Cant Stand Sitting Down

At the height of super typhoon Haiyan's aftermath, I cant help being grateful.

I am really inspired to see a lot of foreign countries, NGOs, businesses, celebrities, even private citizens extending help for the victims of the super typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda) in Visayas. 

There's this album by one of my favorite Christian bands, Stellar Kart, entitled 'We Cant Stand Sitting Down.' Maybe that is what everyone feels these days. Pagod na silang tumunganga lang sa harap ng computer or TV at maawa sa mga taong nabiktima ng bagyo. They just had to do something--regardless of their social status, religion, nationality, race--to be of help. 

It's Bayanihan at its finest.

It brings tears in my eyes, a tug in my heart, hope and yes, restoration of faith in humanity. 

Thank you, Lord. :)

TIP-LET : Iwas-Lito

Hangga't maiiwasan, huwag maglagay ng napakaraming mga tauhan sa iyong nobela. Kung hindi kasi magiging maayos ang pagpapakilala at hindi malinaw sa mambabasa kung sinu-sino ang mga ito at anu-ano ang papel sa buhay ng mga bida at sa kuwento sa kabuuan, makakagulo lang iyon at magdudulot ng kalituhan.

Kahit Ano Lang...

Ayon sa kasabihan sa Ingles na 'Practice makes perfect'. Kung ikaw ay isang manunulat ng Tagalog Romance, isa lang ang paraan para maging mas mahusay pa-- magsulat ka. Kahit ano pa yan o tungkol saan, basta magsulat ka. Gaya ng tabak, kailangang laging hasain ang iyong talento para hindi mangalawang.

Heto ang ilan sa mga puwede mong gawin upang mas masanay ang talento mo sa paglilipat at pagpapahayag ng iyong mga ideya o saloobin sa pamamagitan ng mga naisulat na salita. Nahahasa rin nito siyempre ang pagkamalikhain mo pagdating sa pagbubuo ng mga pangungusap at pagkakabit-kabit ng mga ito. Kung ikaw naman ay nangangarap pa lamang na maging manunulat, aba'y simulan mo nang sanayin ang sarili mong gawin ang mga ito.
Maaaring hindi madali ang ibang nasa listahan pero sigurado akong makakatulong ito sayo.

1. Mag-blog. Puwede na rin kahit sa Facebook lang o Twitter. 
2. Sa halip na mag-forward lang ng text messages, lumikha ng mensahe para sa mga kakilala mula sa sariling ideya. Iwasang mag-abbreviate at sanaying gamitin parati ang tamang baybay ng mga salita.
3. Sulatan ang mga kakilala nang madalas, kahit maiiksing Thank You note lang sa desk ng officemate mo, o reminder para sa mommy mo na ididikit sa ref. Kung nanay ka, singitan ng maiiksing notes ang lunchbox ng anak mo. Sweet pa dating n'un.
4. Sa mga estudyante, piliting habaan ang sagot sa mga essay exams. Mag-review para may saysay ang isasagot. Muli, piliting gamitin ang mga tamang spelling ng mga salitang gagamitin. 
5. Magsulat ng mga reviews ng mga pelikula, music albums, puwede ring libro. Puwede ring editoryal ukol sa mga pangyayari sa bansa/mundo/sports/kapitbahay. Nasa sayo na kung gusto mo itong ilathala sa Internet o hindi. 
6. Kapag magreregalo, dagdagan na rin ng maiksing sulat ang gift mo. Magiging mas espesyal din iyon para sa tatanggap. 
7. Kahit hindi Valentine's Day, subukang sumulat ng love letter para sa sinumang mahal mo sa buhay. Yihee!<3>
8. Magkaroon ng isang diary o kaya devotional notebook. Piliting magsulat doon nang regular.
9. Magsulat ng fan fiction. Noong Grade 6 ako, nagsulat ako ng romance story nina Pink at Blue Ranger. Ni hindi ko pa alam noon na 'fan fic' pala ang tawag doon. Marami sa mga manunulat ngayon ay sa ganito nagsimula.
10. Itala ang mga puntos habang nakikinig ng sermon sa simbahan o kaya sa seminar pupuntahan mo. Isulat maging ang mga komentaryo/ideya/pagsang-ayon/pagtanggi mo ukol doon. 
11. Kapag may pagkakataon, sumulat ng mga suggestions para doon sa mga establishments/organization na humihingi niyon. 
12. (Kaya pa ba?) Kung gusto mo at kaya, gumawa ng tula o liriko ng isang awit.
13. Kung balak mag-suicide, maghanda ng suicide note.  (Wag totohanin. Joker lang talaga si Gore Vidal. Ehehehe )

Panghuling Salita:

Mas makabubuti kung makahihiligan mo ring magbasa. Marami kang matutunan doon, creative and technical-wise.

Mga Panandang Pangsalitaan

Isa sa mga natutunan ko sa aking pagsusulat at pamamatnugot ay iyong salitang 'moderasyon'. Lahat ng bagay, maging iyong mga tuntuning pangteknikal na sinusunod natin ay dapat gawin nang katamtaman. Nawawala kasi ng kalayaan ang ating pagiging malikhain kapag nakakulong tayo sa isang ayos. 

Parang sa pagkain lang, kung pulos prito ang luto sa isda, mauumay tayo. Kailangan may pagkakaiba-iba din. Minsan, paksiw naman o kaya pinangat, inihaw, bago babalik uli sa prito. (Ayan, nagugutom na ako.) 

Sa mga nobelang sinusulat natin, hindi gaanong importante ang paggamit ng dialogue tags. Gayunpaman, pihadong makikintal sa isip ng inyong mga patnugot at mga mambabasa, kung maayos ang pagkakasulat ng nobela ninyo. Pangit kasing tingnan kung tadtad ng 'sabi niya' o 'saad niya' iyong libro natin, nakakapagod ding bigkasin.

Sang-ayon diyan, nais kong imungkahi ang paggamit ng iba pang mga salita kapalit ng karaniwang panandang pangsalitaan (pauso ko lang na salin ng 'dialogue tags') na ginagamit natin. 

Ilan lang ito sa puwede nating ipalit, mayroon pang iba na maaari nating subukang gamitin.

  

TURAN / TUGON - kasing-kahulugan ng "sagot"

MUNGKAHI - suhestyon, suggestion. Hal.: "Try mo kayang iladlad 'yang buhok mo?" mungkahi nito.

UNTAG - pagkuha ng atensyon. Pag tahimik tapos biglang kakausapin ng isang karakter yung isa. Hal.: "So...kumusta ka na?" untag nito.

ASIK /SINGHAL - pagalit ang pagkakasabi. Hal.: "Ano ba!" singhal niya.

SIKMAT - pagalit din, pero hindi kailangang malakas ang tono. Hal.: “Tumigil ka na,” nagtatagis ang mga bagang na asik ng kanyang ama.

SAMBIT - kung maiksi lang. Hal: "Oo," sambit niya.

ANAS - mahina rin ang pagkakasabi. At hindi ko alam kung ako lang, karaniwang ikinakabit ko ito kapag medyo seksi / senswal yung pangungusap o eksena at may kasamang mainit na tingin mula sa nagsalita. Hal: "Beautiful," anas ni Gideon (*tikhim*) habang hinahaplos ang pisngi ng nobya.

DUGTONG - to add; may nauna nang sinabi, karugtong lamang ito.
BANGGIT – to mention. Hal: "Liechtenstein," banggit niya.

IMPORMA – to inform. Hal: “May meeting nga pala tayo sa Thursday,” imporma ni Malou.  

PALIWANAG - kung mahaba at mukha ngang nag-eeksplika ito ng isang punto.   

KUWENTO – to narrate; kung nagsasalaysay 

DEPENSA – to defend

KAILA / TANGGI – to deny. Hal.“Hindi po totoong break na kami,” tanggi ng aktres.

SANG-AYON – to agree. “Oo naman!” sang-ayon ng dalaga.

TAWAG – to call. Hal: “Rose! Rose!” tawag ni Jack. 

BULALAS - to exclaim; malakas ang pagkakasabi, parang nagulat. Hal: "Ay, kabayo!" bulalas niya.
SIGAW / TILI – to shout, scream; may kasama itong tandang pandamdam o exclamation point (!) .

SINGHAP - to gasp; kasabay ng singhap yung dialogue.

SABAD / SABAT – to interrupt

*Mga Tala: 
(1) Maaari ring gamitin ang katumbas na salita sa Ingles para hindi pare-pareho ang tags. 
(2) Hindi natin madalas gamitin sa MSV ang tag na ‘wika niya’. Ang wika kasi ay iyong mismong lengguwahe.
(3) Gaya ng nabanggit ko sa simula nito, moderasyon ang susi. Huwag namang abusuhin ang paggamit ng tags.

Iyan muna sa ngayon. Susubukan kong dagdagan iyan sa susunod na pagkakataon.

Maraming salamat!

Tungkol sa mga Bayani at Masasayang Wakas

Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa ngayong Agosto kaya naisip kong ito ang tamang panahon para magsulat ako ng tala sa Filipino. Sa tingin ko, mas akma ito lalo pa't Tagalog Romance naman talaga ang sinusulat natin at Tagalog ang salita ng karaniwang nagpupunta sa blog na ito. 

Isa pa, ubos na rin kasi ang baon kong English.

Dahil diyan, asahan ninyo na po na Tagalog ang mga tala ko sa blag (ideya ko dahil antagal ni Google Translate mag-isip) na ito sa buong buwan ng Agosto--

Kung may maisulat ako bago mag-Setyembre.*ngisi*

Makibaka! Wag Matakot!

Today marks our patria adorada's 115th Independence Day. In connection to this, you will hear/read news/articles about real independence within the day: like 'Are We Really Free?' or something like that. 

And because I'm a gaya-gaya puto maya, thus, this entry. *smile*

Believe it or not, some (or maybe most) of us aren't free. We are hostages of these horrible beasts and I'd like to declare revolt against these things that enslave some (or maybe most) of us. 

Brothers and sisters, let's all break free from these chains. Utang na loob.

1. FEAR.

• Let's face it, there are a lot of things we ought to be afraid of; some real, some maybe irrational. 
• To me, it is a chain that holds us from doing what we should do. 
• It is the lack of courage; but courage is not parallel to absence of fear. Therefore, you can be afraid and still find the courage to do what you have to do. 
• If I will remain afraid of making a small step, how will I be able to reach my destination? 
• The road to success is never easy. And along the way, there are many roadblocks, hazards, and perhaps, you may have to take a few detours. Expect it. I don't--and can't--ask you to be unafraid, because fear is normal. But opt to focus more on your goal. It will drive you to be where you want to be.
• You want to be a writer? Have the courage to submit your work. 
• Break this chain that's controlling you for the longest time!

2. INDOLENCE.

• Sometimes fear isn't the reason why we don't act on our goals. We may have this disease called 'katam' and we want to do things the easiest way possible. Puwede namang mag-shortcut, why take the long and hard way? Uubra namang mag-plagiarize, bakit ka pa mag-iisip ng sariling kuwento? *insert cuss words* 
• But, you know, the sweetest fruit sprouts from the bitterest trees. (Whatever, I just made that up. Ehehe. ) Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that, there is no success sweeter than a success well earned. You so deserved it that even your competitors/detractors/critics agree (beyond reasonable doubt) that you do deserve to win/succeed. Even you yourself agree that you deserve it. And that only happens when you know you work you @ss off to be there. You had sacrificed sleeping and/or eating on time just to make this possible. You cried buckets of tears to pursue this. You did what others deem impossible. You dared to do everything. You are a victor. Ikaw na, Ate!  *cue 'We Are The Champions'*
• But none of this will happen, if you'll stay under a tree ala-Juan Tamad and wait for success to fall down from the sky straight into your hands. I tell you that's impossible. Because God doesn't like lazy people and even forbids them to succeed. (read the book of Proverbs if you have doubts)
• You need information? Research. You want to learn? Study. You want to be great? Practice. You failed? Try harder. 
• Slay indolence! Kill this beast! 

3. MEDIOCRITY. 

• I think, mediocrity is the brother of indolence and the son of fear. (Akalain mo, magkakamag-anak pala sila! I-genocide na yan!) 
• It is the choice to remain within your zone because it's safe and comfortable there. You know, no risks, no pain, no hurdles, etc. 
• But a great leader once mentioned that there is no status quo. That you are either going up or going down. If you aren't improving (up), then, you are going the opposite way (down).
• You may or may not be the best compared to your contemporaries, but you can be the best that you can be. I think that's a LOT better. 
• Our greatest rival is ourselves. Challenge him every now and then. 

I am waging war against these three--Fear, Indolence and Mediocrity. Break the bondage! Break free from your chains!  

If you're with me, I ask you to throw your right fist in the air and shout 'Freedom!' wherever you are. Makibaka! Huwag matakot! Tama na! Buwagin na! Ayoko na! Ayawan na!

Mga utu-uto. *sticks tongue out* 

Have a stress-worry-and-frustration-free Independence Day, people! Peace.

ATYCHIPHOBIC NO MORE

Last Sunday, June 2, 2013, I spoke to our church's youth group about handling failures.

I was hesitant at first upon learning the topic they assigned to me. But me being me, as much as possible, I don't want to just back out from a challenge, especially one given by my pastor. 

So I accepted the challenge, while inside my head, worry and light atychiphobia (fear of failing) is bugging me. Do I have 'k' (as in karapatan) to talk about handling failures when I myself have made a lot of misjudgments and mistakes--and I haven't completely forgiven my self for doing all those.

But God is good. And He is omniscient. I believe He had planned for this topic to be given to me so He could speak to me while I was doing my research. 

Anyways, I just want to share these things I learned from my research (mostly from Ptr. Ed Lapiz's book and Nick Vujicic's testimony). 

I know as writers--whether you're a newbie or pro--you may have failed, too. Is it a rejection of a manuscript? Is it a negative comment from a critic? Whatever it is about, don't let your failure discourage you.  

Here are the steps on how, according to Pastor Ed, we should handle a failure.

1. ASSESS THE FAILURE.

More often than not, failure is nothing but a negative outlook in life. We lose sight of what's more important because we focus too much on what our eyes can see, rather than wondering about the truth beneath the surface. But the only difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is perspective.

What's beneath the surface has more weight.

2.  REPAIR AND LIMIT THE DAMAGES.

• Forgive those who have failed you. It is possible that you are the source of other people's failures, so ask for their forgiveness. Restore relationships. Your family, your friends, the relationships you have with other people---these are more important than any material thing--than any success you could ever have.

3. STUDY, PRACTICE AND IMPROVE. 

Make use of your failure to be a better person. Turn  obstacle into opportunity. "Failure is education," according to Nick Vujicic. The more you fail, the more you will learn. 

3. TRY AGAIN. 

Quitters never win so don't just give up. Here are some quotes I've collected about trying again.

• "It is hard to fail, bit it is worse to never have tried to succeed." - Theodore Roosevelt
• "Why do we fall? So we can pick ourselves up?" - Thomas Wayne (Batman Begins)
• "I've failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan
• "Never say die." - Ginebra Kings

-  Journey :)

• "Never say nev---

Okay, that's enough. I think you got my point already.

4. BE POSITIVE.

Be thankful of the things you have and stop complaining about the things you don't have. Concentrate on the things that you can change or improve. Stop comparing yourself to other people.

Nick Vujicic said, "Life is not about what is happening to you, but how you react to it." It all depends on you. 

I pray you'll find encouragement in this entry. Let me end this with a quote that my brain cells were able to conjure a few hours before my talk last Sunday: 

                                  "Failure may be inevitable, but it is never invincible." 

Good day, everyone! 

UPGRADING...

Back in the day, when I was in elementary and signing slum books was popular, I would always write this line on the space next to the question, 'What is Your Motto in Life?':

"Knowledge is the key to success."

I can't recall where I got it, and I'm not sure if my study habits behavior grades lifestyle then showed that it is indeed the guiding principle of my life, but it sounds 'intellectual' to me then. (Yep, me=poser.)

Today, many years later, as I type this entry, I realize one thing. My 'motto' kuno then is okay, but it's enough. In my opinion, it should be written like this:

"CONSTANT PURSUIT OF knowledge is the REAL key to success."

This is an irrefutable truth. It is every man's greatest feat --- whatever your age is, wherever you are, whatever profession you have, no matter how good/successful you are in that field.

Sure, there is no such thing as perfect. But you can strive to be a better version of your self. I mean, if you can't be perfect, at least, try be nearer to it, di ba?

At this point, I'd like to tell you this:

A newer version of YOU is available. 

Would you like to upgrade?

TIP-LET: BUKOD vs. MALIBAN

*To make this TIP-LET easier to understand, I decided to use images I found in the Internet. ;)

BUKOD - aside from, in addition, also, alongside
- is used when the object being discussed is an insider to the list of things mentioned in the predicate.  

Ibig sabihin, bukod kina Superman, kasali rin sa Justice League lahat yan !?! Whoah, ang dami!!! 

Ex:

1. Bukod sa kare-kare, may baon ding kanin at soft drinks si Ate Necy. Ang saya!
2. "Bukod sa pagtulog, paborito kong pastime ang pagkain. Obvious naman, di ba?" nakangiting biro ng ginang.
3. Mayroon siyang iniindang rayuma at arthritis, bukod pa sa eczema.
4. Bukod sa hipon, allergic din siya sa bagoong, manok at mani. 
5. Plano niya ring mamasyal sa Europe sa December, bukod pa sa balak niyang Asian tour ngayong buwan.  

MALIBAN - except, exclude, leave out, save, unless
- is used when the object of discussion is the only exception to the list of things mentioned in the predicate. (Yep, kinda like an outcast.)

Lahat ng nasa larawan ay mga planeta, maliban sa isa. #ForeverAlone

Ex:

1. Lahat na yata ng klase ng gulay nasa kantang 'Bahay-Kubo', maliban sa okra.
2. Teachers na ang mga anak ni Mang Danny, maliban kay Joy na nag-aaral pa sa kolehiyo.  
3. "Lahat ay welcome sa party ko, maliban sa unggoy na iyon," nakairap na sabi ng pagong.
4. Paborito niya ang kahit anong luto ng manok, maliban sa adobong adidas.
5. Hindi na siya dumaraan ng opisina tuwing Sabado, maliban na lang kung kailangang-kailangan. 

TIP-LET: TANGING = LANG

*(Again) TIP-LET - brief tips

'Tanging' and 'lang' are synonymous. Using both words in the same sentence is redundant already. 

Incorrect: 

Ang tanging gusto niya lang ngayong Pasko ay bagong MacBook Pro. (redundant)


Correct:

1. Ang tanging gusto niya lang ngayong Pasko ay bagong MacBook Pro.
2. Ang gusto lang niya ngayong Pasko ay bagong MacBook Pro. (smoother to read)
3. Ang tanging gusto niya lang ngayong Pasko ay bagong MacBook Pro. (Puwede na)
4. Bagong MacBook Pro ang tanging gusto niya ngayong Pasok. (voice changed)

TIP-LETS: Ano'ng vs. Anong

* Tip-lets - small tips 

Ano'ng = ano + ang 

Ex:

1. Ano'ng balak mo ngayon?
2. Sino'ng nanalong mayor?  (Sino + ang in this case.)
3. Sino'ng dakila? Sino'ng tunay na baliw?
4. Kahit ano pa'ng gawin mo, panget ka pa rin. (pa + ang)

Anong  = < everything else >

Ex:

1. Kahit anong kain, gutom ka pa rin.
2. Hindi ko alam kung anong klase ng mahika ang meron ka.
3. Anong klaseng ulam ba 'to?  

Practice:

1. Ano (ba'ng / bang) mali sa mukha niya?

2. Kahit (ano'ng / anong) gawing diet, wala pa rin.  

3. (Sino'ng / Sinong ) tatay mo?

4. Kung (ano'ng / anong) puno, siyang aakyatin. 

5. (Ano'ng / Anong ) oras ka uuwi?

Hold and drag mouse to see the answers:
1. bang
2. anong
3. Sino'ng
4. ano'ng
5. Anong

The Tagalog Romance Translation Theory

Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion, and as you know, 'opinion of one doesn't reflect the whole'. :-)

After doing two MSV Versions releases and reading around ten translated manuscripts, I have come to these conclusions: 

A. Translating is not for everyone. One has to have a strong grasp of both the languages involved. 

B. Writing skills may be useful, but it will not cover for everything.

C. Translating is more alike to EDITING than to WRITING. Here are some of my reasons:

• It is done OBJECTIVELY. 

You have to be faithful to what is written in the original manuscript. The original tone should be intact. However, if the exact equivalent in Tagalog will make it sound different or wrong, opt for a more 'natural' approach, without drifting too far from the original.   

• Your personal WRITING STYLE doesn't count. It's the writer's work that should shine, not yours.

• There's some sort of SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY. You are responsible for every word you will use / change/ crop / add.

• It's LESS FULFILLING compared to writing your own manuscript; less credit will be given to you.

• Much of the burden will come from: 

(1) choosing the accurate term in place of the original word, but a good English-Tagalog Dictionary can do the job; 
(2) deciding whether to metaphrase (literal translation) or paraphrase; which sentence should be shifted from active to passive voice; and which word is translatable and which is not; when to back-translate;   
(3) making the dialogues sound realistic and natural; 
(4) and lastly, (most important, IMO), making the ideas smooth to read and easier to comprehend. 

• If worse comes to worst, you may have to do some real serious editing while doing the translation. :/  

In conclusion to these conclusions, let me share this to you. 'Translation' comes from the Latin word translatio, which means 'to bring across'-- which I think should be ultimate goal of every translator: to bring across the original message / idea / emotion of the foreign writer to every Filipino Romance pocketbook reader. 

Dear Budding Writers,

It's time you start

B L O S S O M I N G!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Life Lessons from Writing

I don't know exactly what *disease* I've acquired this morning but it left me feeling a little nostalgic and melancholic. The ill feeling just won't go away so I decided to embrace these emotions and grab this opportunity to write something *sentimental*. So pardon me if I'm starting 2013 with an emo-sounding entry, hehe.

Anyway, here are some of the things that writing taught me.

1. Fall in Love

What we're writing about are books about love. Ergo, we have to experience loving firsthand to be able to write about it. 

We have to fall in love with this craft.
We need to be the first to fall in love with our characters.

We need to be in love with life.
We need to be in love with the concept of being in love.

2. Let Go

I've always used conceiving a child as analogy to writing, because I do believe it's an incredibly difficult endeavor to accomplish. Our works are our children, our labors of love. But there are times when we just have to let go. 
We have to let go of characters that won't jive with each other.
We have to let go of that plot/idea that isn't working.

3. Forgive Yourself

They say, we are our own worst critics. We tend to expect a lot from ourselves that sometimes when failure sets in, we find ourselves disillusioned. And then, we give up. 
We all have that one novel we're not very proud of. Maybe you're still disappointed about how a certain manuscript turned out to be; or you still remember that loophole-filled MS you once submitted. 
Along with the beginning of this year, let's all start anew. There is hope. There's enough time to redeem the writer in you.  

Ayan. Thank you for indulging the emo in me. :-)