Of YAPPasko 2008

I once blogged about a project of YAPpers (Yahoo Answers Philippines users) this Christmas and I am writing now just to make an update.

Preparations are already underway. We already visited Cottolengo a couple of weeks back.

When we were there, the children had an outing so we only met with those who are bedridden. It's a really heartbreaking sight. No matter how much I tried to hold the tears back in, they still managed to stream down my cheeks. And I wasn't the only one whose heart strings got tugged. My companions' were too.

Some pics are not that clear since I had to turn off my camera's flash lest I scare or upset the kids.

What amazed me was how these kids retained their innate happiness in spite of everything. Take Jessie, for instance. He is the child whom I fell in love with because of his smiles and robust energy. He loved to be carried as well as to drive around in the car.

Seeing all these, I was reminded of how blessed we all are and how these blessings must be shared to the less fortunate ones. These kids need more. Not just more toys. Or clothes. Or food. Yes, they do need all these but what they really need is more love, care and understanding. And these are what we hope to give.

photo credit

After the visit, we headed to the mall to check out some toys. Whoa, educational toys are expensive!

But thanks to our generous benefactors, we were able to buy some toys. We chose those that are educational and have no small parts that will endanger the kids. We also bought those that have flashing lights and sounds to hold their attention. Or are cuddly, like an adorable Teddy Bear!

One YAPper who is based in Australia also pledged some goodies and the package arrived last Friday. It had lots of candies and chocolates that I'm sure the kids will love!

Thanks, PC. :)

And since yesterday was a holiday, I spent half the day wrapping the toys which is something I absolutely love doing.

We are also working on buying some clothes and more toys if our funds permit. And of course, on the food during the Christmas party itself. Of utmost importance though is the program proper to plan on.

Now I am looking forward to having the event. I can't wait. Way to go, YAPpers!

photo credit

Yahoo Answers Users Unite: A Call for a Christmas Project for a Cause

I just would like to update readers on Yahoo Answers users' Christmas project for this year. It's already underway and anyone who is interested is free to join us. Please click HERE for more details:

The specific details that weren't mentioned in Jonas' (who is a Yahoo Southeast Asia Community Manager) blog are below.

Proposed date: December 13, 2008

Recipient: Cottolengo Filipino Inc.

Profile: Non-Profit Organization (NGO) / Social Services

Cottolengo Filipino is an NGO that cares for orphaned abandoned disabled children. It is accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Address: Gloria Vista Subd., San Rafael, Montalban (20min from Batasan, Q.C.) Montalban, Rizal

Number of children: 80+

Profile of children under Cottolengo's care: There are 40 orphaned abandoned disabled children with multiple disabilities (physical and/or mental) who live in the center. They also assist 45 poor disabled children from the nearby community.

Proposed project: A Christmas party for children under Cottolengo's care. During the event, we will provide them with food, games and entertainment. A gift for each child will also be given.

What we need: Donations, monetary or in kind. We need toys and books for these children. We are also working on raising funds so we may provide these kids with a computer.

For more information about Cottolengo, please visit their website:

For those who are interested in joining us, please feel free to post a comment here and / or in any of these blogs:

Jonas'
Battgirl's

Thank you and we hope to get favorable responses from you.

"Fine a Philippino Pinpal"

Yahoo Answers has long been one of my favorite online hangouts as it is a forum where I get to know a lot from other answerers' insights as well as share my knowledge to others by answering their questions. The place can be a good source of laughs too. Take this question as an example.

How can I fine a female philippino pinpal?

The question really cracked me up. What a funny way to start my Monday morning. Either the asker wasn't too good in typing or he is seriously linguistically-challenged.

Some answers are just as amusing. Read about them HERE. My Yahoo Answers (YA) account is not among the answerers as his question has already been answered, albeit not seriously by some.

If I am going to answer his question, not taking into account the typographical errors, then, my answer will be along these lines:

Why would there be a fine if a Filipino is corresponding with someone overseas? And it's Filipino, for chrissake! I've seen this proper noun being misspelled countless of times and the logic behind it eludes me, especially when there is a Spell Checker (Yahoo Answers does have a Spell Checker) to use. And yeah, how do PINPALS write to each other? By using PINS to write on paper?

LOL.

Wrong Send or Wrong Sent?

The above is a question from Yahoo Answers. Really, our becoming technologically advanced has brought out grammar laggards in some of us. Or is this because some people are now just too lazy to spell each word out?

Here's the complete question.

Wrong send or wrong sent?

I'm deeply bothered.hehe

I use wrong send like "ay, wrong send ako." then i hear people say wrong sent & i'm asking what is up with wrong sent & na-received?

is it or is it not okay to use wrong sent & na-received? & how do i tell a person that it's grammatically incorrect?

hay, teknologi!

Here's my answer.

Both are actually incorrect. Send and sent are verbs. Thus, I say "wrong sending." Here, wrong is used as an adjective to describe the noun (sending).

It is incorrect to say "wrong sent" basically because sent is a verb and it is an adverb, not an adjective that modifies a verb. The correct form therefore is wrongLY sent.

I also use missent.

"Na-received" is also redundant for me. I just use "na-receive" or simply received.


Source(s):
Grammar

Oh well, I guess the grammar police in me has struck again.

The Yahoo Answers link to this is HERE.

Love Thy Language

I came across this question in Yahoo Answers yesterday and the question actually made me ponder on how many Filipinos out there think the same.

The question:
I feel bragging speaking in english.?
Im 21 years old and I came here in america last year (2007) from the Philippines. I'm working in a Call center for a consumer electronic company here in Houston. I want to speak English all the time so I can be an Excellent and an advanced english speaker. One way for me to accomplish it is by not thinking and talking in my mother tongue anymore right? I don't want to talk in my language anymore to the extent that I want to forget it (but i will not forget it anyway). But when I speak with my fellow filipinos here in the US and with my family friends in the Philippines, I feel that I'm bragging that I speak to them in English. One of the flaws of my culture is "Oh he is America now and he speaking English and he is bragging about it" "Oh look at that trying hard English Speaker", but if I will continue feeling this way I will never be fluent, because the words in my language keep blocking me to lose my filipino accent, which I'm doing a very good job eliminating gradually

I posted the question verbatim.

Here's my reply which the asker chose as Best Answer just today.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be fluent in speaking the English language but there is something really wrong with your trying to do away with what forms part of your identity. Forget your language? Did you forget what our national hero said? I am sure you can still vividly recall this one:

"Ang taong hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa ang amoy sa malansang isda."
- Gat. Jose Rizal

I won't translate it in English because I want to remind you of that, in our national language that is Filipino, no less. Please do not think that I am being contradictory as I am talking about upholding our national language and yet posting in English. I just do not want to get a violation that is why this reply is in English.

Also, you need not do away with the Filipino language for you to learn the English language. I grew up here in the Philippines and have never been to the US but I am very fluent in both oral and written English.

As an afterthought, you may want to work on your grammar too, no offense meant as learning and mastering a language is not just all about its accent.

As my answer conveys, I have nothing against some Filipinos wanting to master the English language. I just wish that they do so without forgetting that which makes them Filipino.


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Click HERE for the link to this question posted in Yahoo Answers.