I.

INTRODUCTION
Tusi: Greetings! A pleasant morning to you all. We are Group 2 and the topics for our discussion would be….
Tagapan: Essay, “Where’s the Patis” by Carmen Guerrero Nakpil on page 371.
Somera: The word bank of “Where’s the Patis?” on page 375.
Dela Cruz: The Ingredients of Self-Discipline on page 384.
Ison: Step by step description of self-control technique on page 385.
Raguero: And the effective technique of the power band on page 386.
Agualin: Everyone is encouraged to listen and participate in our discussion. Let's begin our discussion by
brainstorming about the patis.

II. PATIS DESCRIPTION

Tagapan: Patis or Fish sauce is a liquid condiment made from fish or krill that have been coated in salt and
fermented for up to two years. It was accidentally discovered by Ruperta David, also known as "Aling Tentay".
It all started when her family began a dried fish business shortly after the war. Then one day, Aling Tentay
stored a salted fish inside jars. The stored fish began to transform to what is known as the patis. The product
eventually became known as the "Tentay Food and Sauces" which was incorporated in 1949.
Somera: How patis is made? Sardines, anchovies or what we call dilis, shrimps or in tagalog, hipon are mixed
with salt at a concentration of 10 percent to 30 percent. It is then sealed in a closed container for at least 13
days.
Tusi: The real flavor comes from the process of fermenting fish for anywhere from a couple months to a few
years. The natural bacterias start to break down the fish, producing a fishy, savory liquid. Due to its ability to
add a savory flavor to dishes, it has been embraced globally by chefs and home cooks. The savory flavor in
fish sauce is due to its glutamate content.
Tagapan: Next, the uses of patis. Number one, Patis is used as a seasoning during or after cooking. Number
two, it is also used as a base in dipping sauces.
Somera: Number three, it is used as an accent to salads or other raw dishes. Additional information about the
patis is that it can also be used in place of table salt in meals to enhance the flavor of the food, where it can
either be dashed from a dispensing bottle onto the food, or poured into a saucer and mixed
with calamansi and labuyo chili and used as a dipping sauce.
Tusi: We all know that we, Filipinos, love to use patis in some of the dishes like boiled beef soup or nilagang
baka. Patis is used most often to enhance the flavor of soups and broths. Not only it does work as a good
marinade, but it's also a dipping sauce people use for some meats and seafood. Its taste is sweet, salty,
savory, and all delicious. Now, let’s discuss and read the essay: “Where’s the Patis?” by Carmen Guerrero
Nakpil.

III. ESSAY : “WHERE’S THE PATIS?”

Ison: The essay is about a Filipino who goes abroad. As days go by, he is slowly adapting to the culture of
foreigners and he is glad about it. When he sat down for a meal, he feels something that’s not making him
contented. Even if a delicious looking food was served to him, he doesn’t feel like eating it. One thing’s for
sure, he misses the Filipino cuisine. No matter how hard he tried to turn his back to his country, there is still
nothing like our own food and it surely made him miss the Philippines more.
Tusi: The essay tells us that Filipinos really love to travel or going abroad. We travel because it exposes us to
different cultures and ancient traditions and through these authentic encounters, we learn to embrace and
celebrate both our similarities and our differences. Travel teaches us about humanity and gives us an
appreciation, understanding and respect for different points of view and ways of life.
Dela Cruz: The essay also describes the joy we experience before leaving the country, the despedidas, also
known as the farewell celebration. However, after all the happiness and joy we experienced, the dream of
traveling abroad becomes a nightmare due to cultural differences. The cuisine served abroad is vastly distinct
from the food served in the Philippines. There is no patis in the skyscrapers and major capitals of the magic
work called abroad. We also alter our attire when we travel abroad. For example, In order to be more
presentable, we switch from barong tagalog or polo to an elegant, dark western suit.
Tusi: It tells us that we discard our own culture when we are in a foreign country, and that traveling abroad
was once our fantasy, but it has now become a nightmare.
Ison: The essay tells us that Filipino misses the heat of the Philippines and the native accents of Tagalog of
the company of his brown-skinned cheerful compatriots. It also describes the differences of the climate or
temperature and the landscape or view. When he is in the most expensive restaurant in Europe, surrounded by
beautiful women, impeccably dressed men, waiters in black ties and tails at their elbow ready to cater to his
smallest wish. An array of glass, silver, china and artistic blooms is set before him.
Tusi: An elegant wagon of hors d’oeuvres or a small savory dish or appetizer approaches: pink smoked
salmon from Scotland, golden English herring, sensuous anchovies from France, green salad from a Belgian
farm, mounds of Italian pasta, Russian caviar on ice, melon halves, stuffed eggs, shrimp smothered of piquant
red sauce. But, after all of that sumptuous food that has been served, the Filipino is yearning for a mound of
white rice, a bowl of sinigang, and a little saucer of patis.
Dela Cruz: Additionally, the Filipino compared bouillabaisse to sinigang. He stated that sinigang prepared at
home is significantly superior. The Filipino also searches for patis and has issues with the main course. He
decided to eat steak to remind him of the tapa. The Filipino still seeks rice despite the abundance of exquisite
dishes. A silver tray may contain various types of bread, including portions of crusty French bread, soft yellow
rolls, rye bread, and sesame-studded crescents, but there is no rice.
Ison: After all those debates, the Filipino decided to go to a Chinese restaurant. There, he finally found the
bowl of rice . He also found siopao, pancit guisado, fried lumpia, and mami. When the Filipino finally found
such a treasure house, he will finally have every meal with his kababayan. The Filipino conveys a little
flashback on his/her way of living in Manila/Philippines.
Tusi: Filipinos may denationalize themselves but not their stomachs. He may travel the seven seas, five
continents, and two hemispheres and lose the taste of home, neglect his identity, and consider himself a
citizen of the world. However, gastronomically speaking, he will always be a Filipino. If nothing else, the Filipino
adores his country through his stomach. It suggests that regardless of how much we travel or how much we
disregard our own culture, we will always adore our country, especially the food we have and how deliciously it
is prepared.
Dela Cruz: Now let’s discuss the word bank of the essay “where’s the patis?”.

IV. WORD BANK

Agualin: Palate. Palate is the roof of the mouth, separating the cavities of the nose and the mouth
in vertebrates.
Raguero: Hauteur. Hauteur is the haughtiness of manner; disdainful pride.It is an overbearing pride evidenced
by a superior manner toward inferiors or what we call arrogance.
Agualin: Bouillabaisse. Bouillabaisse is a rich, spicy stew or soup made with various kinds of fish. It is a kind
of fish soup that is originated in Marseille, France.
Raguero: Entrée. Entrée is the main course of a meal. Diners eat it after an appetizer and before a dessert
menu item.
Agualin: Hors d’oeuvres. Hors d’oeuvres is a small savory dish, typically one served as an appetizer at the
beginning of a meal. It is a food served in small portions before the main part of a meal.
Raguero: Sartorial. Sartorial is relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress.
Agualin: Gastronomic. Gastronomic is relating to the preparation and consumption of good food. It describes
anything related to eating or preparing delicious food.
Raguero: Emetic. Emetic is the cause of a person to vomit. It can be a substance, medicine or potion that
makes you vomit, which you might be given if you've taken poison or some other harmful substance.
Agualin: Next, we will discuss about The Ingredients of Self – Discipline.

V. THE INGREDIENTS OF SELF-DISCIPLINE

Tusi: What comes in to your mind when you hear the word Self-Discipline? (question)
Dela Cruz: Self-discipline is the ability to control one's feelings and overcome one's weaknesses; the ability to
pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it.
Tagapan: In other words, self-discipline is on how you manage and control yourself. It is
the ability to control yourself and to make yourself work hard or behave in a particular way
without needing anyone else to tell you what to do.
Somera: Let's consider an example of self-discipline. You just returned home from school. You have
numerous school assignments due tomorrow. Since you must be at school by 6:00 am tomorrow, you must
complete your assignments as soon as you arrive home. Here, you will discover whether you possess true
self-discipline or not. If you tend to complete your assignments just before the due date, you have good control
over your time management skills. However, if you prioritize other activities, such as playing video games or
watching television, over your homework, this indicates that you are unable to manage your time effectively,
resulting in rushed assignments.
Tusi: Self-discipline is a very powerful tool that can be developed for achieving about anything which you can
dream. Insufficient self-discipline can result in a variety of issues, including health problems, distractions,
procrastination, financial difficulties, and the accumulation of tasks that overwhelm you. Additionally, it may
result in reduced self-esteem. Therefore, you must complete the task regardless of whether you like it or not,
because it is your responsibility.
Dela Cruz: Now, let’s discuss about the four key ingredients of self-discipline. Number one, self-control. Self –
control is the act of controlling our emotions, actions, thoughts, words, and personal direction. Self-control is
the ability to regulate and alter your responses to avoid undesirable behaviors, increase desirable ones, and
achieve long-term goals. Research has shown that possessing self-control can be important for health and
well-being.
Tagapan: Number two, motivation. Motivation is the “fire inside,” that fuels our efforts and makes
accomplishments worth achieving. The term motivati on describes why a person does something. It is the
driving force behind human actions. Motivation is the process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented
behaviors. For instance, motivation is what helps you lose extra weight, or pushes you to get that promotion at
work. In short, motivation causes you to act in a way that gets you closer to your goals. Motivation includes
the biological, emotional, social, and cognitive forces that activate human behavior.
Tusi: Number three, persistence. Persistence is the ability to continue through adversity. The ability to brush off
failure and stay focused on our goals.  Persistence is that anything worth having will likely to take work and
determination, and it’s about sticking with it even when the journey becomes tough. New paths don’t just
appear in front of you, they need to be created, and often that involves having to do a lot of hard work to take
each step. Every single road that exists today was once overgrown, and someone had to do the work to turn it
into a path that others could use. 
Somera: Number four, goals. Goals are those tangible achievements that breed motivation and form our
definitions of happiness and success. People who set goals tend to have higher self-motivation, self-esteem,
independence and confidence. Having goals is important because it gives us a sense of purpose and
something to strive for. Good goals also involve our values and ensure that we are challenging ourselves to
uphold them.
Dela Cruz: Next, let’s discuss about the step by step description of self-control technique.

VI. SELF-CONTROL TECHNIQUE

Agualin: Self-control is the ability to be in command of your behavior and restrain or inhibit your impulses. 
In theory, self-control is a “good” and necessary skill. People with greater self-control are able to resist short-term
rewards in favor of long-term goals. In almost all dimensions of life, self-control helps us overcome our immediate
desires and make more thoughtful, practical decisions.
Raguero: In almost all dimensions of life, self-control helps us overcome our immediate desires and make more
thoughtful, practical decisions. These core “life areas” include: Career, Finances, Relationships, and Overall health.
Once we have awakened self-control through the management of urges, we must reinforce it by creating the habit of
denying ourselves that which we crave. Self-control acts as a filter against the powerful influence of advertising,
accessibility, and our own destructive human habits.
Ison: We live in a society where it is hard NOT to be fat, lazy, unhealthy, drugged up, bankrupt, depressed, or
emotionally unstable. We have created so many conveniences, trends, wants, and erratic behaviors through
advertising and mass media, that we are brainwashed to crave things.
Tusi: The first step to gaining self-control is one of identifying the areas in our lives that are out of control. We have to
take a close look at the food we eat, the bad habits we have, the character traits we possess, and the overall direction
of our lives. Once we identify those things we need more control over, we can start small by gaining little victories
each day. You must begin denying yourself once cigarette a day, the extra snack, that extra beer after work, or the
satisfaction of indulging your emotional outbursts.
Agualin: There are five steps for the techniques of gaining self-control. Number one, personal inventory. Find a quiet
and private place to sit down with a paper and pen. Begin taking a day by day inventory of your bad habits and
destructive cravings.
Raguero: Number two, start small. Begin reducing each habit or craving a little each day. Keep a journal of your
progress and talk to yourself about the benefits of eliminating destructive behaviors. Number three, self-denial. Start
by denying yourself a certain pleasure each day. Target a daily activity like excessive eating or watching television.
Ison: Number four, keep a schedule. Make a to-do list and stick to it for a change. Make a commitment to write a daily
schedule and accomplish every task. And lastly, number five, review. At the end of each day, sit down and critique
your performance. Mentally re-live how you exercised self-control over your cravings and habits.
Tusi: Another very effective technique for self-control is called the power band. This method involves wearing a piece
of colored string or rubber band around your wrist to constantly remind yourself of the habit or craving you are going to
control today. Visualize in your mind that this rubber band empowers you with self-control that flows through your
whole body. So, every time you are faced with a certain thought, action, or environment that stimulates this craving or
bad behaviour, look to this power band for help.
Agualin: Now, let’s discuss about Motivation, Persistence, and Goals.

VII. MOTIVATION, PERSISTENCE, AND GOALS

Tagapan: Motivation is the fuel that gives our success engine its drive. It is a group of reasons that develop a desire
to accomplish. It is responsible for creating actions, thoughts, and situations that are directed toward a specific
accomplishment. All people experience fluctuations in their motivation and willpower. Sometimes you feel fired
up and highly driven to reach your goals. Other times, you might feel listless or unsure of what you want or how
to achieve it. Strong motivation is the underlying power behind some of the world’s greatest achievements.
Somera: Persistence is the act of continued action and effort towards an objective, even in the face of multiple
failures. Persistence means continuing with a course of action in spite of difficulties or opposition; in other
words, not just giving up or giving in at the first or third sign of trouble. Why? Because creating a life for
yourself that feels meaningful takes determination and effort, and it’s inevitable that you’ll face roadblocks and
resistance along the way. That doesn’t mean you stop; it just means that you come at things from a different
angle in order to keep going and keep on working towards your goals.
Dela Cruz: Goals. Clear and specific goals are the essential foundation of not only self-discipline but also a
lifetime of health, wealth, and longevity. There are many benefits we can gain from goal setting. People who
set goals tend to have higher self-motivation, self-esteem, independence and confidence. Having goals is
important because it gives us a sense of purpose and something to strive for. Good goals also involve our
values and ensure that we are challenging ourselves to uphold them. When it comes to our mental health, it is
especially important to set goals for ourselves in this area. By striving to improve our mental wellbeing, we
come closer and closer to self-fulfillment.
Tusi: Now, we that have discussed all the topics, let me ask some few questions before we end our report.
1. Is self-discipline worthy or important to talk about? Justify.
2. In your own opinion, why s self-discipline important in every aspect of your life?
3. According to the writer, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, the Filipino’s great dream is to travel – travel abroad, that is.
Is that true? Why do you say so? Do you share the same dream?
Tagapan: We prepared activity for you to answer. Answer page 375, questions for discussion.
ALL MEMBERS: Thank you for listening to our report.