OOOOPS I DID IT AGAIN!

Lukie had Mama all by himself on his first day at 'Prima Elementari' (grade 1) last Monday. Its good my sister Ica, who just came from Sicily, stayed with Dylan.

Before we left home and took 3 photos of my son on the doorstep, I checked my "gears"... Camera(heavy in my shoulder bag)... DV cam (added weight)... other stuff (like I need them!).

All 20 first graders with us - parents and some 'grannies' waited outside the gate for a tour around the school, a snack after and the welcome "ceremony" by the second graders to their "neophytes".

I thought I'm the only one exaggerating the "documentation" of this big day of school. Turns out that all parents were with their complete paraphernalia hahaha... Our kids were truly superstars(and bored) with our clicks. I thought it was funny, sweet and cute how we parents "over do" it. So, I pointed the DV cam to em' paparazzi parents.

Same as usual, I'm far from making things perfect... or maybe, luck can't seem to agree with me. Something always comes up! Perfection? Luck? Well, that's just putting stupidity in less degrading words hehehe.

Only the 3 shots I took at home, my camera was out of batteries so I just used the still shots of the DV cam. Picture weren't great. That's not all!!! I interchanged PAUSE from RECORD when I thought I was capturing memorable scenes(lol). I'll leave that for you to picture the moving video I took... It makes me dizzy watching it! Made me hate myself too (lol)!

It was for Boogs to watch because he was called to work when it was suppose to be his day off. Lord, why me?hehehe Lukie's first day of school or any events special for my family can't get enough of mama's "side stories"(READ: Mama's Famous Gate) . Hayyy naku, I hope that would be the worst.

Naturally, husband was not at all pleased then I told him the next day when we went to buy Lukie's bus ticket, "Goshhh, what have I become! I was always the best in what I do and I can't even take ON and RECORD right." I didn't hear a reply...

THUNDER COMES AFTER LIGHTNING

Sorry, this has nothing to do with Lightning McQueen! I just love watching this film with my kids and you know, with my "flight of ideas", it just snaps(lol)....

Our Internet connection had been crazy for 4 days now (It feels like a week for each day hehehe). Something was struck by a lightning after the storm we had last Saturday. 'Meno male che' (less hassle cause) our electricity gets back in seconds after shutting off.

Our kids were quite panicky for the thunders that were roaring loud and the lightnings that will jerk you up in fright. Poor Dylan, he clung to me as he cries every after occurrence.

It was chaotic last Monday because banks, the post office, and businesses generated by the net were paralyzed for Cavallino - Treporti(our 'commune'). My sister who went to pay some bills and to post her papers for her permit of stay was asked to come back if the Internet is fixed. Goes to show what a great damage if computers won't work now a days. Yikes! We're becoming dependent to it.

THE IGOROT MOTHER BLOGGER

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family; Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one!" A quote by Jane Howard (1935-1996).

To educate solecism and correct the ill stigma concerning how our fellow countrymen see us, THE IGOROTS, may be impossible. A mother who belongs to "this" tribe who happens to blog, only dreams she could help educate the implications of ignorance about her people. But, what if she tries?

Native Cordillerans who're from the Northern part of the Philippines with the following Provinces: Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Baguio City, Bontoc , Kalinga and Ifugao, are the IGOROTS, who often referred to as the "people from the mountains". With which in it's context is literally true, but sometimes, it is abused and used as a derogatory remark by those who doesn't really know us.

True, we are 'taong bundok'(mountain people) because our homes are situated in the mountains but that doesn't mean we're lesser humans than the people from Iloilo, or Manila, or any other parts of the Philippines. For one we don't have curly hair, not of dark complexion, almost 90 percent of literacy and English is widely spoken than our national language - Filipino.

I don't need to enumerate who is who but just like any other Filipino, many of us are professionals from doctors, to nurses, lawyers, artist etc... Some were successful in businesses that had given prestige to our country like the Narda's Handwoven Arts & Crafts among the many.

Each of our different ETHNIC GROUPS: Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg (or Apayao), Kalinga, Kalanguya and the Kankana-ey, is rich in customs and traditions. The preservation of our culture that was not heaved by the Spanish regime is very symbolic of our ancestor's antagonism to whoever wants to strip our roots- OUR IDENTITY. Neither the American's influence did not eradicate our fashion sense of not to wearing our 'kubal/kuba'(G-strings) for men, 'tapis' for women during special occasions nor our dancing with our gongs and solibao(Igorot drum).

Head hunters? Yes, the Igorots specifically the Kalinga tribe had this practice but that was only true in the past. It had been abolished long before our parents were born.

Seeing our "kind" at the Botanical Garden and Mines View Park being paid to have photos with you as the picture of who we are as Igorots is another limited or unwitted perception. To rather see the dignity of not resorting into stealing just to put food in their mouth is more dignified. "Picture taking", their job, is more noble than wearing 'Barongs' as they comfortably sit "on" government offices corrupting people's money.

Sure, you see some beggars asking you to spare a dime while you sit at Burnham Park. An old lady in particular would even decline food if you you give him that instead of money. Again, that is not the generalization of who we are. Like any other Filipino group, there are less fortunate and your alms are their means to meet their ends.

So next time you scare your children saying, "Sige kayo, kukunin kayo ng Igorot!.."(the Igorots will get you) or when your kids are uncontrolable and you blurted out, "para kayong mga Igorot, doon kayo sa bundok!"(you're like Igorots, stay in the mountais.)... you are doing well in teaching racism, solecism, prejudism and is successful in miseducating them.

"I am an Igorot. Let me be treated as I deserve—with respect if I am good, with contempt if I am no good, irrespective of the name I carry. Let the term, Igorot, remain, and the world will use it with the correct meaning attached to it." –Jose Dulnuan

CIAO SUMMER 2008!

A montage for our PHOTOS OF THE WEEK, a last look of our summer fun. I added some sounds, so put that audio on hehehe...


Create Your Own

ANTICIPATING GRADE I

We had our teacher-parent's meeting for the first graders today. School opening was moved to the 15th of September. Less than a week more and Lukie will have his first day at the 'scoula grande'(school for the big ones).

We were given a long list of things to buy such as a rim of coupon bond, notebooks and other school stuff. These will be left at school except for the rubber shoes for the PE class.

I was seated with Gerson's mom as I translate her what is being discussed. The teacher's stressed mainly on punctuality and said if parents will be late with out informing they won't be on time, even just for 10 minutes, the student will be handed to the police. The 'carabinieri'(police) will be in charge in taking the kid home.

One mother said in Italian, "Yeah that happened to Marra" and we all laughed as we look at Marra. Then she said, "Don't worry, my daughter was treated well and parents wouldn't be put to jail!".

When the meeting was almost over, the teacher asked who would volunteer to be our "mother leader" while we wait for the election of officers come October. The mom of Lukie's bestfriend, Ale, raised her hand quickly. The teacher said(in Italian), "Eeegh, its my first time to see a Mama accepting the job that quick" and we all laughed again.

On Monday next week, we'll have a merienda at the school ground before the kids will get in their classroom. Only for the Grade I pupils. The teachers said they want the first day for the kids as fun and more on getting to know each other and familiarizing them to the their new school.

PERMIT OF STAY

I told the police officer at the 'Questura' that we just retrieved our Permesso di Soggiorno (permit of stay)two months ago and now we're renewing it again. We applied June last 2007 and we got our documents after a year because they interchanged Dylan and Lukie's ID twice. Just me and the kids went in the office yesterday. Boogie had to leave us there for work because our supposed schedule of 10:15 went late to 12:00 noon.

Processing your Residence Permits in Italy: Permesso di Soggiorno(details " how to "- found on this link) is flinty and expensive here. 72 euros in all for: Bollettino postale(€27.50), stamp(€14.72)and Envelope forwarding, (€30.00).

Sometimes it also depends on the officer's mood. Even though you've produced all the papers needed, if he doesn't like your face -tough luck! It also takes a looong time for one's turn, so imagine "the waiting" when you have two little boys around.

It was a speedy "turn" for us, anyway! Thanks to Dylan who was trying to help the police officers rearrange the bulk of papers on their shelves. His noice too while walking from one office to another and him going up and down the chair trying to see what the police officer is clicking on his computer while asking me questions. He said I am 'brava', 'tutto'(everythings) okey and had me finger printed really quick.

In record time, we were out of there and was asked to come back FOUR months to get our renewed 'Permesso di Soggiorno'. FOUR months? How will that be if wonders of miracle will work for us and going home before the year ends will push through? Aghhh, I don't wan'na know.

IMAGE CREDIT: HERE:

OLDEST FILM FESTIVAL

La Biennale di Venezia was concluded last night. Philippines won the Orizzonti price for the movie MELANCHOLIA by Lav DIAZ.

Boogs posted his unsuccessful paparazi shots here Shooting Stars and I'm looking forward for the clear pictures of the "stars" on his blog with his article about it. Then I asked him for these photos: