Because of the recent endeavors of modernization, the essence and color of the Filipino Language is slowly fading. Young people of the modern age are slowly turning and adapting traditions of the western countries. Because of that, we’ll do a little detour to contribute in the revival of the vivid color of the Filipino language.

1. Tanikala.

• [noun|pangngalan] Refers to a row of links joined together; link of a chain; a handcuff. | tali, kadena, posas

Halimbawa.

• Nagpupumilit pang pumiglas ang suspek matapos nitong malagyan ng tanikala ng pulis.
• Napansin kong tila nasasakal ang alagang aso ng ating kapitbahay sa higpit ng pagkakatali ng tanikala nito.
• Marahil magiging isang magandang solusyon sa patuloy na pagnakaw ng inyong mga gamit ay kung inyong lalagyan ng tanikala ang inyong pinto.

2. Timbulog.

• [noun|pangngalan] sphere | bilugan, bilog

Halimbawa.

• Magiging maganda ang klase ng bola kung perpekto ito bilang isang timbulog.
• Isang dambuhalang timbulog ng kalangitan ang buwan.

3. Kandili.

• [verb|pandiwa] to care for someone less fortunate | pagbibigay ng tulong sa hindi pinapalad

Halimbawa.

• Isang napakadakila at makataong akto ang pagkandili sa kapwa.
• Nais kong pasalamatan ang aking mga kaibigan at nakikilalang mapangunawa’t mapangkandili.

4. Abanderado

• [noun|pangngalan] flag-bearer | mga taong nagsisilbing taga-pangalaga ng bandila

Halimbawa.

• Nalaman kong nagsisimula na ang seremonya nang makita ko ang mga abanderadong umaakyat sa entablado.
• Aking pangarap ay ang maging abanderado ng ating paaralan, abanderadong makisig tignan at kahahangaan ng lahat.

5. Marilag

• [adjective|pang-uri] beautiful, royal | maganda, dakila, maharlika

Halimbawa.

• Palagi kong tinititigan ang talang pinakamarilag ang sinag sa norte.
• Ako’y nabighani ng ako’y tinitigan ng pinakamarilag na nilalang na aking nakita sa kalupaan.

6. Adya

• [noun|pangngalan] protection, salvation and help | pagtulong, kaligtasan at proteksyon

Halimbawa.

• Ako’y laging handang magpaubaya ng adya basta’t hahayaan mo akong tulungan ka.
• Ika’y dapat na palaging nakikinig sa anunsiyo ng gobyerno upang ikaw ay maadya sa panahon ng sakuna.

7. Talaksan

• [noun|pangngalan] file | dokumento

Halimbawa.

• Nilalaman ng kwadernong ito ang buong talaksan at grado ng ating klase.

8. Patiyad

• [verb|pandiwa] standing/walking on tiptoe | pag-tingkayad

Halimbawa.

• Ako’y naguguluhan kung bakit lagi nalang naglalakad ang ating kapitbahay ng patiyad.

9. Surutin

• [verb|pandiwa] to pinpoint a person | ituro gamit ang daliri

Halimbawa.

• Ako ay tila nagulantang nang bigla akong surutin ng aming guro.
• Isang masamang gawain ang bigla-biglang mansurot ng kapwa.

10. Limpit

• [noun|pangngalan]. a very large jar with a wide mouth. | isang malaking uri ng banga 

Halimbawa.

• Itinuturing ni Aling Nena na isang antique ang limpit na ipinamana sa kanya ng kanyang tatay.
• Ako’y kinabahan nang muntik ko nang mabasag ang limpit ng aking lola.

 

 

This post hereby discusses about the importance of data and knowledge in our actions and decision making.

I remember reading Holmes crying about impatiently once, he uttered the quote;

“Data!data!data!” he cried impatiently. “I can’t make bricks without clay.”

― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of  the Copper Beeches

A famous line from Sherlock Holmes, and perhaps one of my favorite quotes. The latter shows the importance of data points. The great detective was very well known for seeing data points that are almost invisible to other people.  A hint of a smell of cinnamon, a minute amount of mud stuck under a shoe or even a thin strand of cat hair that seems invisible to the naked eye were all so easy for him to observe. It can be noticed that through those observations, the detail and data he yields from merely observing allows him to be on one step ahead in solving a crime. And that perhaps is the most interesting quality of Sherlock Holmes.

The same methods can be applied in our daily activities. How many regretful moments have you encountered just so you’ve reach a false conclusion? Acquiring more data about something deprives room for unwanted mistakes. As Sherlock Holmes quotes:

“Never theorize before you have data.Invariably you end up twisting facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts.”

-Sherlock Holmes

Never jump to conclusions before you have any data. Make sure that you have prior knowledge about a certain topic before adding comments and judgments about it.

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In the last post, the term “brain attic” was mentioned. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle briefly quoted on how a brain can be compare to a house attic in “A Study in Scarlet”. His quote goes:

“I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it. Now the skillful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones.”

–  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet

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The latter suggests that we mustn’t go on filling our brain with knowledge that are deemed to be unimportant or useless as to our needs and career. For our brain has a limited capacity and these information may get in the way for the transcription of the valuable information.

Of course, we all know that science disapproves of this thinking. But, considering to apply the method in our daily activities, it will be helpful in weighing the value of information we tend to absorb. We would know which things are important and those that are not. Crowding out our brain with useless information may affect our perspective on things and especially when making a decision or judgement.

A valuable idea can be much harder to grasp for there are many factors affecting the judgement of a crowded out brain. A crowded brain attic suggests a doubtful person.

Learning to weigh out the value of information also tends to cut out legwork for us. Knowing how to select which things are important and which lessons are worth it creates a more-efficient method of learning.

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In “A Scandal in Bohemia” Sherlock Holmes once asked Watson the question; “The steps to 221B Baker Street. How many were there?” Watson replied “How many? I don’t know.”

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A Scandal in Bohemia

(photo by Wikipedia; licensed under Creative Commons) 

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Knowing that Watson had frequently seen the steps in their flat; “some hundreds of times” he thought. It seemed ironic to think that he wouldn’t know such details. But in fact, a whole lot of us are like Watson. We spend each day, doing something, for hundreds or even thousands of times yet still we fail to be familiarized with it.

“You see, but you do not observe.” Sherlock replied to Watson. We do some things yet fail to do it at our utmost mindful presence. We see and absorb elements but fail to  assess their characteristics or even process of what they might be. Mindlessness makes us make judgments or decisions without giving it any intrinsic thought. In a classroom setting, think of how many information you’ve missed just because you failed to pay attention? How many unprocessed ideas have you forgotten just because you failed to give any thought about them?

If we would just learn to pay attention in everything we do, we’d be able to gather ironclad observations which would then help us to make better judgments to our contextual surroundings. Knowing the value of information and appreciating small, mundane details would help maximize your learning about your milieu.

Learn to pay attention. Even to minute details. If you are to do something, do it with the utmost presence of your mind. Do not be absent minded when making decisions for you might just end up taking steps that you would soon regret. It is also important to know that you mustn’t go on filling your head with lots of information just because I told you to observe even for minute details. Select which information are useful. Avoid crowding out your “mind attic”.

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This ought to be the beginning of our journey in delving for ways to think better and wiser. Sherlock Holmes’ thinking will be beneficial in making firm, sound judgements and wiser decisions in life.

I’ve started reading “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” collections by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle when I was 12. I used to read it every time I fell to sleep or when my time is free. It practically became my bedtime story at my young age. Well, it seems pretty weird to think that a 12 year old boy would take interest in such kinds of stories…. but (sadly) yes, I adored all  exciting events  that occurred in Holmes’ allegory. I enjoyed each chapter that I spent every bit of my time reading with.

After finishing the book collection, I started watching adaptations and movies about the story of the detective. I still got hungry for his adventures and went on to delve old TV shows about him. I watched the show “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” aired by Granada TV that was starred by Jeremy Brett. Still hungry for more, I also started watching “Elementary” by CBS. Then of course, “Sherlock” by BBC. I’ve always been fascinated as to how the mysterious sleuth named “Sherlock Holmes” thinks. He uses the combination of the powers of reasoning and logic to create inferences and “deductions” as he calls it to solve enigmatic puzzles and crimes for his mere satisfaction. His mindset and methods allow him to solve difficult mind puzzlers. His way of thinking teaches us to be mindful and to observe the context before jumping to conclusions or making judgements.

Join me as I try to give you tips on how to apply Sherlock Holmes’ thinking to our daily lives, in learning, in observing, in making judgements, conclusions and decisions.