ALEX POLANCOS

           Eleksyon ang pinakadelikado at pinakamagulong buhay na maaring pasukan ninuman. Higit na mas magulo pa ito sa buhay-artista. Subalit bakit napakarami pa ring mamamayang Pilipino ang nagbabalak-pasukin ang buhay-pulitika? Napakarami pa rin ang nagkakandarapa sa pagtamo ng inaasam-asam na posisyon? At bakit napakarami pa rin ang mag taong nagpapatayan sa ngalan ng kapangyarihan at kayamanan?

           Ito na nga ang ilan sa mga dahilan kaya ko nasabing delikado at magulo buhay-pulitika sa kadahilanang hindi maiiwasan ang hindi pagdanak ng dugo sa tuwing magkakaroon ng eleksyon sa Pilipinas. Maging sariling kaanak o magkakaanak ay nagpapatayan para sa posisyon at sa ngalan ng kapangyarihan at kayamanan. Tunay nga namang masasabi kong napakarumi ng eleksyon at kabuuang aspetong pampulitika ng bansang Pilipinas.

           Ang ilan pa sa mga kamaliang nakikita ko ukol sa pulitika sa Pilipinas ay napakadaling gawin at napakababaw sundin  ng mga kwalipikasyong dapat taglayin ng isang taong nagbabalak tumakbo hindi lamang sa pagkapangulo kundi pati sa lahat ng antas ng posisyon mapalokal man o nasyonal. Ang datingan tuloy nito ay kahit sino pwede pumasok sa pulitika at kahit sino pwede tumakbo basta ba ay makumpleto at mataglay niya ang hinihinging kwalipikasyon sa pagtakbo. Ang resulta nito ay napakarami nilang nangangandidato at napakarami nilang mangangako ng mga pangakong mapapako.

           Hindi nasasala ang mga taong tatakbo sa isang posisyon. Magugulat ka na lang sapagkat napakahaba at napakarami ng listahan ng mga tatakbo: kilala man o hindi at ang iba sa kanila ay mistulang wala lang magawa sa buhay, kulang lamang sa pansin, gusto lamang sumikat at napadaan lamang at saka naisipang tumakbo. Sa Pilipinas, usong-uso rin ang mga sikat na artista na kadalasang tumatakbo sa pulitika. Hindi na sila nakuntentong umarte, kumanta at sumayaw sa harap ng maraming tao at lumabas sa sari-saring programa sa telebisyon kundi ay naisipan pa nilang pasukin pati na ang mundo ng pulitika. Nakalulungkot lamang isipin na marami sa mga artistang ito ay hindi nakapag-aral, kung nakapag-aral man ay hindi nakapagtapos at sila pa ang ay may lakas ng loob na tumakbo at kadalasan ay sila pa ang siyang nanalo laban sa mga ordinaryo at simpleng taong tumatakbo subalit tunay nga namang may ibubuga sapagkat nakapagtapos sila at propesyonal sa iba’t ibang larangan. Kadalasang nanalo ang mga artistang ito dahil sa sila ay sikat, higit na maraming nakakakilala sa kanila hindi dahil sa sila ay may maayos, mabuti at magandang plataporma kundi dahil sa sila ay lumalabas sa telebisyon. Ano na lamang ang magiging kinabukasan ng ating bansa sa susunod na henerasyon? Ano na lamang ang tingin sa atin ng ibang bansa kung hanggang ngayon ay ganito pa rin ang ating sitwasyon? Mabibigyan ba ng mga artistang ito na ngayon’y opisyal na ng gobyerno ang mga problema ng sapat na solusyon? O patuloy pa rin tayong maghahanap ng sapat na kasagutan sa tambak-tambak na kwestiyon?

           Karamihan sa mga artistang tumatakbo ay gusto lamang mas yumaman pa. Ito ay yuong mga artistang sawa na sa pag-arte subalit nais nilang kumita at magkapera kaya buhay-pulitika naman ang kanilang pinasok. Mga artistang may alam sa pulitika, gobyerno at ekonomiya subalit hindi sapat ang kanilang kaalaman at karanasan sa pagpapatakbo ng bansa sapagkat hindi sapat ang may alam lamang. Yung sitwasyong akala nila sapat na subalit kulang pala, akala nila tapos na subalit may kasunod pa pala, at yung tipong kampante na silang naresolba na ang isang problema, ang hindi nila alam ay naging dahilan pa ito ng panibagong problema. Kung hindi artista, eh buong pamilya naman ang nasa posisyon o mas kilala sa tawag ng political dynasty. Sila at sila na lamang ang nakaupo mula pa noong matagal na taon hanngang ngayon. Sila patuloy na yumayaman smanatalang patuloy namang humihirap ang mga mamamayan.

           Hindi rin nawawala sa pulitika sa Pilipinas ang mga masalimuot na kaganapan sa tuwing darating ang eleksyon. Marami sa mga tumatakbo ang pinapatay at pumapatay kahit wala pa ang mismong araw ng eleksyon. Tulad na lamang ng Maguindanao Massacre at kabi-kabilang patayan sa iba’t ibang dako ng bansa na may kinalaman sa pulitika. Nakalulungkot isipin na napakaraming inosenteng mamamayan ang nadadamay at namamatay sa maruming takbo ng pulitika sa Pilipinas. Hindi rin mawawala sa listahan ang mga relasyong pagkakaibigang nababahiran, nalalamatan at nauuwi sa hiwalayan dahil sa kabi-kabilang labasan ng baho, mga simpleng isyung pinapatulan para lumaki at maikalat sa publiko, paninirang-kapwa, paninirang-puri; totoo man o hindi ay maaring makapagdulot ng problema sa isang indibidwal gayundin sa kani-kanilang pamilya, ito lamang ay ilan sa dahilan kung bakit ko nasabing napakagulo at napakarumi ng pulitika sa ating bansa.

           Talamak din ang panunuhol o pagbibigay-pera sa mga botante sa tuwing darating ang eleksyon. Masakit isipin na sa halagang limang daan o isang libo ay ipagpapalit mo ang iyong sariling desisyon, mawawala ang iyong reputasyon at maisasakripisyo ang susunod na henerasyon sa kadahilanang nasilaw ka sa pera subalit ang kapalit naman ito ay ang napakahabang taong kahirapan dahil na rin sa maling kandidatong nanunungkulan. Gayundin ang mga smartmatic machines o mas kilala sa tawag na PCOS Machines ay nababahiran na rin ng pagdududa dahil ang mga ito ay napapsakamay sa mga maling tao. Walang kasiguraduhan kung tama at wasto pa ba ang inilalabas nitong mga boto o kabuuang boto sa bawat presinto. Sapagkat kahit na ang mga PCOS Machines na ito ay likha ng makabagong teknolohiya ay walang sinasanto at pinapalampas ang mga taong tunay nga namang uhaw sa kapangyarihan at kayamanan mailuklok lamang sa nais nitong posisyon.

          Buwan ng Hunyo, taong 2013 nang magsimula akong pumasok bilang isang ganap na estudyanteng iskolar ng bayan sa Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Ika-unang taon ko ay tunay nga naman akong nasiyahan sapagkat nakapasa ako sa pagsusulit upang makapasok sa nasabing Pamantasan. Isang karangalan ito sapagkat napakaraming estudyante ang nais pumasok dito at tanging mga magagaling lamang ang nakakapasok dito kaya tunay nga namang masasabi ko na pinagpala ako.

           Sa paglipas ng panahon ay unti-unti kong natutunan ang kakaibang kultura sa nasabing Pamantasan, dahan-dahan kong nakakapa ang iba’t ibang pag-uugali ng mga tao: estudyante man o maging mga kaguruan, at masusi kong napapag-aaralan ang takbo ng kapaligiran. Napakarami ko ring naobserbahan, napakaraming nalaman at natuklasan: katamaan man o maging kamalian, subalit sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, napakarami pa ring mga nakabibigla at nakagugulat na mga sitwasyon ang nagaganap sa Pamantasan na nakapagbibigay ng di kanais-nais na epekto hindi lamang sa mga estudyante gayundin sa mga kaguruan.

            Sa kasalukuyan ay nasa ikatlong taon na ako sa aking kolehiyo. Masasabi kong mas may sapat na akong kaalaman at karanasan sa Pamantasan dahil na rin sa pangatlong taon ko na rito. Hindi ko ikinatutuwa ang iba’t ibang pagbabago na nagaganap sa loob ng Pamantasan dahil hindi rin naman mabuti at maganda ang nadudulot ng mga pagbabagong ito.

           Tulad na lamang ng pagkawala ng aking iskolarship. Hindi ko lubos maisip na mawawala ang aking iskolarship ng walang sapat na batayan at dahilan para tanggalin ito ng kasalukuyang administrasyon. Mataas naman ang aking mga grado sa aking mga asignatura at madalas naman akong pumunta sa mga araw ng ensayo at lumahok sa iba’t ibang aktibidades kung saan tunay nga namang kami ay kakailanganin. Huli na nang kami ay abisuhan na tinanggal na ang aming sustento mula sa Pamantasan at ang masakit pa ay sa mismong araw pa ng aming pagbabayad ng matrikula. Dahil dito ay hindi ako nakapag-enrol sa mismong araw na iyon dahil wala akong sapat na pera o kahit na isang kusing sa aking bulsa. Huli na rin ako nakapagbayad ng aking pangmatrikula, mismong araw na ng pasukan ako nakapag-enrol sapagkat naghanap pa ng perang pambayad ang aking mga magulang. Dahil sa pangyayaring ito, tunay nga namang sumama ang aking loob sa administrasyon ng Pamantasan.

           Gaya rin ng paiba-iba o papalit-palit ng mga lugar na amin nang kinagisnan tulad ng daanan, kantina at maging mga silid-aralan. Taon-taon ay iba-iba o papalit-palit ang daanan sa Pamantasan: dati sa harapan, tapos nalipat naging sa likuran naman at nasa gilid naman sa kasalukuyan. Dahil dito napakaraming estudyante at mga kaguruan ang nahihilo, nalilito at nahuhuli sa kanya-kanyang klase.

           University Activity Center o mas kilala bilang UAC, ngayon mas kilala na ito bilang University Activity Canteen (UAC) na nagsisilbing kasalukuyang kantina ng Pamantasan na tunay nga namang hindi makatarungan ang presyuhan ng bawat espasyong iyong uupahan sa pagtitinda. Napakarami ring mga silid-aralan ang hindi nagagamit dahil sa ito ay mga sira, ang dating mga aircon at elevator na aming na-eenjoy, ngayon wala na mistula na lamang suntok sa buwang mga pangarap na ninanais naming magamit maging sa aming mga panaginip. Maging ang silid-aklatan ay kulang-kulang ang mga aklat, mesa at silya, ang mga kompyuter naman mga lumang klase pa at syempre hindi mawawala ang Wi-Fi na mas mabilis pa ang free data. Sa lahat ng mga pangyayaring ito ay tunay nga namang naapektuhan ang aming pag-aaral, hindi kami nakagagawa ng maayos at mabuting takdang-aralin sapagkat kulang-kulang ang mga impormasyong aming nakakalap sa silid-aklatan at mahina at mabagal na pagtugon ng kompyuter at internet. Hindi ko rin nasusulit ang pamamalagi ko sa Pamantasan bilang nagbabayad ako ng matrikula ko taon-taon sa kadahilanang hindi kami pinahihintulutang gamitin ang aming mga kinasanayang gamitin tulad ng aircon, elevator, bentilador at marami pang iba.

           Gayundin ay ang kabi-kabilang paghahanay ng mga kolehiyo sa isa’t isa.  Hindi lahat ng estudyante ay nabibigyan ng sapat na impormasyon ukol sa isyung ito kaya marami sa amin ay pinagsasawalang-bahala at hindi na binibigyang-pansin ang ganitong isyu sapagkat mas pinapalala at dinadagdagan lamang ng administrasyon ang mga problema at mga trabaho mula taas-paibaba. Dagdag pa rito ay hindi lahat ng mga gurong tinatanggap ay nagtuturo, ang iba naman sa kanila ay nagtuturo nga pero para masabi lang na nagturo ay kung ano-ano na lang ang mga pinapagawa na hindi naman akma sa nasabing asignatura. Maraming beses na akong nakaranas mula pa noong nasa unang taon pa lamang ako maging ngayong nasa ikatlong taon na ako ay hindi nawawala ang agnitong mga klaseng guro. Isa pa ay ang mahabang oras, araw o panahong paghihintay ng mga guro sa kanilang sweldo sa pagtuturo, may mga alam at narinig na akong kaso na tapos na ang semester o taon ay hindi pa rin siya o sila sumusweldo. Tunay nga namang nakaaawa ang mga ganitong guro sapagkat naghirap na at nagsakripisyo na sila lahat-lahat subalit hindi pa rin sila nababayaran, paano ba naman sila masisiyahan niyan? Paano naman sila ma-eengganyo sa pagtuturo niyan sa susunod na taon? Hindi natin sila masisisi kung hindi na sila muling magturo sa Pamantasan.

           Sa lahat ng mga pangyayaring ito, tunay nga namang higit na naapektuhan ang aking edukasyon bilang isang estudyante na may malaking pangarap sa buhay sapagkat hindi lahat ng kaalaman at karunungang kailangan kong malaman at makamtan ay aking natatamasa dahil na rin sa kulang-kulang ang mga kaguruan sa pamantasan, ang iba sa kanila ay hindi bihasa o gamay sa asignaturang kanilang itinuturo at ang iba namang tunay nga namang katangi-tanging mga guro ay mas pinipiling lumisan at lumipat sa ibang eskuwelahan dahil sa maling pagpapatakbo ng administrasyon ng Pamantasan, kaya sa bandang huli, mga estudyante ang tunay nga namang naapektuhan nang lubusan. Kinabukasan ng mga estudyante ang naitataya at naisasakripisyo dahil na rin sa maling gawain ng administarsyon. Kaakibat ng mga mabilis na pagbabagong ito ay ang hindi magandang epekto sa mga estudyante at guro, hindi pantay na pagtingin sa mga estudyante, hindi pantay na pagtamasa ng mga pasilidad na dapat matamasa ninuman at marami pang iba.

At the most part of the movie, I feel so awful for all the gay people and for all the people who belong in the gay community who died in a very young age and in an unexpected situation because of having HIV/AIDS. It is very sad to know that there is no possible solutions being raised to minimize the said disease, no help being offered, no action being done or even no single response coming from the US government, given that there is Ned Weeks who played by Mark Ruffalo so well, that is trying so hard to give his colleagues, companions, and friends a hope that they can survive from the said disease if they cooperate, unite and work together as a team to fight this kind of dilemma.

Mark Ruffalo who starred this movie as Ned Weeks really makes me proud. He played as the forerunner of everything just for the sake of his community. He used himself, his voice, his disposition and his occupation to fight on the problem him and his community is facing. He fought for what he know is right, he battled against the US government, he trusted himself and he stood for what he believes even against to his fellow men because he is the one who sees what is really happening in the surrounding, he is the one who is really concerned and sensitive about the issue and he is the kind person who cannot wait for a long time for the US government to respond on this issue because epidemic is an alarming scenario and huge number of people died every single day or even every single second because of HIV/AIDS so this should be given an action immediately.

As well as Julia Roberts who played as the doctor in the movie, it really makes me happy because even though she do not have the same disease of what Ned Week’s community have, still she help them to have hope. Not the same disease but similar which is a virus; she had a polio that is why she had her wheelchair in the entire movie. She served as Ned’s companion and friend in encountering and fighting on this dilemma. She also made a research about the virus wherein she presented it to some people for them to understand the said virus not only in the US but also to some other countries like in France where the virus has first ever seen and in Africa where women is experiencing.

God created everything. He made the heaven and earth, the land and the sea, animals, plants and trees, the wind that blows, the fire that burns, the water and waves that flush in the shore, the beautiful rock formations, rich natural resources and even weather disturbances. God created these because he has a reason. He wanted us to use them, take care of them and make sure that there are plenty for everybody.

But most importantly, he made humans. Humans who became his instruments and who are going to conserve, preserve, save and utilize all the blessings he had given on earth. These are people who possess different attitude, behavior, characteristics and personalities. They also differ from the beliefs that had stuck on their mind since when they were young and the culture they had grown throughout their existence here on earth.

The documentary film I have watched is entitled, “Secrets of the Tribe”. It is all about the ancient tribe called Yanomami who lives in South America: between the boundary of Brazil and Venezuela to be specific. The film also shows the time when anthropologists have arrived on the isolated place of the tribe Yanomami and how these anthropologists have changed Yanomami’s lives through different ways. Like helping them to use some stuffs for their daily routine, improving their lives by introducing some strategies – more like techniques to survive, and teaching them how to get food, to get rid of disease and of course, teaching them how to reproduce their race. The moment I have finished watching the said documentary film, I got mixed feelings inside of me. First of all, I had the feeling of sadness. I felt very unhappy when I found out the helpless condition and pitiful situation that ancient tribes have been experiencing in the isolated place somewhere in South America (boundary of Brazil and Venezuela to be specific). It is depressing to know that given the fact that they are very far away from the cities or even nearby productive towns, new modern technology cannot reach them to improve their lifestyle and it is so heartbreaking to witness male Yanomamis fight each other or even kill each other just because of women. But all of this sadness easily fades away when kind-hearted people came and step up into the scene. I am happy due to the reason that there are still few people like what I saw in the documentary film who are so called anthropologists that are very concerned to the helpless condition and pitiful situation that ancient tribes have been experiencing. These anthropologists helped these Yanomamis in different ways: how to survive, getting some food and how to cook and serve the food properly, in health aspect, small touch in education and of course, reproducing their population. In the health aspect, giving Yanomamis especially the children a cure or a medicine to treat measles is a great help for the survival of their race. In the middle part of the film, I burst out my temper because despite of all the good deeds and good doings being showed by the anthropologists to Yanomamis, they still abused and harassed some of them. Yes, harassment for self-satisfaction. Just like what Jacques Lizot did to young male Yanomamis. To satisfy him, he ordered them to pleasure him by masturbation and ejaculation. Due to the reason that young Yanomamis are too dumb for such things, he then promised them such things like cars and pennies just to convince those young male Yanomamis. Another thing is the attitude of the anthropologists of being ethnocentric, that makes so unfair on the part of the tribe Yanomamis.

Last Saturday, we have watched a movie that I truly considered most heartbreaking, worth watching, and one of the best movies I have ever seen and it is entitled, “Prayers for Bobby”. To tell you honestly, I am so disappointed to Bobby. I was so upset for what he did to himself, for ending up in a decision like committing suicide in the end of the movie is the worst mistake that anyone can do. It really surprised me when I found out that he jumped-off to the bridge and was ran away by some fast-moving vehicles in the highways and just die there because killing yourself will not solve your problems, instead it will just make them worse or even worst just like what happened in the movie. Because in the movie, Bobby’s family was totally devastated for what had happened. His parents especially his mom thought that she was the one who killed his own son due to the high expectations, a lot of pressure, non-stop reminders and annoying sermons that had given by her to Bobby.

The character of Bobby in the movie identifies me most. I do not want to be so hypocrite just to tell you that I am a straight guy because honestly, I am also having an identity crisis of my own. Right now, I am on the process of exploring amazing things around me, dreaming awesome stuffs as far as my creative mind can think of and most importantly, discovering myself – of who really I am. I am like Bobby, the way having a difficult time in figuring out whom really I am, what sexual orientation do I belong, hungry for the answers to my unanswered questions and thirsty for the love and affection from the people that surround me. Also, making decisions for myself, thinking of all the reactions of my family especially my parents when they find out what is wrong with me, afraid of all the issues I may encounter physically, social, and emotionally, scared of all the judgments from the society and of course, not that brave enough and not that ready to tell the truth to everyone.

Close family ties and letting sons/daughters to live separate from their family whenever they go to college are some of the values I have seen in the film that can be applicable in the Philippines but then again I considered them as bad. Because having a set of close family ties in your family itself will make other family members so dependent to those independent ones. It does not recognize a sense of responsibility, independence and the like. While, letting children to live separate from their family whenever they go to college will make them feel so unsafe. They feel that they do not have someone to talk to, trust to, to listen to their problems, to lean on whenever they feel sad, they do not have the elders where they can get some pieces of advice and the like.

The Social Impact of China’s One-Child Policy and Statement of Ownership: An Autoethnography of Living with HIV are the two case studies that were conversed last meeting. These two case studies talked about the social implications and society’s stigma about the two topics.

One-Child Policy is a policy adapted by Chinese to control and minimize the huge number of population in China. One-Child Policy is good. Economically, it is a good policy because through this way, the government can have the control to its people in giving employment like for example; the government can make sure that all people can all have enough and stable jobs to provide the basic needs to their family as long as these people are willing enough and have the abilities, capacities and skills on the said job. Another thing is the government can provide its people the advantages, needs and benefits like in the field of social welfare, medicine and education that they really deserve as a citizen of the said country. Another one the government can see the needs of its people when it is not sufficient already, the government can stabilize its economic growth, the government can provide possible solution to a certain problems facing by its country due to the reason that it can manipulate its sovereignty because given the fact that it is just enough population it has. Lastly and most importantly is that having just enough number of people or population means balance natural resources in their environment.

On the other hand, controlling population is somehow gives us some disadvantages or bad effects. Effects like due to the reason that a government or a country is controlling its population; it is imposing its people or citizens to control their siblings they should have even though it’s against on their part because not all parents just want have a one child, others want more than one. It reflects that a person or parents do not have the freedom of choice, making their own decision for themselves and through this what if the couple already have a child but in not expecting situation, they have another one – what they are going to do now to the new baby? Are they going to abort the unwanted child? If they are going to perform this, it is somehow gives unethical action not only for the both parents of the baby but also to the government itself if this will be permitted. Abortion is bad. It is like taking away someone’s life. Not allowing someone to live and this is so immoral and unethical that is really bad.

Culture of Poverty and Parts Unknown are the two case studies that were discussed last meeting. These two case studies conversed about culture of poverty, social structure in the society, unethical deeds and doings that are happening in the surrounding and a whole lot more. Poverty creates culture. It is a typical culture that has flaws, imperfections and inequalities. These inequalities are said to be imbalances on the possession of wealth or properties, unevenness on taking chances and opportunities, discrepancies on having education and privileges, and discrimination of rights or moralities among unfortunate people. Due to these various reasons, these people tend to think and do things that will help them to live and survive. Unluckily, they came to the extent that they even sell their own organs just to gain some money. But the thing is it is an unethical exercise to participate on this kind of job, employing on this kind of business means putting someone’s life into risk because extracting an organ from one’s body makes someone dysfunctional which leads to invalidity. In addition, it is categorized under a black market, considering it as an illegal act of business which violates human rights and civil regulations.

On the other hand, due to poverty in the country, illegal sale of organs remains a booming business. We cannot blame these people from engaging on this kind of an unethical medical practice because maybe this is the only solution they could think of just to provide and support the needs of their family.  Due to the fact that this is the easiest way to earn money, this is also the reason why several hungry mouths and empty stomachs are being fed. Three main arguments were presented that is used to support organ sale. “First is that permitting organ sale could save lives by lessening the shortage of transplant organs. Second is human rights and self-ownership where people have the right to do what they want with their own bodies. Third is consistency wherein there is actually no difference between selling organs and other practices that would also put a person’s life at risk. It just seems more of an advantage than a disadvantage. (Stanford University, 2011)” [1]

The two case studies, “India’s Shame: The Personal Ordeal of Cynthia Mahmoud” and “Embodied Legacies of Genocide” discoursed about intersubjectivity. Intersubjectivity is one of the major factors that contributes to an individual’s state or individuality. Meaning to say, intersubjectiviy helps an individual to develop his/her physical aspect, social processes, mental state, emotional or even spiritual needs. It is somewhat lined experiences and mutual understanding into someone. The term, intersubjectivity also means the sharing, representing or a mere demonstrating of others’ mentality. The term, mentality is discussed here to involve not only beliefs, but all sorts of forms of mental states including emotions, desires, attentional foci and intentions.  Peter Gardenfors identifies five capacities of intersubjectivity: “representing the emotions of others (empathy), representing the desires of others, representing the attention of others, representing the intentions of others and representing the beliefs and knowledge of others.” [1] This only shows that intersubjectivity helps an individual to develop social interaction not only in the society but also to those people who live on it. It makes an individual conscious and aware what is happening around him/her. Also, in order him/her to be profound on other people’s feelings and past experiences – as a sign of respect and giving sympathy if it’s a not-so-good experience or memories.

Deviating from the two case studies that have been discussed, they showed negative implications of intersubjectivity that focused on trauma. Cynthia Mahoud was raped and sexually abused by the Sikhs and it was found out that several years had passed until she confessed about her case. Meaning to say, the trauma was carried by Cynthia for a long time, hiding all the bad past experiences she had gone through. Connecting to the second case stu[i]dy which is Legacies of Genocide, the trauma brought by the harassment she had experienced might passed on her descendants. Intersubjectivity comes up on the scene wherein Cynthia as a raped victim and a survivor as well, might share the lined experiences to her descendants. Trauma and the embodiment of the body markings that signifies pain, suffering and shame were also shared to her descendents – giving them negative impact on their self, and incurring emotional and psychological problems.

Nowadays, having an identity crisis, having a hard time on deciding what sexual orientation people are in and facing different current issues concerning about gender had become a really huge deal and a serious talk not only by an individual itself but also on the whole society where he/she belongs.

With the two case studies that have been discussed already, gender and issues about it have been tackled. On the first case study, it is stated that parents can now choose their preferred sexual orientation for their children, whether it is a boy or a girl. It is also stated that those mothers can now decide on their own if they want to abort the unborn child if they found out that their baby will become a homosexual someday and all of these can done with the aid of science and the new and modern innovative technology we have today. On the other hand, the second case study revealed the story behind the modeling industry. Given the fact that modeling during earlier days is for the ladies only that is why it has been marked some sort of feministic approach. So gentlemen who entered the modeling industry were judged by the society already about their sexual orientation, rumors about their true identity and issues concerning about gender are the common problems male models encounter. But the thing is no one will ever know what their real identity is because most of them are just portraying different behavior or even gender to the people who they think that will really help them to gain more projects and campaigns that will make them richer and more famous.

After reading the two case studies, I feel so awful for all the people especially on those homosexuals because of the early judgments made by the society on them. It is not fair that an unborn child will be aborted for no valid reason but just because of being a homosexual except for the fact that if the mother’s life is at risk that is the only time that a baby can be aborted if she wants to. Also, we should not be choosy about the gender of our children instead we should just be thankful and grateful for the baby we have because what matters most is that it is truly a gift from God. Furthermore, judging male models about their sexual orientation will not be helpful and only makes them degradable and it will lessen their self-esteem. Because what people and society did not know is that male models are prone with the sexual abuse being done by their stylists and photographers. I pitied these models because they only want to live happy, to live with fancy things that everyone wants, to become richer and more famous but they have to undergo sexual abuse first before experiencing the cloud moment they have been wishing for.

Marking this day as your most special day because it's your 18th birthday, yey. Happy happy birthday!!! Just wanna say thank you for everything (as if naman haha), sorry for nothing (joke haha) and wishing you full of blessings (all good things that will make you happy). You're not a lil girl anymore, you're already a lady. Meaning to say, you know what's right from wrong. You know the consequences you may face with your unecessary decisions. To all these, always bear in mind all the pieces of advice of our parents to us. Love you forever and always.

Why ask for a partner who stays temporarily, if you already have your brothers and sister who stay with you permanently and that's what you call a family. Happiest birthday to the guy who raised us to be a good citizen of the Philippines and that is no other than our beloved father. God bless you and our family as always and forever.

Greek Mythology: Gods and Goddesses

Greek mythology is all about the twelve Olympian gods and goddesses, and the lesser gods who have their own distinct powers, extra-ordinary skills, strengths and weaknesses, and their heroic adventures. The story of Samson that came from the Bible is all about a couple, named Manoah and his barren wife, who have been wishing for a child to God and because of obedience, strong faith and trust of the couple to God; they were blessed and had been given a son in the name of Samson. It is also about Samson, who was sent by God to deliver the people of Israel from enemy oppression during a dark and unstable period of Jewish history. At first, Samson obeys all the rules and reminders of his parents but in the end, he failed. Due to the reason that he really loves Delilah, Samson tells his secret that it is in hair where his strength really came from and that leads to Samson’s death. Koran comprises laws, moral teachings and historical accounts.  It demands of total surrender to the will of Allah and stresses Allah’s mercy. The epic of Gilgamesh is all about a two-third god and only one-third of him was human in the name of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh, who was a tyrant before has been changed into a good one because of Enkidu, monstrous creature created by goddess Aruru. They became good friends; they go together into the mountains and decided to cut down one of the cedars in the sacred forest of the gods. But one day, Enkidu dreamt about gods, who were debating between he and Gilgamesh about who was the real villain and should be put into death, and Enkidu knows that he was doomed to die and he certainly died. Gilgamesh sore afraid of death as he seen what happened to Enkidu, so he decided to seek Utnapishtim and ask him the secret of having an eternal life. Then Gilgamesh found the Graybeard-grow-young and back to his city.

Leadership Worth Having For

In my own perspective, leadership is not only just an act or potential to lead people but it is an attitude and skill already installed in one’s personality and it’s up to us how we are going to use it and improve it. It is not only giving orders and rules to our subordinates just for the sake we want to be called or considered leader. Leadership is how powerful we are to influence our people in a best way, how well we are to touch people’s hearts and minds, how glad we are working with different people with different stories and personalities, and how passionate we are in doing and finishing our tasks just before the deadline.

Leadership is a passion. It is a desire to serve our people with no hesitations, willingness to take a challenge in every aspect of our lives, and meaning if we want to gain something we should not afraid to take risks to come up with result weather is it good or bad. It is all about making wise decisions that will benefit not only us but the whole humankind.

Bullying is a Crime

           A girl or a boy, a rich man or a poor man, an adult or a child, and a gay or a lesbian. Bullying knows no gender, knows no age and knows no status in life. Everybody can bully anyone to be called as a bully so everyone can be a victim of bullying. Schools, offices, parks, playgrounds, work spaces, public or private places and even our own home can be a place for bullying, anytime and anywhere. Those are the threats of bullying and it is very alarming.

           There are a lot of kinds of bullying and one of those kinds is cyber bullying. It is a type of bullying wherein a bully is using the aid of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram through internet. Andrea Brillantes, a 12 year-old child superstar is a recent example of a girl who was bullied at a very young age. In her case, a lot of nude photos were posted in different social Medias like on Facebook where she was misjudged by a lot of people. People already criticized her the first time they saw the child star’s nude photos, they already got copies of them and share and spread them to other places and they already made a hasty generalization that she is a bad girl and should not be imitate by other people especially young girls.

Worship is Necessity not a Luxury

         The most recent Philippine romantic comedy movie I have watched is entitled, “That Thing Called Tadhana”, which is casted by two of the most prominent and most promising stars in showbiz industry, Angelica Panganiban and JM De Guzman. It is an independent film that displays numerous dominant images and features different dramatic situations on its whole story line. I chose this kind of movie because it presents different perspectives from different personas about what love is and it also shows distinct sides of love; the extra-ordinary experiences of people when they fall in love, be in love, being loved, lost in love yet love again between men’s viewpoints in contrast with that of women’s point of views. I chose this movie to make mention some of the differences and similarities it has to William Shakespeare’s masterpiece Sonnet 116 when it comes to love.

        Sonnet 116 talks about William Shakespeare’s view on love. As stated in his piece, he believes that love is guiding and it can be likened to a lighthouse or “the star to every wandering bark” as it leads to a place called home, a place with love. Just like what happened in the movie, Anthony (JM De Guzman) meets a recently broken up girl, Mace (Angelica Panganiban) at an airport. He becomes somewhat of a soundboard to the girl’s heartaches and the two drown in their conversations about love, life, fate, regret, and everything in between. The movie talks about break ups, getting over someone, finding new romance and it talks about the concept of destiny – whether the world works to guide you towards the person you are meant to be with, and that you should fight for what you want. These two strangers who became unlikely friends have turned into accidental lovers at the end of the movie.

         Shakespeare also characterized love by being steadfast and constant. First, he believes that love does not change even if there is the temptation to change. We can liken this to a relationship wherein two people are loyal to each other even if they find others richer, more handsome, more beautiful, or any other comparatives. Second, he believes that that love remains unshaken even if “tempests” or better referred to as challenges. We can liken this to a relationship wherein two people are keeping their vows and promises to each other whatever challenges they may encounter.

          But this was not seen in some parts of the movie, it is very different from what happened to Mace and her gloomy relationship she had with her first boyfriend who later turned as her ex-boyfriend, Marco (Joem Bascon). Because what happened in the movie, Mace just got arrived in the airport from Italy where she made a surprise visit to Marco who has been in there for years due to the training of his job. But when the time Mace has arrived in Italy, she was the one who has been surprised by her boyfriend because she found out that Marco is already dating someone, has been fell in love with another girl and they have been together for a long time. In other words, Marco became unfaithful to Mace and did not keep his promise that the reason why he is in Italy is to earn and save money for their future and that they will marry someday which made Mace very sad, angry and broke.