"DON'T BE A WRITER" ACCORDING TO JESSICA ZAFRA

For the past decade, I only got to read her. But finally, I got to listen to her.

It was her book that introduced me to a new style of writing. Jessica Zafra cultivated my enthusiasm for reading with her wit, sarcasm, and amusing take on pop culture, social issues, and political dramas. No matter how dull, serious, and overanalyzed some topics were, she managed to write a “deviant” take on them, which turned out to be forthright funny yet surprisingly true.

It was no wonder then that her opinions written for her Twisted column in the now-defunct newspaper Today eventually became a book of the same title. It was apparently a very apt label to caution readers of this “twisted” author with her “twisted” ideas.

She gained a following among Filipino readers who found themselves saying “oo nga ano..” while reading her piece. They welcomed her unique ideas, thinking that they found their voices in her. They read her column and bought her book, wishing that they could also be infected with her intellectual humor. And this was a decade ago when social media was non-existent.

Jessica Zafra at the Ayala Museum

Jessica Zafra has not been in my consciousness for a very long time (it was back in college when I last read her books) until I saw a promotional invitation of her mortal presence at the Ayala Museum last August 2. The title of the event was “Don’t Be a Writer,” which was quite a discouraging “come on” for an aspiring writer like me. But knowing her signature style of nuttiness and cynicism, Jessica Zafra succeeded in making me pay money to listen to her talk that made me “rethink” about my passion for writing.

Here are some of the excerpts from her “sermon.” Just a warning though, unlike rousing feel-good speeches that people pay for, this is neither inspirational nor motivational. So according to Jessica Zafra, “Don’t be a Writer” because…

      1. There is no Job Security

Obviously, this is true. Freelance writers usually get paid per article and then get their checks two months after the article has been published. The funny thing that Jessica pointed out was that the current fees for contributed articles were the same as 10 years ago. (As a long-time freelance writer, I am also a victim of this reality). So essentially, there is no steady income for writers, and even if they get compensated, the pay is very minimal.

And since there is no job security for freelance writers, waiting for that “inspiration to write” is futile. Basically, it is the principle of “no write, no eat” that ultimately motivates writers to churn out as many articles as possible, or face the threat of starvation or homelessness.

2. There is not enough readers

For Jessica, the Philippines is not a reading culture. Interestingly, it merely takes 3,000 copies to be sold for a book to be labeled as a “bestseller” in this country of 100 million people. Aggravating this fact is the reality that books are fast becoming the casualties of the digital age.  

And I think given the advent of social media, reading has become a short and hurried experience. I also concur with Jessica that this trend has resulted in a low level of discourse because people do not engage in an intellectual and respectful debate anymore. As evident in the social media, Filipinos tend to either get personal when arguing ideas or just “agree” or “disagree” when opinions are raised.   

     3. You Don’t Get Days Off

Contrary to people’s perceptions, freelance writers do not have a vacation. According to Jessica, writers must feed their brains a lot of information and this sometimes requires moving out of their regular lives to have something to write about. Essentially, they cannot take a rest, they always think. 

     4. You Have to Be Alone

Writing, for Jessica, is engaging one’s self in a conversation with themselves. This is why most writers read a lot because they are alone; and literature consoles them. Most of the time, writers read novels because they get the chance to live many lives. If a writer does not read and becomes boring, then he/she would not have anything interesting to say to one’s self.

5. You Become a Cannibal

Everything in a writer’s life is material. The tendency for writers is to ask: “How could I put this experience into words?” For Jessica, this eventually “cannibalizes” one’s experiences.

      6. You Will Get Ripped Off

Your ideas can be stolen. And this happens most of the time.

      7. You Must Be Your Own Worst Critic

As one of the most popular and experienced Filipino writers, Jessica shares that there is no process of critiquing the works of writers in the country. I have to agree because during those times that I have been contributing articles in several publications, editors do not inform me about my mistakes and my weaknesses as a writer. They will just edit and revise the article and I will only see the edited version once it is published.  

Given this limited practice in evaluating writing, Jessica has this piece of advice: aside from being your own critic, let other people you trust read your article and comment on it. If you are secure in your abilities, criticism will not get to you. It will still hurt, but it will not hurt as much.  

Jessica Zafra Signs books for her Filipino fan readers

Indeed, “Don’t Be a Writer” is not for the dreamy and faint-hearted writers. In her usual mocking yet comical self, Jessica Zafra talks about writing as it is--- the horrors, terrors, irritations, and anxieties of it--- from her own perspective. Thankfully, the talk was not all about whining and grievances against the writing world; surprisingly the audience got something out of it.

If there is one piece of advice about writing that I got from her, it is to have that discipline to write but not forcing it on yourself, otherwise “it will only kill your enthusiasm for it.”

I am glad that I had the opportunity to listen to her journey as a writer. Ironically, her talk on the grim realities of being a writer comforted me, knowing that even well-published and well-known writers like her go through the same challenges that unknown writers like me go through. What a relief!

TOEFL or IELTS: WHICH ONE TO TAKE?

          As most Filipinos who want to study or work abroad know, one of the requirements for their university or job applications is a certificate on English language proficiency. Two of the most popular standardized English exams are the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL), originally developed in Stanford University in the US; and the International English Language Test System (IELTS), administered by the Cambridge English Language Assessment, IDP Education, and the British Council.

          So which English language test is easier?

          It depends, because the definition of easy (or hard) is different for each one of us. But for those who want to know which exam offers better chances of getting high scores, the bad news is that both have relatively degrees of complexity. While TOEFL and IELTS have differences in their exam formats and questions, they essentially cover four sections that test one’s Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing skills. Each of these sections have relatively similar level of difficulty.  

          So if both TOEFL and IELTS are challenging, then what is their difference?  

I have taken both of these English exams for my university applications and each test gave me a unique experience. Though TOEFL and IELTS similarly aim to test one’s English fluency and have the same challenging sections to measure one’s language skills, there are differences that need to be considered when deciding which one to take. 

Taken from: www.ets.org 

This exam is Academic in nature and is mainly geared towards people who are planning to pursue studies abroad. Initially, TOEFL offers paper-based test (without the speaking section), but it is already phased out in the Philippines. It presently offers the Internet-based test (iBT), so there is no more chance of escaping speaking in English!  The iBT format requires test takers to go to the various TOEFL testing centers and will be assigned a computer terminal. The computers are connected to the TOEFL’s worldwide testing system via the internet.

Test takers will take the four sections of the exam using the computers. TOEFL has a multiple choice answer format for the Listening and Reading sections with the same level of difficulty for each questions. The Listening part in TOEFL uses narrators with a North American accent (American and Canadian speakers). For the Speaking section, test takers will use their headsets, and their voices will be digitally recorded. For the writing part, they will have to type their essays in the computer. This exam takes about four hours to complete.

Taken from: http://liverpoolenglishcentre.co.uk

        

        This exam offers two types—Academic and General Training (for those applying for work or immigration abroad). The IELTS Academic exam measures one’s scholarly comprehension, while the General Training assesses functional English skills.  The Listening and Speaking sections are the same for both exams while the Reading and Writing sections are different. 

          IELTS test takers have to go to hotels or convention centers to take the exam, using pen and test papers for the Listening, Reading, and Writing sections. The Listening and Reading parts begin with uncomplicated questions first then gradually increases in difficulty towards the end. The test format has questions that requires True or False answers and one or two-word answers. The Listening section has speakers who carries English accents from Commonwealth countries (British, Australian, etc.) This takes about 3 hours to complete. The Speaking part is done in an interview format held separately at another time and in a different venue. The actual Speaking test takes about 15 minutes to complete with an approximately 20 minutes waiting time before it starts.

          So given their differences, which exam is better to take?

There are varied factors to take into account, but for me, it all depends on the test taker’s comfort and convenience.

          Comfort: What is your exam style?

Since TOEFL and IELTS have different test formats, your choice will depend on which exam setup you are more comfortable with. If you are more at ease reading texts and typing in the computer, then TOEFL is suitable for you. If you are more relaxed with the traditional exam format of using paper and pen and writing your answers manually, then IELTS fits you perfectly. You should also consider the different test formats of the Speaking section in both exams. TOEFL lets you record your speech in the computer, while IELTS has an interviewee who will personally ask you questions. The choice of the exam will depend on which overall test format you are more comfortable with.

          Convenience: What is more convenient for you?

If you are in a hurry to take an English exam, TOEFL has more exam schedules held in more testing centers in several cities around the Philippines. For Metro Manila residents, you can even choose which test site is closer to you--- Makati, Pasig, or Quezon City. It costs USD 195, approximately PHP 8,515 (for the USD 1= PHP 43.7 exchange rate as of 25 May 2014). This testing fee includes a free delivery of your printed test results sent directly to your mailing address.   

          If you are not planning to study abroad, IELTS offers General Training exam for prospective overseas workers or immigrants, which is less complicated than the Academic exam. It has three test schedules for each month held in key areas in the Philippines, but the Manila test site is usually conducted in Makati city. IELTS maintains a regular fee of PHP 8,900 for a longer period. This rate however does not include a free delivery of test scores to your mailing address if you are a Metro Manila resident. You will have to get it in the IDP office in Makati. But if you live outside the metropolis, your test score will be delivered to you.

          So what to do after deciding which exam to take?  

         

          After considering the pros and cons of each exam, you may plan to schedule an exam date. Remember that the test scores for both TOEFL and IELTS are valid for two years so choose your exam date wisely if you are planning to use it for more than one application. Also bear in mind that, whichever exam you choose, you MUST PREPARE YOURSELF for it. Both TOEFL and IELTS provide sample tests for you to have an idea of their exam questions and test format. Practice test is really important, no matter how confident you are of your English skills. It is better to practice for these exams to get a high score in one shot than to take them for granted and spend money again for retakes.    

          With the growing number of Filipinos planning to work or study abroad, gaining English fluency is vital to achieve that dream. It is no small wonder then that more Filipinos take the TOEFL and IELTS exams and hopefully, receive high marks in one take.

I am not aware of the general scores of Filipinos taking TOEFL or IELTS but my fear is that our English proficiency is declining. Hopefully, my fears are unfounded because our fluency in English is one of those advantages that makes us competitive around the world. After all, we Filipinos pride ourselves with our English skills and it is important that we maintain our language competency.  

THE PHILIPPINES AND THE US: HOW WE VIEW THEM, HOW WE SEE US

The Philippines’ relations with the US can be generally deemed as the most important and the most complicated bilateral ties. It highlights active interaction between the two countries’ governments, economies, and societies.  Since American colonization of the Philippines, this bilateral relation has seen many bright and dark moments that give color to Filipinos’ perception of the US. 

taken from: http://www.crossed-flag-pins.com/Friendship-Pins/Philippines/Flag-Pins-Philippines-USA.html

          My class on Philippine foreign relations got everyone thinking about how Filipinos view the US. Based on our discussion, Filipinos generally have a clear distinction between the US government and society. Basically, what the Filipinos may think about the current US administration does not necessarily affect how Filipinos view the Americans.

When it comes to state-to-state relations, the Philippines has a very convoluted relationship with the US. This is mainly because of the enduring security alliance and the corresponding issues that go with it.  Though the US government provides security guarantee, it can also compel the Philippines to be directly or indirectly involved in its security issues (e.g. war on Iraq) and its strategic interests in the region (e.g. hosting American military presence in line with its rebalance in Asia). The Philippines may have a love-hate relationship with the US but there is no doubt that despite this, it is the country’s most important bilateral partner.

        When it comes to people-to-people relations, Filipinos have a very entrenched affinity with the Americans. This is mainly because we share a lot of commonalities with them--- our regard for democracy and freedom, our friendliness to other people, and our openness to other cultures. There may be some negative impressions based on personal experiences by some Filipinos but overall, we have a very positive view of them. In fact, most of us think highly of the Americans. We admire them for their independence, individualism, coolness, and creativity.    

         Essentially, we may sometimes object to the decisions of the US government, but we still love American culture and society. We consume their brands, study in their schools, patronize their popular culture, and admire their state-of-the- art technology. Despite the awkwardness, we attempt to have that fluent American English with the twang. And despite the difficulties, we pray to the heavens to be able to migrate to the US in an attempt to live the “American dream.”

 

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and US President Barack Obama, photo from the Associated Press

           Generally, our deep-seated enchantment of everything good about America has led some of us to think so highly of them at the expense of appreciating the good in us. This is especially evident in our entertainment industry when we tend to ape American artists in how we sing, act, and dance---and less attention is given to Filipino artistry and ingenuity. It is no wonder that we have several Filipino versions of American acts--- “Michael Jackson of the Philippines” or the “Elvis Presley of the Philippines”--- to certify an artist’s talent as being “good enough” to be compared to them. It is as if we need to reach an “American standard” to be affirmed of our own talent and artistry.

  It is also no small wonder that we have the penchant to claim and share in the glory of several Filipino Americans’ achievements in the US, even though they consider themselves more as Americans than anything else. This is clearly apparent in how we “idolize” Jessica Sanchez and Jasmine Trias in the American Idol and readily adopting them as our own. And year after year, we anticipate for any Fil-Ams who can break into the Top 20 so that we can fiercely root for them as if they are in an Olympic competition carrying the Philippine flag.  It is as if we need “validation” from American singing competitions to feel good about our talents and to be proud of being Filipino, never mind if they are Americans in the first place. We tend to forget how they usually identify themselves as American citizens who happen to have Filipino blood.

This is not to discount the talents and achievements of a growing number of Fil-Ams in the US, for they deserve the accolades and honor bestowed on them. It is sometimes the swift manner in which our nation claim these Fil-Ams’ successes as achievements for the Philippines that personally bothers me the most. We tend to instantly declare them as one of us even though they sometimes do not recognize us first. Oftentimes, only until they become famous in the Philippines that they publicly declare their affinity and pride to this country, which some of them have not yet personally experienced nor visited.  

Some of the successful Filipino Americans featured in a book by Gail Snyder

I personally have nothing against the Fil-Ams nor am I judging their “Filipino-ness,” in fact I welcome their quest to explore and appreciate their Filipino roots and heritage. But what I find vexing is the apparent adulation most Filipinos give to Fil-Ams that somehow reinforces our colonial mentality.  

           As I discuss this issue in my class, I asked my students one question that got them thinking: “If we think this way about the Americans, then what does it say about us as Filipinos?” 

And my class came to this realization: It speaks about our belief in our smallness to their greatness. It reveals our insecurity. It shows our lack of confidence as a nation.     

These are just some of the personal reflections and observations about our relations with the US and our perceptions about America. On the government level, we reveal this inequality in how we greatly rely on our security alliance and development aid from the US government, and how sometimes our government allows these factors to influence our foreign policy. On the socio-cultural realm, we display our insecurities with our tendency to seek validation from the Americans as if we need their “pat on the back” for us to believe that we are good or at least “good enough” for them.    

In order to slowly transcend from these perceptions, it is important for Filipinos to be confident about ourselves as a nation. Though the Philippines will never be equal to the US in so many ways, our government need not equate our smallness to mean constant deference to the Americans. We only need to think of our country’s strategic value to the US in terms of its regional interests to raise our leverage. Though Filipinos may learn a lot from the Americans’ ingenuity and expertise in various fields, our nation need not feel constantly inferior to them. We only need to constantly learn and improve ourselves and be reminded of the many unique accomplishments of Filipinos acknowledged all over the world to feel proud of ourselves.

Though these observations are still evident, they are slowly changing.  According to World Focus video report presented by Mark Litke and produced by Ara Ayer, the Philippines is home to talented, industrious, resilient, and yes, independent people. Towards its conclusion, the video highlighted Manny Pacquiao, a pure-blooded Filipino from a poor background, who rose to the top and captured the attention and respect of the Americans and the international community. He is certainly an epitome of who we are and what we can become as a nation. He is definitely a symbol of the Filipinos’ humble roots, proud achievements, and growing self confidence.  

And I could not agree more. There is indeed a “Manny Pacquiao” in us that we should unleash. In the future, I hope to see more Filipinos who are self assured and proud of our nation. I also look forward to shaping the minds of more young Filipinos to be more confident and positive about the country--- one class at a time.          

DISCOVERING THE TOUGH REALITIES IN “THE TOUGHEST PLACE…”

            They were two people who make a living as bus drivers. Both of them were supposed to be born as equals. But why does one live in comfort and the other one struggles just to live?

      This is definitely the toughest question confronting anyone who has seen BBC’s documentary “The Toughest Place to be…” It is a series of documentaries that features British workers doing their jobs in some of the toughest conditions in the world. One of these episodes, “The Toughest Place to be a Bus Driver,” showed Josh West, a London bus driver, going to Manila to do his job. He filled in the shoes of Rogelio Castro who taught him how to drive his jeep. While in Manila, Josh stayed with Rogelio and his family and discovered the heart-breaking disparity in their lives.

You can view this BBC documentary at Youtube.com

            Throughout his stay in Manila, Josh lived the hard life of Rogelio.  He faced an array of problems confronting the poor people like Rogelio living in the developing world. Apparently, it was uncomfortable for Josh and embarrassing for Rogelio. Josh’s shocking discoveries were Rogelio’s awful realities.

      The documentary painfully hits even the hardest of hearts as it reveals the gut-wrenching realities of the many facets of poverty in the Philippines. These issues have long plagued our country and confront most of our fellow Filipinos every day:

- massive traffic,

- growing unemployment and  underemployment,

- insufficient housing,

- excessive population among the poor,

- inadequate health services,

- malnutrition and extreme hunger,  

- high illiteracy rate.

          One of the most disturbing scenes in the documentary was the sight of people eating “pagpag,” leftover food from fast-food restaurants scavenged by the poor from garbage. Josh went to a dump site and met with an old lady who owns a carinderia that serves pagpag. She processes the pagpag by boiling it and frying in hot oil, depending on the condition of the food, before she makes a dish out of it. She makes a living out of scavenging and cooking pagpag that feeds impoverished people who do not have enough money to buy “real food.” For Josh, it was the worst he has witnessed in his life.         

           This is certainly a must- see documentary, not only because it is about the Philippines, but because it is about us as Filipinos. This may be easily dismissed as one of those documentaries that make anyone cringe at the ugly sight of our country. But this is an exceptional documentary that tells about our kababayan’s story through the eyes of a foreigner who has personally experienced living in Manila.  

from BBC's documentary on "The Toughest Place to Be.."

             

          For Filipinos, this is neither a pleasant TV show nor an eye-opening documentary. This is because these dreadful realities point to the harrowing poverty that we often see in our midst. We have grown so accustomed to it that we become desensitized by the destitution of our nation, the inefficiency of our system, and the suffering of the people around us. Eventually, we tend to resign ourselves to this awful fact until it becomes “normal.”

            It seems that the idea behind this documentary is to bring the issues of the developing world into the consciousness of the British people and those from the developed nations. It may also seek to generate compassion among BBC audiences living lives of comfort. But from the eyes of the people who are the subjects of this documentary, it is a chilling reminder of the realities that should not be accepted as “normal.” This should prompt us to take these realities as something that we can overcome.

        After all, Rogelio’s life as a jeepney driver is also the same life that millions of Filipinos live. His anguish resonates with most of us who also feel his pain: “I put everything into my work. All my strength goes into it. If I could work 24 hours to lift my family out of poverty, I would. But no matter how hard I try, my life just doesn’t get any better. I’m just stuck here.”     

       Indeed, his story is our story. His struggle is our struggle. His life of poverty (uneducated driver with low income living in poor conditions) is a reflection of our challenges and failures as a nation. But this should not be our eternal doom. His hope in the future (having his own small business and getting his grandchildren to finish college) can be a motivation for us to do our part and help our nation.

         After living Rogelio’s life and driving his jeep, Josh went back to London a changed man. “He shouldn’t have to work so hard for the little things he’s got,” said Josh after he became witness to Rogelio’s life of poverty. But it was heartwarming to hear him say that, after all he has seen in Rogelio’s life, how can he turn his back on him?  

        Back home, Josh organized a number of fund-raising events to raise money for Rogelio’s family. Two years later, he went back to Manila to personally give Rogelio the financial support he needs for his family’s future. In the end, the show can be credited for being mindful in portraying Westerners, not as the savior of the poor, but as ordinary people who reflected empathy and solidarity in the face of global inequality.    

         Clearly, this documentary is not only for the British but it is also for us Filipinos. Though the show portrayed the state of our poverty as shameful and reprehensible, it also showed the everyday battle for survival and the struggle for dignity among our poor. For Filipinos who have seen the documentary, this must prompt us for collective self-reflection and hopefully, move us towards collective action. If a foreigner can be moved to take action to alleviate the suffering of others, then we should all the more take the lead in improving the lives of our own fellow Filipinos.  

       The “Toughest Place to be a Bus Driver” is essentially a conversation between two people who are searching. For Rogelio, his questions are the toughest to search for answers: Why is it that there are rich people? Why is it that there are poor people? Why is life so unfair? But even without any clear explanations, both men found the toughest to find. For Josh, his experiences led him to a special bond between equals despite the appalling disparity: “We started off as strangers, became friends, and ended up as brothers.”