My Hero: Mila dela Rosa

My Hero: Mila Dela Rosa
by Melchor F. Cichon
July 29, 2013

"Tonight, while watching the tv series of Korina Sanchez on heroes in the ABS-CBN, it reminded me of how Ms. Mila Dela Rosa financially helped  me. When she learned that I was operated on my colon cancer, and I had to buy medicine for six months, she pledged to financially help me for my medicine. And she did it for six months. What made it unusual is that we never had met personally, except for our acquaintanceship at the internet."

I wrote this short article on July 31, 2011 about Mila.

Let me tell you more about Mila.

Mila or Milesrn in cyberspace is a nurse.

Born in Poblacion, Lezo, Aklan, Mila now resides in Lezo, Aklan after her long stay in California, USA.

And she is motherly. I felt this when she learned that I was operated. She shared to me her expertise in nursing. She gives me tips on how I should take the post-operation treatment. Not only that, Mila is a happy lady. Her motto tells it all: A smile is contagious, be a carrier.

But she is not only a nurse.

She is also a poet.

And a singer, guitarist and composer.

Have you heard her song, Hambae Inakeanon, which she posted in You Tube?

It was in http://my.akeanon.com that she first showed her talent in poetry.

She sent some of her poems in Iskul Bukol and later in Haiku in Akeanon.

She writes in English, Tagalog  and in Aklanon. But she writes much better in Aklanon, especially luwa.

Some of her haiku have been featured in The 32 Best Aklanon Poets, edited by Melchor F. Cichon, May 2009; Matimgas nga Paeanoblion: anthology of poems written by Aklanons, edited by Melchor F. Cichon, 2011.

Then her book, Haiku and Luwa, which came out in 2010.

Let us look into some of her poems:

Hay, pangabuhi ko!
Kahapon eang nagsweldo
Dinaea sa Gaisano
Sipot pati sinsilyo.

Here she shows her sensibility on our culture—the one-day millionaire syndrome.

This next poem shows her concern on our environment.

Bagyong Undang

Among eambon sa pangpang it suba
Sa palibot, may kamunsil nga magapa.
Pag-agi it bagyo ag baha,
Inanud, pati mga manok ag baboy nga alaga.

Her love and respect to her father can be seen in her poem:

Dungganong Ama

Nasyon nga gindipindihan,
Banwa'ng tinubu-an,
Pamilya'ng gingiyahan,
Nagakasubo, bangud sa imong pagtaliwan.

But Mila can also write love poem. Here is one of them:

The Lone Traveler

dusk-
the lone traveler hurries home
to kiss me goodnight

When I opened a thread in http://my.akeanon.com on Aklanon tongue twister, Mila contributed. Here is one of them:

Ginbageot it sanggot ro masapnot nga gunot.

Here are some of the poems which has written:

The Dawn

pay day--
walking home my mother
in hurried strides

ripening grains--
not a single field
without a scarecrow

summer picnic--
not one table
without paper plates

another Saturday--
pen in hand
open journal on the table

warm afternoon--
in the bamboo stairs
the kids look like stairs

full moon--
the snail crawls silently
towards the rose bud

one chinese, one filipino
both understand
the language of mahjong

day after day--
up down, up down
this elevator is never tired

in a canyon--
I called my name
it answered my name

rough seas--
the sailboat, i see
i don't, i see

first of may
first cry
first born

janitor's day off--
under the table
crumpled paper over another

drained cup--
the child's head
is tilted backwards

damp soil--
something green
sticking out

summer inn--
coming and going
not a face seen

May--
in some other town
smell of letson

after the harvest--
the farmer rests his back
on the back of his carabao

coming from the barn
the farmer and his cow--
daybreak

halfway through my breakfast
a knock at the door
darn! this cat

breezy afternoon--
the bamboo teaches
other bamboo to sway

quiet night--
lightning, then thunder
small head under a pillow

morning walk—
enjoying the neighbour's garden
until the dog.

dawn—
the milkman and the newspaper boy
on a deserted street

afternoon nap—
on the cool haystock
the kid and his dog

tiny hands grasped
tangled hair, in ponytail
a smile.

toddler...
he learns to walk
to win a marathon.

rag doll –
a child's friend waiting
in the attic.

dark highway—
the deer and my headlight
meet eye to eye

corner street café
cold cup in hand
torn pages of journal.

corner street cafe'
cold cup in hand
torn pages of journal.

summer picnic—
bring this, bring that
bring the kids

rainbow colored
canopy of wildflowers
dancing with the breeze.

many springtime passed
chose caution over passion
chances slip away.

summer heat—
water and sweat dripping
after I took a bath

blue sky
blue sea
red sailboat

mid summer day—
the policeman stands in the curb
watching the traffic

pouring rain—
one umbrella
shoulder to shoulder

after the rain—
the bucket
is still in our living room

following the dirty road
the old man
bends from his waist

whitewashed tombstones
lining up the hill
heroes rest

windy afternoon—
the coke can rolls
into the empty parking lot

in the old porch chair—
he and she
admires the green fields

Doctor's clinic—
walking out alone
in his mind.

sandlot—
imprints of rubber shoes
over another

frosty day—
Mamma's sweet voice calling
warm embrace.

winter fog—
flickering porch light

foggy afternoon—
the golden gate bridge is lost
in my rear view mirror

fresh snow—
pine cones blend
with the slopes.

winter break—
the old cabin
is filled with laughter

windy afternoon—
salty water
dampens the sailor's face

pain
a thin line
that divides comfort

in my car—
the smell of old spice
after he's gone

dusk-
the lone traveler hurries home
to kiss me goodnight

moonless night—
the firefly glows
in its own light.

Oval office
the new leader stares
out of the window

one pillow
over another, and another
what a view from my bed!

summer--
her blouse blends
with the couch

Tig-aeani

tag-aeani
napuno
ro taeagbasan nga madaeom

tig-aeani--
ro hugom it kamuros
nagapangarsada.
Memorial Day, May 28, 2007

sa Italia paborito ro lasanya
sa Pilipinas,
humay ag tinuea.

nina—
kahapdi naga tumoy
sa bilog nga eawas.

mga pamisaea
sa tagipusuon ginhuptan
handumanan ni lolo.

eangaw--
sa humay, sa suea
sa'ng ilong

Sukoe nga rosas
Haead ko kimo
Tatay, daeha sa imong pagpanaw.
March 23, 2007

Mga Luwa

Abu ra'ng kahangawa
Ham-an baea sa Alaska
Alas onse it gabi-i
Mahayag pat-a.

Sa manabaw nga sapa
May aeogsok nga nagapuka-puka
Dakpon ag ihawon
Manami nga suea.

Hinali ako'ng nagbugtaw
May gakinaeay sa among pantaw
Eaom ko manakaw
Kuring gali nga manggaw.

Tanan nga estasyon
it radyo ag telebisyon
ro balita hay pagtaliwan
ni Michael Jackson.

Nagapamatuod
nga hasta makaron
ginadayaw pa imaw
gihapon.

Sa ospital nga akong gina obrahan
Pasyente namon puro magueang.
Maskin siing lugar nga andang adtunan,
Siya'ng may kariton ro andang saeakyan.

Hambae ni Iska
Simple'ng pangabuhi ro gusto nana
Kun imaw mag-asawa
'Di bale'ng gwapo, basta abu 'ra kwarta.

Hay, pangabuhi ko!
Kahapon eang nagsweldo
Dinaea sa Gaisano
Sipot pati sinsilyo.

Ro Amerika
Naga problema sa ekonomiya
Kun paalin solbaron,
Naga palitik si Obama.

Kwarta'ng kabakeanan nakon
Sa pagbaliya it kaean-unon
Kada adlaw kun akong huyapon
Hustong pangmatrikula sa sangdag-on.

Pag-abot ko sa amon
Namalikwa ako it kueon
Linugaw ro ga eupon
Ay madaeum ro taeagbasan namon.

Si Toribio
Bitbit pirme tigib ag martilyo
Pamanday anang trabaho
Halin it Lunes hasta't Domingo

May puno it mangga
Sinikpaw ko ra-a bunga
May tumugpa sa'ng ueo ag alima
Ha kuhit ko pati baeay it paea.

May akon nga kilaea,
Sa gaeastusan, pirming kum-kom ra tudlo't alima.
Sinakon kana: "kun amat, ring tudlo untaya"
"Hin-aga sa ilabas, ikaw ro karatista"

Hueas nga mapilit
Nagadukot sa panit
Abi toto, paligos eon
Ay ring hugom maanghit.

Salbahe'ng mga pispis
Sinubeang ro eroplanong U.S. Airways
Makina nasamad, ro eopad pabaling-baling
Sa suba it Hudson lumanding.

Buean it Marso
Ro silak 'ga kangito-ngito
Nagahueat it Hunyo,
O manog-arado.

Among eambon sa pangpang it suba
Sa palibot, may kamunsil nga magapa.
Pag-agi it bagyo ag baha,
Inanud, pati mga manok ag baboy nga alaga.

Daga eang sinimo
Kun bayangon abo'ng mahimo
Kueon, kaang, banga ro produkto
Ginapabugae sa banwa it Lezo.

Pag-abot ko sa amon
Namalikwa ako it kueon
Linugaw ro ga eupon
Ay madaeum ro taeagbasan namon.

Nasyon nga gindipindihan,
Banwa'ng tinubu-an,
Pamilya'ng gingiyahan,
Nagakasubo, bangud sa imong pagtaliwan.
****A tribute to:
Mr. Juanito Ponce Dela Rosa
WW II Veteran, Legislator, Family man
May 16, 1922 - March 9, 2007

Tongue Twisters

Abu nga bukbok ro gabok nga baeayan it eangbon.
***
Ginbageot it sanggot ro masapnot nga gunot.
***
Nagsikop si Onyok it alimatok sa suok.
***
Nagsinoe-ok it bahae ro hilong nagwinakae nahueog sa kanae.
***
Ro bayawas sa may tupas gintapas ni Tomas.
***
Ro eago nagahinukae sa kanae.
***
Ro maeapuyot nga lasaw ginpabahaw sa kaeaeaw.
***
Ro saewae nga ginsab-it sa kurae, ra tahi barobae.
***
Sa manabaw nga bobon, nagaeutaw-eutaw ro gagaekon.
***
Si Islaw nagkutaw sa baeanaw nga manabaw.
***
Si Lilibit nagbitbit it bitlag.
***
Sinueod sa bayuyot ro sinagpot nga dukot.

Ma. Regina S. Villaruz: The Practical Lady

Ma.  Regina S. Villaruz: The Practical Lady

 

by Melcichon, July 12, 2013

"Do something, while waiting."

This is a wise word from a young lady, Ma Regina Villaruz.

Rej, as she is fondly called by her friends, was born on September 22, 1988 in La Paz, Iloilo City, although her father, Mr. Rodolfo Villaruz,  is from Sara, Iloilo while her mother, Mrs. Erlinda Salvago- Villaruz, is from Leyte.  

Rej's father is the author of the now out-of-print book, Break the Shell, which was published in 2004.  This is a book that provides ample samples on how to write a knocking resume, and more.

Rej studied her kindergartin and her Grade I at St. Mary Academy of Capiz, in Roxas City. When her parents moved to Iloilo City, she enrolled at the Iloilo National High School in Jaro, Iloilo City.  She was a CAT officer here.

While in the elementary, Rej wanted to work as a cashier to have more money, but then when she reached high school she dreamed  of  becoming  a computer woman because she wanted to type and earn money. And she made use of this desire while she was still in high school by typing the research papers of her classmates. Hence, she was able to buy pairs of pants, shoes and other things she needed in school.

She did the same thing while in college.  She earned extra money by typing the reports of her classmates. Aside from this, she sold cellphone load. 

She still does.

This is an example of what she says: Do something, while waiting.

Like any other teenager, Rej changed her mind. She wanted to become  a medical technologist. For lack of money, Rej did not realize this dream. Finally, with some hesitations, she decided to take up a library science degree mainly because her father encouraged her to take up that course.

Her father knew that there are only very few library science graduates in the country and there are thousands of elementary and high school libraries in the Philippine that badly need licensed librarians to manage their libraries. Aside from this, there are hundreds of  colleges and universities in the country that surely need professional librarians to meet and to meet the requirements of accrediting bodies like DepEd and the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA). This is not to mention some corporations and government agencies that hire librarians to manage their libraries. And of course, there are a lot of possibilities to work abroad.

So she enrolled at the University of San Agustin for the Bachelor of Library and Information Science degree. She graduated in 2009.

True  enough, immediately after graduation, Rej landed a job at the Professional Electronics Institute as a librarian. She stayed there for  more than  a year. But she transferred to the Dominican College of Iloilo, in Zarraga also as a librarian. But she stayed there only for three months. After which she tried working in a call center, and she was lucky to have landed at Sabant Technologies, Inc. She worked here from September 2010 to May, 2011.

After her work at Sabant Technologies, Inc., she concentrated in cellphone repair business together with her beloved partner, Randy Espartero. 

While observing on how to repair a cellphones, she eventually became a cellphone technician herself. 

But then, librarianship was calling her.

When she learned that St. Therese-MTC Colleges Library was looking for a library personnel, she applied. She was accepted. Now she works again in the library.

When I asked her what's lacking with today's library science education, she said that a lot of library science  graduates cannot communicate well, more particularly in written communication.

Of course, this is not a stressor  for her because their curriculum focused more on cataloging, and other technical aspects of the course. The writing aspect was left behind. That could be a reason why many library science graduates find it difficult to write effective letters and reports.

But this is not really a stressor,  since effective writing can be learned through constant practice.

Meanwhile, her stress relievers are her son, Raine Matthew Villaruz Espartero, and music.

Let me quote her:

"I subscribe myself to music because music is my other option for stress reliever. Music is my only buddy when I'm alone. Music is my spirit in life. Without music, life would become complicated, dull and boring."

That's Rej, the practical lady.

Emil Cris Nismal: An All-Around Computer Technician

Emil Cris Nismal: An All-Around Computer Technician

July 9, 2013 at 12:32pm

by Melcichon
July 10, 2013

"Huya ko, Sir."

This was the immediate reaction of one of the busiest employees of St. Therese-MTC Colleges, La Fiesta Site, Molo, Iloilo City, when I told him I wanted to write a profile about him.

He works from 9:00 a. m. to 6:00p.m., Mondays to Fridays, and on Saturdays, he works from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m.

Between these periods, he could hardly sit and relax because from time to time, a faculty or a staff from outside of his department would call him to set up a multi-media in a classroom or at the audio-visual room, or somebody's printer or a computer set is not functioning well. So he practically runs from his fourth floor office to the first floor and back or to the other building. Then back again to his office to answer to another request.

"I feel tired, Sir, going up and down for the nth time," he would sometimes tell me.  To ease him, I sometimes talk to him about some funny incidents in the library so he could smile or laugh.

I am referring to Mr. Emil Cris Nismal, a computer technician of ST. Therese-MTC Colleges, La Fiesta Site, Molo, Iloilo City. He is assigned at the Library Department where this writer is his supervisor.

Emil, as most of his co-workers call him, was born on January 28, 1991 in Matlong, Lamba, Banga, South Cotabato. His parents are Mr. Mario Nismal and Mrs. Gloria Nismal. Both of his parents are from Miag-ao, Iloilo. His parents went to South Cotabato to work in the farm of his uncle. It was also there where he took his elementary grades. While in the grade school, Emil was always in the honor rolls, except when he was in Grades I and 5.

In May, 2005,  his parents decided to return to Miag-ao, Iloilo for good after living in South Cotabato for 25 years.  So he had to enroll in Miag-ao National High School, but then he had to transfer again to Kirayan National High School, also in Miag-ao during his 3rd year high school. It was there where he graduated.
While in the elementary, he wanted to get an engineering degree because he was fond of tinkling some electronic gadgets, but then he changed his mind to agriculture because his parents were farmers and he was raising chickens.  But again, his interest shifted to computer science after he attended a career seminar while he was in high school. He thought that there was much prospects in this area.

He enrolled at Iloilo Technical College, Iloilo City, and graduated  there on April 15, 2011 after finishing a two-year course in Computer Hardware Servicing. Then he took an NC II exam and he passed it.  Immediately after that, he was hired as a computer technician at St. Therese-MTC Colleges, La Fiesta Site.

And then almost every hour of his duties, his technical services are needed.

But Emil is not just a computer technician. He is a walking Hiligaynon dictionary . I often ask him to translate some English words into Hiligaynon. One time, I asked him the Hiligaynon term for the egg yoke and the color violet. His answers: batog and tapol, respectively. That was the first time I ever heard of those words: batog and tapol.

Because the Internet Station is always filled up with students, faculty and staff, it is not unusual that someone would accidentally leave his or her cell phone or money.

One afternoon, Emil came to me and informed me that he found a new cellphone which was left in the Internet Station where he works. I accepted it and kept it while waiting for its rightful owner to claim it. Thirty minutes later, the lost and found cellphone rang. The caller informed me that he was looking for his cellphone.

I told him to come to my office to claim it. And he came. After some questioning, I gave back his cellphone. We photographed him while he was receiving his lost and found cellphone.

I wrote a letter to the head of HRD informing her of the exemplary action done by Mr. Nismal. Later his name with his picture was posted in the College Bulletin Board with a banner: Honest Employee of the Month. For more than three months now, the announcement is still posted in the said Bulletin Board.

So I asked Emil, why he did not keep it. And he said:  "kay bal-an ko kinahanglan man to sang tag-iya. Madamo pa na maabot sakon kon mag-abot ang tiempo."

This was not the only incident that Mr. Nismal had returned lost and found items at the Internet Station.There was also a time when someone had forgotten his wallet inside the Internet Station where Emil works. The following day, its owner came and Emil gave back the wallet with all the money intact.

Thinking that education is important for his promotion or self-development, Emil wishes to enroll in a BS Computer Science degree. In fact, I am have been encouraging him to study further. But he is not financially ready for it yet. That’s the reason why he could not give me the exact date as to when he would enroll again.

When I pressed  him for the exact time,  he said, "Next school year, Sir."

He reiterated the importance of education.  Once he told me, “If only I had been good in my high school years, my life would have been better today."

So, he said, "If you have the opportunity to study, grab that opportunity. This is the only heritage that nobody can take it away from you."

Amen!

Emil Cris Nismal: An All-Around Computer Technician

Emil Cris Nismal: An All-Around Computer Technician

by Melchor Cichon (Notes) on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at 12:32pm

by Melcichon
July 8, 2013

"Huya ko, Sir."

This was the immediate reaction of one of the busiest employees of St. Therese-MTC Colleges, La fiesta Site, Molo, Iloilo City.

He works from 9:00 a. m. to 6:00p.m., Mondays to Fridays, and on Saturdays, he works from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m.

Between these periods, he could hardly sit and relax because from time to time, a faculty or a staff from outside of his department calls for him to set up a multi-media in a classroom or at the audio-visual room, or somebody's printer or a computer set is not functioning well. So he practically runs from his fourth floor office to the first floor or to the other building. Then back again to answer to another request.

"I feel tired, Sir, going up and down for the nth time," he would sometime tells me.  To ease him, I sometimes talk to him about some funny incidents in the library so he could smile or laugh.

I am referring to Mr. Emil Cris Nismal, a computer technician of ST. Therese-MTC Colleges, La Fiesta Site, Molo, Iloilo City.

Emil, as most of his co-workers call him, was born on January 28, 1991 in Matlong, Lamba, Banga, South Cotabato. His parents are Mr. Mario Nismal and Mrs. Gloria Nismal. Both of his parents are from Miag-ao, Iloilo. His parents went to South Cotabato to work in the farm of his uncle. It was also there where he took his elementary grades. While in the grade school, Emil was always in the honor rolls, except when he was in Grades I and 5.

In May, 2005,  his parents decided to return to Miag-ao, Iloilo for good after living in South Cotabato for 25 years.  So he had to enroll in Miag-ao National High School, but then he had to transfer again to Kirayan National High School, also in Miag-ao during his 3rd year high school. It was there where he graduated.
While in the elementary, he wanted to get an engineering degree because he was fond of tinkling some electronic gadgets, but then he changed his mind to agriculture because his parents were farmers and he was raising chickens.  But again, his interest shifted to computer science after he attended a career seminar while he was in high school. He thought that there was much prospects in this area.

He enrolled at Iloilo Technical College, Iloilo City, and graduated  there on April 15, 2011 after finishing a two-year course in Computer Hardware Servicing. Then he took an NC II exam and he passed it.  Immediately after that, he was hired as a computer technician at St. Therese-MTC Colleges, La Fiesta Site.

And then almost every hour of his duties, his technical services are needed.

But Emil is not just a computer technician. He is a walking Hiligaynon dictionary . I often ask him to translate some English words into Hiligaynon. One time, I asked him the Hiligaynon term for the egg yoke and the color violet. His answers: batog and tapol, respectively. That was the first time I ever heard of those words: batog and tapol.

Because the Internet Station is always filled up with students, faculty and staff, it is not unusual that someone would accidentally leave his or her cell phone or money.

One afternoon, Emil came to me and informed me that he found a new cellphone which was left in the Internet Station where he works. I accepted it and kept it while waiting for its rightful owner to claim it. Thirty minutes later, the lost and found cellphone rang. The caller informed me that he was looking for his cellphone.

I told him to come to my office to claim it. And he came. After some questioning, I gave back his cellphone. We photographed him while he was receiving his lost and found cellphone.

I wrote a letter to the head of HRD informing her of the exemplary action done by Mr. Nismal. Later his name with his picture was posted in the College Bulletin Board with a banner: Honest Employee of the Month. For more than three months now, the announcement is still posted in the said Bulletin Board.

So I asked Emil, why he did not keep it. And he said:  "kay bal-an ko kinahanglan man to sang tag-iya. Madamo pa na maabot sakon kon mag-abot ang tiempo."

This was not the only incident that Mr. Nismal had returned lost and found items at the Internet Station.There was also a time when someone had forgotten his wallet inside the Internet Station where Emil works. The following day, its owner came and Emil gave back the wallet with all the money intact.

Thinking that education is important for his promotion or self-development, Emil wishes to enroll in a BS Computer Science degree. In fact, I am have been encouraging him to study further. But he is not financially ready for it yet. That’s the reason why he could not give me the exact date as to when he would enroll again.

When I pressed  him for the exact time,  he said, "Next school year, Sir."

He reiterated the importance of education.  Once he told me, “If only I had been good in my high school years, my life would have been better today."

So, he said, "If you have the opportunity to study, grab that opportunity. This is the only heritage that nobody can take it away from you."

Amen!

*******
First published in my Facebook account, July 9, 2013