On Assisted Living
I tried to get out of a place with hospitality
I tried to get out of a place with hospitality
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Friday, October 03, 2025
The American English with a Filipino Accent: A Debate
" Language is not the measure of intelligence, and accent is not the measure of truth: what matters is not how we sound but how we reasound, how we respond to the most urgent call of our time - the survival of our planet. "
This is about a debate, how Filipinos have always been under-estimated on the world stage, and yet time and time again, they have risen from the battlefield to the boardroom, from music stages, to hospitals abroad. Filipinos have been mocked, doubted, and dismissed, only to stand taller after the doors settle. The debate was just a mirror of that larger truth.
Back in that hall, Miguel's teammates - Anna and Joseph - watched with a new energy. They, too, had felt the sting of mockery. Joseph, whose father worked overseas as a seaman, had been teased by foreingers for the way Filipinos said certain English words. Anna, who dreamed of becoming a lawyer, had once been told
by a visiting professor who said so, that Filipinos could never match Western debaters in logic.
But here, in this moment, watching Miguel turn redicule into strength shifts something inside them. They were no longer defending themselves as students. They were carrying the pride of their country.
The opponent was so confident at first, but began to frown, and their smirks faded. One leaned back, crossing his arms so suddenly aware that the Filipino team wasn't there to play the role of comic relief. They were there to win.And as Miguel closed his opening with the words- we are not here to imitate, we are here to reason, and our Filipino voice will be heard.
The hall erupted in applause. That applause was not just for Miguel. It was for every Filipino who had ever been mocked for their English. It was for every overseas worker, correcting foreigners silently in their heads, every nurse in New York speaking clearly despite patients asking Where are you from really.
It was for every Filipino child who had been laughed at for pronouncing the word comfortable so differently, for saying open the lights instead of turn on the lights.
There was applause that carried the weight of a people who had long been told they were less but who had always been more. This was just the beginning. The real test was yet to come. As the debate moved into a fiery exchange of rebuttals where wit and logic collide, but in that first moment when laughter turned into silence something unforgettable happened - a shift, a recognition, a crack in the wall of prejudice, and from that crack a Filipino voice began to rise.
This is about a debate, how Filipinos have always been under-estimated on the world stage, and yet time and time again, they have risen from the battlefield to the boardroom, from music stages, to hospitals abroad. Filipinos have been mocked, doubted, and dismissed, only to stand taller after the doors settle. The debate was just a mirror of that larger truth.
Back in that hall, Miguel's teammates - Anna and Joseph - watched with a new energy. They, too, had felt the sting of mockery. Joseph, whose father worked overseas as a seaman, had been teased by foreingers for the way Filipinos said certain English words. Anna, who dreamed of becoming a lawyer, had once been told
by a visiting professor who said so, that Filipinos could never match Western debaters in logic.
But here, in this moment, watching Miguel turn redicule into strength shifts something inside them. They were no longer defending themselves as students. They were carrying the pride of their country.
The opponent was so confident at first, but began to frown, and their smirks faded. One leaned back, crossing his arms so suddenly aware that the Filipino team wasn't there to play the role of comic relief. They were there to win.And as Miguel closed his opening with the words- we are not here to imitate, we are here to reason, and our Filipino voice will be heard.
The hall erupted in applause. That applause was not just for Miguel. It was for every Filipino who had ever been mocked for their English. It was for every overseas worker, correcting foreigners silently in their heads, every nurse in New York speaking clearly despite patients asking Where are you from really.
It was for every Filipino child who had been laughed at for pronouncing the word comfortable so differently, for saying open the lights instead of turn on the lights.
There was applause that carried the weight of a people who had long been told they were less but who had always been more. This was just the beginning. The real test was yet to come. As the debate moved into a fiery exchange of rebuttals where wit and logic collide, but in that first moment when laughter turned into silence something unforgettable happened - a shift, a recognition, a crack in the wall of prejudice, and from that crack a Filipino voice began to rise.
Thursday, October 02, 2025
The River of Life
The Flow of Communications
The Alphabet comes from the Greek words Alpha and Beta, which influenced the Roman Latin Alphabet. Because of this, the English Alphabet is known as the Latin Alphabet or Roman Alphabet. No one person or group of people created the English Alphabet.
Who invented the Alphabet - A to Z?
The Phoenicians' alphabetical order makes it easier to learn and share with others. But the Phoenicians and Egyptians used only consonants, as people began to write more and more, and more words were needed to be created to describe different things.
The Greeks accepted vowels:
Vowels, consonants, and the letter "J"
The most important traders were from the Phoenicians - known today as Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.
They spread the alphabet to the towns and villages that surrounded the Mediterranean Sea.
The Greek Alphabet looks a lot like ours, but our letters took their final form in Italy. First, the Etruscan people, and then the Romans, adapted Greek letters to fit their language. The Romans spread their language and its alphabet all over modern Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. The earliest example of the Latin alphabet in use is called the duenos inscription and comes from the sixth century BCE, 2,500 years ago. Even then, the Alphabet was still incomplete because Latin didn't have all the sounds that are common today. The most obvious is the letter J, even though the first letter of the first month of the Roman calendar was January.
Thursday, August 21, 2025
The Amazing World
08/21/25 Thursday - Heart Testing at Ultra Sound at the Swedish Covenant Hospital
Swedish Covenant Hospital. Beautiful day... I noticed the floors were clean. It brings back the era of courage and resilience.
The journey beyond oblivion.
The ripples in the sea of Time.
A memory and a companion.
In every epoch in every clime.
A moment of undying ember
That rekindles a wondrous thing
The essence of life, to remember:
To pray to God, to live. and to sing.
A memory and a companion.
In every epoch in every clime.
A moment of undying ember
That rekindles a wondrous thing
The essence of life, to remember:
To pray to God, to live. and to sing.
Saturday, March 29, 2025
THE GT OBSERVER
God Bless the Philippines
God bless our cherished Philippines
Land of treasures, mountains, and seas
Of sugar canes and their central plains
Guide her, O God, and these our pleas.
Watch over our dear Philippines
Through the emergence of progress
That you have never before seen
Of unity, we have to address.
We love our country, our birthland
We love the freedom that we earned
The shore, the lake, the foamy strand
The love and beauty that we have learned.
God bless our cherished Philippines
Land of treasures, mountains, and seas
Of sugar canes and their central plains
Guide her, O God, and these our pleas.
Watch over our dear Philippines
Through the emergence of progress
That you have never before seen
Of unity, we have to address.
We love our country, our birthland
We love the freedom that we earned
The shore, the lake, the foamy strand
The love and beauty that we have learned.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
THE GT OBSERVER
The Boy Scout Oath
"On my honor, I'll do my best to do my duty to God and country. To help other people at all times. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight, help me, God."
During my Elementary days, I was a cute, small kid who, during an exercise on the Boy Scouts pyramid building. was always at the top. proudly reciting the Boy Scout Oath and ending with a right-hand salute.
There was a Philippine Military Training (PMT). In College, there was the Reserve Training Course (ROTC). This is a two-year requirement, or you cannot graduate. At Zamboanga A E College, Zamboanga City, I took the Air Force Reserve Training, and at the Andres Bonifacio College, Dipolog City, I took the Army ROTC.
By the way, my learning journey has a colorful beginning and has no ending. At this point, I am still a disciple of learning. even with the advent of the computer, the smartphone, and the AI. (Artificial Intelligence.) Thanks to the Phoenicians, the ancient traders. No man is an island.
At a public school, I freely had my elementary education. My high school was at a religious private school from my freshman year to junior year. And my Senior year was with Ateneo de Zamboanga, Zamboanga City. An all-boys Catholic school.. I graduated with honors as a Salutatorian due to a lack of residence. At that time, I was with Dr. Paquito Barrios, who paid for my school tuition. I was groomed to take up a Medical Tech (which was a Two-year course) as the doctor was planning to put up a private clinic.
Yet the wind of change carried me to the Zamboanga School of Arts and Trade to take up Drafting, but the class was temporarily closed due to the lack of student enrollees. Meanwhile, a kindhearted pilot, Capt. Cervero came to my succor and offered me a job to maneuver a pilot boat as foreign vessels can't dock without the guidance of the wharf Pilot.
Addendum: At Ferrer High School, I was one of the top four students. Unknowingly to my classmates, the English and Literature teacher, Mrs. Inclan, assigned me to check the test papers.
However, beyond my expectations at the Zamboanga AE College, in the Law class of Atty. Romulo Plagata, I checked the test papers. This was in the Law class of Atty. Romulo Plagata. During this time, I was also a Literary Editor of the Campus college paper.
I was taking a Bachelor of Science in Education degree majoring in History and minoring in English. There was an intramural debate between the College of Law and the College of Education. The topic: That electoral campaign must be limited to 3 months. The Educators were on the affirmative side with two High School Valedictorians and one Salutatorian. To ensure the win, a plan of attack was made with the broadcast and media. They were seasoned guys of the profession. They were buddies. The result was triumphant. The Educators won. It was the first in the College Intramural history in debate. It was always the Lawyers, the College of Law.
In my last days of College, I was elected as president of the College Student Council. I was privileged to find a Graduation speaker. I knocked at the door of the mayor of Zamboanga City, Mr. Cesar Climaco. He was not available at that time, but luck emerged in the former seminarian and the Director of the Philippine Muslim College in Jolo, Sulu, Mr. Rodulfo Canivel, who was in Zamboanga City to recruit teachers to teach in High School and College, and also a band instructor. I told Mr. Canivel that they are available. They are my classmates and new graduates. Tell them to come with you and see me at the City Hotel. Thank you very much, sir, I politely answered.
In retrospect, my school days were colorful. I was at the crossroads of a decision on what really makes sense in being a Homo sapiens. At the end of the day, I realized I am a man of flesh, bones, and blood.
Yet the wind of change carried me to the Zamboanga School of Arts and Trade to take up Drafting, but the class was temporarily closed due to the lack of student enrollees. Meanwhile, a kindhearted pilot, Capt. Cervero came to my succor and offered me a job to maneuver a pilot boat as foreign vessels can't dock without the guidance of the wharf Pilot.
Addendum: At Ferrer High School, I was one of the top four students. Unknowingly to my classmates, the English and Literature teacher, Mrs. Inclan, assigned me to check the test papers.
However, beyond my expectations at the Zamboanga AE College, in the Law class of Atty. Romulo Plagata, I checked the test papers. This was in the Law class of Atty. Romulo Plagata. During this time, I was also a Literary Editor of the Campus college paper.
I was taking a Bachelor of Science in Education degree majoring in History and minoring in English. There was an intramural debate between the College of Law and the College of Education. The topic: That electoral campaign must be limited to 3 months. The Educators were on the affirmative side with two High School Valedictorians and one Salutatorian. To ensure the win, a plan of attack was made with the broadcast and media. They were seasoned guys of the profession. They were buddies. The result was triumphant. The Educators won. It was the first in the College Intramural history in debate. It was always the Lawyers, the College of Law.
In my last days of College, I was elected as president of the College Student Council. I was privileged to find a Graduation speaker. I knocked at the door of the mayor of Zamboanga City, Mr. Cesar Climaco. He was not available at that time, but luck emerged in the former seminarian and the Director of the Philippine Muslim College in Jolo, Sulu, Mr. Rodulfo Canivel, who was in Zamboanga City to recruit teachers to teach in High School and College, and also a band instructor. I told Mr. Canivel that they are available. They are my classmates and new graduates. Tell them to come with you and see me at the City Hotel. Thank you very much, sir, I politely answered.
In retrospect, my school days were colorful. I was at the crossroads of a decision on what really makes sense in being a Homo sapiens. At the end of the day, I realized I am a man of flesh, bones, and blood.
Thursday, February 27, 2025
The Lover
Lovepoem
Adrift in the shimmering cryptic yesterday
Glowing remarkably in the smithy of my heart
With abysmal ignorance generating delay
The power of unstoppable love's part.
Pressing the pulse of endless palpitation
Punctuated once in a great while by reflection
On the University of Experimentation and Realization
I love this life
Pregnant with strife
Teeming with wonders
Beauty, love, and lovers.
By: Greg Intas Trabanca. Published in October 8, 2002
The International Library of Poetry
1 Poetry Plaza, Owings Mills, MD 21117
www. poetry.com
Glowing remarkably in the smithy of my heart
With abysmal ignorance generating delay
The power of unstoppable love's part.
Pressing the pulse of endless palpitation
Punctuated once in a great while by reflection
On the University of Experimentation and Realization
I love this life
Pregnant with strife
Teeming with wonders
Beauty, love, and lovers.
By: Greg Intas Trabanca. Published in October 8, 2002
The International Library of Poetry
1 Poetry Plaza, Owings Mills, MD 21117
www. poetry.com
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
5751 N Jersey Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60659
To Whom It May Concern:
This is to certify that Salvador Ortanez, Jr. a lessee has entered into an agreement with the Lessor, Gregory Trabanca for the apartment building at 6234 N. Washtenaw Ave. Chicago, 60659
This is to certify further that he has to pay the two- month payments of Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00) from January and February 2025 to a total of One Thousand Two Hundred Dollars (1,200.00).
Done this 25th day of February 2025.
Lessor - Gregory Trabanca
Lessee - Salvador Ortanez, Jr.
Monday, February 24, 2025
The Recorder
Dear Everyone,
With all due respect, I am inspired to be with you this day in this building that I am familiar with. We are all Recorders, Storytellers, Caregivers, Engineers, and Drivers.
Recorder - We always record anything we do: in our mind, in our notes - digital or hard copy. Obviously, we are all familiar with the keys of the typewriter, phone, computer
Storytellers: We all have stories to tell - true or false.
Caregivers: We are all - we care for those who need care - the sick, the lonely, the hopeless, the what-ever-will be-will be, the fateful, and the faithless.
Nurses: the Florence Nightingale."The Lady with the Lamp"
(A Nightingale is a tiny bird best known for its powerful and beautiful song.)
Florence Nightingale: Born on May 12, 1820, in a Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Died on August 13, 1910 in Mayfair, London, England. She is British and known for her Pioneering Modern Nursing.
Awards: She received the Royal Red Cross Lady of Grace of the Order of John St. award in 1904 and the Order of Merit in 1907. In 1908, she laid the foundation of Professional Nursing at St. Thomas Hospital in London- the first Secular Nursing School in the world, now part of King's College, London.
Reforms: These included empowering health care for all sections of British society, advocating better hunger relief in India, helping to abolish prostitution laws that were hard for women, and expanding the acceptable form of female participation in the workforce.
Engineers: We are all - in the modern world, engines are everywhere, handy and easy to use. Operating them is just a touch or a click of the fingers.
Drivers: We are all. Even the child can drive toys. Reading this could drive you to heights of inspiration
King Solomon said, As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Humans are unconquerable as they are the masters of their fate and the captains of their souls. -William Ernest Henley (Invictus.)
By: Greg Intas Alcala Caponong Gonzaga Trabanca
gtrabanca@ gmail.com 773 814 0728
Storytellers: We all have stories to tell - true or false.
Caregivers: We are all - we care for those who need care - the sick, the lonely, the hopeless, the what-ever-will be-will be, the fateful, and the faithless.
Nurses: the Florence Nightingale."The Lady with the Lamp"
(A Nightingale is a tiny bird best known for its powerful and beautiful song.)
Florence Nightingale: Born on May 12, 1820, in a Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Died on August 13, 1910 in Mayfair, London, England. She is British and known for her Pioneering Modern Nursing.
Awards: She received the Royal Red Cross Lady of Grace of the Order of John St. award in 1904 and the Order of Merit in 1907. In 1908, she laid the foundation of Professional Nursing at St. Thomas Hospital in London- the first Secular Nursing School in the world, now part of King's College, London.
Reforms: These included empowering health care for all sections of British society, advocating better hunger relief in India, helping to abolish prostitution laws that were hard for women, and expanding the acceptable form of female participation in the workforce.
Engineers: We are all - in the modern world, engines are everywhere, handy and easy to use. Operating them is just a touch or a click of the fingers.
Drivers: We are all. Even the child can drive toys. Reading this could drive you to heights of inspiration
King Solomon said, As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Humans are unconquerable as they are the masters of their fate and the captains of their souls. -William Ernest Henley (Invictus.)
By: Greg Intas Alcala Caponong Gonzaga Trabanca
gtrabanca@ gmail.com 773 814 0728
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