Choosing a Pattern of

Development
Examples and Illustrations
When I was younger, I fantasized about how wonderful life would be when I got my first job and moved
into my own apartment. But now that I actually live in one, my dreams have turned into nightmares. First
of all, my landlady has been irresponsible. About a month ago, my faucet developed a leak and flooded
my kitchen and dining area. I had to call her three times before she finally sent a plumber two days later.
In the meantime, I was faced with cleaning up two inches of water on the floor, and living with a massive
puddle for a carpet in my bedroom. During the hottest part of summer, the power went out, and again I
had to call my landlady numerous times before she finally sent an electrician a week later. My apartment
was unbearably hot so I had to spend the nights sleeping naked on the concrete floor while fanning myself.
Perhaps the worst problem has been with the inconsiderate neighbors who live in the apartment beside
me. They keep weird hours, often coming home drunk (or drugged?) around three in the morning and
making a huge racket as they argue with each other. Furthermore, they host loud drinking parties even on
week nights that last far into the night. Their irritating videoke sing-alongs or hip hop music is turned up so
loud that I cant even drown out the bass sound with earplugs and a pillow over my head. Needless to say,
I am searching for a new apartment, and I am even considering renting a small room, or bed space even.
Narration
The school bell rang and the fourth year college students rushed from their last hour classes in search
of their companions. Immediately they found their friends, forming the usual cliques out on the corridors.
Isabela, a confident senior, was surrounded by her close friends and their mission was to make party plans
that Friday night. After they decided on what to do, Isabela and her best friend Karina began their long
walk home. Karina then began to tell Isabela that she didn t want Jessica going with them that night
because of the ugly rumors she heard earlier in English class. Karina told Isabela that she refused to hang
out with Jessica. Isabela stopped walking, turned around, looked directly into Karina s eyes, and
explained to her that true friends don t believe rumors about friends. Next, she told her that gossip is not
true and is only started by jealous people. After further explanation, Karina was convinced that the tales
were false and that she shouldve defended Jessica earlier that day.

Description
I have always been fascinated by carnival rides during fiestas. It amazes me that average, ordinary
people eagerly trade in the serenity of the ground for the chance to be tossed through the air like ping
pong balls in a Lotto draw. It amazes me that at some time in history someone thought that people would
actually enjoy this, and that person invented what must have been the first of these terrifying machines.
For me, it is precisely the thrill and excitement of having survived the ride that keeps me coming back for
more. My first experience with a carnival ride was a Ferris wheel at a Linggo ng Bulacan fair. Looking at
that looming monstrosity spinning the life out of its sardine-caged occupants, I was dumbstruck. It was
huge, smoky, noisy, and intimidating. Ever since that initial impression became fossilized in my
imagination many years ago in grade school, these rides have reminded me of mythical beasts, amazing
dinosaurs--like in Jurassic Park--carrying off their screaming passengers like sacrificial virgins to the
slaughter. Even the droning sound of their rusty engines brings to mind the great roar of a fire-breathing
dragon in Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings with smoke spewing from its exhaust-pipe nostrils. My
fascination with these fantastic flights is deeply ingrained in my nerves.

Process
How to Cook Kare-Kare
First of all, wash the pigs tripe, tail, and leg well. Place them in a large casserole and cover with
plenty of water. Bring the water to a boil, removing scum as it rises. Cover and simmer until tender for
about 4 or 6 hours. Then, transfer the meat to a plate; cool and cut into serving pieces. Strain the stock
and measure 6 cups (you may need less but its better to be prepared).

Second step is to cut the head of cabbage in half and remove the core. Cut off the roots and 1/2 inch
of the pechay stalks. Cut off the roots of the sitaw as well and cut the long string beans into 2 length.
Likewise, discard tough outer layers of the puso ng saging (heart of a banana plant) and cut its inner layers
into 2 x 2 pieces. Then cut the eggplant into 2 x 2 cubes.
Thirdly, place rice flour in a skillet and toast over medium-high heat until golden brown, then set it
aside.
Afterwards, in a casserole, put oil over medium heat. Add the annato seeds and cook until they render
color as the oil turns into a bright red. With a slotted spoon, remove the seeds and discard them. Increase
the heat to medium-high and saut the diced onions (sibuyas) and minced garlic (bawang) for about 30
seconds. Then, add meat pieces and cook until they absorb the color of the oil. Pour in 4 cups of stock
and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and add vegetables in the following order with a 2-minute
interval: sitaw, eggplant, puso ng saging, cabbage, and pechay.
Meanwhile, mix peanut butter with 1/2 cup of the stock, and the roasted rice flour with another 1/2 cup
of the stock. Once the pechay has been added, pour in the peanut butter and rice flour mixtures into the
casserole. Stir to blend well and season with salt. Cook the kare-kare for about 2 minutes until the sauce
is thick.
Finally, serve it hot with bagoong alamang (sauted shrimp paste).

Comparison and Contrast

The most notable difference between fresh foods and canned goods is their flavor. Fresh foods have
great taste because they keep all their natural goodness. Canned goods, on the other hand, lack a lot of
their spice because of the chemical products added to the natural produce before packaging. Still, canned
goods are notorious for being higher in added salt and sugar--not to mention the preservatives they often
require (such as emulsifiers and binders found in desserts) to prolong their shelf life and apparent
freshness. By comparison, fresh foods--provided they have not been overcooked--arrive at your table with
their appearance largely unchanged, and their nutrients (including fiber content) intact. Whereas, it may
seem plain illogical to think that canned goods processed a year or more before they are consumed could
actually still be as nutritious. It is logical therefore that the fresh foods will have better taste when
consumed due to the time in which they have been prepared. Nevertheless, it is important to remember
that fresh foods are often transported over long distances and then left to sit on store shelves. The time
lapse between picking and purchase can cause fresh foods--like fruits and vegetables--to lose some of
their nutritional value as they are exposed to light and air. In contrast, some say that the nutrients in
natural produce remain largely intact regardless of how they are processed or canned. Similarly, canning
allow out-of-season produce to be available throughout the year to the delight of consumers everywhere.
Hence, canned goods are easier to find in a supermarket or grocery store, and are often less expensive
and more readily available than their fresh counterparts in most places. Furthermore, canned goods are
convenient to prepare; you just open, heat (optional), and serve in an instant. Although most nutritionists
and dieticians would agree that fresh foods are nutritionally ideal, they would also always add that it is
better to eat canned goods than no food at all. In fact, the convenience of canned goods may encourage
people to consume more of these foods, and conversely snack less on junk.

Analogy
Ants are so much like human beings as to be an embarrassment. They build homes, collect food, farm
fungi, raise aphids as livestock, launch armies into wars, discriminate against other races (red ants fighting
black ants), use chemical sprays to confuse enemies, and capture slaves. Some of them, like the weaver
ants, even engage in child labor by holding their larvae like shuttles to spin out the thread that sews the
leaves together for their fungus gardens. They communicate and exchange information ceaselessly. They
do everything but watch TV, surf the Internet, and exchange text messages.
I guess, Im not the only one who sees the analogy between ants and humans. My girlfriend tried to
give me an example on how big our universe is by making me imagine an ant on a basketball. The little
ant can walk all around it, but how can it imagine the size of the Earth? Also, on my best friend s funeral,

there was this priest who didnt read from the Bible nor pray much. I remember him saying something like:
We are like ants when it comes to God or life and death...we are too small to see the whole reality. For
how can a little ant see whats behind a great mountain?

Cause and Effect

Smoking has many serious effects. The most obvious is the deterioration of a smoker s health.
Smoking increases the risk of lung disease, high blood pressure, and heart attack--not least it reduces the
flow of oxygen to the brain. Smoking creates respiratory problems. A smoker s cough expels phlegm--a
disgusting substance that wants to escape the body. Prolonged use may lead to emphysema and the
need to hook up to a machine to pump enough oxygen into the lungs, if not the brain so one can think
rationally. Another effect of this bad habit is that it breeds halitosis; a smoker s breath always smells like a
garbage dump. Smoking frequently results in social isolation because not all people smoke or want to be
in the presence of second-hand smoke. Non-smokers don t want to be treated like fighting cocks ( manok
na panabong) or roosters which get cigarette smoke blown into their faces every morning. Friends and
acquaintances often bluntly tell their smoking friends that they don t want the smell in their cars, offices, or
homes. The strong, foul odor of smoke clings to a smoker s clothes, hair, and skin. The economical effect
of smoking is that it depletes the pocket. Smoking is an expensive habit, and the price of cigarettes
continues to rise, thanks to E-VAT and the excise tax. The effects of smoking are many, which leave one
wondering why intelligent and beautiful people in Makati do not find a way to break their harmful addiction.
After all, we breathe the same air that they breathe.

Classification and Division

There are roughly three Manilas. There is, first, the Manila of the native who was born there, who
takes the city for granted and accepts its size and its turbulence as natural and inevitable. Second, there
is the Manila of the daily commuter--the city that is devoured by locusts ( balangs) each day and spat out
each night like the pulp (sapal) of sugar cane (tubo). Third, there is the Manila of the person who was born
somewhere else and came to the city in quest of something. Of these three trembling cities, the greatest is
the last--the city of final destination, the city that is a goal. It is this third city that accounts for Manila s
high-strung personality, its poetical nature, its dedication to the arts and pop culture, and its incomparable
achievements. Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness, natives give it solidity and continuity, but the
settlers give it passion. And whether it is a promdi arriving from the Visayas to set up a mami food cart in
Tondos slums, or a young girl arriving from a small town in Luzon to pursue her education at the University
Belt, or a boy arriving from Mindanao with a college diploma in his bag and a pain in his heart, it makes no
difference--each embraces Manila with the intense excitement of first love, each absorbs Manila with the
fresh eyes of an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker), each generates heat and light to dwarf the Meralco
(Manila Electric Company).
Definition
Pinoy Rock--or Filipino Rock--is that brand of rock music originating in the Philippines and produced by
Filipinos, or, more specifically, as rock music with Pinoy cultural sensibilities. It is a form of popular music
in the country with a prominent vocal melody accompanied by guitar, drums, and bass. Many artists also
use keyboard instruments such as piano or synthesizers, and some even use turntables and ethnic or
native instruments. Pinoy Rock usually has a strong back beat, often revolving around guitar--either
electric or acoustic. It has its roots in 1950s-era American and British rock n roll. In the 1960s, Pinoy
Rock was blended with folk music to create folk rock, blues to create blues rock, and jazz to create jazzrock fusion; and without a time signature to create psychedelic or hippie music. In the 1970s, Pinoy Rock
incorporated influences from soul, funk, and Latin music. Later, in the 1980s and 1990s, it developed a
number of subgenres so that Pinoy Rock today has become as diverse as the broad rock music category
itself, and bands adopting this style are now further classified under more specific labels like Mainstream,
Alternative, Independent (Indie), Progressive, and Underground; or combinations of subgenres like Rap
(Hip Hop), Pop, Ethnic, Reggae, Ska, New Wave, Punk, Emo, Hardcore, Metal, etc. Sadly, labeling music
somehow stifles it, for that is not what music is all about. If music is a universal language, then it should be
free from labels. At any rate, most underground or indie bands hate being labeled mainstream. They
associate this with selling out and the radio-friendly teen idols they despise. Funny, these artists want to

remain in touch with their roots, yet they also seek rockstardom. Yes, that s the irony of it all; and that
perhaps is what Pinoy Rock is all about. It is generally born out of the Filipino s love for music, and
honestly, its leaning towards something Western or alien--courtesy of colonial mentality. Apparently, local
rockers started out listening to foreign bands where they learned the basics, and from there, these
rakistas tried to search for their own voice, combining outside influences with their identity. With the
passage of time and other musical styles in the Philippines, many music journalists and enthusiasts now
regard Pinoy Rock like the Filipino native dishes chop suey and pinakbet.

Enumeration
How to Become a Rockstar
Okay, so youre watching MTV and suddenly see a rockstar on screen for a few minutes, before pop or
that rapper takes over the station again. You think to yourself, I wish I could be a rockstar like him/her.
The following steps may help you along your journey to stardom, and hopefully, you ll reach your dreams.
1. Practice, practice, practice, and keep believing in yourself. If you lose hope in your talents, you ll never
make it anywhere. Remember this wont happen overnight.
2. Record some of your music, after you ve memorized the lyrics or notes by heart. It s a good idea to
make a demo tape or CDR with your tracks.
3.

Allow your closest friends to hear your music, and then consider their opinions; if you think they are
valid, change to what you feel is best.

4.

Let a group of people listen to your music after you ve made changes; watch their expressions. If
theres a lot of smiling and shaking of heads, tweak a little more of your tunes.

5. Play at gigs, even for free. Sometimes they re hard to get but you need them for exposure, whether
its in a barrio fiesta, Battle of the Bands, birthday party, or your girlfriend s debut.
6. Create a band/artist Facebook page to reach more people and help create a larger fan base. Better
yet, make a simple website for your band and publicize yourself there.
7. Record your bands music on video a la MTV and upload it on YouTube. Make sure the video is cool
and will appeal to many people.
8.

Tell your friends to recommend your music to as many people as possible; the effect will hopefully
snowball, and you may have an even larger fan base.

9. Try to get a recording company to sign your band--it doesn t have to be a major label of course. Better
yet, self-produce and do-it-yourself (DIY) to have more artistic control. Make sure it s after you have
played at venues and have an acceptable number of fans (other than your relatives and friends, that
is).
10. Say NO to drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. Mind-altering substances and music make a terrible mix.
Often, rockstars get involved with substance abuse, and as a result, they live fast and die young. Be
strong and never reach for them in hard times. Read up on straightedge.
11. Never EVER give up. Many celebrities who are famous today started out like you, and with
determination they got to where they are today.
12. Oh, and dont just stop playing music if the rockstar attempt doesnt work out. Music can always fill
your free time, and anyway, you can always get a regular eight-hour job. Don t let music take over
your whole life.