The Joys Of Having A Public Library

"There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the Earth as the FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY...where neither rank, office, nor wealth receive the slightest consideration."

- Andrew Carnegie

Reading, as much as writing, has been a major part of my life.  I am in honesty, very much in love with reading.  I don't know when it started but for as long as I can remember, I've been hogging books at my nightstand.  Assiduously exploring the different worlds offered by each books - every new word expanding the territories of my imaginative mind.  However, in the twenty years of my life, I never knew of the bliss of visiting a public library.  A free, totally updated, no padlocked encyclopedias, public library. Well, that is, until now.

I grew up in the Philippines, a third world country where more often than not books get washed away by yearly floods.  Coming from a middle class family, I was one of those lucky kids whose books don't get washed away and even if they did, my family has the money to buy them back.  The earliest books I remembered having were those Disney colored books - the ones with the golden spines.  I had them at the age of 3 and re-read them a lot.  Who doesn't fancy those happy ending stories eh?  I'm proud to say that a decade later, they've been in good condition as both my little sisters were able to use them as well.  At the start of pre-school, my mom provided me a lot of reading comprehension books and math worksheet books.  Quite the "Kumon" training really, as my elementary days were full of those books.  I enjoyed them so much that my mom decided that I was ready to read novels.  Really mom?  Buying "Moby Dick" and "The Swiss Family Robinson" for a seven year old?  I tried reading it for a bit but I didn't last a page!  Five years after, I would find out that Moby Dick was one of the hardest read novels in history.  Fancy that!

What I was most fascinated with most though, among the ton of books mom bought for us was the Britannica Encyclopedia set.  Ah...those golden edges and the crispy smell of that special paper they printed it on. It was just amazing beyond words!  I woke up to the Nara bookshelf filled with large black books and with all three layers of the two-meter long furniture, occupied.  Mind you, they seemed endless for a kid like me!  You know how Belle reacted when Beast showed her his magnificent library?  That's how it felt.

Wow!  Much amaze!  Such Books!  Wow!

Looks very much like the City Centre Library at Surrey Central (well, to me that is ^-^)

Naturally, having grown in a house where I can open all the books I want, I was excited with our school's library.  Since I was the lucky first born, I was enrolled in private schools.  They have libraries! Public schools as I reckon, rarely have one or even if they did, the books aren't updated as much as private ones; even for some, they constantly rebuild their libraries everytime the books get soaked with mud after great floods.  So, I was really lucky.  The libraries at school not only had textbooks for gradeschool, they had encyclopedia sets as well.  Much like the ones at home.  It saddened me though, that the school keeps them out of reach.  They have the encyclopedia sets and other "expensive" prints padlocked.  The school staff have it displayed on lacquered furniture and they dust it off regularly but, they wouldn't let us touch it so freely.  The only way to have them opened is to ask permission from the principal!  In a formal letter with parent's signature. Seriously? Why would I do that?  It was a really troublesome feat for a youngster like me back then (and maybe to some of my classmates but I never really asked.) I wouldn't want my mom to constantly tell me that it was too much of a hassle to borrow the books I like.  It was already hard convincing them to buy me books that were unrelated to school. 

All I wanted to do was to read the encyclopedia.  I'm tired of the kiddie books and textbooks similar to what I use in school.  My mom already bought extra ones I read after school.  All I wanted to do is to compare them - to find out if they had a picture of the Great Wall of China like the ones we have at home. If they have cool DIY experiments I could do as well.  If the Hittites really were the first ones to temper iron. Or if they have a different story about Pocahontas's life - like the Disney one. (Yeah, I was kind of disappointed when I knew of the real story of Pocahontas) My school library treated the books like they were cursed jewels - never to be touched.   If you don't read them, what use will those words be?  Treasure was to be found there but they let the years pass as the information becomes stale.

Friends, let me tell you, a book unopened is as good as a blank paper.   

Just last month, I remember my big brother posting in his Facebook status, a commentary made by Ambeth Ocampo - a historian and great writer.  It went like this:

"FILIPINOS ARE NOT A READING PEOPLE, and despite the compulsory course on the life and works of Rizal today, from the elementary to the university levels, it is accepted that the 'Noli me Tangere' and 'El Filibusterismo' are highly regarded but seldom read (if not totally ignored). Therefore one asks, how can unread novels exert any influence?”

I agree wholeheartedly with him. It's true that Filipinos are not a reading race. The source of it can be traced out to a lot of political plays and simultaneously ingrained with historical roots. Although, I never considered myself a non-reader, I have to admit that I did not constantly read books.  Partly because, I never really saw my elders do it, but mostly because I was not exposed to different types of books.  You might find it weird but I only really read our Britannica set before I was exposed to other books in my teenage years. (exempting all of the school related books) Totally weird right?  I never read Dr. Seuss's work until I got here in Canada.  I never even touched a newspaper unless I needed it for a crafts project.   I started reading mysteries and classics in highschool and Filipino literature in early college.  The compulsory reading of "Ibong Adarna", "Florante at Laura", "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo" during highschool were tad boring for me.  Mainly because the teachers weren't as excited in the literature as they were supposed to.  They were only excited to grade us in questions of identification of characters and their dialogues; to see if who memorized the book and characters.  But they have failed to ask relevant questions on reflection and how those masterpieces relate to our present culture.  How then can we appreciate reading them?  And what more for those who didn't even touch the books?

If you think about it, I am only a part of a small percentage of the Filipinos who do read and keeps themselves informed.  Do you know why?  It's because I'm part of the middle class who can afford books.  I had an early access to them at home that is why I have grown to be this way - grown up to be an informed reader.  The poor don't have this kind of privilege.  They must rely on public libraries, which are few and most probably are protecting the books from the people it must serve.  A paradox of the inherited title - public but not really public. 

Therefore, I am grateful of Canada's public libraries.  Thank you for existing!  I would never have known the joy of visiting the libraries if it weren't for you.  Books are free from being encased in fragile glasses and people are not kept out by iron bars.  You always display the books at the entrance to make me and the other readers feel welcomed.  Thank you for trusting me. I could never bring home the maximum of 50 books at a time but I would like to try that sometime. Hope that I won't lose one of them though, if I bring them home.   Thank you also for always keeping the bookshelves organized and up-to-date.  New books come in everytime to fill the community with new ideas.  Thank you for buying my suggested books!  I was surprised when you called me up and told me that I had a "held" book; it was the "Pathological Altruism" book that I suggested 3 months before. Wow!  I thought the suggested items were never really taken seriously.  Thank you also for encouraging me to suggest more books.  I am happy to know that my "wants" are important to the wonderful collection you keep.  I felt honored - that I actually have the power to shape the community with the books I choose to suggest.  Thank you for not banning books!  The library is a haven for our aspired ideal of faultless democracy - all ideas are welcomed.  And most importantly, all kinds of people are welcomed.  Whether you're rich, poor, newly landed, unstable part-timer or overly worked employee, you are duly welcomed.  Services are the same for everyone. They won't ask for your name or judge you for what books you decide to take. It might as well be paradise.  So, what I suggest everyone do is to go to your public libraries today and thank your librarian!

LONG LIVE LIBRARIES!!!

The Centre City Library in Surrey. Look at that!!!  I could stay in it and never go home

Typhoon Haiyan: Rising From The Rubbles

"Through people I see, Your will in me - 
A kindness seeps through the soul,
By and by"

I am awe-inspired by the people mobilizing to extend their help in different ways to the Philippines after Typhoon Yolanda has struck Visayas. More than five thousand people were killed and tens and thousands of people were rendered homeless by this disaster. Friends back home, volunteer with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to sort out clothes and pack relief goods to be distributed in Visayas.

Levi Azarcon, Yang Bautista and  Erika Pabon after packing relief goods at DSWD NROC Pasay
Photo Credited to Levi Azarcon

Lanekar Uriarte sorting clothes( ^ - ^ )
Photo Credited to Lanekar Uriarte

Here in the first world, we are doing our best as well.  People, regardless of race, are extending help in their own ways.  Many donate material needs such as clothes and canned goods but even those who already donated these donate money as well.  The government announced that monetary donations to registered charities will be matched up.  Which means that, a dollar donated by Canadians to charity will be another dollar donated by the federal government to the Philippines.  Among the charities that are widely endorsed by establishments such as cafes and restaurants are the Canadian Red Cross and World Vision Canada.  Other registered charities can be found in the Department of Foreign Affairs website.  Last November 15, I had a chance to fundraise for the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Program with three (3) magnificent volunteers.

From Left to Right: Muhammed, me and Carlo!  Jodie hasn't come yet

"The funds will not only help my own people in short term but with the long term as well, as they start building their lives from the ruins."

We managed to fundraise three thousand CDN ($3,000.00) just from that day alone!  Starbucks, as I know, have donated three hundred fifty thousand CDN ($350,000.00) already.  I also see some fundraising events on the local community board scheduled even after the match up date is done.  In Youtube, you can see people from different places with their own fundraisers as well. Help is pouring from every corner of the world. I am grateful beyond words because I know how much a dollar can help them, sardonically, more so than the local government usually provides.  And yes, in the midst of the oligarchs' continuous farce, it's great to see that people still have the will to help.  I'm sure that a lot of North Americans were rather turned off when Anderson Cooper started pointing out the faulty ways of the government.  What he said was the naked truth!  It reflects how disorganized our leaders are in their priorities. It reflects how easily the supposed leaders put blame on their own people and not in their own incompetency to conduce swift and rhythmic organization amongst the people.  And most importantly, it reflects exactly what the government has been doing with the public's money the past couple of decades. With the super large budget cuts from different departments - including health and education -  in the past five years, public hospitals are so poorly funded to even function at these times. One can't also expect programs for training individuals in times of disaster.  How ironic, really, since storms happen almost every month.  The only thing people know how to prepare for these calamities is to "go to evacuation centers" - which by the way, are old school buildings and open gyms.  When can the higher ups learn to stop playing the blame game like kids?  When can the public get the help they deserve from their own government?  When is the time that a disaster this big happens that we won't need other nation's help?  That we can stand up, and organize ourselves for once.  Tell me, when?

The world weeps with the Filipinos in this unwanted tragedy. Although storms are never new to the Philippines, the trauma from the mishap always is.  For now, as we wait for the time when corruption finally meets its end, our fellow kin faces this nightmare with their bright smiles and resilient hearts. Stay strong, Philippines!

OTepp's Final Bow

For several years now, the Occupational Therapy examination and practice preparation (OTepp) project has assisted a multitude of internationally educated occupational therapists (IEOTs) seeking to enter the healthcare system in Canada.  OTepp has guided IEOTs to achieve the level of competency needed to enter occupational therapy practice here.  In fact, the program serves not only as a government funded program intended to develop IEOTs to the populace's liking but it also serves as a modern-day agora where OTs from all around the world can gather and illuminate each others' mind with cultural diversity.  Sadly, this wonderful program is in its last year.  

A farewell party was held at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel in Burrard last July 16.  Most of the current students and even some former ones along with the McMaster University staff were present. It was nice to see and actually meet the people behind the voices during the online classes - Shami, Sue, Colleen and even Nancy to whom I was in contact with since I was an intern. (sorry if I missed some names) And even though I was only able to enroll for the 3rd and 4th module - which is the using evidence in practice and the clinical reasoning respectively - I was welcomed with much warmth.  

Here are some of the pictures from the party:  (courtesy of Miss Pinky Valerio)

Printed invitation for the farewell party

Sue Baptiste giving the opening speech

Group picture number 1!

Group picture number 2!

OTepp has made me realize a lot of things about the passion I pursue - that is occupational therapy.  Primarily, I realized that there is a huge difference of OT practice here and my home country, the Philippines.  Here in Canada, where the local communities play a big part in the overall country's development, an OT needs to know of the resources he/she can access in the community.  If you know your community well, you can better integrate the client into that community.  Like for example, what is the difference of a residential home versus an assisted living home?  And how would you utilize that resource in practice?  Subsequently, an OT does not only present literature as evidence of the management but he/she must also learn how to sift those articles to fineness.  With the lack of access to the large database during medical school, I am surprised how I even learned evidence-based practice.  I definitely learned a lot more about research in OTepp (inspite of the fact that we were best thesis in our year).   Lastly, I have realized that occupational therapy practice in the Philippines will remain stunted unless the government shifts its educational system to cater the Filipino mass.  I am quite inclined on the political situations happening in my home country since I entered College.  (Click this on my post about poverty and another Tagalog post about a 16 year old who committed suicide because of her tuition fee)  And it is easy to see how the social sciences have not grown that well for the past few decades.  What the Philippines needs is to have real identity through the social sciences.  Identity in which we can define the occupations every Filipino engages in.  This in turn will develop an occupational therapy of our own.  But yeah, maybe it's just me being too over reflective again.  Anyway, I think it's a nice brain candy.  

Perhaps we should trace back our roots for OT to thrive

Coming from a third world country myself, where the North American healthcare system seems more like fiction than reality, I feel relieved to know that there is an organization that can help you understand the complex framework of the health care.  And truthfully, with unintentionally jumping the first two modules due to complications with my documents, I have yet to completely understand how the health care system works.  I did a lot of self reads in order to properly engage myself in the online discussions; promptly following Shami's advise to improve my self-directed learning (aka assertive learning).  Still, when I reflect on the past year, I can't imagine starting from nowhere!  OTepp was my "start" sign on the game board of my career (and probably for most IEOTs as well).    

With OTepp's last curtain call, I bid the staff good luck with the program.  I pray you find alternative funding for this wonderful program.  And to those IEOTs I keep in touch with, may we meet in the health care world proudly carrying OTepp's legacy with us.

Edukasyon ko Inang Bayan, kaya mo pa bang tustusan?

Ngayong gabi, nasadlak ako sa kalungkutan ng marinig ko ang pagpapakamatay ng isang labing-anim na taong gulang na estudyante mula sa University of the Philippines - Manila (UP-Manila).  Freshman siya ng dating kolehiyo ni Aiko, parehas na Behavioral Sciences ang kurso.  Pinakita siya sa akin ng kapatid ko sa iilang Facebook pictures na naka-share sa page ng kolehiyo nila. Marahan siyang nagkwento.  Madalas na tumitingin ang kapatid ko ng mga pictures ng underclassmen niya at palaging sumusulyap sa landas na hindi niya tinahak. Natatandaan niya daw na representative si Kristel ng mga freshman sa isang aktibidad ng kolehiyo. Nabanggit niya nga minsan, sa aking paggunita, na madami daw siyang gustong "i-bully" sa mga first years.  Tulad daw ng mga ginawa sa kanila noong isang semestre niyang pag-aral sa UP.  At heto daw, hindi siya makapaniwala na merong nagpakamatay sa kinasasabikan niyang mga underclassmen. Dahil sa kahirapan ng buhay.  "Paano kung nandun ako?", tanong niya sa akin habang nagpipigil ng luha.  Wala akong naisagot.

Si Kristel ay panganay sa limang magkakapatid.  Taxi driver ang trabaho ng ama at simpleng maybahay lamang ang ina.  Isa lamang siya sa maraming kabataan ngayon sa Pilipinas na naghahangad ng edukasyon ngunit nahahadlangan ito ng kahirapan.  Nitong nakaraang dalawang dekada, hindi makakaila na lubhang bumaba ang budget ng gobyerno sa edukasyon sa kabila ng mga pangako nila na pagtutuunan ito ng pansin. Ang unang naalala ko nung dekada nobenta ay ang pag-allocate ng budget sa iba't-ibang sektor ng gobyerno para ilagay sa "pork barrel".   Isa ang kagawaran ng edukasyon sa kinuhanan ng pera upang mapuno ang kaban ng mga kongresista.  At sinong makakalimot sa milyones na tinanggal ng administrasyong Arroyo sa PUP?  Isa yan sa mga ibinato ni PNoy sa nakalipas na administrasyon at kakatwa na isinambalik niya sa pamumuno niya ngayon.  Mas malala pa nga kung ikukumpara dahil isang bilyon mahigit ang tinanggal niya sa edukasyon at kalusugan nitong taong 2010.  Sa dami ng mga kinaltas ng gobyerno, lumipad ang halaga ng edukasyong hirap na ngang abutin ng mahihirap.  

Isa sa mga naunang artikulo na lumabas tungkol sa trahedya mula sa The Manila Collegian

Natatakot ako para sa mga kapwa ko Pilipino, lalong lalo na para sa mga kabataan.  Tila ba unti-unti nilang ginagawang mang mang ang mga sumusunod na henerasyon.  Tumatarik ang tatsulok at ang edukasyon na dapat ay karapatan ng bawat isa ay nagiging pribilehiyo.  Mayayaman na lamang ang nakakatamasa ng disenteng edukasyon at ang mga sadlak sa hirap ay nagkukumahog sa maliliit na silid-aralan.  Nasa awa na tayo ng mga oligarko sapagkat hawak nila ang utak ng kabataan. Nitong nakaraang dekada, meron nang mga artikulo at iilang mga aktibista ang pumuna sa pamamaraan nila.  Natatandaan niyo pa ba ang "Study now, pay later" program noong 90s? Isang mabuting programa na ginagawang paraan ng mga oligarko para maibulsa ang pera ng masa.  Halos isang daang estudyante din ang nabigyan ng umano'y "loan" ang hindi masingil ng Commission of Audit (COA).  Naglaho na parang mga multo. Ha! Tapos sa tuwing may mga problemang darating (tulad ng kay Kristel) ay pinaiikot lamang nila tayo sa mga hintuturo nilang di matigil sa pagturo.  Sinisisi ng gobyerno ang UP-Manila ngunit sila ang tunay na may hawak ng kapangyarihan upang mabago ito.  Madaling magtaas ng tuition ngunit hindi madaling ibaba.  Madaling magsibak ng estudyante kaysa sa gumawa ng paraan upang makatapos sila.  Yupian na nga talaga ang UP kung ganun.

Tila nga malayo-layo pa ang tatahakin natin para maabot ang Pilipinas na ipinaglaban noon ng ating mga ninuno.  Ayokong matulad ang mga Pilipino kay Boxer (ng Animal Farm) na buong buhay nagkayod para sa demokrasyang hindi totoo at namatay ng hindi namulat sa katotohanan. Masipag at matiyaga ang mga Pilipino at di hamak na may potensyal upang harapin ang mundo.  Huwag tayong magbulag-bulagan at magbingi-bingihan sa isyung ito! Edukasyon ang susi sa pag-ahon mula sa kahirapan kaya huwag tayong pumayag na tanggalin ito sa ating mga anak. Sabay sabay nating pasanin ang bigat ng buhay na kinitil ng mga oligarko at ipaglaban ang nararapat.

Imahe ng kasipagan at tiyaga

Sa ngayon, ang pagtustos ko sa dalawang bata mula sa World Vision ang tanging magagawa ko upang makatulong sa sitwasyon.  Maraming tumutulong sa atin mula sa iba't-ibang bansa kaya't tulungan din natin ang isa't-isa.  MERONG PAG-ASA ANG PILIPINAS!  

Isang World Vision sponsored child dati, Order of Lakandula and CNN Hero

 Sana ay makita ko ring magtagumpay sina Clarence at Lyka sa buhay.  Sa ngayon, hahayaan ko muna silang maging bata.

Humanap ka ng Panget at Ibigin Mong Tunay?

Mahaba-haba din ang oras ng biyahe mula Vancouver pabalik ng Pilipinas - lalo na kung may stopover pa ng isang oras at kalahati sa Taipei. Marami kang taong makikita - Intsik, Amerikano, Hapon, Koreano, Canadian atbp. Pero karamihan sa kanila, mga Pilipinong pabalik din ng bansa upang magdiwang ng Pasko at Bagong Taon. Pagsakay namin ng kapatid ko sa eroplano papuntang Maynila, may kumausap sa aming foreigner. Tinanong niya kung saan kami galing bansa. Ang sabi namin Vancouver. Matapos nito ay tinanong niya naman kami kung kamusta daw ang experience namin doon sa Canada.

"Nice place, right? How do you find it?", sabi niya.

Ang sabi ko, " It's very clean there. Despite being an urban area, they have many trees.", sagot ko.

Madalian niya namang sinabi, "Many parks right?"

"Yeah.", sinabi namin. "

But they have Rizal Park in the Philippines too." 

"Yeah but the place is unkept, dirty."

"You call your own place dirty?" sabay snicker.

Sabi ko yes I do.  Tanging yung mismong parke lang naman talaga yung nililinis.  Tama ba?

Hindi ko nais pasamain ang imahe ng Pilipinas sa mga foreigners.  Lalo na sa katulad niyang mukhang sanay na sanay na pumunta ng Pinas.  Wala ka rin namang matatago.  Tunay na madumi ang Pilipinas lalo na ang Maynila - basura dito, basura diyan.  May mga lugar na di mo maatim ang amoy.  May mga tao din na di mo akalaing mabubuhay doon.  Minsan nga, kung napapanahon may mga bangkay pang lumilitaw sa tabi-tabi.  Taga-roon man siya o ibang dayo at "pinalipad" lang sa Maynila.  Malalaman mo yun kung tumira ka sa Manila o nagtagal doon at kinayod ang mga sulok nito tulad ko.  Ayoko lang itong itanggi, ayaw kong itanggi ang isa sa mga problemang puno't dulo ng karamihan ng problemang nasa siyudad.  Naniniwala akong sa pagtanggap sa problema ang unang paraan sa pagbabago nito.  So, ayoko lang itago.  Pero alam ko din na masama yung ginawa ko kasi kahit anong anggulo mo pa yun tignan, tila ba ikinahihiya ko ang Pilipinas.  Pero sa totoo lang... sa loob ng labing dalawang oras na biyahe ko mula Vancouver patungong Maynila, wala akong ibang iniisip kundi,

"Pauwi na ako."

Dahil kahit gaano pa pumanget ang itsura ng Pilipinas.  Uuwian ko pa rin ito. Dito ako lumaki.  Dito ako nagsaya kabila ng kahirapan.  Kung tutuusin, kung isa kang banyaga sobrang maninibago ka pag tumira ka sa Pinas - lalo na sa siyudad.  Tila ba impyerno sa init tuwing Marso hanggang Mayo.  Pero kung natutunan mo itong tiisin, kahit saan ka mapunta sa mundo ay paraiso na.  Ang nakakatawa pa dito ay sa kabila ng polusyon at usok, sabik akong bumalik.  Sabik na sumakay sa dyip na ipitan kung bumiyahe.  Yung tipong dikit pisngi na kayo ng katabi mo e hindi pa ito bibiyahe dahil kulang pa daw.  Pero higit sa lahat, mamahalin mo ang mga tao.  Wala ka nang makikita pa sa buong mundo na kasing "warm" nila.  Totoo yun!  Lalo na sa probinsya.  Hay naku maniwala ka sa akin.  Pag tag-siyudad ka tulad ko at pumunta ka sa probinsya - ROYAL TREATMENT!  Sa pakain, palagi kang invited.  At hindi ko rin alam kung bakit pero pag bagong dayo, talagang ikaw ang "star".  Masayahin kasi sila palagi.  Sa totoo lang, kahit yung mga taga-siyudad din naman mababait at maasikaso pag pumunta ka ng bahay nila.  "FILIPINO HOSPITALITY" nga ika nila e di maikukumpara sa iba.  Dahil totoo! Ang tao ang uuwian mo dun.  Ang babalik balikan mo!  At kahit ano pang sabihin ng mga matatanda sa akin na huwag ng bumalik doon, alam kong hindi ko ito maatim. Dahil doon ako isinilang at doon ako lumaki.  Tanggap ko lahat-lahat sa kanya - panget man o maganda.

Seminar, seminar, matutuloy ka pa ba?

I went to school earlier this morning. It was about thirty minutes to eleven when I've reached Kalaw. I went down the FX with a smile on my face and went straight to school with the lab suit I was going to return to a junior that afternoon. There was also this appointment with my OT classmates that we were going to talk about the booking for tickets for our trip to Hong Kong this coming October for a seminar. Unfortunately, they already left when I got there. So I went straight home after delivering the lab suit to Kenneth. I got home around twelve and turned on the TV. THERE'S A HOSTAGE TAKING IN QUIRINO GRANDSTAND!!! That's like a few meters away from my school. What the?! I slept in the afternoon, hoping it would turn out fine when I wake up but it ended very very badly. I cried...the Hong Kong nationals were here to enjoy the country but instead, they met their deaths. A tragedy no asked for. I don't know what else to say. I tried to concentrate in my reading but I have failed to no avail. I tried to write a poem but it still didn't get my mind off what had happened. Will the same happen if we will pursue the seminar in Hong Kong?