of redwall abbey and upside-down reading

It’s been quite some time since I last wrote a piece of literature. If literature it be. The point is I think I’m starting to slack from writing poems, short stories and flash fictions.

On the other hand, I still haven’t slacked in my favorite hobby–reading!

I’ve aquired some cheap paperbacks on Bookshop outlets in malls. I’ve noticed Brian Jacques work called the Redwall. I was quite fascinated of how he used ordinary animals as characters in his story. He used mice, badgers, voles, rats, etc. Jetcetera! hehe. It’s quite new to me though the work was copyrighted long ago.

Along with Redwall, there are other works of Jacques that are also connected as a sequel or prequel to the Redwall novel. Mossflower, Pearls of Lutra and Salamandastron were the title of the books I’ve bought along with the Redwall paperback. And I’ve only spent 65 pesos for each one of them.

I’m still searching for other books to add up to my starting collection. hehe. If you want to learn more the Redwall series, try visiting their website.

I also started reading one of Bob Ong’s books called “Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?” (”Why do Filipinos Read Books Upside-down?) As usual, it’s written in an informal manner. Ong writes as though he’s just talking. I’ve read some of his books and I genuinely like it. It’s straightforward and frank addressing the different issues of Filipinos. I guess he’s one of my inspiration in starting my other blog “simpleng pagong”.

At least I’m keeping myself busy. But I guess I’ll start writing later. And I do mean writing writing! I have to make a portfolio of my works. hehe.

ciao!

not laughing yet

Gary Lising wrote in one of his books once, “Blessed are those who urinate on the ground because they spread piss on earth!”

Haha.

But seriously, I really am not in a mood of laughing at the moment. Actually, I’m really pissed. Call it being pig-headed and overreacting but it’s basically an issue–my issue–of being an obnoxious person with a superiority complex and a very resentive manner towards rejection. Yes, I was rejected. Damn it. But I’d rather not discuss more about it. It would just show how much of a sore loser I really am.

On the brighter side, I’ve created a new blog! Still in WordPress. I’m already comfortable with its system. My new blog is a humor blog. I’m actually inspired to do it because of the comical and amazing other humor blogs I’ve been encountering in the net. I call my new blog “simpleng pagong“.

In this blog I claim to be a simple turtle looking at the complexities of life and though I claim to be a very simple turtle, I tend to make things a bit complicated. Kind of ironic huh? I’ve already written about the sexual interpretation of the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill. I’ve even wrote something about my say on the overpricing of commodities and just recently, my list of dream jobs. I’ve also made my own interpretation of the Philippine folk story “Ang Pagong at Ang Matsing” (”The Turtle and The Monkey”). Click here to learn more about the blog.

The posts in the blog are written informally. With no capital letters, take note. Most of the times, I didn’t bother editing the post. It’s more like a “stream of conciousness”. It’s written in pure tagalog and I’ve obsessively tagalized English terms. I decided to write anything I want to write about in my own manner of writing. I did this blog just for fun. I’ve always wanted to have a humor blog. I also want to expand my identity in the cyber space.

Try visiting it sometimes. It’s still new and I’ve planned a lot of things for it. Since I really enjoy drawing, I may illustrate some drawings to place there. Hmm.. Yeah. I guess I would one of these days.

Have fun.

broke but not broken

Writing became a door for new questions. When I took up the Creative Writing Course here in UP Mindanao, the one thing that was in my mind was my passion in writing. I love writing.

Then reality struck.

People who learned the nature of my course almost have the same question: “Do you expect to get rich on that?” Some would ask me what’s the job I’m most likely to get. To both inquiries, I was speechless. Hands down, at that time I had no good answer to give them.

Here comes the “Parents’ Sacrifice” Card. You should have taken BS Nursing. Nursing has become a very intriguing course here in the Philippines. The majority of students who graduate from the secondary education are most likely to proceed in that course. One main reason: Because it is in demand in other countries.

Yes, being in a Third World Country has been a very challenging life for us Filipinos. This instilled the desire for some of us to grab the easiest way to earn dollars and to get out of the country in the process.

Though I share the same fate of my countrymen, I have broken away from the trend and pursued my passion in writing. So now I face this dilemma, how will I use this craft in earning a substantial amount of money?

Until now, I am still finding new ways to incorporate my writing in earning money, trying to change that door of questions to a door of opportunity. I’ve been searching in the net and I have stumbled in the system of blogging. I also am submitting some of my works to local publications. Both ways, I’m still in the process of exploring.

I am also thinking of publishing little children’s stories and small time booklets. Children’s Literature is a very subtle and complex art that actually takes a whole course in UP, so I guess I shouldn’t have my hopes high yet.

I don’t mind ghost writing or filling up texts in websites. I’m also interested in writing for comic books or graphic works (that’s been like my childhood dream). I could draw, but not that well. I can write though.

Lastly, I could also be of some use in editing work. I’m familiar to the pressure in journalism as I was once a part of a student publication back in my secondary years. I’m fairly good in English. Oh, I have lapses here and then. Who doesn’t, right?

If you have any insights or ideas, don’t hesitate to help a friend here.