Pulupot na Dila

Namulat tayo sa tradisyon ng pananahimik . Sa tradisyon na kung ano ang maganda ang sya lamang ang dapat banggitin. Nasanay tayong huwag irespeto ang paraan ng pagpapahayag ng iba. Nasanay na lang tayong manita ng may lakas na loob na magsalita. Nasanay na lang tayo na sumunod sa boses ng iba. Nasanay na lang tayo na patayin ang tinig para sa ikatatahimik ng lahat. Katahimikan na ang ibig sabihin ay kamatayan...pagkaalipin sa pulupot na dila.

Who is Jori?

The author’s whole name is John Richard M*****. His family calls him JR while his friends, classmates, and colleagues call him Chad. Inspired by Joma (Jose Maria) Sison’s name, he started to shorten JOhn RIchard to Jori way back in high school but it was not until college that he started using his new alias. With the advent of Facebook, he continued to use Jori and some of his friends totally forgot his real name and got used to the new one. Aside from getting his inspiration from the exiled communist, he chose his new alias because it sounds Japanese whose culture he really admires that he wished he was born in the land of the rising sun.

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The name of the blog was inspired by Mitch Albom’s “Tuesdays With Morrie.” Since Morrie rhymes with Jori Mori , this blog is called "Tuesdays with Jori Mori" but posting of entries will not be restricted on Tuesdays alone. It’s also interesting to know that both Morrie and Jori are teachers. His primary purpose in coming up with this blog is to share his personal experience as a student and teacher.

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Sensei Jori is a graduate of Bicol University and hails from the university’s seat of beauty, creativity and wit: The College of Arts and Letters. Jori has a BA in English and is currently completing his MA in Literature from the same university. He spent three years of teaching at his beloved alma mater, from 2008 until 2011.

Then he flew to Singapore due to an existential crisis that according to him is one of the most important moments in his life and career. There he worked as an Education Development Trainer at Mindlab Tuition Centre and found the adventure he was seeking. He stayed there for almost a year providing academic coaching to Asian and European expats. In 2013, he returned to Albay to be “free again” and continued his journey as a teacher at Aquinas University of Legazpi.

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As a student, Jori metamorphosed from an all play child to a hardcore zombie student. He spent a very dull school life in Quezon City’s Elpidio Quirino Elementary School. Two years of education there was filled with play, play, play…and teacher violence which at that time was not a grave offense and it was welcomed by the society as a method of teaching children to learn the hard way and to refine their rough behavior.

In search of breathable air and greener environment, his family moved to Tabaco City in Albay. There he attended Tabaco Northwest Central School and was greatly influenced by friends and teachers to harness his untamed playful character and active imagination. With confidence built by his successful finish in elementary he crossed over (literally, because it is just across TNWCS) to Tabaco National High School. In his first two years, he fully believed in himself and achieved his goals of shining until his enthusiasm waned in his junior year. A year later he just wanted to escape from high school and set higher goals. In college, he regained his confidence and opportunities opened up to further discover things he is capable of doing. He finished his tertiary education saying “I love you” (go figure it out using mathematics ;) )

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Through this blog he wishes that readers would be able to identify with his tears and joys as a student and teacher. From time to time he would also write about his opinions on certain issues, his commentary on literary pieces, and his fascination about Bikol and its culture.

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Jori’s writing experience is limited to being the Editor-in-Chief of the student publication and literary folio of the English Department of BUCAL from 2006-2008. He also wrote for The Graduate Forum of BUGS and was a contributor to The BUzzette, the executive newsletter of the university.