No correlation between English, intelligence

I Come from Quezon province where every town speaks a distinct type of Tagalog. We never had a problem communicating and studying together. A trained ear would even be able to distinguish where someone comes from.

It is an advantage to be able to understand differences and culture in order to make connections. When I went around the country, learning the local dialect was also the best way to blend in. When I attended an international school in the US, I realized that Moroccans blend in better with everyone because they know Arabic, Spanish, French and last, English.

Also, we found out that there was no correlation between English and intelligence. I wonder where he got the idea that English will guarantee you good networks. Obviously, he needs to graduate first to find out that it takes a lot more to conquer the world than knowing how to speak in English. Bytes

Miseducation of our young

It is sad that people who should be helping find solutions to the various development issues of the nation are the first to aggravate the situation.

I think the Soriano article reveals more of the writer and the development of his thought processes than the idea he puts forward.

There is really not much to his ideas.  The article highlights the kind of education system we have and what is happening in what is supposed to be one of the best schools in the country.

The Soriano framework shows how the education system in general and the elite education system in particular have failed in truly educating the young. The article shows clearly the miseducation of our young people.

Our country and our people, just like any organization, will not progress until we are all convinced as Filipinos that we have a space in the world order. Antonio Tayag Cruz

Learn to love your own

English, Tagalog, Spanish all are the same to me. It is a privilege to learn another language and true to what Benjamin Pimentel said, “what if he could have been fluent in Spanish.”

Let me tell you this. Once I became fluent in Spanish it opened a whole new world to me. I was committed to learning the Spanish language since my line of work entails talking to a lot of Hispanics and boy did it improve my relationship with my patients.

An American told me “look you are going down to their level if you are trying to learn their language.” This guy is mediocre and stupid to be telling me this.

It is a privilege to learn a different language and be proud of the language that you were born with. We as Filipinos have to have our own identity and Tagalog, as much as I hate it since I am a Cebuano/Ilonggo, has to be instilled in our society. Learn to love your own and you will be surprised that you will end up loving yourself as a Filipino. Joe

Pinoy is what one thinks

Filipino is not for the stupid. It simply is not for the erudite. They mean two different things, but Mr. Pimentel’s innuendo is highly subject to misinterpretation. I think it’s not healthy for the Filipino psyche.

Hablo un poco de Español, which my Spanish grandfather (my dad’s father) wanted me to be fluent in, as well as Mandarin and Hokkien Chinese (my mother’s influence), but it was English that took root because it was the official medium of instruction in my school years (“Marcos baby” here).

I was in second grade when my parents separated, which practically ended my granddad’s Spanish influence. I lost el Español (though I had a chance to revisit it in UP Diliman in the early ’80s), developed a decent fluency in Hokkien Chinese (my oriental mestiza mother’s preferred language), struggled with Mandarin Chinese in grade school and fell in love with English in high school – no small gratitude to my English literature teacher who discovered my writing talent and encouraged me to keep it up. And where would Filipino be in my life? It is like an invisible breeze, spoken with ease. It’s the air I breathe.

Nationalism is not measured by proficiency in the Filipino language. I am a Filipino, notwithstanding my mixed blood, hence the absence of brown skin and flat nose. I speak Tagalog first, English second, Hokkien third, Mandarin fourth and Spanish fifth.  Being Filipino is what each Filipino thinks. Why be bothered by James Soriano’s article? If you are Pinoy whatever the language you speak best, then you are. tong_its