blackshama's commentary on Philippine issues

I do not know James Soriano but those netizens who know him say he is an Ateneo de Manila senior. The essay he wrote for the Manila Bulletin is honest on his experience in the use of English and Filipino in Filipino society. The mass of Filipino society especially on the net will label him as conyo , but we cannot fault him for that. The class stratification in Philippine society is sharply demarcated by language use as this blogger writes . This cuts across regional and cultural boundaries. Since in almost all political jurisdictions, those who are elected to public office belong to the elite, we can observe that signs in public buildings are in English or may be bilingual but the sign in a Philippine language is less conspicuous than the one in English. I have seen and stared at these while peeing  in countless toilets in the Visayas and Mindanao, where a warning (pahibalo) in not flushing the toilet will result in a fine. The warning is in large font English and the one in ...

Isang kakatwang eksena ang nasaksihan ko sa isang pribabdong opisina kamakailan lang. Dalawang empleyado ang inatasang bigyan ng solusyon ang isang isyu tungkol sa logistics. Ang isa ang tubong Davao at ang isa ay taga Iloilo. Ang unang wika nila ay Cebuano (Bisaya) at Hiligaynon (Ilonggo). Ang dalawang wika ay halos pareho ngunit may mga katagang iba ang kahulugan sa isa't isang wika. Ginamit nila ang wika nilang kinalakihan at hindi sila nagkaintindihan. Ang nangyari tuloy ay gumamit na lang sila ng wikang Ingles! Yung na nga rin ang sabi ko. Mag-English na lang kaya kayo! At bakit di wikang Filipino ang ginamit nila? Sa totoo lang, marami pa rin ang hindi bihasa sa Filipino upang gamitin ito sa mga larangan tulad ng logistics. At hindi lamang sa mga larangang teknikal, sa mga biyahe ko sa ibat-ibat lugar sa Pilipinas, ang mga naka-paskel sa mga CR o palikuran tungkol sa pagtitipid ng tubig ay naka sulat sa 1)Wika ng rehiyon 2) Wikang Ingles 3) at minsa'y sa wikang Filipino S...

In my travels, I have checked in in many hotels in the Philippines and overseas. The pleasantries and conversations are routine. It usually goes like this Front desk: Good day sir. Welcome to Hotel_____. How may I help you? Me: I have a reservation. Front desk: Just a minute sir, let me check your reservation. Yes we have it, please fill in these forms. May I see your passport Me: Yes Front desk: How do you wish to settle your bills? By credit card? Me: Credit card is fine. Here it is Front desk: Here is your key to room ____. The lift is on the right. Breakfast is at 6:30 to 9:00. The pool is on the third floor. You have complimentary use of the gym. If you have other concerns, please don't hesitate to call us. Have a pleasant stay. Me: Thank you and good day. But the most memorable front desk conversation was in a business hotel in an Asian city (the reader can guess where). After the usual check in conversation this was followed by Front desk man: Sir, I 'm very sorry that y...