Billboards

Magandang gabi sa inyong lahat. Isang napakalaking karangalan na makatayo at magsalita sa

harapan ninyo ngayon. Unang una sa lahat, maligayang pagtatapos sa inyong lahat, mga bata.
Panibagong yugto na naman ng buhay ang inyong tatahakin, panibagong mundo ang inyong
kakaharapin. Sa pagdiriwang ninyo ngayon ng inyong pagtatapos, nawa’y maitatak ninyo sa
inyong mga puso ang bawat ala-alang nagkaroon kayo sa loob ng paaralang ito, mga leksyong
itinuro ng inyong mga guro, at ang mga pagkakaibigang inyong binuo. Ang pagtayo ko sa
harapan ninyo ngayon, na siyang nagbibigay sa akin ng pagkakataon na matitigan kayong lahat;
isa-isa, tagos sa puso, tagos sa kaluluwa; ay nagpapaalala sa akin ng mga araw na ako pa ang
nasa ganyang taon, edad; naka-uniporme, dala dala ang aking bag, pumapasok sa eskwelahan
upang mag-aral.

billiards

billiards

Billiard balls on a table.

© Corbis RF

Many countries—among them France, England, China, Italy, and Spain—have been credited
with the invention of the game, but, in fact, nothing is really known about the origin of billiards.
It may be inferred that it developed from a variety of games in which propelling a ball was a
main feature. The earliest references to the game in Europe occur in the 15th century.

All billiards games require the basic equipment of a table, cue sticks, and balls. The traditional
mahogany billiards table is still in use, but tables are now generally made of other woods and
synthetic materials. The large rectangular table typically is twice as long as it is wide. It has a bed
usually of polished slate covered by a woven woolen cloth, sometimes r Many countries—
among them France, England, China, Italy, and Spain—have been credited with the invention of
the game, but, in fact, nothing is really known about the origin of billiards. It may be inferred
that it developed from a variety of games in which propelling a ball was a main feature. The
earliest references to the game in Europe occur in the 15th century.

eferred to as felt. Angled rails of hardened rubber or synthetic rubber, known as cushions, rim
the inner edge of the table. The cue is a tapered rod of polished wood or synthetic material,
ranging in length from about 40 to 60 inches (100 to 150 cm). The small end of the cue, with
which the ball is struck, is fitted with a plastic, fibre, or ivory reinforcement to which is cemented
a leather cue tip. Chalk in small cubes is applied uniformly to the cue tip permitting the players
to strike the cue ball off centre on purpose in order to impart a spinning motion, called “side” in
Great Britain and “English” in the United States. The billiard balls, formerly made of ivory or
Belgian clay, are now usually plastic; they each measure from about 21/4 to 23/8 inches (5.7 to
6 cm) in diameter, the larger balls being used in carom billiards.
Different forms of the game tend to be played in certain groups of countries or areas of the
world, though many of the games cross many national boundaries. The game of carom billiards
is still played primarily in France and other European countries and to a lesser degree in the
United States and has many players in Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and South
Korea and in Central America, South America, Africa, and the Middle East. The game of English
billiards is most popular in Britain and the former empire countries. The game of pocket
billiards, or pool, which uses six large pocket openings, is primarily the game played on the
American continents and, in recent years, has been played in Japan. The game of snooker is
primarily British and is played to a small degree in the Americas.

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Carom, Or French, Billiards

Carom billiards is played on a table usually 5 by 10 feet (1.5 by 3 m) or 4.5 by 9 feet (1.4 by 2.7
m). It has no pockets. The game is played with three balls, two white and one red, with one of
the white balls having a small red dot, or spot, to distinguish it. One of the white balls (plain or
spot) serves as the cue ball for each player, the red ball and other white ball serving as his object
balls. In play, the object is to stroke the cue ball so that it hits the two object balls in succession,
scoring a carom, or billiard, which counts one point. In a variety of the game called three-
cushion billiards, the cue ball must also touch a cushion or cushions three or more times to
complete a carom. Scoring a carom also entitles the player to another shot, and his turn, or
inning, continues until he misses, when it becomes his opponent’s turn.