Wednesday, September 24, 2008

English Movies You Should Not Translate in Filipino/Tagalog

Nabasa ko ito sa isang forwarded email ni Roland Tolentino:

Black Hawk Down: Ibong Maitim sa Ibaba
Dead Man's Chest: Dodo ng Taong Patay
I Know What You Did Last Summer: Uyyy...Aminin!
Love, Actually: Sa Totoo Lang, Pag-ibig
Million Dollar Baby: 50 Milyong Pisong Sanggol (depende sa exchange rate)
The Blair Witch Project: Ang Proyekto ng Bruhang si Blair
Mary Poppins: Si Mariang May Putok
Snakes on a Plane: Nag-ahasan sa Ere
The Postman Always Rings Twice: Ang Kartero Kapag Dumutdot Laging Dalawang Beses
Sum of All Fears: Takot Mo, Takot Ko, Takot Nating Lahat
Swordfish: Talakitok
Pretty Woman: Ganda ng Lola Mo
Robin Hood, Men in Tights: Si Robin Hood at ang Mga Felix Bakat
Four Weddings and a Funeral: Kahit Apat na Beses Ka Pang Magpakasal, Mamamatay Ka Rin!
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ako, Ikaw, Kayong Lahat
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Adik si Harry, Tumira ng Shabu
Click: Isang Pindot Ka Lang
Brokeback Mountain: May Nawasak sa Likod ng Bundok ng Tralala; Bumigay sa Bundok
The Day of the Dead: Undas
Waterworld: Pista ng San Juan
There's Something About Mary: May Kuwan sa Ano ni Maria
Employee of the Month: Ang Sipsip
Resident Evil: Ang Biyenan
Kill Bill: Kilitiin sa Bilbil
The Grudge: Lintik Lang ang Walang Ganti
Nightmare Before Christmas: Binangungot sa Noche Buena
Never Been Kissed: Pangit Kasi
Gone in 60 Seconds: 1 Round Lang, Tulog
The Fast and the Furious: Ang Bitin, Galit
Too Fast, Too Furious: Kapag Sobrang Bitin, Sobrang Galit
Dude, Where's My Car?: Dong, Anong Level Ulit Tayo Nag-park?
Beauty and the Beast: Ang Asawa Ko at ang Nanay Niya
The Lord of the Rings: Ang Alahero
Die Hard: Hindi Mamatay-matay
Die Hard, with a Vengeance: Hindi na Mamatay-matay, Naghiganti Pa
Lost in Space: Mga Taong Naligaw sa Kalawakan
Paycheck: Sweldo
What Lies Beneath: Ang Pagsisinungaling sa Ilalim
Superman, the Return: Si Superman Bumalik, Naiwanan ang Brief
Cinderella Man: Bading si Cinderella
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Nagtrabaho si Charlie sa Goya
Blade Runner: Magnanakaw ng Labaha
Schindler's List: May Mga Utang kay Schindler
Men in Black: Mga Lalaking Namatayan
X-Men, the Last Stand: Mga Dating Lalaki, Huling Tinayuan
Wedding Crashers: Mga Bwiset sa Kasal
The Day After Tomorrow: Sa Makalawa
Three Men and a Baby: Ang Tatlong Yayo
Catch Me If You Can: Habulin Mo 'ko!
A Bug's Life: Ang Buhay ng Isang Surot
Die Another Day: Mamatay Ka Ulit Bukas
The Rock: Ang Shabu
Jaws: Panga
Back to the Future: Sa Likod ng Hinaharap
In the Line of Fire: Tumulay Ka sa Alambreng May Apoy
Saturday Night Fever: Sabado ng Gabi, May Trangkaso
Stepmom: Tapakan Si Inang
Brother Bear: Kuya Oso
Police Academy: Paaralan ng mga Buwaya
The English Patient: Ang Pasyenteng Inglesera
Man on Fire: Ang Nasusunog na Mama
The Horse Whisperer: Ang Tsismoso ng mga Kabayo
Dante's Peak: Ang Bumbunan ni Dante
Legends of the Fall: Ang Kasaysayan ng mga Lampa
The Forgotten: Ewan

2:52 ng hapon
Miyerkules, 24 ng setyembre 2008

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Wall Street, Bolivia, atbp.

23 september 2008

Slept for twelve hours today. Have been sleeping for four hours at the most Mondays and Thursdays since the start of the sem owing to a 7 am class on those days. Thing is that I read and write at night and that having early morning works doesn’t work for me. I can’t do so in the afternoon after my classes so I just devote the time to other office/paper works.
***
It’s been a week since the financial crisis’ peak at New York City. Because the financial and economic system is now more interlocked than ever before, what happens there (or anywhere) has global ramifications. It sent panic not only to the businessmen here but also ordinary people who work or are connected to banks and financial institutions. Poor people who have some savings are now anxious about what will happen next.

The US government’s bailout of AIG helped to calm the atmosphere; though we don’t know the extent of stability it would continue to offer. Now the news is that Bush will release 700 billion US$ to revive their ailing economy. Free market advocates do not like the long-term implications of this move. I just watched at CNN a US legislator’s comment that nationalization of the economy is inherently un-American. Others will say that it is anti-American (i.e., anti-capitalist, anti-profit, anti-freedom?) Many argue that only the government can do something that will reassure market forces and will pave way for the latter’s continued growth. I think that in the same way that the government de facto manages the economy by providing all the advantages for capitalist expansion, a free market in fact accorded by the government’s “non-intervention,” it can—and must—regulate private corporations and organize the economy in a manner that will protect the public. This suggestion concerns a capitalist edict to which our own Philippine economy subscribes to. The wicked thing about this bailout is that it may just help the companies and its workers and the people who have some interests in it as depositors, creditors, etc. while those responsible for its failures will be let off the hook. Government aid must be accompanied by a thorough investigation of those speculators and managers who led us to this mess to begin with, and a restructuring of a system that encourages private accumulation over a generalized condition of beneficence and equality. I’m sorry that I am neither an economist nor a political scientist so this is just a basic proposal.
***
Quite the same government-people vs private greed relation is happening in America’s destitute backyard. Bolivia’s poor is demanding an equal share of income from their more affluent compatriots. The same news program I just watched shows the nation’s elite in an expo show partying while the wretched of the earth are protesting for a socialization of earnings from their country’s wealthy region. We hear their comprador bourgeoisie class appealing for national unity (this same sector is fighting for a secession from their leftist government), the poor articulating the same unity achievable through a redistribution of government income. Evo Morales’ challenge for a richer and more just Bolivia is pushing towards a violent confrontation. When governments such as his lead social revolution—meaning it comes from above—the outcome will be decided by the people themselves who must realize a government working for their needs and desires. Despite countless efforts to topple its leaders both from outside and from within, Cuba’s government stays because the people are not alienated from its ruling. States are after all the arena where one class imposes its rule over all the rest. We might see a renewed reddening of Latin America.
***
Have to study hard in my Spanish lessons. I was passing through it easily in the lower levels. Now that the verb tenses and predications are becoming more difficult, I mix up the verb usages. Unlike my classmates who can converse adequately in EspaƱol, each time my teacher asks me, people have to supply the answers so that I can cope with the discussion. My goal’s to have a reading knowledge of the subject so I can pursue my interest in Hispanic literature and history. But it is easier to learn the language by listening well to conversations. More Spanish TV programs, films and music then.
***
One student asked my position on the reproductive health bill. I didn’t say my stand because the paper I require in my Communication 1 class is not yet submitted. I explained to the class that I, like many teachers, do not grade student work based on our own take on the matter but on their own discussion of the subject. This is of course at the level of theory but we can ensure fairness by examining well the sides (not only two) to an issue and criticizing the opposition to each side based on a common subject. You cannot simply raise morality and spirituality against economics and lifestyle without presenting where the two presumably opposing sides meet and contend. By the way El Shaddai’s Bro. Mike Velarde is threatening to run in the 2010 presidential elections in case the bill is approved. At least the Iglesia ni Cristo is approving of the bill’s merits.
***
The activist institution to which I belong, the Amado V. Hernandez Resource Center, conducted a poetry workshop with the Advan (makers of casual shoes) company’s workers last September 13. They are currently on strike to fight for wage increase and prosecution of sexual harassment against the manager. We in the center decided that workshops be held in urban poor worker’s communities so that Amado Hernandez’s poetry and militant labor struggle will be sustained. In the past almost all of the participants in literary workshops and not surprisingly the winners in the Gawad Ka Amado are students and professionals, those who have considerable resources, specially time, for literary activities. Poet Richard Gappi led the workshop and the outcome was good. The workers themselves presented their poem through a dramatic presentation on the night itself. The most humorous part was the practice for the presentation as participants realize the seriousness of their efforts and had become the center of attention that night. Surely the reality of just writing the poem and then transforming into dramatic actions so that what you have just written is transmitted audio-visually to a wide audience made them feel profoundly different. People realize that collective action is greatly achieved by means of artistic work that pulls the senses and the mind. Poet Axel Pinpin of the recently released from prison Tagaytay 5 read his poem.

8:06 am
tuesday, 23 september 2008

Monday, September 1, 2008

merry christmas!

merry christmas! maaga ang pasko sa pinas. nang sandaling manood ako kanina ng early morning shows christmas na agad ang tema nila, na agad mapapansin sa mga dekorasyon at awitin. nang kumain naman ako sa goldilocks ng sm city manila (masarap ang laing nila) eh christmas songs na rin ang pinapatugtog. pagsapit ng setyembre, sa pagsisimula ng –ber months, tinitimbrehan tayo na kailangan nang magsaya – sa pamamagitan ng paggasta; o, sa pagsasara ng taon, sa pag-aasam na matatapos na rin ang pagtawid natin sa alambre ng pakikibakang mabuhay, ay hinihikayat tayong panahon na para magpiyesta. ang kapanganakan ni hesus ay pagsisimula ng ating kaligtasan pero halos lahat tayo ay umiiwas sa pasanin ng hindi mabilang na gastusin na pinakamatindi kapag ganitong okasyon.

naalala ko lang na nitong sabado eh pumunta ako sa bahay ng isang kaibigan, isang kaklase noong grade school days. madalas kaming magkita-kita pero mga isang buwan na ring lingo-linggo kaming nasa kanila upang makatipid. magdadala lang ng pagkain at film marathon na. hiniling akong maging ninong ng pamangkin niya at bahagi nitong ‘kulturang pinoy’ na hindi natin matakasan eh ang hindi pagtanggi sa ganyang mga imbitasyon. naging malapit na rin naman kaming magkakaibigan sa pamilya nila, at itong babaeng kaibigan ko’y one of the boys na noon pa. paano ba ito? dumarami na ang inaanak ko? hirap na nga akong madalaw sila, makamusta at makapagbigay man lamang ng kaunti eh paano pa kaya ang esensiya ng pagiging pangalawang magulang sa mga inaanak?!

***

sa gitna ng pagsisimula ng kasiyahang obligasyon tuwing pasko eh pumanaw na si mang pandoy. ang juan de la cruz noong dekada nobenta na kinasangkapan sa pagtakbo sa halalang pampangulo namatay na naghihirap pa rin, wala ni isa man sa kanyang mga anak ang nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral. tingin ko naman aalwan ang pamumuhay ni mang pandoy kung tuwiran siyang inempleyo ng mga ganid nating pulitiko, trophy kumbaga (karpintero, alalay, alipin, goon? bagman? fixer?); ‘yon nga lang ang kalakaran eh sikaping ipakitang uunlad si mang pandoy sa normal na kayod upang mabuhay – pantasyang pinauunlad ang pinas. umiinog nang parang hilo ang mundo, ibinabalik tayo sa nakaraan, at parang nauulit ang lahat. malala pa sa dati. hindi siguro koinsidental ang naputol na reunion concert ng eheads, kontemporaryo sa kasikatan ni mang pandoy (beatles ng pinas!) at wala na sigurong hihigit pa sa pagpapahiwatig ng nararamdaman ng kabataang nasa lunduyan ng pag-ibig, angas, hinanakit, hindi lubusang pagkamakasarili, pighati at pag-asa na bubuti din ang lahat. masyado kasing napagod si ely, inunawa nang marami ang pagkamatay ng ina pero walang simpatiya sa kung siya lang ang tutuusin, durugista kasi! pero umaasam tayong magkakaroon muli ng concert at sana’y sa susunod na issue eh ligaya na! ito (dapat) ay para sa mga masa...

***
may masama ding balita ngayong gabi lang: tumaas ang suweldo ni gma! ito ang kukumpleto sa lahat! eh ni wala pa nga ang 10% salary increase kaming peyups employees dahil pinagtatalunan pa kung sa pagpasa ng bagong charter noong mayo ay makakasama kami sa pay hike ng government employees na nagsimula nitong hulyo. (siyangapala, nagiging pribado na ang UP) kahit napakarami namin at iisa lang siya, hindi pa rin makatarungan ito. taliwas sa rason na pag-agapay din sa mataas na bilihin ang pagtaas ng suweldo ng mga opisyales ng gobyerno, at sa pangangatwiran pang mapipigilan ng mataas-taas na sahod ang korupsyon, mali ang pagtanggi ng makatwirang sahod para sa gumagawa habang pinapataba naman yaong mga nangangapital na sa puwesto sa gobyerno. sa pantay na pagtaas nga lang ng sahod eh tagibang na agad sa mahirap ang sistema dahil sa porsiyentuhang pagtaas eh higit na lumalaki ang mga sahod ng malaki na ang kita, paano pa kaya kung makaisang-panig lang ang wage increase.

11:08 ng gabi
lunes, 1 setyembre 2008