Blog #13 - Divorce? Same sex marriage?

Marami tayong mga ideya na naiisip sa araw-araw nating buhay. Marami rin ideya na hindi natin alam kung tama nga ba o mali.

Noong nakaraang mahigpit na pinagdedebatihan ang "divorce" sa kongreso hindi dahil sa ito ay mahirap na  bagay ngunit may isang sangay ng ating bansa ang nagpupumilit na harangin ito. Ang isang sangay na ito ay ang simbahan na kung saan sinasabi nila na ang pagkakaroon ng divorce ay hindi ayon sa bibliya. Sinasabi nila na ang ideya ng kasal ay banal kaya sa pagkakaroon ng divorce ang kabanalan ng kasal ay mawawala dahil ang isang mag-asawa na naghiwalay na gamit ang proseso ng divorce ay maaaring magpakasal muli dahil ang kanilang naunang kasal ay magiging walang bisa. Paano magiging kabanal ang isang pagsasama na puro sakitan? Paano magkakaroon ng tahimik na buhay kung ang lahat ay magulo?

Isa pa ang same sex marriage, gawa ng divorce parehas din itong hinaharang ng simbahan dahil sa ito ay labag daw sa kasulatan sa bibliya ngunit maging ang ating santo papa ay walang tutol sa mga ito. Hindi ba dahil sa nagmamahal lamang sila? Mali ba agad pag nagpakatotoo at nagmahal ka? Mali baa ng mga gawaing wala ka naman nilalabag o naaapakan?

Sa ating lipunan hindi pa rin gaanong tanggap ang pangatlong kasarian dahil sa ating mga pikit na pag-iisip na kung saan ay nagiging hadlang na rin sa ating pag-unlad bilang isang nasyon. Maging ang hindi pagtanggap din ng divorce ay nagiging hadlang din sa ating progreso dahil wala rin namang magagawa ang mag-asawang gusti nang maghiwalay kundi magtiisan nalang.

　

Blog#12 - Hunchback of Notre Dame

    Hindi man ako nakapasok noong araw na may pinanood ang aking mga kaklase para sa isang komentaryo, ako pa rin ay nagtanong sa kanila kung ano ang pangalan ng kanilang pinanood. Alam kong dapat ako ay maging responsable para sa aking pagliban ng klase.  Nang akin malaman, agad ko itong hinanap at pinanood. Para itong “Beauty and the Beast” na kung saan ito ay ginawang “animated”.

     Ang aking bagay na napapansin sa ganitong klasend mga maikling panoorin ang pagiging “transformative” na kung saan ito ay ginawa upang hindi lang matanda kundi maging bata ay maengganyong panooring ito. Kung ito ay gagawing makarealidad, hindi maipagkakaila na maraming aayawan ito dahil sa nakakatakot na anyo samantalang ang iba naman ay mamimintas. Hindi rin maiiwasan ang pagka”boring”.  Sa ating mga Pilipino, ang ating pagkakakilala sa kuba ay isang aswang na karawing isinasama sa mga bampira sa “horror house”. Ang iba pa nating pagkakaalam sa kanila ay may mga balak at intension na masama.

    Ang pinapahiwatig lang ng “The Hunchback of Notre Dame" ay dapat hindi natin gawing basehan ang panlabas na kaanyuan. Hindi lahat ng maganda ay may magandang loob. Hindi rin naman lahat ng di kagandahan ay masama. Kalimitang ating nasa isip sa mga bagay komot hind gaano kaganda ang kaanyuan ay mahina na ang kalidad katulad ng ating pagtingin sa mga porduktong Pilipino. Isang bagay din na aking mabibigyan diin ay ang pagkakaroon ng discriminasyon ng mayayaman at mahihrap. Magdalas sa isang senaryong may hindi magandang kinalabasan kung saan may mahirap at mayaman, ang mahihirap ang napagbibintangan may kasalanan o may pakana. Ni hindi man lang nating naisip kung sila nga ba talaga o may mga ibang hindi lang talaga halata. Dito maipapakita kung nasaan ang katurungnan na kung madalas ay hindi nakukuha ng mga mahihirap.  Dapat tanggapin nating ang bawat tao bilang tao. Ano man ang kanilang estado sa buhay, kaanyuan, kakayahan or paniniwala, dapat pa rin nating silang irespeto and tanggapin dahil sa mundong ibabaw, lahat tayo dapat ay pantay-pantay.

Commentary Analysis#1 - Bangkok vs. Manila

Culture will always be one of the standards of a society that we live in. Building one's identity, defines a culture of a society and its environment.

Exposure trip will always be my favorite since we tend to reflect ourselves in it. We try to associate some of our aspect within the society. But one thing that I find critical is that where is the specific culture originated. Is it already a combination of culture or is it a new one. Actually, it is my first to travel out of the country without my family with me. From the airport to the temple, there was a huge difference. I believe that what we expect do not really defines the reality. Manila is the capital or center of the Philippines which contains plenty of industrialized building and locations while Bangkok is the capital of Thailand.

 From the Airport to Historical places, there are plenty of differences. Our Ninoy Aquino International Airport 2 is a small airport. Somewhat when many people intended to use it, there will be an overcrowded situation while Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi is a big one. One of the proof that it is big is that we had been lost in the immigration area and after that in the parking of the vehicles. Some signage and floor labeling is confusing their but thinking that it is big makes you want to cry when you’re lost in the area. After riding the bus, as it goes to our hotel, you can observe plenty of things such such their elevated roads, the train, and the position of their driver which is in the right side. Their right of way is really big. Their system is parliamentary.

The tour guide told us that Thailand is under a martial law but as we travel, we cannot feel that it is. Almost every building has spiritual houses and every bridge was designed accordingly. You can see in Bangkok the development. The informal settlers have big houses near the river. Though they are informal settler there houses are really spacious and can be considered as a good house since our informal settlers here in the Philippines do not really have the space. During the briefing, we planned to do our own itinerary so the group can roam around all the places that we want to see. After the briefing, we went to the streets right away and explore. We first observe the place and the people around it since we need a money changer and we do not know the place, we asked one of the vendors. Thai seems like Filipinos except when they are talking because they have their own language.

 Asking the vendor is hard because she cannot understand English that much. Luckily, we have a translator that helped us in conversing with the vendor. After giving us the information, she asked us “Are you Filipinos” We answered yes and she just smiled at us. After asking her, we realized that thai are also hospitable and kind despite of her negotiating with the buyers, she managed to entertain our question. Thai’s mindset of Filipino people are good. They said that we all came from the same race. We got the chance to see their street market where there is tiangge and street food. Their street food looks yummy. Their way of approaching buyers seems like a Filipino way.

Bangkok, just like Manila have plenty of Malls. There are different kinds of Malls such as Fashion Mall, Chatuchak, and Paragon. The Fashion Mall can be compared to 168 mall while Chatuchak is like Divisoria and Paragon is like Greenbelt. There are various differentials in the mall where Fashion Mall has its night market while Chatuchak is like Divisoria where you can really haggle the prices of everything but it is more organized than Divisoria and Paragon is a high-end mall. Social statuses are also highly emphasized because the rich people usually go out at night. In Fashion Mall, we experienced how to haggle the prices down for a sim. We ate Thai food, their system in their foodcourt is by card. Thinking that it is more of a hassle, the system makes their monetary circulation organized since it is by card. I also think that they are doing it for the consumer to come back since most of the consumers tend to buy cheap prices of food and save money. Thai food are really funny because we you go to a restaurant, you while see in their menu, garlic squid but when you try it, the reality is extreme spicy garlic squid.

Thai are very popular in producing horror films but when I stayed at our hotel room and my room mate was already asleep, I was watching but my observation of the place became so strange since I left the remote on the table while I’m watching and did not even bother to increase or decrease the volume but suddenly the sound of the television is making me wonder because as I’m watching the volume turned in a very loud one and suddenly went to mute. The Phatpong is the red light district of Bangkok while in Manila’s is in Ermita. The difference between the two areas is that the Philippines is more of a conservative one while Phatpong in Bangkok really showcases the those show. They do not even put curtains or door to cover what is inside the bar. They even negotiate with the people passingby the bars. They even have the “trial” which they will allow you to see the show and if you want see it, you can watch it for 300-500 baht. Prostitution in Bangkok is very rampant.

 The historical places in Bangkok like Grand Palace can be compared to historical places in Intramuros such as Fort Santiago and The walls of intramurals. Both places are very beautiful, I can find my peace in both places especially when there are only few people. Grand Place became a famous tourist spot in Bangkok that every tourist includes in their itinerary. I believe that Intramuros should be treated like Grand Palace, I think it has the capacity to encourage the foreigners to visit the history of the Philippines. Nowadays, foreigners tend to go to the Philippines to visits tourist spots like Boracay and Baguio. They tend to enjoy it without knowing the history behind it. My question is how can you enjoy a place without knowing the history of it? Is it really an appreciation of things? What I have observed is that the policy and rules and regulations in the Philippines is strictly implemented. All of the people we saw was following the rules. There are tables that say “No smoking” while other are “ Clean as you go”. Observing the people in Bangkok, the respecting the rules by following it. If they will see other people following the rules, they will call that person and tell to follow the rules. If that person cannot and do not want to follow it then they will tell you to leave because it is their territory that is why you have to follow their rules and regulation. It is funny and a bit surprising when we saw a pack of cigarettes covered with a disgusting effects of nicotine in our body. Bangkok is strictly reminding its citizens about the consequences that they might face for smoking. I can say that there culture is being well preserved since only few people, or few Thai can speak and understand the English Language. The people of Bangkok are really good and they seems like they are really open to foreign people since Bangkok has plenty of tourist visitor. I observe that even if they know that we were just visitors and not a local, they still treated us like locals because as I have said, their impression of Filipino people is good. We even had a converstion with a Thai vendor asking if he is a local resident in Bangkok and if he is a pure thai. The vendor told us that Bangkok has plenty of residents, they have Indian-Thai, Indonesian-Thai, Chinese – Thai and locals like pure Thai.

Bangkok is a nice place where you can unwind and relax. It is a place if you are interested with history because it is rich in its own culture. It is also a nice place for tourist since people they are very accommodating and friendly. There are plenty of similarities between Manila and Bangkok. The culture in Bangkok is much preserved than in Manila because they still have this spirit houses every buildings. Their religion as Buddhism is quite similar with our main religion, Roman Catholic. They have this small “temple” in every malls while in Manila, almost all of the malls have already churches. The use of Thai language is good thing because in my point of view, once you go to a different country, you have to embrace their culture because you are the one visiting it. The people who lives in that country must be sociable but must preserve the culture that they have.

Blog #11 - Different Social Classes.

Social Classes

It is already decades since social classes evolved. There are things that we do not really understand because we do not belong. We do not feel what they are undergoing.

We perceive things in our own world as normal but in fact, those things may not be normal for other people. It is included in our human nature to be observing such a way that we categorize people. There will always be criticisms.

I, myself, somtimes categorize people. I ometimes criticize some actions that I am not usually used to. As a person whi grew up in Province, I was mold into a conservative one. There are things that became new to me when I was a frosh in DLSU. In province, the low class people seems like the average class people in Manila realizing that the cost of living in manila is more expensive than in my province. The informal settlers have a good house in my province the only thing why we call them informal settlers is becuase they do not own the land. What they called "Nakikitirik lang ng bahay". In province, almost of those people who are working has big houses while the ordinary people has an ordinary one. There are only few beggars in the province since cost of living for one day in my province is equivalent to the cost of living per meal in Manila. In province, you know and meet all your neighbors regularly. Bayanihan is what I really appreciate in my province since that filipino culture is still present in our neighborhood. In Manila, social classes is really emphasized

Critical Commentary#1- Western Theories

Western Theories is already part of the world's culture.

Domination is already part of one's culture. It shapes the identity of the one being involved. Actions may not look like domination but one form of it is othering. Those western ideas that was injected to us was the one overpowering our kind. It will always be the concept of  superiors and inferiors. Domination might lead into two ways, the people who are being dominated might resist or somewhat accept the idea. Popular culture and "high art" is gave the people to express themselves by not physcically telling the audience but making the audience think critically. For me, popular culture is the simple one. It does not make me think critically like "high art" does. I appreciate "High art" because I am a 90s kid who appreciate old songs more than the newly released song. I find "high art" more meaningful than popular culture. Both popular culture and "high art" helps people to reflect about themselves and things around them.

Blog#10 - Wants Vs. Needs

Is it what we really need or is it what we really want?

　People becomes confused between the needs and wants. I may sometimes be confused with it. For me, what I really need are the goods that will help me survive my life and what I want is just a luxury that I can live without it.

In our modern world, people are forced to do things such as work. Some people do not even want to move. They just want to be in their houses. Some people want to move as long as they can. They want to get tired because they think it is what their worth is.

　In this I can say that what I really need is what i really want. How do I make this? I like to put thoughts being an opportunist. I always maximize my full potential.  I have been to a stage when I wasorn choosing what I really want (a game console) and what I realy need ( a shoes). At first, it was really hard choosing. I was awake every night thinking that I need both. As time passesby, I realized something. I realized that choosing a shoes over a game console will be a good choice since I like maximazing things. I thought that the only advantage of choosing thr game console will be just for my leisure time but in my case, I do no have that much leisure time that is why it will be stock in my house. Though it can motivate me to study more and release my stress, it is not practical.

Blog#9 - Para kanino ka bumabangon

"Kayo ang boss ko", iyan lagi ang linyang ating naririnig mula sa mga nangangampanya at mga politikong nagnanais tumakbo para sa isang posisyon. May mga platapormang minsan ay hindi makareyalidad, kung hindi naman makareyalidad ay platapormang mismong bumabaliko sa ideya ng naturang politiko. Minsan nakakainis at nakakatawang isipin ang kanilang mga pagnanais dahil ung iba ay tatakbo lang naman para sa lalawigan pero ang iniisip ay pangbuong bansa na. Ang aking punto ay dapat ang ating isipin muna ang ang pangmaliitan na sakop natin bago isipin ang isang malawakang pagbabago. Dapat ay simulan muna natin sa ating sarili bago tayo lumayo dahil hindi natin tuluyang makakamtan ang pagbabago kung mismong sarili natin ay hindi natin tanggap.

Sa akin pananaw, hindi naman madalas nairerepresinta ng ating mga pulitiko ang ating mga mithiin dahil na rin sa ating pagkakaiba ng mga ideya. Maging ang mga politiko ay may mga ibang ideya na minsan ay hindi natin nais. Minsan ako ay napapaisip na hindi nama. gaanong nagrerepresinta ang pulitiko sa ating mga mamamayan dahilkaramihan dito ay ang kanila mga interes lamang kung hindi nama. sa kanilang interes eh para sa kanilang ikabubuti o oara sa kanilang kaalyados.

Ito ang madalas na nakakapagpagulo ng aking isipan.
　

Blog#8 - Arts as an eye opener

Do we ever think that a simple artwork such as painting or dancing have a significant meaning. As a normal person, we tend to look arts as ordinary work. One form of art that I really love is acting. I have been one of the members of our prestige club in my highschool named Thespian. We performed plenty of stage plays, speech choirs and also dancing. The stage play “Pinatay si Mayor” is about a typical election. As a Filipino people, living in a democratic country, we have the right to vote or to choose our next leaders. Do we get to the point that we question our leaders if they really represent us? Do they run for the position just for their own interest? “Pinatay si Mayor” was one of the most enlightenment play that I have seen that showcases the electoral process or the government actions. It showcases what the real Philippines really is now.

The play is in line with the upcoming 2016 General Elections, the mass media that we think that is always correct and reliable must not be referred as sources. People nowadays is greatly shaped by media. They do not really showcases the truth and sometimes it is just exaggerated. Political dynasty that manipulates our country that we are just ignoring. There are anomalies that is happening in our country such as black voting. Elites has a huge influence in elections since there is also a need for money. People’s human nature is to be greedy of power, if we got power, we tend to crave and crave for more. It just really shows how power can manipulate people.

Critical Commentary#2 - Post-Colonialism

Post-Colonialism

Do we have our country called Philippines before the colonizers came? Do we really label ourselves as Filipinos before they came? The answer is no, we do not have a name called "Philippines" before they came. As i can remember, it was the spaniards colonization when our country was named as "Philippines". In that sense, can we categorize ourselves purely Filipinos when in the first place, the man who labelled us Filipinos and called our country Philippines was the spaniards? I do not agree that Phillipines has its own pure culture since we were mold by the colonizers.

After being a direct colony of many countries, there are things that changed. Our religion was greatly influenced by the Spaniards when they came, our food culture was influenced by the colonizers and the proof is that now, we are purchasing orr supporting the foreign food like burgers, fries, pancit, siopao and other. We are also influenced by tge colonizers in terms of our clothing. These days, bahay is not used as clothing for people in the cities and in the urban and rural areas but is used to be the clothing for the IP tribes in our mountains like Igorot. Sad thing is that, only fer of those IP groups that came from the mountanous parts of the Philippines is using it becuase they have already introduced to the use of blouse, pants and skirts. Even the use baro't saya was an influenced by the Spaniards, they were the one who used it. They used it with a classification.

The effect of colonization exerted a huge impact in our society. We have racism and discrimination. Racism and discrimination is being a significant problem in our world since we are all people and our what we want is the nature of acceptance. The form of otherings will always be the result. The discrimination that will lead to a misorganized society will always be present. It is like our categorization of our social statuses wherein some elites may be overpowerful that may result to stepping do the rights of the average people because they have the money, the connections and the power. Color is the becoming the social issue nowadays because it is perceive that whites are the superior, the rich people who came from a royalty blood while blacks  are the poor, the inferior people and the one who came from a slave blood.

　Post-Colonial theories are significantly affecting all of the people especially the Filipino nation. The search for our own identity is being destroyed. Filipino people are confused with our own identity and categorizing what is our own.

Critical Analysis #3 - My Political Space

There are places that I really feel comfortable. For me, silence is my comfort zone. Environment does help to boost my mood. It is my thing to walk around the places to have my comfort. I always like to walk to some places that I do not usually go to because I feel it as an unwind and relaxation. I sometimes go to football fields where there are only few people or sit near the swimming pool in my condo at night while watching the moonlight. It is really peaceful at night especially when all the people are inside their own houses.

Starbucks and DLSU Library, are one of places that I feel my comfort zone since both has the lighting that I prefer. It is funny that I prefer a specific place in order for me to have a specific comfort zone. I prefer Starbucks Torre Lorenzo 1 when I am studying for my business majors while DLSU Library when I am studying and making papers for my liberal arts majors. The Starbucks Torre Lorenzo gave me the mood of being a business student because of its environment that is very busy. When you look outside, you will see the reality of life that every seconds matters. In DLSU Library, I feel the comfort of getting new ideas and questioning the thoughts in my mind. What I usually feel when I am in DLSU Library is being serious, an analyst or consultant who will evaluate a certain case. It is the place where I have the mood to set my stand.

I cannot deny that sometimes, I feel discomfort in the campus because I feel that there are many eyes looking at my actions. It is not that I have done wrong but it is just not my thing to be an attention-seeker to people. Sometimes I tend to camouflage with people. I do not want all eyes in me. The places that discomfort me is the fastfood chains especially McDo in Taft since the place is so noisy and there are plenty of people which I do not really know or feel that I do not have any connection with.

           There are plenty of forms that I exercise my politics, one of them is the decision-making. Whenever there is a situation in our house that is more of critical, my family is asking for a consensus, that consensus should be answered by all of the members of our family. After answering it, there will be a forum that will involve about the effects, advantage and disadvantage of choosing a specific action.  The spaces that mostly exercise my politics is my house because I believe that opinion’s of every member of the basic unit of society is important. Being able to question all the decisions that is being made by my family makes my politics more open to more ideas. I also find my politics in school specifically in the room. The settings of a room is very competitive, everyone wants to have a high grades, everybody is competing each other’s idea especially when we try to learn new things but may end up contradicting with your own view. It is always the place where I have to prove and be consistent with my stand.

Critical Analysis #2 - Media

Evaluating myself, a song is the most powerful form of media in my point of view because we tend to memorize the things that we hear. I think it is powerful because people has the capacity to remember the things that we hear frequently. Sometimes, though we do not want to sing the song but when it register to our mind, we cannot resist from singing it. For me, there are kinds of song that do not really mean anything while others have a significant role to play in the society. In my world, all the songs that I want to hear are the songs that has meaning not just literally but has something to deal with the reality and has the reason behind it.

OPM songs are the songs that I usually want to here. I do think that OPM music has the real essence of what the reality is. As you can see in every lyrics, there are meanings not just they want to complete the lyrics of the song or just want to have a rhyme but there are relatedness and association.

I chose the song “Sirena” by Gloc9 because I usually hear it in the radio. I think that they play the song because of its real essence which is to be strong no matter what happens and there is a real message behind the song.

Ako'y isang sirena

Kahit anong sabihin nila ako ay ubod ng ganda

Ako'y isang sirena

Kahit anong gawin nila bandera ko'y di tutumba

Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid

Naglalakihang mga braso, saki'y dumidikdik

Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid

Sa patagalan ng paghinga, sa'kin kayo ay bibilib

In the first lines, the song’s message is that there are plenty of things in our life that can or will happen but despite of it we should face the truth and be ourselves as a person. It also showcase that it will always within you who can bring out yourself. (maitataas ang sarili). In our society there are trials and challenges that may question ourselves and our identity. Sometimes the idea that you believe may not be universal, meaning it is not really accepted by everybody.

Simula pa nang bata pa ako,

Halata mo na kapag naglalaro

Kaya parang lahat ay nalilito,

Magaling sa chinese garter at piko

Mga labi ko'y pulang pula,

Sa bubble gum na sinapa

Palakad-lakad sa harapan ng salamin,

Sinasabi sa sarili "ano'ng panama nila?"

Habang kumekembot ang bewang,

Mga hikaw na gumegewang

Gamit ang pulbos na binili kay Aling Bebang

Upang matakpan ang mga pasa sa mukha

Na galing sa aking ama

Na tila di natutuwa sa tuwing ako'y nasisilayan

Laging nalalatayan,

Sa paglipas ng panahon ay di ko namamalayan

Na imbes na tumigas ay tila lalong lumambot

Ang puso kong mapagmahal

Parang pilikmatang kulot.

As we grow up, we are mold by our environment and society. It culture, society and our environments shapes a person identity by putting ideas on our mind. We may not be able to figure it out but our society played a huge role in making our identity because it is the society who consider an idea tolerable or not. There are things that we might relate or accept but for other cannot and in this song, it is the gender preference which became the main argument or topic. In our country, it is one of the problem though there is already a progress on accepting all the gender preferences. Those who are not accepted by the society is suffering from various punishments such as criticisms and maltreatment.

Hanggang sa naging binata na ako

Teka muna mali, dalaga na pala 'to

Pero bakit parang lahat ay nalilito pa rin

Ano bang mga problema nyo?

Dahil ba ang mga kilos ko'y iba,

Sa dapat makita ng inyong mata

Sa tuwing nanonood ng liga laging natutulala

Kahit di pumasok ang bola ako'y tuwang-tuwa

Kahit kinalyo na sa tapang, kasi ganun na lamang

Akong paluin ng tubo kahit kinakalawang

Tama na naman itay, di na po ako pasaway

Di ko na po isusuot ang lumang saya ni inay

Kapag ako'y naiiyak ay sumusugod sa ambon

Iniisip ko na lamang na baka ako'y ampon

Kasi araw-araw na lamang ay walang humpay na banat

Ang inaabot ng ganda kong pang-ilalim ng dagat

It is funny how people criticize you even if they are not being affected by how you act. Sometimes we tend to hide in our closet because we are afraid of criticisms. We are afraid that the society we live in might not accept us. We are afraid of those eyes chasing our movements without considering that not all people cannot accept you for who you are. Seniority and patriarchy still do exist in our society. There is still this thinking that women are inferior and men are superior.

Lumipas ang mga taon, nangagsipag-asawa

Aking mga kapatid, lahat sila'y sumama

Nagpakalayo-layo ni hindi makabisita

Kakain na po itay, nakahanda na'ng lamesita

Akay-akay sa paglakad paisa isang hakbang

Ngayo'y buto't balat ang dati matipunong katawan

Kaya sa iyong kaarawan, Susubukan kong palitan

Ang lungkot na nadarama, wag na po nating balikan

Kahit medyo naiinis hindi dahil sa nagka-cancer

Kasi dahil ang tagapag-alaga mo'y naka-duster

Isang gabi, ako'y iyong tinawag, lumapit

Ako sa'yong tabi ika'y tumangan, kumapit

Ka sa aking kamay kahit hirap magsalita

Anak, patawad sana sa lahat ng aking nagawa

Di sinusukat ang tapang at ang bigote sa mukha

Dahil kung minsan mas lalaki pa sa lalaki ang bakla

It is a human nature of people to judge a person without knowing them. We may not do it frequently but we have to admit that once in our life we did judge a person without knowing him or her personally because we do think that our instinct and the impression that we are generating is true. There is a saying “ Don’t judge the book by its cover”. In real life application, some of the people are criticizing the capabilities of the lower class people that they do not know anything because they did not study but sometimes there are the one who knows all because they accept opinions and ideas of others. In the case of genders, people think that the LGBT community is just confused of their real identity and they think that it is just a piece of trash. Some people think that people who are under the 3^rd class of gender is useless. They think that they do not belong in a society where people lives in.  

To summarize all, “Sirena” by Gloc9 is a resistive song which can represent or express the thoughts of those people who are hiding under their closet. It is a song that fits in that society wherein LGBT community is no accepted so they may know how people involved feels. So people may be aware of their actions.

Blog#7 - Other individual's political space

Understanding other’s perspective of Political Space

Last meeting was full of sharing since our professor told us to communicate with other people whom you do not know really well. My partner and I got the chance to discuss our different perspective of our own political space. At some point we had a same comfort and discomfort.

 He told me that his comfort zone is McDonald. He told me that it is where he usually study. The place of his discomfort is at his province because he is not really close to his relatives. Of course, as person we should understand that closeness affects the relationship of a family. Family is a basic unit in a society where in people live in but in the scenario, how can a family be considered as a basic unit of a society when you fell the discomfort at your own family. His place of Politics is in media since media shapes politics. Media gave data and information about a current situation. He mentioned that he gets his current update through internet since for now, internet is the best way to spread an information. Information that may be true or may be overstatement.

In life, there will always be similarities and differences. It is the human nature of people to argue if their views are completely different. We must not immediately criticize the perspective of others if we do not know the reason behind it. We must have connection and communication for us to be able to understand each other’s ideas and opinions.

Critical Commentary #3 - Indigenous Filipino

Kulturang Pilipino nga ba?

Maraming nagsasabi na talaga ngang nagbago at at patuloy na nagbabago ang ating bansa. Hindi natin maipagkakaila na lahat ng pagbabago ay nakasalalay rin sa atin, sa ating mga Pilipino. Sa mga nakapaloob na pagbabago ay ang pagtanggap din natin sa kultura ng mga dayuhan maging mga mananakop. Naniniwala ako na sa kasabihang hindi natin malalaman kung hindi susbukan. Hindi na nakapagtataka ang malugod nating patangkilik sa ibang bansa dahil na rin sa mga pananakop na ating naranasan na kung minsan pa nga sila ang ating inaasahan upang umunlad ang ating sariling bayan.

Hindi nating lubusang masasabi kung tayo nga ay may sariling kultura sapagkat sa hinaba-haba ng panahon ay marami na rin ang mga dayuhang nanakop sa atin. Hindi rin natin masasabi na tayo ay may “Filipino culture” dahil ang lahat ng ito ay nagsimula lamang noong matapos tayong sakupin ng mga kastila. Tayo ay sinasabi isa sa may mga magandang kaugalian ngunit sa mga kaugalian na ito ay may nakapaloob.  Ang “utang na loob”, “pakikisama” at “hiya” ay ilan lamang sa mga sinasabing magagandang katangian ng mga Pilipino ngunit sa kabila nito ay meron din tayong sinasabing hindi magandang kaugalian katulad ng “mamaya na”, “ningas cogon”, “bahala na” at “crab mentality.

Madalas ko itanong sa aking sarili kung makapagdudulot nga ba ng magandang bagay  ang ating mga kaugalian na “utang na loob”, “pakikisama” at “hiya”. Sa akin paningin, ito ay may magandang naidududlot ngunit kung ito ay aabusuhin, iba na ang usapan. Hindi masamang tumanaw ng utang na loob ngunit dapat ito ay hindi sobra- sobra dahil minsan ang naidududlot nang sobrang pagtanaw ng utang na loob ay hindi rin maganda. Kapag ikaw ay may tinulungan, madalas sa mga Pilipino maririnig mo yung salitang  “tulungan natin para pag siya naman ang umunlad, tayo rin ay matulungan niya”. Sa paraan ito, mas lalo lang sasama ang loob natin kung hindi maibabalik sa atin an gating inaasahan. Isa pang kaso ay maraming tao ang lagi nalang umaasa sa iba maging sa kanilang pang-araw araw na buhay na kung minsan kapag ito’y tinigilan mong tulungan, ikaw pa ang lalabas na masama.  Sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino rin makikta ang konsepto ng salitang “Tayo” na madalas nating ginagagaw upang makipagsocialize sa ibang tao.

Blog#6 - ASEAN INTEGRATION

    Noong kami ay nagkaroon ng "exposure fireldtrip" sa Bangkok. Ang pangalwang araw ay nakatalaga para sa meeting ukol sa ASEAN Integration. Noong kami ay pumunta sa Mahidol University, kapansinpansin ang pagkakahawig nito sa Pamantasang Ateneo De Manila. Ang arkitektura at ang maganda nitong kapaligiran ay talagang kamanghamangha. Ito ay parang ang aking kinagisnan na UPLB kung saan ako madalas magmuni muni tuwing ako ay nasa Laguna.

　Ang paksa noon ay ang nalalapit na ASEAN integration kung saan lahat ng miyembro ay kinakailangan iugma ang sistema na ayon para sa ASEAN integration. Nakakatuwang isipin na hindi lahat ng tao ay nagmamadali at basta nalang tanggap nang tanggap ukol sa programa. Ang punto ng mga sinabi ng "panelist" ay kailangan munang manggaling sa isat isa o sa ating bansa na tanggapin lahat.  Kailangan muna nating paunlarin ang ating sariling kultura bago tayo umakap ng ibang kulture. Sa papamagitan nitio, maayos nating matatanggap at matututunan ang dayuhang kultura.  Kung sabagay, sinabi nga pala ng akin isang professor na walang sariling kultura ang pilipinas dahil ito lang daw ay nagmula pagkatapos tayong sakupin nga mga dayuhang Kastila. Katulad nating mga pinoy, kailangan muna nating maging bihasa sa ating lenggwahe bago nating ang mga dayuhang lenggwahe dahil hindi rin magkakaroon ng progreso. Sabi nga ng iba, ang pag-unlad ng isa ay nasa kanya sarili. Magkakaroon ng pagkakaisa kung lahat ay makikisama at makikipagtulungan.Ang progresi ay hindi madaling nakakamit, ito ay nakakamit nang dahan-dahan.
Hindi lahat ng bagay ay nadadaan sa madaling proseso. Minsan kailangan muna nating linangin ang ating kakayahan sa mga bagay na alam nating hindi tayo komportable upang pag nagkaroon ng mga bagong bagay na dapat nating isaisip ay maintindihan natin ito nang ayos. Ang pagkakaisa anlt pagtutulungan ng bawat mamamayan ay makakatulong upang mabuo ang identidad ng isang bansa. Sa pamamagitan ng pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa, mas madali at mas maayos nating matatanggap ang pagbabago na maaaring mangyari palitan man ang sistema o hindi.
　

Blog #5 - What should be the number one

As we grow up, things are changing. From the smallest to the largest details in our life. From our physical appearance to our mindset. As we grow up, our mindset is being developed by the group of people and culture. It is also beind developed by the environment we live in. (Kinagisnan) The fundamentals that we used to keep in mind will never be forgotten. It will always be the limit or the standard that we will be using in our future or decisions in life.

There are plenty of things in my mind which I am confused with. I am not usually like this before. I did not experienced any prioritizing problem since I know how to handle the pressure. This term is becoming a pressure for me since I have 3 majors for my liberal arts course and 2 majors for my business course. There are times that I feel like I am dead, times that I think my body will just shut down. There are times that it is already bed time or vacation but what I am thinking is what should I do for my academics.

Sometimes my decision is not to sleep and just to reflects all the things that I need to. What I realized about the thing that bothers me is the priorities that I have to do and have to choose. There will always be a confusion once you think that you need to do all the things. The confusion will always be asking what should be the number one priority.

In decision-making, prioritizing is important especially when you are torn between two important things. Before I was torn between my 2 major subjects because of an alternative class which will be during my other major subject's time. At first, I was confused and a bit worried about it but suddenly I realized that maybe I can ask the other's permission if I can cut the class and be responsible for what I have missed. My idea was to ask my prof in a good way not in the form that it will be disrespectful.




　

Blog#4 - Limit of a Person

Every person has his or her own limits but the question is should we push ourselves beyond our limit or just limit ourselves in the things that we know we can be sure of? Are we sure that the limit that we used to set is the real limit or capacity of ourselves? Should we think that the limit that we used to be sure of is right?

Being in a family who used to respect elders, Patriarchy has been one of the ideology that is implied in our family. It is also due to that my father used to live in a military way since my grandfather is a retired major. I do usually think that having that ideology is a problem since in a family is compose of mother, father, and children.  I think that everyone has the right to speak up and have an opinion. Being Patriarchal also limits the children in having a wide scope of knowledge and experience since there will be plenty of not to's. Patriarchy does not mean that you have to tie the necks of your family with you. It is also funny how we look into those courses, being a Political Science major does not mean that your career in the future will be a Politician. You can be anything as long as you want it and you worked hard for it.  You can be a Political commentator, consultant, lawyer, or even a businessman. Also in the sense that when you are a Chinese, the person you have to marry is a Chinese.

Some people decide not to go out of their comfort zone since they are afraid to be judged. Limiting yourself in one thing can be a hindrance in your life since there are plenty of opportunities that is given to us. It depends on us people on how we perceive it. My beliefs, identity and character are the limits of my existence. Myself is my comfort zone because I believe that everyone can be your enemy even if he or she is one of your family. Yourself will only be the one who will be there in every challenges in your life. I am a type of a person who will first observe a person before I talk to him/her.

Blog #3 - Cycle of Life

The term “other” or “others” can be referred to anything since there is no particular meaning and description in detail that serves as basis of information such as when you use the term “other cousins”, “other people” and many more. Most of the time, when the word “other” comes to my mind, as I realize what the term other really meant I seem to relate it more to a stranger. I consider people who do not understand my point of view as others.

I have been object of the domination and marginalization at some point since I am living in a country where there are rules and regulations that I have to follow. There are also programs that I have to participate. There are some things that is not really required but is recommended such as the voting process. In voting, you can resist if I want to since it will be your decision of not voting. You still have the rights to speak up your comments about the winner candidate since you are still part of the citizen of the country but of course you, at some point may realize that you do not have the right to speak since you have been given the opportunity to vote because there can be a difference if you voted. Being a student, I have encounter plenty of challenges and one of them is bullying. I was one of the bullies’ target since I was one of the quiet people in our classroom. I was also one of those people who will not fight back even if someone hit me because I believe in karma.

To be honest, I think everyone has dominated and marginalized others but in many different ways. I have dominated and marginalized others especially when it comes to my studies and my grades. As a part of a group, all of the members has his or her own task. Every task must be completed in order to make a good output. When one member of the group did not submit his or her own work, there will be a missing part. In this case, my trait to be a dominant person can come out. In my way, I am using my trait as a dominant person to reinforce other people to do their part and work. I also dominated and marginalized people when I know that I am right. It also work in my life since I want to be independent at some point. I dominate and marginalize my parents with the decisions  about me and my life since I know in myself that whatever my decision is, I have to be consistent with it  and that is what I really wanted.

Blog#2 - Subject Object

There are many things around us that we keep on questioning. Some of those questions are not really answerable by yes or no or cannot be answered immediately. Some answers can be found by slowly observing and finding out what your real self is. Everyone did not choose to be born nor to be born during their birth date. Everyone did not choose their parents. Everyone did not get to choose the name that they want because our parents was the one who chose it for us. We did not even choose the social status of our family that we grew up with. Everyone did not choose their sexuality.

I myself did not choose my full name because I was still a baby during the time that they are choosing a name for me.  When I was a kid, they called me Junine or Junina, it was fine for me since it is the nickname that they were used to call me. When I grew up, I preferred being called MJ rather than my former nicknames. In terms of clothing, as I grew up, there were changes in choosing my clothes. When I was a baby, they are the one who chose my clothes but when I reached graders, there were times when I argued with my parents in choosing my clothes but sometimes I still consider their opinion. But when I grew up, now, I am the one who is choosing my own clothes since my point is I am the one who will wear it that is why I need to be comfortable with my chosen clothes. It was not also my choice to have a religion or to be a Catholic because my parents are both Catholic that is why I am baptized as a member of a Catholic church but as I grew up, they are letting me explore about religion and I know there is a document that says that when you are at legal age or 18 years old, you can change your religion. I also did not choose having siblings but for me, as of now, they are my life. In choosing my accessories, when I was a baby, my parents and grandparents were the one who chose but when I am growing up, I resist having too many accessories. I also argue with them in choosing the accessories since I am only a watch person. I do not like many accessories. I did not also choose the social status that I used to grow with but of course as time passes by, after graduating or after having a degree, then there will be a time that I can choose whether I would like to get richer or just stable with this condition since I will be the one who will work for myself in order to get what I want. Gender preference is the one that makes a thing sensitive but since I want to be consistent with myself, I like having decisions by myself since I will be the one who will live my life. My parents and family are intervening with it but they said be yourself and you are who you are. Having my own point of view is my decision. It is one of the things that I am proud of my family since when I was a kid, they let me use and know my capabilities and they even ask for my opinions and ideas. They did not enclosed my mind with a single idea that they want to put in my mind. Nowadays, as I enter college, I spend more time in Manila since the location of my school is there. Of course during weekends, I am required to go home in my province since my family is there and they are waiting for me but whenever I am busy with my school works, they are allowing me to stay in Manila as long as I finish the works that I have to do. When I was a fourth year highschool student, I was excited in getting a form for an entrance exam for college. I got a form in UP, DLSU, ADMU, Mapua, and San Beda. Luckily, I passed DLSUCET, Mapua Entrance Exam, and San Beda entrance exam and was able to get the course that I wanted. Until the UPG was released, my UPG was good enough that enables me to enter UP but as time passes by and the school year is coming I am having a dilemma in choosing my school since in the 3 schools, I can get the course that I wanted but of course I still considered UP since UPLB is near in house and my family believes that UP is a good school that is why my sister was enrolled there. Taking up AB in Political Science and BS in Accountancy is my choice since I believe that both fields will help me enrich the knowledge in order to be a good lawyer. My chosen career is being a CPA Lawyer and they do not have a problem with it. They are just supporting whatever my decision is. They just told me that I should be consistent with my decision so I will not regret in the future.

For now, I have to prove myself to everyone that the things that I have chosen is right and that things that I have chosen will not be a hindrance towards my success. In my life, I am the only one who is in control and also God because I believe that hardwork pays off.

Blog #1 - Conservative vs. Liberal

Stand in different situation

The lecture and the activity engaged us students to know our position in different situations.  In the activity, students were asked questions that can be answered with yes or no. If the answer is yes, then the student must go to the left side while if the answer is no, the students must be on the right side.  Based on my observation, there are only few students in the room who are considered a liberalists. There are certain situations that may somewhat contradict your position.

There is a saying that in life, not everything is permanent. As time passes by, one’s ideas and opinions are changing. It varies through time and situations in our lives. Our mind is developing as we open our eyes to our environment. You can be liberal when you’re young but when you grow up, you develop to be conservative. It can also happen for you to be a consistent conservative starting from your younger years up to present.

                During my POLISCI subject, when I took the test, the result was that I am a conservative. When we did the activity the result was consistently saying that I am a conservative. Now, I think I still am on the process of finding myself because I know that being a conservative does not really mean that you are a really a straight conservative type of person. It may depend on you. In my opinion, abortion is not right. It is not a solution whenever someone gets pregnant. In the first place, the two people who are having a sexual interaction with each other must be responsible enough for whatever it may result to. There are two ways that one may resort to, one is be in favor of abortion and prefer to do it or the second one is make the child live but in the end figure out how to support the basic needs of the child and teach the good manners and values with the risk of not being able to do so and make the child suffer from a life he does not deserve to live in. Some are making children to sell to others who were not able to have their own child and get money from it and sometimes it is being controlled by a syndicate. Using abortion for saving the life of the mother during pregnancy is also fine since I am not the one who should really decide. The couple who are undergoing this kind of circumstances must be the one to decide because still, who am I to decide in this situation where I am not involved in. If the couple agreed using abortion in order for the mother to live, they should do it.  On the other side of the story, the LGBT community do also have the rights to live. As long as they are not doing bad things. Why would we limit them? We are all people. We all know that every person has his or her own idea, characteristics and way of happiness. We are all unique by being ourselves. The LGBT community is just being true to their own self. They are just making themselves happy and contented. Why would we push them into a person who is just a mask of what they should be and make them unhappy and feel uncomfortable with. There is also a prevailing issue about gay marriage. In my opinion, it is fine with me. Everyone has the right to love and be loved. It is not a sin of a person that he or she loves a person with the same sex. They did not even choose to be like that. As for me, I do not find gender as an issue. It is just an identity of a person. Whether you like it or not, you have to deal with it.

                                                   

                I am a conservative though there is still a part of me that is a liberal. I know that as I search for myself, I can answer all the question and can be really consistent with my position.