Literary Blues

Since i learned how to read printed text, i became hooked on reading anything that comes my way.

My mother was a public school teacher and she was subscribed to The Modern Teacher and Philippine Journal of Education. Those were great reading materials in those times. There was also this Social Studies book called More Stories on Parade. I think i spent more time on that book that all my other textbook.

Then my elder sister Arlene, started subscribing to Reader’s Digest, and i was the glad recipient of her hand-me-down archive. I carried these collections as we moved from place to place. In fact, when i started working, i also subscribed for two years to RD.

My first introduction to serious literature was when my brother, a Pastor, came home for vacation and brought home some old American-donated books. We had a hard-bound copy of Introduction to American and English Literature. It covered novels, short stories, essays and poems of famous writers. I think the book was circa 60’s. It was part of the American Public Library donation.

While classical literature are gems of a reading, but me not being philosophical, i just get tired of the classics. I can’t stand reading Taming of a Shrew, not even Jane Eyre. Or some Dickens classics.
 

The only Dickens i can remember was the story on an explorer to Amazon savannah who got lost. He was pick by a ‘hermit’ who had a stacks of books. Problem is he doesn’t know how to read. So he told the explorer he will lead him out of the savannah if he will read a book to him every night. The man agreed. But as months passed on, he finally realized it will take a long time to finish all those books. He tried to escape but he got lost and injured seriously he can’t walk anymore. The hermit found him and brought him back to the hut — and forever resigned to the fact he will be reading books till the day he dies. It was kind of a literary sadism. I can’t remember the exact title but it’s like “The Man who liked to read“.

But i like action stories like Last of the Mohicans and believe it, the colossal Moby Dick. I also tried reading Das Kapital and War and Peace, but i can’t even finish the first chapter. Daphne du Maurier and Edgar Allan Poe also makes short thrillers.

In college, an English professor named Sir Essex, and who would insist being called “Sir Sex”, made a good impression on involving the class in dissecting Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. Fo a week that was our only topic and i’d say that it was one of my unforgettable lesson in understanding and enjoying literature — knowing what you read.

Anyway, here is a list of authors i have read.

1. Robert Ludlum. Except for Trevayne and Osterman Weekend, i love all the rest of Ludlum books.
2. John Le Carre
3. Daphne du Maurier
4. James Michener
5. Herman Wouk
6. Mario Puzo
7. Leon Uris
8. Beowulf
9. Herman Melville
10. James Fenimore Cooper
11. Franklin Dixon
12. John Grisham
13. Stephen King
14. Sidney Sheldon
15. Sir Thomas Mallory
16. Emily Bronte
17. Childrens’ Lit. (featuring children’s stories from around the world)
18. Isaac Asimov (the only sci-fi writer i can tolerate reading)
19. Ernest Hemingway
20. William Faulkner
21. Trevanian
22. Frederick Forsyth
23. Tom Clancy
24. J.M. Barrie
25. Alexandre Dumas
26. Danielle Steele
27. Dan Brown
28. Graham Greene
29. Ken Follet
30. Jack Higgins
31. J.G. Ballard
32. J.K. Rowlings
33. Arthur Hailey
34. Harold Robbins
35. Joseph Wambaugh
36. James Clavell
37. Michael Crichton
38. John Steinbeck
39. Elia Kazan
40. Ayn Rand
41. D.H. Lawrence
42. Mitch Albom
43. Robert Kiyosaki
44. Og Mandino
45. Kahlil Gibran
46. Charles Dickens (the other night, i finally decided to read A Tale of Two Cities – IX.18.07)
47. Washington Irving
48. Nathaniel Hawthorne
49. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

On the national side,  i’ve read selected books of the following:
1. Manuel Arguilla
2. Carlos Bulusan
3. Eric Gamalinda
4. N.V.M. Gonzales
5. Nick Joaquin
6. F. Sionil Jose
7. Jose Rizal (mandatory)

i like Filipino short stories, especially the ones on Carlos Palanca awards. I was also an avid komiks reader when i was young.

i recommend reading plenty of classical literature and get yourself this book on (Bartlett or Bartleby or Barnes and Noble) English Grammar and Composition. Also this Norton’s Anthology on American or English Literature.
Then again, for local flavor, get any textbook on Philippine Literature.

or a copy of Palanca awardees. www.geocities.com/palanca_awards/
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Quotable Quotes:

I took a speed reading course and read ‘War and Peace’ in twenty minutes. It involves Russia.
    Woody Allen (1935 – )From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it.
    Groucho Marx (1890 – 1977)Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.
        Mark Twain (1835 – 1910)

We Pinoys grew up with basketball as primary sports. On the side will be billiards, boxing and bowling. Other than that, we never really experienced the excitement, beyond the Intramurals games, sports like Football (soccer). Always, from school to barangay festivities, the highlight sports would be the basketball championships.

I am not heavy into sports, owing to my vertical length handicap (not my wennie), i resign myself to being a spectator in basketball (Brgy Ginebra, siempre). I played table-tennis in HS but never improved my skills, since the school sports program was only for basketball varsity.

Enough said. I am refering to the present ICC Twenty20 world cricket tournament in South Africa.

One of my housemate is an Indian, the other Sri Lankan. And at one time, we had a Pakistani. And all of them are crazy about the game of cricket. Last year, i watched and learned the game of cricket during the World Cup in West Indies. Won, i think, by Sri Lanka.

Twenty-20 cricket is faster version of the regular cricket game, just 20 overs and finished.

Last night, i watched with my Indian housemate the most anticipated game between India and Pakistan. My friend told me that games like this, both country grounds to halt. Winner gets to celebrate. Either way, he said, there will be a brief ‘firing’ in their disputed Kashmir.  😀

Previously, I have watched West Indies lost to South Africa because of bad catches. Of Zimbabwe upsetting England, and in turn, losing to a hard-luck Bangladesh.

But on this India-Pakistan, i’d say it was one of the most exciting Cricket matches i have ever seen. India batted first and ended the 20 overs with 141-9. That is, 141 points and 9 wickets (outs). It was a small score and my Indian friend accepted the fact that they will lose the match. Nevertheless, he remained to watch Pakistan takes its turn at the bat.

As it turned out, Indian bowlers and fielders did superbly in negating Pakistan’s batting.

My friend was shouting and dancing with joy as India came from behind to limit Pakistan to a draw. 141-7. Pakistan only scored 141 with 7 wickets (outs) after 20 overs. It’s a tie game.

Just like football, there is going to be a penalty shootout. Five bowlers on each side to hit the wicket stump. It was my first time to see a tie-break. India won : 3-0.

My friend went crazy for awhile.

Now, if only cricket will also be introduced in our Philippine sports program. And not just basketball and boxing.

About Cricket:
http://www.therulesofcricket.co.uk/
http://www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/hosking/cricket/explanation.htm
http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/rules/

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The news:

DURBAN, South Africa – More than 21 years after Javed Miandad’s last-ball heroics in Sharjah, India and Pakistan played out a thrilling tie at the ICC World Twenty20, with Misbah-ul-Haq run out off the last ball of the match.

But the tournament rules do not allow for the spoils to be shared, and it was India who prevailed 3-0 in a five-ball bowl-out at three stumps.

Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Robin Uthappa were “Dirty Harry”-accurate, while Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi all missed by a fair distance as a sell-out crowd celebrated an enthralling finale.

The 33-year-old Misbah, who made a magnificent 53 from just 35 balls, was an unlikely hero for Pakistan after Shahid Afridi’s dismissal, with 39 needed from 15 balls, left them in a seemingly hopeless situation.

He needed just one run from the last two balls of the innings, but Sreesanth came round the wicket to deliver a dot ball and then a short one that Misbah could only parry to silly mid-off. He had no chance of completing the single.

Earlier, Uthappa’s superb half-century had resurrected Indian hopes after a sensational new-ball spell from Mohammad Asif had skittled India’s top order.

Asif bowled four magnificent overs on the trot, with mastery of the seam and impeccable control in overcast conditions. But from the depths of 36-4, India recovered to 141-9, with Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Irfan Pathan buttressing Uthappa’s brilliant effort.

India then fielded with great energy and bowled superbly to defend the total but Pakistan stormed back in the final three overs.

They might, however, reflect on the batting order, with the destructive Afridi having come to the crease when the situation was almost beyond salvage.

Such a keen contest looked extremely unlikely early on, with Asif’s bowling reminiscent of the peerless Glenn McGrath. Gautam Gambhir was brilliantly caught on the follow through at the second attempt, while Sehwag was sorted out as he so often has been of late, inside-edging one back on to his stumps.

Uthappa got going with a great flick off his pads for four, and a splendid lofted on-drive off Gul showed that he meant business. But there was little support at the other end, with Yuvraj Singh miscuing one off the leading edge to mid-off. Dinesh Karthik briefly alleviated the gloom with two glorious strokes off Asif, making room and lofting through the off side, but when the extra bounce induced another inside edge, Pakistan were right on top. But it would not end that way. (BBC)

http://www.nationnews.com/story/15339695356183.php

While stranded in Manila – -again, while waiting for my Nigerian visa , i went to this mall in Quiapo (sorry i forgot the name). At the top floor was a bookstore with plenty of “used” books at bargain sale. I bought Herman Wouk’s “The Hope”.

I picked Herman Wouk because i previously read, during my college days, his novel “The Winds of War”.

 The moment i started reading the first chapter, i just couldn’t stop, even if i was reading for the whole day already. My roommates at our dorm (Diola’s Dorm in Intramuros) went and came and i was still in the reading table, the book in hand. I did take a break – kidney break, quick lunch and a cup of coffee, then kidney break again.  At the end of my reading, my back was sore, my eyes were dry and i felt suffocated. So i went out into the open bath to look at the darkening skies and smell the stinking Intramuros air.

“The Hope” was very engaging 3/4 of the way as Wouk exquisitely tells the events that lead to the establishment of the nation of Israel. From the early intra-Jewish conflict, to their first loss of Jerusalem due to iternational pressure. The story brings the reader from the political bedroom, este, boardroom to the struggle in Mitla Pass. From the  battle for control of Jerusalem and Gaza, to the Egyptian rout at Sinai, the novel was as gripping in details and imagery as his “Winds of War”. I can still hear the victorious shouts of “harhabayit byadenu!”

However on the remaining chapter after the state of Israel was recognized by UN and some Arab states, the novel loses appeal as it winds down the story to the personal dilemma and romantic travails of the story’s main character Zev Barak.

In fact, long after i finished the entire novel, i kept going back to the first half of the story only. The adrenaline-filled narration and the fast-paced storytelling was like a shot of ‘shabu’ to me.

Without being too cerebral, let me just say that Herman Wouk’s “The Hope” is a delight to read. Enough for me to forget my despair over my delayed visa.

Trivia: Philipines was mentione din this book as source of American surplus war materiel that the Israelis can buy in blackmarket. 

Here is the review i picked up from Wikipedia:

 The Hope
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hope

The Hope is a historical novel by Herman Wouk about pivotal events in the history of the State of Israel from 1948 to 1967. These include Israel’s War of Independence, the 1956 Sinai War (known in Israel as “Operation Kadesh”), and the Six-Day War. The narrative is continued in the sequel The Glory.

Plot summary

These crucial events are mainly seen through the eyes of two fictional characters, who meet near the beginning of the novel: Zev Barak and Joseph Blumenthal. We also meet several of the most important real-life heroes of Israel: David Ben Gurion, Moshe Dayan, Golda Meir, Mickey Marcus, Yigael Yadin, Motta Gur, and others.

All these people, both the real ones and the fictional ones, are portrayed as brave and decent human beings with comical character flaws, who somehow managed to lead Israel through three major wars in spite of the nation being surrounded, outgunned, and torn by internal conflicts as well as external threats.

During the War of Independence, Israel had no air force, no tanks, no large artillery, not even decent rifles. Yet they had to fight off an invasion by five armies that were well-supplied with all those weapons. In the 1956 war, Israel had to fight to free itself from constant terrorist attacks and economic strangulation, with the bumbling and inconsistent help of Britain and France, and against the fierce hostility of both the USA and the Soviet Union. Just before the the Six-Day War, it was believed by the Arabs, many Israelis, and most of the world, that the extermination of Israel by its enemies was imminent.

Zev Barak loves two women: his wife Nakhama, a placid but strong woman of Moroccan Jewish descent, and his mistress Emily Cunningham, a charming American shiksa. Joseph Blumenthal is also torn between two women: Shayna Matisdorf, his true love, and Yael Luria, whom he marries.

There’s a news in Inquirer about the POEA board amending the provisions on Named Hires. I came  to Nigeria  under Named Hire  employment.

Under the new ruling, foreign companies can no longer hire Filipinos directly, they either have to use  DOLE-accredited  employment agencies or  the foreign company should registered and get clearance from DOLE.

What would be its impact to would-be OFWS?

Before,  a lot of companies directly hire Filipinos. It makes sense for  us since we don’t need to pay stupendous  agency fees and go through an “agency accredited” diagnostic center for medical. In other words, when you go by agency, you are milked twice. First by the agency fee, then by the medical exam.

Why would i pay that much on a medical? I went to a private hospital for a standard pre-employment exam and cost less than my friend who went to the agency -affiliated clinic — and they do the same battery of tests.

Besides, with employment agencies, the agency fee does not end with a one-time fee but they get percentage from your salary. So an OFW who gets 800 dollars will actually receive only 500 dollars or less after agency. This is the problem specially in Middle East-bound OFWs.

I know a group of Pinoys skilled worker whose stated salary was 500 dollars, but after agency, they will end up receiving 200 dollars only. Agency told them to ‘take-or-leave’.

At least with Named Hire (NH), they are process by the foreign company and directly sends letter of invitation to the embassy. The NH can do medical in any hospital or clinic near his area and best of all, do away with the exorbitant agency cut.

But thanks to the new ruling. Foreign companies who dislike dealing with pesky employment agencies will think twice of employing Filipinos. Add to that the government’s ban on countries like Nigeria and Lebanon for New Hires.

The new POEA ruling holds that by going to a recruitment agency, the OFW will get benefit because of mandatory registration at POEA. But aren’t NH also required to register? I am a NH and i did register with POEA. So what gives?

Conspiracy theorists would suspect that a strong lobby by employment agencies are responsible for this new ruling.

below is the complete news.
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Direct hires for overseas work should be cleared by DoLEBy Jerome Aning
Inquirer
Last updated 06:56pm (Mla time) 09/06/2007MANILA, Philippines — Foreign employers who want to hire Filipino
workers without using the services of local recruitment agencies must
obtain approval from the Department of Labor and Employment, the
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration governing board has
ruled.In a board resolution, the POEA board repealed a section of the rules
covering the recruitment of land-based overseas workers, which
allowed the registration with the POEA of “name hires” as an
exemption from the ban on direct hiring.“Name hires” refer to workers who obtain employment on their own
without the participation of recruitment agencies.