just keep thinking

a writer, a student, and a daydreamer

[jolya]

The following is a journal entry about the ninth (and last) module of the NSTP class dated November 11, 2019. The speaker was Athena Charanne R. Presto.

As we have been given free rein with how the entry is written (and because I would hate for it to be JUST an informative essay), I will be writing this entry (and most of my entries) with creative liberty.

Word count:  words

What makes a Filipino? 

Is it by ancestry? Where we were born?

I believe that being Filipino is identifying to be one. I’m sure there are more technical definitions. But for me, being Filipino is when you choose to be one.

But being part of one society has responsibilities and the last common module was finished by talking about UP.

Specifically, what we, as UP students, can and should do.

NSTP is a required course that has talks that teaches us to know and be better individuals. Individuals who can serve our country. As UP students we are expected to apply our common modules for a better society. 

And of course, as UP students, I shall take this from the very first video we were shown in NIP.

Honor before Excellence.

We must uphold that as well.

[jolya]

Norms

The following is a journal entry about the eighth module of the NSTP class dated November 4, 2019. The speaker was Athena Charanne R. Presto.

As we have been given free rein with how the entry is written (and because I would hate for it to be JUST an informative essay), I will be writing this entry (and most of my entries) with creative liberty.

Word count:  131` words

A foreigner can probably figure out Filipino norms just by watching our shows. How media portrays our culture is interesting enough and while these norms aren’t necessarily good or bad, they still play an important role in our lives.

Another thing that teaches us the Filipino ways is through socialization. Each person we meet or socialize with leaves a mark in our life. 

We may not be aware of some norms but it is subtly shown through social media and part of our education. We pick up on it, sometimes unconsciously, and through this, we share it with others. 

Because of these norms, we turn away people who do not share them. It is an avenue to oppression of the minority. Most cases would most likely be class, gender, or ethnicity.

[jolya]

Bakit

The following is a journal entry about the seventh module of the NSTP class dated October 28, 2019. The speaker was Dr. Remedios P. Mondiguing.

As we have been given free rein with how the entry is written (and because I would hate for it to be JUST an informative essay), I will be writing this entry (and most of my entries) with creative liberty.

Word count: 136 words

Bakit kasalanan ko? Kasalanan ko bang nandoon ako? Yung suot ko? Yung katawan ko? Kung paano ako magsalita at kumilos?

Bakit niyo nagawa yun? Dahil ba nakainom? Joke lang ba? Hindi sinasadya? Biruan lang?

Bakit di ka tumigil? Nung sinabi kong wag di mo ba narinig? Akala mo ba ginusto ko yun?

Bakit ako? Bakit?

Kasi ang hirap aminin na hindi ako ligtas. Na hindi ako makakapaglakad sa gabi ng mag-isa. Ang hirap magtiwala’t maniwala. 

Hindi ko maisip kung saan ba kakapit dahil minsan sila’y di naniniwala. O kaya’y sesermonan ka pa. 

Eh kasalanan ko ba?

Bakit kailangan mo akong pagsabihan?

Bakit kailangang mahaba ang suot na pambaba at maayos ang pantaas? Hindi ba ako rerespetuhin sa kung sino ako at hindi sa kung ano ang kasarian ko?

Kung pwede lang pakisagot lahat ng bakit.

[jolya]

Save us

The following is a journal entry about the sixth module of the NSTP class dated October 28, 2019. The speaker was Engr. Kristian July R Yap.

As we have been given free rein with how the entry is written (and because I would hate for it to be JUST an informative essay), I will be writing this entry (and most of my entries) with creative liberty.

Word count:  116 words

Not everything goes on forever From our food to our water Some things aren’t sustainable And there comes a time where resources aren’t stable

We try to find a way to survive But all we do is thrive We keep thinking that it’s okay But not everything is gonna stay Fires,  floods, melting of ice Each year a new problem will arise And yet all we do is to share things online We don’t even acknowledge what is on the line Save the earth because we need it No, save us because the earth can survive without us on it We have to try to the best of our ability Because this is a social responsibility

[jolya]

Life

The following is a journal entry about the fifth module of the NSTP class dated October 21, 2019. The speakers were from the UP Red Cross Youth.

As we have been given free rein with how the entry is written (and because I would hate for it to be JUST an informative essay), I will be writing this entry (and most of my entries) with creative liberty.

Word count:  107 words

It never occurred to me just how serious First Aid was. Hearing it, I just though abrasions, scratches and a few bumps here and there. After the First Aid talk, I was opened to the reality that First Aid can mean someone’s life. The guides and rules to follow in each situation were so many that I think I won’t be able to do it. And I fear that I would fail if ever I try.

The possibility of even leaving someone during first aid is scarier.

Sabi nga nila,

“Once you approach someone (in need), di mo na pwedeng basta bastang iwanan.”

And I felt that.

[ravenclawravings]

What Ravenclaw says: I'm super busy today so I'll see if I can get to that task.

What Ravenclaw means: I have a moderate amount of things I know I can accomplish, but I have poor time management skills. So, I'll either do all or nothing.

[jolya]

Relationships

The following is a journal entry about the fourth module of the NSTP class dated October 14, 2019. The speaker is Sir Jake Rom Cadag.

As we have been given free rein with how the entry is written (and because I would hate for it to be JUST an informative essay), I will be writing this entry (and most of my entries) with creative liberty. 

Word count:  135 words

In more ways than one, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is alike to having a relationship.

Example 1: “Trust is a very important and critical factor.”

Trust is one of the foundations of a relationship. It is also one of the things needed in DRR. Without trust, DRR will never work.

Example 2: Participation is key.

Everyone’s participation is needed in DRR. You cannot do it alone. Same thing with a relationship. It’s not a relationship if it’s just one-sided. (More like parasitism)

Example 3: You first!

Help yourself first! Self-help goes a long way in DRR. It’s like saying “Love yourself first before loving someone else.” Help yourself first before helping anyone else. Make sure you’re actually in a condition to help. Similarly, make sure you’re in a good condition to love someone.

[jolya]

0 or 1

The following is a journal entry about the second module of the NSTP class dated September 23, 2019. Miss Ivanka Custodio was back and this time talked about gender and development.

As we have been given free rein with how the entry is written (and because I would hate for it to be JUST an informative essay), I will be writing this entry (and most of my entries) with creative liberty. 

Word count: 371 words

7:40 am

As always, I had come way before time and was now stuck waiting again. I didn’t even know why I came so early when the past 2 meetings started at an average time of 9 am.

I looked around the auditorium. I wasn’t the only one this early thankfully.

I settled down on my seat and prepared to wait for more than an hour. At least the jazz music playing was nice.

---------------

The talk started at past nine and I was surprised that it was the same speaker as last time. She made us do an activity about human rights before her actual talk on gender and development. 

Marginalized sector I feel strongly about? 

I stopped to think for a moment before writing down women and children and the violence they experience. 

---------------

“Much of how we see things is shaped by gender.”

Those were the first words I read in my notes.

I was already on the way home. The talk done and over with. I felt the need to just quickly scan my notes for what I understood.

God my writing is terrible.

She didn’t really discuss anything that we didn’t know of, to be honest.

Sex had always been binary. However, gender wasn’t. Sex is what you were born as. Biologically. But gender is how you express yourself as. Not many people get it simply because they’ve been programmed to think that way. 

Programmed seems like such a mean word. Maybe brought up? Yeah brought up seems much nicer. 

Family is where it starts, Miss Ivanka had said. But I guess the environment where one grew up in is more important, not just the family itself. 

I looked up just in time to pull the string on the jeepney. I had almost missed it.

It was only when I got in another jeepney did I remember my notes on the last page. The page where I had written the challenge that Miss Ivanka had given. Only two had stuck to me.

Push for gender equity.

Embrace the diversity and complexity of sex, gender, and identity.

If only it was that easy. If only people weren’t as closed off and closed-minded. Maybe then it would work. 

[jolya]

Questions

The following is a journal entry about the second module of the NSTP class dated September 16, 2019. The speaker, Miss Ivanka Custodio, talked about dignity and human rights.

As we have been given free rein with how the entry is written (and because I would hate for it to be JUST an informative essay), I will be writing this entry (and most of my entries) with creative liberty. (Although this one is really short)

Word count: 228 words

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

Those words had stuck to me in the entirety of her talk. With what was happening right now in the country, I had yet to believe them true. Equality was always something that seemed lost in society for me. Was it really there to begin with?

...

But then she talked about the two different types of equalities. It was either equal treatment or equal outcome. And it made sense to side with the equal outcome. However, most people would see it as special treatment. Because for equal outcome to be achieved, one would need to give a boost to those in need. Then what about them? What about the people who would think that?

I mulled those thoughts over my head. It was so ironic that people would fight for equality when they have yet to thought what it really was.

She talked about rights as well. A few principles of them.

Universality. Interdependent. Indivisible. Equal.

Rights were entitlements we can claim and concepts we can use to keep us safe. However, was that still applicable to the current state of the country?

I shook my head, hating how questions without answers would pop out of my mind. 

But whenever the teacher would ask for questions, I would never raise a hand. 

Meh... maybe next time.

[quotemadness]

It scares me how much I don’t mind it when people walk away out of my life, I wave goodbyes with a smile. Maybe because I like it this way and maybe that’s why I only let the temporary people in because I know eventually they will leave.

Maram Rimawi (via quotemadness)

[wilwheaton]

[chasing-mel]

[jay-eddy]

If you write a strong character, let them fail.

If you write a selfless hero, let them get mad at people.

If you write a cold-heated villain, let them cry.

If you write a brokenhearted victim, let them smile again.

If you write a bold leader, let them seek guidance.

If you write a confident genius, let them be wrong, or get stumped once in a while.

If you write a fighter or a warrior, let them lose a battle, but let them win the war.

If you write a character who loses everything, let them find something.

If you write a reluctant hero, give them a reason to join the fight.

If you write a gentle-hearted character who never stops smiling, let that smile fade and tears fall in shadows.

If you write a no one, make them a someone.

If you write a sibling, let them fight and bicker, but know that at the end of the day they’ll always have each other’s back.

If you write a character, make them more than just a character; give them depth, give them flaws and secrets, and give them life.

[ravenclawravings]

"I finished early, which means I must've done something wrong."

- Ravenclaw, doubting their knowledge on a subject they know well.

[jolya]

Identities

The following is a journal entry about the first module of the NSTP class dated September 9, 2019. The speaker, Miss Michelle Alcantara, talked about the self and others. Specifically, the self and its relation with others.

As we have been given free rein with how the entry is written (and because I would hate for it to be JUST an informative essay), I will be writing this entry (and most of my entries) with creative liberty.

Word count: 552 words

Identities have always been a hard concept to grasp. One can say, “This is my identity.” And yet not completely understand the whole extent of said identity. We try to learn it by understanding ourselves better but we may fail to include that to understand ourselves is to also understand our relationship with others.

“It starts with the self.” Ms. Alcantara had said.

Another way is to see it as how we view ourselves and how we relate that to others. Or better yet, how we view ourselves concerning others. We categorize ourselves with similarity and comfort. This breeds a level of closeness that is also achieved through the process of relating. With this, we can at least conceptualize our identity.

Of course, there are restrictions to this. What we don’t know about ourselves cannot be equated to others since it is an unknown trait or characteristic. We must also take into account our experiences. Because of these, there may be a change in our mindset. Which can also affect our relation to others. Each event in our life may cause us to change and this change can affect the levels of closeness we have already achieved.

To sum it up, the self, or how we view it, is related to others. Experiences may affect the way we relate to others which in turn can change how we view ourselves. Which changes the identity we have already established. Think of it as constantly evolving identities bred by experiences and relationships.

With this identity, we have a place in society. By living in a world where it’s inherent to label and define everything, having an identity means we are already classified to identity groups or subgroups. Where, unfortunately, some identities are not equal. This means that some are more favorable than others. Note that some identities we cannot change. Race is a very good example of this. Age, while constantly changing, is not something we can also change on a whim. Identities such as these have hierarchies, though some may not be as pronounced. This leads to oppression and discrimination.

What is wrong with hierarchy and identity discrimination? Aside from the fact that it disregards equality, hierarchical identities are advantageous to those who are at the top.

Another word for this? Privilege.

Privilege, as said before, is a product of identity discrimination and hierarchy. It is the unearned benefits given to those who are considered to be more favorable. Most of the time, some privileges are unacknowledged yet practiced daily. To say that someone has earned an honor in something because of hard work have underlying privileges. For example, a student coming from a well-earning family can comfortably study without worrying about other things. Compare this to a student who needs to work to pay for his own tuition instead of studying. The family we are born into is already an unspoken benefit/disadvantage we don’t acknowledge. Privilege comes with discrimination in terms that we see people without or with less privilege as us as lower. This ultimately affects our experiences and self-identities.

Everything comes in a full circle. The self is related to others. This forms an identity which in turn is classified into a hierarchy. This breeds oppression and discrimination that produces privilege. Privilege then affects our self and others.