katawan, ha?!”

This week, the story revolved on the case of Ringo Quijano, the soap’s character with a psychological disorder (particularly bipolar, I guess). Well, aside from Coco Martin’s acting prowess, the character of Ringo Quijano is something very important to analyze in relation to education and admissions.

During the interview phase of the admission for the English majorship, I failed a number of applicants for the simple reason of not being able to pass the (supposed) standards of being an English major. With the way they speak and think, I was able to assess problems that may arise in the future—specifically on how they would handle Major subjects and later on English classes.

Ringo’s case shouldn’t have reached such an extent if Frank and Astrud did not forge Ringos’ medical reports. Flying schools are expected to be very rigid in terms of screening student applicants because pilots are required to be stable physically and psychologically. He shouldn’t have reached such state of depression if he was given a different option earlier in his life.

In the same light, PNU is supposed to have rigid admission policies because PNUans hold the future of the education system. Admitting the unqualified is like starting a small hole and getting it poked repeatedly as time goes by, until everything gets destroyed. Pity should not be the case, because before you know it, the “help” you offered started false hopes.

Nah. Nothing regarding education is corny.

Mga Larawan sa Facebook (Isang introspeksyon)

T’wing makikita ko sa Facebook ang mga kaibigan at kaklase kong nasa ibang bansa, tinitignan ko ng maigi ang mga pictures nila, hindi lang dahil sa gusto kong makita ang background o gusto kong makita kung tumaba ba sila o tumangkad, kundi gusto kong alamin ang lalim ng kanilang ngiti.

Sa t’wing mababalitaan ko na nasa ibang bansa pala si ganito at si ganoon, madalas kong matanong ang sarili ko: “Ako kaya? Ba’t nga kaya ako andito, at wala doon?”

Makailang beses ko na naisulat ito, at t’wing sumusulat ako wala naman talaga akong nakukuhang kongkretong sagot.

Sa totoo lang, masaya naman kase ako sa “career” ko sa PNU. Masaya magturo sa mga kapwa mo iskolar ng bayan. Yun nga lang, mas dumadami na ang mga burgis at mga mabababaw mag-isip na estudyante. Isa kase sa rason ko sa pagtuturo sa PNU e ang patuloy na matuto mula sa sariwang ideya ng mga mas bata sa’kin. Kaso, mas madalas akong maimbyerna ngayon sa katamaran at kababawan ng karamihan ng estudyante. Ewan ko ba kung sang planeta galing yung mga ganon (o baka singaw lang sa lupa). Busy daw. Stressed daw. Weh? Di naman halata, nakakapagmake-up pa nga e, nakakaporma pa, at higit sa lahat, nakakapagupdate pa ng Facebook.

Madalas, naitatanong ko sa sarili, worthwhile pa nga ba mag-stay? May pinatutunguhan pa ba ito? Aral ako ng aral, prepare ako ng prepare, tanong ako ng tanong (na sa huli, ako din naman ang sumasagot).

Minsan napabuntong hininga na lang si Mam Marla nung nagkukwentuhan kame sa department, nag-iba na nga talaga ang prayoridad ng mga estudyante. Ayokong tanggapin sa sarili kong tumatanda na ako. Kaya hangga’t kaya ko, pilit kong ikinokonekta ang sarili ko sa makabagong lifestyle ng mga bata ngayon. Pero hindi ko talaga magetlaks kung ano’ng dahilan ng pagkapariwara ng karamihan; kung bakit nakakagawa sila ng ilang bagay, pero ang pagbabasa at pag-iisip e nakakalimutan nila; kung bakit nagagawa nilang magpakyut at magpaka-alila sa mga syota nila, pero ang pag-galang at pagsunod sa mga nakatatanda at guro e nawaglit na sa isip nila.

(At eto matindi d’yan, pag naghirap yan later on in life, maninisi yan ng iba, ng gubyerno, ng mundo, ng D’yos, samantalang yung katamaran n’ya lang naman yung rason.)

Madalas, naitatanong ko, kung ganto na ang tipo ng mga kabataan, may patutunguhan pa nga kaya ang bansa? Kase kung wala, e baket pa nga ba ako andito? Ano nga bang pinaglalaban ko? Sa taas ng pangarap ko, habang buhay lang akong titingala kung magtitigil ako dito.

Sa t’wing titignan ko ang mga pictures na ina-upload ko sa Facebook, tinitignan kong maigi ang aking sarili. Hindi dahil sa gusto kong makita kung gwapo ba ako o mukang tanga sa picture ko (hindi na rin naman kase yun isyu sa’ken), kundi gusto kong alamin ang lalim ng aking mga ngiti. Muka naman akong masaya. Pero masaya nga ba ako? Ba ewan. Siguro. Marahil. Maybe. Probably. Perhaps. Mmm…

Isa na namang blog na walang pinatunguhan.