HahahaHasula: Hasslelessly an Ohrwurm

Ohrwurm is a Deutsch word that describes a Song that keeps playing on your mind, exactly what this new Bisayan song is. HAHAHAHAsula is from two words: HAHAHA which is the written way of laughing and Hasula which is derived from the English word Hassle, with the same meaning closely synonymous to "badtrip". The song talks about the pains of a boy seeing his girl being loved by another, that he couldn't do anything about the situation but just to laugh about it, which indeed is a "hassle" situation.

The song is drawing interests as it is expressed in a manner familiar to the youths, Bisayan slangs and hugots are accompanied by a melody that one could relate just after seconds of listening to the song (and then you wouldn't realize you are already singing with). This song gained fame not only in Cebu but also to the neighboring provinces, staying in the most requested lists of most radio stations.
The music video of the song is loyal to its words. It ended the girl hugging the boy but in a brotherly manner. Yeah, HAHAHAHAsula..

Vispop: Regional becoming National

Happiest days of my life were when I woke up to the Songs of Max Surban and Yoyoy Villame, just the thought of these two, makes me smile . On those Golden Days, Visayan songs are more of the novelty type with humor that would tickle all of your senses.
Just as we thought that our own Music wouldn't survive the Industry without being novelty, Bisrock and Vispop are becoming the anthems of every Bisaya youths. Bisrock started getting famous during early 2000s, it was positively accepted by Bisayas and non-Bisayas alike.
On the continous evolution of Bisayan Music, Vispop came to the scene offering new flavors of Bisayan Music. To promote it, a Vispop festival happens every year, encouraging the youths and challenging their creativities to contribute to these new Bisayan pride. Bisayan bands and singers are doing concert and road tours not mainly to earn but for the promotion of theses Musics.
Recently, the song I Love You Langga made it to the Box Office movie, Etiquette for Mistresses repeatedly sung by the character played by Kim Chiu which at the ending was translated to Tagalog
As a Bisaya, I find it amusing listening to these Musics which is in the language that you speak, it gives you chills touching the deepest of your thoughts and feelings. And as we always say, hating Bisrock is the new Baduy.

Deutsch B2 Goethe Zertifikat (2nd Part)

The familiar sight of the red tower was already giving me nervousness, but there was no going back. As we were already upstairs, the room was filled with Examinees and surprisingly I saw my neighbor and my old classmate. There were 40+ of us who would take the B2 exam, the rest were A2 Examinees.

Fast Forward to the exam, on the Lesen part, I surely did understand what all those articles were about but the questions were so tricky. Normally I find Lesen 4, the most difficult part (not only for the Lesen, but to the whole exam) but surprisingly it wasn't really very difficult the previous parts were even more difficult, in the Luckentest majority of what were being asked were Nouns and they were not even Verb-Nomen Verbindung, you just need to understand the Zusammenhang and you would surely get the answer. In Lesen 1, two items confused me what's negativ and what gets an answer, there wasn't really  difficult sentences or words to understand but programs in Germany like FSJ (Frewilliges Soziales Jahr) was being talked about (and thanked God my teacher was talking about it, before we took the exam). Lesen 2 was an article about Freiwillige Feurwehr, many sentences were confusing but I have that what we call Globalverstehen, but the questions were more confusing on that part, I wasn't really confident with my answers. Lesen 3, talked about die Taube, at first I thought it was all about the deafmute but then it was all about the verdammte doves, Lesen 3 is a 50/50 chance but in that part, I was also not confident with my answers as well.

The Horen part, it's the shortest part with two parts: the first part is you have  to correct or fill up missing informations basing on what you heard (einmal) and the second is you would hear an interview and you have a multiple choice questions that are based on the interview (zweimal).
To add a level of difficulty, of all parts of the exam, it was the part where the thunders outside were at their loudest interferring what we're trying to hear. I was able to provide answers in all items, I just don't know if they were correct one item was the cause of argument after because, what I heard was it as a Kluburlaub, but many were saying that it was Klugurlaub and some even were saying it was Klockurlaub(not sure of the spelling). But both Klugurlaub or Klockurlaub, I can't find it in the dictionary, I found Kluburlaub but the spelling was Cluburlaub. The second part, mother nature was trying to give back because the bad weather outside caused the system of our computer to break down, and it took a long time to make it working again giving us an opportunity to read all the items thoroughly, which in the exam standards on a limited time. Zweimal hearing gives you the chance to confirm your answers.

Schreiben Part wasn't really very difficult ( I would say), they say this is the part where you could catch up with your score. But then you have to make it sure that you have understood all guide questions, these are the points that you have to emphasize on your output. Inhalt and  Grammatik matters much on this part, I heard stories that some fail in the exam because of this part, most specially when the Inhalt don't relate with the article. The first part, was you need to choose a topic where you could write a 180-character reaction to an article, choosing time is 1 minute, there were two (or three) sentences that described each topic, with those short descriptions you have to decide on 1. I chose the Studium im Ausland, because it's a common topic and I'm sure I already did one before with that exact same topic (the other topic was about Naturwissenschaft). I did what I usually do in writing a Schreiben excercise, I made a draft first, in that way I would see my errors and can change it before I write my final output (no worries the time is more than enough to make a draft and write a final output). The second part was very easy (and I am very confident in saying), the Proofreading was about a Bewerbung (I think), some part like mit freundlichem Grussen was so A1 for me( :) ).

The Sprechen part was the most exciting, you need to talk to your partner (which is normally you just met on the exam day), in a way, you are making new friends. In my case, I find it very difficult to express myself in Tagalog, my partner approached me to talk on what would we would do the part two of the exam. The first thing she asked me was if should we Du or Sie each other, well this shocked me a little because normally for someone who you just met it must be Sie, no questions about that, Deutschland is so particular with Siezen and Duzen. So since we are all going to Germany, it's maybe a good practice to apply that principle here. What shocked me more, is that she asked me to whose picture would we agree to mine or to hers without even seeing how those pictures look like, in the end we agreed to agree on my picture, she will do the Introduction, I will choose the picture and then we argue a little and we decide on my pic, then I'll do the closing words. 

I'm not really good at planned and structured Sprechen I become confused, I prefer spontaneous ones, as an observation many were already planning what they would say on the start, end and even to the arguing part, well that's maybe how they could build uptheir confidence. The first part of the Exam, I got the Duzen am Arbeitsplatz topic, it talks about some Germans duzen in the workplace which is it's very clear that in the workplace one should siezen. For whatever coincidence I read a similar topic days before the exam, so in a way I already had an idea what to say. On the second part, we are to think that we're Designer/in and  to agree on a Picture for our Werbung in a Schaufenster, the first picture was a mannequin without a head, wearing a Safari sleeveless and a a fashionable hat, the second was a face of a pretty mannequin all in make up and a Turban, the third was again a mannequin posing whole body with high fashioned clothes and a nice background. My first choice was the third, and obviously it was the stand out picture, I was never really worried about it because, I would be the one to choose a picture first. Surprisingly, after my partner did the Introduction, she chose a picture and chosing the picture that I was suppose to choose. So to preserve the element of arguing before agreeing to a picture, I chose picture number 1, so after series of exchanging opinions she suddenly agreed on my picture which was not I thought (or planned to be) because it was obvious that her picture was the best and the stand out picture. What I wanted her to do, is to give her last argument before I agree to her picture but then it didn't happen because she agreed on mine, I immediately said nein, and bring back her picture in consideration and so it ended agreeing on picture number 3 and I didn't get to say my Schlussworter, but I guess it didn't hurt my scores though.

In my own opinion, Redemittel are useful but abuse of them isn't good. They come in handy for the Schreiben part. I suggest start simple and collect your thoughts use simple words, in that way you are giving the Examiner an impression that you can express your thoughts in your own words (which is what they are expecting you are tasked to). Examiners have no patience, with long speeches, make it simple straight and understandable. During our time one Examiner went out of the room and called our attention, and reminded us to make our presentations concise. So don't flood your thoughts with the scripted presentation and don't abuse the Redemitteln, one or three is enough just collect your thoughts and more importantly, relax.

As what I told my teacher after the exam, Die Prüfung war sehr schwer aber machtbar: I seriously did my best and applied everything what I learned. I was nervous but I tried to relax. Some might not make it in their first try, just try to reflect what went wrong and don't think that the exam is difficult, Deutsch could be sometimes predictable because they are almost specific with everything. Come to the exam prepared, you maybe have not read what you have to and learn everything, just keep always the mindset that you are prepared.

Hilik Hostel, your Home in Makati.

On my last stay at Manila, Hilik Botique Hostel was my home. It wasn't my first time to be on the place, I already once was there but only as a visitor. The first time I saw the place, I couldn't imagine myself staying there because I'm not ok with the idea that you would be sharing a room with strangers and the CR was a commonal. On my last stay in Manila, I gave it try (because I could save more if I would stay there instead of staying in a Hotel) and I'm already expecting that I would regret it. But then it wasn't how I expected it to be.

Makati Avenue

Hilik Hostel Living Room

6-Bed Room

The place was giving a me Dormitory feeling, it made me remember my college days wherein, the place is like your home you could do whatever you want. The room sharing with strangers wasn't really bad after all, it gives you the opportunity to make friends and talk with strangers (you don't have to worry with your personal belongings because you have your own Locker). The place is ideal for groups, it would be better if the whole group would occupy the whole room, the bigger the group, the cheaper the room (and of course merrier, the maximum number is 8). But most of those who stay there are travelling alone and backpackers, mostly foreigners (in the room of 8, me and my friend were the only Filipinos) and I find it amusing talking to them. The accommodation would come with a free breakfast (it's the same everyday, 3 loaves of bread, a scrambled egg a banana and a coffee or tea). The mineral water is unlimited,and juice of different flavors is a drink all you can. It maybe is not the breakfast that we are expecting, it's my first time in a long time to have breakfast without rice, but surprisingly it was enough (or maybe because my stomach knows I'm on a tight budget). Food isn't really a problem, the Hostel is near to many different places where you could eat, to whatever budget you like to whatever food you wish and at nights the exact opposite empty lawn would transform into a huge place to party (except on Monday nights), no entrance fee you just have to buy something inside and you could stay there as long as you can (the 4-bed and 6-bed rooms I think are the rooms that are exactly opposite to the road and to that place, so you maybe can hear all the partying til dawn, so better go out and check the place).

Most of all, the staffs are so friendly they would try to provide whatever you need (Flat Iron, Photocopy  Machine, Desktop, Magazines, Board Games, Playing Cards etc.). For those like us who are complete strangers to the streets of Manila, they are so friendly enough to provide us instructions, what to look out what to be careful of.

The place is highly recommended, for an Accommodation around Makati City it's considered affordable (in comparison with Hotels in Makati). When asked where it's near: it's near A-Venue Mall and Barrio Fiesta in Makati Avenue. In doing reservations, do it directly because it becomes more expensive when you do it with a Travel Agency ( Details under).

Hilik Botique Hostel
2nd Floor Mavenue Building,
7844 Makati Avenue cor.Guerrero St.,
Makati City 1210, Philippines
Telefax:+63 2.2195821
Mobile:+63.999.768.4375
Email:hilikbotiquehostel@gmail.com
Website:www.hilikboutiquehostel.ph
FB:facebook.com/hilikboutiquehostel
Kristine M. Magalong (Managing Director) 

Duetsch Goethe Zertifikat B2 (My Experience)

B2 Zertifikat

This post is intended for those who plan to take the Goethe B2 Exam. When I was about to take the exam, I was searching for some resources in the Internet but it was limited, in this post I'll be writing about my experience and maybe some tips and hopefully this could be of a little help.

At the start of the year, I already decided to take the B2 exam, because without it I couldn't apply for a working Visa. Although the exam, as how they describe it, is extremely difficult, my decision was final. I settled for the June schedule but then, Goethe Manila announced that they are not sure if they could push it through, which they eventually did and by that time, my thoughts were already on the August 12 schedule.

Before the previous year ended, I attended a B2 class with a very amazing teacher Julia Wagner, well amazing isn't enough to describe her, she acted more than a teacher, she is a friend who's willing to help us in almost all matters, I give her 70% of the reason why I passed the exam.

B1 and B2 Grammatik has no big difference, the B2 lessons are just reinforcement of what we have learned in B1 it's almost the same, what we need with B2 is a very broad Vocabulary and mastery of the language.We were utilizing the Aspekte B2 books, they say its outdated because there are now many newer B2 books, well it's still a compact and complete book but it's I think more TELC and OSD friendly, many of the exercises are patterned to those exams.

A month before the exam, we started with our intensive review, three times a week and we focused on the structure of the exam, it's like getting to know the exam, still with the help of our teacher. We were doing the Modelltests not only the Goethe Modelltests but also the TELC and the OSD exams.  I didn't had impressive Scores on our practice, it's either I am getting enough score to pass or 2-3 points short of the passing score. These results bothered me a lot but it didn't scare me. The Sprechen practice was very different from how we practiced it, before we took the B1 exam, we used many Redemitteln during the B1 exam but for the B2 exam we were taught to use our own words and 1-2 Redemitteln are enough, and if possible we must not write what we have to say. Short, conscise and simple thats what our teacher would always say.

Baby Steps

I don't know if this  is a good idea, but out of a sudden I just thought of making a Blog.  It's not actually easy as how I thought, everything is new and I am not a computer techie, wish I could make this site look appealing. After leaving Facebook, I hope I could keep this Blog. This would be an unusual Blog as I am not used to long write ups and I'm not a good Writer either. I would be blogging anything and everything under the sun from the eyes of an ugly boring guy (you've been warned

).