Wednesday, January 8, 2014

The Bridges of Stotsenburg


The Bridges of Stotsenburg

A lot of people are fooled by the name of our street – Stotsenburg st. Indeed, it sounds like a street inside a subdivision. From what my uncle told me, it was taken from the last name of an American Officer, a pilot, if I remembered right. However, when I was born in 1982 and while I was growing up, how the place looked is definitely far from how it sounded like.

Stotsenburg st. is not fully concrete. Actually, it should have been called Stotsenburg half street. Half of it is concrete while the other half is a creek. People who have their houses on the opposite side of ours have to build wooden bridges so they can cross to the actual street. In these bridges, the creativity and resourcefulness of the people living in each house are seen. I can still remember my Ninong Cris’ bridge which is perhaps the safest. It is made of two planks of wood, each wider than most of the bridges in our place. I can also remember Mang Juanito’s bridge which is a bit narrow. We have to brave it so we can buy his one peso Indian mangoes and ask him for additional “bagoong” or shrimp paste. I can also remember Aling Victoria’s bridge. It is the second widest bridge next to Ninong Cris’. Of course, I will never forget Aling Lilia’s. It was a tiny one which is attached to Aling Victoria’s bridge. It shows how practical Aling Lilia is.

The creek played a major role in each resident of Stotsenburg St.’s life. One has to fall to the creek before he or she is recognized as an official “batang sapa” or child of the creek. We call the falling process “baptism”. This happens in random – at the right place at the right time. No one knows when they will be “called” by the creek. A friend experienced it when her jump fell short. A cousin experienced it when we were running in the streets one evening and I stepped on his slipper. I experienced it when I was playing tag with my friends and somebody shoved me out of his way while we were standing on Mang Juanito’s bridge.
These bridges served a lot of purposes aside from the obvious. It was also used as the finish line of swimming races whenever it rains too hard and floods. It also served as a gigantic toilet for little kids. I know some people who were “baptized” while doing their “dirty” business.

We lived in a two-storey wooden house. On the first floor, there is the living room which features the black and white tube television which has its own wooden house. Our “sari-sari” or variety store is also there. It also holds the dining room, separated from the living room by a wooden divider which holds diplomas and wood laminated family pictures. It also holds our bathroom with a large blue drum inside, or was it green? I can also remember that the shower works.

On the second floor, there are two bedrooms separated by thin plywood. It also holds a stock room. I love the stockroom. It is like a Filipino version of an American attic. It is like a big treasure chest although it smelled of rust and papers. I can still remember how I felt when I found a bike. It does not have wheels, it was rusty, and there are some broken parts. I convinced my father to fix it for me and he did! It became my best friend for quite a while and I was told that it belonged to my father, passed on to his younger siblings when they were kids. My aunt, their eldest, never had time for it.

Every morning, when I wake up, I would call my younger cousin and we would go to Aling Cora’s. Aling Cora sells a wide variety of breakfast. Sometimes we would try the porridge or the macaroni soup but more often, we buy the two-peso champorado. If we have money, we add a peso for extra milk. We never bought pancit bihon, pancit canton, spaghetti, or palabok. We believe that those are for old people since those are expensive. Each order costs five pesos.

What I love most about our place is how everybody is united. I remember how a burglar was caught by one of the residents. He shouted and every man from each house went out to help. They captured the burglar and he was turned in; not before he got a punch or two, though. When the stealing started, a lot of those men lost sleep because they had to stay up to catch the perpetrator. He must have known that he had it coming.
I also remember Fiesta, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve – Stotsenburg Style. Without much preparation, some of the well-to-do residents would go out and host some games for the kids. They host some games for the adults too. I remember that it was here where I first witnessed the beer drinking game for moms – using a drinking straw. The beers were not cold too. I can just imagine how it tasted. Then, everyone would bring out tables and food and we would eat together with all our neighbors. Of course, drinking will follow and it makes dancing a lot easier and more fun!

Aside of being a “batang sapa”, I was also a “batang kankaloo”. Kankaloo means “Kalookan” which was how the city name was spelled before Rey Malonzo was elected and changed the spelling to Caloocan as his first official action as a mayor. One of the highlights of being a “batang Kankaloo” is witnessing the Flores de Mayo of the Stars. Each year, the Kalookan City government hosts a Flores de Mayo wherein the participants are celebrities. I remember watching the parade for the first time and seeing Manilyn Reynes, Janno Gibbs, Kristina Paner, Cris Villanueva, and a lot of other celebrities. I remember being star struck when I saw the Reyna Emperatriz who is Cristina Gonzales and the Reyna Elena who is no less than Ms. Dawn Zulueta.

Back then, Caloocan City had Ever Gotesco as its mall. I remember the good old days when they would have a mascot show outside the mall, on a platform outside the second level of Ever a few days before Christmas. My family would go there and my father will let me sit on his shoulders so that I will be able to see the show. I also remember my aunt working there as a saleslady. When we went there to buy my school bag, she was assigned to be the bagger in one of the counters and my mom took me there to pay for the bag. When I called her “miss” as my mom instructed me to do, she put her finger on her lips as if to shush me off and then winked at me. I do not understand why she did that even now.

After a few years, Ever Gotesco Grand Central was built. It also played a big role in the lives of Caloocan City Residents. I remember the McDonald’s with stools inside a bus, in the middle of the restaurant. I remember the Penshoppe boutique where I usually buy my clothes and the Blowing Bubbles boutique where I saw Ruffa Guttierez and Zoren Legaspi on its opening day. I remember Gift Gate where I used to buy trolls and Kero Keroppi items. Inside it is a shelf full of Swatch watches that I dream of owning. I remember A&W restaurant where my cousin celebrated her 7th birthday. I remember the 40-peso movie tickets where I watched my first movie, Fido Dida, with my father.

Before the new millennium, the Asistio brothers, with Boy as the mayor and Baby as the congressman provided funds and the creek was turned into a road – a higher and wider one. It marked a new age for our street. The creek was gone. No one will be baptized as a “batang sapa” anymore.

Kalookan is now Caloocan. Mayor Boy Asistio appealed for a recall election. It was approved but Rey Malonzo emerged as the rightful mayor. The park in front of Caloocan City Hall is gone. It was replaced by commercial spaces.

Ever Gotesco lost its glamour when Ever Gotesco Grand Central opened. My cousin and I still went there once a week, after school, as if paying respect. Now, it was turned to SM Hypermart.

Ever Gotesco Grand Central was burned down just a couple of years ago. When I went back for a visit, I was deeply saddened as I remember the times I spent there with my family and with my friends.


A lot of changes took place. However, when I visited Stotsenburg St., it’s as if nothing has changed. I saw the same smiles, I heard the same laughter, I saw the same twinkle in the new generation kids’ eyes. There was a lot of chatting. There were lots of embraces. There was the usual teasing. I still felt the warmth. It is still my home no matter where I go.

Coffee Cut

Jackie Chan meant it when he said, “Coffee is a language in itself”. Since the 16th century, coffee continues to be a part of people’s lives. It is some people’s “Good morning!” Coffee is some people’s “It’s time to relax.” Coffee is some people’s “I miss you!” Coffee is some people’s “Everything will be alright.” Each cup of coffee conveys a message that some people fail to say directly. However, its warmth, its bittersweet taste, its seductive aroma, and its rich flavor are enough. It feels like a friend’s warm hug, a mother’s touch, and a lover’s kiss.

Nowadays people can get coffee anytime they want to. At the press of a button, one can get their cup of freshly brewed coffee. According to the National Coffee Association of USA, 83% of all Americans drink coffee. This explains the sudden increase in number of different Coffee shops not only in America but all over the world.

In the Beginning: Brief History of Coffee

Coffee drinkers are forever indebted to goats. People may think that goats are only good for milk and meat but a special herd of goats actually paved the way to the discovery of coffee in the 6th century. It happened one day when Kaldi, a goat herder was watching over this particular herd, he noticed that the goats became restless. He figured out that it was because of the unidentified berries and leaves that the goats ate. He tried the berries himself and was pleasantly surprised by its invigorating effect. The monks who witnessed how Kaldi danced with the goats tried to figure out the best preparation for these berries and coffee, as people know it now, was born.

Why Drink Coffee?

No one can deny the charm of coffee’s taste and aroma. However, aside from satisfying a person’s sense of smell and taste, it has a lot of other benefits.

  •  Drink coffee for long life. Studies conducted in 2008 and 2009 prove that coffee drinkers who suffer from different chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease had longer lives that those who do not drink coffee. In addition, those who drink four cups of coffee a day or more even had longer lives than those who drink less. Three more studies show that people who drink up to three cups a day have 10% lower death rate while those who drink more than three cups have 12% lower death rate.
  •  Drink coffee to boost energy. Charge up with caffeine which is the most popular psychoactive substance that people around the world love to consume. Right after drinking, this energy booster flows with the person’s blood and goes to his or her brain.
  • Drink coffee to boost mind functions. Once in the brain, caffeine blocks the Adenosine which causes hyperactive firing of neurons resulting to memory enhancement, lighter mood, alertness, more energy, and more efficient thinking process. 
  • Drink coffee for healthier reproductive system. While prostate cancer and ovarian cancer as the most frequent gender-exclusive causes of death, a lot of people would try anything to prevent such illnesses. Fortunately, there is no need for expensive supplements and treatments as coffee is the answer to this quest. A study conducted in 2011 shows that male coffee drinkers who drink at least six cups of coffee a day have 20% lower rate of having prostate cancer. On the other hand, women who drink at least four cups a day have 25% lower chance of having ovarian cancer.
  • Drink coffee to prevent cancer. Studies prove that coffee drinkers have lower chance of having different kinds of cancer such as lung cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, and colon cancer. The coffee is able to provide protection against cancer because of its chlorogenic and caffeic contents.
  • Drink coffee to get rid of fat. Different fat burning products have one thing in common – caffeine. This is because caffeine is an effective fat burner. Numerous studies prove that caffeine raises a person’s metabolism rate by at least 3%. In addition, it increases the rate of fat burning to at least 10% for obese people and at least 29% for others. These are observable on new coffee drinkers.

What’s the Difference? Brewed Coffee VS Instant Coffee

Some people may not recognize the difference between a cup of brewed coffee and a cup of instant coffee. However, for avid coffee drinkers, there are a lot of differences between the two. More coffee drinkers prefer freshly brewed coffee over instant coffee.
  • Cost. Instant coffee is definitely more affordable than brewed coffee. It may be bought in bottles, in cans, or sachets. From its name, “instant coffee”, this powder is just added to hot water, sugar and creamer may also be added, stirred, and drank. On the other hand, brewed coffee will require a coffeemaker. However, brewed coffee drinkers swear that it is definitely worth the price difference. 
  • Content. Acrylamide was discovered in 2002. It is a toxic compound measured in PPB or parts-per-billion. Apparently, instant coffee has more PPBs of Acrylamide compared to brewed coffee. As an example, Nescafe has 471 PPB while Classic Roast has 13 PPB only.
  • Detoxification. Coffee is popular for its antioxidant contents. However, it turns out to be the result of the roasting process. Therefore, instant coffee has a lot less antioxidants than brewed coffee.
  • Caffeine. While people turn to coffee to stay awake and alert, instant coffee cannot give them what they need. If an instant energy and mood booster is needed, this need can only be fulfilled by brewed coffee. As an example, 8 oz. of instant coffee has a maximum of 173 mg caffeine while brewed coffee of the same amount can have a maximum of 200 mg caffeine.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Certified Pre-owned BMW: Everyone’s Dream Car is now within Reach


Nowadays, it is hard to find pre-owned car dealers that a customer can trust. This industry has been great and a lot of businessmen jumped in the bandwagon and started selling certified pre-owned BMW.


Sometimes, dealers tend to forget about learning more about the buyers in order to help them decide what kind of vehicle they really need. Pre-owned vehicle dealing is not a cold, profit-focused business. To be a trustworthy dealer, the dealer should have mastery of the vehicles’ features, patience, some skills in asking probing questions, an eye for details, can build rapport with the customer, and can offer the best quality customer service possible even after sales. There are a lot of ways on how to identify if the seller of certified pre-owned BMW is trustworthy enough, customer should observe if the dealer is asking significant questions, if they are honest about the possible problems that may arise with particular vehicles in relation to the customer’s needs, and if they are making suggestions that do not depend on how much they will make but based on which vehicles will serve its purpose best for the buyer. Certified pre-owned BMW dealers should also take time in speaking with the customer. This will show the customer that it’s not just about the sales but finding the right BMW for the buyer. These are the qualities of Chicago Motor Cars that makes them the most trustworthy pre-owned vehicles dealer. Chicago Motor Cars have a vast collection of different vehicles including a number of certified pre-owned BMW that will certainly catch the interest of car buyers. This pre-owned vehicles dealer is committed to honesty where vehicle details are concerned.


They believe that the customer should know what they are exactly getting, valuing the long-term relationship over one-time profit. This is definitely appreciated by their customers. They have friendly customer service representatives that know everything that they need to know about each car available in their showroom. This gives them the edge because they are able to give an expert’s opinion if the customer needs it. The information that these representative gives about the vehicles including every certified pre-owned BMW can even be cross-checked with the authorities and it is guaranteed to be nothing but the truth. A lot of their previous customers were turned into loyal customers and are willing to testify about the how Chicago Motor Cars is different from the rest of car dealers especially when it comes to honesty and personalized customer service. Their pricing is another positive point of this dealer. A lot of their customers were surprised about the cost of the vehicle that they were buying. Even those who bought a certified pre-owned BMW were expecting that the price will be so much higher. Chicago Motor Cars is not only customer-friendly, it’s pocket-friendly too! Aside from the actual vehicles, they are also offering different vehicle accessories for a surprisingly low price. All the vehicles that they are selling are guaranteed to be on their best working condition. Most of these vehicles had only one owner before it was turned over to Chicago Motor Cars.


This will be apparent in the mileage and may also be cross-checked from the records of authorities as done by other previous customers. Its vast inventory seals the deal. No matter what kind of vehicle the customer is looking for, Chicago Motor Cars surely have it!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Boracay Odd Venture

Boracay Odd Ventures
Ma. Angelica Maghinang – Domingo

“I don’t want to be a squatter in my own country.” This is a sentiment shared by Filipino investors in Boracay including Boracay Foundation, Inc. Board Member, Mr. Lowell Talamisan. In search of answers on how this is viewed by both foreign and local investors, I started a quest for reality. “It’s a very, very bad, bad, bad, bad situation for foreigners”, Mr. Johan Philip Van der Tak, a Dutch National, said in a low voice. I scrutinized the scenario and noticed how our profound conversation looked out of place against the picturesque backdrop which made me want to find a beach bed, put some sunblock on, get a good book, order a Cosmo and lie on my back.

I had a hard time focusing on the conversation with the scene, people’s laughter and the sound of the crashing wave on the shore tried to haul me away from my pleasurable duty. The name of the place, “Ambassador in Paradise” was perfect since just being there made me feel like I was somebody eminent. I closed my eyes for a moment, and then I got on with my task on hand. “How long have you been in business here in Boracay?” I asked Sir Joop, as he was fondly called by his employees.

“September 2007,” he said. “We bought this lot in 2002.” He first set foot in the island of Boracay in 1993 when the land was not yet developed fully. He was wearing a shirt that almost had the same shade as the sand. With his glass of beer in front of him, I decided to start asking some possibly hot questions. “What do you think about the limitations set by the Philippine Constitution about real estate and business ownership of foreigners here?” “I think that there are lots of foreign investors who will not invest because foreigners cannot own land (here) because when you come to my country, you can buy whatever you like to buy. It should be (like this), you can buy there, and I can buy here. That’s how it’s like all over the world except for this country,” he answered with a shrug. “Corporations, 40 – 60, it’s a very, very bad, bad, bad, bad situation for business because 60% are dummies. Yes, you have your anti-dummy law but (still) 60% are dummies. It’s not fair. It means that they can cheat. It’s the first part of the corruption in this country,” he added referring to the “40-60” business ownership requirement that necessitated corporation – owned businesses to have a maximum of 40% foreign ownership and 60% for Filipinos and raised his right hand to his lips as if to zip it. I asked him about the foreign businessmen’s relationship with the Filipino ones. “I have an impression that they are jealous.” He answered without further elaboration as his daughter; a tall, leggy blonde with a lovely, angelic face gave him a pat on the shoulder as she walked by.

“How do you see your business in 10 years?” I asked. He took a swig of his beer leaving the glass half – empty, and stood up to pull his chair again, sat, then crossed his legs. “It depends, those are my daughters (points to them) and if they will allow, I can put up (a) business,” he said adding that it would greatly depend on the government, if President Noynoy Aquino will be able to stop corruption.” His other daughter, equally lovely as the first one that I wondered if they were twins, passed by but not without touching her father’s cheek and touching his head affectionately. After that endearing sight, the Dutch National asked, “Do you know how many times I got threats of being kicked out of this country?” I looked at him and silently urged him to go on. “I don’t know what’s wrong with these people. It’s like they want to steal my money. Yes, I have a good feeling about this administration but I also had a good feeling with the Arroyo administration before but…” and he shook his head.

“Do you think that foreign investors will flood in if the limitations that I mentioned would be lifted?” I asked. “Of course, I know some other people who could invest their money but they don’t want to invest their money because they can’t own the land. The situation is very bad for the industry because some people do not realize what the Filipinos do, some of the Filipinos do to foreigners. They go to business with them, and then they (Filipinos) cheat them. It’s a very messy situation. I hope I could meet the President. I would really love to have a chance to talk to President Aquino,” he said. “Don’t you think that your concerns would have better chances or more possibilities of being heard if you and other foreign investors would have an organization? Or do you have an organization of that sort here in Boracay right now?” I inquired. “None that I know of, there are lots of other foreigners with same sentiments as mine but of course their keeping it in the low. There are some who would talk to me and I tell them that if you want to invest, you should first come to me so that you would not be cheated like how people cheated me and still want to cheat more,” he said and then took another sip of beer.

I thanked him for his time but he said, “Is that all? C’mon, you can ask me more questions – anything!” So I asked him what his thought are if he would be to compare businesses owned by foreigners and by Filipinos and he told me about what he do with his business here and in Europe. “There is an exchange of employees. I take Filipino workers to work for my business in Europe and I take a Dutch National to work for me here in the Philippines. This is a beautiful country. If more foreign investors would come, billions of people would benefit. For example, my secretary – Rina, are you happy that you work here?” he asked. Rina who was really accommodating to us, was wearing a pink tank top, with her hair in a bun and a bejeweled head band. She was smiling when she answered, “Yes.” I asked him about their guests, “Do you have more foreigners or Filipino guests?” “Well, we have very rich and famous Filipino guests, I won’t mention names but I focus on putting up really huge ads on European newspapers because I think bringing in European guests is important. The government is not doing it so I just do it.” He asked if I wanted to see the ads and when I said yes, he excused his self and stood up to get the newspapers.

He returned with the newspapers and showed me an editorial written about him and Ambassador in Paradise with a big picture of him and his friends, one of which was in sitting in the bar during the interview. The picture was taken in front of his business in Europe. Being journalists, he asked us for a favor, “Do everything that you can to stop corruption,’” he said and we closed the interview with firm handshakes.

The sun shone brightly for a moment in between downpours. We were talking over egg sandwich with tomatoes and orange juice. It was like a summer day in July. “Is it true that most of the business establishments here in Boracay are owned by foreigners?” I asked Mr. Lowell Talamisan, owner of Lion’s Den Resort which looked anything but a lion’s den with lush greeneries, tranquil ambiance and an inviting hammock that promised a gratifying slumber.

“Well, the owners are mostly Filipinos. Though there are some who are married to foreigners, like our president in Boracay Foundation” he said. Technically, this is true since foreigners are not allowed to acquire real property here in the Philippines and would only be allowed to have a business here only if they would get into a corporation with the 40 – 60 set-up as mentioned earlier. With what the Foreign Investments Act of 1991 stated, a minimum amount of $200,000.00 or more or less Php 8,800.00 is required as capital for foreigners who wanted to get into a corporation and have a business here in our country ensuring that the businesses owned by foreigners were bigger than the ones owned by ordinary Filipino Businessmen.

When asked about the Filipino Businessmen’s relation with foreign ones in the island, he replied, “Actually, at present, and ever since, there wasn’t any conflict. I know this, being with the Boracay Foundation, Inc.” “How about the law about land ownership for foreigners? What do you think about it?” I asked. “Land Ownership? Ako, pagdating sa land ownership, gusto ko Filipino eh, dahil I don’t want to be a squatter in my own country. That later on, it would be the foreigners who rule over us. That would be pathetic. That will be sad.” He said and shook his head.

“Some foreign investors think that it is unfair why Filipinos are allowed to acquire properties in their land and it is not, here in ours. What can you say about that?” I asked. He smiled sideways, and responded, “Well, we have to protect our interests. Unlike other countries, the well developed ones, they can give this privilege because on their own, they can stand. Whereas, Filipinos, if we do that, then we will be at the mercy of these foreigners, unlike in the States or in Europe where the government is stable so they can give this privilege, but not in the Philippines. We have to bear in mind that up to the present, third – world country pa rin tayo. Ako ayoko eh, bakit i-a-allow natin, nakikita na natin? Imagine, if all foreigners will be given the chance to own a land (in Boracay), eh lahat na ito, kaya nilang bilhin. Then what would happen? Eh ngayon nga lang yung Koreans eh, we are at the mercy of some Koreans which shouldn’t be the case. We should all be equals. That’s why we should show them. That it’s us who have the rights. What happens is that our government is so calloused. Calloused in the sense that they are indifferent with our sentiments, with what we feel, with our problems when they should be the one in front of these. Like right now, how many resorts are in the beachfront that are owned by foreigners? What happened is that they got most of them when they only have dummies. What the government should do is to be critical. How can these foreigners acquire those properties if not for dummies? They (the government) should prosecute these people.”

“What can you say about the swelling of the figures of foreigner-owned businesses in Boracay?” I inquired. “Well, that’s a welcome sign - a sign that shows that the island is getting attention. What we’re asking for is that it should be regulated so that there would be balance because if there would not be any balance, ultimately, and eventually, what would happen is that all the places here will be owned by foreigners,” he answered.

“How about the Boracay Foundation, Inc.? What is the organization about? I asked. “Well, I can say that I am one of the incorporators of Boracay Foundation and we are the umbrella organization of all the other organizations here. We make the issues in the island known to the local government and we make the endeavors of the government known to the people,” he replied.

 “Do you have members that are foreigners? I asked. “Well, majority are Filipinos both in members and in the board. In the board, we only have a foreign member who says, “I’m not a foreigner. I am a Filipino”,” he responded. When asked about how he sees his business in 10 years, he said, “I hope that it’s still doing good like it did 10 years ago.”

When I reviewed these conversations, I found more common points than conflicts. Both were not satisfied with the government – one because of its “unfair” limitations, and the other with the implementation of these laws. Both were aiming for Boracay’s prosperity. With these, I will leave you something to ponder upon. Do we need more foreign investors to boost the island’s income or should it remain a home, something that we can call our own?

Friday, July 29, 2011

My Translation and Editing Text Reviewer

Translation: Communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text.
- from Latin “translation” meaning to carry across or to bring across
- Alternative Latin “traduco” which means to lead across
- Ancient Greek “metaphrasis” which means a speaking across

Metaphrase: literal or word-for-word translation (formal equivalence)
Paraphrase: Saying in other words (dynamic equivalence)

History of Translation:

-Septuagint: a collection of Jewish Scriptures translated into Koine Greek
-Lingua Franca: Latin (Middle Ages)
-Alfred the Great: commissioned vernacular Anglo-Saxon translations of Bede’s Ecclasiastical History and Borthius’ Consolation of Philosophy
-The Christian Church frowned on even partial adaptations of St. Jerome’s Vulgate, The Standard Latin Bible

Asia:
-Spread of Buddhism led to large-scale translation efforts
-Tangut Empire-exploited block printing

Arabs: undertook large-scale efforts at translation
-Made Arabic versions of the Greeks’ philosophical and scientific works
-Some Arabic translations of these works were made into Latin (Middle Ages)
-Development of European Scholasticism

Western:
-14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer adapted from the Italian of Giovanni Boccaccio his own Knight’s Tale and Troilus and Criseyde, French Roman dela Rose and completed Borthius from Latin; founded an English poetic tradition on adaptations and translations from earlier established literary languages
-First great English Translation: Wycliffe Bible: showed weaknesses of underdeveloped English prose
-Great Age of English Prose Translation: Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur – a free adaptation of Arthurian Romances
-First great Tudor translations: Tyndale New Testament, its Authorized Version and Lord Berners’ version of Jean Froissart’s Chronicles

Renaissance Italy
-Cosimo de’ Medici of Georgius Gemistus Pletho (Florence)
-Latin translation of Plato’s works by Marsilio Ficino
-Erasmus’ Latin edition of the New Testament
-Readers demanded rigor of rendering
-Non-scholarly Literature continued to rely on adaptation.
-France’s Pleiade, England’s Tudor poets and Elizabethan translators adapted themes by Horace, Ovid, Petrarch and modern Latin Writers
-Rise of Middle Class
-Development of Printing

Elizabethan Period of Translation:
-stylistic equivalence
-no concern for verbal accuracy

Second Half of 17th Century:
-John Dryden sought to make Virgil speak in words such as he would have written if he were living and an Englishman
-Homer suffered from Alexander Pope’s endeavor to reduce the Greek Poet’s “Wild Paradise” to order

18th Century:
-the watchword of translators was ease of reading; whatever they did not understand in a text, or thought might bore readers, they omitted
-James Macpherson’s translations of Ossian

19th Century:
-The policy became the text, the whole text, and nothing but the text except for bawdy passages and the addition of copious explanatory footnotes
-Style: far-reaching metaphrase to constantly remind readers that they were reading a foreign classic
-Exception: Outstanding translation of Edward Fitzgerald’s Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyan

20th Century:
-A new pattern was set in 1871 by Benjamin Jowett who translated Plato into simple yet straightforward language.





Types of Translation:
1. Legal – field of law
2. Literal – word-for-word
3. Technical – specific profession
4. Interpreting
a. Simultaneous
b. Consecutive
c. Whispered
d. Gestural
e. Conference
f. Escort
g. Community
h. Legal
i. Medical
5. Machine
a. Rule-based
i. Transfer-based
ii. Interlingual
iii. Dictionary-based
b. Statistical
c. Example-based
d. Hybrid

Direct Translation:
1. Borrowing: no translation
2. Calque: word-for-word (phrase)
3. Literal: word-for-word

Oblique Translation Techniques:
1. Transposition: change sequence
2. Modulations: different phrase
3. Equivalency: different way
4. Adaptation: different, familiar way
5. Compensation: lost meaning is expressed somewhere else in the text
6. Transliteration: Converting to phonetic equivalent

Disambiguation: finding a suitable translation when a word can have more than one meaning (first raised by Yehoshua Bar-Hillel

Qualities of a Competent Translator:
1. good knowledge of source language (spoken and written)
2. excellent command of target language
3. familiar with the subject matter
4. profound understanding of etymological and idiomatic correlates between two languages
5. finely tuned sense of when to metaphrase and paraphrase

Malapropism: the substitution of a word for a word with a similar sound, in which the resulting phrase makes no sense but often creates a comic effect.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Official List of Winners: ACCian’s Choice Awards 2010

Tinkerbell: Ms. Ann Portia T. Robado

Peter Pan: Mr. Ernesto B. Templo

Ms. Sunshine: Ms. Ramonette Cordero
Ms. Kristel A. Saligumba

Mr. Sunshine: Mr. Edward Gumban

Fit N’ Right: Ms. Ma. Anuncaciacion E. Pampliega

Prima Ballerina: Ms. Grace V. Delos Reyes
Ms. Jodamay L. Raz

Most Promising Teacher: Mr. Ronel R. Advincula
Ms. Cyre Milloroso

Ms. Pure Energy: Ms. Mhargie G. Morales

Mr. Pure Energy: Engr. Leo N. Patacsil

Dressed to Kill: Mr. Rommel J. Constantino

ACC’s Next Top Model: Ms. Santa Renea Crisostomo
Mr. June B. Mijares

Ms. Champagne: Ms. Ann M. Templonuevo

Mr. Champagne: Mr. Galileo E. Borces

Campus Heartthrob: Mr. Peter R. Arboleda
Mr. Rhino Nicodemus
Mr. Artemio Nosotros

Total Performer: Ms. Luchelyn A. Beltran
Bro. Lean Fernandez

Bright Mind: Mr. Jeffrey Clarin
Mr. Noli Resterio

Timekeeper: Mr. Adrian Jonas Cordova
Ms. Syldy T. Villegas

Ma’am Techie: Ms. Profetiza Maatubang
Ms. Richele Domingo

Sir Techie: Mr. Richard H. Diocena
Mr. Cris Melric . Palanog

Walking Dictionary: Ms. Divina M. Muyargas
Mr. Juler A. Fernandez

Walking Encyclopedia: Mr. Rey V. De Los Reyes
Ms. Evelina G. Gayo
Engr. Joel Zapico

Ms. Resourceful: Ms. Mary R. Repedro
Mr. Daniel S. Deloso

Ms. Congeniality: Dr. Maria Neiy E. Mucho
Ms. Aiza O. Nahil

Mr. Congeniality: Mr. Julius R. Dela Cruz

Tree Hugger: Mr. Julius V. Saluta
Ms. Lufelle A. Carel

Silent Water: Engr. Agnes D.C. Perez
Ms. Lara B. Albacino

Ms. Interactive: Dr. Antonia S. Escalona
Ms. Anita C. Tuayon

Helping Hand: Mr. Marlon T. Niňonuevo
Mr. Jocel Rata

Great Philosopher: Ms. Fe V. Tafalla
Ms. Eleonor R. Teopy

Fairy Godmother: Ms. Erlinda B. Albito
Engr. Alica Coching

Best Supporting Teacher: Ms. Richie B. De Mateo
Ms. Anita S. Cioco

Soaring Eagle: Engr. Cecilia S. Calizo

Unsung Hero: Mr. Arvin Kim A. Arnilla

Monday, October 18, 2010

Reflection

Time: 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM
Church: St. John Nepomucene Parish
Parish Priest: Father Ted Hilario
Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28, "The Faith of the Canaanite Woman"
Companion: Kim Francis B. Domingo

Reflection:

Sometimes, we question God about the trials that we experience. We usually feel that we don't deserve to be in those specific situations. We feel that we deserve something better.

Life is full of lessons. We were given free will so that we can make our own decisions but we should be prepared for every possible consequence. When all reasons fail, when all options end, it will all leave us with one thing - our faith in God.

As humans, we have limitations. It is something that is plain to see but there are some who refuse to admit it. With the modern times, some people feel that with sufficient resources, everything can be done. But truth will be realized later on and we will be left with the most powerful weapon of all. Like what the Canaanite Woman have, it is our faith in God - in his love and his power. His power to make what we are praying for, happen, but in His own time. His love, that He will never let us perish, that He will never give us trials that we cannot overcome, that everything happens for a reason. Reasons that only He can understand. All you have to do is to have faith in Him.