As I squash the keyboard..

Tags, Links, What are these things?

                My mind is really boggled with these words. They keep on playing around my tiny brain. Seriously, how many neurons do I have to use just to fully absorb this difficult lesson in the small doors of my wits.

                These were the thoughts and complain I had when I first entered the broad world of links and tags. Yes, I was able to accomplish the exercises without even breaking a drop of sweat but honestly I did not completely grasp its genuine idea. It’s like it entered in my right ear and quickly made its way out to my left ear.

                But as we had classes, slowly, I was able to learn the tricks of tags and links and it feels good because before, I always end up dropping my jaw when I see these characters: <, >, em, /p, “, </font> and others being used by some computer experts including some of my classmates who really excel in ICT and have extraordinary intellect to the subject. They also helped me understand the lesson so I am very grateful to them. How I wish their IQ in ICT would be transferred to me. I’m dreaming again.

                Then, one thing came up to my mind. I can’t master these “basic” lessons already, what more if I go through the vast challenges of college? What’s worse is I’m planning to take up computer- related courses! Indeed, I am ambitious. I’ll just strive harder and burn the midnight oil if I could. Who knows? One day, I might (I hope) be an expert in the field of technology as well? But in reality, it still remains as a dream. 

Relish Your Mother Tongue

            “Ayaten tayo iti bukod tayo a dialekto, Ayaten tayo iti Iloko!”

            Being a native of Ilocos Sur whose primary dialect is Iloko, it would be very delightful to hear someone say those words. It emphasizes the true ardor of an individual to his mother language, his mother tongue.

            Our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal once said, “ Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang amoy ng malansang isda”, wherein he exemplifies that we should love and prioritize the use of our national language, Filipino but as I have heard this before, there was a big “but” that kept boggling my curious mind. Wouldn’t it be better if we love and practice the usage of our own native dialects first before moving on with another?

            I’m not saying that I’m in complete disbelief and contradicting a prominent man, but I just want to accentuate that we should apply the First Things First policy wherein we must set our priorities. We may correlate it with history, wherein people before started with the basics until such that we are already living in a highly modernized society. Same with the love for our language, our native dialect should be our precedence.

            It is undeniable that most of us are forgetting and about to forget our mother tongue which is huge slap on the language, we must not let it happen. Some people who were born in Ilocos don’t even know how to speak Iloko anymore because they tend to practice other languages and dialects more often than their own.  

            Let us remember, it’s not yet far from too late, so let us make a move. We are very blessed to have a magnificent dialect like the Iloko so we must indeed cherish it and properly use it. Love your dialect, love your language, love your country and above all, love God Almighty.

            Diyos ti agalwad.