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The presentation is basically about LOVE. It is about how people see love nowadays. Different aspects and perspective on LOVE was discussed here. The content of this presentation is my own insights based on my observation. The things I wrote here is also related to some of the short stories about LOVE that was discussed in class.

Here's the link in case it won't work:

http://prezi.com/bha7i4ho8rqw/love-love-love/

[fayetanjuaquio-blog]

The presentation is basically about LOVE. It is about how people see love nowadays. Different aspects and perspective on LOVE was discussed here. The content of this presentation is my own insights based on my observation. The things I wrote here is also related to some of the short stories about LOVE that was discussed in class.

Here’s the link in case it won’t work:

http://prezi.com/bha7i4ho8rqw/love-love-love/

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History repeats itself

One of the films I liked that shows the alternative history of the Philippines is the Aishite Imasu. It is a combination of drama, romance and war during the Japanese Occupation in the Philippines. Inya, Edilberto and Ignacio are the main characters in this movie. They are best of friends. Inya and Edilberto already love one another since childhood. Ignacio is gay in the movie and he secretly likes Edilberto but he didn’t pursue it because when they grew up Inya and Edilberto ended up together. Ignacio dresses up like a woman everytime he’s going to sing in the stage. When Japanese came to the country, Ichiro, a Japanese Captain got attracted to Ignacio. He thought Ignacio is a real girl. Edilberto is part of the guerilla. He convinced Ignacio to continue acting as a woman so that he can spy the Japanese. Ignacio agreed because he loves Edilberto.  Because of Ignacio, the guerillas were able to know the plans of Japanese. As time passes by, Edilberto was more focused to the battle instead of his relationship with Inya. Ignacio is already falling in love to Ichiro so he stopped spying. The guerillas thought Ichiro sided to Japanese.

The story is mainly about the friendship of Inya and Ignacio that despite of what’s happening their friendship remain. It is also about Edilberto’s love to the country, he really dedicated his self for the country. The historical about the story is how relationships were handled and what happened during the occupation of Japanese in the Philippines. This story is also about the relationship of Edilberto and Inya and how their relationship survived even though Edilberto is busy with the war. It is also about Ignacio’s relationship with a Japanese Captain.  The movie showed how Japanese treated the Filipinos badly. Japanese are so cruel that time. The ladies during that time were being used for Japanese sexual needs.

I think the movie is accurate with the things they showed that happened during the Japanese Occupation in the Philippines. The film showed realistic situations. My grandmother also tells story about that war and some of the scenes in the movie really happened during that time. The story really portrayed how brutal Japanese were to the Filipinos.

This is important because it will help the Filipinos remember and visualize what happened in the past. We know that people will appreciate it more if they can see it visually than just reading it from books. We could also learn from this. How to value relationships despite of different conflicts we may encounter. It is important to the next generation because we don’t know what might happen. This kind of situation might happen again. There are a lot of lesson from the movie that people should absorb and learn so that when it happened again they can do better and doesn’t repeat the mistake from the past.  

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As time passes by.......

As time passes by, people and things change. We can see the difference between the past and modern life through the stories we discussed in class. The stories, Games, Documents and The tale of the spinster and Peter Pan defined what love is for the people nowadays.

Before, love is discussed in the story as something valuable and precious. In the past if a man wants a lady, he needs to court the lady and her family. He needs to prove to the lady and her family how serious he is. Nowadays, courting is not necessary. A man just needs to tell his feelings to the lady he likes and from there, love will just develop. Another difference between past and modern life is how people take love seriously. In the past, love is not an ordinary thing but nowadays, some people treat love as a game. In the modern life, people don’t take love seriously. For them, infatuation is the same as love. They enter relationship even though they’re not yet ready and not sure with what they feel. Some people don’t know the real meaning of love anymore. For them, it’s just a simple word that’s easy to say.  In the story “Documents”, it looks like the lady is the one who is making a move to get the attention of the man which is exactly the opposite of the situation in the past. While in the story “Games”, it is shown that they don’t really take their relationship seriously. It also looks like they’re just playing a game and having fun with one another. In “The tale of the spinster and peter pan”, the lady was only infatuated with the man and when she figured out the bad side of the man he stopped liking him.  Another difference in the past and present life is the communication between the persons. Before, people spend time together but now, they just spend time talking through phones or computers. Before, men are exerting effort to see or talk to the ladies but now a simple text and call through phones are enough.

Modern life has advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that it makes our life easier. Another advantage is through the experiences in the past people learned. We are learning from the experience of other people in the past which is a good thing. It is an advantage for us who are living the present life. There are many disadvantages of modern life over the past life. One is being comfortable with an easy life. It’s contradicting to the advantage of modern life making life easier but because of this people are not working hard nowadays. For example, if you want to communicate with your GF/BF, instead of talking to him/her personally, you’ll just talk to her through cellphone. Another disadvantage is we are lacking of physical connection with other people. In the stories it is also shown, like in “Games”, they spent more time talking through phone than meeting up personally. They just keep in touch through gadgets. It is a disadvantage because personal approach is better. We are just relying on the gadgets we have to communicate with others. A disadvantage of lacking personal connection is that misunderstandings were formed.  It is hard to talk through gadgets and it is more unclear.

Technology has a big role in the modern society. It affected our way of thinking, perception and living. In the stories, the role of technology was discussed. Technology really made our life easier. In “documents”, the word processor became the way how the man and the lady communicate; in “games” through phone they express their feelings. Technology also affects our relationship to other people. Because of the technology, handwritten letters run out of style and replaced by e-mail. Instead of writing a letter with a pen and paper, we can sit in front of our computer and send an e-mail. Cellphones made our life easier too, and nowadays without it we cannot live. In our everyday life, technology is always there and we always use it. Technology has an impact in our personal life too. Based on my experience, most of the time I communicate with my family and friends through social networking sites and cellphone. When I need something from my parents, one text away and I can get what I want. But because of technology, relationships became weak. Bonding moments with family was lessened, because most people spend time playing gaming gadgets, surfing the net or texting. Technology is not bad for us, but we should learn how to control ourselves from using it.

Don’t let technology dictate your life!

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Be ready to face the consequences

I want to focus to the story Love in the Cornhusks by Aida Rivera-Ford. One of the problems discussed in the story and also discussed in the class is about Tinang having no choice Tinang is a maid who got pregnant. She loves Amado but Amado went away. Tinang got pregnant and married a Bagobo. We discussed in the class that Tinang married the Bagobo because she cares about the future of her child. Women who got pregnant before marriage is not acceptable to the society and they also think they cannot raise their child without a man. They marry the father of the child even though they are not yet ready and sometimes it leads to an immature relationship. Nowadays, the number of incident of teenage pregnancy is getting higher. The difference between before and now is that women in the present can already stand on their own. Some teenage moms are wiser nowadays. They think before entering marriage. I know some women who got pregnant at a very young age but they don’t marry the father of their baby. For them, it is not appropriate to marry the man just because they are pregnant. They don’t want to marry at a very young age, because they know within theirselves that they’re not yet ready and still immature to enter the sacred marriage. I read an article where it is stated that most teenage moms suffers poverty because they cannot sustain the needs of their child. I think that’s the reason why some choose to just marry the father of the child. I know that once you enter a relationship some believes that you have to give everything for it to work. If you gave up your virginity to the one you love, you should think first if he’s really the one and you’re ready to face the consequences if you do it. We shouldn’t forget that we have to think first the consequences of doing something.

I also want to give my personal opinions about these issues.  For me, if what happened to Tinang happens to me, I would not do what she did. I believe that each one of us has a lot of choice but most of the times we made the wrong decisions. There are times that we regret the wrong choices we made but we cannot take back the time. The only thing we could do about it is to learn from our mistakes. Those wrong decisions will help us in the future, and help us to become a better person. I’m not going to marry someone just because I need him. Some relationship fails, because of immaturity. Women should know their worth and should not depend on men.  Women should change their image in the society and we shouldn’t let anyone degrade us.

Source:

The Challenges of Teenage Pregnancy.Welcome to pregnancy guide.Date accessed:February 11,2012.<http://www.preparents.com/teenage/statistics-of-teenage-pregnancy-in-the-philippines.php>

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WEB DESIGN Exercise

(No copyright infringement) 

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One for all, all for one

In both stories, we saw the shifting from a collective mindset to an individualistic one through the clash of ideas of the characters in the story. In the story “Divide by Two”, there’s a conflict between the characters because Belle and the narrator argue on some things because they are two different individuals with different perspective.  In the story “The Bread of Salt”, the interest of the narrator to be with Aida was tackled. In both stories, the actions and decisions of the characters were for themselves. The personal interest of each character was also discussed showing that the story is individualistic. 

For me, the Philippine Society is collective culture because most Filipinos care about their co Filipinos. Camaraderie is one of the attitudes of Filipinos. It has many manifestations in Philippine society, one of which is when someone is in need we are always ready to help. One example is when one member of the DLSC College Faculty needs cash donations. The College Faculty organized an event to raise money while the students and other members of DLSC community supported the event. I know some student who saved money from their allowance so that they can donate and help in a little way. Another example is when some part of the Philippines suffered from a typhoon. Filipinos all over the world are willing to help. Like the recent typhoon Sendong who brought disaster to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. I read an article about the Filipinos from Canada who gather help to the victims. Some of them are OFWs, meaning they are working because they need to sustain the needs of their family in the Philippines but they still chose to help and donate small amount of money to the Sendong Victims. The Filipinos in Canada donated money and clothes. They also invested time and effort on organizing a benefit concert to raise money for the Sendong Victims. Last example is when a taxi driver returned the bad of a British tourist that contains all his money and passport. The driver has financial problem but he still chose to give back the money. My examples show the collective culture of Filipinos where instead of thinking for your own interest, most of the Filipinos think and decide what’s best for everyone. 

I think it is normal for Filipinos to have this attitude, because before Filipinos really possess this kind of attitude and no matter how long time passes by some of it will still remain. We inherited those attitudes from our ancestors. Inheriting good attitudes from the past is important because it reminds us of our ancestors and at the same time helps us become a better person. 

Sources:

Hernandez, Zen.(June 23,2011).Honest Cabbie returns P200,000 to tourist.ABS-CBN News Nation.Date accessed:January 27,2012.< http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/06/23/11/honest-cabbie-returns-p200000-tourist>

Docto, Cecil.(December 28, 2011).Pinoys in Canada gather help for Sendong victims.ABS-CBN News Global Filipino.Date Accessed: January 27, 2012.<http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/12/28/11/pinoys-canada-gather-help-sendong-victims>. 

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Tradition of Filipinos that makes us unique

HOW FILIPINO FAMILIES DIFFER FROM OTHERS

The two stories described the traits of the Filipino families before. The stories showed how each of the family members is close to one another. It is also described in the stories, a loving and happy Filipino family who can survive in any struggles in life.

In the first story, there are two kinds of family, the first belongs to a middle class but they are blissful and contented to what they have while the second one is a rich family who isn’t happy as the first one. In the second story, the family is not always complete because the father is working far from his family but despite of this, they are still close to one another. In both stories, there’s a small problem came but still they survived.

One thing I can compare is how Filipinos celebrate Christmas compared to others. I read an article written by an American sharing his experiences of Christmas last 2008 here in our country. He said that Christmas in the Philippines is inspirational and mind opening. He’s not that interested or excited in Christmas before but it changed when he celebrated it in the Philippines. This article showed that Filipino family celebrates more meaningful and enjoyable Christmas than others. I’m not stereotyping the Americans, maybe it’s just applicable for some but not for everyone. We also know that last 2011, a tragedy happened in Cagayan De Oro but despite of this they still celebrated Christmas in a positive way. It just showed how strong and optimistic Filipinos are.

Here's a video I saw that describes the culture and tradition of a Filipino. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDy5RlrBR7M&feature=player_embedded

  OLD TRADITIONS WILL NEVER BE OUT OF STYLE

One topic in the story "How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife" talks about how Leon's father wants to know the attitude of his wife. I read an article where old traditions were still practiced nowadays. In the article, there's a couple who are both Filipinos but stayed in America for years. The guy courted and dated the girl in America but he chose to go back to the Philippines to court and meet the family of his fiancée. He courted the girl again and also the family. He practiced the old traditions which are doing stuffs for the family of the girl and giving gifts everytime he is visiting them. 

For me, this is one of the traditions that Filipinos should always remember and do. This is one unique trait of Filipinos. Nowadays, some Filipinos think that courtship is not necessary but for me it is still important. In the courtship stage, where the guy will court you and your family shows respect for a girl and her family. You can also see the sincerity of the guy. There's a less chance that the guy will mistreat or cheat on you because he already meet your parents and he should be ashamed if he'll still do that. I think it is not wrong to practice these old traditions if it's for the best. 

 Sources:

 Rusty Ferguson. (December 25, 2008).In Christmas in the Philippines.Ezine Articles.Date Accessed: January 20, 2012.<http://ezinearticles.com/?Christmas-in-the-Philippines&id=1820251>.

associatedcontent.com.Philippine Culture.In asiarecipe.Date            Accessed:January 20, 2012.<http://asiarecipe.com/phicommontraits.htmlhttp://asiarecipe.com/phicommontraits.html>.

  Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDy5RlrBR7M&feature=player_embedded from pearlvideos84

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Racial Discrimination: A problem that will always exist

Nowadays, racial discrimination is still one of the problems most Filipinos are facing. Incidents where Filipinos are being discriminated always happen. I found articles showing that Filipinos are not treated properly in other countries.  

I've read an article about Filipino passengers who were not treated properly while trapped in Frankfurt. All the passengers trapped were accommodated in hotels except for the Filipinos. They stayed at the airport lounge and sleep on the floors because they were lacked of Schengen visas. After staying there, an authority told them they cannot get a visa and go to Germany but other Asian passengers like Taiwanese and Chinese who doesn’t have visa were allowed to go. Authorities said that anybody with a Filipino passport wouldn’t be issued a visa. This incident really showed discrimination to Filipinos. They are so unfair to Filipinos. All tourists are welcome to our country but how come there are some countries that restrict Filipinos to go there. We always make sure that foreigners will have a good stay in our country. Some of them are not doing the same to us. 

Another article is about the Filipino caregivers in other countries who were not treated properly. According to this article, 93% of women caregivers in Canada are victims of sexual and physical abuse, harassment, exploitation and intimidation. Most caregivers are mistreated by their employers. We heard a lot of incidents like this. Employers are mistreating them because they are Filipino. They think that all Filipinos are slave. They think they can do everything to the Filipinos especially to the caregivers. Filipinos are working because they need money for their family and for them to sustain their needs in life. Some employers are abusing it and doing bad things because they think that Filipinos will do everything just to earn money. Caregivers take care of them so they should be nice to them.

Improper treatment Filipinos experiencing should also be a lesson to us. No one deserves to be mistreated. Some Filipinos let this kind of incidents passed by because most of them are afraid. There are also people who stand up and fight for what they think is right. We should show them that their perceptions about us are not true. We should also learn how to fight for our dignity as Filipinos and as a person. We are also person who needs respect and should be treated equally.  We are all equal and no one deserves to be mistreated.  Even though others are not treating Filipinos right, we should not do the same to them. Instead, let’s keep being nice to everyone who deserves a good and proper treatment. 

Sources:

Guerrero, David.(April 17, 2010).Inquirer Global News. In Inquirer.net.Date accessed:January 13, 2012. <http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100417-  264758/12- Filipinos-stuck-and-discriminated-against-in-Frankfurt>.

Alipato Publications.(December 5-11, 2004).Migrants Watch.In Bulatlat.Date accessed:January 13, 2012. <http://bulatlat.com/news/4-44/4-44- caregiver.html>.