Gilbert Yap Tan's Site

Gilbert Yap Tan's Site http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/ Hi there! Welcome to my Multiplysite! Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:01:44 -0000 Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:03:00 -0000 Gilbert Yap Tan's Site http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/logo http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com 100 100 Tita Lacambra-Ayala's poetry <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/RpUFPBbwzrI/AAAAAAAAAN4/4LohFy6Quxw/s1600-h/titas+book.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/RpUFPBbwzrI/AAAAAAAAAN4/4LohFy6Quxw/s320/titas+book.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085977109825900210" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/RpUFJBbwzqI/AAAAAAAAANw/KJWGhoDEc_A/s1600-h/tita.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/RpgPbQoKCqkAAGxXYzA5/2.jpeg?et=Tv5JDltIQ79cTrJywOfzfA" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085977006746685090" border="0" /></a> When I started out as a budding writer, I had to travel 4 hours by bus to Davao City on weekends to bring my short story manuscripts to <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://rizal.lib.admu.edu.ph/aliww/pmb_tita_ayala.htm">Tita Lacambra-Ayala</a>. She became my <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://knowread-knowrite.blogspot.com/search?q=tita+ayala">mentor</a> and cheerleader. Their apartment behind a row of commercial establishments along Quirino Avenue, became my literary sanctuary. Joey and the rest of the brood went in and out of the house, planting a kiss on her cheek each time and surprising me with their calling her by her first name. Quite an unconventional set-up. Her husband Joe would come home Saturday morning from the banana plantation where he worked and leave in the afternoon with bags of freshly laundered/ironed clothes and provisions. Often he would also bring home some of the paintings he had finished. Some Davao artists and writers would also drop by to return/borrow books, for some chitchat, and to listen to what Tita had to say about the state of the arts in the city. We would consume a prodigious amount of cigarettes, rum coke and pomelo... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/55/Tita_Lacambra-Ayalas_poetry Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:03:00 -0000 Notre Dame Dadiangas High School Batch '73 list In preparation for its 35th Grand Homecoming next year, Batch '73 would like to establish contact with its members worldwide. Notre Dame Dadiangas Girls alumni may contact Victoria Gonzaga-Firmalino at Vickee_gonzaga@yahoo.com.ph (cellphone # 09156546485) (landline 301-7366). Notre Dame Dadiangas Boys alumni may contact Danilo Sanchez at dansanz0956@yahoo.com (cellphone # 09062057090). Batchmates may also register in our yahoogroup: <a href=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDDCHighSchoolBatch1973/members>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDDCHighSchoolBatch1973/members</a> or you can leave your contact info (email address, phone number, address, etc.) in the comments section (click below) this blogpost or in the message box at left margin of this page. Notre Dame Dadiangas Girls Batch '73: Monica Abucejo Evelyn Abueva-Olarte Alicia Acharon Marietta Alforte Severina Alforte Ma. Ofelia Altarejos Minda Andang* Mary Aprille Rose Anung Necita Arancon Julita Arquisa Antonia Asibal Victoria Avestruz Purisima Azarcon Crispina Azuela Judith Balajadia Expedelita Balan Evelyn Baloria Gilda B... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/53/Notre_Dame_Dadiangas_High_School_Batch_73_list Tue, 10 Jul 2007 05:51:00 -0000 Notre Dame Dadiangas High School Batch '73 <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/RpIw_BbwzpI/AAAAAAAAANo/e0SHVUHX1BU/s1600-h/b73id.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 539px; height: 364px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/RpSUowoKCqkAAAaYUOM3/1.jpeg?et=4%2Cq7jkPC2iwaDRjkZA9FVQ" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085180788529483410" border="0" /></a> Several batchmates of Notre Dame of Dadiangas High School Batch '73 (NDDBD &amp; NDDFG) met at Vir and Sonia (Garcia) Lauzon's home on July 8 to discuss preliminary plans for the 35th (Coral/Jade/Emerald) Grand Homecoming next year. Present were: Minda Andang, Mary Aprille Rose Anung, Gilda Bantawig, Esmeralda Basaya, Erlinda Dulay, Glynda Dumanig, Sonia Garcia, Victoria Gonzaga, Ceferina Graciosa, Nelia de Guzman, Consuelo Guzman, Ma. Paz Natividad, Jurie Sendico, Edna Sunga, Filbert Absin, Jose Alvarado Jr., Danilo Cababayao, Ben Cabradilla, Cyrus Carballo, Winston Jabonillo, Virgilio Lauzon, Carlito Lopez, Danilo Sanchez, Vivencio Soguilon Jr., Gilbert Tan. If you belong to NDD High School Batch '73, you may contact the following: Bebot Sanchez (09062057090), Vickee Gonzaga (09166546485). You may also want to join our yahoogroup: <a href=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDDCHighSchoolBatch1973/>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDDCHighSchoolBatch1973/</a> http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/54/Notre_Dame_Dadiangas_High_School_Batch_73 Mon, 9 Jul 2007 12:51:00 -0000 Going back to (Graduate) School Nineteen years ago, I had passed 13 comprehensive exams to complete the academic requirements for a Master in Business Administration degree. I also defended a thesis proposal on transportation needs in General Santos City. Nineteen years ago, I transferred from a private Catholic college to a state university here. It was some culture shock I went through. From syllabi-bound and guided teaching to an academic freedom-driven one. I still remember my shock at being told at the university that the grading system is up to me (you decide the passing grade, you decide the raw score equivalents of 1.0 to 5.0). For 19 years, I've helped send four siblings through school until they finished their college degrees. After a brief respite, I then sent nieces through school because their parents couldn't afford to do so (after producing a lot of them!) Now it's my turn for me to be sent by myself to school. To reinstate my residency and eventually complete my MBA, I now need 15 units of academic subje... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/50/Going_back_to_Graduate_School Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:42:00 -0000 Pac Man goes to College <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/RnvrC9ttdGI/AAAAAAAAANg/TMuLEgHOjaU/s1600-h/manny.pacquaio.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rn-7WQoKCqkAAEjCORU2/1.jpeg?et=7%2CVgCYxDJsktHKBP5MOv2g" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078911440948917346" border="0" /></a> As a teacher, it warms my heart to see the eagerness of Manny Pacquiao to earn a college degree. While he initially announced his interest in pursuing a degree in Political Science which will eventually lead to a law degree, after the elections, he decided to enroll in a Business Administration degree. This, for me, is a telling sign of how he regards lawyers after his dismal failure in the May elections. He has already taken the <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=72450">entrance exam</a> at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU) and I heard he is to be a student under a home study program in consideration of his boxing career. He's back on the right track. His honor and integrity, while briefly tarnished by his short political foray, will be shining bright again as a beacon of hope for young Pinoys. I've always believed in his good heart and intentions which were unashamedly manipulated by others. I believe he has learned his lessons and will never let himself be used as pawn again. He may have made some wrong moves in the rece... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/49/Pac_Man_goes_to_College Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:26:00 -0000 Island Hopping in the Philippines <a href="http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan"><img style="border: 0px none ;" src="http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan/map-v1.0?fpraahqrafkpaabxajapbffauakbbbbaeaaabacpjafafbkkpbcbseabaabawbfflacgdaahkrtdfaafaaaaaaaaaa9156" title="Lakbayan Visited Map" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan"><img style="border: 0px none ; margin-top: 5px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rn-7WQoKCqkAAEjCORU8/2.gif?et=1RyiZ7Hb%2BNbQSSLMBfbTtA" title="Lakbayan Grade: B-" alt="" /></a>My Lakbayan grade is B-!How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at <a href="http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan">Lakbayan</a>! Created by <a href="http://vaes9.codedgraphic.com/">Eugene Villar</a>. The map of the Philippines above shows how many places I've been to - thanks to the annual National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) where I served as consultant and coach to the contestants of Regions 11 and 12, the seminars I've attended as participant and resource person, and the few times I've saved enough to spend summers and Christmases there. http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/51/Island_Hopping_in_the_Philippines Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:00:00 -0000 Morphing My Face This interactive software of Perception Laboratory called <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://morph.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/">Face Transformer</a> is so fun! I uploaded my ID picture and Voila! Here are some of the facemorphs that resulted: <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rm5nn9ttc6I/AAAAAAAAAMA/Bc6QoDeHVNw/s1600-h/gytchildmorph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 204px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rm@6pAoKCqkAAAfFvcw10/1.jpeg?et=qcnFtZW7a8Z%2BsOYv2eBKPA" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075107766371972002" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rm5oe9ttc9I/AAAAAAAAAMY/0fwNA0zgSIM/s1600-h/gytteenmorph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 205px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rm@6pAoKCqkAAAfFvcw12/2.jpeg?et=WnYPa57n8htsPDpRTz1dTw" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075108711264777170" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rm5ondttc-I/AAAAAAAAAMg/3eVSFv3tz4g/s1600-h/gytoldmorph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 202px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rm@6pAoKCqkAAAfFvcw14/3.jpeg?et=sl%2B2RsRh2cxq0RMvrCrBeQ" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075108857293665250" border="0" /></a> Me as a child, a teener and a senior citizen! <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rm5pV9ttdAI/AAAAAAAAAMw/gAaHtvBQ8Vw/s1600-h/gytbotticelli.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 215px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rm@6pAoKCqkAAAfFvcw16/4.jpeg?et=8%2BC3I%2BAM16TssOou13BoaQ" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075109656157582338" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rm5pfdttdBI/AAAAAAAAAM4/3oQURxFDr8Q/s1600-h/gytelgrecomorph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 214px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rm@6pAoKCqkAAAfFvcw18/5.jpeg?et=iCtz6iFwxUCn1KVgw8l%2BKg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075109819366339602" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rm5pndttdCI/AAAAAAAAANA/XK5SiTpG17s/s1600-h/gytmodiglianimorph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 167px; height: 216px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rm@6pAoKCqkAAAfFvcw20/6.jpeg?et=L5pPuBSijdLLTptY0TYxeQ" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075109956805293090" border="0" /></a> My portraits if they were done by Botticelli, El Greco and Modigliani! <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rm5qntttdFI/AAAAAAAAANY/QQVn0gh48p8/s1600-h/gytwestasianmorph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 229px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rm@6pAoKCqkAAAfFvcw22/7.jpeg?et=nuMikSZU0LJmTxkmcrqdPA" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075111060611888210" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rm5qMtttdDI/AAAAAAAAANI/QEO7dFgWVn4/s1600-h/gytafrocaribeanmorph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 227px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rm@6pAoKCqkAAAfFvcw24/8.jpeg?et=ULSeo8NufHbt%2CWBHGlPxqA" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075110596755420210" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rm5qYNttdEI/AAAAAAAAANQ/Ot-PsMNp5c4/s1600-h/gytcaucasianmorph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 226px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rm@6pAoKCqkAAAfFvcw26/9.jpeg?et=zcQ1ianCKDUjC%2CimL2I9pQ" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075110794323915842" border="0" /></a> Gilbert as a West Asian, African-Caribbean and http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/47/Morphing_My_Face Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:27:00 -0000 Wanted: Readers/Reading in Films <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rma3Edttc5I/AAAAAAAAAL4/MTg73W4WBy0/s1600-h/reading+Room.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rma3Edttc5I/AAAAAAAAAL4/MTg73W4WBy0/s320/reading+Room.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072943317603152786" border="0" /></a> When a TV station announced the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Room-Joanna-Cassidy/dp/B000HDRBAW">Reading Room</a>, a Hallmark film, as its weekend feature, it got me all excited, for obvious reasons. For one, I'm a bookworm. For another, this is one film that features reading and readers removed from the classroom and library setting. After the memorial service for his wife, William Campbell, played by James Earl Jones, watched one home video and in it his wife broached the idea of opening a community reading room in a storefront business he owns in his former inner-city neighborhood. Using their library collection and personal money, Campbell opened it and immediately earned the suspicions of various residents. Children and teeners thirsting for knowledge and hobbies slowly trooped into the Reading Room. Campbell's main problem was how to keep it open in spite of his being mugged and threatened. The Reading Room was also slightly burned but somehow that only spurred Campbell to continue with his wife's legacy. Through books and magazines, he was able to ... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/48/Wanted_ReadersReading_in_Films Wed, 6 Jun 2007 13:22:00 -0000 It's CoTAbato!!! or the persistence of its misspelling Before writing this blogpost, I googled for the word CoTObato and found 74 pages of websites (or 7,400 websites) where CoTAbato is misspelled. It's a shame, I tell you: To my surprise, even national/regional/provincial/local government offices misspell CoTAbato! One blog commenter even claims to have lived in CoTAbato for 17 years and yet cannot spell it right to show for those years of living in that part of our country. If a local resident cannot even spell it right, can we expect other non-residents to do so correctly? Even a website called Mindanao.com has misspelled it eight times! During the campaign and vote canvassing for the last election, national papers covering Manny Pacquiao's candidacy misspelled it! Even Wikipedia is not exempted from this misspelling! Persistent Misspelling/Mispronunciation Since I learned to read in the 1950s, I became aware of misspelling CoTAbato as CoTObato. It irked me then and still irks me now. With the great strides in technology, the built-in ... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/46/Its_CoTAbato_or_the_persistence_of_its_misspelling Fri, 1 Jun 2007 15:50:00 -0000 Book Burning - Fahrenheit 451 <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rl0C7i_m1jI/AAAAAAAAALY/oMa6_vCvzaM/s1600-h/story.book.burning.ap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px;display: block;text-align: center;cursor: pointer;width: 286px;height: 218px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rl0HZAoKCqkAAEaXD-w9/1.jpeg?et=oyJITBeualkC777hJ%2CihHw" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070211977518175794" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/books/05/28/bookburning.ap/index.html">Bookstore owner burns books in protest</a> var clickExpire = "06/27/2007"; KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) -- Tom Wayne has amassed thousands of books in a warehouse during the 10 years he has run his used book store, Prospero's Books.His collection ranges from best sellers, such as Tom Clancy's "The Hunt for Red October" and Tom Wolfe's "Bonfire of the Vanities," to obscure titles, like a bound report from the Fourth Pan-American Conference held in Buenos Aires in 1910. But when he wanted to thin out the collection, he found he couldn't even give away books to libraries or thrift shops; they said they were full.So on Sunday, Wayne began burning his books in protest of what he sees as society's diminishing support for the printed word."This is the funeral pyre for thought in America today," Wayne told spectators outside his bookstore as he lit the first batch of books.The fire blazed for about 50 minutes before the Kansas City Fire Department put it out because Wayne didn't have a per... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/45/Book_Burning_-_Fahrenheit_451 Wed, 30 May 2007 03:51:00 -0000 Some People Need LOVE Spelled out for Them <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rlzq0C_m1hI/AAAAAAAAALI/mGi5JAgvrIg/s1600-h/union+street.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 323px;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rlzq0C_m1hI/AAAAAAAAALI/mGi5JAgvrIg/s320/union+street.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070185460390090258" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rlzqqy_m1gI/AAAAAAAAALA/xqPn0NWmkEw/s1600-h/stanleyiris.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 340px;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/Rl0HZAoKCqkAAEaXD-w5/2.jpeg?et=lZYf0Wn3GNfP4BYVtYpe6Q" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070185301476300290" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Iris-Jane-Fonda/dp/B0000V4942">Stanley and Iris,</a> starring Robert De Niro and Jane Fonda, was based in part on Pat Barker's debut novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Union-Street-Virago-Modern-Classics/dp/0860682838/ref=sr_1_12/105-1896091-6416417?ie=UTF8&s=books&amp;qid=1180493651&sr=8-12"> Union Street </a>(1995 Booker Prize Winner) by Pat Barker. It was Jane Fonda's "retirement" film before she returned to the silver screen with Monster-in-law. It was marketed as a love story, hence the blurb which I used for the title of this blogpost. Not your typical date movie, Stanley and Iris serves a new twist to a love story. At the beginning of the film, when Iris learned that he was single, lived with his father and could cook, viewers jumped to the conclusion that he was gay. They both worked at a pastry factory: he in the cafeteria and she in the assembly line. Iris discovered Stanley can't read and write. The most moving part of the movie was when Stanley recounted to Iris what he had to go through because of his illiteracy. When the cafeteria boss accused Stanley of pilferage, Iris defended him and disclosed his secret disability which cost him his job. Stanley's illitera... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/44/Some_People_Need_LOVE_Spelled_out_for_Them Wed, 30 May 2007 02:50:00 -0000 Papa, Can You Hear Me? God - our heavenly Father. Oh, God - and my father who is also in heaven. May the light of this flickering candle illuminate the night the way Your spirit illuminates my soul. My Father was a quiet man, too quiet for comfort. During slow hours in our store, he was content to read his Chinese newspapers and magazines while relaxing on his rattan and wicker easy chair which had an adjustable back rest and extendable footrest (which I gave to him as a gift out of my first month's salary). We knew he was in a good mood if he hummed Chinese folk songs while reading. While immersed in reading, he would consume several pots of tea. Relatives on my Mama's side of the family taught me to read, but Papa was my first role model in reading as a hobby. He always looked calm and serene while reading. After closing the store, he would wear his favorite white sleeveless undershirt (sando) and blue boxer shorts and do some more reading before going to bed. When he found something delightful in the pape... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/25/Papa_Can_You_Hear_Me Tue, 29 May 2007 09:31:00 -0000 Valentines '06 with 5 days to go before the Hearts Day (Valentines Day, duh), i'd like to share the lyrics of one of my favorite songs - What Kind of Fool Am I? (Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley) What kind of fool am I Who never fell in love It seems that I'm the only one that I have been thinking of What kind of man is this? An empty shell- A lonely cell in which an empty heart must dwell What kind of lips are these That lied with every kiss That whispered empty words of love that left me alone like this Why can't I fall in love Like any other man And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am. What kind of clown am I? What do I know of life? Why can't I cast away the mask of play and live my life? Why can't I fall in love Till I don't give a damn And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/28/Valentines_06 Tue, 29 May 2007 05:15:00 -0000 Boracay <a href="http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog/slideshow.html?p=9&id=3.U1dfk2cqrDMS9eaYg6Z5RmOc.z" id="m9"><img src="http://f3.yahoofs.com/blog/43e8c603z37b73558/5/__sr_/7869.jpg?mg4O8WGB0dPUA2W." alt="Entry for March 01, 2006 Boracay" border="0" height="250" width="333" /></a> <a href="http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog/slideshow.html?p=9&amp;id=3.U1dfk2cqrDMS9eaYg6Z5RmOc.z" id="m9"><img src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/RlwLdQoKCqkAABpt6jY6/1.gif?et=nUewK9lnJ7jk8pT%2CLJrnpw" alt="magnify" border="0" height="12" width="12" /></a> Boracay is everything it is touted to be and more (or less)... I find Boracay beach a fine stretch for strolling. But it isn't the kind of beach that relaxes strollers like me. When i stroll on a beach, i expect to see other life forms aside from bathers (sea and sun) - hermit crabs, crablets, ants, shells, corals... these i couldn't find as i strolled down Boracay. The powdery white sands are dazzling but without rocks, shells, hermit crabs and crablets, it doesn't look like a beach to me. Even the sea, while full of lumot (which a lumot brigade removes on site/sight), has no fish (jelly and other species). I am told that early each morning, the sands are combed by a tractor to remove other debris. I find the grotto of the Virgin Mary a glaring juxtaposition to the topless foreign female tourists. I find the beachfront restos, bars and stores too pricey, too touristy. One look at the prices is enough to make the blood pressure soar. One has to take time to find affordable food. I... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/29/Boracay Tue, 29 May 2007 05:14:00 -0000 Fave Songs http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/music/item/12/Fave_Songs Tue, 29 May 2007 03:29:32 -0000 knowread/knowrite Gilbert Yap Tan's private thoughts on books, reading,writing, campus journalism and sundry matters for public http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/links/item/1/knowreadknowrite Tue, 29 May 2007 03:13:32 -0000 GILBERT Caveat Lector (let the reader beware): This is an Ego-boosting blogpost. This blogpost is prompted by the message of <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://www.gibbscadiz.blogspot.com/">Gibbs Cadiz</a> asking for a link-up and telling me he's also Gilbert. I hope this blogpost will serve as a clarion call to the Gilberts of the world in uniting to make ourselves felt and known. Gilbert is of French-Germanic origin which means bright promise or pledge. Variations: Guilbert, Gilberto, Hilbert. First, a little history of how I got to be named so. When it came time for me to be baptized, a little discussion ensued. Mama: I want this baby named Leo or Leon after his father, Napoleon. (Lola's voice-over: The parish priest won't allow animal names for baptism!) Papa (thinking to himself): I want him to be my junior! Some relative (probably my religious aunt): According to the almanaque, the baby was born on the feast day of St. Martin of Tours so his name should be Martin! (imagine me now if named Martin Tan) Mama (2nd attempt): Since I was born in Luzon, Napoleon in... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/32/GILBERT Sat, 26 May 2007 13:50:00 -0000 Compartmentalized thinking can kill! When Manny Pacquiao declared his intention to run for Congressman of the first district of South Cotabato and General Santos City, he met such an intense opposition to it. Some of his well-meaning friends did so because they knew better - that Manny was being manipulated by some quarters to do so. However, my take on the majority of those opposed it did so because of their compartmentalized thinking. They love Manny as a boxer and therefore he should remain a boxer. In fact, Manny was criticized for excelling in billiards and going into commercial breeding of fighting cocks. Now with the poll winners declared, Manny is back in boxing and everything's well again with the world. Or so it seems... I ran into trouble with a nosy neighbor recently. After spending five years of bearing children, she finally got ligated and now has plenty of time in her hands. Bored after taking care of her kids' meals, changes of diaper, milk formulas, bathing and putting them to bed, she has turned her eyes ... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/27/Compartmentalized_thinking_can_kill Sat, 26 May 2007 09:43:00 -0000 Heeeey! Whatever happened to GMRC*? *GMRC - Good Manners & Right Conduct. The idea for this blogpost comes from my whole day of malling today. These I witnessed or happened to me on that day: <ul><li>I got jostled by old people, people my age, younger people, kids. Not one excuse me did I hear from them.</li><li>I had to say excuse me to people in pairs or groups who were hogging the stairs, hallways.</li><li>Grown-ups asking a small boy: What's Daddy's problem?, the boy answering by tapping his right index finger on his left palm (for those not in the know, this gesture means sex) which elicited laughter from the adults and comments of how cute!. </li><li>College students playing the Salute game (they have to salute when they see the target; last one to do so gets "punished") using gays as targets, laughing their heads off and making heads turn to their direction.</li><li>A young lady smartly dressed in long sleeved shirt, jeans and high heels ignoring the cue of people in the fastfood counter, bossily pointing to the crew the meal combo she wants. </li><li>A group of hi... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/33/Heeeey_Whatever_happened_to_GMRC Sat, 19 May 2007 15:55:00 -0000 I have two hands . . . or why ambidexterity matters <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_mw0O4Udk6-o/Rkn23vU_RII/AAAAAAAAAJA/npXnlVYIcoI/s1600-h/07hands.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://images.gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/orig/RluSCAoKCqkAAErbpEk48/1.jpeg?et=SixMKjU9cEx1BNJXhuF56g" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064850693412570242" border="0" /></a>As a teacher and a writer, I have always advised others to make use of their other hand - the hand they don't use for writing. Whether right- or left-handed, we are used to doing so many things with our dominant hand. Imagine this: you lift the phone receiver/cellphone using your dominant hand to answer a call, then the caller tells you to jot down something, what do you do? Either you put down the phone and look for paper and pen or you transfer the phone to your other hand, then use your dominant hand to look for paper and pen. How about this: During an exam you are writing down your answers then you come to a problem solving question which requires a calculator. So you put down your pen, take out the calculator and compute. Then you pick up your pen and copy the answer. What's wrong with these pictures? You're taxing your dominant hand and wasting time! If you answer the call with your non-dominant hand, you can use the dominant hand to look for paper and pen and jot down the message. If... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/6/I_have_two_hands_._._._or_why_ambidexterity_matters Tue, 15 May 2007 18:04:00 -0000 Missing a Mother's Embrace I will never forget that day in 1990. I traveled three days by boat to be on hand for Mama's triple heart bypass at the Philippine Heart Center. When the ship docked at the harbor, news reached us that there was an ongoing transport strike. A fellow passenger, with whom I got acquainted on the boat and knew the circumstances, kindly offered me a ride up to the corner of Delta Theater. And so from there I walked to the hospital. What struck me from the moment I entered it were the jolly smiles from almost everyone. The hospital layout gave me the impression of maze-like compartments in a beehive. When I finally saw Mama, I dropped my luggage and rushed to embrace her. She had been in the hospital for two months in preparation for her operation. Earlier, when a second opinion confirmed the need for her operation, we (the siblings) were dismayed. We knew we didn't have the money for it. I asked for help from the Department of Social Welfare local office. Upon presenting to them the require... http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/7/Missing_a_Mothers_Embrace Mon, 14 May 2007 15:14:00 -0000 Ego-boost I got my name in lights with <a href="http://www.notcelebrity.co.uk/">notcelebrity.co.uk</a> http://gilbertyaptan.multiply.com/journal/item/36/Ego-boost Mon, 14 May 2007 13:55:00 -0000