Word Play

Sometimes we feel like when we know basic English, it is the same as knowing the entire of it−from the basic rules of grammar down to complicated ones. I’d like to emphasize that I sometimes make mistakes in English grammar, may it be in oral or written form. It’s either I unconsciously flawed the rules or I just thought that my grammar is right, it’s tricky though. I’m not perfect and neither are you.

But I wouldn’t want to teach you the grammar rules since I do not have a perfect grammar to help you through.

Things I recommend to expand your vocabulary (and your grammar, too) without breaking your head by reading Webster’s dictionary and its entire content:

1. You buy a handy dictionary, so you will be able to bring it anywhere you go. The time when you don’t understand terms you’re unfamiliar with, consult your dictionary.
2. Expose yourself. During your free time, spend time watching American TV shows, foreign films, or listening to music. This will help you effectively construct sentences and learn slang terms.
3. Answer online exercises. Keep your score in an online quiz and try to go back after a week or a month, and then check how well you have improved.
4. Play word games. Crossword puzzles, scrabble, and the like. These will challenge you to discover new words and meanings in your pursuit to expanding your vocabulary.
5. Note the words you just have learnt by writing it down in your notebook.
6. Learn English words through songs, sing along with the lyrics. Your bathroom is the best place to do it if you want to have a good voice.
7. Set a goal. Learn a word or two every day.
8. Get engaged in conversations. By simply having conversations with other people and your friends can help you learn new terms.

Put this into practice if you want to have a better vocabulary, to help you understand words that were once unfamiliar to you, and help you answer the recipient correctly. You just don’t say YES or NO without actually understanding what the speaker is trying to convey to you. Say it out loud.

Note: Second Person POV

Back Off The Slack Off

It takes a lot of courage and confidence for you to be able to get out of your comfort zones.

I spent almost twelve years of hauling immaturity, but during those times I was not aware that I acted like an idiot, I felt like I have made right decisions then, I always felt right. Weren’t we all? It is natural to undergo the process of being a kid, of having the mind of a kid. What we considered as grown up decisions were not anymore applicable in today’s generation. This time, I was expected to change my childish ways because college life is totally different, but it never became very hard for me to adjust since I have friends who study in the same school as mine. Having said that, it was not easy to deal with the pressures and stressors your professors implant in my moody brain, I mean, it just functions only if I want to.

I entered the University without any achievements to boast about. Highschool, I was disqualified to any of the privileges a student can consider as “something” in order to have a good start in college. Reason: I got 77 in Physics. But, I have to say that I was not running for honors then because my opponents were consistent androids since they started off drawing apples up to the time they solve complicated equations without actually sweating ice unlike me; it was very hard to take the title away from them. Ergo, instead of punching the wind, I forfeited and decided to just make friends with them to help me pass. Kidding. Sorry, I’m talking too much.

My first year in college was a thin line between slacking off and…slacking off. A year full of regrets because I was unaware about the qualifications of being a cum laude. A year later, I found out when a friend informed me. I felt sorry for myself because I had foreseen and I had the feeling that if I only passionately worked hard all throughout, I could get a hold of such cum laude. I even computed my previous grades to check how many deteriorating scores are still needed to be filled up by my future grades. Luckily, I have the chance to run for the honor, but the question of “how” cuts me down to size.

I received good grades when I was in my second year college, not that good. But satisfied enough knowing that I was moving forward and a proof to show people that I was not dumb, my brain just needed some lubricant, it rusted for a while. That I'm no dumb, I’m just black. Sure that’s a joke. Moreover, I applied as a features correspondent in our College Paper, CAS Ideas. Challenge accepted.

So there, another year, another phase of life. Third year college, I became a College Scholar carried by sheer dedication, perhaps? This is the only thing I could brag about, forgive me if it leaves you an arrogant impression. In fact, no more than 10 people knew about this.


Note: First Person POV

We Need No Superhero

She graduated three years back and now she’s 23. She set foot in the University not knowing what course to choose, and I think that’s the world’s most complicated question to ever answer by an undecided incoming freshman student, a student who cares so much about her future but a bit lazy to kick great efforts in order to make a difference. With that very low self-esteem only led her to temporarily withhold her goals in life. But now she changed, a wakeup call changed her.

Who would have imagined that Ariane got this far? A mere student then who actually never got a chance to lead her subordinates, to represent her school in competing against universities, to prove what she was able to do that others cannot.

And worse, a student who then offensively recognized at her weakest by some, because they see her future was standing on an unsupported ground. She was a relaxed student that time and was coming late every first period. A student who once aspired to get her Cum Laude…fairytale gone bad. During college, some people always claim that once a student gone bad in terms of grades, she’s gone forever but intelligence doesn’t always measure by how high your grades are. As Dumbledore said, “It is our choices that show us who we are, far more than our abilities.”

Ariane is now taking a position of being a Global Marketing Director in a business company after two years of working in the Philippines as a writer in Summit Media and as a Production Manager in Regal Films Entertainment. She just found out that working in media industry never became one of her passions−not even once, really. Hence, she left and equipped herself to head abroad.

She is the type of person who had always been dreaming of helping her fellowmen, the people who really need her help. She studied not only for her own sake, but for all the people who may eventually benefit the moment she expands money by taking her job very seriously, bawling her eyes out that she would have wanted to jab it with a tooth pick and eat them.

It might sound corny or even funny to admittedly say that she always prays to make this happen, to make her own charity for her people. Ariane never wished to take a seat in the throne of the president (whoever he/she may be). Because with the belief embedded within her, helping people doesn’t necessitate you to acquire positions first, as long as you have the call of heart, that’s more than enough. This world needs no superhero. Let the superhero within you be triggered by opening your heart and mind.

Note: Third Person POV

My Name Is As Common As I Am Rare

     It’s super funny how my mom got the idea of my name, a name as seldom as those of junks' you see around Philippines! I do not even know what unforgettable experience the letter A had done to my parents’ life except that they met in Angeles City, mom craved for Ayskrim when she first conceived a child, my father hailed from Romblon but I regret to say that they have forgotten to consider the letter R. So they assume, naming us all A’s would be a very good choice but that only worked ages ago, not today. In my day, Ariane sounds plain and simple, it sounds like those of “stain lift” detergent powders', I feel all riled up every time people misheard, and honestly mispronounce it as “Ariel”. If only I’m getting paid once people misspell my name, I am now enjoying the comfort of my money bed.

     When I was elementary, my teachers were always requiring us to make a summary about the history of our names in front of the class, like the usual, I was too shy to unravel the mystery.

     The only thing I could be proud of is…I have the rare spelling. Common Ariane names would be spelled as Arriane or Arianne, which is a French name. As history suggested, my name originated from the Greek name ‘Ariadne’, the daughter of King Minos of Crete. She fell in love with an Athenian hero named Theseus who later left Ariadne on an island. The name Ariadne came from the ancient Greek words ‘ari’ which means intelligent and the other one is ‘adnis’ which means pure (as in a virgin).

     There you go, let us now proceed to the according-to-my-mom side, the funny side. Avon catalog? Familiar? Mom’s hobby years back, browsing items and then pay for it within a month, three gives ang banat ni Inay para hindi maramdaman ang butas sa bulsa.

Meet me in my past life.

Photo source: www.flickr.com

After College, I Promise You.

     When we were kids, mothers always teach us what to do and what not to do, the difference between right and wrong, but they also have to mull all over that happiness doesn’t only dwell with where they think such can be found, that our happiness doesn’t end by their mere hypothesis, really. They will never know where for they were not able to fit in our shoes, mom’s 8 and I’m 7. What is happy for us might not be for them and vice versa. That well-mannered kid who used to do anything as she was told by her mom may eventually turn out to be surprisingly uncontrollable. Moms are naturally the ones who take the duty of putting their children under their guidance. The more we act not according to our supposed maturity, the higher the chance our parents’ armalite-like sermon is conjured.

     So, I think you’re all getting bored now as much as I do and it’s fairly predictable this doesn’t even interest you at all. And since you do not want me to take this any longer, I wouldn’t. But in all due respect, this blog necessitates me to get a hold a bit of your time, bear with me, puh-lease?

     Especially to daughters, parents are getting strict whenever suspicion to their kids about secretly entering into a relationship or worse, having a boyfriend, get in the way. Not that I’m purifying myself in saying that I’ve never done that, but that’s outspokenly beyond doubt.

Meeting People is Automatic

     Life is, indeed, full of surprises. We unpredictably meet people every day. Our friends already passed the test of being once strangers. I must ask, why brand them as such when it is safer to just say that strangers are only friends we haven’t met? Touché.

Why did they call it “FALLING” anyway?

    In viewing the full history of humankind, all of us experience to fall in love, to love, and be loved. To prove:  When Delilah falls for Samson after she betrayed him. When Jack hangs himself onto the wall panel leaving half of his body soaked in the freezing ocean, letting Rose to stay alive, there Jack follows his demise. When, upon knowing Juliet's death, Romeo drinks poison and died for her. When, by reason of friendship, Ron and Hermione progressively fall for each other. When Narcissus sees his own reflection in the waters and falls for himself, and countless others. The thing is, no matter how trying hard you are or become to turn over the idea in its farthest angle, the gist remains still. Well, in my case, I am not the kind of person who falls in love easily, hindi ako pa-hard to get or ready to get. It just comes naturally. Anyways, it is just too ironic because in reality, when you fall, it hurts. In love, when you fall, almost perfection. Unless you are under the influence of zero gravity, you wouldn’t be legally responsible to struggle for pain. However, happy are those who do not experience pain, but strong are those who dare fight pain right where it hurts, right where it hurts, right where it hurts. :)

Mothers Know Best, ALWAYS

     It is no surprise every time parents rebuke repeatedly, just as the statement goes: “Anak, wag ka munang mag boboyfriend, magtapos ka muna ng kolehiyo at magtrabaho. Dahil kung mahal ka talaga ng isang tao, kahit gaano pa katagal, hihintayin ka nya.” Today’s generation may get the idea wrong, or may be having a hard time to unravel the essence behind the statement all by themselves. I must also admit that I used to complicate what that really meant. But moms are the greatest interpreters because they have already set foot on such fairytale-gone-bad story, or more likely learned from others’ mistakes. Believe.

     She always reminds me, “After college”, every time she’s having an inkling about guys pursuing me. I promise her I’m going to fulfill the promise I made. I won’t ever fail my mom especially 2 years nalang tapos nako ng college.

     Mothers always know best. Good thing, unlike some other guys, moms do not have expiration dates.

Photo source: deviantart.com

                      fotosearch.com

Plentiful of NEVER BEENS.

     It's been a couple of years since I have fallen out of love. It was strangely years back then. I don't even remember when I got lost, stumbled, and stood up again because since then you know that I have never been.

     Several years had passed and here I am again, like the usual, waiting for him to come along. It may be stupid to write something about someone whom I never met, he's no stranger to me, really, because this picture of him I always look at like he's actually beside me, silhouette-faced man. For once, it's me who imagines life to be spent with somebody I waited for a very long time. I have these wishes written in my list, probably we can make these all come true...hopefully together.

     I'm being patient because I know he's worth my while.

     Am I too ambitious to ask for a man like him? I don't think so. God wants to give me the best, His best shot. :)

     I have here...plentiful of never beens. These are the gifts I want to give him, rarely beveled into a woman's heart.

     Who knows that one day, you'll see, it's going to be me. :))

Character works best only if you are somebody else.

     It just keeps me wonder why people of the modern world overemphasize and overlook what discerns character, substance, and corporeal and what might go you forth. But without the third one would be as perfect as it can be that no one can win over you provided that you know to employ your position. And if the second one, the thing you do not have. Worry not my friend, character works best in real world. Modern world and real world are different things, you must move over your routine of not knowing. Kfine now? Modern world almost functions to evil deeds, the worst planet where an innocent one does not deserve to live.

     Lions in the den will be your pit if you get heed this advice and you’re not somebody else, good thing they have to bulk up. Oops! I was just kidding, Filipino sense of humor, you know? I need to get one.

     Moving on…

     All these kinds of people who always dig you at your weirdest are really weird. All of them, I want to nail them while wearing their loyal uniforms, yes you read it right, loyal UNIFORMS. So the entire human race will only be proud if they are going to pay a tribute to their memory. I shall participate to eulogize, by the way.

     Tips to consider that you are a weirdo:

• Don’t drink liquors. EVER!

     For long hours, people attach themselves in merrymaking and keep telling I’m weird because of having a high sense of control. I do not drink, ever. Believe me. Ohh, I forgot! A high school reunion, I was first year college then when I pioneered a tansan (like a tansan of 240mL RC Cola) of Soju, a distilled beverage native from Korea (just googled it). That served my punishment of refusing to dance in front of my classmates. I don’t dance! Seems that I was strangled with a ghost when I drank one while pinching my nose.

• Don’t go to church every Thursday.

    Some of my friends ADVISE me to just not attend church after our P.E Class since we have one more day to compensate and repent to your sins when you didn’t attend Thursday service. How good the advice has been? Haha.

•  Don’t say bad words.

     I have to admit that I say bad words when I was a kid, influenced by the morons. I, therefore, come clean when I say that I am one of the morons. Guilty as charged. I stopped throwing unforgiving words when I entered High School. But you can’t easily get rid and be still if someone provokes you to do so. Once in a blue moon, you don’t want to hear me say a thing. When my mouth starts to angrily speak out, this is what I can offer you: “Sira ulo ka!” and “Langya ka!” Does it hurt?

• Show them your wacky pose. It is necessary.

     This topic holds all the answers if you want to be a weirdo.

     To be continued… 

Break it to me gently

The Shampoo, The Lovely Parents, and The White Torso

Okay, okay. Finally hanging on the dashboard now. I don’t know if I could sustain the perpetuity of this blog, I can’t enjoy the risky feeling of being a hardworking person without complaining.

Do not know what I mean? Maybe I should flip it this way: Yes, I’m lazy and idle during vacations; I know that you know the feeling of not getting a job, of struggling to convince your parents to give you 6 pesos in buying your shampoo when your sister hid the bottled one inside her bag and enjoyed swimming. And I’m planning to lend her my swimsuit from where I got my farmer’s tan, I bought that stupid top for compliance. Our teacher in water polo advised us to use a chlorine-resistant fabric so that it wouldn’t feel weighty when we get into the pool, comfortable…that’s it.

But since it is quite expensive than a sleeveless you wear during weekends, our teacher also advised the latter (my parents will feel so lucky to hear this!). Eventually, l bought chlorine-resistant fabric instead. Okay, don’t want to talk about anything that will remind me to this white torso! Enough of that.

The Cliffhanger and The Morons

It is the not knowing what happen that excites me. I worship surprises especially when I’m having the inkling that it would steer me to motivating upshot. Forget about the off-putting reality, it frustrates me.

March 21-24, the morning sun consecutively came like a bolt from the blue. I disciplined myself to wake up each day at exactly 7:00am, if not exactly, closely, to head for a job hunt. It is me, picturing myself as a call center agent (summer job only). Where in the world a college student would have to wish to be a call center agent after graduation? A big no, no! It was not even written in my bucketlist. I promised myself not to be one of them, I want a job to where my skills will never blunt. Writing, you know. But I’m not saying that I’m a good writer, just in point of mediocrity. But I agreed to enter the said job to alleviate boredom and, ofcourse, for money. I need money, money, money. We must not forget the price tag.

Fast forward! I was sitting in the room with a bunch of morons staring at me from head to toe, the thing I really hate most! I was just wearing my black college shirt written in orange, red, and gray hieroglyphics: “Where Great Ideas Begin”. It is not literally written in a form of hieroglyphics, but for a brilliant kind like you. You know what I mean.

It will be taking you a lot of time if I choose to give you the details, to cut the long story short. I will make it this way:

After the interview, they told us to droop our face out for a while. And after a few minutes, they announced the names who passed the interview. Out of five interviewees, only two passed. The boy from HAU and through God’s grace, I, too, passed. Fed up with the words “passed”? Forgive me. I ran out of words.

I shall have to end this na, I passed the interview and said they will just notify us through phone call when we’ll have to start our training. I’m waiting for 2 weeks and 4 days already! Still, no one called. No one called. No one called from the company! Susugod ako dun, bwisit. Sinabing kailangan ko ng trabaho e! Hindi ako makapunta dahil maaga na ang 11am sa akin. Grrr.

I'm just an ordinary student longing for a job. :(