Early Learning Tips and Guide

Si Ulo, Kamay at si Paa (Pabula)

2011-06-19T05:33:00.000-07:00

Ito ay tinawag na isa sa "gintong pabula" sapagkat ang aral ay mahalaga; isiping mabuti habang binabasa

Minsan ay nag-usap si Ulo,Kamay at si Paa. halos bulungan lamang ang kanilang pag-uusap sapagkat baka malaman ni Tiyan na siya ang pinag-uusapan.

Wika ni Ulo, "Hoy, ano'ng palagay nyo, hindi ba iyang si Tiyan ay hari ng katamaran? Lumalabas na parang mga alila lamang niya tayo.

Matagal nang nasa isip ko iyan," ang sagot agad ni kamay. "kami ng kakambal ko'y wala na lamang inaasikaso sa araw-araw kundi ipaghanda iyan ng makakain. Umaga, tanghali, gabi, ang isinisilid na lamang sa kanya ang hinahanap naming magkakapatid. "

"Nasabi ninyo iyan," ang sambit ni Paa at akala ba ninyo'y ginhawa ang lagay namin ng kakambal ko" Kung saan-saan kami nakararating sa paghahanap ng pagkain para sa kanya. Ewan ko ba. Bakit ba tayo'y totoong na paaalipin sa tamad na Tiyang iyan?. Pumadyak pa man din si Paa pagkasabi niyon?

"At maselan pa," ang sabi ni Ulo. "Napapagod na ako ng kaiisip ng dapat bilhin para sa batugang Tiyang yan."

"Ano kaya ang mabuting gawin natin para malaman niyang hindi niya tayo maaaring alipin sa habang panahon? Si Kamay ay nagsalita na may kasabay pang kumpas.

"Ah, alam ko na," ang bulalas ni Ulo, na halos napasigaw sa malaking tuwa.

" Sssst," ang saway ni Paa. "Ano yong naiisip mo?" Pagwelgahan natin si Tiyan, ang wika ni Ulo. "Magaling, " ang sabi ni Kamay

"Great! ang sigaw ni Paa. "Kung gayon ," wika ni Ulo "Mula bukas, huwag na tayong kumilos. Hindi na ako mag iisip ng dapat bilhing maisisilid sa kanya.

"Tama. Hindi na ako magluluto pagka't walang mailuluto," ang wika naman ni Kamay, Sa wakas ay mapapahinga naman kami ng kakambal ko".

"At kami naman ng kapatid ko ay hindi na mapapagod ng kahahanap ng gusto niyang pagkain, " wika ni Paa. "Sa wakas, tayo'y makagaganti rin kay Tiyan sa matagal na panahong pang aalipin niya sa atin."

At hindi na nga nag-iisip si Ulo sa pagkaing dapat bilhin para kay Tiyan. Si Kamay at ang kakambal niya'y hindi na rin nagluluto ng pagkain at lumayo na sa kusina. Si Paa at ang kapatid niya'y namalagi na lamang sa bahay at hindi na lumakad maghanap ng pagkain.

Ngunit ang kanilang katuwaan ay hindi nagtagal. Isang maghapon pa lamang ang nakararaan ay parang nagdidilim na ang paningin ni Ulo at may kirot na pumipintig sa magkabilang tagiliran niya. Hindi halos maiangat nina Kamay at Paa ang kanilang sarili.

Ako'y nanlalambot," ang wika ni Kamay

"Kami man ng kakambal ko, "ang wika naman ni Paa.

"Ako'y nahihilo, " ang wika naman ni Ulo. "Parang umiikot ang lahat. Hindi yata magaling ang ginawa natin, " ang sabi ng dalawa.

Sa palagay ko nga, " ang sambit ni Kamay na inayunan naman ni Paa. "Si Tiyan ay wala ngang ginawa at sa malas ay parang tamad na tamad, ngunit" Hindi natapos ang kanyang sasabihin. Noon di'y nag isip si Ulo ng dapat bilhing pagkain. Tinungo ni Paa at ng kanyang kakambal ang palengke. Sa loob ng halos kalahating oras lamang si Kamay at ang kapatid niya'y abalang-abala sa kusina.

Nang masidlan na si Tiyan, Si Ulo'y nakaramdam ng ginhawa. Sina Kamay at Paa ay nagkaroon ng lakas at muling sumigla.

Gintong Aral

Ang pamilyang hindi nagkakaisa, samakatuwid bagay kanya-kanya ay walang patnubay ng Dakilang lumalang.

Ngunit ang sambayanang may Pagkakaisa, may Pagmamahalan, may magandang kalooban at higit sa lahat ay mayroong banal na takot, ay siyang kinalulugdan ng Dakilang lumalalang.

Si Miming at si Aw Aw (Maikling Kwento)

2011-06-17T23:53:00.000-07:00

Si Miming at si Aw-Aw

Story by: Ofelia Concepcion

Magandang umaga sa inyo mga bata

Alam ba ninyo kung bakit hindi magkakasundo ang aso at pusa?

Ngayong umaga alamin natin ito

Oh! handa na ba kayong makinig?

Aw!Aw!Aw

Ngiyaw! Ngiyaw!Ngiyaw!

Oh! ano kaya ang pamagat ng ating kwento

Tama. Ang pamagat ng ating kwento ay si Miming at si Aw-Aw

Krrrrrrrrkkk

Yan si Miming at si Aw! Aw!

Parehong alaga ni Pokwang, mahal na mahal sila ni Pokwang

Yan ang dahilan kung bakit kahit sa pagtulog ay magkatabi sila ni Pokwang.

Kahit pantay ang pagtingin ng tagapag-alaga ay nagseselos pa rin sila sa isa't isa.

Hmmmm ..Ngiyaw! Mas maganda ang laso niya sa akin, Ngiyaw! Ngiyaw!

Inggit na wika ni Miming sa sarili

Hmmmmmm!!Awww {may kakabit pang kampana ang kanyang laso, inggit din si aw kay Miming

Naisip ni Aw Aw na mas maganda kung masosolo niya ang pagtingin ni Pokwang.

(Hrrrrrrrrrrh) Ano kaya ang gagawin ko

Oh kung ikaw si Aw Aw. Ano ang gagawin mo?

Minsan habang wala si miko ay ginulo ni Aw ang mga laruan nito

Pooook! crack!

Huuuh"sino ang gumawa nito? Gulat na tanong ni Pokwang na dumating.

(Hrrrrrrrh) Si Miming! Sumbong agad ni Aw-Aw...Kapag wala kasi nakikialam siya sa mga laruan mo

Sa palagay ninyo pagagalitan kaya ni Pokwang si Aw Aw?

Miming! Miming!

Ito ibinili kita ng sariling mong bola ang wika ni Pokwang kay Miming

Mula ngayon ay ito na ang pinaglalaruan mo

Nainis si Aw-Aw Hrrrrrrh aw! Aw! Aw!

Nagtagumpay ang plano niya

Si Miming naman alam niyang gusto siyang ipahamak ni Aw-Aw

Nag isip rin siya ng plano para sumama ang pagtingin dito ni Pokwang

Alam ko na itong basura ikakalat ko ito sa kusina, naisip ni Miming.

Nagalit nga si Pokwang

Sa labas ng bahay pinatulog si Aw Aw labas labas!

Hmmmmmm. iyan ang parusa ko sa iyo, galit na sabi ni Pokwang.

Tuwang tuwa si Miming. Tagumpay ang plano niya.

He......He ..tagumpay ang plano ko. Panalo ako! Panalo ako !

At nang biglang umulan ng gabing iyon. Ginaw na ginaw si Aw Aw

Magbabayad sa akin ang Miming na iyon, banta nito

Dahil sa galit ay dinamba ni Aw Aw si Miming nang makita ito.

Mabalis na nakatakbo ang pusa kaya hinabol nang hinabol ni Aw Aw.

Nabasag ang mga pigurin at iba pang kasangkapan sa kanilang paghahabulan

Tigilan mo si Miming, saway ni Pokwang

Saan kaya pinatulog mga bata si Aw Aw?

Mula noon pinaghiwalay na silang dalawa

Si Miming nanatili sa loob ng bahay

Si Aw Aw naman ay sa labas ginawan ng tirahan

Oh mga bata dito nagtatapos ang kwento ni Miming at Aw Aw.

May Aral ba kayong natutunan?

The Cat and Dog

Story by: Ofelia Concepcion

Both Miming and Aw-aw were pets of Miko. Miko loved them dearly. The kind boy would even allow them to sleep in his bed.

Even if their owner treated them fairly, they were still jealous of each other . His lace is better than mine, Miming said resentfully. Her lace has a bell, Aw-aw thought he will be happier if he gets all of Miko's attention.

One time , when Miko was away, Aw-Aw deliberately scattered his toys. " who did this?" the child surprisingly asked.

It's Miming! Aw-aw told Miko. "miming plays with your toys after you're gone. Aw-Aw thought Miko will scold Miming. He was wrong.

I bought a ball for you," Miko said to Miming. "From now on, you will play with this." Aw-Aw was pissed off. His plan had gone awry.

Miming knew Aw-Aw hatched the plan to discredit her. She also thought of a plan that would make Miko gets mad at him. She scattered the garbage in the kitchen.

Miko was fuming mad. He told Aw-aw to sleep outside the house. "That is my punishment to you!!" he said angrily. Miming rejoiced secretly. Her plan went well.

It rained that night. Aw-aw shook with cold. Miming will pay for this! he said threateningly.

At the first instance he saw Miming , Aw-Aw jumped at her. Miming was able to scamper away so he ran after her.

Figurines and other home decors were broken to pieces as Aw-aw chased Miming. Stop it, Aw-aw! Miko shouted at his pet. Since then , Miming and Aw-aw were separated from each other . Miming stayed inside the house .Aw Aw was tasked to stay outside with his own house.

Florante at Laura

2011-06-16T22:31:00.000-07:00

Florante at Laura

Muling isinalaysay ni

Pablo D. Baltazar

Si Laura ay kasintahan ni Florante. Tinangay ito ng tatlong lalaki. Sinabi ng mga nakakita na sa bundok ito dadalhin. Agad na sumakay sa kayang kabayo si Florante. Sa paanan ng bundok ay may nakita siyang matandang ita. Nadaganan ito ng malaking puno.Kahit nagmamadali ay huminto si Florante. Tutulungan niya ang lalaki. "Maraming salamat, binata. Alam kong may hinahabol ka pero inuna mo pa akong tinulungan." "Walang anuman po ,tatang. Nagmamadaling umalis si Florante para iligtas si Laura. Kumaway sa kanya ang matanda. "Samahan ka ng Diyos sa iyong misyon, binata." Nakarating sa bundok si Florante. Doon ay inaabangan na siya ng mga lalaking tumangay kay Laura. Sandatahan ang mga ito. "Ngayon ay makakaganti na ako. Binigo ni Laura ang pag-ibig ko dahil sa iyo. Ngayon ay pareho kayong mamamatay," sabi ng pinuno. Matapos igapos ang dalawa ay sumakay na sa kanilang mga kabayo ang tatlong lalaki. "diyan na kayo. Bahala na sa inyo ang mabangis na leon. Pagkaalis ng tatlong lalaki ay dumating ang mabangis na leon. "Florante, ano ang gagawin natin?. tanong ni Laura. "Nag-iisip ako, Laura," sagot ni Florante. Tinitigan sila ng Leon. Umungol ito nang malakas at saka tumalon para sila sakmalin. Napasigaw si Laura sa takot. "Growwll!".Napatili si Laura nang bigla silang lundagin ng Leon. Ngunit bago sila masakmal ng Leon ay humaginit ang isang palaso. Naghihingalong lumagpak sa lupa ang Leon. Lumabas sa pinagtataguan ang pumana dito. "Tatang" bulalas ni Florante. "Akp nga. Mabuti na lang at nasundan kita." Kinalagansila ng matandang ita. "Marami pong salamat, tatang, "sabi ni Florante. "Walang anuman, binata. Ibinabalik ko lamang ang iyong kagandahang look."

Ang Aso at ang Pusa (Pabula)

2011-06-13T01:28:00.000-07:00

Isang araw, ang Aso, ay nakahuli ng isang ibon. Samantalang pinagpapasasaan niya iyon, isang munting buto ang nahalang sa kanyang lalamunan. Hindi niya maalis ang bikig na napakasakit. Sa matinding paghihirap ay napahalinghing nang ubod lakas.

Tumakbo siya kung saan-saan upang humanap ng maka pag aalis ng kanyang bikig, Parang nagmamakaawang ipinangangako niya sa kaninumang mahilingan ng tulong na ibibigay niya ang anumang mayroon siya sa makaaalis ng kaniyang bikig at tinik sa kanyang lalamunan.

Tumihaya na ang Aso at ibinuka ang kaniyang bunganga. Ipinasok naman ng Pusa ang kaniyang ulo hanggang liig upang alisin ang bikig.

Pagkabunot ng bikig, Ang Pusa ay nagsalita

"Akin na ang aking gantimpala."

Umungol ang Aso. Inilabas ang matatalim na Pangil. "Magpasalamat ka, at naipasok mo ang iyong ulo sa aking bunganga at nailabas mo parin nang hindi ka napahamak. "Wika ng Aso na waring nanunumbat.

Gintong Aral:

"Habang iyang tao'y nasa kagipitan, ang sumpa't pangako'y walang katapusan. "Ngunit pagkatapos matulungan ay parang bula na nawawala.

Pag ang tao ay nangako, dapat ay tuparin niya ito ng sa ganon ay igalang siya ng kapwa niya tao. Ang totoong tao ay nagpapakatao.

30 Tips in Studying Effectively

2011-06-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

1. Keep your beloved pet nearby to encourage you- your cat's purrs or pet goldfish swimming around can comfort you while you're stressed out.

2. Learn a new hobby - New skills pump up your brain, making it more open to soak up new info in class too.

3. Arrange your work - make you're comfortable and your area is well-lit

4. Pace yourself - Don't tire yourself out to the point where you are no longer doing a good job. When the words start to blur and you're reading the same sentence twice without understanding it , stop studying for the day .

5. Make a detailed To do List each day. Make sure you finish everything on your list. This will help you manage your time wisely, plus you'll get more homework done when you're organized.

6. Turn off your cell phone and TV when studying - Remove all distractions and reward yourself after.

7. Write out a summary of your lessons before a big quiz - It will be easier for you to review everything.

8. Recite your notes in front of a mirror to prep for a school presentation or report the next day. Practicing your hand gestures and facial expressions beforehand will help a lot and boost your confidence.

9. You can improve your memory powers - During your free time, try memory-enhancing mini-games like reciting what your siblings were wearing after they walk past or what you has for breakfast the day before.

10. When eating out with friends - offer to calculate the bill and distribute the total amongst your friends- instant math review.

11. In class, answer in complete sentences, not in two or three words. This will help you organize your thoughts and your teacher will appreciate your formal recitation style.

12. Pump yourself before reviewing with a little trinket or treat- Things as simple as wearing your favorite ring or a new pen and stationery can motivate you to start studying.

13. Ask your lolo or lola about their story. Their personal tidbits will give you an exciting view on Philippine history plus it won't be as boring as reading from your textbook.

14. Try fun, educational puzzles or quizzes like Trivia or crossword puzzles. They're entertaining. Plus they'll give you brain a better workout than comics or video games.

15. Assign a day with your barkada to converse entirely in English, or Filipino. This activity will help develop your grammar and composition for both English and Filipino subjects.

16. Keep snacks nearby to give you tiny bursts of energy while you study. Healthy snacks like raisins, dried fruit, small crackers, berries, cookies are all helpful in keeping you alert and motivated to study.

17. Take Breaks - After each hour, take a five minute break(no more ) and do something physically active to make your mind alert.

18. Raise your hand- when there are parts in the lesson you don't understand. No one knows all the answer.

19. Greens and blues are found to relax your brain, while dreary colors tend to make you sleepy. Try decorating your desk with colors to keep you peppy.

20. Be confident. Have a mantra to prevent panicking before a big exam. Think thoughts like " I know I can " to ease your nerves and take the exam with a full heart.

21. Have something to look forward to - for example if you finish your homework, you can reward yourself with your fave snacks after.

22. Use mnemonics or memory-helping tricks- just turn a hard idea or word into an easy to remember sing, story, or saying.

23. Make it a habit to visit the library . Having others around you can motivate you to concentrate on reviewing, plus if you need extra info, you can just consult the mountain of books around you .

24. Make flash cards - They will help you organized important points, plus they're easy to use for last minute reviews before an exam. You can even bring them with you anywhere.

25. Have a study with your pal - Plan a special session with those who are good at subject you find hard.

26. Make sure everything you need is close to you- so you don't have to get up and start looking for a calculator or eraser every ten minutes.

27. Take your vitamins daily. Not only will they supply you with much needed nutrients they'll help you not to get sick, which may result in absences and missed lessons.

28. Try having a mock test with your friends- You'll probably stumble on questions your teacher may use later on actual tests.

29. Read ahead - Just because your teacher assigned you to read Chapter 1, doesn't mean you can;t go ahead to Chapter 2. You'll find it easier to remember facts when you repeat information especially for hard topics.

30. Keep a positive attitude- don't get frustrated when you can't get an equation right. Keep trying and don't give up

Cool Sites that can help you with your Homework in School

2011-06-11T00:34:00.000-07:00

Web researching can drown you from info overload!. Follow these tips to know the dependable sites from not so reliable ones.

- Hunt for sources or footnotes to check if the site's getting all its info from a real, trust-worthy source. Is the writer someone who knows what he's talking about?

- Some sites will tell you to go to other links that support their info. If not, double check your facts by typing them in your fave search engine(like Yahoo, Google or Bing). It's more likely that the info's right if it appears in other sites too.

- Check to see how fresh the data is by looking at the date it was published. Some studies or research published years ago may not be true anymore today.

Factmoster.com -gives you just the right dose of info that'll answer your teacher's questions so you don't need to go through a whole bunch of facts. It covers a lot of deets from country facts to calculating fractions. It's like an online library only you don't need to zip your lips when browsing through pages.

Wiki Pilipinas.org - is a Pinoy Wikipedia, which is like a digital textbook of articles written by users- in straight Filipino. Perfect for Social Studies homework! . Wiki Pilipinas is all for all pinoy topics: history, culture and Famous Filipinos.

Askkids.com - Ask a what, who or where question and the site'll give you quick answers. It's built for wide range topics like a search engine but narrows down the results so you get just what you need.

Homework Hub - is packed with how tos and to dos to help you with your school reports and ace your tests from polishing final drafts to organizing your study area, Homework Hub is a student's ultimate manual.

Howstuffworks - you can asked questions related to computers, electronics, automobiles, science, entertainment, and people and it will be answered in this award winning website

Math.com - This site provides help in mathematics related subjects including basic grade school math ,calculus, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and statistics.

Science Made Simple - You can get detailed answers to science questions and you can get ideas on school projects.

Free online Grammar and Spelling checker

2011-06-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

I would like to share some of free online spelling and grammar checker which you can use when doing some essays, writing, blogging or anything concerning writing. Proper spelling is really important to a teacher and poorly written resume will never impress a hiring agent. These programs are free and no subscription is needed. You can also use paid programs for Grammar checker and I can recommend Whitesmoke.

Spellcheck.net - is a free online spell checker is a service available in multiple languages to check the spelling of specific words in that language. The selection can be copied and pasted into a box on the website and then the language spellchecker will tell which words need to be corrected. From there, the writer can change the misspelled words on their original language document.

SpellCheckPlus is a grammar and spelling checker that finds common spelling errors and grammatical mistakes in English. Simply type (or paste) your text into the window below and hit the "check text" button.

Use of Articles a or an

2009-07-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

Articles a or an describes only one person, place or thing

1. a is used before a person, place or an object which starts with a consonant (b,c,d,f,g,h,j,k,l,m,n,p,q,r,s,t,v,w,x,y,z

example: a quail , a duck, a doll, a rat, a gate, a kite, a vase, a zipper, a mango

2. an is used before a person, place, or an object which starts with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u)

This is and These are

2009-07-17T07:02:00.001-07:00

This is
The speaker says this is when talking about one object that he or she is touching or holding.

These are
These are is used when the speaker is talking about two or more objects.

To learn English

2008-12-11T05:26:00.000-08:00

to learn english is a site wherein you can learn English and other languages efficiently. You can also get relevant information regarding international students and people. Their services include American English Audio course, English course for Chinese people, and study abroad opportunities. You can also check some featured articles such as how to learn English as an adult, using computer games to learn English, effective ways to practice business English, improving verbal English speech patterns, and a lot more. There are also language schools abroad wherein you can live and study. This site will feature some of the best language schools in the world wherein you can study and learn English. The schools offer affordable price yet give the best service. But aside from English, you can also learn other languages such as Italian, Spanish, and French. So what are you waiting for, this is your chance of learning new things in life through language, or if you just want to experience quality English education then tto learn english will definitely help you.

Learn English the easiest way

2008-07-29T00:31:00.000-07:00

At learn English , they will help you get a great job and promotion, pass your exam, improve your speaking and pronunciation. Their English teachers will help you develop your English skills. They offer quality English education that you can learn in New York, London, or Sydney in the confines of your home. They surely guarantee that you will be satisfied after taking your first unit or return 100% of your investment…wow, what an offer! If you want to be their student, all you need is to follow simple steps. First, try their free lesson. Then, buy your prepaid code, and receive an email. Do the placement test, so you study at the right level. Next, you will receive your login and password. And finally, start your lesson. There are even satisfied students who can assure you that the lessons are presented well so that it will be interesting and easy to follow. The teachers speak with clear accents, and you can even email them if you have any questions about your lessons. You will surely find many opportunities and get good jobs anywhere in the world. And even professionals and teachers around the world highly recommend their quality education at affordable prices. So if you want to learn English for the first time or improve your English skills, this is the best place to be.

Kalabaw at ng Palaka

2008-06-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

PABULA

KALABAW AT NG PALAKA

Isang araw ay humahangos na umuwi ang magkapatid na palaka.

"Itay, itay, nakakita po kami ni kuya ng higanteng bakulaw sa palayan.
May matutulis na sungay at mahabang buntot. At ang itim ng kulay,
nakakatakot! po!" sigaw ng batang palaka.

"Ha ha ha! Kalabaw ang nakita ninyo at hindi higanteng bakulaw,"
natatawang sagot ng amang palaka.

"Eh, bakit po ang laki-laki niya?" tanong ng batang palaka.

"Wala yun! Tingnan nyo ako, kaya ko rin palakihin ang katawan ko, "
pagmamayabang ng amang palaka. Huminga siya ng malalim at
pinalaki ang kanyang tiyan.

"Mas malaki pa po siya sa inyo," anang batang palaka.

"Ganun?" Suminghot pa ng malalim ang amang palaka at lalung
pinalaki ang kanyang tiyan. "Ganito ba kalaki?" tanong niya.

"Mas malaki pa rin diyan!" sagot ng batang palaka.

Ibinuhos ng amang palaka ang kanyang lakas at suminghot ng
suminghot ng napakalalim hanggang sa naging napakalaki na ng
kanyang tiyan. Maya-maya pa ay bigla silang nakaring ng malakas
na "Pop!". Yun pala ay sumabog ang tiyan na siyang ikinamatay ng
ng amang palaka.

Ang Parabula ng Gutom na Utak

2008-06-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

PARABULA
Ang Parabula ng Gutom na Utak

May isang propesor na nakipagkita sa isang Ginagalang na Pinunong Zen. Tinanong niya kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng Zen. Ang Pinuno ay matahimik na nagbbuhos ng tsaa sa isang tasa. Puno na ang tasa subali't patuloy pa rin ang kaniyang pagbuhos.

Ang propesor ay hindi nakatiis at tinanong kung bakit patuloy pa rin ang kaniyang pagbuhos kahit puno na ang tasa.

"Ibig kong ipakita saiyo," sagot ng inunong Zen," na katulad din yan nang iyong nasang maunawaan kung anong ibig sabihin ng Zen habang ang iyong utak ay puno". Kailangang
alisin mo muna ang iyong pinaniwalaan tungkol sa Zen bago mo unawain kung ano talaga ang Zen."

Major Works of Amy Tan

2008-06-27T20:38:00.001-07:00

The Joy Luck Club – (1989) The popular and critical success of this novel about the generational conflict between the protagonist, June, and three older Chinese women, members of a social club, establishes Tan's preeminence as the novelist of Chinese American women--immigrant mothers and their offspring--who see each other in terms of their struggles to achieve an identity in China and in America.
The Joy Luck Club comprises sixteen stories told by four Chinese immigrant women and their four American-born daughters, linked together by the narrative of Jing-mei Woo, whose mother had founded a women's social club in China to sustain its members' spirits during the communist revolution. In the novel, the club becomes a metaphor for the reconciliation of the conflict between maternal expectation and tradition, and filial individuality and cultural independence.

The Bonesetter's Daughter- (2001) Amy Tan's fourth novel. Like much of her work, this novel deals with the relationship between an American-born Chinese woman and her immigrant mother. The Bonesetter's Daughter is divided into two major stories. The first is about Ruth, a Chinese-American woman living in San Francisco. She worries that her elderly mother, LuLing, is gradually becoming more and more demented. LuLing seems increasingly forgetful, and makes bizarre comments about her family and her own past. The second major story is that of LuLing herself, as written for Ruth. Several years earlier, LuLing had written out her life story in Chinese. Ruth arranges to have the document translated, and learns the truth about her mother's life in China.

Saving Fish from Drowning – (2005) The book opens with an article from the San Francisco Chronicle, stating that eleven tourists, including four men, five women, and two children have mysteriously vanished in Burma, after sailing away on a cruise on Christmas morning. From then on, the story is told through the omniscient first person narrative of Bibi Chen, the tour leader who unexpectedly dies before the trip takes place and who continues to watch over her friends as they journey towards their fate. The novel explores the relationships, insecurities and hidden strengths of the tourists, set against the uneasy political situation in Burma.

The Kitchen God's Wife - (1991) Written by Amy Tan, opens with the narrative voice of Pearl Louie Brandt, the American-born daughter of a Chinese mother and a Chinese-American father, who is a speech therapist living in San Jose. Pearl's mother, Winnie Louie, has called Pearl up to request that Pearl ask her daughters to attend the engagement party of Pearl's cousin Bao-Bao in San Francisco. Right away, Pearl feels a reluctance to oblige her mother, since she is more involved in her American identity—perhaps a result of her marriage to Phil, an American—than her Chinese background. Nevertheless, she feels an obligation to attend her families' festivity and knows she would feel guilty otherwise. Then, two days before the engagement party, Pearl receives another call from her mother telling her that Auntie Du has died and that the funeral will be arranged for the day after the engagement party. So, with all of this on her shoulders, Pearl sets out toward San Francisco with her young daughters, Tessa and Cleo, and her husband.
Amy Tan wrote The Kitchen God’s Wife about her mother, Daisy. Most of Winnie’s story in the novel is drawn from Daisy’s life, including the difficult life and marriage she left behind in pre-communist China. The presentation of Winnie’s story, as she tells her story to Pearl, is reminiscent of the oral tradition. Tan, like Pearl, had never given much thought to her mother’s life in China, and she was amazed at what she learned.

A Critical analysis of the hundred secret senses

2008-06-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

Tan’s books are often included as a part of the multicultural curriculum of high schools and colleges, an honor which caused her much ambivalence and led her to writing a speech, “Required Reading and Other Dangerous Subject”, which she has since delivered in universities across the country. She is also the editor for the 1999 edition of Best American short stories. Due to public demand her work has been translated into Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Catalan, Finnish, Norweign, Swedish, Danish, Icelandic, Russian, Estonian, Serbo-Croation, Czech, Polish, Hebrew, Greek, Tagalog and Indonesian.

She was also interested in writing children’s books like The Moon Lady (1992) and The Chinese Siamese Cat (1994). The latter is now being developed into a children’s television series and is a part of symphony program of words and music produced and conducted by George Daughtery. Along with other novelist Stephen King and columnist Dave Barry. Tan is also a member of the Literary garage band, the Rock Bottom Remainders, for which she sings the Nancy Sinatra classic. Amy Tan has been married to Lou De Mattei since 1974. They live in the San Francisco Bay with pets. Since 1999 she has suffered from neurological Lyme disease and has become an outspoken advocate on behalf of people with disease.

Characters:

Olivia Laguni – Olivia is half Chinese-American born. She tries to retain a western outlook on life until the arrival of her half sister Kwan. She was arrogant and self centered and she blames all the negatives in her life on someone else. At the end, she realized the importance of her sister in a dramatic and typical preserved Chinese fashion.
Kwan Li – Kwan speaks with a Chinese accent. She was the half sister of Olivia that came from China to live with them. Kwan’s character was the opposite of Olivia, she was an optimist, warm, and mysterious mystical lady. Kwan reveals that she has “yin eyes”, she talks of the yin people and her constant contact with them, of this character of her, she becomes the “mother” to Olivia even Olivia hates her for it. Kwan holds an unconditional love for her sister despite of all the schemes that Olivia did to her.

Analysis:

The Hundred secret Senses feature the stories told by two half-sisters Kwan, a Chinese-born fifty year old woman and Olivia, the younger biracial coherione born in the US. It was published in 1995. One of the authors best love work, different dimensions of times are strongly connected with the manifold narrative. A hundred Secret Senses explores the cultural differences of the ancient east and the modern west, through the compelling characters of Kwan and her sisters Libby. Appeared on the New York Time best seller.

The story portrays the cultural differences of the ancient east and the modern west, through the compelling characters of Kwan and her sisters Libby. Kwan in the story, is the protagonist who is described as a warm, charming and overwhelmingly positive person. The story’s point of view is first person narrator. Because this is a novel, dialogues are very important which makes it more understandable and convincing, it can also reveals character. This is combinations of dramatic and an intriguing story for it centers on the behaviors and feelings of each character. There’s a touch of mystery behind the character itself, for it speaks about the reincarnation of Numumu in the personality of Kwan. The character are revealed through the description of physical characteristics and their social standing. The setting in the story is well-described. The language used is simple and understandable. The author uses many description for easy understanding because this novel is the authors reflection of her own cultural concerns. The story focuses more on the relationship of Kwan to her sister Libby and her “yin eyes”. The story is also a real in the sense that Olivia’s mother ignores her that is unfortunately a very real problem. Olivia’s father left his family in China, a problem which must have been incountered by many families.

Themes and Symbols:

The story is written in first person through Olivia’s eyes. On the first chapter of this novel there is a mention of a grasshopper, it is brought by Kwan from China as a pet. The grasshopper incident signifies the fact that Olivia has no appreciation for Kwan and her Chinese heritage. The story becomes dramatic when Kwan reveals that she has “yin eyes”. The yin eyes symbolized the ancestry of Kwan and Olivia. Kwan arrives from China following the death of their father and shakes Olivia’s world. She tries to push Kwan away, embarrassed by Kwan’s ability to make unconscious fool of her self. The fact that Olivia does not like Kwan is a symbol of her indifference toward Chinese culture. The story encounters irony in Olivia’s life experience. Olivia wants her mothers attention more than anything, but she does not received it. Kwan becomes “mother” and Olivia hates her for it. Things are not always what they seem.

Performia International

2008-06-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

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The Importance of Grammar

2008-06-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

Grammar; Its Importance in English Communication

Grammar is important in communication. Grammar is the study of the structure and meaning of human language; the term is also applied to books that set out rules governing a language’s usage. Grammar maybe understood either in a traditional sense, designating an unbroken chain of theories about language extending back to ancient Greece., or in a more modern way. In current linguistics, grammar is defined as, the body of tacit knowledge that constitute a speaker’s voice group of his language.

Grammar is the study of the forms of words and their arrangement in sentence; a system of rules for speaking and writing judge d with regard to correctness of spelling, syntax, etc.

Scholars have analyzed all known languages, and have reduced the users and forms of words and their combinations to a set of rules derived from usage. The manner in which words may be put together to form sentences is called grammar.

Grammar is, first is rules for language: the system for rules by which word are formed and put together to form sentences; second is particular set of language rules: the rule for speaking or writing is particular language, or an analysis of the rules of a particular aspects of language (Spanish grammar and case grammar);third is quality of language: the spoken or written form of language that somebody uses with regard to accept standard of correctness (bad grammar) fourth is grammar book: a book dealing with the grammar of a language and fifth is Analytical system: a systematic treatment of elementary principles of a subject and their interrelationships.

Grammar includes such specific subtopics as morphology (the principles of word formation: see phonology and morphology), syntax, (the principles of sentence structures) and the part of speech. Descriptive grammar is observational and attempts to characterize the principles of words and sentences formation that speakers actually follow in using their language. On the other hand, prescriptive grammar, also called normative grammar, formulate rules about how people ought to speak or write.

Traditional grammar isolates and identifies language units of various sizes and develops rules for combining them into longer structures. A properly constituted structure–one formed according to the rules- is called grammatical; ungrammatical structures are those violate the rules. For example, a morphological rule for English is that nouns but not verbs can end in the suffix-ness. Forms such as quickness, fastness and present ness may or may not be nouns in English, but they cannot be verbs. A syntactic rule is that singular subjects take singular verbs.

In grammar, there are many kinds of grammatical elements such as using the present tense correctly: we use the simple present tense to express a habitual action, a general truth which is not repeated but which is true, we use present tense whenever refer to action done at present: using imperative correctly: the imperative form of the verb is used to give instruction of directions, make requests or give commands, It uses the base form of the verb; using question words correctly: Wh-question words , who, what, which are question words when the information needed is the subject of the modifiers of the subject; Going to and Will: we usually be going to+ base form of the verb (v) when we talk about our plane or intentions for the future. We can use Will for the same meaning although going to is more common; single-word, compound, phrasal modifiers. Single word modifiers are placed before the item described, whereas phrasal modifiers are placed after item described; coordinating correlative conjunctions: conjunctions such as and, or, but, yet, and so stand between join part of a sentence pattern of life construction ( between two nouns, two verbs, two phrases or clauses). They are called coordinators, coordinating conjunctions or conjunctive they join the grammatical elements of equal interest and importance; In clauses join by conjunctions, a comma, semi-colon, or period is placed is placed before the conjunction; sentence connectors are also called conjunctions, they resemble coordinating conjunction in that both join or stand between sentence patterns or independent clauses. Sentence connectors differ from coordinating conjunctions in that they occur at the end of or inside the second pattern or Independent clause, the conjunction can only occur between sentence patterns; Expressing relationship of ideas through subordination using subordinating connectives,in constructing sentences you can make one idea more pathetic than another by the process of subordination, that is by putting the main or important idea in the main clause , and the lesser or minor idea in the subordinate clause; subordinate clauses are dependent structures, they are meaningful only when they apart of larger sentence structure.

The advantages of knowing correct grammar, you can easily get other’s attention when you are vocalizing those words or sentences correctly, it can help you to be more confident in facing different people in their different fields, you can easily get jobs like being a call center representative, you can get along with the high society people, it can enhance your vocabulary wordings, it will enhance your ability to create some exception all essay of your own.
Posted by Deane at 7:56 AM 0 comments
American Slang

Dicey - Definition: Risky, dangerous Example: 1) Getting into a fight with Tim is very dicey -- he is a black belt in karate.

Wrong side of the track - Definition: The poor part of town. Example: 1) Chris came from the wrong side of the tracks, but eventually he became a millionaire. Etymology: In many American cities, the neighborhoods where poor people live are typically on one side of a city's railroad tracks, close to factories and sources of pollution. Synonyms: slum

Mystery Meat - Definition: Animal flesh that has been cooked so long and so badly that it cannot be identified; an unappealing food item of unknown origin, typically served to defenseless students in dining halls.
Example: Oh, no… it looks like mystery meat is on the menu again.

Five o'clock shadow - Definition: Facial stubble; a man's beard at the end of the day. Example: 1) Peter has a very heavy beard -- even though he shaves every morning, he gets a five o'clock shadow by lunchtime Etymology: The typical American workday ends at 'five o'clock' in the afternoon. A 'shadow' is a patch of darkness, or a hint of the presence of something. After spending a full day at work for eight or more hours, many men have a noticeable growth of facial hair, which is dark like a 'shadow' and hints at the beard that would grow if left unshaven.

Jane Doe - Definition: An unidentified woman or the average American woman.
Example:
1) The police found Jane Doe number 1 buried under the blanket in the back yard.
2) Jane Doe spends most of her time shopping for the latest fashions.

knucle sandwich - Definition: A punch in the face. Example: 1) If you don't stop bothering me, you're going 2) Sabah gave Peter a knuckle sandwich when she caught him looking at other girls. to get a knuckle sandwich.
Etymology: A 'sandwich' is an assortment of food between two pieces of bread, and 'knuckles' are the bones in your hand. So a 'knuckle sandwich' is a fist that goes straight toward your mouth.

Hole in the Wall - Definition: A small, simple place, particularly a shop or restaurant.
Example: 1) Let's go to the Italian restaurant on Smith Street. It's just a hole in the wall, but the food is excellent. Etymology: This phrase has been used since the early 1800s. A 'hole' is an empty space, and a 'wall' is part of a building. So a 'hole in the wall' is a simple, undecorated space in a building.

Common Phrases and Expressions in English

2008-05-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

Here are a few common phrases and expressions used by native speakers of English in their everyday speech.

Word/Expression: to wolf something down
Quick translation: to eat something quickly
Example: "I wolfed down that sandwich so quickly."
My interpretation: Wolves are known for eating their food quickly, for fear that another wolf will get to it before them. So to "wolf something down" is to eat as quickly as a wolf does.

Word/Expression: gotta
Quick translation: to have to/to need to
Example: "I gotta leave now."

Word/Expression: to go (expression used where food is sold)
Quick translation: to carry out/to take out with you
Example: a waiter or salesperson may ask "Would you like (your food) to go?"

Word/Expression: sick (when used to describe a person's mind or an event)
Quick translation: strange or perverted
Example: "That person is sick!" or "What he did to her is sick!"

Word/Expression: What's up?
Quick translation: a very casual way to say "Hi" or "How are you?" or "What is happening here?"

Word/Expression: handy
Quick translation: very useful, very industrious, or able to fix things themself
Example: "Her husband is very handy around the house."

Word/Expression: to catch a taxi / cab
to hail a cab/taxi
Quick translation: to get a taxi / cab
Example: "Let's catch a taxi to the restaurant."

Word/Expression: to catch a TV show/newstory/conversation
Quick translation: to hear or see something
Example: "Did you catch the news last night?"

Word/Expression: to have time
Quick translation: to have sufficient available time
Example: "If we have time, we can stay at the bar until 11:00 p.m."

Word/Expression: to threaten to kill someone
Quick translation: to be very mad with someone
Example: "I'm going to kill her when I see her."

Word/Expression: "Whatever floats your boat."
Quick translation: whatever pleases you
Example: "I'd prefer to go on Sunday." Response: "OK, whatever floats your boat."

Word/Expression: shaky/sketchy
Quick translation: unsafe, unclear, not a good idea
Examples: "I'm not sure what my boss wants me to do. His directions were a bit sketchy." OR "Should you go there? Isn't that neighborhood a bit shaky/sketchy?"

Word/Expression: "I'm outta here" (I am out of here)
Quick translation: I am leaving now

Word/Expression: guy/guys
Quick translation: a man/a group of men or a group of men AND women.
Examples: "Hi guys (men and/OR women)... what's up?" "That guy (man only) is strange." "Those guys (men, or group of men and women) are also coming with us."
Further clarification: Guy (singular) can only refer to a MAN. Guys (plural) can apply to a group of men and/or women.

Word/Expression: to double-check
Quick translation: to re-check or verify
Example: "You should double-check our bank account balance before we plan our vacation trip."

Word/Expression: "You gotta be kidding me."
Quick translation: "You must be joking." OR "What you are saying cannot be true."

Word/Expression: gonna (pronounced like "gunna")
Quick translation: going to ....
Example: "I'm gonna clean the bathroom today."

Ang ALAMAT Ng mga Bundok ng Tsokolate

2008-05-07T01:14:00.001-07:00

Sinasabi na noong unang panahon sa pulo ng Bohol sa Kabisayaan, ang lupa ay malawak nguni't tigang- Namimitak ang bukirin kapag tag-init at tunay na pagpapawisan ang sinumang magtatangkang tumahak sa patag na lupaing iyon. Ngunit kapag tag-ulan naman ay putikan ito. Sa tagsibol lamang ng palay lumalamig sa paningin ang mga luntiang tanim sa lupa.

Ngunit isang araw, ayon sa matatanda, sa magkabilang ibayo ng pulo ay dumating ang dalawang higante. Nanggaling ang isa sa gawing timog, ang isa naman ay sa hilaga. Nangatakot ang mga tao at sila ay lumisan patungo sa ibang bahagi ng pulo. Anupa't di nagtagal at nagtagpo ang dalawa.

“Hoy! Higanteng pulpol! Lupain ko ito, ang sabi ng Timog Higante. Umalis ka na at humanap ng sarili mong bayang aangkinin.”

“Hindi maaari! Nauna ako dito,” sagot ng Higanteng Hilaga. “Kung gusto mo, ay ikaw ang umalis.”

“Hindi ako makapapayag,” sabay padyak na wika ng isa. Yumanig ang kapaligiran.

“Aba! Lalo naman ako!,” palundag na sigaw ng nagngingitngit na higante.

At dahil katatapus-tapos pa lamang ng tag-ulan noon ay pumulot si Higanteng Hilaga ng putik at ibinato kay Timog. Bumilog din si Timog Higante ng bolang putik at ibinato kay Hilaga. Bakbakang umaatikabo!!! Nagmasid na lamang ang mga tao sa paghahamok ng dalawa. Talagang matira ang matibay. Ngunit tila walang matibay. Walang natira sa dalawa. Sa tindi ng pagod sa pakikipaglaban at pagbabatuhan ang dalawa ay kapwa natimbuwang na wala nang buhay.

Ang natira ay tumpuk-tumpok na bolang putik na kanilang ipinagbabato sa isa't isa.

Bumalik ang mga taong-bayan. Namuhay silang matahimik. Ang labing mga bunduk-bundukan kapag tag-araw ay animo tumpok ng kending tsokolate kung kung pagmamasdan sa papawirin. Ngunit ang mga ito ay naggagandahang bulubunduking luntian pagkatapos ng tag-ulan.

Misplaced Modifiers

2008-05-07T00:57:00.001-07:00

Misplaced Modifiers

A modifier is a word or a phrase that describes something else. You should place it as close as possible to what it describes. If you don't, your intended meaning may not be clear. Consider the unintentional meanings in the following:

O The young girl was walking the dog in a short skirt.

O The dog was chasing the boy with a spiked collar.

You can see what's wrong. The dog isn't "in a short skirt" and the boy doesn't have a "spiked collar." Because the modifier is misplaced, we have to think for a minute before we get the intended meaning. The correct versions are:

O The young girl in a short skirt was walking the dog.

O The dog with the spiked collar was chasing the boy.

See how the proper placement clarifies the meaning?
You also need to watch the placement of modifiers such as almost, even, hardly, nearly, often, and only. A couple of examples should be enough:

1. Big Dog almost ran around the yard twenty times.

2. He nearly ate a whole box of treats.

In both sentences--when he "almost ran" and "nearly ate"--nothing happened! He didn't quite get around to doing either thing. What is intended is:

1. Big Dog ran around the yard almost twenty times.

2. He ate nearly a whole box of treats.

Remember: if you give your readers a chance to interpret something in more than one way, they'll usually get it wrong! By placing your modifiers correctly, you'll eliminate this possibility and have a better chance of getting your point across.

Things we should know

2008-05-07T00:43:00.000-07:00

Metaphor

Transferring to one word the sense of another. One thing is likened to another as if it were the other.

Examples: Screaming headlines, He made an ass of himself, it stirred our emotions, Life is a lark.

Allegory

A story where people, things or happenings have another meaning, used in teaching or explaining.

Examples: The ship of state has sailed through rougher storms than the tempest of these lobbyists.

Example of Allegory
The Faerie Queene
by
Edmund Spenser
Lo I the man, whose Muse whilome did maske,
As time her taught, in lowly Shepheards weeds,
Am now enforst a far vnfitter taske,
For trumpets sterne to chaunge mine Oaten reeds,
And sing of Knights and Ladies gentle deeds;
Whose prayses hauing slept in silence long,
Me, all too meane, the sacred Muse areeds
To blazon broad emongst her learned throng:
Fierce warres and faithfull loues shall moralize my song.

Parable

To throw beside, to compare. A story with a moral or enigmatic saying.

Examples:
Firefly's Light: A Parable on letting your light shine
Firefly is proud of the light on his tail. He is so proud he shows off and brags. He soon discovers that it is better to just let his light shine than to try to shine his light.
Esmeralda's Crown: A parable on living for JesusEsmerelda is a child of God. She lives her life for Him. When she gets to heaven she receives her crown of life. But what she does with her crown may be a surprise.

Fable

A fiction tale in which animals or other creatures are used to convey a meaning.

Examples:

"A famished fox saw some clusters of ripe black grapes hanging from a trellised vine. She resorted to all her tricks to get at them, but wearied herself in vain, for she could not reach them. At last she turned away, hiding her disappointment and saying: 'The Grapes are sour, and not ripe as I thought.'"

"A fox, seeing some sour grapes hanging within an inch of his nose, and being unwilling to admit that there was anything he would not eat, solemnly declared that they were out of his reach."

Euphemism

To use an auspicious word for an inauspicious word, a less distasteful word for another that is crude.
Examples: He passed away.
They are going to the powder room.

Onomatopoeia

To make a word by imitating the sound or noise of the object.

Examples:
The buzzing of innumerable bees
The "zz" and "mm" sounds in these words imitate the actual sounds of bees.
hiss, splash, bong, clack, splat, swish,

Personification

Where a person represents some quality, thing or idea,

Examples: Cupid, the Wise Old Man, The Greek Gods.

Necklace is a friend
"Necklace is a friend" is an example of personification because Necklace is a thing, and necklaces cannot be friends. Only living things can have friends.

"Wind yells while blowing"
"Wind yells while blowing" is an example of personification because wind cannot yell. Only a living thing can yell.

Examples:

Irony

Humorous or sarcastic expression where the meaning of the words is the exact opposite.
Examples: It was ironic that the fireboat burned and sank
Maybe this will help you a person that’s blind finds another who is also blind but successful and heirs the irony the blind hobo was the cause of the rich guys blindness.
Simile
Examples: The icecicles shimmered like precious diamonds .

The falling snow was as beautiful as butterflies fluttering around a flower garden .
Hyperbole
Greek- Throwing beyond excess, exaggeration for effect.

Examples: That story is as old as time.

My sister uses much make-up so she broke a chisel trying to get it off last night!"
Synecdoche

When the whole is substituted for the part or part for the whole.

Examples: Man does not live by bread alone.
Tiger Christ unsheathed his sword,
Threw it down, became a lamb.
Swift spat upon the species, but
Took two women to his heart.
Samson who was strong as death
Paid his strength to kiss a slut.
Othello that stiff warrior
Was broken by a woman's...

Daddy Long Legs

2008-04-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

Title: Daddy-Long-Legs
Author: Jean Webster
Place and Date of publications: USA, 1986
No. of Pages: 54
Setting: In one of the University in America during 18th century

Characters:
Jerusha Abbot – pet-named Judy
Daddy-Long-Legs – her unknown benefactor
Jervis Pendleton – a philanthropist
Julia Pendleton – rich college girl
Sally McBride – Judy’s classmate

Plot/Climax:
When Judy met Julia’s uncle Jervis Pendleton and fell in love with him, she wrote her benefactor asking what to do. He wrote back asking her to see him. When she was inside the library, her heart leaped with joy when she discovered that her benefactor\or and Daddy-Long-Legs were no other than Jervis Pendleton whom she loved.

Brief Summary:
Jerusha Abbot, serious-minded, brilliant orphan girl, found herself being sent to college by an anonymous “John Smith” benefactor who was to pay her tuition fees and send her $35 monthly. In turn, she was to write him a letter each month telling about her college studies and her daily life.
In college, Judy wrote interesting letters to her benefactor whom she called Daddy-Long-Legs. She had close friends Sally McBride and Julia Pendleton, daughter of the wealthy Pendletons. Judy’s poem was adjudged best in class, a short story of hers was paid $1000. She sent this money as partial reimbursement of over $3000 spent by her benefactor for her college course.
Judy met classmate Julia’s Uncle Jervis Pendleton whom she found to be delightful, dignified. They met several times, and love was born between them. She wrote her benefactor about it, asking what to do. He wrote back, asking her to meet him. She went to the city found the big brownstone house, and a butler ushered her to the library. Her heart leaped with joy when she discovered that her benefactor\or and Daddy-Long-Legs were no other than Jervis Pendleton who had asked her to marry him.

Reaction:
A beautiful and touching story of the dreams, hopes and heartaches of a little orphan girl. Her struggles in school, her many kindnesses, her brilliances in college work are inspirations to other girls. There is romantic mystery and complete satisfaction at the end of the novel.

The Nightingale

2008-04-10T18:30:00.000-07:00

Title: The Nightingale
Author: Hans Cristian Anderson
Place and Date of publications: New York, 1989
No. of Pages: 68
Setting: In the place of China many years ago.

Characters:
Nightingale – a wonderful bird in the forest that sing sweet songs for the people.
Emperor – a proud Emperor who was very curious to hear the Nightingale to sing.
Poor little girl - who said she know the nightingale well.

Plot/Climax:
After the nightingale stolen away from the forest, all people began to be lonely. It added to their grievance when their Emperor got sick and no one can make him well again. When the Emperor’s distress, the nightingale came to dear him. As she sing, the Emperor got well and become strong again.

Brief Summary:
Many years ago, there was an Emperor in china who lived in a splendid palace. He was very proud of his palace and greatly pleased when travelers came from all over the world to see it. These travelers wrote many books about it, but they also wrote about a nightingale which sings beautifully in the forest.
But his men had never seen the bird. Then a poor little girl came who said she know the nightingale well. The girl offered to take the king’s servants to the forest and when they entered the woods the nightingale began to sing, the girl cried out, quite loud saying “Little nightingale, our most gracious Emperor wishes so much that you sing for him.” So saying the birds flew in front of them, they all went back to the palace.
Then the nightingale hopped merrily upon a golden perch and began to sing. It sings so sweetly that great tears came into the Emperor’s eyes.
So it came to pass that the nightingale had a splendid cage and was given everything that she wished.
One day came, a package markets “The nightingale” and when they opened it they found a clock work bird. When it was wound up it song just like the real bird. The real nightingale stole away to the forest again. How glad the wood cutters and fisherman were when they heard the sweet song once more.
Five years passed away, the whole land was thrown into deep grief by the Emperor’s sickness and the doctors said he was a close to death they heard him whisper of “music” but the clock work something had gone wrong and no one could fix it. When the Emperor’s distress, the nightingale came to dear him. As it sings, the emperor got well and became strong again. Soon after, every night the windows of the palace were thrown open wide to hear the sweet song of the nightingale.

Moral Lesson:
Sharing of what talent that you have especially to those who needed it most is the essence of it. For every joy you give to others, there is a triple blessing that you can receive.

Reaction:
It is a wonderful story of how talents are being shared and how a simple piece of joy would mean a lot for someone. Truly real happiness cannot be paid of.

The Wild Swan

2008-04-10T18:27:00.000-07:00

Title: The Wild Swans
Author: Hans Cristian Anderson]
Place and Date of publications: New York, 1989
No. of Pages: 75
Setting: At the Forest

Characters:
Princess Elisa – the only girl among the twelve siblings and worked for shirts to broke the spell.
The Eleven Swans – the eleven brothers of Elisa whom made swans by their wicked step mother.
King – the husband of Elisa whom gave a great dinner party for her and the eleven princes after the spell has broken up.

Plot/Climax:
Soon people decided to kill Elisa because of misconception that she was a witch, she was carried out and lie to a post and ready to be punished, eventually the eleven swans dropped down beside her. Then Elisa broke the spell through them, catching up the eleven shirts, she threw them over the swans and her dear brothers stood beside her.

Brief Summary:
There once lived a king who had eleven sons and a beautiful daughter named Elisa. The Eleven Prince and Princess Elisa were very happy until their mother died. The king married a wicked woman who turned the eleven boys into wild swans.
Elisa did not know what had become of them, one day when she saw the eleven brothers. The eldest brother told Elisa that their stepmother had be witched them and they stay swans as long as the sun shines.
She dreamed that a fairy came into her and told her that she could break the spell if she made shirts of nettles and threw them over the swans. But she must not speech all the time if she is at work. When she awake, she remembered her dream and set to work.
The king saw Elisa and he fell in love with her and asked her to marry him. There was a splendid wedding. Still Elisa wondered into the woods and gathered nettles and worked upon the shirt.
Some of the people said she was a witch but she worked on until she had ten shirts finished and the eleventh almost completed. In those days the people believed in witches until they cried out that the girl must die so they carried her out and lies her to a post when the eleven swans dropped down besides her. Elisa broke through them, catching up the eleven shirts, she threw them over the swans, eventually her dear brothers stood beside her.
When the king came, Elisa told the story of why she had been silent so long. Then all of the people praised her and the king gave a great dinner party for her and the eleven princes.

Moral Lesson:
When there is suffering and hardships ate start, there is happiness and success at the end.

Reaction:
The story showed how perseverance and determination resulted to a blissful ending. It also showed that blood is thicker than water as what Princess Elisa portrayed for her eleven brothers.

Daughter of Wolf House

2008-04-10T18:22:00.000-07:00

Daughter of Wolf House
Author: Margaret E Bell
Place and Date of publications: USA, 1991
No. of Pages: 80
Setting: During 16th century at Alaskan Haida Village

Characters:
Nakatla – a pretty 16-year-old Alaskan girl who belong from the clan of backward, conservative Wolf House.
Queeaunce – a one-time powerful shaman who ruled the second clan and hates the whites.
Chief Yelthnow – Nakatla’s grandfather and the ruler of the first clan.]
Sahawa – young friend of Nakatla.
Skideen – Sahawa’s half brother.
Gregory Monroe – son of the white trader an whom Naktla fell in love with.

Plot/Climax:
Soon after Queeaunce discovered the love affair of Nakatla and Gregory, he opposed it ad aroused the village people against the Monroe’s. He said the whites only brought trouble and disaster to the village. For this reason, Nakatla and Gregory were pushed to elope and leaved the place.

Brief Summary:
Nakatla is a sixteen-year-old daughter of deceased Captain Rose and an Indian mother, they lived in an Alaskan Haida Village with two different clans. The first clan is the progressive Killer Whale house ruled by Nakatla’s grandfather and the brown minded Chief Yelthnow and the second clan which is backward, conservative Wolf House ruled by the whites. This clan is where Nakatla and her mother belonged.
Later, a white trading family, the Monroe’s, came and put up a trading store in the village, Nakatla fell in love with the young, handsome traders son, Gregory which soon discovered by Queeaunce. Even though, that he grown old but still formerly a powerful Shaman, aroused the village people against the Monroe’s. He accused them that they are the one brought trouble and disaster into the village.
He also opposed the young couple’s love affair. Skideen, half-brother of Nakatla’s best friend Shawa, also hated the Indian Maiden for liking the Monroe’s and working for them as Salesgirl in their trading store. But according to first clan ruler, Chief Yelthnow the coming of the whites meant better life for the Alaskan villagers.
It was Chief mother, Yelthnow’s wife who encouraged Nakatla to elope with Gregory. The tow young couples left the village, underwent difficulties and embarrassment before they finally found a happy and baldly faced the future before them together.

Moral Lesson:
Personal and cultural differences are not a hindrance for two people who are both in love with each other. Destiny is not a matter of chance but a matter of choice.

Reaction:
The novel shows the rugged beauty of n Alaskan village dominated by the totems of two clans. The Wolf and the Killer Whale but this is primarily the love story of Nakatla and the trader’s son, Gregory. The strength of their love surmounted prejudices on both sides. They were willing to face the future and make both Indian and Whites find nothing wrong in mixed marriages.

The Story of Proserpine and Ceres

2008-04-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

The story illustrates the key dynamic between gods and mortals. Mortals continue to challenge the gods and the gods smite the mortals. The gods rule by power and strength, as what we are about to see in the story.

When Jupiter and his brothers had defeated the Titars and banished then to Tartarus. A new enemy rose up against the gods. Some of them had a hundred arms, others breathed out fire. Then they were finally subdued and buried alive under Mount AEtna, where they still sometimes struggle to get loose, and is what men call the eruption of the Volcano.

The Giants groaned, starred and shook the sea and the island of Sicily so much that the god of the underworld, Pluto, became frightened lest his kingdom be revealed to light of day; he left the kingdom of the dead to survey the situation. Venus designed for Pluto to fall in love with Ceres daughter, Proserpine, a virgin, because Venus disdains virginity at which point Venus ordered Cupid to strike him with love’s arrow, as he was the only creature immune to love’s passion and Pluto was struck by Cupid’s arrow. Meanwhile, Proserpine was playing with her companion gathering lilies and violets, and filling her basket, when Pluto saw her, loved her and carried her off. When he reached the River Cyane, Proserpine screamed for help but no one heard her, despite her struggle and attempt of a nearby nymph, Cyane, to stop him. Pluto opposed his passage, as he struck the river bank with his trident and the earth opened and gave him passage to Tartarus. He bore her aware weeping down to the underworld. Meantime, Ceres searched everywhere for the daughter. But no one would tell her the truth even the Gods and some message from the birds. After long searches, Ceres met Cyane, the river nymph and showed her prosephite ribbon which had dropped to her plight. Furious and despairing, Ceres took her anger out in the farmers of this land, ruining their harvest; another nymph informed Ceres that Proserpine had become the queen of the underworld. When Ceres heard that she turned the Throne of Jove. Ceres asked Jove to intervene and restore his daughter. Jove considered that Ceres` lack of consent annuls the marriage and agreed to release her if she has not eaten the Food of the dead, otherwise, fate forbids her to leave the underworld. But Proserpine had eaten sum seed of the pomegranate which Pluto offered her, an act witnessed by Ascalphus, and was forbidden from leaving, but Jove decreed that Proserpine spend half the year with her mother and the other half with his husband.

Bechay

2008-03-05T08:41:00.000-08:00

Bechay

“Akin na ang sorbetes ko.”
“Sorbetes mo? Akin ‘to noh!”
Napakunot noo ako sa kanya. Siya lang naman an nag-iisang kong katabi.
“Kinain mo na yung sorbetes mo! Tingnan mo nga ang mukha mo! Ayan ang ebidensya o! Dungis na ang bibig mo!”
Napatahimik siya. Matagal-tagal rin niya akong tiningnan. Pagkatapos nun ay nginitian niya ako sabay abot ng sorbetes. Tinanggap ko agad ito at sabay kaming naglakad pabalik sa klasrum. At doon nagsimula ang aming pagkakaibigan. Parang wala rin ngang kwenta ang aming pagtatalo dahil nalusaw na ang ice cream.

Maliban sa mga magulang ko, si Polo lang ang hindi tumatawa sa pangalan ko. Paano ba naman ay ipinaglihi ako sa pechay kaya Bechay ang ipinangalan sa akin ni Nanay. Dahil dun, madali na kaming nagkasundo. Kahit ganyan lang pumorma si Polo, matalino yang kaibigan ko. Minsan nga ay sa kanya ko pa ipinapagawa ang assignments ko!

Maraming magagandang aral rin ang tinuro niya sa akin. Isa na rito ay ang hindi pagkalat sa kapaligiran. Isang beses, nang nakaupo kami sa bench, hinulog ko sa lupa ang plastik ng aking korniks. Agad niya naman ito dinampot at pinangaralan ako.
“Ano ka ba naman Bechay! Masamang magkalat noh!” sabay tapon nito sa basuran.
“Bakit? Marami na ngang kalat sa paligid o! Hindi naman ‘yan mapapansin kung dumagdag man ang kalat ko!”
“ Kaya nga Bechay. Marami nang kalat. Huwag mo nang dagdagan.”
Simulan noon ay hindi na ako muling nagkalat.

Alam nyo bang pareho ang petsa ng aming kapanganakan? Tuwing bertdey naming dalawa ay umaakyat kami ng bukid, ideya ko iyon. Doon sa pinakatuktok, isinisigaw namin ang aming mga kahilingan.
“Panginoon, kahit manika lang na regalo okey na sa akin! At tsaka nga pala, sana gumanda namang pumorma si Polo para hindi na ako mapahiyang kasama siya! (Hahaha!) Biro lang po!”
“Panginoon, sana ay biyayaan nyo naman po ng kahit kaunting talino si Bechay!” at siya namang pagbatok ko sa kanya.
“Biro lang! Alam kong matalino ka naman e, tamad nga lang!” at isa na namang pagbatok ang ginawa ko.”
“Panginoon, sana po ay tumagal ang aming pagkakaibigan!!!! Salamat po!!” Ito parati ang huli naming kahilingan.

Pero hindi rin nagtagal ang pangakong iyon. Pagpasok ko sa klasrum isang araw ay hindi ko na siya matagpuan sa kanyan upuan. Nakapagtataka kasi iyon dahil palagi siyang maagang pumapasok. Dahil late na naman ako nun, lumapit ako at nagtanong kay titser.
“ Titser, asan po si Polo? Andito ba siya kanina?”
“ Hindi ba niya nasabi sa iyo Bechay? Lumipat na naman sila ng kanyang pamilya sa ibang lugar. Umalis na siya. Mukhang hindi na babalik dito si Polo.”
Napakalungkot nang araw ko noon. Iniyakan ko ang pagpanaw niya. Bakit niya kailangang umalis? Bakit hindi siya nagpaalam sa akin? Mula noon ay wala na kaming komunikasyon.

Ilang buwan na ang lumipas at may natanggap akong sulat. Laging gulat ko at galing pala iyon kay Polo. Dali-dali akong tumakbo sa aking kwarto at binuksan ito.
Napakalaking liwanag ang nakita ko. Pagkatapos nun ay may lumabas na hologram ni Polo na nakasuot ng isang makintab na damit.

“Kamusta ka na Bechay? Pasensya na kung ngayon lang ako nagpakitang muli. Di ba tinanong mo sa akin noon kung saan kami nakatira? Ang katotohanan Bechay ay isa akong alien. Nakatira kami sa napakalayong planeta mula rito. Pasensya na ha at ngayon ko lang sinabi sa iyo. Dito kasi kami sa mundo nyo nagbabakasyon. Huwag ka nang umiyak dyan o, sayang lang ang kagandahan mo. Bechay, bibisitahin rin kita balang araw. Pasukan na kasi sa amin dito kaya matatagalan pa akong bumalik. Baka abutin na ng ilang taon. Basta ipangako mo nalang sa akin na aantayin mo ang pagbabalik ko. Sumpaan ng magkaibigan diba? Kailangan ko na palang umalis. Paalam na Bechay! Mag-iingat ka dyan at mag-aral kang mabuti! Sa muling pagkikita! Paalam!!”

Naglaho ang imahe ni Polo at natulala lang ang luhaan kong mukha. Akalain nyo? Totoo pala! Pero alam nyo ba? Masaya ako dahil magkikita rin kami balang araw. Kahit na umabot pa ito ng ilan taon, maghihintay ako. Sumpaan ng magkaibigan diba?

The Ant and the Dove

2008-02-25T02:35:00.000-08:00

An ant went to the river to drink. But he fell and couldn’t swim back to the riverbank. A dove saw the ant in danger. The dove dropped a leaf in the water to serve as a boat for the ant. And the ant immediately climbed unto it. The ant thanked the dove. “Someday I may also help you”. A few days later, the ant saw a man with a bow and arrow. Ready to shoot at the dove. The ant bit the man’s leg, and the man jumped. So his arrow missed the dove. The dove thanked the ant and immediately flew away to safety.

Moral lesson: “Sow a seed of the kindness and you will reap kindness in return.”

Alamat ng Palay

2008-02-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

Alamat ng Palay or Tale of Rice

Noong unang panahon, ang mga tao ay walang permanenteng tirahan. Kung saan may makakain ay doon sila tumitigil . Ang ibang katutubo ay nakatira malapit sa mga ilog at lawa. Pangingisda ang ikinabubuhay nila. Kasama sa mga katutubong ito ang mag-asawang Bana at Abu. Ang ibig ni Bana ay tumigil na sila sa isang lugar. Ani Bana ay ibig na niyang magkaanak at mahirap kung palipat-lipat sila ng lugar. Gumawa ng kubo si Abu. Maganda ang napili nilang lugar. Sagana sa prutas at mahuhuling hayop. Malapit din ito sa ilog na huhulihan ng mga isda. Nagkaroon ng tagtuyot. Walang mapagkunan ng pagkain sina Abu at Bana. Nagpasya si Abu na humanap ng pagkain sa ibang lugar. Malayo na ang kanyang narating ngunit wala pa rin siyang makitang pagkain. Sa sobrang pagod ay nakatulog si Abu. Nagising siya sa awit ng mga damo. Anang mga ito ay maaari niyang kainin ang kanilang mga butil. Tinuruan si Abu ng mga damo na may gintong butil kung paano sila kakainin. Pagkatapos ay pinuno ni Abu ng mga butil ang dalang lalagyan. Ibinilin ng mga butil kay Abu na itanim sila sa lupang pinalambot ng ulan. Tuwang-tuwa sina Abu at Bana dahil may pagkain na sila. Tinandaan ni Abu ang bilin. Itanin daw niya ang mga butil. Palay daw ang itawag niya sa mga ito. Tinuruan ni Abu ang ibang katutubo sa pagtatanim ng palay. Mula noon ay naging magsasaka sila. Hindi na sila nagpalipat-lipat ng tirahan.

In the olden days, the people did not have permanent homes. They stayed in places where there was food to eat.The other natives lived near rivers and lakes. Fishing was their means of livelihood. Among the group of natives were the couple Bana and Abu. Bana wished so much that they could stay in one place. Bana wanted to have a child in it will be difficult if they keep on moving from place to place. Abu built a hut. The place was perfect. There were lots of fruits and animals for them to hunt. nearby was a river where they can fish. There was drought. Abu and Bana could not find any food. Abu decided to look for food in other places. He had traveled far but there was still no food in sight. Abu was so tired and fell asleep. The song of the grasses woke him up. They told him he could eat there grains. The grasses with golden grains told Abu how to eat them. Afterwards, Abu filled his basket with the grains. The grains told Abu to plant in a soil , tenderized by rainwater. Abu and Bana were happy they had food now. Abu took grain's order by heart. He had to plant the grains. he had to call the grains Palay. Abu taught the natives how to plant palay. They became farmers since then. They did not move places anymore.