Kwento Mo sa Pagong: We should learn from previous disasters

(This was one of the activities on my online course)

CoVid 19 - Biological Hazard 

This hazard has taken so many lives worldwide because (1) we were surprised by how highly contagious this virus was, (2) doctors and scientists took much time researching on how to counteract the virus, and (3) hospital capacity became so limited. The vulnerable, which are those who have pre-existing medical conditions, the elderly, and the children, are the majority of the casualties.

But, after 5 years, I think we have learned on how to correctly and systematically respond to the threat of Covid 19. With the combined efforts of the different government agencies, local to national level, and with the cooperation of the public, we are standing up again as a nation.

Going through pandemic has taught us many things, like adapting to the new normal. One example of this is that many institutions now are practicing work from home set-up, teleconference meetings, remote set-ups, that even the DepEd and the CHED have included the said set-up in their curriculum. Now, we have become somehow resilient to the threat of future pandemic because we already know what to do, as long as we enhance and develop these learnings and systematic approach to ensure strengthened actions on DRRM for biological hazards.

West Ph Sea - Anthropogenic Hazard - Societal and Conflict 

For more than a decade now, the West Ph Sea has become the reason of conflict between Philippines and China. It has also become an international issue because China is obviously claiming Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoul without a legitimate reference. The very reason why some countries are siding with the Philippines.

What made this hazard less a disaster is that we just let China do its thing with the West Ph Sea. There is no recorded casualties as of writing. However, this will change if a strong willed leader will step-up and claim what's really ours. But, if we are afraid of the result of a strong willed leader's decision against the action of China, we might wake up one day to a country that is not entirely ours anymore.

With this analysis, the only DRR measures I see for this hazard is not just having a strong willed leader but also wise and discerning one. And the role of the people? To vote for that kind of leader.

Remarkable Part: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

 

This book is the second book that I have read which doesn't follow traditional narrative format. The first one is The Traveler of the Century (I have a blog post of it too here). Both made me reread sentences to fully understand the scene. But, that's not a flaw, rather it gave them unique identify and made a contributing step to enrich literature. Man, they set the bar high, specially the Cloud Atlas.

Although, the book is good as a whole, I only find remarkable lines at the latter part, and here are they:

I love that Cloud Atlas emphasize on what selfishness and vicious acts will lead humanity to. Extinction. Repetitive extinction. And not until we learn, we will always, always get the same result. 

I hope many people, especially leaders, read books like this. 

booXthatleaveamarkMIBF2024 Entry

The very reason why I find old preloved books so alluring and irresistible to buy is not just because they are way cheaper but rather, they surprise you in so many ways that you will feel good about yourself for spending so little yet you acquired treasure in return. One thing that buying pricey new books cannot give you, or at least for me. Not to mention that old books smell better. 😁

But, perhaps, one major factor that led me to prefer preloved books than buying new ones, is that I grew up reading incredible short stories for free. Where else? At school.

Reading heartwarming short stories at a very young age, inspired me to write my own too. "Perhaps, I can also make people feel emotion, particularly sadness, with the stories I write", I told myself during elementary days.

Sad stories make people realize more in life, or so I thought back then. Perhaps, because, most short stories featured in our reading books have sad endings and I was greatly influenced by them. Actually, I forgot their titles but I still know their sad endings and how it made me feel hurt and do better in life to avoid their endings.

Moving up to High School, oh my, the novels have much more depressing storylines 😅. From Ibong Adarna to Florante at Laura to Rizal's. Name it! How do you want to feel hurt? High School mandatory novels have different ways to do so. And then, there I was creating sad poems and short stories because they stir up something in the readers' heart. People make a move when they get hurt. Whatever it is I wanted to fuel the movement.

College came, I was more exposed to literature. The Iliad, Shakespeare's, and the Greek Myth were some of the storyline that amazed me (even until now). Well, because I was brought up to love sad stories anyway.

Yet still, I didn't spend a peso to read all of them.

And the first time I did. It was around P500 or P800 (I already forgot). It was because of the hype. And I thought I'm going to be reading a very good novel. I will not name the title and the author, but it was a famous filipino writer who conducts free script writing training/workshop. And I was dismayed. Well, maybe it was just me, because this writer is famous nationwide and he has existing fandom. I felt bad for the money I spent.

And then, I met stories of Bob Ong. Now this man (presumably) really moved me not just to write but to become a writer myself. And this is the first author that made me save money to buy his books. But I must admit, I have read most of his books by borrowing friends'.

Anyway, why do I tell all of this? (And I hope you're still reading this entry 😅) because I want to make a point that, we might not realize it, but every book and story we read plays a vital role into becoming or shaping who we are as time goes by. All of the books and stories we had read had left a mark on our soul. Some subtle, some are obvious, some you don't even realize but it's there, somewhere.

I love the touch of sunlight on my skin perhaps because of the stories of the Aetas I read on childhood who were bullied because of their skin color and made me realized that it's not nice to bully and having dark skin is not something to be ashamed of.

I chose and married the love of my life because I became wiser by reading tragic love stories and chose to learn from them. (But mostly because I am sure he is the one, so unless you're sure, don't.)

I am how I behave and think today because somehow, partly, it's because of Bob Ong's Macarthur. And perhaps, his writings had greatly influenced my own style in writing. Also he had me looking for other Filipino authors who have skills in writing stories that make people feel and move... and led me hoping to be one of them.

But this time, after reading all the books that left a mark on me in different ways, I don't want to write sad and depressing stories anymore. Rather, I want to make stories that aid people to write their own survival story or at least lead them into survival. Darkness is a scary place, I'd like to provide a torch. Just like how I found one when I needed it the most.

P. S. I still won't buy pricey new books, so joining this gives me a pass to enjoy them without spending a dime, presumably I got picked as one of the winners 😅

#booXthatleaveamarkMIBF2024 entry

(Two years later commentary: Olats 'tu. Pero nireread ko, ayos naman for posting dito sa blog site ko. Naguluhan siguro yung jury kung ano yung books that leave a mark. O malabo at puro kwento na ginawa ko.)

Nandito sa gedli, payapa

 

2009 nung napagpasyahan kong gumawa ng account sa FB. Kanina napagpasyahan nilang i-disabled ang account ko sa 'di mawaring dahilan.

Ganun lang kadali.

Ewan ko kung maibabalik pa 'yung account ko, pero neknek nila, dahil hindi ako magmamakaawa para ibalik nila 'yun o magbabayad para maging verified account. Isang bes ko lang susubukan, kung ayaw nila edi fine, they lost me forever. 

Excited na din akong maexperience ang mundong walang Facebook. Duh.

Anyway, available ako dito sa mga blogger/blogspot account ko kung interesado ka pa ding makipag interact sa akin. I have 4 blog sites here on blogspot/blogger, look for  them inside "about the author" diyan sa gilid to view all. Also, I am part of the website ditokayshellan.com and very much excited to talk to you on that platform. 

I have also X and Tumblr accounts, comment down a title of a book then I will share you my account name on those socials. Masyadong makalat ang X account ko, early warning na yan ha.

And, if you know me personally and wondering where you can reach me easily, I have Viber and Whatsapp account, see you there. (Ayoko sana ng whatsapp kasi meta din yun, pero mas active dun ang mga mahal ko sa buhay.)

Gusto ko lang din gamitin ang blogpost na 'tu para iappreciate ang mga mahal ko sa buhay na nag-adjust para makakonek pa din sa akin. Well, alam ko naman na hahanapin nila ko. Ganun kataas ang confidence ko na one of these days, may magmemessage sa akin at kilala ko na agad sila. Hindi ako nagkamali. Mga kaibigan ko sila pero itinuturing ko na na mahal sa buhay. Una, e dahil sa mga pinagsamahan; pangalawa, dahil nakita na nila yata ako sa lahat ng istado ng buhay ko mula pagkanene na immature, hanggang sa adult na immature 😂 at sa mga pinagdaanan kong 'di nila ako iniwan. They've witnessed my darkest days and chose to stay. More than half of my existence kasama ko na ata  sila. I'm happy that I have a small circle of true friends na sigurado akong ikekeep ako kahit anong mangyari. Parang sa movie na 3 Idiots, nung sinabi ni Amir Khan na may dalawang idiots na maghahabap sa kanya. Ganun din kataas ang confidence level ko. Ikikeep ko din sila, kahit anong mangyari. Wait. Naging kadramahan na 'tu na parang entry sa Maalaala Mo Kaya 😂 pero ganun nga siguro talaga, you will know who your people are. Naalala ko tuloy, gumawa ako ng tula about diyan:

Pero in this case, alam ko na agad kung sino sila.

Aaaannnnnd, if you'd like to indulge yourself some boring stories, go to my wattpad account named shellaseven. See yah around!

O eto, proof of existence wearing my favorite haircut: 

See yah around!

And if you're wondering, no, hindi na ako gagawa kahit kailan ng another FB account.

Ay may YouTube account nga pala ako, @ditokayshellaB, subscribe and stay connected. Pero kung ayaw mo, okay lang din naman. Hehe. Shalom! 

Serotonin Producer

Apparently, there is something more effective than the rays of sunlight and going outside can give you -- soaking in the presence of God or in a more understandable statement, communing with God / spending time through talking about everything under the sun with your Maker.

There are times that staying at home gives you comfort and peace of mind, but I don't know if you have already noticed this that staying too long inside a place where sunlight cannot reach you will lead into feeling unexplainable tiredness or in my language "nawawalan ng gana sa buhay". I advice that if you ever start feeling that way, go out. In hale the air of outside and soak yourself under the rays of sunlight.

But, as I have mentioned earlier, soaking in the presence of God is more effective. It will definitely lighten your emotion and produce a joyous spirit the moment you spend your time in His presence... appreciating all His glory and faithfulness in your life. He is the real producer of the so-called serotonin.

And if you have doubt with everything I say here, experience it yourself. And I pray that you get to encounter the real Producer of the so-called serotonin and start towards a life where you have a relationship with Him, if you have not yet. Shalom! 

Kwento mo sa Pagong: Wealth, Fame, Power

Kung meron man magandang naidulot ang advancement of technology ngayon partikular sa kakayahayan nito pagdating sa online connection, isa siguro sa top list ko ay ang pagkakaroon ng pagkakataon makamtan ng kung sinuman ang kayamanan, katanyagan, kapangyarihan. 

Iba't ibang online platform ang nag-ooffer sa'yo ng tatlong bagay na ito, na para bang sinasabi nila "ikaw ang bahala sa trip mo, ikaw din ang gagawa ng paraan para makamtan 'yang tatlong K, basta gawa ka account sa amin".

Tumataas siguro ang kilay mo at napapatanong na bakit maganda ang tingin ko sa bagay na ito. Isa lang ang sagot, "kalayaan sa sistemang nagkukulong sa mga maliliit na tao".

Dati, kung sino lang ang gusto pasikatin ng mga producers o ng mga matataas na tao, sila lang ang binibigyan ng mga pagkakataon. Ngayon, ang daming nagsisikatan na mga bagong pangalan lalo na sa larangan ng OPM. Grabe, ang dami palang totoong talentadong Pilipino na nakakagawa ng mga ganuong klaseng awitin na madalas ay sila mismo ang sumulat. Mga makakatang mang-aawit. 

Dati, TV, Radio, at Newspaper lang ang nakakahakot ng advertisement o product endorsement, ngayon, kahit mga simpleng tao na kung tawagin ay vlogger/blogger/content creator na madadami ang followers. At take note ha, pagkakagaling din naman magsi-arte at magpatawa. At ngayon, ang mga mass media na nga mismo ang kumukuha sa kanila para makahatak ng viewers o advertisement.

Dati, pwede pang ikulong ng mass media sa sistemang mga malalaking tao lang ang nagpapatakbo ang creativity ng bansa. Ngayon, hindi na. May kalayaan na ang kahit sino makamtan ang tatlong K, hindi mo kailangan lumapit sa kung sino. Madalas nga ngayon, sa mga trending sa social media na kumukuha ng maipapalabas ang mass media.

Maging sa pagpapublish ng mga nobela o kwento, hindi na kailangan makipagpatintero sa "taste" ng mga publisher o pamantayan nila para ilathala ang kwentong mayroon ka. Madaming platform online na pwede maging daan para maihatid mo ito sa mga mata ng publiko. Sa wattpad lang, ang dadaming writers ang kinilalang magaganda ang kanilang mga akda. Kung hindi man pagkilala ang aim mo, kundi magbahagi lang ng kwento, madali na itong makamtan, may kalayaan kang i-post ito.

Kaya kung may mga kanta kang nais iparinig sa publiko, i-post mo sa YouTube o Spotify. Kung may art kang nais ishare, i-post mo lang. At kung tyatyagain mo, baka palarin kang makamtan ang tatlong K. At kung makamtan mo man, nawa'y gamitin mo sa tamang kalayaan.

Ganun din ang payo ko, kahit hindi mo nais makamtan ang tatlong K, ishare mo lang ang art at creativity mo, kailangan yan ng mundo o kahit sa rasong kailangan yan ng sarili mo. Binigyan na tayo ng pagkakataon na kumawala sa nagkulong na sistema sa atin nang ilang dekada sa pagpapahayag ng creativity, gamitin natin nang tama.

Kwento mo sa Pagong: Kafka

For the past recent years (tama bang pinagsama ko 'yung past at recent 😆) naging matunog sa feed ko si Kafka, kesyo nakakatrauma daw 'yung mga naisulat at magmumulat ang nga ito sa iyo sa perspektibong pagdududahan mo ang kasalukuyang reyalidad. Kahit paulit-ulit siyang dumadaan sa feed ko, hindi pa ako nagkakalakas ng loob na subukan magkaroon ng mga likha niya. Baka hindi ko pa kaya, sabi ko sa sarili ko.

Tapos, nabasa ko sa feed ang "metamorphosis" patungkol sa isang lalaki na naging insekto, na sulat daw ni Kafka. 

Natawa ako.

Alam ko 'yung kwentong 'yung pero 'di ko alam na tama pala ang pagkakaunawa ko. Nabasa ko ito, I think latter years ng elementary o early HS. Sabi ko, tama ba pagkakaunawa ko sa binabasa ko? Takang-taka talaga ako sa istoryang binabasa ko na isang lalaki nagising na kakaiba na ang katawan, pinagdudahan ko ang sarili ko na kako mali ang reading comprehension ko 😂😂😂 kasi parang sa naalala ko, ni hindi nagulat o naging concern yung pamilya niya sa pagbabagong anyo niya. So most probably mali ang reading comprehension ko 😂Nagtanong o tiningnan ko pa ata sa diksyunaryo ang ibigsabihin ng metamorphosis.

Fast forward, adult na ako. Ngayon na lang ulit narinig ang "metamorphosis" at ngayon ko lang nalaman na nakabasa na pala ako sa isa sa mga likha ni Kafka. Natatawa din ako, dahil feeling ko, mahal ang mga libro ni Kafka, pero bakit available ang kwentong 'yun sa bahay namin nung bata ako?

Ganuon nga katindi ang mga likha ni Kafka, sarili mong reyalidad ang pagdududahan mo, in my case ang kakayahan ko umunawa ng english story. 😂

Pero ngayon, siguro dahil sa tama pala ang pagkakaintindi ko sa kwento ng metamorphosis, alam ko na ang ipinararating nito, o baka hindi pa rin. Kasi parang ang daming alalahanin nung lalaki kesa sa mas dapat niyang problemahin ang pagbabagong anyo niya. Dapat iniisip niya paano siya makakabalik sa dati niyang form tas magpalit ng bago g pamilya 😂 o mamuhay na lang mag-isa at wag na balikan ang walang amor niyang pamilya. O baka, kailangan ko nang basahin iyun ulit para mas lubos na maunawaan.

'Yun lang.

2 Cents / Reaction

I cannot help but voice out my reaction upon reading the first few pages of the book Cloud Atlas.

Remarkable Part: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Reading this book will open your eyes to the propaganda all around you. And will make you think twice or deep with how the society you are in works or how it programmed you to be a slave.

But, anyway, here's the remarkable part I found amusing:

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

Remarkable Part: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Reading this book made me ask myself to why only now did I read this masterpiece. It's like, I meant in most part, I was like the wholeness of Anne Frank, particularly in the latter part of the book, she is writing my thoughts and details about me. And that made me conclude that we are so much alike.

That's the thing about reading, it will somehow prove to you that you are not alone. That there is at least someone out there who thinks the same way like you do, not completely, but alike.

Anyway, here are the remarkable parts of the book: