15 - Storytelling

Did you remember when your mom/dad used to read bedtime stories for you to sleep?  Stories that really affects you. Stories that you can’t get over of. And Stories that you thought true.

A couple of weeks ago, English Resource Center conducted an event “Ignite speech: Confessions of a book-a-holic & Storytelling”. Students who are enrolled in World Literature class needs to have atleast two participants in order to represent their block.  Our block represents by our own Jemima Faith Yucoco and Marti Yokoi and their title is the legend of the coconut tree. The legend of the coconut tree was contains of different characters which was played by the five of us from ECE151. The play was indeed great. We all have it’s own role to act with. For me, the best part of the play was when it’s the animals turn to shine (HAHA) no. lol just kidding. I just say that because I’m the snake there. Hahaha. But, I think what makes us look great is that because of the lights (thanks to Wilbert) and of course, it is also because of our caring adviser Ms. Nina. I remember right from the day we met her, from the cheers and chants, story-telling, and other things.. up until speech choir she never leave us alone. She always guides us. If it wasn’t her, we would never bring the gold trophy again. We would never win.

Moreover, this competition is something that you can’t forget of. It’s unique. I don’t know but I love this kind of program. It’s entertaining. It’s not the typical type of program that others do. Well, I just love hearing and reading stories. And choosing legends stories is really nice because it’s like you’re going back to the days where you are still young.

14 - Who wants to be a millionaire?

Who wants to be a millionaire?

Right after when our basketball game finished, I and my friends went to the Auditorium to support Jemima Yucoco, Winzy Casil and Napoleon Labuson. They are the ones who represent our block.

Who wants to be a millionaire was another program that was conducted by English Resource Center Faculty. And Ms. Eliz was the one who made those questions. Speaking of questions, I don’t know but I when I saw those questions, I wanted to leave as soon as possible. Hahaha lol (I’m exaggerating)

To know more about “Who wants to be a millionaire”, let me tell you its definition. According to Wikipedia, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is also known as WW2BAM. It is a Filipino game show based on the original British format of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The main goal of the game is to win 2 million Philippine pesos answering 12 multiple-choice (previously 15) questions correctly. There are four lifelines: 50:50 (fifty-fifty), Phone A Friend, and Switch and Double Dip. The latter two replaced Ask the Audience, which was used until the 2010 seasons and of Phone-a-Friend until the 2012 season and reused for the 5th Incarnation replacing the People's Pick lifeline instead.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? was broadcast from 2000 to 2002 on the government-sequestered Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, produced by Viva Televisionand was hosted by actor Christopher de Leon.

On May 23, 2009, the game show returned under a new home over TV5, with actor-host-comedian Vic Sotto as the new host.

The show aired its season finale on October 7, 2012 to give way to another game show hosted by Sotto, The Million Peso Money Drop (the Philippine version of The Million Pound Drop Live created by Endemol).

However, the show returned on air September 15, 2013 for a new season together with Pinoy Explorer and Wow Mali! Pa Rin in exchange to the now defunct talent show Talentadong Pinoy. This incarnation ended on January 11, 2015 in preparation for the launching of Move It: The Clash of the Street dancers on January 25, 2015.

The show returned on May 10, 2015 at 7pm, replacing Move It: The Clash of the Street dancers which held its Grand Finals two weeks before the launch of the new incarnation.”

This is a competition that you will learn a lot of things. This includes advantage for students like us. It is really helpful because through this competition our  knowledge in English would widen.

sources: (photo from Jem Yucoco)

13 - SHOCKING MOMENT (Speech choir)

-- April 21, 2016 ( Thursday) The day where the last program for the English term  speech choir and ignite speech competition. Of course, English Resource Center faculty are the ones who organized and made this program successful. The program was started with an opening program by which Ms. Eliz thanked her English Resource Center Family. After her message, the slideshow pop up on screen.  The first thing that flashed on screen was their solo pictures which all of students refreshed and shouted for their own advisers. But, when the photos of Get-togethers, bonding, and happy moments they had shared for the past couple of years were flashed, the crowd became quite. The crowd feels sad knowing that most of Professors wouldn’t be part of the English Resource Center again.  

In 3 months of being with the ERC faculty, I can say that they are undeniably great. They are professionals in their own way. They are the ones who are great to be with. Indeed, it’s true that they are who you can count on.

Back to business, the speech choir was composed of participants from (4) four block from ABMA and (2) two from SOE. We are all freshmen students. ABMA 153 were the first who performed followed by ABMA 152,  ABMA 154 , ABMA 155, ABMA 151 (from school of multimedia), next is CPE 151, and of course our block ECE 151 (from School of Engineering). Each block represents their speech choir presentation great. It was amusing. ABMA students were really good that’s why I as well as my blockmates (ECE-151) claimed that we would never win this competition. Right from the start, when the ABMA 153 showed, we are really nervous because we know that most of the faculty and students in the Auditorium are waiting for our turn. They are expecting that we would bring the gold trophy again. But, Oppppsss! Guess what? We won the title of being the 1^st runner up. Yasssss! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT RIGHT?? WE WON! IT’S REALLY UNXPECTED. Up until now, it’s still not syncing on my mind. Hahaha. Still buffering -_- All the late nights practices and all the sacrifices were worth it.  

12 - Zombadings

“Yuck! Gay!”

“He deserved nothing!”

“They are immortals!”

Words like these are somehow happening in real life. Words that they hear almost every day. Words that they are offend of. Words that hurts that results them to break down.    

Gossiping into one’s shame, laughing at someone’s mistakes, and judging them without knowing the truth are the things that most of us always do. But, why? How do we do that?  How do we say those offending words? When in fact, we hate hearing those and we don’t want to feel that.

It’s indeed true that people will always be people. People will always judge you.  People will always say something about what you do and will always see nothing but mistakes.

--Tuesday, A couple of weeks ago. Ms. Eliz watched us the film "Zombadings". 


      

Zombadings is a story about a guy named Remington who was cursed into a future of becoming what he hates the most- a gay man. It started when he teased a gay “Bading!!” and laughed at him where he had just seen in the Cementery. However, his new girly fashion (sexy figured tight shirts and cute shorts) started, then a change in his beki language (atey!), followed by an evolution in his physical movements and sexual preference. He can’t control what is happening in him.

Each night, he is haunted by someone he doesn’t even have idea who was it. While all this is happening, a killer targeting gay people are killing them for no apparent reason. Remington, together with his friends, tries to find a solution to his problem and that is to break the curse and solve the mysteries about the killings that are happening in their town. Moreover, all the undead sisters rise from their graves to take revenge..

In the end, the only solution that they have is to pass the curse to someone. By that, his father decided to sacrifice and claim the curse so that his son won’t suffer from it.

Furthermore, this is a story that makes you laugh harder from the start until it ends. But that’s not just all about that, because this comedy film has also moral lessons that all of us should know and learn. It has a message that says that we are not born to judge, discriminate, hate, reject, ridicule or degrade a person for being homosexual. We are all humans. 

11 - LITTLE BEAR. BIG ADVENTURE (Paddington)

What if you found something that is new to your eyes? Not just one but more than hundreds…
What will you feel? What will you do?   

There was an explorer that goes to the darkest Peru. His name is Montgomery Clyde.  Montgomery

Clyde was researching for a species of bears. Even though he tried to take one of the bears, he eventually decided to stay with them. As the time goes by, he became friends with the bears Aunt Lucy  and Uncle Pastuzo. He then realized that bears can be as smart as people too. The explorer learned a lot of things from bears. Also, the bears learned a lot of things from people. But they were parted because the explorer needs to go back to where he lives.

In continuation of the story, there was an earthquake that parted the young bear and old bear couple Aunt Lucy  and Uncle Pastuzo. The trees and other things in the jungle we destroyed. Aunt Lucy and young bear were the only one who still alive. Uncle Pastuzo was nowhere to be found but only his cap which was gave by an explorer Montgomery Clyde.

Auntie Lucy grab young bear to hide on a little boat inside the ferry. Aunt Lucy said that young bear was the only who will go in the London to find the explorer because the explorer would be the one who would protect them. The young bear found himself on the train where he met the brown family. He stayed in the house of the said family but a few days passed, the father of the family Henry decides Paddington needs to go because the young bear didn’t do anything good but let the brown family bring into harm.

Moreover, the daughter of the great explorer wanted to be powerful and rich in the world.  With that, she planned to take the young bear from the brown’s house. As she successfully took the bear, the brown family hurriedly went to that place to rescue Paddington.

In the end, the young bear found a real home and it’s the home of the brown family.

This story is about the important relationship among the family members. It reminds us that family should stay together. Even the hardest time come, we should never easily give up.

10 - Benjamin Alves Poetry Reading and Birthday Celebration

--Friday, March 18, 2016. The event entitled "Benjamin Alves Poetry Reading and Birthday Celebration" was held in MPH 1 at Asia Pacific College. Benjamin Alves? That’s familiar, I said in my mind. 

As we enter the MPH 1, we surprised about the event because we thought that we are going to watch and listen to slam poetry's competitors. But, the event wasn't what we expected. It is a birthday party of one of the leading stars of the movie "Sana Dati" by which Ms. Eliz watched us in AVR. His name is Benjamin Alves (as andrew) in Sana Dati. 

 The event was hosted by one of the comedian of GMA7. Also, The PEP writers, the 24 Oras of GMA7 and staffs were there. So as expected Laughing and Excitement is what covered the crowd. However, freshmen students who are multimedia arts and engineering are the ones who are in the said event.

After a few minutes, the doors finally opened where the star of the GMA7 Benjamin Alves showed up in front of us. While he is walking into the stage, the crowd sings the usual song “Happy birthday”. It is like we go back to being a child. Hahaha. How I wish I can go back to those times. Where what I just know is that to eat, to sleep and to play. (HAHA)

Moreover, Benjamin Alves isn’t just an artist who is good in acting because he is also good in sports (basketball) and academics. He took English Literature in University of Guam and graduated as Summa Cum Laude. How smart right?  He is also sweet and close to people. He is not like other famous who didn’t mind those ordinary people because he is really approachable. (You can see our picture below hihi)

He is also a blogger. In fact, He shared to us what poetry he had just written before. The poetry is really a heart breaking and it seems that it was written after he came from a break up.

Furthermore, the event was really awesome and that was the unexpected one. The fact that he shared his blessings to us and chose our school to celebrate his birthday is what reflects of how good he is.

9 - Turn left, Turn right

Screaming, jumping, patting hard or even striking with a use of hand to someone who’s beside you are what we used to do when we are watching “Turn left, Turn right”. We are really affected much to the movie.

Before I begin, I would like to share to you what this movie is all about. 

“Turn left, Turn right is a movie about two people (Gigi Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro), who are destined to be together but by some twist of circumstances they never find each other. The story is based on the illustrated book A Chance of Sunshine by Taiwanese author Jimmy Liao.

John Liu (Takeshi Kaneshiro) is a violinist who works from occupation to work. He meets June, who offers to give him a ride home. The following day he sees her sitting tight for him on the left corner of his building which makes him abstain from heading off to one side of his building.

Eve Choi (Gigi Leung) is an interpreter for a book distributed organization. Her occupation is to make an interpretation of outside books into Chinese. During the evening while deciphering the awfulness novel she gets terrified and supposes her house is spooky. The following day she sees a startling looking tree to one side of her flat building and, scared, she declines to go to one side of her building.

John and Eve meet coincidentally at the park with fountain, when he helps her get her papers that have fallen into the wellspring. They discover that they had met one another when they were younger at an amusement park, when both their schools had sorted out a field excursion to the same spot.

That night, both are upbeat and eager to have met one another once more, however both likewise came down with flu because of the rainstorm.

The following day the two are crushed to discover that the telephone numbers they had traded are incomprehensible because of the paper getting wet during the rainstorm.“ 

This became the reason why it is hard for them to find each other again.

Moreover, I enjoyed watching this movie because I love this kind of genre. Even though the last part that was being showed to us was didn’t really happen in real life, I will always admire the one who made this story because the overall story is really awesome. The imagination of the creator is really wide. 

8 - Be Smart! Don't Start!

When we smoke cigarettes we are bringing colossal dangers with our health. The uplifting news? Stopping smoking is the most important thing a man can do to enhance their health. But, how do we apply it to ourselves? How do we help smokers to quit on smoking?

That is why anti-smoking campaign was being organized because their mission is to let people know what is smoking all about. This campaign was held in Asia Pacific College and Engr. Emer Rojas was the one who was being invited. He is a survivor and a change smoker. By this campaign, he shared to us what we should know about smoking.

Moreover, Anti-smoking campaign main objectives are to convince and encourage people to stop smoking. Smoker or not, we should be careful for that because smoking can cause or worsen numerous diseases and conditions. (Below are about smoking facts)

Smoking facts are the following:

Did you know that: Smoking causes the following cancers: mouth, throat, larynx, lung, esophagus, pancreas, kidney, bladder, stomach, cervix and acute myeloid leukemia.  

Did you know that: Smoking also causes premature wrinkles, makes the skin dry and leathery, and causes yellow teeth, tooth decay, and bad breath.

Did you know that: The majors daily smokers are teenager.

Did you know that: Using a stick of cigarettes our life can lose 4 minutes of it. Imagine that

Did you know that: One of the reasons why other people used to smoke is because of depression etc.

Did you know that: Cigarettes are made of ammonia (toilet cleaner), butane (lighter fluid), cadmium (batteries), stearic acid (candle wax), hexamine (barbecue lighter), toluene (industrial solvent), nicotine (insecticide), acetic acid (vinegar), methane (sewer gas), arsenic (poison), carbon monoxide, Methanol (rocket fuel)

However, with anti-smoking campaign, a thousand of people in the world will be aware on this problem. With smokefree own little deeds, this may definitely help a lot of people because this campaign is about to help a lot of smokers to quit on smoking. It is to let us know what cigarettes can affect to our body and being affected even in our way of living.

Sources:

https://www.smokershelp.net/facts-tools/50-health-risks-of-smoking/

  

7 - The man with numerous appearance

An actor, a singer, talk show host, a comedian, a writer, an excellent cook, and an impersonator. Is there anything that Jon Santos can't do? This is also what I’ve been asking for.

It’s been a  week when Jon Santos visited Asia Pacific College and being invited to talk about his life, definitely not what he impersonated with.

As he came up on stage, students can’t help but to laugh hard because of his funny jokes. What’s new? He is the only one Jon Santos. He makes everyone happy and put smiles on their faces. But, who is really Jon Santos behind those impersonations? Who is Jon Santos in his personal life?

John Santos grew up in a family of military men. However, his life is not a typical story that happens in real life whose family disagrees on his gender. He said that he is so blessed and lucky enough to have a loveable father who completely accepts him from who he was. Jon Santos is well-known as a great comedian of all time. He has appeared in various television sitcoms and has been impersonating famous and infamous personalities for more than 20 years now. He has accomplished more than 50 distinct impersonations, such as  “Basana Roces” (Rosana Roces), “Armida Sigyon-Makareyna” (Armida Siguion-Reyna), “Sherap Espada “ and his wife “Sen. Lhoy” (Pres. Erap And Senator Loi Estrada), “Shawie” (Sharon Cuneta), “Bro. Mike Volare” (Bro. Mike Velarde), “Tita Kory” (Cory Aquino), “Sen. Meeryam” (Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago), “Pres. Gloring” (PGMA), “Krissy Anino” (Kris Aquino), “Okrah Weenfree” (Oprah Winfrey). “Aling Dioning” (Dionisia Pacquiao), “Pia Horseback” (Pia Wurtzbach), “Grace Po” (Grace Poe), etc., and "Ate Vi" (Vilma Santos) and "Juan Flavor" (Sen. Juan Flavier)  is probably two of his most famous impersonations.

Impersonation was never his first career path and profession way. In fact, after graduating with a degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines in 1987 he was set to teach high school Economics.

As he continues telling his story, he said that back when he was younger, he used to copy his teachers gestures and how the way they talk. Later on he then realized that impersonation is his great passion.

Moreover, the main purpose of his speech is that what he learned in his life. And these are the 10 things that he shared to us:

1. Listen.
2. All learning will enrich you.
3. Learning what you love will make you even richer, make you the richest person.
4. Knowledge is everything.
5. Win the war before you fight it.
6. Adjust, adopt, evolve
7. This is all rootless strategy.
8. Always be grateful.
9. You are never alone in your journey. You are always going to be pilgrims.
10. Love yourself and then let go of yourself. Lose yourself because it’s the only way to live.

As he ended his speech, this statement is what remains in my mind “Every second is an open door. Every breathe is an opportunity. Nothing is so easy you can take it easy. No one is expendable enough that you treat him unimportant. No failure is fatal. No success is earned. All successes are gifts and always love. So love.”

However, It’s a great pleasure to have him. Telling what he is in his personal life and what he has learned is a great thing he shared to us.   

Sources:
https://allaboutargao.wikispaces.com/Jon+Santos
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/344664/publicaffairs/powerhouse/jon-santos-growing-up-gay-in-a-family-of-military-men

6 - Amado V. Hernandez

Amado V. Hernandez

A filipino author who became popular because of his written great poets is what I  know about Amado V. Hernandez since then. But, who is really Amado V. Hernandez? What's the story behind those poets? What and who is his inspiration to write? Through this research we will find out those questions.

Amado V. Hernandez (September 13, 1903 and died March 24, 1970). He was born in Sagrada Familia in  Hagonoy, Bulacan but grew up in Tondo, Manila, where he studied at the Manila High School and at the American Correspondence School. He married Filipino actress Atang de la Rama. 

He was a young father at the early age. The couple were both identified as National Artist. Hernandez for Literature , while de la Rama for Stage, Dance and Music.

"While being a reporter, columnist and editor of several newspaper and magazines including Watawat, Mabuhay, Pilipino, Makabayan and Sampaguita, he also honed his poetic craft. He received the Republic Cultural Heritage Award, a number of Palancas and an award from the National Press Club for his journalistic achievements.

In 1947, he became the president of the Congress of Labor Organization (CLO). His activities and writings led him to imprisonment from 1951 to 1956. Even in prison, he was still a leader and artist, spearheading education programs and mounting musical productions, plays and poetry reading. It was during his incarceration that he wrote one his masterpiece, Mga Ibong Mandaragit (Predatory Birds). His prison writings were smuggled out by his wife, zarzuela star Honarata “Atang” dela Rama, who would become our National Artist for Music and Theater.

Ka Amado died on 24 March 1970 in the wake of the First Quarter Storm, whose leaders and activists recited his words. He left a legacy that includes Isang Dipang Langit (An Arm-Stretch of Sky), Kung Tuyo na ang Luha Mo, Aking Bayan (When Your Tears Have Dried, My Country), Panata sa Kalayaan (Pledge to Freedom), and the novel Luha ng Buwaya (Crocodile Tears).

He was posthumously honored as our National Artist for Literature in 1973."

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Moreover, Ka Amado offered voices to the abused workers and laborers, rendering them effective verses and plots that ought to have gone down as a convincing annal of a battle of an individuals, yet at the same time end up being a persuasive instrument in constituting change and strengthening. An abstract craftsman that he is, Ka Amado stays to be a social and political pioneer, quick getting to be to be a symbol of the regular workers.

Sources:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/796596.Amado_V_Hernandez

https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amado_V._Hernandez

5 - Sana Dati

Simple but undeniably great film. This is the word that immediately comes out on my mind. 

"Sana Dati" is a cinemalaya film and a trilogy film. According to my research, the "Confessional" (2007) was the first one then "Mangatyanan" (the blood  trail, 2009) and followed by "Sana Dati" who was created about 3 years ago. The main characters of the said film are Lovie Poe as Andrea, Paulo Avelino as Andrew, Tj Trinidad and Benjamin Alves. Each of them played their roles in a great manner. Even the extras gave life to the characters they played. I like the way they act because it’s like it didn’t seem they was acting. They act normal and not exaggerated.

Moreover, "Sana Dati," on its surface, is an extremely influencing sentiment. It centres about a lady who's going to marry someone she doesn't love and whose wedding is tossed into confusion when a mysterious person arrives and reminds her of the man she really loves.

“Love has always been defined by winners. The greatest lovers are those who lived content with it or died inspired by it. "Sana Dati" is not a film about winners. It is not about the fictional poet, named after Spanish director Julio Medem, who wrote the most beautiful verses about the feeling of being in love prior to dying. It is not about Andrew, who, like fictional Medem, died with a heart overflowing with love. The heart of "Sana Dati" lies with the losers, the ones we tend to forget when the most intense statements about love have already been declared. It is about Andrea, whose life goes on despite the tragedy of her one true love perishing. It is about Robert, who is about to marry a girl who does not love him. It is about Andrew, who stirs trouble in somebody else’s romantic affairs.”

- http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/40302-sana-dati-movie-review-francis-joseph-cruz

This statement describes itself.  However, for me this is a film that focuses on a reality in  life. 

4 - HOORAY FOR SOE!!

Last Friday, 5th of February. "The Chants and Cheers Contest" has been held at the APC auditorium. It is for the freshmen students of APC who have their English term in each year. Each block of the School of Multimedia Arts and Engineering are required to participate on the said event.

The flow of the program was really good. The competitors are consisting of four blocks from SOMA and two blocks from SOE. Each block presents their own cheers and chants very well.

And there it goes, the much waited of the program is that announcing the winners. After Mr. Nomer Yuzon announced ABMA 151 as the 2^nd runner-up. I and My block mates were all stuttering because of what CPE 151 has shown to us is really amazing.  But on the other side, we were so happy supporting and cheering to each other.

We do not want to expect more but we just can’t help it because we know that in this case we tried our best even though most of the time we weren’t complete during practices. And to be honest, before we came up and present on stage. Our chant takes a week revising it.

Luckily, my block ECE 151 (From School of Engineering) won as the champion of chants and cheers contest. We were so glad being held as the champion because it is finally our first time to make our school of engineering proud.

Moreover, I notice that this is a contest where each block should have Cooperation. In order to win the competition, the team needed to have good cooperation with each other and be able to beat the other team. With cooperation, nothing is impossible because a team that doesn’t work together is not a team. It is merely a group of individuals.