TXTNG or T E X T I N G ? by JTF Solivar

          

         In 1998 I wrote an article for the Manila Times about Texting. This mobile phone feature was very new that time and everybody was crazy about it. You are not “in” if your phone does not have this element. It was also during this time when people were all agog about Nokia 5110. I got for myself a 6150 though, which I got as a replacement for a 5110 (which I only enjoyed using for half a day). 

   

       

        I  mentioned in that article how people learned to be creative in texting their messages. Creative for the purpose of abbreviating words to save time and space. This manner of texting has been passed on from one generation of texters to the next. We abbreviate the words that we type, right? Younger ones are very adept at this. But the wiser ones, okay, the older ones are slowly catching up.

         Surprisingly, I know a person who would text using the full spelling of words. How patient can this person be! Is he already old and therefore old-fashioned? Nope! In this age of instant noodles, keyboard short cuts, copy pastes, microwavable popcorn, he would prefer to text that way. Very remarkable I thought. One time I asked him why he prefers the full spelling of words over their abbreviations. This person replied that he uses the dictionary mode when texting. So that’s the trick! I felt duped because I initially thought he wanted complete words and not their short forms. I eventually learned that he simply became accustomed to this manner of texting. 

        

        Then I tried it myself and had a hard time typing my desired word. Very convoluted! This person even taught me how to do it on my historic 6600 but I simply did not get it. This is completely bull……dog! Hard to teach an old dog a new trick, huh? So bk 2 my old wys of abbrv8ting my txts. To each his own. Amen.

        Whatever this person’s motive is for using complete words in texting via the dictionary mode, it cannot be denied that he wanted it this style: the full and complete spelling of words. Otherwise, he will not use this dictionary mode thing. What a class act, and a tough one to follow. Hats off to you. To his Dad too, who taught him that trick. 

HITMAN Hittin' the Questions (Archie Zapanta as interviewed by JTF Solivar)

photo by Archie Zapanta

What got you into disc jockeying? I mean was it your dream to become a DJ someday?
When I was young, I often listen to the radio while dreaming of becoming an ASTRONAUT at the same time (but faith wouldn't let me). I just told myself to settle with the idea of becoming an announcer. More doable I thought!

photo by Archie Zapanta

 You first worked as a DJ in Angeles City. Now how did you get into DM95.5?
I heard over the air that they will be holding an audition for aspiring jocks. I gave it a shot and auditioned. Luckily I got the job!
Yabang nito! Ha ha. Eh bakit nawala ang DM95.5?
The  plan was to upgrade the old transmitter. Then the management decided to reformat. Now it's back on-air as Pinas FM 95.5.   

 Is it hard being a DJ?
Not really! If you have the charisma and can blab your mouth, then you're in!

Ang DJ ba dapat male?
Not really.

Why HITMAN? Who gave you this moniker? Hitman as in tira ng tira? He he he!
The Triggerman of Campus Radio LSFM and me sounded alike, so the programme director of DM 95.5 (Richard Steele who is with DZMM now) decided to give me that name.
May idol ka ba na DJ?
Mr. Perry Anthony (Perry Pangan of RW 95.1), former station manager of GVFM 99.1.

photo by Archie Zapanta

Can you tell me why?
He is my mentor, he started my radio career. He accepted me with open arms when I told him that I wanted to be like him.

Tell me about your salary. Malaki ba?

It used to. Not until piracy, mp3, internet, and bluetooth came out.

So why did you leave DM 95.5 in 2000?
I left because of the re-format.

What about?

Because we were not part of it.

I know you have met a lot of singers, and many other celebrities. Kanino ka na star-struck talaga?
Manny Pacquiao!

photo by Archie Zapanta

 Eh si Aling Dionisia?
No hindi pa. But I would love to meet her!

Bakit hindi ka na nag d-dj?
Fate wouldn't let me.
You are also a host or emcee. By far, what is the grandest event that you have hosted
aside from my birthday at the Araneta? JOKE!
So far it's the Pambansang Muziklaban of Red Horse Beer last January 2011.

Red Horse Beer's Pambansang Muziklaban

Intrigues among among DJs?

It depends if your status is “celebrity”.

Like what?
Hmmm, jealousy, palakasan sa management.

What is the usual retirement age of a DJ?
No age, as long as people still listen to your show and the station is still making money out of you. Go!
Have you done something outrageous inside the DJ’s booth? Booth ba ang tawag? Aminin!
Yup! Dj's booth. You wouldn't wanna know. Hahahaha!
Bulong mo mamaya ha. So how do you take care of your voice?
By drinking a lot of ice cold water!!! Serious!
Naku hindi ka puwede maging singer! Anyway, what made you decide to take up nursing?
First, wifey is an RN. Second, it's a backup plan when things go out of their way.

photo by JAVES CONSUL

So there should be two nurses in the family?

 For abroad purposes.   

How did you meet your wife and how many kids do you have?
Two kids and so far no one is claiming to be my other child yet. How I met wifey? She's a neighbor. And she saw all the girls I’ve loved before, who travelled in and out my door…………

Kanta yan ni Jose Mari Chan ha! Did you also travel in and out of their……………………

Any message for aspiring DJs?
Practice! Read aloud! And please stop listening to baduy stations where most of their jocks talk nonsense and laughs a lot trying hard to crack a joke.
What are your other activities? Any hobby?
Well, I do host weddings and do corporate voice overs. Hobby? I collect rare matchbox and hotwheels for my son. And i have an old car currently going through restoration.   

Cai-Guico Wedding at Tagaytay Highlands

What is the greatest lesson in life that you have learned so far?
"Do unto others, before they do unto you!"

If your son tell you that he wants to be a DJ, will you encourage him?

Sure! In fact, I even named my youngest DJ-REDD (david-jean redd).

During our Philo of Man class you mentioned that you are an only child. Now tell me what it's like.
It’s fine, for  everything I see inside the ref is mine.

Favorite song?
I will always stay in love this way Baron Barbers.

What's the nicest or best position in disc jockeying? Yun matinong sagot Archie ha!

_______________________________________________________!!!!!!!!!!

MORE POWER TO YOU ARCHIE!

Good Time!

ANG HINDI TUMAWA CONSTIPATED BUKAS

Leaving My Sanctuary (by JTF Solivar)

picture courtesy of WCC brochure for China

        Teaching has been my life and passion for the last eight years, all spent at WCC. It has been my joie de vivre since November of 2002. Alongside teaching I was given administrative functions which made my life, well, more interesting and exciting.  But nothing beats teaching. I consider the classroom as my sanctuary, my own paradise, my own piece of heaven. It is a place where I am at my best element. I am not saying though that I did not enjoy my 5-year stint as Coordinator. Otherwise, I would not have lasted this long.    

    

        As mentioned in my previous post, I graduated in 1998 (April). But what’s next? When all the excitement and hullabaloo that graduation brings have simmered down, you ask yourself what now? Graduating from college is a big achievement in itself and this cannot be denied. Everybody wants to get hold of that precious diploma. But this is just the beginning as we all know. You may rest on your laurels for a while but you have to get up and find a job soon, or review for your board exam.

        So I spent four years job hunting, just for the heck of it, with gimmicks in between. I was like drifting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean not knowing which direction to take. I did not have any clear picture of what I wanted to be. The Classified Ads section of Manila Bulletin was my buddy every Sunday. I took note of possible employment opportunities. I applied at a soon-to-open hotel (during that time) at Ortigas. I was interviewed in the morning, and was asked to come back in the afternoon for another interview. But unfortunately, I did not come back. You might be wondering why I let that opportunity slip from my hands. Well I really don’t know why. That hotel later on was named Discovery Suites. I also applied at a famous computer school and got interviewed right away. A week after I was asked to come back but I did not. Tinamad ako.  Another opportunity that vanished into thin air. I also applied at other companies, took exams, interviews and all, but was never asked to come back. Their loss, I thought. Also tried commercial modeling.  But my face daw registers best sa black and white na monitor, e colored na mga tv di ba? (joke lang ito huwag pa-apekto).

        In the year 2000, I decided to take up graduate studies at my alma mater. Since I did not have any job yet, I had to engage myself into something productive. That same year I also got to work as an English tutor at a language center but only stayed there for a while. I vividly remember submitting my letter of irrevocable resignation one early morning, posting it with a tape on the glass panel of our supervisor’s office since she was not yet around. Nobody was around that time except me. I purposely went there very early so that nobody will know that am resigning until they see my letter. This work is not for me I thought. Besides, I hated the smell of kimchi after my tutees have eaten their lunch.

        Fast forward to October of 2002. My friend told me that WCC is in need of faculty, and that she was being invited to teach Christian Ethics. So we went to WCC and visited the Dean of the CAS whom she knows and submitted our resume. Everything happened so fast in that I was already being asked to choose the subjects that I am capable of handling. I guess this job was given to me on a silver platter!  I was hired immediately. Thank you Dean Raquel C. Landong! I started as a part-time instructor, then became full-time in the middle of that semester. From then on, I was always given a full-time teaching load. Looking back, I realized that I did not have to look as far as Ortigas or Makati to get myself a decent job. I will forever be grateful to WCC.

        I do not mind teaching for the rest of my life. After all, knowledge does not have a shelf life or expiry date. But life has some unexpected twists and turns, as I shall be leaving my sanctuary for a while. But you will still see me at WCC. So don't worry.

 

Archie "The Hitman" Zapanta (by JTF Solivar)

photo courtesy of

archiezapanta.multiply.com

      
        When one hears the name Archie, one would envision a little boy chewing bubble gum, wearing short pants, and with an ill-fitting cap since it is bigger than his head. This particular image I think has been synonymous to this name. We often associate Archie with the image of a shy, little boy. But this Archie whom I know is the exact opposite of this stereotype. An exception to the rule, save for his height. :)

        I fondly call him Arch, short for Archie. This guy is my student in two philosophy subjects (right Arch?) and one of the more popular guys in school when he was still a nursing student. If memory serves me right he had a very good attendance record and participated actively in class. One remarkable thing about him is his booming voice that belies his height (strike two!). Buong buo in Filipino parlance. He is very articulate as well.

        As we come to know him we learned that he used to be a disc jockey with the moniker HIT MAN. When we exchanged texts just recently I committed a slip-up by wrongly identifying him with the DJ of another radio station! Well sorry about that Arch. Tao lang pasensha na! He used to be a DJ of Pinoy Radio DM95.5. I remember tuning in to this station (when it was still on air) whenever I wanted to listen to OPM songs, and I must have heard him delivering his spiels. The Hit Man!

        Arch is a gem of WCC. We would often call him to host school events for free! (except for one event, right Arch?). He is always on-call 24 hours and always generous in lending his talent to his alma mater. He towers with energy and vibrancy, not to mention his great sense of humor. He talks and walks like a six-footer!

        On a personal note, Archie is one gem of a person since he is a very congenial person and exudes a very charming personality. Irresistible to exaggerate a bit. A gem of a husband and father as well. Did I mention that he is also good-looking? Did an earthquake just hit Japan?

        One trivia about Archie is that not many people know that beauty queen and supermodel Abbygale Arenas is his cousin! Now establish a correlation between their heights (strike three!).

Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1997, Ms. Universe-Ms. Photogenic 1997, Supermodel Philippines 1992

     

        See you Arch in future events! I plan to get you as an emcee on my birthday: have you tried emceeing at the Araneta Coliseum?

photo courtesy of backpackingphilippines.com

archiezapanta.multiply.com

 

Harapin mo.......Face to Face! (by JTF Solivar)

 

        First we had telenovelas. Followed by teleseryes. Then fantaseryes. The list goes on. Now we have Face to Face on TV 5, a talakserye. This show has definitely changed the TV viewing landscape, for it showcases real-life drama, and raw emotions at their best.

        This show obviously is an offshoot of a famous show on American TV. A localized version in other words. Nevertheless, this show is the first of its kind in our country. GMA 7 recently launched a show with a similar format. But unfortunately, it is yet to give Face to Face a stiff competition. Nothing beats the first as they say.

  

        I find this show interesting since it gives us a glimpse into the life of the common tao - their problems, tribulations, and how they solve such. The show features all sorts of human relationships and conflicts involved. It mirrors what is actually happening in reality. But only a part of reality since all the guests come from only one social class: the masa.

        My challenge for this show is to guest people from the upper crusts of the society since I am sure they have interesting issues as well. Perhaps even more trivial and interesting! Why not guest matrons from exclusive villages? Will they slap faces with their Hermes bags? Will they hit each other with their Jimmy Choos?

        Ms. Amy Perez I must say is an excellent host and moderator. And a good listener too. She always looks very relaxed and composed, despite chairs flying in front of her.

         

        Kaya makisawsaw na tayo lahat. Sa pula o sa puti? Harapin mo, Face to Face!

Sentimental Fool (Vol. 1)

         Allow me to share with you some of the songs that I listen to whenever I am in my senti mode. Not many people know this syrupy side of me. But hey, I am just as human as Prince William. I also laugh and cry. You see me always frowning which increases the ripples on my forehead, but it does not mean that my heart also frowns all the time, for it smiles too. And cries.

  

        I love listening to these songs simply because of the nice melody, first and foremost. With past experiences, I have come to appreciate the lyrics, or the meaning of each song. Little did I know that I have this penchant for sappy songs. These songs helped me pull through with life during my darkest hours. Life is not always sunny. Over the years I have learned to appreciate darkness. Because when it is dark, we see the stars. Listening to these songs make me feel that I am one of the stars in the sky, and the brightest of them all. Okay, epekto lang ito ng radiation from Fukushima.

 

        These songs remind me of people, places, and events. Happy listening! Smile when you feel like smiling. Cry when you are choking with emotions and you feel like crying.  So how cheesy can you get? 

There are some songs here though that are quite upbeat. So you can let your hair down and groove to the beat!

        I dedicate these songs to all of you. Glad I found them on You Tube and learned how to embed them on this blog.

Thank you for listening!

Yes, this is me...............

          After informing people about this blog, one texted me to verify if I am really the author of this blog, or an impostor account yet again! I cannot blame people if they have doubts, since many have been victimized by a bogus Facebook account that used my name. Sadly, this impostor account is still very much around.

          Yes this is me. Yes I am the author of this blog. Yes that Facebook account is fake! I do not have any Facebook account or any account in any social networking site. Period. 

          I will address this Facebook controversy in my future posts.

Convinced? (photo courtesy of WCC Brochure for China)

 Convinced?

What Went Wrong? (by JTF Solivar)

          Much has been said about an episode of Willing Willie that showed a young boy mimicking the sensual dance of a macho dancer. What further added insult to the injury was when the little boy cried, which made people jump into a conclusion that doing that routine was very much against his will. A lot of people, from showbiz personalities to politicians, have already said their piece and condemned that episode.  Exploitation they said. Are we not aware that the more we discuss this issue, the more that the little boy is being exploited? All those who opined about the matter are guilty of exploiting that little boy. And that includes me as I write this piece.

(photo courtesy of pinoyambisyoso.com)

          Democracy was restored in our country in 1986. Since then, Filipinos were given the right to express themselves. This kind of freedom is one of the hallmarks of democracy. But this does not mean that we can always verbalize our thoughts, most especially if what we will utter will bring more harm than good.  Are we really concerned about the little boy? Or do we just want to get back at Mr. Revillame? Can we not just forgive and forget since nobody wanted this to happen anyway?

          If every Filipino is having three decent square meals a day, then there is no need to mount all of those game shows and talent shows which shower the contestants with easy money. In a talent show for example, shedding buckets of tears as you narrate to the host how miserable your life is, will boost your chances of winning as the judges will pity you. Thus, you win not because of your talent, but because your story is a good material for a movie or teleserye. In Philosophy, this is the fallacy of appeal to pity, or argumentum ad misericordiam. Some shows capitalize on the sad plight of their contestants to make their episode more interesting. Is this not a form of exploitation? But we are talking of easy money here, so who cares if one is exploited or not. The end justifies the means?

          Mr. Revillame asked his critics what they have done for the poor. People condemned that episode but have they done something for the less fortunate? The point here is before we examine the actions of others, let us evaluate our own actions first. The veil of democracy is often used to justify all our words and actions. We comfortably hide under that veil to avoid being criticized, and to shout out that we are in a free country and thus, we can do just about anything, and say anything. But freedom is not absolute, most especially when the exercise of this leads to harm than good.

          Let us all look at the bigger picture: POVERTY in our country. Hopefully, poverty will not be co-terminus anymore with the administration of any President.

(photo courtesy of getrealphilippines.com)

39th Commencement Exercises of World Citi Colleges, April 15, 2011 (by JTF Solivar)

L-R: BSN graduates JP, Aika, Jomon, Argel, Dan, Regine, Riza (photo by JAVES CONSUL)

           Graduation is always memorable. College graduation most especially, since this is the culminating point in a student’s rise to the educational ladder. It is an occasion that makes parents of graduates beam with pride. It is a liberating moment for students as they realize that they have made it, and don’t have to worry anymore about difficult exams and hard-to-deal-with instructors. A liberating moment as well for parents, since they no longer have to worry about tuition fee and allowances. After graduation, graduates and their parents nurture that feeling of relief and satisfaction, and a sense of achievement more than anything else.  As what Ms. Shamcey Supsup (Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2011) said, education is something that can never be taken away from you. What a super thought.

          The year was 1998 when I graduated from college with Latin honors (cum laude), with a degree in Philosophy. I attended two graduation rites: first was the college graduation at the Bahay ng Alumni, and second was the university-wide graduation at the UP Amphitheater, which I thought would take forever since there were thousands of us to receive our diploma. It would have been an almost perfect year for me if not for my Dad’s hemorrhagic stroke that claimed half of his body. This happened at a time when I was very much into my thesis writing several weeks before my graduation.  But God gave me the strength to finish it and prepare for my graduation despite all the worries and anxieties brought about by my Dad’s condition.  It was only my Mom who attended my graduation, plus two cousins to give us support. But nevertheless, I was very happy and excited, and never allowed to let an unfortunate event get the better of me and spoil the occasion. It’s my graduation!

UP Diliman Amphitheater (photo courtesy of todaimitaka.blogspot.com)

          Fast forward to April 15 of 2011 and it was graduation day again, this time at Crossroad 77 for the 39^th commencement exercises of World Citi Colleges. On the eve of the graduation, we were at the venue to supervise the arrangement of the stage and the entire convenarium, from the flowers to the arrangement of chairs. For the past years, my department, the College of Arts and Sciences, has always been at the helm of doing the physical arrangement - something that we have mastered already over the years. I am always excited to go the venue on the eve of the graduation. Maybe because I am a night person and enjoy city lights to the hilt. Or maybe because going to Crossroad 77 gives me a chance to make a side trip to nearby Crossings Department Store where I buy some of my stuff. Hitting two birds with one stone? Now you know where I buy some of my stripes and checkerds. 

CROSSINGS Department Store at Quezon Avenue (photo courtesy of skyscrapercity.com)

          The year 2003 was my first time to attend the graduation rites of WCC. In that year, it was held at the AFP Theater. But in 2004, WCC has found a new home at Crossroad 77 and never scouted for any other venue since then.

CRROSSROAD 77, Mother Ignacia St., Quezon City (photo courtesy of panoramio.com)

          During graduation rites, I always wanted to show my students my warmest and sincerest congratulations by extending my hand to them, to shake their hands of course. But this is something that I have rarely done in the past since I was always on the stage either as the master of ceremony, or the one handing the diploma. But last April 15, 2011 was different. I was seated with the faculty members on the left wing of the convenarium facing the stage. It was a breathtaking view I thought. I was very relaxed, unlike when I am on the stage since you have this feeling that all the spectators are watching you. I was seated comfortably along the aisle where students would pass through going to their respective seats after having received their diploma. A perfect spot where I can congratulate them and reach for their hands. 

Regine Requiestas, BSN, receiving the loyalty medal form AVP Dr. Cesar C. Eustaquio (L) and Registrar William Q. Estaño (R) (photo by JAVES CONSUL)

          Some were quite surprised that I extended my hand to them. Maybe because they did not expect it.  Maybe because they were still in a daze after receiving their diploma on stage. Maybe because they were disoriented by the bright lights and camera flash. Maybe because they were too overwhelmed by the occasion and they could not quite grasp everything that was happening around them. Or their killer heels bothered them? Whatever the reasons were, I know that my simple gesture made them happy.

L-R: Dean Francis T. Tajanlangit, Vice President Raymond Patrick V. Guico, and Jomon Macatiag, BSN (photo by JAVES CONSUL)

          I have to be honest though, that during my first semester at WCC, students perceived me to be unapproachable, intimidating, and as cold as Antarctic ice sheets. But I have melted in the subsequent semesters, and have warmed their hearts, as they have warmed mine.

The author with BSN students (photo by JAVES CONSUL)

           Congratulations to our Registrar, Mr. William Estaño for a job well done as this year’s over-all Chairman of the Graduation Committee, and to our director Mr. Sherwin Villegas and masters of ceremony Ms. Cris Onsaga and Mr. Patrick Arandia for a very orderly program. I would also like to thank my fellow members in the Physical Arrangement Committee: Ms. Delfina Gacula, Ms. Precie Tapero, Kuya Roldan, Kuya Jom, Mang Steve, and two HRM students Daryll Reyes and Monette Espinas. Thank you also to the school management for the usual support.

Ma'am Gacula (photo by JAVES CONSUL)

Sir William, Sir Sherwin, and Ma'am Cris (photo by JAVES CONSUL)

Ma'am Precie (photo by JAVES CONSUL)

          To all the graduates, my warmest and sincerest congratulations. If only I can extend my hand to each and every one of you. : )

Finally!!! (photo by JAVES CONSUL)

..........and a bonus hug! (photo by JAVES CONSUL)

 "DO NOT GO WHERE THE PATH MAY LEAD, GO INSTEAD WHERE THERE IS NO PATH AND LEAVE A TRAIL."

Ralph Waldo Emerson