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The movie “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” tells us a story about the improbable friendship between two kids from different environments - Bruno who once lived in Berlin. In this movie clip, it highlights a child's innocence about the realities of life yet feels there is something going on as shown how the main character, Bruno, notices and questions the oddness of the "farmers" in their neighborhood that he sees from his room. This specific scene plays a crucial role in unfolding the later events as Bruno discovers the camp filled with people in striped pyjamas and enclosed by barbed wires as he befriends Shmuel. From this scene, it can be perceived how Nazis think of Jewish people as powerless through their cultural beliefs and abuse their power as seen how Bruno's father and his fellowmen treat Jewish people. The movie specifically portrays the cultural differences of privileged families and so-called lowly people – these privileged families succumb to luxurious life and become negligent of the outside events while the lowly treated people follow those who are in command or power without refusal; however, Bruno sets no boundaries between him and Shmuel as he helps Shmuel find his father despite witnessing the true condition of the camp - contrasting how he imagined it to be, and ending being dead in the gas chamber together with the other Jewish people in the camp.

Seeing a person leave is not an easy sight to take in, especially if he/she will become a thousand miles away and there is no certainty to meet soon. In our country, the love for family is something indisputable as seen in the bond between the family members. For instance, despite the years of not seeing each other and being complete as a whole family, nothing changed among us and the tight bond still remains until the present. Through messaging, I was able to contact a relative, who is now a resident of San Diego, California, and ask a few questions regarding the life in the United States.

1. When you moved to San Diego, how was your experience adjusting to a new culture and environment?

Moving to San Diego was very daunting at first since I did not know a lot of people, getting used to speaking English more often than Tagalog felt very strange, also being exposed to different cultures from around the world and their perspective was overwhelming at the beginning. It took a while to adjust but it was well worth the patience as I made many friends and gained new experiences that helped shape a better outlook of the world.

2. What do you love most about living in the United States?

I am exposed to a variety of people that come from different cultural backgrounds. It taught me a better way to perceive the world and to be considerate of others no matter what their beliefs may be. 

3. What do you miss about the Philippines?

Of first love, unrequited love, and forfeited love, “Ang Huling El Bimbo” by Eraserheads takes us to a walk down on memory lane about our childhood, first crush, or even first love. With its vivid and nostalgic lyrics, “Ang Huling El Bimbo” paints an unreciprocated love story between childhood friends who grew up and grew apart, only coming to a tragic end. Albeit being one of the classic love songs back in the days until the present, this song manifests a heart-rending one-sided love between former childhood friends who never had their “happy ending” nor a second chance. This supposedly love song takes us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, giving a timeline of significant events and an open-end story that greatly stirs the audience’s feelings — for those who have loved, was loved, and never been in love.

“Ang Huling El Bimbo” unveils a sequential turn out of events between the narrator and his first love, generating a clear picture of the story. At the start of the song, the narrator describes the girl as someone who reassembles a famous actress, Paraluman, depicting and emphasizing her striking beauty, as well as expressing her forte in dancing El Bimbo. The story unfolds as it manifests the amount of time they spent together right after school to teach him how to dance, and somewhere in between, she teaches him to love as well. With the lyrics,

Naninigas aking katawan

‘Pag umikot na ang plaka

Patay sa kembot ng bewang mo

At pungay ng 'yong mga mata

Lumiliwanag ang buhay

Habang tayo'y magkaakbay

At dahan-dahang dumudulas

Ang kamay ko sa makinis mong braso, oh

the song uses figures of speech to elaborate how the girl makes him feel as they maneuver along with the music. However, the narrator expresses his regret for not vocalizing his feelings afterward with the lyrics Sana noon pa man ay sinabi na sa iyo, foreshadowing the following unpleasant events.

As the song progresses, it is later on found out that the narrator and his first love have parted for years, only hearing news from the latter and her unfortunate state – working as a dishwasher and having a baby without a husband. Although the following lyrics about the character’s death are broad and has stirred up debates among the audience, it is evidently shown that the narrator received the news about his first love’s death, leaving him in devastation and grief as perceived in the lyrics,

Lahat ng pangarap ko'y bigla lang natunaw

Acts like it's the Olympics: Aries, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius

Does just enough to get the grade: Gemini, Taurus, Libra, Capricorn