6/5/2012There are many job openings. A collegedegree is not enough. Very <strong>of</strong>ten goodcommand <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> English language is anecessary requirement. It should have beendeveloped during <strong>the</strong> early years <strong>of</strong> schooling. Agood reading habit really helps. To <strong>the</strong> Romans,reading was a fine art. Early on, <strong>the</strong> Romansfound that if <strong>the</strong> read it took <strong>the</strong>m to differentworlds.Reading is to <strong>the</strong> mind what exercise is to <strong>the</strong>body. The importance <strong>of</strong> reading cannot beoveremphasized. Christopher Morley wrote,“When you sell a man a book you just don’t sellhim twelve ounces <strong>of</strong> paper and ink and glue –you sell him a whole new life.”Thomas Jefferson was more emphatic: “I cannotlive without books.”The Chinese proverb however has someallowances: “After three days without reading, talkbecomes flavorless.”At a dinner party in Paris when BenjaminFranklin was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> distinguished guests, <strong>the</strong>Abbe Raynal asked, “What kind <strong>of</strong> man deserves<strong>the</strong> most pity?” Franklin answered, “A lonesomeman on a rainy day who does not know how toread.”John Wesley, an English preacher and evangelistand founder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Methodists, said: “ReadingChristians are growing Christians. When Christianscease to read, <strong>the</strong>y cease to grow.”Way back when, I worked in a big bank, ashead <strong>of</strong> personnel. I used to join <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong>ficeteam to evaluate <strong>the</strong> performance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>provincial branch managers. Aside from <strong>the</strong>review <strong>of</strong> financial performance andadministrative matters, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> little thingswe looked into was <strong>the</strong> back table <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>manager. Did he display good books andinformative magazines? Did he readnewspapers at all? There is a strong connectionbetween one who reads and being a success asan executive.According to Charles W. Eliot, “Books are <strong>the</strong>quietest and most constant <strong>of</strong> friends. They are<strong>the</strong> most accessible and widest <strong>of</strong> councilorsand <strong>the</strong> most patient <strong>of</strong> teachers.” It wasdifferent however with my English pr<strong>of</strong>essor incollege. He typified well <strong>the</strong> saying, “Knowledgemakes a bloody entrance.” In front <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wholeclass, he would mimic my Cebuano accent andmake fun <strong>of</strong> my bad grammar and sentenceconstruction. My classmates always had a goodlaugh at my expense. In <strong>the</strong> end, I was gratefulto this sadistic, hard-driving pr<strong>of</strong>essor. MyEnglish improved a lot, and he brought me to ahigher level—to love books and reading.I still remember one <strong>of</strong> my classmates in <strong>the</strong>college seminary. He was really addicted toreading—a bookworm. Even after lights out at<strong>the</strong> dorm, he continued reading under <strong>the</strong> thickblanket using a flashlight. Once, he was deeplyengrossed reading a book. But he needed torelieve himself. Instead <strong>of</strong> entering <strong>the</strong> toilet, hewent into <strong>the</strong> shower room. When he tried t<strong>of</strong>lush, he turned on <strong>the</strong> showers!I still read a lot, two or three books a month.But books nowadays are expensive. Thealternative is to go to <strong>the</strong> discount section <strong>of</strong>National Bookstore or <strong>the</strong> little bookstoresalong <strong>the</strong> alleys <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> malls. They have books atPHP 100 or less.As we wind up, letme mention a longshot, perhapsextravagant, predictionthat in <strong>the</strong> future <strong>the</strong>rewill only be threesurviving languages:English, Chinese, and<strong>the</strong> computer. TheChinese, however,because <strong>of</strong> globalcompetition, aresending <strong>the</strong>ir young tolearn and speak English.3
6/5/2012A final comment: Whilereading books is regardedas being a relaxing pastime,it can also stimulate <strong>the</strong>individual to rise up higherand reach for <strong>the</strong> betterthings in life. Studies showthat literacy rates are morehighly correlated to weeklyearnings than IQ. Readingmaketh a man. It can alsolead to a better paying job.4
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