An Eighteen Year Old's Thoughts @wolfwithoutaname - Tumblr Blog

Living epitome of rebellion [Blog Entry #5]

This blog entry will revolve around me answering the question “Have I ever rebelled in my years of existence.

Here it goes.

Back in high school, I was always considered as one of the students who were not shy about expressing my own opinions. Whenever I think that something is questionable, one can surely bet that I would speak in a matter of seconds. If I would not utter any word, however, one can still rely that I would get my point of view across by looking at my subtle gestures; either through my fists clenching or my eyebrows frowning. Rest assured, there would always be something coming from me... even if I am not supposed to act.

People would always say that I have an odd way of presenting myself. Contrary to the trendy fashion of wearing polo shirts, shorts, and topsider shoes, I would still stick with my usual monochromatic shirt, pants, and shoes combination. In addition, I would grow my hair for two months or more, fixing it in an “emo” fashion (which apparently makes me greatly resemble Park from the novel “Eleanor and Park”, according to most people who have read the book)

My mother would always set these rules inside our household. One of these would be something similar to a curfew which would only apply to me and my younger sister (which sucks considering that I am already in college). I would always end up going home for at least an hour after the “curfew”

Now, with these few examples that I have provided, I would like to answer the question (whether I am a rebel or not) yet again. Am I a rebel? No. Obviously, I tend to conform to the given rules no matter how hard I try.

(I pity your entire existence if you did not get the obvious sarcasm in my answer)

GGWP: Pop Culture Analysis in the context of Dota 2 [Critical Analysis #2]

Dota 2. Who would ever think that what originally was a modification of the acclaimed Starcraft series would become a huge success? Considering that the annual events held by Valve (the game’s developer) sells out stadiums and generates a prize pool worth up to $5 Million, it would be difficult to say that Dota 2 (or even video gaming, in general) is still not a part of the popular culture.

Dota 2. Basically, the game is all about defending one’s base while at the same time trying to destroy the enemy’s territory (hence the acronym DotA, meaning Defense of the Ancients). There would only be two teams per match, each consisting of five members who would take control of different characters (called heroes).

Marxism on Dota 2: How classes mean nothing

Dota 2 features about more than 100 different characters to choose from. These characters or “heroes”, however, would be evenly distributed in three distinct categories in the selection screen; namely Strength, Agility, and Intelligence, respectively, each (category) having its specific specialty. As the name suggests, Strength heroes would specialize on being strong in a sense that they would possess the largest amount of health points. Having this feature, they would then be the characters who would be capable of withstanding heavy damages. Next, we have the Agility heroes who specializes in hard-hitting and tactical offenses. Much unlike the Strength heroes, they do not possess large health points; however, they could do some serious damage (as mentioned) which could topple even the mightiest strength hero. Last but not the least, we have the Intelligence heroes who specialize on magic. These magic could either do damage to an enemy, heal an ally, summon minions, or even traverse throughout the map. Of all the three categories, Intelligence heroes have the least amount of health points, but have the most amount of mana points.

Now, you may be wondering where the hell is Marxism in everything that i said. My answer would be that despite having classes or categories, heroes (or players) are all equal. Right from the beginning of the game, all players are given equal amounts of gold (625). They all earn one gold per second, regardless if the hero belongs to Strength, Agility, or Intelligence (with the exception of a hero called Alchemist who possesses the ability to earn additional gold through killing units).

Although all (players/characters) are technically equal, a form of capitalism is still present in game. Given that everyone earns gold, they would then be advised to use these resources to purchase equipments that would make their heroes even stronger; thus mirroring capitalism. Then again, despite the transactions, the shop owner does not benefit from the gold in any way. As a matter of fact, the shop(owner)s do not affect the quality of the game at all, given that they remain stationary for the entirety of any match; being unable to do things other than sell.

Feminism on Dota 2: How female characters are empowered

If a feminist would like to search of a video game, then she would be in for a treat if she were to play Dota 2.

Contrary to many depictions of women in popular culture, this game empowers its female characters. When we carefully look at all the heroes, and take into account each and every skill that they possess, we would see that whatever the male characters have, the female characters have as well, albeit presented differently (for character distinction sake, I presume). If the males have a Terrorblade that could make replicas of himself (conjure image), then the females have Naga Siren who could do the same thing (conjure image). If the males have a Bounter Hunter or Rikimaru which could turn invisible (shadow walk/permanent invisibility), so do the females in the form of Templar Assassin (meld). The list goes on. In other words, the game portrays males and females as equals in terms of abilities.

As for the “women being sexualized” concerns, Dota 2 ensures that all gets the same treatment. So, when complaints about Queen of Pain wearing a seductive armor arise, we could take into account Huskar, a male character, who barely has nothing on him (think of Tarzan’s signature look, or a gladiator without an armor).

For visual’s sake, allow me to link these two videos which shows how these two characters look like

Queen of Pain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOGBw24kswQ

Huskar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKl2lJYM3qk

_______________________________________________

Other than these, what I can see in Dota 2 is that it created a culture that is similar to the culture created by basketball, football, and other sporting activities. As I have said, before, the game was just a humble modification of another game shared among a small number of people. Now, it has developed into something which thousands, maybe even millions, of people from across the globe get to enjoy at the comfort of their own computer units. Perhaps it has evolved into something even more than just a form of entertainment, considering the fact that it generates an annual international tournament which has a prize pool worth of millions of dollars. (I would say that it contributed to the growing e-sports culture, but that is a different topic). Either way, one thing is for sure: it binds people who seek fun and competition together through 30-60 minutes of interactive entertainment

Critical Commentary on Western Theories [#1]

What I intend to achieve in this entry is to simply share my standpoint on each of the theories that would be enlisted below. To do so, what I have in mind is to name the originator of a theory (if applicable), provide my understanding on what the ideology is about, then supply my point of view. No fancy, intricate introduction. No lengthy discussions. Just the theories and my accompanying commentary. Simple as that.

Shall we proceed?

Marxism by Karl Marx

What the theory is about: Basically, Marxism is concerned about overthrowing capitalism (the elites). Karl Marx was a firm believer of his version of equality, which was firmly measured on only the economy. He believed that over the course of time, capitalism would only benefit those who are on top, and may leave the middle class hanging. He, therefore, aspired for a (socialist) revolution coming from the working class (and practically any class under it). To do so, he raised class consciousness (which was essentially centered on the working class).

What I think about the theory: Honestly, I like Marx’s way of thinking. Whenever I hear the surnames Sy, Ayala, Pangilinan, Razon, Yuchengco, or even Gokongwei, I cannot help but think of how large the gap is that exists between people like them and about 90 million Filipinos (or more). Only these people greatly benefit from capitalism (most especially when a new brand makes its way on the Philippine shores). Now, it makes me wonder of the things that could happen should the 90+ million Filipino working class start a revolution against the elites. Definitely, chaos would be very much present if such thing would transpire. However, there is no assurance as to whether a socialist revolution would be triumphant (such was the case of the unrecognized EDSA III revolution; failing because of the absence of the elites’ support)

Then again, there are studies which actually point out why the Marxist revolution failed. These ideas say that Marx focused too much on economy that he failed to recognize culture. To that point, I would have to say that I could not disagree. As much as we would like to establish a society wherein all people are equal (in terms of wealth), we do have to consider that capitalism has its benefits and has proven that it can adapt through time (to the point wherein people began seeing a rationale behind it).

The Frankfurt School (Theories) by Marcuse, Adorno, and Horkheiner

What the theory is about: From what I understood, The Frankfurt School established the idea that popular culture has become the source of ideology for most people. It claims that popular culture offered an alternate reality; a form of escape wherein they could experience pleasure and regain their sanity (this is according to Marcuse). It also claims that popular culture could create total administration among people, thus having a form of domination (Adorno). And, since culture has become commodified, high art then becomes the last refuge for critical ideas.

What I think about the theory: One has to learn how to appreciate what the Frankfurt School has come up with because what they have created is something that is timeless. Then, when social networks, television shows, and internet connections are only at its infancy (or earlier than infancy. perhaps when it was on its.. hmm.. pre-conception), there are no clear evidences that would have supported this ideology. In present day time, however, one does not have to look any further in order to find an individual who is caught in the chains of popular culture. Just by looking at the social media news feeds and timelines, we would see how much people are thoroughly affected by the programs that they watch, If Marcuse was alive, he would see how his words came to life (because let us face it, if people, particularly us Filipinos, do not buy into popular culture as a source of escape, then probably hell would have been raised already provided that our leader is acting like a total jackass)

If anything, the only thing that I would not agree with concerning Frankfurt School’s ideas would be their claims that high art would be the only refuge for critical ideas. As Benjamin argued, popular culture could also become a source for liberation in a sense that it offers messages and critiques. And quite frankly, the way I see it, despite the widespread nonsense that modern day programs project, there are still some underlying messages in it (that heavily requires tolerance for it to be understood). Let us use The Walking Dead as an example. In the eyes of a casual viewer, it would only be a show about a group of people trying to make it through the zombie apocalypse. However, if one would be more critical, one would see that the show also poses themes regarding humanity and morality.

S p a c e s [Critical Analysis #3]

Generally, we all have our respective spaces.

And I just happen to have mine.

Comfort Zone

The idea that I currently possess a comfort zone is quite baffling. In all honesty, I believe that such place (or space, for that matter) is yet to exist.

But before I resume arguing regarding the nonexistence of my comfort zone, I think it would be appropriate if I would describe it first. Being a somewhat shy individual, a guy who finds great risk in making the first approach (which would explain why I am single), I must say that I find utmost bliss in thinking. I find it quite fulfilling whenever I am able to prepare; complete with various contingency plans in case something goes wrong. That being said, my space of comfort, ideally, would be a place which would allow me to be alone; being able to contemplate on whatever I please to ponder upon without having to worry about distractions.

Of course, pleasing the “self” (or my mind) would not be enough. Considering that my mind and body practically coexists on the same space, my body (or my senses) should then be attended to as well. Hence, I shall fill the remaining void in my comfort zone with physical objects. Now, if I were to physically construct my space of comfort, it would be some of a combination between a bedroom, a library, and a chapel in a sense that it would provide the person inside of it (me) with silence, peace, and relaxation. To further describe the place, it would be furnished with a bed (because who the hell does not find comfort in sleeping), a couch (because I sometimes enjoy sleeping on a couch), a mini fridge with my favorite beverages (I did say that I have to satisfy my senses, which technically included taste..), and a desk (seems like a nice touch). As for the color, I would say that I would have it painted in a monochromatic pattern, having a black colored portion on one side and a white colored portion on the other.

With that underway, I guess it is now safe to resume my argument. As I was saying, my comfort zone is nonexistent. Practically, there is not a single place in this world wherein distraction is absent. One can say that a bedroom can be a place where distraction is nowhere to be found. Another can argue that the mountains give no distraction as well. What these people fail to realize is that a bedroom poses private entertainment through television or internet access, while the mountains are filled with different animals soaring in the air or lurking in the trees. My point is, again, that distractions will never leave an individual; thus making my place of comfort impossible to attain. Meanwhile, on the sensual side, we all know that it is impossible to experience true comfort. Even the most comfortable of actions, which is sleeping, renders an uncomfortable result in either the form of sweat or heaviness.

...but if I really need to choose a currently existing space, I would say that it is the living room. The living room is the next best thing to my ideal comfort zone in a sense that a) only I occupy it for most of the time; thus allowing me to think freely b) it is near the fridge and the restroom; thus making it easier for me to appease my senses, and c) I could always sleep in it.

Destabilizing Space

If serenity is my guilty pleasure, then surely, chaos is my destruction.

If there is anything that really grinds my gears, it would be noise. Being an introvertically inclined person (though a shift seems to be imminent), I must say that I got accustomed to doing things silently. Whenever I make attempts on studying, I make sure that it would only be the sound of the ventilation fan or the air conditioning unit that I would hear. Whenever I intend on eating, as much as possible, I want to avoid conversing, as I would rather savor whatever food I purchase. Basically, minimal noise makes me more... me. It makes the flow of my thoughts clearer, and it increases my focus. Hence, adding noise into the mix would certainly be like United States nuking Japan on WWII, because it would definitely destroy a lot of things (for me, at least). I would not be able to think properly, which in turn would not allow me to do things properly. So yeah.... noise brings discomfort.

Of course, being destabilized is not only limited to things that directly affect the “self”. Much like comfort, destabilizing space also extends to physical qualities. That being said, if discomfort in physical conditions would be measured, I would say that mine would root from crowded areas. Growing up, I got accustomed to doing things within the vicinity of our household. I rarely spend time with people other than my family (well, excluding school people). As a result, my body seemed to have adapted into a system meant for only interacting with a crowd (let us say the number of a class as the maximum), and not an audience (more than a hundred). Whenever i get exposed to badly congested areas, I tend to get nauseous and dizzy instantly, ultimately leading to me “blacking out”. I also get this feeling of being watched by dozens of people whenever there is a sea of people, consequently making me sweat profoundly. So yeah... lots and lots of people = discomfort

Then again, I do join my friends whenever they feel like going to noisy and crowded places such as bars, conventions, and concerts.. Then again, I do tend to get sick easily

The place that reaffirms my idea of a political space is...

A Catholic school.

In all honesty, I could not think of a better place in finding a political space (other than the government. or the nation as a whole) other than a Catholic school. See, I have been going into a Catholic institution for my education for the past fifteen years (including present day time). Other than a “Christ centered” way of learning, what I have noticed (now that I am studying politics) was that a Catholic school (my alma matter, to be more specific) reaffirms what I have in mind when I come across the term political space in a sense that I have witnessed and experience politics taking place in that establishment.

Now, when I said I have witnessed and experienced politics, I meant it. Let me put it in a few more details so that I could make things sound less ambiguous. In politics, we know for a fact that power would be heavily involved. Looking at the school, we would definitely see power in the form of the principal and the directress, considering that they are practically the ones in charge. Of course, power tends to become limited, hence an existence of substituents and lower authorities. Going back to the school, this becomes evident in the forms of teachers and coordinators, given that they facilitate most of what transpires in the institution (classes, programs, etc.). As for the students, we could say that they are the constituents in a sense that they are the ones who pay the higher ups, who in turn must respond to them through services. See it as something like a government: the principal or directress being the president, the teachers being the legislators, and the students being the citizens.

Well, it seemed like I failed in making things less ambiguous. Anyway, what I am trying to say here is that a Catholic school, or any school for that matter, enables a person to experience authority at such an early age; consequently giving the student a political space outside of the household. Like I said, I have tasted it, provided that I also had to comply to the rules and regulations set by the school (technically, I still do since I am in college..)

I could also say that I have experienced it in an extra political manner, but I would not, because I am of legal age now and they might sue me for slander.

On both ends of the ladder: An entry on the process of “Othering” [Blog Entry #4]

(Contrary to my previous blog posts, this one would be more of an extension to a certain topic rather than being a main subject on its own. You will see what I mean by this in a few)

From a previous blog entry, we have understood what an other is. To recall, an other is anything or anyone that is not the self. You, the reader of this entry, are an other to me just like how I am an other to you. Simple as that. Now, what I forgot to include in that entry was the act of “othering”.

Basically, othering, from what I understood, is whenever we identify an other to the point wherein some kind of division occurs. Consequently, this division, instead of making variations, creates an idea that one form of an other is relatively superior than another. To explain things easier, perhaps we could view it as something like distinguishing the poor from the rich, an independent production from a mainstream product, or even a hero from a mercenary.

With this “new” topic at hand, we are then asked two distinct questions : a) whether we have been on the giving end of othering, and b) whether we have been on the receiving end of othering; both of which I intend on answering in this very blog entry.

Now, I think it would be best if I cut the gradually-becoming-directionless introduction of mine and just get on with giving my take on these questions. So... shall I begin?

Have I ever been on the giving end of othering?

I would like to re-establish my previous standpoints by saying yes, I have been on the giving end of othering. It does not have anything to do with me seeing others as simply “others”, but rather seeing others as weaklings; thus creating some sort of dominance or marginalization.

Growing up, I always believed that I am intellectually superior than about 90% of my batchmates. I was consistently on the top 2% of the honor roll, and I was also winning academic quiz bees back-to-back then. Well, to make a long story short, the victories got into my head to the point wherein I do not consider others’ opinion (except for those who are older than me. got to love elementary-me logic). True enough, they also thought that I should be the one who should make the decisions, while they would just do whatever my commands would be. Now, repeat this for about three to four school years. As expected, these events asserted (even more) dominance.

Well... at least I was not as oppressing as I used to be.

Have I ever been on the receiving end of othering?

If I have been on the giving end of othering, then it would just be normal if I would be on its receiving end. Yes, I have been on the receiving end. Better yet, I AM still on the receiving end.

When we look at the previous scenario from the others’ perspective, we would see that I am considered as their “other”. As I have mentioned, I was that fat, proud, intelligent kid back in elementary school. I am the kid who was passionate on studying and immersing in virtual reality (or fiction) rather than socializing. Now, ironically, this made me become the other for some people in a sense that I am not like them in many ways.

Fast forward to nine years later, and we now have a legal-aged version of me. I was an other then, It does not get less true now. While it is true that a lot of things changed in me, both physically and psychologically, it does not change the fact that I am viewed as an other by people. I do not smoke, therefore, I am marginalized by smokers. I am not sporty, therefore, I am marginalized by athletic people. The list goes on and on.

Pad Thai is no Pancit Malabon: A (Cultural) Comparison and Contrast between Bangkok, Thailand and Manila, Philippines [Critical Analysis #1]

5th to 8th of March 2015. These were the dates when our Political Theory II class held our educational trip to Bangkok, Thailand. It was a memorable experience for all of us since it is by far the only time that we ever got the chance to travel outside of the university (better yet, the country) as a class in order to perform a couple of observations for cultural (identity) studies. It was absolutely enjoyable, and majority of us would probably want a similar thing to happen soon.

Putting all of the nostalgic feelings aside, let it be reiterated that the activity is an educational one, meaning that it should be a very insightful. We must put our hats as political science students, make a number of observations, take notes, and analyze the things that shape Thai identity (given that the main focus of the course has been about identity politics, if I am not entirely mistaken). Fortunately, for the entirety of our stay in the said country, we were able to accomplish most of our objectives. Indeed, we have eaten every kind of Thai food that we could, seen every bit of any sight since landing, visited every place that we could given very little time, bought any piece of Thai novelty as memento, and more. However, while savoring the moments, we remember to take into account each and every bit of detail out of these things; subconsciously thinking of how could these compare to our own products.

That being said, I think it would be best if we would allow our observation to speak for itself.

Food

I would be lying if I ever say that food is not one of the reasons why I enjoy going to different places. Fair enough, going to Thailand gave me plenty of opportunities to try as many Thai delicacies as I could.

Indeed, there exists a good number of food to choose from. However, what I would like to single out in this entry is the renowned delicacy known as Pad Thai. Basically, this is the signature noodle dish in Thailand (duh) made entirely of thin noodles, egg, shrimp, peanuts, bean sprouts, and some kind of sauce (well, at least in some variation). It typically has a sweet and spicy flavor in it, and it is usually served in a plate that is big enough for about one or two persons.

Looking at our own array of dishes, picking Pad Thai’s Filipino counterpart would be easy. Considering that Pad Thai has plenty of ingredients, then I would have to say that it reminds me of Pancit Malabon. I know it is an odd choice, but please do hear my reasoning. As I have mentioned, both have plenty of ingredients, with noodles, egg, and shrimp being its most common (and important) pieces. Now, moving on to another category, we also have to take the respective tastes of these into account. On one hand, Pad Thai, as mentioned, crosses sweet and spicy flavors. A possible reason for this may perhaps be the wide Hindu-Indian influence upon Thailand, which is known for its distinct preference in spice. On the other hand, Pancit Malabon, in terms of flavor, is usually sweet (and definitely not spicy). A possible reason for this may be because of our preference in sweetness, probably rooted from rather heavy influences coming from the west as well as other oriental countries. Last, another category that I would like to look at is the serving size. Contrary to the Pad Thai’s single serving, Pancit Malabon is usually served in a bilao or a very large platter. This is served like such possibly because we Filipinos value companionship so much, thus having a size meant for being shared with friends and family.

At this point, you may be asking what is the relevance of talking about food. My answer is simple: food preference reflects identity, and Pad Thai/Pancit Malabon may be the best example (in this case).

Historical Place

As much as I enjoy picturesque architectures and establishments, I must say that I almost did not enjoy this one. The reason for this was because of the overwhelming amount of tourists on the day we went there, plus the insane temperature. But that does not matter. What matters is my perception of the Grand Palace vis-a-vis Intramuros.

I think we could all agree on the fact that the Grand Palace is easy on the eyes. The structure is evidently well preserved, and definitely lives up to its name by being grand. It would be no surprise though, provided that there are many restrictions inside the said structure, thus ensuring preservation. Another reason may be the fact that the said palace is only used for very special occasions, thus not being overused. Of course, the entrance fee absolutely does wonders in providing funds for maintenance (500 Baht for a stroll? hmm..) Other than these, the palace did have a giant Buddha in its middle, which could explain why people would want to visit the place (for worship and admiration). Too bad I was not able to see it (I chose to remain outside of the Buddha area and keep watch of my friends’ items because I am such a good friend... and because I will surely faint inside due to the congestion and smell.)

As for Intramuros... hmm... I do not know if I even want to compare the two. Not to be too hard on our own, but Intramuros has become more of an afterthought rather than an attraction nowadays. Indeed, like the Grand Palace, it holds important pieces of history (with it being a historical artifact on its own). However, with the way how Intramuros got commercialized, I feel like it somehow lost some of its essence.

Mass Markets

First and foremost, let me establish how much I avoid mass markets (because I get more nauseous and dizzy when I visit these places).

Upon going to Chatuchak, the first thing that I have noticed is that it is less humid compared to the other places where we have been (in Bangkok). Of course, we would not remain stationary, so we decided to move around and explore the vicinity. We did not see anything new in the place, as every place that we went to seem to have shops in every corner. However, what we have noticed was that there were more shops than usual. On top of that, there were also stands right in front of these shops, making it more convenient for shoppers by providing more variety or options. If I could only put it into words, perhaps it would result into something like “shop, shop, shop, shop, shop, shop...” because the number of shops is absolutely insane (perhaps on par with Divisoria, but I would get to that point in a matter of moments)

I guess it would be safe to say that Chatuchak is Thailand’s version of Binondo-Divisoria for the mere fact of having shops that would take about hundreds of fingers to be counted (not kidding). Just like Divisoria, Chatuchak seems to cater both to the local masses as well as the tourists. The only difference that I see between the two would concern Chatuchak having more items which are centered on promoting Thailand (”I love Thailand” shirts, shirts with elephant prints, Buddha figurines, etc.) compared to Divisoria’s imitation/parody-centered items.

Shopping Malls

As much as we would like to explore the malls around Bangkok, we were not able to do so (credits to those six people who apparently got lost in Chatuchak for costing us a good amount of time meant for exploration). However, from what we have gone through, what we have noticed was that some of the shopping centres, despite having multiple floors and air conditioned facilities, are filled with booths. Contrary to what we have grown accustomed to here in the Philippines (courtesy of Sy, Gokongwei, and Ayala), majority of the malls in Bangkok have booths in them rather than boutiques and sections or department stores (although that one mall in Chatuchak did have a grocery section in it...). Do not let the appearance fool you though, for these shops may only appear as booths, but in reality, they bear the same price with those boutiques in our malls.

I cannot really say that much for this part, but judging from what we have seen, I would say that Philippine malls are more convenient in a sense that it offers more services such as utilities, food stations, and entertainment compared to Thai malls which are more focused on retailing.

Red Light District

Ping Pong. Before going into Bangkok, I only viewed this as a an indoor competitive sport involving two participants out-rallying each other. During the night tour, a number of men approached our joint buddy clusters (our group plus another decided to go together because we value friendship so much... well, with the exception of one alien). In their friendliest tone, they asked us if we would like to try Ping Pong for the special price of just 100 (or 200) Baht. I, for one, was down with the idea, thinking that it was all about table tennis. However, I happened to stumble upon this menu-like sign which these unknown men were carrying with them. It read the word “sex show” on the very top, followed by a couple of things listed down with its respective prices. Puzzled, I asked my friends what does Ping Pong have to do with a sex show? Much to their chagrin, a peer then answered my question in perhaps the most appropriate way.

...I guess it is safe to say that I am NEVER seeing Ping Pong the same way again.

Anecdotes aside, what I wanted to get across was the way how sex was being presented in the corners of Patpong. It was a straight-to-your-face kind of approach that they were using; the same approach which the humble vendors of snacks typically use. There were never any hints of shyness despite the fact that they are selling a very wholesome product. At one point, doors were even opened to let the potential customers have a sneak peek of where their 200 Baht could go to (which, if I may add, thankfully did not show the magic of Ping Pong).

I spent a good amount of my 18 years of existence in Malate. If anything, Malate is widely known throughout the nation as a red light district. Over the course of these years, I have been on almost every corner of the district. I have seen most of its establishments, ranging from schools down to the local pubs and gentleman clubs (from the outside, that is). Now, if I am going to compare Malate to Patpong, bias aside and all, I would definitely say that Patpong is more... open. Indeed, my “hometown” has its (more than) fair share of sinful attractions, but never were we offered any forms of rated X services directly. Yes, there would be the casual “hi sir good evening!” coming from the pimps and waitresses-with-extra-talents, but not the “hey you! you want ping pong? only 200 baht” types of offer.

So yeah. Ping Pong... sorry, Patpong is more wholesome and less conservative (at least from my perspective). Either way, perverts would definitely care less.

Overview

In the end, Philippines and Thailand, the way I see it, are like a mango and an apple: both have different colors, and both have different tastes. Both have different seeds, and both have different shapes. But, at the end of the day, we cannot deny the fact that both are similar in a way that both are fruits sprouting from trees; and just like these fruits, Philippines and Thailand will always have its differences, but at the same time, would also bear its similarities.

A Reflection on the ASEAN Integration Seminar in Mahidol University

On the first week of March 2015, our Political Theory II class had an educational trip in Thailand. The purpose of the educational trip is to aid us in learning culture better through exposure. Of course, the mere idea of exposure already gives away the fact that we have to experience Thailand as it is, meaning that we have to immerse in its sights, services, delicacies, and the like.

However, despite all of the things that a person can do in the country, perhaps thinking about ASEAN relations is not one of it.

Even before going to Thailand, we were already informed that we would be attending a seminar at Mahidol University on the second day of the trip. Admittedly, I am not a person who favors getting involved in various seminars, conferences, or talks. The reason for this is that I always find myself either getting lost in my own thoughts, or not being able to understand what the speakers are trying to convey. As a result, I think it is safe to say that I was the least thrilled person in the classroom about the news. All I could think of during that time of announcement was how would I find ways to not embarrass the reputation of De La Salle University with my possible inactivity.

Fast forward to the day of the conference. We left early from the hotel where we all checked in because apparently, the university is quite distant from where we were. If my memory does not fail me, then I believe that we arrived in Mahidol at around 9am. Upon stepping foot inside the place, I am reminded of the University of the Philippines-Diliman campus because of the utter silence and “earthly” atmosphere (provided that plants were seemingly all around the area). I was counting the moments until the conference begins.

As I said, I was not much enthusiastic towards the whole event. In fact, if there was anything that I felt upon entering the designated room, it was nervousness. I was afraid of falling into my own phenomenon of not being able to capture the ideas that the speakers would discuss soon.

The Seminar

I was proven wrong from the very moment that the seminar began. Perhaps a planetary alignment occurred between all of the solar system’s planets, because the phenomenon’s streak ended. I did not get lost in my own thoughts, nor did I do anything else. Instead, I was all ears, and my attention was fully set towards the speakers.

(I think my introduction is already lengthy at this point, so allow me to begin talking about what I have understood from the ASEAN Integration itself.)

There were four speakers in front of us on that day. First, seated at the far left side of the panel was supposedly the university’s dean. Unfortunately, the dean could not make it to the talk , so a representative stood in. She welcomed us into the institution, and gave a few remarks coming from the dean. She also presented a promotional video of Mahidol University to give us more ideas regarding the school.

Next to her, our very own professor, Dr. Contreras, shared a few words. For a short while, he talked about how Thailand was like the last time he visited the country. In doing so, he spoke of the many things that he experienced over the course of his numerous visits to the said country, including how the cuisine parallels his hometown’s cuisine, and how the people were always accommodating. More importantly, however, sir Contreras used these experiences and observations of his as points of reference for a short cultural analysis; the main example being the prayer-like gesture that the Thai uses for greeting. He commented that such things have no equivalents when it comes to our country; perhaps with the implication that these “small” things that we do not have somehow create an impact on how we are identified as Filipinos.

Come to think of it, in a way, sir does have a fair point. It is truly challenging to find something that mirrors the Thai’s greeting when looking at our own practices. Looking at how our countrymen greet each other (or anyone), other than the casual hi’s and hello’s (or any greeting for that matter), the usual gesture to be given would be a wave, contrary to the aforementioned prayer-position-plus-bow-like gesture that the Thai gives out. Although there is really not much of a problem with the way we got accustomed to the wave gesture (as it still signifies politeness given that it counts as greeting or acknowledging another person), we should still consider the fact that this practice is something that we have adopted from the west. That being said, I think that it says a lot about our identity; that, in some ways, we would rather imitate our “developed allies” than establish our own way. Then again, I might be stretching the topic too much. Nevertheless, it will not change the fact that our “twin” Thailand has a distinct characteristic in the form of that greeting while we do not.

Moving on to the next speaker, another faculty member of Mahidol University, Ms. Carina Chotirawe (kindly correct my spelling if I made errors), shared her ideas. These ideas would revolve around Thailand itself and how it becomes parallel to the Philippines in terms of a few categories. These categories would include government system, commercial, public utilities, recreational activities, and the like.

If my memories serve me right, the way how Ms. Carina described Thailand was intriguing (in my opinion, at the very least). First, she made mention of how Thai extension companies tend to capitalize on recent trends. An instance that was given for this was the case of convenience store giant 7-Eleven and their marketing ploy of using ASEAN for promoting their products whenever one of its events would take place in the country. Next, she mentioned things about the local media. She characterized their evening dramas as something which takes the word “drama” or “soap operas” into another level, given its very emotional nature. She also singled out teen icon Mario Maurer as an example of how strong Thai media could be: being able to extend its exposure, fame, or impact to neighboring countries. After talking about Thai show business, there was a brief sharing regarding transportation. Of course, with this being a topic, it would be inevitable to speak about the every day traffic system. While Ms. Carina affirmed that their trains are very convenient, she also panned down how heavy the flow of traffic could become; most especially during rush hours. The last thing I remember from her part was something related to tourism and how Thailand is really investing on it, even if it involves highly suggestive themes (i.e. sex change, courtesans, etc.).

The way I see it, Ms. Carina’s (still using her first name because I still cannot remember the correct spelling of her surname) description of the mentioned categories illustrates how much Thailand and Philippines tend to be paralleled to one another. This becomes most true when we, again, take media/entertainment into account. Perhaps (the inhabitants of) both our country and theirs have learned to find great escapes and sanity through this outlet to the point that it becomes highly sensationalized. Just look at how millions of Filipinos tune in to a Pacquiao bout each and every time one takes place, or how Muay Thai is heavily promoted in almost every corner of Thailand (or in the streets of Bangkok, at the very least.. These are mere sporting events, but the way how it is featured speaks a lot about our identity (to reiterate, how we seek sanity). The one involving the god awful traffic jam could also indicate a few things about our respective identities yet again. The way I see it, aside from the possible poor service quality coming from outside forces (be it through government or private sectors), these traffic congestion(s) come from the selfishness of each individual; either treating the road as if it was a racing track, or simply not allowing the other vehicle to run pass (where these actions root from is way beyond me).

Putting the parallels that I have mentioned (remembered) aside, I think that we could take a couple of notes from Thailand. Like them, we could also find something to highlight from our country and transform it into an attraction (like their sex industry), or even not allow altercations between our officials to get in the way of development.

They say that the best piece always comes last. This proved to be true when Dr. Mark Felix made his presence known. Unlike Ms. Carina’s light toned speech, or Sir Contreras’ straight forward approach, Dr. Felix made sure that comedy is thrown into the mix (then again, it might just be his eccentric personality which made his part entertaining), thus catching every students’ attention. However, despite the recurring punchlines and one liners, what he shared might have been the saddest story among all. Basically, Dr. Felix painted a dystopian image of Malaysia in a sense that discrimination wildly exists. From what has been narrated, there were times when he would be frowned upon by people mainly because he hardly looks like the prototypical Malay. He would also find difficulties in terms of dealing with the strict religious practices of the country, wherein non compliance can become a heavy burden. Essentially, about 90% of his speech were different variations or instances of other cultures finding difficulties in (co)existing in Malaysia. (because I swear to god that everything that I could remember about his speech were jokes and the idea of Malaysia being hell for a non-oriental looking person)

If anything, what I learned from Dr. Mark Felix’s presentation was that Malaysia is rather draconian when it comes to identifying an individual. In the case of Dr. Felix himself, he almost got in trouble for being Malaysian despite looking like an Indian (or looking like an aged Russell Brand if you ask me). Now, if this would be looked upon from another country’s perspective (like what I am doing), people would see it in a negative light mainly because it mirrors discrimination. Perhaps their methodologies are wrong in our eyes, but if we are to look at this one from the Malay perspective, what is actually taking place is nothing but pure (I daresay extreme) protection of national identity. That being said, maybe we could learn this from Malaysia... but apply it in a less degrading manner.

Conclusion

Overall, I must say that the ASEAN Integration went better than I expected. I went from being utterly unmotivated to being more appreciative and insightful in just a matter of minutes, all thanks to the collective information provided by the speakers. Truly, this will go down as one of the most informative, entertaining, and memorable (in short, best) conferences that I ever attended.

You: An entry on “The Other” [Blog Entry #3]

In philosophy, I have come to know numerous things about what the self is. Some thinkers said that it (the self) is the collective of our different consciousness, meaning that its very existence is the result of our mind’s work. Others argued that it is a manifestation of a supernatural being; that our lives are borrowed from a higher form of living. Basically, everything that points out to an individual alone is what the self speaks of. A person’s attitude, interests, virtues, beliefs, and other identities are all enclosed in the self.

However, in Political Theory II, I learned something which is somewhat related to “the self”, albeit possessing very distinct differences. Here, we tackled what was known as “The Other”. Quite like the aforementioned self, the other, to provide a brief description, possesses identities such as an attitude, interests, virtues, and beliefs. Now, here is where the tricky part comes into play. These identities (of the other) that I speak of are mainly composed of the exact opposite of a given self. In other words, an other is anything that is NOT the self.

Given that the other is basically anyone that is not me, then I could say that all of you, even my own flesh and blood, are others. But no, I would not do that, because that would be too easy. Instead, what I now plan on doing is to firmly create a picture of who my other is (or at least how s/he looks like). Shall we proceed?

Physical Appearance:

Of all the categories that I could (and would) come up with, this is perhaps the most shallow of all. Still, I think that this would be relevant in determining my other.

Height - I think it is pretty obvious that I am not a tall person. I only stand at about 5.5 (3/4) ft or 170 cm (well, at least from the last time I checked, which was about a few months ago). So, I think that my other would probably stand at an imposing 6 ft tall. Or, if I am to set the bar lower, maybe my other would stand at about 5.9 ft or 180 cm. Basically, anything above my current height.

Hair - I do not want to state more obvious things, but... I think that no other person in the political science field of our campus sports an “emo” hairstyle. That being said, I think that my other would have a relatively shorter hair; perhaps something that looks more formal. Then again, a good number of hairstyles are not “emo”, so I think that the other’s hair could be anything...

Face - Definitely something that is less Chinese/Japanese/Korean looking. Enough said.

Skin tone - (I hope that this will not come our as offensive) If I would have an other, maybe s/he would be darker, as a lot of people say that I am “so white” in color (even though I am not).

Interests:

Music - Majority of the songs that I listen to nowadays belong to the rock genre (with a few exceptions every now and then). Thus, my other would definitely listen to pop, R&B, hip-hop, or techno.

Fiction - I like to read crime, mystery, and dramatic novels whenever i get the chance to do so. One thing that I do not invest much time into during my spare time, however, is sci-fi (epecially if it involves intergalactic things), so I think my other would do just fine in that.

Shows - i rarely watch TV shows, but when I do, it switches between familiar cartoons, The Walking Dead, pro-wrestling, and news. Now, seeing that these are some really odd choices, I think that my other would watch shows like Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, a faux-reality TV show, or whatever “white girl” program there is in existence.

Personality:

At the moment, I believe that I keep this balance between my introvert and extrovert side in a sense that I do not favor acts of the former (staying home, playing alone, etc.) over the acts of the latter (going out, spending time with people, etc.) vice versa. Hence, my other would most likely favor just one side, and not keep balance between the two

Though I have that said balance, I still believe that I am introverted simply because of my recurring awkwardness/shyness/lack-of-confidence-to-approach-first. But of course, that would not be a problem for my other, for s/he will be as confident as... anyone other than me.

In all honesty, I never expected that this description would turn out to be quite similar to my entry regarding my subjectivity and positionality. Actually, the more I look back on the things that I have written above, and the more I also reread my previous blog post, the more I realize how the two compositions practically had the same categories... but with just opposite contents.

But hey, that was my goal in the first place, right? To identify who my other is? Yeah, I thought so too...

______________________

Let me know if I should add more categories :)

Comments? Violent reactions? Criticisms? Fire Away!

Critical Commentary on Indigenous (Filipino) Theories [#3]

(For the lack of a better and more appropriate introduction, allow me to reiterate my plans in doing a commentary)

Shall we proceed?

Sikolohiyang Pilipino by Virgilio Enriquez

What the theory is about: Basically, what the theory aims to accomplish is to debunk the idea that the western ideology is always applicable in any sense. More importantly, however, SP aspires to change the dominantly negative traits that are commonly linked to Philippines (and its people) and replace it with a more culturally appropriate one. This would be done by incorporating the shared history and experience of Filipinos.

What I think about the theory: The fact that it seeks to change the widely recognized western perception of our country (and countrymen) was enough to keep me interested in this theory. See, what the west fails to consider, and I said this time and time again, is that not everything can be taken according to their context alone; and this theory is one of the prime examples why. Let us take the idea of pamilya into account. From a western perspective, this would be deemed as a bad thing mainly because it promotes a person’s lack of independence and/or freedom. However, when we look into this idea from our own perspective, we would see that this is actually a positive thing; as it also promotes the importance of companionship along with it.

In other words, I see how relevant this theory is through its willingness to consider different perspectives

Pilipinolohiya by Covar and Salazar

What the theory is about: If I recall it correctly, this theory’s concern has something to do with how there is a lack of academic practice which stems from the Philippines’ point of view. It wants to study Philippines within its own boundaries without outside interventions, meaning that established western ideologies would not be taken too heavily.

What I think about this theory: The way I see it, it resembles the ideologies of Franz Fanon without being fully aware of doing so. The reason why I said so was because, like Fanon, Pilipinolohiya wants to conduct studies from the nation’s perspective instead of the foreign point of view, which is a good thing in itself already. It incorporates nationalism, which is never a bad thing most especially now that we seem to be under the mystic gaze of the West. See, there is a good number of students who would want to study abroad in order to understand our national identity better. However, what they fail to realize is that the time that they would spend on another country would translate to an equivalent time of being away from your homeland; and plenty of things might have already changed by the time that that person returns from his/her overseas studies. This is where Pilipinolohiya comes into play. It simply tells the person going away that there is no need to do so anymore for the reason that he/she can understand the country better if he/she would see and live the experiences that the country would be facing.

One problem that I see in this idea though was its decision to be skeptic of the western ideologies/studies. In a way, it negates the idea of taking into account more perspectives, which I think could be a small problem considering how important it is to make a few comparisons in studies

Critical Commentary on the Post Colonial Theories [#2]

As much as possible, what I intend to achieve in this entry is to simply share my standpoint on each of the theories that would be enlisted below. To do so, what I have in mind is to name the originator of a theory (if applicable), provide my understanding on what the ideology is about, then supply my point of view. No fancy, intricate introduction. No lengthy discussions. Just the theories and my accompanying commentary. Simple as that.

Shall we proceed?

Franz Fanon

What his theory is about: From what I understand, his arguments oppose the idea that the practices of the “whites” or the colonizers are to be embraced as the universal norm. He made claims that, as a result of the acceptance of these foreign cultures, the colonized tend to become alienated from their own identity, which in turn illustrates what he believes is a form of inferiority. To counter such, he suggests that the colonized should reclaim their identity by means of rewriting history from their perspective, developing new forms of social structures, and raising awareness on what should be considered as a foreign idea and an identity.

What I think about the theory: I must say that I am quite impressed with Fanon’s bold ideas. The mere fact that he deviated from the tendency of societies to be welcoming of anything foreign and developed an ideology to oppose such action is exemplary.

Anyway, the way I see it, his claims, in a way, were plausible; more so becoming more accurate in the present day period. I see that we have an occurring phenomenon in which we adopt ridiculous amounts of things coming from the west. This is true when we look into the so-called fashion sense of our citizens. Even if the weather dictates that the particular piece of clothing should not be worn, we could still spot dozens of individuals strolling through the heat of the sun in their jackets. If not the culture, we could also look into how our history is written. Looking into textbooks, we would see that some Filipinos were labeled as rebels for opposing the system then, even if they were really treated as heroes by the locals.

Hence, I support his (Fanon) idea regarding the reconstruction of identity through “decolonialism” because, in my opinion, the Westerners (or, in Fanon’s words, colonizers), despite their varying successes, are not always correct. We know ourselves better than anyone else, thus we should allow others to dictate our identity for us.

Edward Said

What his theory is about: Quite similar to Franz Fanon’s concerns, Edward Said opposes the idea that the western practices are universal. He claims that because the mentioned norms of the west have become universally accepted, an idea began to emerge that anything that does not follow it is an “other” or the exact opposite. To make things even worse, in addition to the process of ‘othering’ brought about by the west, the eastern cultures are then portrayed in a highly negative light, going into lengths in which it has reached the point wherein what we now call as “stereotype templates” were made

What I think about the theory: Coming from Said’s point of view, all that I can say about the (then) western perceptions regarding the orient (later dubbed as orientalism) is that it is borderline stupid. While it is true that we have every right to have impressions, I still think that it is unfair and unjust for a culture to be judged especially in a very degrading manner. Just because we are oblivious to something does not automatically entitle us into defining it.

Overall, what I think should be done here is a better act of acknowledgement. I think that it is always better to recognize a place or culture (even if information about it is scarce) than to completely ignore its existence.

The one who pulls the strings: An entry on "Subject and Object" [Blog Entry #2]

Last Tuesday, 13th of January 2015, an initial discussion was held on our Political Theory 2 class regarding what this particular course has to offer for us for the entirety of the term. From what I remember, we did two activities: first of which was an interactive quiz, and the second one was the main lecture itself.

As previously mentioned, our professor decided to conduct an interactive activity to capture our interest, considering that our schedule begins as early as quarter past nine in the morning. It was pretty interesting, to say the least (see "Left or Right" post)

Another activity which I have mentioned was the main lecture. To provide more details regarding this lecture, it was mostly about an individual's subjectivity or positionality - on which one is more dominant than the other. Now, as hinted by the title of this entry, I would like to make this post revolve around the said topic.

During our primary (and in some cases, secondary) education, we knew what subjects and objects were through the grammar lessons taught in our respective English classes. To provide a brief review, a subject is the main focus of a sentence, while an object is the receiver of an action committed by the subject. Now, if I am not entirely mistaken, a part of our current lesson in POLTHE2 (or political theory 2) tackles two ideas similar to subject and object, albeit on a different context.

From what I understood, subjectivity is the case when you are the one who is making the decisions for yourself. If we are to link the aforementioned subject with this, we can say that you, as an individual, are the subject, meaning that you are the doer of the actions. On the other hand, we also have what is referred to as positionality. Being the opposite of the other, this is the case when others have more control or influence over yourself regarding handling decisions. To make it sound less complicated, positionality works whenever you act solely because you are compelled to do so, and not because of your own will. In terms of connecting this with the said English lessons, we can say that the person in this is the object, meaning that s/he can only receive what the subject does, and not the other way around.

With all of that being said, I think it would now be fair to proceed and contemplate on whether I am truly a subject, or just a mere object.

Sexuality

While it is true that our sex is predetermined by our very own genetics, our gender obviously is not. It remains to us whether we would like to adopt our gender based from our biological sex or not. In my case, I have decided to live up to my biological sex.

To be fair, I was raised on becoming a man myself. I was taught how to dress like a man, how to walk like a man, how to eat like a man, and the like. But, as I have mentioned, the choice of whether we would like to keep this always remains to our own self. Seeing that being the person that I was trained to be offers a handful of perks which I think I would enjoy to the fullest, I decided on keeping my gender unchanged (no offense to feminists and other movements that dislike masculinity/patriarchy).

This should clear the doubts of those who think that I am hiding in a closet (if there are any)

Answer: Subject

Emotions

Unlike the previous category, I personally believe that this one is tricky. Yes, it is true that we can control most of our own emotions. In fact, it is one of the many reasons why deceiving is not a lost art. People project happiness when in fact, they are feeling lonely on the inside. People can smile in front of you even when what they really wanted to do is stick a knife into your skull the moment you turn your back against them. Hell, people can even project nothing to leave you off guard.

Unfortunately, this is not the case when it comes to me. I believe that I am terrible in faking reactions. When someone cracks a hilarious joke, I cannot help but to laugh even if I am not supposed to. Whenever I see something disturbing right in front of me, my body flinches in all of a sudden. When I feel immense pain or anger, I voluntarily clench my fists. Point is, I rarely am in control of my emotions; rather, I (in)voluntarily give out reactions based on the actions given to me by other people (or so I think.)

Answer: Object

Interests

Like most people, I have tons of interests. Hence, I shall try to enumerate as many as I could; all while stating where it stands between subjectivity and positionality.

Rock music - Honestly, rock music was not always my first choice in picking music. Growing up, I was exposed to plenty of pop and mainstream music thanks to radio and television. This led me to think that perhaps these songs are what I should listen to, given how much time is being spent by the media in playing these. However, when I entered high school, some sort of shift happened. Even though the media is still giving us plenty of pop, hip-hop, rap, and other mainstream music through their various programs, I was lucky enough to find rock through some classmates who shared it with me. Then and there, I was captivated by the guitar riffs, vocals, and lyricism. Needless to say, I discovered what kind of music really does the job of attracting me simply through its identity, and not through its number of exposure. I guess one could say that the rest is history thereafter. Answer: Subject

WWE (and modern professional wrestling) - I know that just the sight of something that has become highly popular in our country from 2004 - 2007 then quietly declined is peculiar, but please do hear me out on this. Nowadays, there seems to be a surplus of things which captures the interests of the people of my age. From what I observe, these things include Avatar, Sherlock, Star Wars, and Doctor Who, among others. This is not to say that that this abundance (in entertainment) is wrong or anything, but (unfortunately) the great "fanbase" of these programs became very much packed to the point that attempting to give one of these a try will make it seem like I am merely joining a bandwagon, and not actually investing in it (although I have seen Star Wars I-III when I was little...). Just like my problem with music, I think that when the time comes wherein I finally watch one of these shows, it would be just the effect of its exposure rather than its identity. I fear that maybe if I watch these shows, it would be the "peer pressure" that drives me to do so, and not my own will. As a result, I decided to stick with the program which I have tuned to ever since I was in the first grade of elementary - WWE. By this time, I know that most of the things they project is scripted just like any other television show. However, it has not lost its touch in terms of making me want to support it. It still has that mix of sports and storytelling which only a few has. It still hires great talents capable of entertaining the audience to the fullest. But more importantly, it has become something which only a smaller crowd could relate to. Much unlike the previous shows which I have mentioned, WWE (and modern pro-wrestling) has declined significantly in terms of popularity in our country; thus removing the idea that it is peer pressure which drives me to watch the show, but rather injecting the thought that it is my own interest which pushes me to do so. Answer: Subject

Fiction - I may not read as often as I used to, but whenever I do, I always go for something that is either a crime/mystery novel, or a tragic drama. As much as romantic novels are common, and as much as I enjoyed reading some (The Fault in our Stars and Love, Rosie are worth mentioning, in my opinion), nothing can "glue" me to a book better than those two genres. You might ask what could be the reason behind this. My answer is simple: because I chose to. Answer: Subject

Fashion Sense - First and foremost, let me get this straight: I dislike this label. Now that that is out of the way, allow me to get to my point. For men, there seems to be a trend wherein an individual would have the sides of his hair almost entirely shaven, while leaving the top part of his hart untouched or slightly trimmed. They call this hairstyle as "undercut". In terms of clothing, I spot plenty of men (hypothetically the same age as mine) who favors the combination of polo shirts, colored pants or shorts, and a pair of sportswear shoes or topsiders. Whatever this trend is, I am not buying into it. They can keep their waxed hairstyles, fitted (and often brightly colored) clothing, and expensive footwear. I would gladly stick with my long, "emo" hair, (mostly) dark printed shirts, semi-fitting pants, and some trusty pairs of Vans any time of the day. I simply do not care if my "style" is outdated. This is not high school anymore wherein a prescribed "2x3" or clean cut is a must, or a uniform must be worn on a daily basis.This is my preference, and none shall dictate what hair should I have nor what clothes should I wear. Answer: Subject

Relationships

When I was younger, I had this misconception that popularity equates to greatness. This led me to think that the popular kids in school have it all - looks, brains, and attitude. To that point, i thought that they would make excellent acquaintances, given their "greatness". While it may be true in some cases, it proved to be wrong for the better part. Granted, I became "friends" with some of the "popular" kids then. Little did I know that I was being used. Whenever I am with the popular ones instead of the nerdy ones, I tend to become the laughing stock. The jokes would be more focused on poking fun at me. If the jokes do not occur, then I become the answer key. Knowing that I was one of the "smart ones" of our class then, they would literally milk my answers directly from my work... and I was too stupid to notice.

Gladly, all changed as I grew up. I started to side with the people who share the same interests with me rather than those who do not, regardless of the popularity. I decided to move away from the "famous" kids, and I began to know the others better. i get to talk about video games and other cool mid 2000's things on a daily basis, eat lunch with a group, discuss school works properly, and the like. Needless to say, I have finally stuck with the people whom I wanted to spend (or waste) my time with. I have never been happier. (this remains true to this day)

I guess this is also true for seeking romance. Approaching high school, I thought that the one deemed as the prettiest is the best girl that may ever exist. I thought that a girl like such is what us guys should chase after. Now, i am laughing at that thought. Upon entering junior high school, I just began to care less about looks. I started to not mind almost anything, to be honest. I just minded my own business. Before I knew it, I met this woman (same age, of course). As I get to know her, my earlier idea started to fade away; replaced with the image of this girl being the most wonderful woman whom I can ever meet. The pretty ones may not necessarily be the best after all. Perhaps all this time, all I needed to do was to disregard what many are saying, and just follow what my mind says. Same with my issue regarding friendship, I have never been happier (and I think i never have been THAT happy again)

Point is, once I started to decide on what is best for me instead of following the social constructs that my environment has set up, I felt a lot better.

Answer: Subject

Spirituality

I think that it is no secret that I was educated in a Catholic school for the better part of my life. I was taught how I should act, saying that I should follow the footsteps of Jesus. I was taught how to think, being exposed to the many forms of morals and values and its counterparts. Each and every possible move that I could think of was taught to me by this institution. Of course, growing up into the said community, I always thought that what I was doing was purely correct, meaning that any alternative (or conflicting) was sinfully wrong.

Thankfully, the scenario has not been the same in recent memory. DLSU, despite being a religious institution like my high school, is significantly more "open". For starters, I have observed that religion classes are relatively more liberal. Unlike before, students are not persecuted (for the lack of a better term) for deviating from the "average Christian" way of thinking (which was kind of exclusive for non-Christians in my high school). Here, we can actually support the Reproductive Health Bill without having to worry about being lectured by (some of the) faculty and admin. Heck, we can even believe in non-existence if we want to without it drastically pulling our grades.

Being exposed to an more open community, I was able to reflect. I was able to see that some of the things that I used to believe in were not really my own, but rather was some other else's. Hence, I began to change my ways. I began to follow what I wanted to believe more that what was enforced in me.

...I have never felt more true to my own self.

Answer: Subject

...

If this ridiculously lengthy reflection tells anyone anything, it is that I am an object turned subject. I get to choose most of what would define me, and those who dare to treat me as an object (decision making-wise) can do nothing but deal with it.

______________________

Let me know if I should add more categories :)

Comments? Violent reactions? Criticisms? Fire Away!

#wolfwithoutaname #nekonoob #thoughts #insights #subject #object

Left or Right: A reflection on having a (more dominant) liberal standpoint [Blog Entry #1]

Last Tuesday, 13th of January 2015, our POLTHE2 professor conducted his first lecture for the current term. To signal the beginning of a new focus in studying politics, he gave us ten questions which was answerable by either a "yes" or a "no", to which we actively participated. Even if it was not graded, the questions still served a highly relevant purpose - to remind us what our respective political standpoints are.

In my case, the "mini test" resulted with a total of seven yes's and three no's; thus giving me the label of having liberal ideologies. I said yes to the rise in tax (for the wealthiest of the state), divorce, same sex marriage, and contraceptives, to name a few. Now, as much as this should surprise me, considering that i have been living and studying in a somewhat conservative community, it did not.

Do not get me wrong. I acknowledge what the conservatives among our class stand for. I really do. I certainly do not hold anything against them. Like me, they are also humans who are entitled to their opinions. However, if my sentiments would be asked, my side would be to that which pertains to liberals. The reason behind this is that I think that our country, at this point, is in (dire) need of changes. This is not to say that Philippines has been afraid of taking chances and risks, but I think that our tendency to stick with tradition is restraining our nation from living up into its potential. Granted, tradition is highly regarded as important by many nations other than our own; but we do have to consider that the world where we live in and how its inhabitants live in it constantly shifts as time progresses. Hence, there is a need for us to make necessary adjustments (or in other terms, evolve) rather than keeping it "old school", because what was suitable before may not be suitable in the present. With today's technological demands, a typewriter clearly could not match the functionality of a laptop, just like how an outdated policy may not necessarily meet the current population's needs.

To put it simply, the things that I continuously observe pushed me to become (or be labeled as) a liberal. I am more inclined towards dealing with things in a more "logical" approach rather than the other, seeing that it would benefit the present (and hopefully, the future) better.

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Comments? Violent reactions? Criticisms? Fire away!

#wolfwithoutaname #nekonoob #reflection #thoughts #liberal

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An Eighteen Year Old's Thoughts