Alibata: Ang Katitikang Pilipino

Hindi ba’t isang hiwaga ang nakapaloob sa kultura? Isang napakalaking konsepto, mahirap matasa ngunit kahanga-hanga sapagkat nakaaapekto sa kamalayan ng sinuman. Mula sa kultura’y maitatag ang esensya ng pagkakilanlan o identidad. Anumang ebidensya o elementong bumubuo sa kultura’y nararapat lamang pahalagahan. Ang kultura’y maaring kongkreto o di-kongkreto. Ito’y maaring tradisyon o bagay na nakasulat, nakaukit gaya na lamang ng baybayin o alibata.

Bago pa man dumating ang mga dayuhan, may sariling sistema ng pagsulat na ang mga katutubong Pilipino, ang baybayin o alibata. Ang alibata ay binubuo ng tatlong patinig at labing-apat na katinig. Bawat isa sa mga katinig ay binabasa na may kasama na patinig a, kapag ito ay walang marka sa itaas o sa ibaba na mas kilala sa tawag na “kudlit,” o isang uri ng marka na ginagamit sa mga matatandang sistema ng pagsusulat. Kapag ito naman ay may kudlit sa ibaba, ang patinig a, ay napapalitan ng patinig o o di kaya ay u. Ngunit kung ang kudlit naman ay nasa itaas, ang patinig ay nagiging e o i.

Dala ng Hispanisasyon at Amerikanisasyon ng mga Pilipino, unti-unting naglaho ang alibata o baybayin. May ilang pangkat-etniko na lamang gaya ng Mangyan ang patuloy na gumagamit ng sinaunang sistema ng pagsulat na ito. May gumagamit din ng alibata sa pagdisenyo. Ang ilan ay nakalimbag pa sa T-shirt ngunit karamihan sa atin ay di nauunawaan ang nakasulat sapagkat karamihan sa mga Pilipino’y di marunong bumasa o sumulat ng alibata. Mananatili na lamang ba itong sangkap ng estetika?

Marami na rin nagtangkang buhayin muli ang alibata. Noong 1972 ang iskultor na si Guillermo Tolentino ay naglimbag ng kanyang aklat na Baybayin, a Syllabary. Noon namang 1978, si Ricardo Mendoza sa kanyang aklat na Pinadaling Pag-aaral ng Katutubong Abakadang Pilipino ay nagpaliwanag na dapat isama sa kurikulum ng edukasyon ng Pilipinas ang pag-aaral ng alibata upang ang kasalukuyang Filipino ay malinawan hinggil sa kanyang pagkatao. Kung susuriin tila ang pagsisikap nila ay hindi pa nagkakaroon ng bunga hanggang sa kasalukuyan.

Sana’y magkaroon ng puspusang programa o maisama man lamang kahit papaano sa ating kurikulum ang pagtuturo ng pagsulat at pagbasa sa ating sinaunang alpabeto. Kung ang pag-aaral ng wikang banyaga gaya ng Espanyol, Mandarin, Nihonggo ay binibigyang-halaga, dapat ay ganoon din ang pagpapahalagang ilaan sa ating sinaunang katitikan. Mahalagang manatili at maisalin ang kaalamang ito sa bago at susunod na henerasyon. Ito’y bahagi ng ating identidad o pagkakakilalanlan.

***Basahin ang mga artikulong nakapaloob sa journal na Ang Malay (http://www.ejournals.ph/index.php?journal=malay) upang magkaroon ng dagdag na kaalaman sa mga natatanging isyu sa wikang Filipino.

What Your E-mail Address Says…

Have you ever wonder what your email address says about your computer skill? I think you better read this:

own domain
ex. somedood.@theoatmeal.com
• good chance of being skilled and capable
• maybe even a programmer or designer

@gmail.com
• most likely knows their way around a computer
• when the internet stops working, actually tries
rebooting the router before calling a family member for help

@hotmail.com
• uses a compaq
• still has issues with spyware
• still thinks that Myspace is hip

@yahoo.com
• usually types in all capslock
• sends you email chain letters saying that Bill Gates will eat your hard drive unless you forward this message to everyone you know

@aol.com
• before asking for computer help, still thinks it’s funny to say “I’m computer illiterate LOL”
• calls you on the phone to tell you about a neat website they’ve discovered, then says into the receiver:
“Okay, go to…
h….t….t…p…colon…slash…slash…
w….w…..w….w…dot….”
• prints out emails and brings them over to your house

Well, what do you think? Is it true or not? Does it apply to you or not?

Source: http://theoatmeal.com

Note: Try to check out and read aticles regarding new innovations in technology in Edtechie (http://www.ejournals.ph).

Can you hear technology?

It’s so nice to hear that some software being developed are intended for the marginalized people in our society such as deaf children and those with hearing loss. The Institute for Disabilities Research & Training is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through research and development, training, technical assistance, and advocacy. IDRT develops software that is user-friendly to deaf people. All of the software that they created can be enjoyed by deaf, as well as by hearing people. Accessibility is often achieved by having video or animation of deaf signers interpreting auditory information. Picture menus and icons are used with deaf children to help them navigate the programs.

Some companies also launched technological products to ameliorate environment condition of people with hearing disabilities. iCommunicator by Interactive Solutions, Inc. promotes independent communication for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and encourages increased literacy by “translating” English a number of ways. The iCommunicator translates in real-time speech to text, speech/text to video sign-language and speech/text to computer genererated voice. It makes an effective two-way communication possible for persons who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or experience unique communication challenges. Once translated, the user can use the built-in dictionary/thesaurus to obtain definitions, synonyms and antonyms. He/she can also perform internet searches for more information.

Technologies being developed nowadays to meet the needs of deaf or hearing-impared people demonstrate the advantageous/beneficial effects of technology in our society. It shows that technology should be accessible to all not only to the mainstream group of our society.

Read articles related to technology, education, and other societal issues on http://www.ejournals.ph

Pilipino Funny Komiks

Back then, there were no video games, internet, MP3, and home video. All we had then was TV with programs Batibot and Sesame Street being the favorites. And then appeared Pilipino Funny Komiks. Does it ring a bell? Does it brings a nostalgia effect on you?

When I heard about Funny Komiks, i started to reminisce the old times or my childhood. I remember my cousins collect those comics. They lend it to me so I started reading comic strips in it and learned to appreciate it as well. Pilipino Funny Komiks is a full color comics that’s why children would like to read it. It was first published in 1978 by Islas Filipinas Publications, Inc., a division of Atlas Publications, owned by Don Ramos Roces and was released weekly. It was filled with beautiful stories about animal superheroes and endearing characters.

But sad to say, it was last published on 2004. Hope that comics industry in our country will flourish in spite of the introduction of new gadget and technology.

Here are some comics strips included in Pilipino Funny Komiks:
• “Superkat” by L.S. Martinez
• “Batute” by Rene Villaroman (writer) and Vic Geronimo (Artist)
• “Bing, Bam, Bung” by Larry Alcala
• “Fantasyang Pinoy”
• “Planet Opdi Eyps” by Roni Santiago
• “Combatron” by Berlin Manalaysay
• “Tinay Pinay”
• “Eklok” by Vic Geronimo (Artist)
• “Tomas en Kulas” by Mike Rennen Oniate, then Oliver Page
• “Niknok” by Pat Reyes (writer) and Vic Geronimo (artist)

Moreover, here are some pinoy superheroes from Pilipino Funny Komiks:
• Combatron
• Mettalica
• Tinay Pinay
• Axel
• Death Metal is formerly Alchitran and now ally of Combatron
• Super Dog
• Super Kat

To learn more about Philippine literature please visit http://www.ejournals.ph.

Edukasyong Pisikal ng mga Pinoy

Noong panahon ng kolonyalismo ng mga Amerikano, inorganisa o isinaayos nila ang sistema ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas ayon sa kanilang kagustuhan bilang bahagi ng kanilang layunin ng pagtuturo sa mga Pilipino ng demokrasya at pagsasanay upang pamahalaan ang sarili. Ang pagtatatag ng pampublikong sistema ng edukasyon ang kanilang hakbang upang maisakatuparan ang layuning ito. Tinawag na Thomasites ang mga gurong Amerikanong nagturo sa mga Pilipino. Ang bansag na Thomasites ay nagmula sa sinakyan nilang barkong panghakot ng sandatahang Amerikano (US Army transport) na pinangalanang Thomas.

http://en.wikipilipinas.org/images/thumb/5/5c/Thomasites.jpg/300px-Thomasites.jpg

Binigyan ng pagpapahalaga ng mga Amerikano ang edukasyong pisikal bilang bahagi ng programa sa edukasyon at iniharap ito sa pagbubuo ng kurikulum na itinakda sa mga paaralan. Ayon sa mga Amerikano, pinaigting nila ang programang edukasyong pisikal upang mapaunlad ang kalusugan at sanitasyon ng mga Pilipino at pagbibigay-diin upang mapaunlad ang karakter ng isang indibidwal.

Kaalinsabay ng pagtuturo ng edukasyong pisikal, nakapaloob dito ang introduksyon at pagtuturo ng mga larong Amerikano tulad ng basketball, baseball, volleyball, track and field, at iba pa. Hindi maikakaila na pinaunlad ang mga naturang larong ito sa mga paaralan at sinanay ang mga mag-aaral na Pilipino na tanggapin ang ganitong uri ng laro.

Subalit hindi rin maikakaila na mayroong tradisyonal o katutubong laro ang mga batang Pilipino bago pa man ang kolonisasyon ng mga Kanluranin sa bansa tulad ng patintero o harangang-taga o tubigan, iring-iring, takip-silim, tumbang preso, araw-lilim, luksong tinik, at marami pang iba. Nakalulungkot isipin na ang mga katutubong laro ng mga Pilipino ay maaring mawala dahil na rin sa introduksyon ng modernong larong dala ng Amerikano sa lokal na lipunang Pilipino. Ang pagintrodus o pagpapaloob ng mga katutubong laro sa mainstream tulad ng pagiging bahagi nito sa edukasyong pisikal ay maaring maging potensiyal upang makilala at mapaunlad ang mga katutubong laro hindi lamang dito sa Pilipinas ngunit maging sa iba’t ibang bansa.

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon ukol sa edukasyon, kultura, at ilang isyu sa lipunang Pilipino, basahin ang mga lahok na artikulo sa http://www.ejournals.ph

Safe Surfing

Activate protection.
Make sure that your firewall, spam blocker, or other built-in security application is turned on if your operating system or software. Also activate spam filtering and other online protection provided by your e-mail service such as Yahoo, Gmail, or MSN.

Update and renew
Set your operating system and security software to update automatically. Spam, spyware, and virus-detection programs incorporate “rules” or “definition” files that must be updated regularly to catch the latest threats.

Watch what you download
Try to download only from well-known manufacturers or trusted sites.The myriad of free utilities, games, and other software on the Internet can be useful, but many are laden with viruses and spyware.

Run antivirus software
It actually works and you need it. An antivirus program will prevent virus-laden files from being transferred from your PC.

Don’t assume a certified site is safe
Although it’s vital to have a secure connection when sending personal information online (indicated by “https” before the Web address and a padlock or other icon on your browser), it’s no guarantee the Web site is reputable.

Guard personal information
Do not respond to e-mail requesting your passwords, user names, Social Security number, or other personal information, no matter how official it looks.

Avoid using hyperlinks in e-mail
Hyperlinks can show one address but take you to another. Before clicking on links in Web pages, hover your cursor over the URL and see whether the address that appears at the bottom of your browser looks as if it’s related to a page or site you expect to visit.

Type carefully
Tricksters sometimes create lookalike sites that use common mistypings of popular URLs.

Try to check out articles related on technology and its application and implication to our society on Edtechie in this website (http://www.ejournals.ph)

Conveying Message with Emoticons and E-mail Shorthands

Whether we create our messages using e-mail or text messages, we often insert emoticons to express our feelings and intention. We insert smileys when we felt the need to convey emotional content as part of our messages. We can say that in a way its a form of creativity.

Smileys are tiny pictures made from ordinary ASCII characters that are meant to be looked at with the head tilted to the left.

Without smileys, simple statements could easily be misinterpreted:

You’re an idiot!

Did you know?

Sometime during 1981, Scott Fahlman, who is now a Principle Research Scientist in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, devised a scheme for encoding and conveying one’s feelings as small text “glyphs” to overcome this frustration. Scott was the first to use smileys in electronic mail.

The Emoticons
- Humor
(-: – Masking theatrical comments
:-T - Keeping a straight face (tight-lipped)
- Said with a smile
:-> - Alternate happy face
- Loud guffaw
:*) - Clowning around
- Licking lips
%-} - Silly
:/) - Not funny
:-” - Pursing lips
:-r - Bleahhh (sticking tongue out)
:-f - Smirks
:-p - Smirks
:-1 - Smirks
:-, - Smirks
- Disgusted
:-J - Tongue-in-cheek comments
:-! - Foot in mouth
:-$ - Put your money where your mouth is
- Talks too much
:-I - Chewing on bone
%&$%& – You know what that means…
- Shouting
:-y - Shouting
- Shouting
- Unhappy
:-c - Real unhappy
(:-& - Anger
(:^( - Broken nose
(:—>—(@ – A rose
||*( - Handshake offered
||*) - Handshake accepted
- Kiss kiss
o= - A burning candle to start a flame
~= - Flaming message
-= - A doused candle to end a flame
|- - Kissy face
[] - Hug
(-_-) - Secret smile
‘-) - Wink
- Say no more; nudge, nudge
:-* - Oops! (Covering mouth with hand)
:-# - Censored
:-8 - Talking out both sides of your mouth
>:> - Leer
:-X - Not saying a word
(:-… - Heart-breaking message…
- “Oh, noooooo!” (a la Mr. Bill)
#:-o - Same as previous
…—… – S.O.S.
:-< - Forlorn
|-( - Late night messages
(:-$ - Ill
(:-( - Sad
%- - Hung over
:~/ - All mixed up
#-) - Another all-night partier
:-'| - With a cold
%+{ - Loser in a fight
( ) - You're kidding!
<:-O – Eeek!
:-C - Unbelieving (jaw dropped)
*) - About to vomit

E-mail Shorthand
2U2 - To You, Too
AAMOF – As A Matter Of Fact
AFAIK – As Far As I Know
AFAIC – As Far As I’m Concerned
AFAICT – As Far As I Can Tell
AFK - Away From Keyboard
ASAP – As Soon As Possible
BAK - Back At Keyboard
BBL - Be Back Later
BITMT – But In The Meantime
BOT - Back On Topic
BRB - Be Right Back
BTW - By the way
C4N - Ciao For Now
CRS - Can’t Remember “Stuff”
CU - See You
CUL(8R) – See You Later
CWOT – Complete Waste Of Time
CYA - See Ya
DIY - Do It Yourself
EOD - End Of Discussion
EZ - Easy
F2F - Face To Face
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
FBOW – For Better Or Worse
FOAF – Friend Of A Friend
FOCL - Falling Off Chair Laughing
FWIW – For What It’s Worth
FYA - For Your Amusement
FYI - For Your Information
/ga - Go Ahead
GAL - Get A Life
GBTW – Get Back To Work
GFC - Going For Coffee
GFETE – Grinning From Ear To Ear
GMTA – Great minds think alike
GR&D – Grinning, Running & Ducking
GTG - Got To Go
GTGTTBR – Got To Go To The Bathroom
GTRM – Going To Read Mail
HAND – Have A Nice Day
HHOK – Ha Ha Only Kidding
HTH - Hope This Helps
IAC - In Any Case
IAE - In Any Event
IC - I See
IDGI - I Don’t Get It
IMCO – In My Considered Opinion
IMHO – In my humble opinion
IMNSHO – in My Not So Humble Opinion
IMO - In My Opinion
IMPE - In My Personal Experience
IMVHO – In My Very Humble Opinion
IOW - In Other Words
IRL - In Real Life
ISP - Internet Service Provider
IYKWIM – If You Know What I Mean
JIC - Just In Case
J/K - Just kidding
KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid
L8TR - Later
LD - Later dude
LOL - Laughing Out Loud
LTNS - Long Time No See
MorF - Male or Female, or person who asks that question
MTCW – My Two Cents Worth
NRN - No Reply Necessary
ONNA – Oh No, Not Again!
OTOH – On The Other Hand
OTTOMH – Off the top of my head
OIC - Oh I See
OTF - On The Floor
OLL - Online Love
PLS - Please
PU - That Stinks!
REHI - Hello Again (re-Hi!)
ROFL - Rolling On Floor Laughing
ROTF – Rolling On The Floor
ROTFL – Rolling On The Floor Laughing
RSN - Real Soon Now
RTDox – Read The Documentation/Directions
RTFM – Read The Frickin’ Manual
RUOK – Are You OK?
SNAFU – Situation Normal; All Fouled Up
SO - Significant Other
SOL - Smiling Out Loud (or Sh*t Out of Luck)
TANSTAAFL – There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch
TAFN – That’s All For Now
TEOTWAWKI – The End Of The World As We Know It
THX - Thanks
TIA - Thanks In Advance
TLK2UL8R - Talk to you later
TMK - To My Knowledge
TOS - Terms Of Service
TPTB - The Powers That Be
TSWC – Tell Someone Who Cares
TTBOMK – To The Best Of My Knowledge
TTFN – Ta-Ta For Now
TTYL(8R) – Talk To You Later
TWIMC – To Whom It May Concern
Txs - Thanks
URL - Web Page Address
w/b - Welcome Back
w/o - Without
WRT - With Regard To
WTG - Way To Go
WU? - What’s Up?
WWW – World Wide Web
WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get
Y2K - Year 2000
YGIAGAM – Your Guess Is As Good As Mine
YGWYPF – You Get What You Pay For
YMMV – Your Mileage May Vary
ZZZ - Sleeping

To know more about on linguistics and language in Philippine society, try to read “Philippine Journal of Linguistics” on this site: http://ejournals.ph/index.php?journal=PJL

Tech Mania

Technology is so much fun, but we can drown in our technology. The fog of information can drive out knowledge.

~ Daniel J. Boorstin

Technology will always be fun and amazing but there are better things to do in life. Technology can be fun, but if we stay shut out of the real world and we are not aware of what is happening around us, we won’t become better people. Life has full of surprises that we should explore. We should remember that technology is here to support us, not here to succeed and surpass us.

To know more about on the application of technology in our society especially on the field of education. Try to visit http://www.ejournals.ph and read the articles in edtechie.

Natural sa Filipino

Kahit na mayroon tayong gramatika o balarilang sinusunod sa ortograpiya ng wikang Filipino, hindi pa rin maiiwasang hindi ito mailapat sa pasulat o pasalitang anyo. Kaya kadalasan ay nagvi-violate ang karamihan sa atin sa mga tuntunin. Malaki rin marahil ang impluwensiya ng makabagong teknolohiya kung kaya nagaganap ang di pagsunod sa tamang sistema ng pagsulat.

Natural sa wikang Filipino ang hindi pagsunod sa sistema ng pagsulat dahil buhay ang ating wika. Natural na ito’y nagbabago dahil sumasabay ito sa pagbabagong nagaganap sa ating kapaligiran. Narito ang ilang obserbasyon bagama’t hindi ito kinikilala o nirerecognize ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino ay hindi maiiwasang gamitin sa pang-araw-araw na pakikipag-usap:

1. paggamit ng affix na “ni-” o “ni” (hal. ni-save/ni save, ni-record/ni record, ni-confirm/ni confirm)
2. hindi paggamit ng gitling para ihiwalay ang banyagang salita (hal. nagkoconnect, magrecycle, ipaparesearch)
3. paggitling para malagyan ng affix ang banyagang salita na hiniram ng buo (hal. in-announce, in-edit, picture-an)
4. pagbawas ng isang bahagi ng banyagang salita at paglagay ng affix (hal. pipicturan)
5. paggamit ng mga salitang banyaga nang hindi isinasa-Filipino

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa wikang Filipino at mga kaakibat na isyu nito, basahin ang mga artikulo sa dyornal na Malay: Natatanging Isyu sa Wika sa http://ejournals.ph/index.php?journal=malay.

Transformation

Technology brings about change. Its introduction creates a breakthrough that transforms our society towards modernization. Lifestyle of new generation has been changed. Technology becomes inevitable part of their lives. But does it mean that along with modernization, mankind also improves holistically (i.e. physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspect)?

Here’s something to ponder on, an excerpt from the poem “The Paradox of Our New Millennium”:

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers,
Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints
We spend more, but have less.

We spend too recklessly, laugh too little,
Drive too fast, get angry too quickly,
Stay up late, get too tired.
Read too seldom, watch TV too much,
And pray too seldom.

We have learned how to make a living,
but not a life.
We have added years to life, not life to years.

We’ve been all the way to the moon and
Back,
But have trouble crossing the street to
Meet the new neighbor.

We have learned to rush, but not to wait.
We have higher incomes, but lower morals.
We have more acquaintances, but fewer
friends.

These are days of two incomes,
But more divorces,
Of fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips,
Disposable diapers,
Throwaway morality, one night stands,
Overweight bodies
And pills the do everything from cheer,
to quit, to kill.

It is a time when technology can
Bring this message to you,
And a time when
You can choose either to make a
Difference or just throw it
To the wind.

-Unknown-
(Source: “Lessons in Life” by Quebral)

There’s nothing wrong with the introduction of technology in our society. What matters is that along with these changes brought about by modernization, values and morality should be instilled especially to the new generation and will remain firm and never be reduced.

To understand more on issues regarding technology, society, morality, etc. please visit http://www.ejournals.ph