The Grain Center is as Old as Joseph's Dream and Aesop's Fable

Dr Abe V Rotor
Former Director, National Food Authority
 Living with Nature - School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday [www.pbs.gov.ph]

NFA Grain Center in Cagayan Valley, circa 1977

Like the nucleus of a cell depends the life of a nation,

the Center the equalizer in times of plenty and lean,

buffer stock is built like in Joseph's prophetic dream,

of seven years of plenty and seven years of famine.  

Politics of war and peace draws the politics of food;

nothing's really new but terminologies, flag and tool,

and Demeter or Ceres the same goddess of harvest,

so with The Ant and the Grasshopper Aesop fable.~ 

Little Fishermen

Dr Abe V Rotor
 Living with Nature - School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday [www.pbs.gov.ph]

 Fishing in younger days, author (right) and companion, San Fernando La Union, circa 1975

Meager may be their catch for the day,
     loafing on the idle sea;
had a big, big fish come their way,
     wonder where they would be!

They would on the ocean lost and bare,
     to places queer and unknown,
on the highest floor, on a swivel chair,
     or on some engraved stone. 

Fishermen, you love a life at the extreme. 
     with the big fish that got away
in make-believe story, either lie or dream;
     tell us how to fish, we pray. ~

Message on a Palette Board

Dr Abe V Rotor 

Living with Nature - School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday [www.pbs.gov.ph]

 Caked paint on pallete board used by the author, 2016

I labored painting to the last rays of the sun, 
     and all the day's worth was gone;
on my palette board, lo! what I have found,
     a subject never was in my mind. 

A work of art indeed but whose masterpiece?
     and i looked up to heaven to ask
what the images mean and want to convey,
     it's our world wearing a Janus mask.~

Self-Administered Test: History and Great Men and Women

Dr Abe V. Rotor

 Living with Nature - School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday [www.pbs.gov.ph]

Supply the missing word or words/keyword, or statement. Answers are found at the end of the test.

1. Story telling as an art, and form of literature was born in this country. Here the “state-of-the-art of story telling” reached its peak at towards the end of the 19th century.______________

2. Rhett Butler played by Clark Gable said, “Frankly my dear I don’t give a damn.” What is the title of the novel or movie do you find this famous line? ____________

3. This is a popular phrase that captures how powerful Ancient Rome was at the peak of its dominance in the known world._____________________

4. England became the biggest empire in 18th century and had colonies all over the world – India, Australia, US, Canada, to name the most important colonies. There is a famous statement to describe this dominance, which says,________ .

5. This is one element of a good anecdote that stimulates the intellect, sagacity, understanding. It shows cleverness. ____________

6. This is another element of a good story that lifts the spirit, and brings man towards optimistic goals. ________________

7. Bato bato sa langit, ang matamaan ay huwag magalit. This doesn’t speak well of a good story. The refers to ____________

8. Avoid this aspect in story telling, promoting an idea, thing or person. __________

9. This is one aspect we should avoid in story telling: directly imposing a norm or moral obligation._____________

10. It took this man to convince four kings to support his plan to reach East if he goes strait West – thus he named the island he first landed on as East Indies._____________

11. If you are presented with a simple problem that has a simple solution, instead of wasting time and resources, they say, “Cut the Gordian Knot.” Who is the first person who showed it this way by cutting the complicated Gordian Knot with single stroke of his sword? _____________________

12. This flying insect circled a lamp which Rizal used as symbol of martyrdom. _____________

13. He is known even to the present as the “man of the masses,” who on one occasion, promoted an engineer on the spot. _______________________

14. The most loved anecdote teller of all time. His anecdotes, and anecdotes about him, are known all over the world._____________________

15. He took the crown from the hands of the Pope who was about to crown him, and crowned himself. _____________________

16. This is the Lady with a Lamp who made her rounds in the hospital into the wee hours of the morning with a lamp. ______________________

17. This city was named after an emperor whose mother was a Christian in disguise. He became liberal to Christians in practicing their faith, and was made a saint._____________

18. English admiral, ordered by his superior not to proceed in his mission because the enemy ships were waiting. He took the telescope and trained it on his right eye which is blind, and said, “I can’t see the enemy, sir.” ________________

19. He isolated himself in his room for days, eating but little, and when he emerged, his face lighted like that of a saint, and holding his masterpiece Halleluiah. Who is this composer.__________________

20. He attended a concert in which his musical masterpiece Pastoral was played. At the end, the audience stood to pay respect to the composer. Someone had to signal him to acknowledge the ovation.__________________________

Bonus: One of the most famous meetings in history. US newsman Stanley was sent to Africa to search for Dr. David Livingstone. What was Stanley’s greeting?

ANSWERS: 1 United States, Washington Irving (Rip van Winkle), Edgar Allan Poe (The Raven) are among the founders of short story as an art; 2 Gone with the Wind; 3 All roads lead to Rome; 4 The sun never sets on English soil; 5 Wit; 6 Inspirational; 7 fatalism; 8 Propagandism; 9 Moralism; 10 Christopher Columbus; 11 Alexander, the Great; 12 Moth; 13 President Ramon Magsaysay; 14 Abraham Lincoln; 15 Napoleon Bonaparte; 16 Florence Nightingale; 17 Constantine, the Great; 18 National British hero - Horatius Nelson; 19 Handel; 20 Ludwig Van Beethoven; Bonus, Dr. Livingstone, I suppose?

RATING: 19-20 - Excellent - You must be a college professor.
16-18 - Very Good - You are a wide reader, a good student of history.
13-15 - Good - You can initiate a good conversation.
10-12 - Fair - You don't get lost in a good conversation.
9 and below - Read more, listen to Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid.

Catch the Waterfall and the Morning Sun

Mural and Verse by Dr Abe V Rotor
 Living with Nature - School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday [www.pbs.gov.ph]

             
Catch the waterfall before it reaches the sea,
Catch the morning sun before it goes down,
Catch the passing years at every opportunity,
Catch the future as the world goes round.

                                        Dedicated to Carlo Dano 5, Lagro QC, May 2, 2016

Conversation with Nature

Mural and Verses by Dr Abe V Rotor Living with Nature - School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday [www.pbs.gov.ph]

“Don’t be afraid, I am your friend,
neither have I a bow and arrow nor gun
but a big heart for all creation,
I learned from school and my religion.”

“Your gospel of truth and kindness,
of the Good Shepherd’s caring
a lost lamb in danger and darkness,
woe to us in the wilderness.”

 

 

“I know you only in books and on TV screen,

you talk my language in cartoon;

may I ask where on earth have you been?

that I may trace  your lonely zone.”

“Heaven’s sake! Let me and my shrinking flock,

live incognito, away from human,

who fancy my strange call and my color black,

just I thank you, li’l young man. “  

“A seashore in the city, how we wish it so,
to hear the sea, a shell on our ear,
fancy on canned nature in parks and show
In our domicile with least stir.”

“Then you miss creation in its fullest, freest,
the Maker’s greatest masterpiece;
Foolish Homo sapiens, will you ever realize
you’ve been an orphan eversince?”

   

"Owl, symbol of genius and watchfulness,
yet you're elusive and scary to find,
wouldn't you come out from your disquise
and share your gifts to mankind?"

"So little is the impact of my life I may say,
but prey on creepers for your sake,
and your loved ones sweetly fast asleep,
then retreat before daybreak,"

"Fish, teach us how to swim;
birds, teach us how to fly."
that we may cross the oceans
and cruise the open sky."

"You've your niche, so do we,
with neither wings nor fins,
we keep each others' respect,
humility and company."
 

What happiness means to children

Children are better models than adults, children can fulfill their happiness with simple things, while adults seek for more. - Chiara Alyssa Cochico, UST Arts and Lertters
Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]

Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio

738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class Monday to Friday

Happiness is taming a wildflower.

Happiness is a lot of water to play with.

Happiness is taking time out with the family on a weekend.

Happiness is learning to paint.

Happiness is a kid with a kid.

Happiness is anything but work.

Happiness is riding a sled.

Happiness is a program for kids.

Happiness is palo sebo.

Happiness is sailing the sea in make believe.Happiness is guessing who is behind the mask.

Happiness is playing with the saints and angels.

Happiness is with the whole clan on a Sunday on the beach.

Happiness is doing an errand and wading on a stream.

Happiness is waking up in a camp away from home.

Happiness is braving the prehistoric animals in a museum.

Happiness is being flower girls in a wedding.

Happiness is respite in the coolness of a shade.

Happiness is playing at sea - timeless, careless and free.

Happiness is learning the first steps of a dance.

Happiness is graduation time.

Comment:

When I read this article, I was touched because children can be happy on simple things but those simple things are important in life. Happiness with children can be fulfilled because they are contented and they don't aim high enough to be happy,just simple things, and they are happy in taking care of what they have,they care for their surroundings and achieving simple things that they have.

Children are better models than adults, children can fulfill their happiness with simple things. While adults seek for more. Chiara Alyssa Cochico