Abecedario

My first brush with the Spanish alphabet was when I was in Grade II. I was late for admission in my purportedly elite English-speaking Grade I school and my parents took the quick and easy way out of the situation by enrolling me in a downtown public school nearest their workplace. That was about the time the Philippines had its first Miss Universe, and I had my first out-of-my-world encounter.    

When the time for language class came and I heard all the children rattle off in unison: a, be, ce, che, de, e, ca, jota, i, hache, ge, efe, ele, elle …, I was in delirium tremens. Never heard anything like it before and my ABC accustomed mind could hardly make sense out of what I was hearing. If listening for me was bad enough, asking me to follow suit was pure torment. As far as I’m concerned, it was nothing but alien. My brave young heart had a sudden loss of courage and confidence and I dreaded ever having to go to school.

Happily, my awful fear of the abecedario wore off in time. I began taking an interest in and an appreciation for it the instant we started reading in class. The teacher would pass around newsprint booklets of stories written in the Chavacano vernacular. I marveled at the stories of Pepe and Pilar and stories about different birds, animals and places.

Unlike in my former private school where a whole set of brand-new books were acquired from the school’s book custodian, one could shop for  public school reading materials from the school supplies section of downtown department stores. I spent many noon breaks in these stores browsing for new titles of Chavacano booklets hanging on display like they would comic books. Even if I went back to my private school the next school year, this learning experience, harrowing prelude included, was one I fondly remember.

In those days, both the common spoken language (Chavacano) and the official formal language (English) are taught in public elementary schools. Although, in my experience, I would say, public school’s bent is toward the former. My private school then took to English exclusively as a medium of instruction and communication and would fine students speaking in the vernacular.

To this day, controversy rages as to which language to use and promote in our schools. On one side there are those who push for the use of Filipino as it is part of our national identity, on the other, there are those who support English as a means to gain competitive edge in the increasing global economy, and somewhere in between are those who encourage the use of the mother tongue (dialect one learns at home) and those who undertake to have foreign languages such as Spanish added in the curriculum.   

While each has its own merit, the crying need of the time is quality. There is a need to develop the competence and proficiency of the students in the use of any language. The students must have enough skill in one that they can transfer to another. A practical and sensible approach is to start with the first language that one is most familiar with as a bridge to learn a second language.

Use of the mother tongue in pre-school can help kids understand, think better and learn faster, which are essential before we let them master our country’s two official languages: Filipino and English. Foreign languages can come later in high school or college when they are equipped and ready to expand their language arsenal. The insistence of introducing an unfamiliar language at an early age can be counter productive as it can cause confusion that hinders a child’s critical thinking - the sort that turns an otherwise friendly ABC into a menacing Abecedario.

Bicicleta

Why do people take up biking? A lot of good reasons have been given. Those reasons include: environment, economy, exercise, ease and efficiency. This makes me wonder why all the e-words are showing up. Anyway, these reasons hint on what I believe is the one reason - that it is human friendly.

I personally owned bicycles since I was a kid ranging from recreation, utility and race bikes but for a long time after; I took to motor vehicles in commuting to and from work. So when I gave up my salaried job and my visiting younger brother brought home a mountain bike I wasn’t fit enough to take up cycling again. One attempt to go to the nearby drugstore a kilometer away found me huffing and puffing when I got back. I locked up the bike in the garage where for several months it gathered dust and cobwebs.  

Then combating a lousy feeling, I decided to reacquaint myself with the bike. I washed and pad dried it, greased it, and fixed a flat tire. I took many short rides with it to the beach and later pedaled farther up west to scenic coastal and rural villages. Since the day I remounted that bike, I begun to appreciate more and more the countless reasons why many people enjoy biking.

There are of course, obvious health benefits from biking. It does make you feel better and invigorated and can surely drive the blues away. Health experts also say it provides better muscle tone, improves bone mass, good for the cardio-vascular system and therapeutic for the mind and spirit.

Needless to say, it is economical and efficient, won’t badger you with costly insurance and maintenance, washing queues or tight parking space, and won’t give a crap about rising fuel prices. Bicycling is low impact on the environment. It reduces air, water and noise pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. It won’t cause road kill and maim persons or animals.  Not only is a bike environment friendly, it is user friendly too. It is safe for humans to handle and able to perform a useful task for humans. It never complains when an errand needs to be run.  

It is a great family and friends activity, a nice way for family bonding, camaraderie, or meeting new friends with a similar interest. Even if you are your sole company, your bike is your steady companion and teacher as you travel the trails together, discovering something wonderful in every unexpected swerve off the road.

It’s closest to the action of walking, it takes you wherever you like to go, whenever you want it, but with increased mobility.  It allows you to appreciate more the nuances of the natural and built environment around you - the sky is bluer, the air is fresher and the hillsides are greener. Never does life seem as good as when you are riding your bike, with the warm breeze touching your face and the wind tickling your ears, on your soul-satisfying forays into the countryside. So, for all intents and purposes whether health or wealth, sport or transport, endurance or enjoyment; biking is good for humans, truly and wholly human friendly.

Many great cities of the world have taken responsive actions and made strides in promoting healthier and more active bicycle lifestyles. Up on the list of bike friendly cities are many European cities like Amsterdam, Berlin, Barcelona, Paris; US cities such as New York, Chicago, Colorado, Oregon, California; and elsewhere like Ottawa, Tokyo, Beijing, Cape Town and Perth. In the Philippines, Marikina takes pride in being an award winning bicycle friendly city. Other cities like Quezon City, Makati City and Naga City have bicycle lanes too. Of late, Iloilo City is up and moving to construct its own bike roads.

I hope Zamboanga City can improve the situation for bicycles hereabouts, by giving priority to bicycle traffic, bicycle safety and bicycle infrastructures to one day make this city a bicycle friendly city.

Aplaya

I call it Pebble Beach because of its stony shore. While this fact may turn away sandy beach lovers, it gives the beach its own unique appeal. Stones of various sizes and shades, rounded and smoothed by the thrust of water over time cover the strip of blackish sand. It isn't unlikely for beachcombers to find bits of corals and tiny seashells here. The beach is inside a golf course so it is a combo swing and swim attraction.

This is the Zamboanga Golf Course and Beach Park in Calarian, Zamboanga City managed and operated by the Philippine Tourism Authority. It is readily accesible and about 6.5 kms. from the port of Zamboanga and less than 6 kms. from the airport. The golf course is one of the oldest in the Philippines founded in 1910 by Gov. John Pershing. It has 18 holes in 64 hectares of green. 

There's a fancy Korean restaurant along the golf course on the way to the beach in case one needs a full meal or opts for a dine-in atmoshpere. Little beach stores dot the area near the beachfront where one can grab quick snacks or refreshments. A P20 entrance fee is charged on the main entrance to the beach. Use of picnic tables and huts are charged separately. Shower and dressing kiosks are free of charge. There are no overnight accommodations on the beach.