6.23.2008

EAST ASIAN ENTHUSIASTS (EAE) ~ Explore What's More!



Founded on the 21st of August, 2005, this underground organization aims to broaden one’s knowledge in different East Asian cultures, traditions, entertainments, and such by conducting a lot of activities in nurturing its members.

The organization is divided into five committees. The INTERNALS COMMITTEE (IC) handles dutiful works such as recruitments, activities, finances, events, competitions, and other promotional works and arrangements for the development of the organization. The PERFORMING COMMITTEE (PC) represents the organization out of diligent members through costume playing, dancing, band performances, and many more, may it be inside the organization or on convention competitions. The COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE (CC) covers events and controls the web sources and other online communication systems for the propagation of organization details, meetings, and events. The ART COMMITTEE (AC) is in-charge on props making, stage design, manga drawing, animation, and other art-related projects for the organization or convention competitions. Lastly, the FOOD COMMITTEE (FC) leads the organization’s food preparations in events and other feasts. Members may join only ONE committee to expertise but can also mingle with other committees and join its activities as well.

The members are the first and most essential element of the organization. It is divided into two categories: the JUNIOR MEMBERS who are 12 years old and below, and the SENIOR MEMBERS who are 13 years old and above.

The organization is headed by three PRINCIPAL OFFICERS (PO). The CHIEF-EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO) is the head of decision-making authorities. It is followed by the ASSISTANT CHIEF-EXECUTIVE OFFICER (ASST. CEO) who assists the CEO and holds the second approval for everything. Then comes the PRESIDENT is the one who handles all five committees and executes or enforces the laws.

They are then followed by the COMMITTEE HEADS (CH) and COMMITTEE SUBS (CS) who reports public and departmental matters. The IC is made up of an Internals Committee Head, and a Secretary. The PC contains a Performing Committee Head, a Manager, and a Choreographer. The CC is headed by a Communications Committee Head, an Online Operator, and an SMS Operator. AC’s officers are the Art Committee Head, Art Director, and Writer. The FC has a Food Committee Head, and a Marketing Head.

There are FIVE official meetings done in a year: Grand Meeting, Committee Battle, Classroom Lesson, Field Trip, and Committee Night. There is also a so-called Closed-Door Meetings where only the CHs are summoned by the POs. Meeting venues are usually at the CEO Headquarters – Grand Sala or Round table.

The methods of admitting new members are really simple. Recruiters / applicants should just contact the CEO and the applicant will only be an official member by paying the membership fee of P50.00 and by obtaining his/her official uniform.

It’s really a new thing to experience! If you’re interested, contact us at eae_phil@yahoo.com, or visit our site: http://eaephil.multiply.com/ for more information. We’ll be glad to hear from you!

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Citzenship For Sale? (Non-U.S. Viewpoint)

What if the United States began charging for the legal right to immigrate? Nobel Laureate Gary Becker (University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business) came up with the idea. Becker's not trying to eject illegal workers; in fact, he said, they could pay to stay. The idea is to upend the existing black market that exacts a high price for illegal immigrants -- some who pay with their lives.


Off shore Drilling~ you want it?

As gas prices continue to increase, Congress continues to blame others while ignoring practical steps to stop the pain Americans are feeling at the pump. To lower gasoline prices and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we need real solutions to our energy challenges.

ADAKRAB: Bringing Them Forever

Reminiscing my high school days reminds me of all the things that made me who I am today. From my organized study habits to my cramming project deadlines and last-minute review for exams, I really did bring it to college. The saying ‘kung anong nakasanayan ang siyang madadala’ is true then. But I really wished I had brought my friends with me to college as well.

I really miss those times when the teacher’s out and all we do is to hang-out and share funny stories with each other. The vandals on our desks and restrooms, the student teachers, the uniforms, the antagonists, the pocketbooks, the cute boys… and most importantly, the bonding between friends.

Let me tell you about a group of eleven members known as ADAKRAB, or by reversing it, BARKADA. It’s a tagalog word for friendship, or much deeper than that, I guess. The members are namely:

YSA – if it would be considered as a GANG, she might as well be addressed as the FIRST BOSS. You guessed it right, a bossy attitude, a leader, an adviser, a counselor, a joker, a genius, a great story-teller. She’s also a great singer from being a choir member, but none of the members ever heard her sing seriously in solo. When one’s sad, she cheers her up. When one is being bullied, she stands as your defender, your great warrior. She has the qualities and the attitude as well.

NIX – the SECOND BOSS. Although she’s always busy by all the ‘boys’ on her cell phone, she gives some good advices as well, regarding her experiences of course. She’s mostly at expert in love problems.

BHENDA – talk about food, this girl knows everything, from cooking to baking and SENSING. Either she comes in class with lots of food or without; one should ready their lunch boxes for battle. Aside that, she’s the one who introduces new things such as fan fictions, movies, etc. She’s also considered the group’s most beautiful being.

XELYN – the mother-like figure. She does lots of sermons, alright…but they’re actually the truth that lies within you that no one speaks of. Speaking of mother-like, she’s the best at household chores.

AE – the frank one. Whatever you may be, she’ll tell you what she likes and dislikes about you, but in the end, she’ll easily say that she’s happy being with you. A real Christian, a TRUTHFUL friend, the treasurer, and the person who can’t even lie. She’s also the last member to join the group at our third year.

LABLY – as her name implies, she’s the most lovable and caring person. She’s the one who named the group at our second year that makes her the founder. Small but terrible, she’s like a living phonebook directory that knows everyone’s information.

HAYME – the living dictionary. May it be exams or quizzes; she memorizes what’s written in the books in exact phrases. If we have problems in academics, she’s the one to approach.

XY – the moody one. It’s hard to tell whether she’s angry or happy because she can switch moods in a couple of seconds. But see, that’s the thrill. To everyone, she’s the most experienced in life.

MARZ – second to the most mysterious person. She’s in to witchcraft and other weird things, but mostly make-ups. Compared to us, she’s the most mature-like woman figure that everyone respects.

ALYN – the influenced one. She likes anime because her friends like it; she plays instruments because her friends play as well, she’s in a band because her friends are in a band as well. And yes, this is not her only group – she has a lot! She easily adapts to her surroundings and that makes her herself.

And lastly, GIA as myself – the mysterious one. The person who prefers to be alone, doesn’t know how to buy, easily gets nervous, addicted to anime and cosplay, in to shamanism and witchcraft, and all the weird things that one can posses. I USED to be that way, and still some of it until now.

ADAKRAB, in one word, is UNIQUENESS. Every member has rare traits that an ordinary person can have in a 10% possibility. It tells different stories from different point of views and different people in real life. I got used to have them beside me and that’s what makes me ready and brave for whatever comes to my life.

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Korean & Japanese Tongue Twisters

Tongue twisters…in a different language?! It sounds weird at first, but what the hell? Just give it a try. I myself didn’t actually believe that I can do it, but to tell you the truth, it’s as easy as your native tongue twisters.

Here’s a simple tip of mine for memorizing a certain tongue twister. First, know the correct pronunciations and go over it again and again. Once you can pronounce it correctly, try saying it faster and repeat is as many times as you can. Then, record your voice while doing the same thing and listen to it many times as well. And just as soon as you can do it without listening to your recorded voice, you’re officially a tongue twister master!

See? It’s really simple. Now, to practice that, here’s one of Korea’s popular tongue twister:

간장공장 공장장은 장 공장장이고 된장공장 공장장은 강 공장장이다.
Gan jang gong jang gong jang jang eun, Jang gong jang jang igo,
Doin jang gong jang gong jang jang eun, Gang gong jang jang ida.
The manager of the soy sauce factory is Manager Jang and
The manager of the soy paste factory is Manager Gang.

And here’s one in Japanese, too. By the way, the word ‘tongue twister’ in Japanese is translated as ‘hayakuchi kotoba,’ which literally means ‘fast-mouth words.’

生麦生米生卵.
Nama mugi, nama gome, nama tamago.
Raw wheat, raw rice, raw egg.

If you want to hear me trying to say those phrases, check it out!


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6.14.2008

Our Animation Project: UP Layp

Last semester, our class had to present a five-minute animation for our final plate. Together with my group mates - Paula, Joanne, Abby, and Sam, we thought of a romantic-comedy genre for our 2D animation clip entitled ‘UP Layp: The Beginning’.

The story is basically about an incoming freshman at the University of the Philippines (UP) named Agapito. Since he’s from a rural province, he went to the city (Manila) to take the Talent Determination Test for the College of Fine Arts in ignorance on the English language. And as he waits for the result, strange thoughts came to him after passing the test and coming to the university as a cool student.



2D animation is really harder than I thought, though. We were five in the group but it took us a month and a half in drawing every scene, and another half month in coloring and adding the final touches. Since we have a small span of time, we had to divide the scenes for everyone to draw, that’s why the characters in the film weren’t consistent at all.

We also had a problem in dubbing. We don’t have a male member for the male characters so pulling guys and forcing them to dub would be our only chance, but unfortunately everyone was busy at that time as well. At the end, we ended up as the ones who dubbed the male voices ourselves that turned out a bit awkward.

Even though it’s just a five-minute animation, we really got exhausted for the whole semester, and at the same time we developed a great friendship. Everything turned out well in the end. Though most of the scenes are really silly, and the drawings aren’t really for a professional side, it’s all worth it.

HammeRuler ... It's new, really new!

We often come across products that initially look like a good idea, but then we realize that the inventor, producer, and marketer really haven't asked those that will use it to get involved in the development. So, we're going to avoid this mistake -- with your help, of course.

Get it going with dNeero

This will be one of the first three surveys you take ... it's longer than most dNeero surveys (normally surveys are 5-10 questions), but it's meant to get you thinking about yourself and how wonderful the fabric of you really is ... your friends, lovers, associates will probably learn something about you. This survey is meant to generate conversation as your lover exclaims "Your favorite flower is what?!" and "And you went skinny dipping with whom?!"

6.11.2008

Foreign Pop Songs

Everybody loves to listen to all genres of songs, may it be rock, metal, folk, rap, soul, R&B, techno, pop, etc. - no one can deny it. But let’s stick to pop songs this time – an all-time favorite of ours.

I have to say, since I began to get addicted into those Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese films, I just can’t help to get the OSTs as well. Not only for their rare approach in harmony, but they also have that animistic yet touching meaning as well that makes them more unique. Like for example, would you see the word ‘world’, ‘air’, ‘spirits’, or any elemental words in English and Tagalog songs? Come on, people will think that’s crazy or something! But you see, that’s what makes them unique. They have that style of their own. Maybe it’s an influence of their culture or any other East Asian practices, I guess.

Anyway, my sister and I sing these kinds of songs all the time but people tend to react differently. We really don’t mind it, though. It’s just for fun anyway and an additional knowledge in language as well. Come to think of it, it’s easier for us to speak the correct pronunciation of the language after singing it.



Since we do this ‘concert’ stuff everyday at our house, my four year old cousin does it as well. Although she really can’t understand what she’s singing, she just follows the rhythm and her made-up lyrics happily. She even has a video, having a duet with our computer. The song she’s singing along with is a K-Pop song entitled ‘Yeonae Jogeon’ or ‘Love Condition’ by Korean artist Younha.

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6.08.2008

My Own Summer Class

I usually spend my summer by enrolling in a Japanese language class that I really enjoy. I do this to rise up my level of speech but this summer seemed a little different for me.

I already got used in my summer routine that way but my parents can't afford it this time so I thought of a way on how to do the same thing without spending any. Eventually, I came up with a solution - 'self study'. Since I lack knowledge in Kanji characters, I began surfing the net (the no. 1 source) for reading materials. There I found an interesting site - http://www.kanjisite.com - where everything I need is compiled in one.

Seems to be my luck, I guess. Kanji characters contain 3 levels to master having Level 4 the easiest, and level 2 the hardest. I started at level 4 that contains 80 characters. It only took me 3 days to memorize because I know most of it already. I encountered it from watching animè, so don't EVER believe when someone tells you that watching animè will lead you no good! You might really never know.



Level 3 really made me loose myself when I began memorizing it. Double the characters on the easy level, the moderate one contains 165! Boy, I can't believe I'm doing this! Up to this day, I'm still going over it again and again even if I’ve memorized it, just to make sure. My friend once told me that the moment you stop doing something, little by little you’ll forget it. Then it just hit me, “so that’s why I’m used to ABCs, because I’m exposed to it, huh?” It’s the same thing in reading kanji and speaking Japanese. Since I’m not being surrounded by those characters and I don’t have anyone to share a Japanese conversation, I’ll easily forget it once I stop doing everything.

My next target is to finish the last level but knowing it contains 800 characters, I'll try to get it over this year. Well, that wraps it! Eventually, it met my objective. I didn't spend that much money, but I got scolded by my Mom from the tons of papers I used as scratch for writing 245 characters three times a day. ^^