BANSA.org: A perfect example

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marcrobinsone's picture

BANSA.org is a Drupal site created by Matthew Blake (also a new found friend).

On our several mail conversations, he told me that his motivation to do a Filipino/Tagalog/Bisaya/etc web site is based on one goal:
To learn Filipino languages.

Here are quotations from Matt's endearing e-mails:

...Memorizing vocabulary has always been harder for me than figuring out how things fit and work together. Tagalog allows you to express more with a smaller vocabulary once you understand the language. To me the grammar seems elegant in a way.

...the main problem with other online Tagalog dictionaries is that if you take a random word from a sentence (other than the really common words) there is a good chance the word has an affix on it so you need to try to figure out the root.

I wanted something that would make it easier to find roots to words if the actual word isn't in the dictionary. **It eventually grew into the bansa.org website**.

Bansa.org dictionaries

According to Matt, he is also exposed to Ilokano, Ibanag, Itawis and Isinay. Really cool for a foreigner noh? I wish I knew those dialects too.

Unfortunately, he said he's discontinuing the site. He is no longer considering Drupal for the expansion of the project. Luckily, he is considering to rebuild it using Python. Ah, another kick-ass platform. No wonder, Matt is a polyglot in both human and programming languages. Oh, and I forgot to share that he ended up marrying a Filipina and now has three kids. Way to go brother! Congratulations.

To me, a person like Matt gives inspiration to help and contribute more to our community. Whether it's a translation kit, a usability interface improvement, marketing or what-not... people like him who are not even native-born Filipino tend to motivate by giving more reason to love our own roots.

Too deep? Well I hope you don't fall in the hole. The point is that Matt has a goal: to learn Filipino (plus other dialects) and contribute back in the process.

Only local images are allowed.

Call me naive but that's a perfect example for me!

The best of luck to your projects Matt!

Proud to be Pinoy,

Marc Robinsone Caballero

Comments

I like the graphic

loloyd's picture

If it's not much trouble, can you make the similar graphic such as the one you posted above Only local images are allowed. but with the word "PINOY" replaced by "PILIPINO"? I'd like to use that in the site I'm working on and your attribution will be in the title attribute of its img tag. Please maintain the image dimension and the font style - but I realize that the kerning of the letters in PILIPINO will be tight or the size will be a little smaller.

Only local images are allowed.

here yay

marcrobinsone's picture

Only local images are allowed.

As per your very descriptive requirement.

Enjoy,

Marc

Maraming Salamat, Marc

loloyd's picture

Maraming salamat, Marc. Mabuhay ka at ang iyong mga alipores! Pero bilib ako diyan sa kaibigan mong si Matt ha... mas maka-Pilipino pa siya kay sa kay Glor#%!^@($^& (input filter error, message truncated by the Philippine government via Gen. Espero#%!^@($^& (input filter error, message truncated, structural loop detected, ending message stream)).

Only local images are allowed.

alipores

marcrobinsone's picture

Unfortunately, I don't have aliforces but I appreciate the kind compliment.

Just don't end up getting too many errors with those crappy names.

great site!

radj's picture

This is a really good site. I hope they come up with a theme that resembles the culture closely :D

http://www.blushama.com

Philippines

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