Friday, September 30, 2022

Namkook 22: When Art is a Conversation

 

Thursday, September 29, 2022

Back in the National Museum of Fine Arts with Titas of BTS

We made the reservation for a guided tour a month before the scheduled visit to the National Museum of Fine Arts. It was a tour planned for a small group of 30 people, all women including their daughters, from the ARMY fanbase Titas of BTS. 

It is Namkook Month. Our biases and idols, Kim Namjoon and Jeon Jungkook celebrate their birthdays on September. Among ARMYs, Namjoon is the group's leader and Jungkook is the golden maknae. Casual listeners would identify them as Kpop idols.  However, Joon and JK have evolved into global ambassadors of art and culture. One is an aesthete and the other is a natural visual artist. This visit at the country's National Museum of Fine Arts is a fitting Namjooning activity celebrating JK's artistic inclinations as well. 

As lead coordinator of the tour, I was nervously excited. But all ARMYs know this: You never walk alone. In the morning of Saturday, September 24, 2022, we trooped to the National Museum of Fine Arts with high expectations. 

The National Museum did not disappoint. It is brighter and brilliant from the one I knew back in 2019. The Spoliarium is glorious and Botong Francisco's mural at the Old Senate Session Hall is awe inspiring. Select light wells and stairways have installation art pieces punctuated by chandeliers that glow of yellow and white light. Gone are the dark and creepy corners! Even the hallways and alleys are well lit that paintings of the Quincentennial Anniversary of Manila were exhibited there. There are new exhibit halls and the tour guides and staff are uber friendly and approachable.

Indeed, there is so much to see and enjoy from the tour. A half day visit is not enough. We will definitely go back!

Many thanks to the admins of Titas of BTS and the moderators whom I share this love for BTS, especially our bias and favorite maknae, Lynnette and Chellay. The tour was made extra special as I met my dear friend from way back, Rosette Crelencia who now heads the Research, Collections and Conservation Division. 

Borahae! ApoBangPo!

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Reading Now: Orphan Price

Book Review: Ang Dangkal ni Matmat

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Our Four Books in the FRCA 2022

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Reading Matters: Comprehension and the Cognitive Model

In this era of Covid, I had the opportunity to go back to reading clinician work. In late 2020, I joined the team of CRAIN (Center for Reading Assessment and Intervention, Inc.) as literacy coach and intervention teacher. I am learning and relearning reading and literacy concepts all over again. This informs my teaching practice and intervention teaching.

Every Tuesday night, CRAIN teachers come together and discuss matters important to us like, Reading Comprehension.



Reading Comprehension can be viewed in this Cognitive Model by McKenna and Stahl (2009). From a Bottom-Up (left going right) perspective reading comprehension can be taught from the basic skills. Seen the other way (right to left) is an approach to identify strenths and weaknesses on reading comprehension skills. This is leaning more on an evidenced based teaching practice using reading assessment as tool to aid teachers in planning units of study. 

Another way to use this model as a framework for teaching reading comprehension skills is to combine both approaches of Bottom-Up and Assessment Informed Teaching mindful of the results. This way, the model becomes a framewrok that will help teachers identify gaps in learning and specific reading comprehension skills that need intervention or enrichment.

Preparing lessons and making a unit of study is a science as well as a craft.

Sunday, September 18, 2022

TOB Namkook 22: Tour of the National Museum


Let’s enjoy this museum tour by:

·      *  Wearing comfy clothes and footwear

·       *  Taking pictures with the flash turned OFF

·       * Being mindful of other people visiting the museum

·       * Not touching the artworks or paintings

·       * Asking questions to the tour guide if you have some

·       * Being aware of the artworks that affected you in one way or the other

·       * Reading and taking note of the names of artist and their works

 

Important things to remember:

·       1. ART is an expression communicated through a specific medium or media.

·       2. Not all ART is perfect but all ART is purposeful.

·       3. ART is open ended and prompts us to think: who gives meaning and value to art? There is no one answer to this question; however, it provides us with opportunities to make a choice; to exercise our agency in the creation, communication and curation of art pieces; and, to be inspired to seek ways in expressing ourselves in an art form we know best.

·       4. ART challenges us to see the perspective of others; to go beyond our own realities; to be delighted and in some cases, the effect an artwork can evoke can be disturbing or offensive.

·       5. Whatever the effect an art work has on you, hold your truth lightly in your hands and allow the artists’ works to speak to you.

 

😊 Have a conversation with the artists and their art works and there you may discover new insights you never thought you have 😊

·       * What does the artwork convey to you through its colors, lines, shapes and perspectives?

·      *   What feelings does it evoke in you?

·       * How does the art work move you?

The guided tour can provide us with information on the artworks. When we go solo in our visits of the exhibition halls of our choice, it is when we can engage in art and the artist in a more personal way.

Have fun Titas!


😊 Team Namkook 22 😊

Kuwentong Bangtan: Pearl ARMYs as a Force of Good

Because fanbases, especially those composed of women, can be a force of good.

I am a proud member and moderator of Titas of BTS  (TOB), an online community of working women, empowered and accomplished in their own field of discipline who stan BTS. For nearly two years now, I have an active involvement in the many activities which the TOB Admins and Moderators design, plan and roll out for its members. The experience is not for the faint of heart, but it is equally fulfilling. Besides the usual "kilig" over BTS, we come together to live out the experience of what BTS stands for.

Bangtan speaks of many things of value to living a full and happy life in the face of challenges and struggles that are personal and societal. They inspire ARMYs to constantly seek meaning and self worth. Through their songs, they invite ARMY to walk with them as they have expereinces similar and significat to fans despite their "idol" status. If not intentionally, they promote fun and play, intelligent humor and the nurturing of deep friendships in the most natural way. I am still perplexed at the display of authencity of the Bangtan Guys but, they are sincere people without even trying. They are not perfect and in many interviews, live vlogs and socmed postings, they express their fears, admit their mistakes and show ways to make up for it. Over the years, they have learned to draw the line between their personal lives and "idol" or artist persona.

Needless to say, they are learning constantly. Theirs is a journey of becoming. As ARMY, it's a ride I am willing to take on with them. So, it is not surprising how Tobbies (a nickname we fondly call each other) such as myself can organize activities and events for a good cause. It's Namkook Month this September and we have a book club discussion for self care and personal growth; a book donation drive to share this love for oneself to others; and a tree planting activity at Happy Farm, Pototatn Iliolo. For those saying that ARMYs are freaking, shrieking 15 year old girls, think again. 

Also, 15 year old girls who shreik over their idols are a collective force to be reckoned with. That is the future you are mocking. STOB it. There are ways to guide, harness and grow such energy into something creative and beautiful.    

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Kuwentong Bangtan: TOB Namkook22: Tour of the National Museum of Fine Arts

Tour of the National Museum of Fine Arts 

Saturday, 9AM – 12NN September 24, 2022

Number of Participants: 30 participants, members of Titas of BTS (plus tag-alongs)

Lead Program Coordinators: Titas Zarah, Chellay and Lynette

Schedule and Groupings

8.00 – 8.45: Meet up at NatMu FA and orientation

8.45 – 9.00: Registration at the NatMu Desk

9:00 – 9:45: Guided Group Tour c/0 NatMu Guide

*Before we break into our own explorations and visitations of the exhibit halls, as one big group, let us convene at the Old Senate Hall.

9:45 – 11:15: Going Solo: Individual Tour of the Exhibit Halls

11:15 – 11:30: Group Game

11:30 – 12:00: Processing of Experience

Priming Activity: Something to think about before the visit/tour

When was the last time you visited a museum?

What was your intent or purpose for visiting a museum?

What are you most excited about on this tour of the National Museum of Fine Arts?

Why are you excited to join and take this tour with Titas of BTS?

* These questions are aimed to help you and us, TOB Admins and Mods, in making the experience more meaningful on a personal level and relevant to our growing fanbase, Titas of BTS.


Friday, September 9, 2022

About the NCBA Kids' Choice Award

Around mid-August, I received some questions from Ms. Neni Sta. Romana Cruz on the awarding of the Kids Choice Awards last July. Here is our brief exchange on the awards. If anything there is plenty to talk about the KCA which I hope to do with our school library people soon!

Why is it important to have a Kids' Choice? 

For children to be able to make choices on books and reading materials is an act of freedom. It is empowering to exercise this choice. When kids read the book of their choice, they have agency. Of course, the selections come from an industry who love children and whose passion for books and reading is genuine. As a literacy coach and teacher, I have observed how engaged my students are in learning challenging comprehension skills when they read a text of their choice.


How were the child judges chosen? 

This year, PBBY and NBDB partnered with Teach for the Philippines in choosing kid judges. 

What are their ages?  

They are children in the elementary grades. The first criterion in selecting kid judges is that they must be readers.

Don't their titles coincide with Best Reads?

No. And I am glad :-) So much to learn from children!


Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Book and Bangtan Song Review: Kafka on the Shore and Butterfly

Butterfly is the third track in BTS' fourth mini-album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt.2. It has grown on me since we officially launched the TOB channel on Stationhead, TOB 0709 Radio, last June. The music is soothing and yet, in Bangtan fashion, "may kurot sa puso". And the lyrics, ohmama-my!

RM's verse tugs at my heart strings:
The small pieces guttered down darkly
From my heart, a barren noise
I don’t know if this is reality or a dream
My Kafka on the shore

Don’t go to those woods over there

My heart is still shattering on you
(I just wanted to vaporize like this)
My love that is forever
It's all free for you baby
~ from Genuis English Translations
It is crafty too since the lyrics have metaphors and references to Korean beliefs, pop culture and literature that makes the song so rich in meaning and in composition. Kafka on the Shore, a book by Haruki Murakami is in RM's verse. The themes of losing innocence and the fear of being detached to what is pure and beautiful permeate the novel. And so does Butterfly, the song.
Don't we all feel this way at some point in our lives?
Bangtan sings their experiences to us and we mirror them because these are significant life journeys we all go through. Loss and grief are never easy to manage and live through. Bangtan assures us that in the midst of pain and sacrifice, life goes on and there, joy can be found.
If you haven't read Kafka on the Shore, I recommend you pick up a copy as it is a good companion to Butterfly and the entire album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt.2.

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