Mga Kwento ni Chef Pablo

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Filipino-American Idol

Jessica Sanchez, a 16-year-old Filipino-Mexican from San Diego, California is one of the Top 24 finalists in American Idol Season 11.Sanchez sang her soulful rendition of Celine Dion's "The Prayer" on the show. After the 3 judges (Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler) revealed her fate in the show, the 16-year-old half-pinoy said, "This is the biggest thing that had happened to me. I've been watching this show since I was little. And I made it. It's crazy."

More than a dream come true, Jessica sees this Idol thing as an opportunity to support her family. "My family has spent so much money on me. They've sacrificed so much time. My mom is unemployed because of my music career. Knowing there's a possibility of me being able to help my family in this situation, that's why I'm here, that's why I'm working hard." She said.

Another reason for pinoys to watch the show. Let's all support our bet (even if we can't vote) by praying for her to be the very first Filipino-Mexican-American Idol.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Counter Striking Cops

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is planning to create an office equipped with computer games to harness the police officers' investigative skills and sharpen their shooting prowess.

"We will make (target shooting training) automated, with high-tech and computerized equipment. It will be a simulated training wherein police (officers) will be made to chase and the policemen must also be careful or (they) will also get hit," PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said during an aired interview on a radio station last 17th of February 2012.

He said that the equipment will have games similar to the first-person shooting game "Counter Strike" and other video games patterned after the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) television series.

Though the plan is still on a drawing paper, Bartolome said that the high-tech facility and equipment may be a bit expensive, but will be cost effective in the long run. He also said that computer games do not need any bullets, reloading machines and other related stuff. However, the policemen will learn more theoretical and practical approaches in resolving crimes via Simulates Crime Scenes.

Although this sounds corny, let's just wait and see if this new program will really be a big help for our cops. Fire in the hole !

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Is K+12 OK ?

The Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program in the Philippines will be implemented in academic year 2012-2013, starting with the conversion first year high school to Grade 7. It had been initiated by the Aquino administration wherein students will have to undergo a new system of education. The program will require the incoming students to enroll into two more years of basic education. Thus, the K+12 System will basically include the Universal kindergarten, 6 years of elementary education, 4 years of junior high school (Grade 7-10) with an additional 2 years for senior high school.

Moreover, the program aims to uplift the quality of education in the Philippines in order for the graduates to be easily employed. Besides, Philippines and Myanmar are the only countries in the world, that still implements a 10-year basic educational system. In short, napag-iiwanan na talaga tayo when it comes to education. And because of that freakin' fact; foreign employers questions the competency of Filipino professionals especially engineers, accountants and nurses.

I cited three problems which may probably arise from this recently-implemented K+12 Program:

One of the major flaws in our schooling system is the school itself. Para na ngang mga sardinas ang mga estudyante dahil sa kakulangan ng mga classrooms, what more if the government will add two more years in education. I tell you super congested na ang school when it happened. If that set up will be conducive in learning, I doubt it.
Added school years is equals to added expenditures. Probable that the number of drop outs will increase because of poverty.
The shift of students from private to public schools, thus, more expenditures for the government.

I personally believe that K+12 Basic Education Program in RP would uplift the quality of life of Filipinos. But, I suppose, we're not ready yet. There are loads of stuff to be done for the country to be well-prepared for this matter. But then again, it had been implemented. Therefore, wala na tayong magagawa with regards to that matter. And since the youth is the hope of the country, i guess it's about time for them to prove it. They had to do their very best and study harder despite of the lack of facilities. It's about time to prove the very famous Pinoy line: "Huli man daw at magaling, maihahabol din."

Check this pdf. file for more information.

K+12 pdf (deped.gov.ph)

Monday, February 6, 2012

GG : Made in China

"Galunggong" (GG for short) known as poor man's fish is now being imported from China and Taiwan. This fish having the price of P80.00 per kg. is cheaper compared to the local GGs which can be bought at the price of P100.00 per kg. Since the price is more affordable in comparison with the local fishes, consumers will prefer to buy the imported ones. And our local fishermen will suffer from this trade.

Instead of allowing the entry of imported fish, the government should provide subsidies to the fishermen, they said. Because if these were not given and the importation cannot be stopped, then they would completely lose their livelihood.

Top 10 pinoy grammatical mistakes

10. "PINAKA-LATEST"

"Have you checked the pinaka-latest na android phone in tha market?"

The word "latest" is already in superlative form, in other words, there's nothing greater than that. There's no such super-duperlative. Therefore, todo na yun and putting the word "pinaka" makes the word redundant.

9. "MORE + ADJECTIVE-ER"

"The quiz last friday is more harder the before."

Adding the word more before an adjective really gives me a headache. Just say "harder" rather than exaggerating the word.

8. "HE AND SHE"

I often hear these mistakes. He is for male and She is for female. Merlin's beard, kahit elementary students alam ang difference between the two.

Its is possessive, like when you are saying that the book is yours. "Hey, Its mine." And the word It's is actually a contraction of it and is. Might as well say "The cat is chasing it's tail" rather than "The cat is chasing its tail"

8. "ALREADY"

"She ate already."

For a typical pinoy, this sounds correct, but it isn't. "She already ate." is the correct one.

7. "IN BEHALF OF .."

This phrase is frequently used in any awards night. "I would like to thank all of you in behalf of the whole production team." On behalf is the proper one.

6. "IS AND ARE"

Is is singular and Are is plural. Translation, pag isa lang is ang gagamitin, "The dog is barking." Pero pag two or more are naman ang ginagamit, The dogs are barking.".

5."IS MARK IS THERE?"

Too much is. It sounds awful. Simply say "Is mark there?".

4. "WHAT THE F"

Several pinoys are mispronouncing the F word. Like, Pather (Father), Plan (Flan), etc.

3."EQUIPMENTS AND FURNITURES"

These two words are singular at all times. Wag makulit.

2. "I WILL GONNA BUY THIS"

I felt like saying: "I will gonna correct you muna 'coz your so mali." Might as well say, “I will buy this” or “I am gonna (slang for going to) buy this.”

1. "AND ETC."

Et cetera is a Latin expression that means "and other things", or "and so forth". Kaya when you say and et cetera (and etc.) it is a clear redundancy.

It's more fun in the Philippines

The Philippines' Department of Tourism recently released the new Tourism campaign slogan "It's more fun in the Philippines". The said slogan had been the trending topic immediately after it had been released. Here are some spoofs of the new Tourism campaign.

How funny. These are some of my self-made "It's more fun in the Philippines" parody. It really is fun in the Philippines, and posting these kind of stuffs doesn't mean that we are dealing with What's Wrong. We're just simply making fun of things.