Tag: Vol. LXXIX

NATURAL calamities, absurd executive orders, coup threats, holiday economics and school occasions aside, a classmate once asked me: what is the most “convenient” and “effective” student-initiated recourse to prevent a regular class from unfolding at the professor’s expense?

I DON’T know if it’s going to be an advantage for me, having graduated already. But I guess it’s premature to make a generalization.

I am trying to analyze the overhauling of the nursing education curriculum. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has already released a memorandum making changes to the nursing education curriculum a month before the opening of classes.

Under the CHED memorandum circular no. 5, or the enhanced Four-Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, another 33 units will be added to the present nursing curriculum’s 169 units, adding three summer classes to the present eight-semester course. The number of hours for practicum will also be increased to 2,499 from the present 2,142-hour requirement.

SENATOR Miriam Defensor Santiago has protested a report by abscbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak that described her nomination in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as an uphill climb. She accused the network of political blackmail since she is chair of the National Power Commission that is investigating Meralco for the high costs of power distribution. The electricity firm is managed by the Lopez family that also owns the network.

In the report, certain sectors raised questions about Santiago’s chances of making it to the ICJ. Questions were also raised about her qualifications and her close connection with President Macapagal-Arroyo, who has reportedly vowed to put Philippine support behind the nomination.

Network news bosses have denied they were “blackmailing” Santiago. We’rejust doing their job, they said.

UMAANDAR na naman ang ugali nating “ningas-cogon”

Dumaan lamang ang mga buwan ay may mga panibago nang usapin na bumabagabag sa ating bayan. Ito ay sa kabila ng hindi pa pagkaresolba ng mga nauna nang isyu.

Isang halimbawa na lang ng mga isyung ito ay ang ZTE scandal. Kung ating magugunita, naging laman ito ng mga balita noong unang tatlong buwan ng taong ito. Muling dumalas ang mga rally na tumutuligsa sa katiwalian, na naging madalang na mula nang pumutok ang tangkang kudeta noong 2006. Nagpatawag pa ang Senado ng mga hearing upang imbestigahan ang mga detalye ng naunsyaming kontrata sa pagitan ng gibyerno at ng isang kompanyang Tsino.

TULAD ng dati, dumungaw siya sa bintana ng selda upang muling silipin ang papalubog na araw nitong hapon. Pumupusyaw na rin ang aking pag-asang makakalaya pa ako at makakapiling si Selya habambuhay, bulong niya sa hangin. Muli, namumugto na ang kanyang mga mata ng mga luhang ulit-ulit nang pumahid sa pisnging natuyot sa paghihintay ng sariwang halik ng kanyang minamahal. At saka siya nagdamdam kung bakit tila mas pinahalagahan ng kanyang Musa ng Pandacan ang pilak ni Mariano Capule kaysa tapat na pag-ibig na alay nitong makatang Bulaceño, gayong bunga lamang ito ng pag-iimbot ng mayamang don na maangkin ang hindi nararapat sa kanya. Hanggang sa napagtanto niya na nakasasawa nang paalingawngawin lamang sa loob ng apat na sulok ng selda ang kanyang mga pighati at ipinangako sa sarili na kanyang isasatitik ang pait ng kanyang karanasan upang gawing simbolo ng kawalang katuwiran dito sa mundong ibabaw.

MULA SA dating luntiang paraiso, napalitan na ng mga nagtataasang gusali at pasikot-sikot na kalsada ang kagubatang kinalalagyan ngayon ng lungsod ng Makati. Kasama na ring nagbago ang mga gumagalang mababangis na hayop na napalitan naman ng mga “dambuhalang hayop na nagkukubli sa kani-kanilang opisina.”

Ito ang naging tema ng nobela ni Abdon M. Balde, Jr. na Sa Kagubatan ng Isang Lungsod (UST Publishing House, 2002). Sa likod ng mga pagbabagong pisikal ay may mga ugali pa ring nananatili at nakukubli lamang ng mga nagbagong anyo. Bagaman at nagtapos ng kursong BS Civil Engineering, tinahak ni Balde ang daan ng isang manunulat. Bukod sa pagkakapanalo ng ilang Palanca Memorial Awards para sa kategoryang maikling kuwento, nanalo na rin siya ng dalawang National Book Awards para sa mga nobela niyang Mayong at Hunyango sa Bato.

TALES of Enchantment and Fantasy (Milflores Publishing, 2008), a compilation of 20 short stories edited by former Varsitarian editor in chief Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo, sprinkles supernatural twists and hilarious out-of-this -world encounters on mundane activities.

Today’s writers again prove themselves innovative, amusing and full of new flavors by unleashing their inner child through exploring the recesses of the human imagination.

Starting off the collection is F.H. Batacan’s “The Gyutou,” a story about a knife and how it serves a noble wife and her kitchen. The knife, together with all the other utensils, is fervently cared for by the wife.

After the wife separates from her husband and moves out of the house, the rest of the utensils start seeking revenge for their master by giving the husband’s young concubine a hard time at the kitchen.

ENTRAPPED in a mighty hug, the mother and her young struggle
to untangle the tentacles of an octopus. So tight is its embrace
that her might vanishes. In the dim light, her misty eyes
search along the corridor for an armored knight.

Her children’s cries are drowned by the beast’s warning:
“Submission makes it painless, reluctance sets hurdles,” resounding
in every corner, giving chills to every child. In an instant, hope
is heard in between a child’s sobs.

In a web, a man swings by over her. He takes
her out of the captor’s embrace and shields the little. His fists
blast away at the villain’s slimy limbs. While she,
regains her beauty and composure.

The hero unmasks himself, and stretches out his hand,
yet, she, seeing through his stare, screams out loud.