Living in Norway for over 2 years, I have often encountered questions about the languages I speak. I usually answered I speak Norwegian, English and two Filipino languages. Then, people start asking if the second Filipino language is a dialect of the other. Given my mother tongue is Cebuano, the second language referred, I abruptly debunk the misconcept that it is a mere dialect. My most common explanation is that all Filipinos speak the Filipino language, but those who only learn to speak Filipino have difficult time understanding or communicating with one speaking Cebuano. Throughout the span of my childhood, I got to grasp the political and cultural differences of Filipinos speaking Filipino language or Tagalog as referred by most, and those coming from the Southern Philippines speaking Cebuano. The language in itself has become the boundary between the two groups of people. Due to their innate differences, misunderstandings result, not because of mere language confusion, but of cu...
Religion is one of the most influential aspect in one's life. It somehow dictates how we act on a particular way or method for it to be acceptable to the society. Today, three groups of religion are considered to be the biggest and have the most power in terms in developing nations or sovereign states. These religious groups are Catholicism, non-Catholic Christians and Islam. In these article, a discussion on how these three religious groups have somehow affected human development. In saying human development, the use of HDI or Human Development Index is necessary. This index objectively describes life expectancy, education and income of citizens of the said country. An annual report is published. In 2014, Western countries dominate the top list with Norway leading it. In the table below, the first 20 countries with the highest HDI's are enumerated, with corresponding information on the percentage of their population belonging to the aforementioned religious congregations...
Moving to a new country can be both exhilarating and challenging. When I arrived in Norway, I faced the daunting task of adapting to a new culture, a foreign language, and building a life from the ground up. In those early days, the mantra "en dag om gangen," which translates to "one day at a time," became my guiding light. The Arrival: A World of Uncertainty Stepping off the plane in Norway, I was immediately struck by the unfamiliar surroundings and the realization that I was far from home. The Norwegian language, with its melodic but mystifying sounds, posed a formidable barrier. I had no work lined up, and I didn't know a soul I could trust to help me navigate this new chapter of my life. It was a daunting prospect, to say the least. Learning the Language: Babysteps to Communication One of the first and most crucial challenges was the language barrier. Learning Norwegian was essential not only for daily communication but also for securing...
Bullying became a hot topic in Norway today after a young teenager died of emaciation due to eating disorder that was primarily linked to anxiety from bullying at school. This was quite taboo in this Scandinavian country, given the nation is very keen on respecting socio-cultural differences and on protection against any form of discrimination. Discussions have been made on how to handle and prevent bullying and who takes the responsibility in these cases, whether the family, school or the State. Personally, I was not reacting in anyway as my mind says the concept is remote and almost impossible to happen in the Philippines. Perhaps, I was referring it to death, but not to bullying. However, after several days I was quite uneasy on the topic and further asked myself if I was ever bullied before and what it has caused me in the long-term basis. To my surprise, bullying was a crucial point in my childhood. My coping skills allowed me to hide in my consciousness what had happened...
I am a proud Filipino but there are some aspects of the Filipino culture that needs to be improved. These improvements are impossible if everybody thinks there is no need for them, so I start with my contribution by recognizing these in this blogpost. 1. Learn to wait. No Filipino can wait. We all find ways to be ahead of the others. We are known for this. We simply can not wait as if there is no other chance to do a certain thing. As a result, chaos results, which is reflected in the systems we have either in large-scale government services or in ourselves as well. 2. Learn to think before talking. Feed a Filipino an attractive title of an article or news, he or she is able to form opinions even without knowing and understanding the story. I call this "Facebook mentality of hastiness." As a result, most non-Filipinos do not take us seriously, because we are more noisy than smart. 3. Learn to respect differences and opinions. Every Filipino thinks everyone should conf...
According to the recent Happiness Index and Positive Experience Index (2015), Filipinos are considered one of the happiest in the world. There are many empirical evidence supporting this, including the magnitude of resilence and effectiveness of Filipinos in coping with several calamities and personal challenges. There are ofcourse scepticism on these researches, given that happiness could not even be measured objectively, and even more difficult to be compared. Happiness is indeed subjective, such that it is experienced differently among various persons with unique backgrounds and histories. Therefore, it is a challenge to make a summary or list of what makes one happy for a certain group of people, such as Filipinos. However, there are similarities among Filipinos that one could deduce effectively to answer what makes Filipinos happy. This is the focus of this blogpost. Family counts first. Family is most powerful source of motivation and happiness for Filipinos. More importantly,...
Have you ever found yourself daydreaming, gazing out the window while your to-do list grows longer? If so, you might already be a practitioner of the sweet Italian philosophy known as "Il Dolce Far Niente." Yes, you heard it right; Italians have a term for the delightful art of doing absolutely nothing, and it's about time we all take a sip from this espresso cup of relaxation. Picture this: you're sitting on a sunny terrace in Italy, a gentle breeze playing with your hair, and a plate of pasta e vino in front of you. You're not worried about your overflowing inbox, your messy apartment, or that never-ending laundry pile. Instead, you're basking in the sheer joy of being present, savoring the moment with a smile that says, "Why worry when you can 'Il Dolce Far Niente' your way through life?" This is literally what I am thinking during the long, cold winter of Norway when I worked a lot to save as much resources as I could for the...
Just yesterday, Norway has marked the fifth anniversary of the terror attacks in Oslo and Utøya, an island hundred of kilometers away from the capital. It was on this day when a Norwegian, opposed to increasing immigration and influx of Islam in the country, staged double attacks in the Government square and in a youth gathering related to the dominant political party that supports more relaxed immigration rules to usher fast integration of immigrants to the Norwegian society. The attacks were unique of its nature, given most of the victims were adolescents posed to be the future leaders of the pro-immigration political party. It also reflected the prevailing anxiety among the Norwegian society of the ballooning immigrant population, considered to threatened the values the country believes on. The attacks in Norway in 2011 was not the last of its kind. France and Belgium have been plagued by terror attacks in public places, allegedly related to extreme Muslim groups. These Islamic...
In the heart of Korean wisdom lies the saying, "Namoo-eh-seo tteo-reo-ji-neun won-soong-i," which translates to "Even a monkey falls from a tree." This proverbial gem encapsulates a profound truth: even the most skilled or experienced individuals can make mistakes or experience failure. Let's delve into the significance of this saying in Korean society and culture. This is the focus of this blogpost. Within Korean culture, this saying reflects the value placed on humility and perseverance. It encourages individuals to approach success with humility, acknowledging that setbacks are a natural part of life's journey. This mindset fosters resilience and a willingness to learn from mistakes, traits highly regarded in Korean society. In contemporary Korea, the proverb remains as pertinent as ever. In a society known for its emphasis on academic and professional achievement, the pressure to succeed can be immense. As a person who was focused on academi...
Today (August 8) is the birthday of my mother. I have not missed a year as far as I remember not writing about her in my personal blog. It is quite obvious I have many things to write about her. I think I would tirelessly write about her. She is simply an amazing person. My mother showed me what grit is. My mom did not achieve what I did but one thing is for certain, if she had the opportunity before, she could have succeeded more in life and career. This is because she has the grit personality, which is a long-lasting determination to do something even without expecting immediate positive returns. In grit, patience is indeed a virtue, and time is not a hindrance but an opportunity. I saw that grit personality everyday when I was a child in her. I learned to compromise things wholeheartedly because my mom sacrificed more than I could ever do in my lifetime. In my mind, there is no excuse for not doing something. My mom could do it, why can't I? My mother made me understand women...
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