AN ORDINARY FARM BOY

by Earlie Doriman 

Life in the countryside. That’s what I yearn to have again. Simple. Straigthforward. Beautiful. Abundant. Most of the delightful memories of my childhood stayed intense and pulsating. More than three decades now but I could still smell our farm. I could still hear the rustling leaves while trees are dancing as the wind blows their natural serenades. The mooing cows and carabaos, and chickens dashing around the backyard. I could not ignore the birds chirping their happiness. And as the sun slowly fades from the heavens, the serenity of life becomes apparent on every living organism, except for diverse and eerie-sounding insects, that weave the nights with bits of unruffled creepiness.

I was a ‘farm boy’ at a very young age of five. I was like my Tatay’s (dad’s) buddy at the farm. I regularly went with him to a piece of land that we looked after, some kilometers away from our home. Everyday, around four in the morning, my Tatay never failed to wake me up, made me a hot drink ( usually a home made coffee with condensed milk plus a dish of locally made sweet square biscuit). And as he sand his machete, I would gather small rounded stones from the front yard, put them in my net bag, and set on the slingshot round my neck before we kicked off to the farm.

White Easter

by Earlie Doriman

  

Definitely it is not going away, just not yet….I mean the winter weather of Britain, as it continues to spill sub-zero temperature across the country.  The ‘White Easter’ as they call it, will stay around for few more weeks and the forecast warns of a more unpleasantly cold days. Indeed awful!!

Spring is actually just around the corner as the daffodils and tulips have started to show, but it seems like it has not gained enough momentum to push the winter away. Shower of white bits and flakes suggest an entirely different picture of Easter, rather too extreme from the Holy Week in the Philippines which I always imagine at this time of the year, where the weather is not only warm and sunny but hot, burning and dehydrated.

POVERTY & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILL

by Earlie Doriman

The Philippines’ consolidated RH Bill (HB No. 4244 & SB No. 2378) called “An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population Development and for other Purposes”; is a challenging subject of debate not only between the legislators but also amongst ordinary Filipino citizens. Observers and writers consider it as a ‘culture war’. The bill intends to guarantee a convenient access to modern methods and information on birth control, maternal and child health.

 To mention some of its important provisions, the RH Bill mandates the government to promote, without bias, all effective methods of family planning both natural and artificial; those that are medically harmless and lawful. It calls for the inclusion of reproductive health and sexuality education in the national curriculum from Grade 5 (11 years old) to Senior high school (16-17 years old). And under the bill, it will authorize a multi-dimensional approach to integrate family planning and responsible parenthood into all government anti-poverty programs.

ROBREDO’s SUBLIME LEGACY

by Earlie Doriman

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo  ( May 27, 1958 – August 18, 2012)

                     Photo: yahoo.com/file photo of DILG Jesse Robredo

 Here is a man who provides us a paradigm of sublime public service. Honest. Dedicated. Empowered. A rare asset to a democratic government. A servant who never learned to abuse his political influence. Humble, Hard-working, and remained steadfast to his commitment to the country until the end.

Jesse Robredo’s tragic death is a massive loss to the Aquino’s administration. His competence is a wasted glory of a country which is always scarce of truthful politicians.   He definitely left a vacuum at the Department of Interior and Local Government, and certainly enough, his demise has an enormous blow to the encouraging image that the DILG has established during his leadership, however short. He is an immense loss to the Filipino people.

In my own prayers for his safety and the rest of the plane crew, I asked God why do people like him has to be taken too soon? Why not the Arroyo’s? Why not the Ampatuans? Why not the corrupt and unscrupulous? Why doesn’t the country deserve good leaders like him? Isn’t it too paradoxical?

THE SECRETS OF WHITBY ABBEY

by Earlie Doriman

Spending our short summer holiday in a very beautiful seaside venue of Scarborough is indeed worth every second of it. On top of the magnificent location of Blue Dolphin Caravan Site in North Yorkshire, I was completely mesmerized by the gaunt shell of Whitby Abbey, considered as one of the most remarkable landmarks of Scarborough.  

The ruins left a trace of a profoundly rich historical significance way back ninth century after the Vikings destroyed much of its splendor and serenity.  During the 20th century, this famous Benedictine monastery was handed over to the care of the Ministry of Works  and eventually transferred to the English Heritage in the middle of 1980's. The very impressive example of English Gothic architecture of the Whitby Abbey will certainly leave you in unending wander. 

But I don't think Dracula could have installed his sanctuary here although there is somehow an eerie recall of his great movies to associate primarily this wonderful place. Surely, he was not there whilst the sun shone at its brightest and the people around were as friendly as the weather could be. Memorable visit after all..and still looking forward to come back and be mesmerized again..

SPRATLYS CONFLICT: CHINA’S BULLYING & EXPLOITS

by Earlie Doriman

The Spratly Group of Islands
(photo from economicroadmap.com)

How lawful is the Philippines’ claim to the Spratly Islands that it should continue to fight what it believed rightfully belongs to the archipelago? With the mighty China on the opposite platform, how could a small nation evenly confront one of the biggest military-based countries in the world? Just two important questions before I begin my own viewpoints on the Spratlys conflict. The first query requires factual bases from the two neighbouring nations, the Philippines and China, to prove their legitimate sovereignty over this group of more than 750 reefs, islets, cays, and islands located in South China Sea or West Philippine Sea. The second question rather weighs up how asymmetrical the fight is between a tiny nation against a powerful republic that could aggressively harass and bully its adversary.

ON BEING "NAKAKAHIYA" for Speaking in CEBUANO...

Let me share this short piece by Ma. Pilar Chanda Gado Antoque, who is now living and working as a College Teacher in New Zealand. She is like a sister, a confidant and an adviser; she is honestly more than a friend to me. We went to the same school back in the Philippines and we taught in the same University, shared the same vision in education and inspired by similar ambitions in life. We used to be strange enemies at the University, she was a student leader and I was a student publication staff. We criticized them and they criticized us in return, but those were avenues why we became friends and that friendship continues to flourish up to now.

Just recently I read her ‘short story’ in facebook and asked her if I could share this piece to the blogosphere, although I know she would never say ‘NO’, but her ‘YES”  seals the valid approval to get it published. Read along…

''My mind is still troubled about an incident at church yesterday. The week before, I was asked to translate and read one segment of the prayers of the faithful for the Pentecost Sunday celebration. I told the Cathedral secretary that I was never good at translating texts into Filipino, the national language of the Philippines. I promised to find her... someone who could do the job. She said I did not have to do that as I could actually say the prayer in my native tongue. She promised to e-mail me the texts that were to be translated. I wasn't able to read her e-mail as my inbox had been littered with hundreds of notification of my moodle discussions with my counselling mates and professors at the Waikato University. Came Sunday, Andrea asked me if I received her e-mail and I gasped and said "no". 

ALWAYS THE BEST MOM

by Earlie Doriman
In the UK, Mothering Sunday is celebrated every fourth Sunday of Lent. Traditionally, it is a time when children pay respect to their mothers by giving them gifts, cards, or flowers. Mothering Sunday is actually Mother’s Day in other countries. Although not celebrated at the same time around the world, Mother's day remembers the great courage and extraordinary love of all the mothers, from the moment they conceived a child to the painful experience of labour, their love never changed.

This year, here in England, this special day falls on April 3. The celebration is also known ‘Refreshment Sunday’ or Pudding Pie Sunday. To the devoted Christians, whilst the observance of fasting is religiously followed, Mothering Sunday provides a bit of a pause from the rule in respect to the ‘Feeding of the Five Thousand’, a familiar biblical account. To me, Mother’s Day is more than an ordinary celebration. It is remembering and expressing gratitude to all the moms in the world.  It is through them, through their care, through their own life and soul, through their unconditional love, that we too are able to celebrate life.

BULLYING and HOW TO COPE WITH IT

by Earlie Doriman

Are you certain your child is not a victim of bullying in school? Take a second look and observe your son or daughter and how he/she relates to you about her school experiences. Most often than not, children who experienced bullying are afraid to tell they are victims of it. They are scared that their parents would go and rush to their school and create an unbecoming scene or probably confront the perpetrators. As much as possible, they hide the experience and try to contain the embarrassment and torture to themselves. Some may get over the trauma and terror after some time, but many decide to stop and avoid going to school. The latter is a consequence that is most worrying, because parents might think their children have began to indulge in misdemeanours. Look again and find out.

A CONSCIOUS GRATITUDE

by Earlie Doriman
To me, gratitude is a feeling and a virtue of being grateful to others whose influence into your life creates a lasting remembrance and profound difference. To say you are grateful means you appreciate genuinely the kindness and goodwill extended to you by someone who might be a family member, a relative, a friend, or perhaps a complete stranger. Therefore, conscious gratitude is an expression from your heart flowing out naturally, expands within, and makes you an inspiring reflection of that same compassion bequeathed unto you by others. You become what their kindness has sown into your own being.
I grew up in a big family. My father was a very humble farmer and my mother a plain homemaker, who looked after seven children. I knew then that as a farmer, my father could not provide us everything that we wanted, but I did not reckon we were deprived of our happiness as young kids because what I could reminisce today were the happy memories of a countryside life. The bursting laughter with my younger brothers and friends as we climbed trees like monkeys, the thrill on riding carabaos (water buffalo which is so called farmer’s beast), the enjoyment of flying kites, the real excitement running on hills and valleys and a whole lot more.

HAPPINESS FOR SALE

Can you buy happiness? This question brings me back to the theology class I attended when I was a university student in the Philippines, nearly two decades ago. The topic has cropped up through a group discussion about Morality and Commercialism; and how young people should recognize the significance of Faith and Prayers to preserve one’s moral standard and values. Even in meticulous catholic universities, the issue of deteriorating ethics and moral principles of its students is a portrait of reality. The influence of education (even at that time) as far as morality is concerned was slowly showing signs of waning and silent disregard.
From the same group discussion, many social issues were inevitably brought upon, including drug addiction, corruption, abortion, premarital sex, amongst others. Back then, these were forefront indicators (at least in that particular location of the earth) to recognize the level of morality a society has. With wide-ranging arguments flying around the classroom, on the impact of these to our individual lives, our respective purpose to this world, and the subtle defiant against Christian teachings; our enduring theology teacher called our attention and asked us to define a fulfilled and happy life based on the philosophy that we individually clung to. Then as we seriously figured out the best answer we could write, one funny classmate stood up and enquired; ‘Is it the commercial happiness?’.

MY SONS at SNOW on SUNDAY

by Earlie Doriman

My two sons: Matthew Earl & Thomas Miguel

I thought I could sleep a little longer because it’s Sunday, yet my son remembered so clearly what I promised him the night before that I would take them to the park today to play snow. It was snowing whole afternoon yesterday and my son gets used to playing in the white fields when it is possible and because I bought him a sledge in preparation of the big freeze then I didn’t have any reason to say NO.
He whispered to me and said: ‘We are going to the park Tatay’, and then went to his younger brother and woke him up. We slowly went downstairs and told them to wait patiently whilst I prepared our breakfast. Then by the time the meal was ready, their mom followed down and we ate together.

DEATHS AND GOODBYES

by Earlie Doriman

Mark, may you rest in Peace 

There is no truth in this world so absolute than death. I used to include a trifling discussion about this in my Physics class when I taught the Theory of Relativity some years back. I would eventually convince my students that death is an absolute fact and there is no way to fake it even the mightiest of science. Death is science itself. While everything else has colour of uncertainty, we are so prompted that we will all die, sooner or later. At what point death conquers the physical body? Obviously, it is when all the vital organs stop to function, and the supply of oxygen is no longer adequate to sustain the basic human cell? The complexity of death is one thing that even the most powerful technology of these times would fail to prevent.

ARTHRITIS and ATTITUDE GONE BAD

by Earlie Doriman

Gout attack on the big toe. (Photo by yahoo images)

For a long time, I suffered attacks of arthritis – matter-of-fact severe ones because it is gouty arthritis, the most painful of all the rheumatic diseases. You might ask my age now and well, I am only 37 years and that would surely surprise you. You would be more worried to note that I had it when I was 34 years. It had really gone bad that my typical routine, my work, and usual life were so much affected. During the first attack in 2007, I realized it could render me useless. As my big toe was swelling red, I could not lead myself to stand because of the excruciating pain at the joints connecting my toe and feet. It would normally take five to seven days to subside, and I lived in silent agony for that same span, I should say.

A SECOND LOOK at OUR CLASSROOM

by Earlie Doriman

An ailing education!Is there a bright future
to look forward to?

I feel obliged to share my viewpoints about the current state of education in my home country – the Philippines; and the effect that the new system known as ‘K+12’ would suggest to improve the quality of education and quality of graduates. This is purely my opinion and I wish to get across my message as objective as possible to the issues about the radical changes that would take effect very soon. To provide you a general idea, K+12 is introduced to improve the ailing state of basic education and rectify the inadequacy of secondary graduates with essential aptitude for a university study. The new system adds two more years to the typical four years of secondary education creating a two-year senior high school.

GET OVER MISTAKES

by Earlie Doriman

We all commit mistakes because nobody is perfect. Every time we do wrong to others, or have done things incorrectly, we normally feel guilty, embarrassed, and sorry and would even feel regretful. Yet think about it, what’s done is done, and you could not turn back time to do it differently or not do it at all. It was meant to happen and you no longer have any piece of control over it. You do not have to live with it for the rest of your life, do you?
Worrying too much for a shortcoming is pointless because it does not amend the situation whatsoever. You are only drenching yourself with useless anxiety and stress. Since the damage or inconvenience has been done, the viable things you can do really is to calm down, fix what could possibly be made to it, and if it concerns emotional distress to someone, admit and apologise before the situation gets awful.

WENLOCK AND MANDEVILLE

by Earlie Doriman

Wenlock to represent the Olympics 
and Mandeville for Paralympics
(photo from Yahoo images)

Do you wonder who they are? They are just the official mascots of the London 2012 Olympiad and Paralympics, and soon they will conquer the hearts of every spectator in the world’s greatest sporting spectacle. Yet, what’s in the name?

When the two mascots were unveiled two years ago, they received various reactions from the public and critics. Some said that the design was the least being expected to be chosen since there were certainly numerous designs that could be readily associated with the host city London, like Big Ben mascot or perhaps George the Lion mascot. But, the Olympics organizers were too convinced to defend that Wenlock and Mandeville are not just ordinary mascots of the Olympics. They have rich historical significance to both the Olympics and Paralympics and the design was especially created to inspire children. Sebastian Coe, the chairman of the London organizing committee said that the design could easily connect to young people with sport and could proudly tell the story of England’s Olympic and Paralympic history.

LAKE DISTRICT: SERENITY and PARADISE

by Earlie Doriman

I am candidly captivated by the tranquility of England’s Lake District. Considered as the country’s National Park, it prides its gorgeous lakes including the magnificent Windemere, the amazing Coniston waters, the healthy Ambleside, and the scenic lakeland of Derwentwater, amongst others. Century old castles stand like kings on mountain summits and proclaim the rich history and cultural richness of Lake District. I could only wish for more opportunities of future courtship in these breathtaking landscapes and natural paradise, laying perfectly under a truly fantastic summer sunshine. 

POURING ROCK SALT ON WINTER

by Earlie Doriman

Photo by Earlie D

Winter is here once again and the blast of chilling wind plus the freezing temperature outside gradually conquer the strange warmth and residual sunshine of November autumn.  Although the weather in England is generally unpredictable, the onset of winter is the time of the year when everybody knows exactly that anytime soon the snow would be speeding its way down to the awaiting grounds.

REMINDERS OF AUTUMN

By Earlie Doriman


When the leaves change colour and start to fall while the cold winds begin to shake harder the tree branches, that's when I feel that summer is gone and the autumn time terminates the wonderful warm of sunshine. More so, I just could not help myself but absorb the melancholy of the season blunt, lifeless, and long. This is the time of the year when I feel that the leaves whisper the sound of the past as they slowly descend from the joyful days brushing with the gentle air. And for few more months, the branches and twigs that they bid goodbye are hopeful to welcome the new spring of life to turn the world around them alive again.