J.A. Del Prado

2018 KGSP-G Scholars from the Philippines Hey there! Because the year is about to end, I decided to write a blog about this year’s Philippine recipients of the Korean Government Scholarship Program (Graduate) from the National Institute for International Education. We are currently in our respective language institutions, studying the Korean language and preparing for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). We are required to have at least Level 3 before we can enroll in the universities where we are admitted. The order follows the list of successful KGSP candidates . I did not include myself, because you may check out my LinkedIn profile . Now, let’s get to know them! *** Marie Anna Dominique Bibat , or Nikki, received her Bachelor of Science in Food Technology degree from the University of the Philippines, Los Ba ñ os. Before she applied for the scholarship, she already had TOPIK level 2 standing. Her language institution is the Duksung Women’s Uni...

Hi there! Thanks for visiting my blog.  You are probably here because you sent me a message about the Korean Government Scholarship Program for Graduate Degrees. You are not alone. My name is the first one you see in the list of successful 2018 KGSP-G applicants from the Philippines, so many have already sent me questions about applying via Embassy of Korea (I’m probably in the top of the list under Philippines because I was the sole PhD student accepted). You may also ask questions to other accepted Filipino applicants. If you haven't seen the list, download it from  here . You may also take a look at my post about the 2018 KGSP-G Scholars . Not all of us applied via Embassy, so if you are applying for KGSP via University track, it’s best to ask those who were accepted via said track. Or, maybe this post was one of the results when you were Googling regarding KGSP-G application in the Philippines? If you're looking for a simple guideline for your preparatio...

Because You are a Man by Michael Coroza translated by J.A. Del Prado I. Because you are a man, Son, Learn how to cry. It hurts when tears wash your mind Or the new wound of your last stumble But tears are clean and Can remove microbes In the mind, the heart and the whole being. Because you are a man, Learn to regret. Confession may shake your pride But no one can dominate reason. Let them judge and persecute you, Because you will find the right ingredient To realize your being. II You have inherited, Son, The ten thousand privileges That satiated Those who built the tower of Babel, The pyramids, coliseums, Ziggurats, temples, And empires. Yours is the glory They grasped In the muscular Pages of history. But, Son, their brutal Logic and names That violated, assaulted, Detained your mother And all mothers and women in the world flow in your nature. Cry out, Son, Their past. Regret, Son, Their mis...

You’re a Woman by Inang Laya translated by J.A. Del Prado You’re a woman, desired, adored protected, but you have no freedom. Your world is always in a house. Your beauty is the only asset; unaware of life. You have proven that you can fight for your right and complete freedom. The door of success for you is constantly closed. Face it, open it, lift your being. You’re a woman. You’re the other half of life. If you do not exist, how can life begin? You have proven that you can be oppressed but you can also rule a country. The door of success Is now in front of you. Face it, open it, lift your being You’re a woman, thought to be weak; your value, ignored. Though you lack physical strength your mind is blessed, so your voice shall decide, so you can be free Fight, woman, it’s your duty to free this country, our origin. In the original language (Filipino): ...

Grandma Isyang and the Old Star Apple Tree by   Chary Lou Navarro translated by J.A. Del Prado One night, Grandma Isyang looked out of the window. She saw the fingers of the wind Gently picking one by one The leaves of the old star-apple tree. The same fingers Pinched Grandma’s eyes. She closed the window And lay in bed gently. There, Grandma Isyang felt The pain of the pinch. Gently, She closed her eyes As the old star-apple tree Shed its leaves. In the original language (Filipino): Si Lola Isyang at ang Matandang Puno ng Kaimito ni Chary Lou Navarro-Defante Isang gabi Si Lola Isyang dumungaw sa bintana Natanaw niya ang mga daliri ng hangin Isa-isa, dahan-dahang pinipitas Ang mga dahon ng matandang puno ng kaimito. At ang mga mata ni Lola ay kinurot Ng mga daliri ring iyon Isinara ni Lola ang bintana At dahan-dahang nahiga. Doon naramdaman ni Lola Isyang Ang hapdi na dala ng kurot Ang talukap ng kanyang mga mata’...

Dagger by Cirilo Baustista translated by J.A. Del Prado Day by day my wife and I try the sharpness of our dagger. For instance when my youngest child is crying and my beloved does not move I stab her back and merrily watch her nurse the child while she bleeds. If the light bulb is burned out in our kitchen and I am busy writing a poem, she never stops stabbing me on the nape as long as the light is not replaced. Our fight is fair a fault is a fault, no cheating. That’s why by the day’s end we count the wounds and the seemingly ragged souls will laugh and punch each other. We are always like this since our love for each other is more than enough. In the original language (Filipino): Patalim ni Cirilo Bautista Araw-araw sinusubok naming mag-asawa ang talim ng aming balaraw Halimbawa kung umi...