WATCH: Berlin, Germany


Here is my video of my short trip to Berlin, Germany.



For more blogposts about Berlin, click below.

Berlin Part 1
Berlin Part 2


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Cebuano: The Language and The People

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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...
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Vigelandsparken, Oslo Norway: Celebrating Human Spirit

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The world's largest collection of sculptures in a park is attracting one million people every year. The art pieces, which were made from bronze, granite and iron features the appreciation of the human spirit of Norway's most renowned sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Click the link below: http://vimeo.com/65900073 Visiting Vigelandsparken makes one realize things in life, inspired from the different sections of the park: the Main Gate, the Bridge, the Fountain, the Monolith and the Wheel of life. The main gate is very simple but elegant. It features a long pathway towards the main section of the park. It gives the visitor the feeling that life requires a pathway and direction where one should follow through. That direction is the person's purpose in his or her life, that will guide all his or her actions, no matter what situations the person will be experiencing and whoever the person will be meeting. The bridge is one of the most dramatic part of the park, which...
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Bullying: A Part of Filipino Culture?

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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...
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Once upon a time... Summa Cum Laude

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It has been fifteen years since I completed nursing school. I culminated my student days as a Summa Cum Laude at Father Saturnino Urios University in the Philippines. It was a rare academic feat, but I managed to excel inspite of the difficulties I had back then. As I reminisce how it has been, I would like to point out the learnings I had through the years, and this will be the focus of this blogpost. Summa Cum Laude is the highest Latin honor one could get in the university. It does not just mean being the class valedictorian with the highest grade in the batch, but it means possessing a grade considered one of the highest throughout the school's history. In the Philippines, there are very few with Summa Cum Laude honors, and it is extremely rare in Nursing. Yes, I did that. Well, it was unexpected. I was actually expecting at least Cum Laude, the third highest Latin honor. However, some rules were changed, making it less difficult to get Cum Laude such that I was lit...
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Deeper Perspective on the Concept of Care

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Among various nationalities serving American and European hospitals, Filipino nurses are considered the favorite due to the so-called “tender loving care”. Friendly, competent and collaborative, nursing homes, hospitals and wellness centers demand Filipino nurses, because of their distinct caring quality, aside from their language and educational advantage. Aside from this, Jocano asserts that movie themes and Filipino songs show how soft-hearted and sentimental Filipinos are. As “pusong-mamon”, Filipinos are emotional. This puts Filipinos good caregivers and nurses. However, there still exist a need to know what care really is. Several theorists and authors attempt to explain and describe the essence of the nursing profession – caring. One of them is Jean Watson, an American nursing scholar who specializes in psychiatric-mental health nursing and educational psychology and counseling. In connection this, nurses in various parts of the world study published works of Watson, descri...
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Someone Will Always Be Better, Smarter, Stronger

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There is one truth in this world that everyone should learn. There is a fantasy that life is as easy as it is such that one could be one of the best, smartest and strongest. The world is simply a tough competition place to live in. The pessimistic reality is that the world we live in is not helping us to become one of the smartest, best or strongest. There will always be better, smatter and stronger; and this is the focus of this blogpost. Being better is always relatively subjective. One's standard for oneself is always subjective and continuously change from one time to another. This is simply the case. However, in spite of personal goals have been varying from time to time. People tend to compare oneself to another. There is always that inner human basic need to feel better than anyone. One needs to show this of to be able to feel this. However, this need is usually not satisfied. Even though people tend to do more, spend more time to be better, there is still a general d...
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7 Reasons Why Many Filipinos are Good Singers

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One thing that makes me proud of being Filipino is that there are many good singers in our country. I am not saying that the Philippines has the best singers in the world, but it is obvious that many Filipinos have showed to the world the God-given talent they have. 1. Parents encourage their children to develop their singing talents Children singing old songs and acting as if the song fits them well. Love songs, rock, whatever genre songs maybe Filipino children can sing that. Some even report that children learn humming a melody before able to speak well. Ofcourse, parents are very crucial in the development of this talents. If a talent has been acknowledged at an early age, this provides time for child to improve his or her talent in singing. Watch the newly-launced TV show Voice Kids Philippines. 2. Competition helps produce more good singers The most-watched Television shows in the Philippines are singing competition. Most artists are discovered in these platform...
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80/20 Rule: How Pareto's Principle Shapes Our Daily Lives

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In a world full of numbers and percentages, there's one rule that stands out as both intriguing and surprisingly applicable to our everyday activities: the Pareto Principle. Personally, I first came to know about this principle from an exam question, which I unfortunately did not unanswered correctly. However, this same principle has guided me in helping me meet my income goal inspite of working less. So, what's the deal with this fancy-sounding principle, and how does it affect our daily lives? Well, buckle up, because I'm about to spill the beans, in plain terms! The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, is like the ultimate life hack. It states that roughly 80% of results come from 20% of the efforts. In simpler terms, it means that a small portion of what you do will lead to most of your achievements. Let's dive into the world of work. I've hopped from job to job, experiencing the good, the bad, and the quirky. Here's how the Pa...
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No One is Indispensable, BUT...

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The phrase "No one is indispensable" is a common saying that implies that anyone can be replaced, and that nothing in life is permanent. While there is some truth to this statement, I believe that it is important to approach this idea with more compassion. This is the focus of this blogpost. While it is true that others may be able to do what we do, and even do it better, and that we are all transient beings in this world, it is also true that each person has unique qualities that make them who they are. These qualities include our strengths, weaknesses, personalities, and life experiences. One sociological theory that can be applied to an individual's indispensability is functionalism. Functionalism emphasizes the importance of social structures and institutions in maintaining the stability and well-being of society. From a functionalist perspective, the phrase "no one is indispensable" suggests that society is greater than any one individual, and t...
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Padayon Lang: Just Continue ᜉᜇᜌᜓᜈ᜔ ᜎᜅ᜔

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There are words that stay with us long after the people who spoke them are gone. For me, one of those words is the Cebuano phrase: “Padayon lang.” These simple words describe my life motto. It is short, almost ordinary. It does not shine with poetry. Yet it has a quiet strength, the kind that you don’t just think about but actually feel deep inside. Literally, it means “just continue” or “keep going.” But in Cebuano life, padayon lang is less of a command and more of gentle encouragement, just a soft pat on the shoulder, a light that shows you the way in the dark. I first heard it as a child, when I struggled with school and say, “Padayon lang sa imong pagtuon.” Keep studying. It is not a word of triumph. It does not promise success. Unlike congratulations or I’m proud of you, padayon lang accepts that life is hard, that the road is tiring, and yet it reminds us that moving forward, even slowly, even step by step is still worth it. It is the Cebuano spirit of resilience, no...
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