Pasensya na! Tao lang.

Ayon sa Genesis, nilikha ang tao sa imahe ng Diyos. Siya ay purong inosente at mabuti sa pagkapanganak at  ang kamatayan ay hindi likas sa kanya. Subalit nang dahil sa pagsuway ni Eba sa kautusan ng Diyos na huwag kainin ang banal na prutas ay sinasabing nagbago ang lahat. Diumano, ang tao ay naging makasalanan na at ang kamatayan ay umiral. Dito marahil nagmula ang kaisipan natin tuwing nagkakamali tayo:

"Pasensya na! Tao lang."

Wala ako sa lugar para manghusga sa sinasabi ng Bibliya. Wala rin akong mapanghahawakan para mapatunayan kung totoo man ito o hindi. Gayunpaman, masasabi ko lang na ang mabuhay sa kaisipang pwede akong magkamali dahil yun ang likas sa tao ay hindi kaayaaya.

Maaari tayong magkamali sa buhay. Minsan nga'y hindi natin sinasadyang gawin ang mga 'yon. Mas lalo nating ginagamit bilang katwiran ang pagiging tao na isa namang malaking pagkakamali. Siguro nga't normal na kung tayo'y magkamali pero di dapat natin hayaan ang ating mga sarili na hindi man lang magkusang gumawa ng kabutihan o umiwas sa pagkakasala. Natural man o nakasanayan ang isang bagay, mahalaga pa rin kung ano ang nararapat at nakabubuti.

Ang isang pagkakamali nina Adan at Eba ay hindi makatwirang dahilan para tayo'y mamuhay nang nagsasala.  Di dapat ito ang nagdidikta sa kung papaano tayo makitungo sa ating kapaligiran, sa ating kapwa at sa ating mga sarili. Kaisipan lang iyon at hindi buong katotohanan. May lugar pa tayo para magbago, para maging iba sa nakakarami. Huwag nating tularan ang ibang tao na hindi ipinaglalaban ang kabutihan na naaayon sa kautusan ng Diyos kung kaya't nahuhulog sila sa lungga ng kasamaan.

EL CIEGO ni AMORSOLO

El Ciego (The Blind Man)
ni Fernando Cueto Amorsolo. 1929.

Si Fernando Amorsolo ay kilalang Pilipinong pintor na hindi lang dalubhasa sa teknikal na aspeto kundi pati rin sa mahusay na pag-iinterpreta ng kanyang mga obra maestra. Ang madalas ngang tema ng kanyang mga gawa ay ang kulturang Pilipino. Nailalarawan niya ang mga karanasan ng isang Pilipino.

Tampok sa larawan ang isang lalakeng nagpapatugtog ng gitara. Alam nating ang gitara ay isang instrumentong parte na ng ating kultura bilang mga Pilipino. Kinahihiligan ito ng ating mga ninuno mula pa sa sinaunang panahon. Sa mga pagdiriwang tulad ng piyesta o di kaya sa panliligaw gaya ng panghaharana, di nawawala ang gitara. Nagiging simbolo nga ang gitara ng pagiging masiyahin at dalisay ng mga Pilipino. Sa piyesta, ito ang nagpapasigla ng mga tao. Kung pinapatugtog, nagsisimula na ang sayawan at kantahan. Sa harana naman, naipapahiwatig ng isang lalaki ang kanyang pagmamahal sa babaeng minamahal. Lahat ng ito'y may positibong idinudulot o kinahahatnan. Kaya naman masasabi nating ang El Ciego ay isang may tradisyunal na konsepto batay na rin sa interpretasyong makukuha natin mula sa gitara.

Wansapanataym

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Ang kwento ng Pagong at ng Matsing ay maituturing nating isang pabula o isang maikling kwento na may kaagabay na aral para sa mga mambabasa nito. Dito, ginagamit ang mga hayop bilang mga tauhan na nagsasalita, kumikilos at nabubuhay na parang isang tunay na tao. Siyempre pa't meron itong apat mahahalagang elemento ng isang maikling kwento: ang tauhan, tagpuan, banghay at tema. Nakapaloob naman sa banghay ang tunggalian at resolusyon. Ang lahat ng ito ay may masinop na ugnayan sa isa't isa kung gayon mayroon siyang organikong kaisahan.

Maihahalintulad ang kwento ng Pagong at Matsing sa maraming makabagong gawa pero nasa tradisyunal na konsepto. Magandang halimbawa ang mga napapalabas sa Wansapanataym. Tulad ng sa kwento, pinapakita rito ang ideyal na estado ng realidad kung saan maiuugnay natin ang kasabihang "Tuso man daw ang matsing, naiisahan pa rin.".

Dahil katangian ng Panitikang Tradisyunal ang Istiryutipong Tauhan, may alam na tayong mga mambabasa kung ano ang maaaring mangyayari sa mga tauhan o kung ano ang kahahangtungan ng buong kwento. Madalas, ang naaapi ay magwawagi sa huli habang ang nang-aapi ay uuwing talunan. Marami ring ibang istiryutipong nailahad sa kwento maliban sa moralidad ng mga tauhan. Naroon din ang kasarian. Kalimitang inuugnay sa mga babae ang pagiging inosente, mahina, kawawa at mabuti. Sa lalaki naman ay malakas, sinungaling at masama. Sa madaling salita, mayroon laging magkasalungat, magkatunggali at magkaiba. Nakikita sa ganitong paraan kung sino o ano ang dapat tularan o pagkukunan ng aral.

Sa Wansapanataym...simula pa lang sa Pamagat ay minsan nalalaman na natin kung sinu-sino ang mga tauhan o ano ang pag-iikutan ng kwento. Dahil sa mga istiryutipo ay natutukoy din natin agad kung sinu-sino ang mga kontrabida at hindi. Hindi rin natin mailimita lang ang lulan at panahon dahil maaari nating maiugnay sa kahit anong araw o kahit saang lugar ang mga pangyayari sa kwento. Epektibo ang paglalahad ng mga pangyayari kung kaya't malinaw ang SGW (simula-gitna-wakas), kronoholikal o linyar ang ayos at tahasang naibibigay ang aral. Lahat ng ito ay mas lalong pinapalakas ang paninindigan ng may-akda hinggil sa paksa na siya ring tema ng kwento. Ngayon, alam na nating may kaugnayan ang lahat ng mga elemento sa kwento kaya't masasabi talaga nating lantad ang organikong kaisahan nito. Maayos ang paglahad ng mga tauhan, tagpuan, mga pangyayari at aral sa kwento. Walang sagabal, walang labis, walang kulang. Kaya nga't ang mga manonood ng Wansapanataym ay hindi lang mga matatanda kundi kabilang din ang mga bata dahil kahit sa murang edad ay maiintindihan nila ang daloy ng palabas o kwento.

Ang aral na aking natutunan sa kwento ng Pagong at Matsing ay ang hindi pagiging ganid o sakim. Minsan hindi nga madali para sa akin ang maging mapagbigay sa iba lalo na kapag pinaghirapan ko talaga ang bagay na iyon at yung humihingi naman ay wala talagang ginawa. May mga beses din na hindi talaga ako nagbibigay. Subalit, pinipilit ko namang maging bukas-palad dahil iniisip kong iyon ang nararapat. Kung wawariin ko nga ang sarili ko sa tema ng kwento ay siguro mas pipiliin ko pang maging mapagbigay tulad ni Pagong. Hindi ko dapat ipagpatuloy ang pagiging makasarili tulad ni Pagong dahil sa huli't huli wala itong magandang maidudulot.

Mutya Ko

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Sa kanyang ika-30 anibersaryo, inihandog ng Ateneo

Entablado ang Mutya. Tampok dito ang dalawang dula:

MGA SANTONG TAO ni Tomas Remegio at

ANG SISTEMA NI PROPESOR TUKO ni Al Santos.

Ang dulang MGA SANTONG TAO ay mababase natin sa kolonyalismo noong unang panahon ng mga Kastila subalit maihahalintulad  pa rin natin ito sa panahon ngayon lalong-lalo na sa ating lipunan. Umiikot ang kwento sa mag-asawang si Ambrosio at Titay, kasama rin ang  tatlong makapangyarihan tao sa lipunan-- ang kura, ang sakristan mayor at ang piskal.

Sa usapin ng elemento ng naratibo/pagtatanghal, mas nabibigyan-diin ang modernismo ng dula sa todong pag-arte ng mga tauhan sa kalaswaan. Ang mga manonood din mismo ay natatawa sa halip na mandiri o umangal sa ganoong palabas. Gayunpaman, ang dula'y nagiging tradisyunal unang-una dahil sa linggwaheng ginamit. Malalalim na salitang Pilipino at nasa anyong tula ang pagbigkas ng mga tauhan. Higit sa lahat, mababase natin ang kwento sa ating kasaysayan, partikular na sa panahon ng mga Kastila.

Sa kabuuan ng dula ay masasabi kong magkahalong tradisyunal at moderno ito.  Moderno ito dahil lantad ang paglalarawan nito sa mga totoong kaganapan sa ating lipunan. Kay dami-raming masasamang loob na umaabuso sa mga inosente. Bukod dito, totoo rin namang mga taong walang kaya  pero sobrang wais naman kung makadiskarte tulad na lang ni Titay. Walang nagpapaka-martir dahil sa totoong buhay nga naman, natural lang sa tao na ipaglaban ang kanyang sarili kahit anong mangyari. Wala ding napapalampas na gawain na walang kapalit. Ikanga, hindi makatarungan ang buhay.

Tradisyunal siya dahil bagama't sinamantala si Titay ng tatlong manliligaw ay nasa kanya pa rin ang huling halakhak. Sa pagtawa nga ni Titay ang pagtatapos ng dula. Ito nga'y may malaking papel sa buong konsepto ng kwento na may kaugnayan sa mitolohiya ng mga Griyego. Sa "The Laugh of the Medusa" nga ni Helene Cixous, mas maiintindihan natin kung ano ang simbolo ng pagtawa ng isang babae sa huling sandali. Inilalahad nito ang pagwagi ng kababaihan laban sa kalalakihan.



Sa madaling salita, umiikot ang kwento sa isyu ng pantay na pagtingin sa kasarian o mas tinatawag nating gender equality. Isang napakagandang halimbawa ang kwento ni Mulan. Sa ating lipunan, madalas ang babae ang siyang naaapi kaya't ang lalaki pa rin ang umuuwing matagumpay. O di kaya'y minamaliit ang kakayahan ng mga babae lalong-lalo na sa pamumuno. Taliwas ito sa nangyari sa dula. Nakapaghiganti o nadaya ni Titay ang kanyang tatlong manliligaw. Hindi siya ang naging kaawaawa at katanga-tanga.


Kung gayon, mas lamang pa rin ang pagiging tradisyunal ng dulang Mga Santong Tao dahil nagbibigay pag-asa ito sa mga kababaihan na mayroon pa rin silang halaga sa lipunan.

_______________________________________________________________


Ang dulang ANG SISTEMA NI PROPESOR TUKO ay naglalahad ng bulok na sistema ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas. Umiikot ang kwento sa apat na estudyanteng sina Bubbles, Bondying, Kiko, Ningning at ang kanilang mabagsik na guro na si Propesor Tuko.

Sa usapin ng elemento ng naratibo/pagtatanghal, tradisyunal ang dula dahil sa kasuotan at kilos ng mga tauhan. Sa pamamagitan ng mga ito ay mas nabibigyan-linaw ang estereotipo ng mga estudyante at guro. Si Bubbles ay basagulero, si Bondying ay patanga-tanga, si Kiko ay nerd, at si Propesor Tuko ay ang baduy at  na titser. Ang tema naman ng kwento ay mababase rin noong unang panahon pero maaari pa ring maihahalintulad sa kasalukuyan. Sa kabilang dako, nagiging moderno rin ang dula dahil sa linggwaheng ginamit ng mga tauhan. Nasasalamin din dito ang pagiging OA ng ibang Pilipino sa pagsasalita ng Ingles.

Sa kabuuan ng dula ay masasabi ko ding magkahalong tradisyunal at moderno ito.  Moderno ito dahil inilalarawan nito ang mga totoong kaganapan sa ating lipunan lalo na sa edukasyon. Isang malaking suliranin sa ating bansa ang hindi maayos na pagpapalaganap ng edukasyon sa ating mga kabataan kung kaya't hindi napapahalagahan o napapakinabangan ito. Ito ang lantad na dahilan kung hindi umaasenso ang bansa.

Tradisyunal din siya sa huli't huli dahil bagama't madaming di magandang nangyari kina Bubbles, Bondying, Kiko at Ningning kay Propesor Tuko, naayos din naman nila ang kanilang poblema. Nagkaroon pa rin ng pagkakataon maituwid ang naging baluktot na edukasyong ibinabahagi ni Propesor Tuko sa kanyang mga estudyante. Nangibabaw ang pagpapakumbaba at pakikipagtulungan sa kanila.

Masasabi kong mas lumutang ang pagiging tradisyunal ng dula dahil naipakita nito ang ideyal na estado ng realidad sa mundo ng edukasyon. Naging masalimoot man sa simula, naging maganda pa rin naman ang wakas.

(L-R) Pao Acabado, Rafa Casimiro, Sir Jet Tenorio, Louie Cudo, Gab Espedido

Pagbasa ng Tula

Reinterpretasyon: Payo sa Pagbasa ng Tula

Hindi nalalayo sa TREASURE HUNTING ang pagbasa ng tula

Faith Decangchon

Dorothy Guya

KD Montenegro

OA mo teh!

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Dalawang magkaibang dako sa mundo ng panitikan...

May iba't ibang katangain at pagpapakahulugan...

Pawang may malaking kaugnayan sa sangkatauhan.

TRADISYONAL. Romantisismo.

Itinatampok nito ang ideyal na estado ng realidad.

Ideyal, sa puntong scripted o di kaya'y predictable na ang katapusan ng kwento. Tulad na lamang sa palabas na "Mara Clara," na kahit ginawan pa ng makabagong bersyon at di nalalayo sa naunang konsepto ay nakukuha pa rin nito ang panlasa ng mga manonood. Ang kwento nito'y pangkaraniwan lang kung saan may nang-aapi at naapi. May magkukrus na landas at bigla-biglang mabubunyag ang nakaraan na makakaepekto sa kasalukuyan. Hindi na ito bago sa atin, lalo na sa ating mga Pilipino. Kaya't isang malaking mosyon kung bakit wari'y hindi pa rin tayo nagsasawa sa pabalik-balik na konsepto, ang pagiging tradisyonal.

MODERNO. Realistiko.

Ang pokus nito ay ang karanasan at buong katotohanan.

Sa madaling salita, wala itong plastikan! Tagos lahat dito sa pagkatao ng iba't ibang indibidwal. Walang kiyemeng ipinapakita nito ang mga tunay na kaganapan sa buhay kahit pa'y bulgar na masyado ang mga 'to. Sa isang punto'y nagiging mala-moderno ang "Mara Clara." Malinaw ang pagsasadiwa ng kahirapan. Totoo nga namang may mga tao talagang makakagawa ng pinakamalala para lamang malagpasan ang pagdurusa.

Sa huling yugto ng palabas ay nanood kami ng aking ina at nasabi niyang, "Ano ba yan!? Nagiging OA na masyado. Wala naman siguurong ganyan kalupit o ka-demonyo tulad ni Gary sa totoong buhay." Kung tutuusin, medyo hindi na nga makatwiran ang kasamaang inaakto ng kontrabida. Dito naglalaro ang tradisyonal at modernong anyo sa palabas. Moderno, sapagkat may bahid ito ng liberalismo. Gayunpaman sa huli, tradisyonal pa rin kung maituturing ang konsepto ng "Mara Clara." Ano pa't sa dinami-rami ng kapahamakan o sakunang dumating (lalo na sa bida) ay maganda pa rin ang naging katapusan.

Feel na feel ang Mangga!

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Ipagpalagay nalang natin na ang makikita sa video ay maihahalintulad sa pagkain ko ng mangga sa loob ng klase

---'yun nga lang, may slow motion effect ang sa 'kin. :)))

Puno ng pagtataka ang lahat nang sinabihan ang klase na magdala ng mangga, tubig at tissue para sa susunod na pagkikita sa Filipino. Ang lumalaro pa nga sa isipan ko ay ang pagkakaroon ng isang pagganap batay na rin sa pinapabasang tula na "Payo sa Bumabasa ng Tula" ni Rolando S. Tinio. Kakaiba nga lang ang nasa isipan ko--- baka aakto kaming kakain ng mangga at pagkatapos ay biglang sasakit ang aming tiyan kung kaya't magagamit namin ang tissue at tubig. The End.

Bago pa itinalakay ni G. Tenorio ang tungkol sa tula ay nanaliksik na ako tungkol dito. Isa itong halimbawa ng metapoetry, kung gayun, mas napatunayan kong isa itong tula ukol sa pagbasa ng tula. Diumano'y ang pagbasa ng tula ay katulad ng sa mangga: may balat, laman at buto. Alam ko na ang lahat ng ito subalit hindi ko gaanong naintindihan ang buong pakuhulugan nito lalo pa't malalalim ang mga salitang ginamit dito.

Sa klase, pinakain kami ng mangga pero hindi para lamang mabusog. Kinailangan naming maging mapanuri sa lahat ng pagkakataon habang binabalatan at nginunguya ang mangga. Ika nga, dapat feel na feel ang pagkain ng mangga. Inilarawan din namin ang balat, laman at buto nito. Ibinahagi rin namin ang aming naging karanasan sa pagkain ng mangga sa loob ng klase. Umamin akong hindi madali iyon dahil wala akong eksaktong mga kagamitan at natakot din akong baka mabahiran ng katas ang papel ko. Hindi ako naging komportable sa sobrang lagkit. Gayunpaman, natapos ko nang matiwasay ang gawain.

Matapos ang mga talakayan ay mas naliwanagan ako sa buong konteksto ng tulang aming binasa. Ang pagbasa nga ng tula ay maihahalintulad sa mangga na may BALAT na siyang nagsisilbing istruktura ng tula. Sunod ay ang LAMAN na tumutukoy sa mga salita ng tula. At ang panghuli ay ang BUTO na kumakatawan sa pakahulugan ng buong tula.

Marahil layunin ng gawaing ito na matutunan ang mga konsepto at paraan ng pagpapakahulugan o interpretasyon. At nang dahil sa mangga, napagtanto kong...

Tayo ay maaaring may iba't ibang interpretasyon sa tula o ano pa mang nakapaligid sa 'tin.

`Pag di mo gets, ART yan!

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Sa lahat ng ibinahagi ni Ginoong Tenorio sa amin ukol sa PANITIKAN ay may higit na nakakuha ng aking pansin. Agad akong napatawa sa sinabi niyang "`Pag di mo gets, art yan!" May halong panununya pero talaga namang may bahid ito ng katotohanan.

Kakaiba ang paraan nang pagtuklas namin sa pagpapakahulugan ng panitikan. Nagsimula ito sa pagbabahagi ng iba't ibang gawang pampanitikan, mapa-Pilipino o mapa-Ingles man. Kasunod nito ay ang pagpapaliwanag kung ano ang panitikan para sa amin.


Sa grupo ko, sinabi naming "Ang Panitikan ay bunga ng malikhaing kaisipan." `Yong ibang grupo naman ay may kanya-kanya ding depinisyon sa paksa. Pinagsama-sama ang lahat ng ideyang ibinahagi sa iisang pakahulugan:

Ang panitikan ay isang uri ng sining na nagpapahayag at sumasalamin sa karanasan ng tao.

Sa linyang binitawan ni G. Tenorio at sa kabuuan ng aming pagtatalakay ay napagtanto kong ang panitikan ay isang pambihirang sining. Mas lalo nating nakikita ang tunay nitong kagandahan sa pagiging misteryoso o kataka-taka. Higit nating napapansin ang kadakilaan nito dahil pinupukaw nito ang ating interes kung kaya't mas inuunawa natin ang ibig nitong ipakahulugan. Sa ano't ano man, tayo bilang mga manonood o mambabasa ay may iba't ibang interpretasyon sa mga gawang pampanitikan.

DAY ONE : June 5, 2012

Today, my life begins. Woke up quite early to finally get enlisted online for Freshman year in Ateneo de Manila. Plano ko sanang gawin yun sa office ni mama para sure-ball ang internet at printing process. Kaso nga lang, ang tagal dumating ng driver para ihatid kami dun. Tapos, we dropped by somewhere pa. At exactly 7 AM, I had to log in on my AISIS account na. Unfortunately, wala pa ako sa office. Buti nalang, I had my laptop and smart bro. So during the entire trip, I was actually enlisting myself. :)))) My heart was beating so fast. I was so paranoid and anxious about my first try of enlistment. Luckily, I did it. :D

It was the day I was finally leaving Butuan. I had plans on having lunch with my good old classmates but my mom didn't allow me. ;( So we went off to the airport for our flight to Manila. I felt kinda emotional during the entire time coz I kept remembering my grandmother who I call as "Mommy." I feel really guilty for tons of things and I really just want her to be happy. ;')

As soon as we arrived there, we met up with my friend, Tintin, and her family. The original plan was, we will be going straight to our dorm. Then, it changed. Then, it's back again. So, we travelled all the way to Katipunan, particularly, My Place Condominiums. Geez! Eto na talaga! Moment of truth. :O

Hindi naging madali ang paglipat namin ng mga gamit. Tawa kami nang tawa kasi andami naming mga gamit na para nga bang wala na kaming plano umuwi. :)))) It took a few hours for us to finally set things into place. We were totally starving after kaya deretso kami sa common eating place namin...KFC. Right after, we headed back to the dorm. Then, it was finally time to say goodbye. :( I was expecting it already for my little sister, KC, to be emotional at that very moment. Well, magkikita pa naman kami kinabukasan pero parang goodbye na rin yun kasi di na kami magkatabing matulog. I felt sad and touched of how she took things. Despite all our little squabbles, we definitely value each other. ;) Before they left, I kissed my mom and KC.

Sa dorm, kami lang dalawa ni Tintin. Ewan ko nga ba kung nasa'n na yung dalawa pa na nakapasok na dun. Pero mabuti na nga yun kasi walang abala. hahaha >:))))) It was pretty overwhelming for us. Grabe! Iniwan na talaga kami ng mga mama namin. College na nga talaga kami! wooh! Ewan ko nalang kung makakatulog pa kami. Actually nga, we were still up 'til dawn while skyping with our coursemate, Lia. hihih. LOL. Wala na talagang tulugan. :)))

Maybe after I post this, I will not go to bed right away. Pero sana nga naman makatulog ako. Di ko kaya ang stress! ahahahah. I do pray that tomorrow or later, is gonna be a good one..not only for me but also for the people I truly love. :)

Home Sweet Home

A HOME I HAVE IN MIND

            Once you have your husband and your children, you should really think of moving into your new house. As for me, it is best to live separately from your parents or your husband’s parents when you decide to finally get married. You are a new family now so you should live independently from then on. If I were to choose from an apartment, a hotel room or a brand new house, I would prefer living in a brand new house. It would be nice to be contributing for the house’s design. I want that while constructing the house, I know the plans and designs of the house. I would be very pleased and happy to be a helping hand in choosing the furniture, the theme colors of every room and everything else. How exciting can it be! It would be like shopping for someone else. The difference is that this is my very own house together with my husband where we can finally start our own family.

            My ideal house would look like a grand hotel or a resort. I want the place to be really big and wide. I want the landscape from outside to be amazing and overwhelming through the very nice view. There is a very nice garden where we can find beautiful ornamental plants and flowers. There will also be a mini-fish pond filled with little and colorful fishes of course. Beside it is a striking cascade or waterfall with a lighted grotto. In that grotto is a statue of Mama Mary. On the other hand, I want two very wide pools. One is for adult swimmers and the other for children. There are slides and diving boards. It would be awesome if we also live by the beach. We don’t only have swimming pools but also a nearby beach. There should also be a park for different purposes. We can have it as a venue for birthday parties, picnics and other occasions. It’ll also serve as a playground for my children where we can find slides, swings, see-saws, sand boxes and many others. I wish to construct a mini-gymnasium too where we can play different kinds of sports under the covered court. I believe it can be a place where my family and I can bond and work out for the duration of weekends. During occasions, we will definitely expect a lot of guests so we should really have a spacious parking lot. In front of the actual building of the house, I imagine a huge fountain wherein cars can move around it. Most of all, I want everything in the exterior of our house to be attention-grabbing and pleasurable.

            For the interior, I am demanding for a lot of things. I don’t really like so many floors because it’ll just be so exhausting and annoying going up and down the house unless we have our very own elevator or escalator. I’d like to have a basement too and in that basement, you can find an indoor swimming pool. Beside it is the game room where you can play billiards, bowling, foosball and other indoor games. In the ground floor, we can find an enormous living room with an eye-catching chandelier. The pieces of furniture are both traditional and modern. The sofas should be comfortable and clean. There should also be a big carpet under. Although it’s not actually snowing here in the Philippines, we still need a fireplace for rainy and cold seasons. To avoid smoke and fire, I’d prefer an electric fireplace. On the other hand, there is a big cabinet wherein the appliances are hidden and are only going to be seen if they are used. Our kitchen should be really divided from the dining room. The designs of the dining table and dining chairs must blend together. The table must be rectangular-shaped instead of round and square. I prefer cushioned chairs so that it will be comfortable for the people to eat. The plates and utensils should be properly arranged on the table together with the placemats and table napkins. As usual, the pieces of furniture are both traditional and modern. Next is the kitchen. I’d like white to be the dominant color seen in my kitchen. It just looks so clean so in case of stains while cooking, you will directly notice it. The groceries, food and spices should be properly organized in the cabinets and the refrigerator. I want all the appliances and cooking tools to be modern, neat and effortless when used. The maids’ room should be found in the ground floor too so that it’ll be easier for us to call them when needed. Beside their room, we can find the laundry room where we can basically find our newly-washed and soiled clothes. I’d add another room called the Prayer room where we can find peace and unity with God. I’d like to pray the rosary in this room every night with my family valuing our faith and relationship with Him.

      

Let us move on with the second floor. Now, this is my favorite floor. First is because it is where we can find our bedrooms. The masters’ bedroom should be the biggest bedroom in the house for my husband and I. I’m not yet sure how many rooms there will be since I don’t know how many kids we will have. However, I will reserve two bedrooms since I’m thinking of just having two children. Then there’ll be three guest rooms with complete facilities. I want my guests to feel very comfortable staying in our home. The theater room and the library will also be found in the second floor. I want the theater room to be high technology. The screen should be very wide and large. The seats should be comfortable. The amenities and appliances should also be satisfying and enjoyable. I believe this can be our recreation room when my family and I need to bond and have fun. Of course, if I want my kids to do well with their studies, we should have our very own library. It’s more like our study room or office room. Another computer will be provided for this room aside from the computers in each of our bedrooms. When we need to do some research or just bond together through reading then this is the best place to do such. Lastly, the most refreshing part of the house is our balcony. Why refreshing? Refreshing because it is where you can entirely see the very nice view of the beach, the garden and everything else. It is the best place to relax as the sunset meets the horizon.

I believe I haven’t mentioned all the things I can describe about my ideal house because there are just a lot that I can say. I really want a big house with awesome facilities, furniture, appliances and landscapes. How I wish it’ll all come true! However, there is one thing that matters more before I achieve my goal of having a house like I imagine. I hope that by having this house, my relationship with my husband will be stronger since I am pretty sure that we will be very much besieged with how far we have reached. As for my children, I hope they can be proud of our very own home. Then as we grow old, my children will be starting their own family and move to their very own homes too like what my husband and I did. When we leave this world, we have actually left something here that can be reminded of us--- our home.

Nearest and Dearest

MY SOURCE OF EVERYTHING

My family is similar to an energy drink which I imbibe everyday to have a purpose in living and continuing my life. My family is my source of strength. I owe my whole life to them. If it wasn’t because of my beloved parents, I wouldn’t have existed in this beautiful world. I wouldn’t have studied in a prestigious school. I wouldn’t have met my educated teachers and awesome classmates and friends. Above all, I wouldn’t have become the kind of person I am right now.

  

My family may not be the best and ideal family a child can ever ask for but I believe I am very contented of having them. I feel so fortunate because I have both my father and my mother with me unlike other kids who are raised by single parents only. There are others who are even physically and verbally abused by their parents. I thank God for giving me parents like what I have. It has come up to my mind already what might be the possibilities if I will be going to college already and get separated from my family. I always think it’s going to be fun since I am very excited to stay in Manila and live in a condominium with my very close friend. However, I still have the feeling of fear and panic whether I’m going to survive independence or not. I cannot imagine myself without my family. I even get very anxious and uneasy when I travel or go from one place to another like crossing the street without them. I guess I am just feeling this way because I really haven’t achieved my pure independence yet. I just need more experience and proper training. I consider a family to be your crying shoulder in times of grief and sorrow. They are around to comfort you and give you advice for your right decisions. I don’t really share all my problems to my family because I don’t want the issue to be a very big deal but I still try opening up to them. When I’m with my family, I feel secured and safe. I feel a lot more confident with everything I do when my family is there than with friends. My family has always encouraged me to do well in everything I do just like my studies. They don’t pressure me a lot when it comes to my studies. With their simple smiles and joy, I get very pleased and motivated to study more. They have always been my purpose of all the achievements I made in my life.

To be honest, my family has a lot of issues but I’m surprised we still stay together as one. We’ve been through a lot challenges and obstacles in life but here we are still continuing with our lives together and loving each other. I, myself have faced a lot of problems on my own but I don’t get easily affected because I know that even when the world will crumble down to pieces, I still have my family right next to me. They are my source of everything.

Brought by the Heavens

YEARS OF WAITING HAS ENDED

Back in Year 2007
She was around a year old

It took more than 11 years for one of my long time prayers to be answered, which is to have my own little brother or sister. The gender didn’t really matter as long as I had a sibling of my own. I knew my father is the only child and it seemed very lonesome being alone. It just felt boring whenever I played by myself in the house without any playmate same as my age or younger than me. I’ve always remembered having our maids as my playmates, or even my dad. This is why I am very close to my dad especially when it comes to foolishness. I’d even get jealous of him whenever he gets my mom’s attention. He is like a brother to me.

Now, I have my little sister whom I can play with and have fun with.

Her name is very similar to mine,

Khristine Cee L. Montenegro

She was born on June 1, 2006. I was going to be Grade 5 at that time. She was supposed to be born around May 26-31 but then she was post-mature just like me when I was born. I wanted her to be born on May but I guess God preferred us not to have the same birth month. My mom gave birth in Eliza R. Ochoa Maternity Medical General Hospital, San Jose Street, Butuan City at exactly 11 o’clock in the morning. KC’s weight at birth was 7 lbs and 26 oz. I was totally excited to meet her. When we got to the hospital, I unhesitatingly gave notice to all about my mom’s delivery by texting everyone in my mother’s phonebook. I felt so happy and proud at that very moment, not even a glimpse of shame and embarrassment with what I did. We just stayed for a night in the hospital but I didn’t actually sleep the whole time we were there. I believe I was just not comfortable staying in the hospital and because of my new born little sister. Unfortunately, since my sister was post-mature, she had to stay in the hospital for a week. She was placed in the incubator and all I could do was peep in the Nursery Room. However, I still had the chance to touch her when we visit her in the hospital everyday for breastfeeding. I took so many pictures with her using my mom’s cellphone but I guess I have no remembrance left right now because the phone got reformatted.

The day she was finally brought home, I was very much pleased and eager. I wasn’t allowed to carry her because I was still very young at that time and my sister was still fragile. As she grew up and I grew up, I became more responsible in taking care of her and she became a lot more annoying. I can probably agree to others who are saying my sister is KD the Second. This is because in almost everything I do, she follows me. This could be a good thing or an annoying thing. Then when it comes to talent, especially in dancing, she can definitely groove into the beat. Our faces when we were still infants are quite similar too but I always say I’m way cuter than her. Furthermore, we can never be the same. My mom would always say that when I was the same as my sister’s age right now, I was kind, disciplined and very obedient. Very opposite to my sister who is naughty, annoying and demanding. I believe it just might be because of the environment where we grew up.

On her Pre-school Graduation
March 25, 2012

Despite all the negative characteristics of my sister, she still has the heart of an angel. Whenever she sees anyone of us feeling sick or weak, she would immediately get a damp cloth and wipe our foreheads. This is just one of many ways my little sister expresses her concern and love to us, besides by kissing and saying “I love you!” I truly love my sister no matter what because she is a blessing from God. I thought it was going to be impossible due to my mom’s age but then indeed, God is very kind. 

A Neophyte's First Words

INTRODUCING ME

My mom was fond of reading foreign showbiz magazines, and back then she found the name Kirsten. I bet it was a celebrity’s name but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Kirsten Stewart.

My parents are great believers of God so they decided to name me after His begotten Son, Jesus Christ. However instead of starting with a ‘C’, they spelled my name beginning with the letter ‘K’ since all my first-degree cousins’ names in my mother’s side also starts with a ‘K’.

This led to my complete name, Khristine Dee L. Montenegro. Quite long but can easily be read and pronounced. In my kindergarten years, people called me Khristine but as years passed, I am often called KD already. I kind of liked being called Khristine but I guess KD is such a unique nickname so I should bear with it.

My parents got married on my mother’s 30^th birthday. They moved together in a pretty little house located at Virginia Village, Iponan, Cagayan de Oro City. After more than a year of a happy marriage, I was born. My mother gave birth in Madonna & Child Hospital, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City. It was on the 18^th day of May, 1995 at around 10:55 o’clock in the morning. My weight at birth was 2,948 grams or 6.5 pounds. I barely know what exactly happened at that moment but I figured out from my mom that my eldest cousin Kevin was very excited to meet me. I was the youngest member of the family for more than 11 years not until my little sister was born on June 1, 2006. She has a very similar name with mine, Khristine Cee. I’ve always wanted of having my own brother and sister since it was very much annoying being the youngest in both my dad’s and mom’s sides of the family.

I was baptized as a Roman Catholic on July 1, 1995. The baptismal was held together with my parents’ follow-up church wedding in Iponan Catholic Church, Iponan, Cagayan de Oro City. This caused a huge celebration as the families of Montenegro and Labis combined.

Our lives continued as we moved to the City of Butuan when I was 3. We are residing in __________________. On the other hand, I studied in Enfant Cheri Study Centre, Inc. located in Purok 1-A, Upper Doongan, Butuan City. I have been a student there for almost 13 years since pre-school up to high school. No doubt, I am very loyal to this school.

Although I am not a natural born Butuanon, we have been living here for at least 14 years and counting so we can virtually say Butuan is our home. Many memories had happened in this place which I will truthfully treasure my whole life. My family, my friends, my home, my neighbors, my school, my teachers and classmates, and all my acquaintances will positively find a space in my heart.