#philo10

I believe fate had played its role into my life when I took Philo 10. I think me and Philo 10 were destined to each other. We were really meant to be. Why so?  Let me tell you my pre-Philo10 experience.

When I was about to pre-enlist my desired classes for the second semester, Philo 10 wasn’t actually one of the many courses I was planning to take. I didn’t even put it in my first run of enlistment, because I was afraid of Philosophy. I don’t really know why. Perhaps I was afraid to think about life, and rethink my whole existence and then have regrets after, the usual scaredy-cat alibis.

The results came, and a sudden horror struck me. I only got 12 units granted and as a freshie, I panicked. I wasn’t prepared to wait in long lines during prerogs, to be in a Hunger Games battle with people who also had the same fate as me, and to get a subject I don’t really have interest in. Fortunately, at the second shot of getting subjects, I saw an opportunity in this specific class, there were two slots remaining, and I thought ‘Hey, maybe I could get this one. And besides, I heard a few good feedbacks about the prof.’ I admit, I did choose the subject just to fill my remaining subjects, avoiding being ‘underload’ for the sem. Luckily, I found myself enlisted into a 4 to 5:30 PM class. Unfortunately, the class was Philosophy. The class I feared the most.

I, as a curious freshie who’s afraid of everything, researched about the professor, the subject and how was it handled. I also interviewed people who had taken the course. I also asked a close friend of mine about the subject. She said it was worth taking. I asked about the prof. She paused, thought about it for quite a long time, which got me worrying. What did that pause mean? Was she speechless about how good the prof was? Or was she having a hard time trying to find nice things to say about the prof, which I hoped was not the case. Then she looked at me in the eyes and said “At first he seems strict, but once you get to him, he’s fun.” What relief! This got my excitement heightened exponentially. “But I only got 3 in his exam.” And it died down immediately.

In the first day of class, I gave my attention to the prof straightaway. He seems nice. He’s cute, I mean, he’s not repulsive to look at and he seems chill. I felt comfortable with him at the first sight. When he started talking, I felt welcomed in the class. When he explained about what to expect however, I felt like, I wanted to escape. I thought to myself, what have I gotten myself into? The readings were almost 4 inches thick and I was deeply horrified. I’m not one who enjoys reading at all, though I still have hope with myself.

Despite having doubts, I found myself starting to read the required texts given to us. After I finished, I placed my first reading down and stared at nothing for quite a while. It then struck me. My whole life was a lie. I heard the universe laughing at me. I felt more stupid than I ever thought I already was. I felt too naive about the things going on around me. I was clueless. I was truly just a child. And that gave way to my whole devotion into learning new things in life through Philosophy. I know it would help me become a changed person, a better one. As expected, not that I’m too sure of myself, I did.

Learning about the philosophers and their works was just one of the things I got from Philo 10. The other things were new experiences and a new outlook in life, and a stronger faith in ideas I believed are true. It doesn't only end there.  I was also able to apply the most important thing Philosophy has taught me, to become happy with the company of friends. I learned how to value friendship so much, and I was also able to build new relationships with people I barely even know. My classmates, most especially, showed me the importance of having someone to turn to when problems come. It grew in our field trip. Yes, there’s a field trip in this Philosophy class! (It’s one of the best things in it too!) We learned teamwork, humility, and how to have fun. Furthermore, learning the aspects of Philosophy changed me as a person. I was able to open my eyes and see the world in a bigger picture. I evaluated my whole being, and started improving myself, through following the knowledge our professor and other classmates partook to the whole class. I finally learned how to let go of my insecurities, and accept myself as who I am, and not who others want me to be. I felt better as person. I became happy like I've never been happy in my whole life. I tried to teach myself how to love more and treasure every moment I spend with people I care most about.

Love, as what Aristotle and Plato had agreed about despite their differences in their Philosophies in life, was the ultimate something that would give us happiness throughout our whole existence. If we start living by it, and become satisfied with what it has given us, everything else would follow. We will find the meaning of life and why we should pursue keeping it whatever the cost. We will find ourselves living peacefully and harmoniously despite the challenges life is bound to offer us.

My whole Philo 10 experience was truly life changing. I learned a lot of things, including the acceptance of who I am, and the purpose I was given in my existence. I know I might sound cliche and cheesy, but that’s the whole truth. Philo 10 brought me a lot of new ideas and clarifications to the questions I’ve had in mind. It provided me the right kind of knowledge and ways to live life to the fullest. Also, it helped me understand the world I’m living in more, and the hows and whys of all the things I see around. It inspired me to think logically, and not to stay in my naive thinking which probably would get me lost forever.  

To end my experience, I would like to share a quote that inspired me:

“People must learn how to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela

Back in high school, I was one of the best students. I was the teachers’ favourite to call for running errands: writing papers, having the papers signed, and posting them around the campus. It did not end there. I hosted most of the events, headed the publicity committee, and the committees of everything else.

            I loved what I did. I loved the idea of walking across the hallway while classes were going on. The students will then take a quick glance on me and all the papers I have in my arms. When I left high school, I knew I left something for them to remember.

            I felt so great.

            And everything changed when I got in the class of Philosophy 10.

            I felt so dumb.

            The dozen medals I received on graduation day was nothing. It only proved how book-smart service-oriented, and religious I was. But none of it was evidence that I was thinking like I should be. None of those medals proved my existence.

            Philosophy 10 was a thinking class. I will always feel like an outcast every time I don’t follow the discussion or get a loss for words when asked about the lesson despite having read it the night before.

            The reasons I had for enlisting in this class were: 1) I wanted to be critical and rational as much as I can be, and 2) a forum on Pinoy Exchange says that the course and the professor himself would be so fun and cool and all.

            My second reason is already tested and proven. The professor is great. He has so much wisdom to impose not only with regards to the lessons in the books but in reality where all the lessons would all boil down to. He has successfully bonded the class together from a class of strangers to a circle of friends.

            The requirements were not too much for me—just right. However, I doubt myself if I am good enough to be in that class. Someone could have had my slot: someone who could think things better.

            But then, thinking of it, I realize that I, for one, learned so much in Philosophy 10. First and foremost, I learned something about myself. Like Socrates, I knew that I know nothing. Every meeting is a challenge for me to bring profundity in my ideas. Watching my classmates have a discourse with my professor made me think on my own.

            I also learned that I should not hesitate to take my chances. In Philosophy 10, a talent showcase opens the floor for hidden skills and talents. Every time is the last time. I will be bringing this mantra throughout the rest of my stay in the university.

            Philosophy 10 was one of the best classes I had in the first semester of my first year because of the friends I had in it—and the memories that go along with them.

            Philosophy 10 will always remind me not to be too shallow and passive about the things and issues that are going on around me. I should not easily believe or be deceived by things. I should learn to doubt and evaluate where reality lies.

            I have always settled for less in everything I did in the class. Not because I intended to but because I believed that that was I everything I could give. I know deep within that there is more potentiality in me and all I have to do is work hard to reach its actuality. Philosophy 10 will always remind me that.

As I remember it, I enlisted in Philosophy 10 under Sir Caslib’s name due to a recommendation that I got from various internet websites. I was supposed to take Philosophy 11, thinking that logic would be an interesting topic but then, at the last day of pre-enlistment in the CRS, I changed it to Philosophy 10 because I read that, “it was one of the best.” And so, I got Philosophy 10 under Sir Caslib.

This experience taught me philosophy for the first time and dare I say, it truly exercised my capacity to think critically and to understand, speculate and philosophize on the different readings that were required in this course. It gave me a whole new set of knowledge on a different area of study. It was not something that you can get anywhere but rather, it is in the uniqueness of Sir Caslib. It taught me to think outside of my senses. It taught me to think logically and to find the truth, of what exists or if it really does. It taught me to look on a grander perspective of how I see the things that surround me, whether they are objects or imitations of the forms. I learned how to doubt the impressions that my senses transmit to my brain. This course also improved my patriotism as a Filipino with how we studied Filipino Philosophy and was even accompanied with an excursion in Antipolo, Laguna and Quezon. It was even an overnight field trip! I’m glad that I took this course because I think that it has provided me with the foundation needed in learning philosophy. It has given me the knowledge of different philosophers, ranging from Thrasymachus, to Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and down to Thomas Aquinas. I also learned about empiricism, utilitarianism, methodic doubt, imperatives, etc. These concepts made me think of how humans act based on whether they are utilizing or they have good will. These concepts may seem intimidating at first, but when learned, it wasn’t so hard after all. My brain was also exercised by how I thought of the meaning of my life. And lastly, I was amazed of how love was tackled in this course because it changed the way I define love. It was my first time reading chapters entitled, “Philosophy on Flirting” and “Hitting the Bars with Aristotle.” It was really a new set of information that I think I will never get anywhere else. I am truly amazed because I was even able to apply outside of class the things I learned. It affected the way I observe things that happen around. I think that this course made me a think like a philosopher, though not in a high degree as compared to the real philosophers but compared to how I think before I took Philosophy 10.

Also, it wasn’t only the knowledge that I got from this course but also the experiences and the friendships that I gained from my classmates. The field trip and the charity was a one of a kind experience that I think I won’t experience in any other classes of the university. If I will compare this class to the other classes that I took, I believe that the fun I had was best in this section. Sometimes, it seems as if I am more attached to my Philosophy 10 class than my block mates and it is probably because of the “nights” and days I had spent more with my WFU classmates. The way Sir Caslib teaches, speaks and cracks jokes is also one of the reasons why this course, even though mind blowing at first, is the most exciting experience so far in my university life. Sir Caslib stirred the creativity in our minds through the different presentations he required from us. The first thing that he tasked us to do was to dance a song that interpreted a topic on Philosophy. The next thing was to sing with songs from the Magic Sing that Sir Caslib brought. And then came the skits and other presentations. Those were also one of the reasons why the attachment with my Philosophy classmates were deeper than a usual GE class would have.

This experience makes me think of how lucky and blessed I am to receive such kind of course. Mid-semester, I was already recommending this class to my block mates and friends who are also in UP Diliman. And now that the semester is ending, I’ve thought that it would’ve also been better if my friends from the other universities would also have this kind of class. I wondered if in UST they are taught about Thomas Aquinas’ philosophy, maybe they are. Also, I felt lucky because my friends from DLSU doesn’t get to experience a class like this. It was a unique kind of feeling that I get in learning from this class and it really makes me want to encourage the people I know to take this kind of class.

Altogether, it was both the class, Sir Caslib himself and the teachings that he taught us which made my Philosophy 10 experience the best GE class experience. I am so thankful that I enlisted in this course. All the hard work in reading, highlighting and taking notes of the readings were worth it. All that I got from this course, the knowledge, experience, friendships, are all worth it. I will surely miss this kind of atmosphere that can exist only in Sir Caslib’s class. Thank you, Sir Caslib, for the philosophy journey that you triggered in me. 

When I was searching for available GE courses for my first ever semester in UP, I was glad to see Philosophy as one of the available courses. I want to take Philosophy courses since I think it would help me think better and inspect situations more critically. So, I decided to take Philo10 as one of my GEs

Of course, as what any newcomer would do, I did research on which Philo10 professors to enlist in. I stumbled upon a post in the internet (although I forgot where) and saw Bernard Caslib Jr. as one of the Philo10 professors of the university. The person said that he had a very wonderful time in his class and even gave a rating of 9999999999/10. As soon as I read this, I asked my friends to also enlist in his class so that I would not be alone in taking up the class (#medyoclingy).

            After being with THY2 (our section) and Sir Caslib for one whole semester, I must say that indeed, all of my expectations were met. This class is definitely one of those classes wherein you would not be unchanged once you go out of the classroom. One’s knowledge on almost everything is questioned, and as time progressed, one would soon find himself doubting everything. However, this is not so that we would look like idiots, doubting the existence of everything although they have already been proven. This is needed so that we would all know how these ideas came to be.

            One thing that I liked about this class is that Sir Caslib promotes friendship between students. He likes to give group works (but mostly skits) and allow group discussions. I think this is good because one would be able to deliver his opinions freely in class and that others could easily correct one’s wrong answers. Also, who does not want friends outside his course? J

            However, if you just want a petiks GE, you should cross this out of your list of probable GEs. Philo10 demands so much from the students. Reading through the texts provided in class is not enough because one should first internalize these ideas and then think of the ‘what if’ and ‘why’ questions, and should be ready to answer them in class. This class demands a student to exercise his/her ability to relate ideas nicely.

            The course description says “Introduction to Philosophy.”

            One faithful day, while enlisting subjects for A.Y. 2013-2014, I decided to sign up for this elusive subject despite its high demand and my freshie priority gone. Some good friends of mine took this subject the sem before under Sir Caslib and said that it was “difficult, but fun.” They said the readings were so thick, and that you wouldn’t survive the course if you didn’t read them. I consider myself a bookworm, so meh. How thick could readings get anyway?

            The friends I’m talking about, they were classmates in Philo 10. They said that their class was so close that they decided to take GEs together for the next semester to keep in touch. Which they did, in the class that we were mutually enrolled in. After this mutual class, we would usually have lunch together someplace, and there were multiple times that they talked about going to a birthday dinner they’d be having with one of their former classmates. I thought, “Really? That close after one sem?”

            There were also times that they’d impart some wisdom they got from Philo 10, plus a few tips on how to survive the course. I remember a time when one of the friends I’m talking about was wearing a duster to class. We’re blockmates, so I saw her often. It was for a play in Philo 10, she said. So okay, plays, tons of readings, friends, fun. Interesting.

            Needless to say, I was granted a slot by the CRS gods to said subject. I wanted a fun GE, and I also wanted to find out if Philo 10 under Sir Caslib is really all it’s cracked up to be.

            First day of class, I wasn’t able to attend. The timeslot was 4-5:30PM, and I waited for announcements outside the Philo department for room assignments. It was 3:50PM, and nothing. So I left. I mean, who assigns a room for a class less than ten minutes before class hours? (For the record, I never missed a meeting since.)

            Next day of class, Tuesday, I came a little early. Good thing too, because apparently syllabi were distributed the meeting before. Drat. I borrowed some freshie’s copy of the syllabus with two of my classmates who weren’t able to attend the previous meeting too. Apparently, I was classmates with one of them in Philo 1 the previous semester. Huh. Serendipity.

            I will never forget how my first conversation with Sir Caslib went. He was asking the people absent for the first meeting why they (we) didn’t attend. I felt like it was a trick question, because one of the ‘commandments’ in the syllabus said that we shouldn’t make excuses. When I told him my reason, he said (or something to this effect): “You should’ve waited till the last minute.” Another fun fact, I was seated in the front row directly in front of him with a seatmate that kept trying to strike up a conversation. My first day just couldn’t get better.

            The next days, however, did. I won’t spoil the contents of the readings too much because a good book is better appreciated if you read it yourself. We were taught the history of Philosophy, the first great thinkers’ view of the world and the concepts within it, the ways people made sense of life, the philosophy behind love, flirting, etc etc.

            Don’t get me wrong; the readings were long. In fact, it really did constitute a book. It is a well-loved book, though. It’s like a manual for what and what not to do in life. Also, the tests were difficult. In the middle of the semester, I was thinking: “Oh my glob what did I get myself into what am I supposed to focus on oh my glob oh my glob.” It was as if the choices were taunting me. Well, you live and you learn.

            I recall Sir Caslib saying that one of Philo 10’s goals was to make the class close. What with the number of group presentations, group works and field trips, how could we not be? Our class is, in a word, clingy. I didn’t expect that I could name and talk to each and every one of my classmates so easily, no utile involved, just plain talks about random things or lessons in class. Before long, I didn’t need to look at our required nametags to address a person. In Philo 10, you don’t just have classmates; you have friends.

            There are normal GEs, then there’s Philo 10.

            The course description says “Introduction to Philosophy.” More like “A Manual to Life.” In the immortal words of Spongebob Squarepants, “Thank you jellies! You taught me a valuable lesson today.” But unlike Spongebob, I will remember the philo + life lessons you taught THY2. 

To sum up my 5-week experience with Philosophy 10 in one word, it would be: amazing. So many things happened within the summer and I still can’t believe that my life would be changed because of Philo10.

First off, there were so many changes with myself within these 5 weeks. My perspectives, beliefs, and knowledge on topics such as: philosophy of the east philosophy of the west, life, love and sex, and many more topics that would stimulate your brain to think critically; broadened and improved from the first time I stepped on that classroom. How names like Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates, that were mere names only to me before, have been reidentified and redefined to me; how theories about the meaning of life gave me a better understanding of life itself; and how love and sex made me look at it on a different view.  Sir Caslib did a great job in teaching us a little bit about philosophy with such a little amount of time. For that, I salute you, Sir!

I didn’t expect that I’d have so many new friends. I expected a GE subject to be a little boring, without really making any new friends. But the activities that were presented in class made me say otherwise. Because of philo10, a new circle of friends was added to my life. I am really thankful for that.

Summer A.Y. 2012-2013 would have not been like this if not for a failing grade a year ago in Transport Phenomena. I probably would be having my on-the-job training in one of the pioneering companies in the field of Chemical Engineering. Even so, I probably would not be taking my summer classes if I did felt like staying at home and be bum from watching movies and television series. Instead, I chose to have summer classes and patiently waited at the Philosophy Department for that desired slot in the class of Sir Bernard Caslib. I planned to have the earlier class so I can go home early during Fridays. However, there were some who cut the line when they opened additional five slots. When I got the sign-up sheet, all the slots for the earlier class was taken so I just chose the 3p.m. class. I was still hoping that someone would cancel his/her slot in the earlier class and I will be accepted in that class.After hours of waiting in the corridor, I did get in the 3pm class. However, I did not regret that I belonged to the X5 class. I will tell you why.

In Philo 10, I got the chance to go beyond my comfort zone. Who would have thought that I would be able to sing and dance in front of many people I only knew for a very short time. Of course at first I was really shy especially during the first and second activities. But eventually, I got to sing Bohemian Rhapsody at the top of my lungs while they are watching. I danced with them in Dance Central after the Charity Event even though I am really bad at dancing and my moves are ridiculous.I got to break the barrier that keeps me from showing the real me to people I have just only met.Who would have thought that we would be able to pull off a play in class? Sir Caslib even commended how good we are in making the stories for the play and even the acting of my classmates. He saw how much we have improved. We were all the same shy people who are strangers to each other at first but eventually we got to go out of our own shells and became close that we even share even personal stories.

Philo 10 is one of the most demanding GE that I have taken. I was thankful that I took it on summer and also not with my major subjects. During the second or third meeting, the readings were distributed. It was a thick set of photocopied readings, which we are required to study, highlight and take notes. At first it was overwhelming because of the number of pages we are required to read on the first day. But as the days passed, I was surprised at how much we have already covered. This was probably the only subject where I have finished my set of readings. Philo 10 is supposed to be dialectical and I did not want to be left behind so I did study every night. But there would be times that I still could not answer the questions. However, my classmates made the course easier for me to handle. We journeyed together through the requirements of the class at the same time we get to know each other. We would study our reading requirements together in the lobby of Palma Hall and of course we would have chitchats sometimes forgetting that we still have to read. Every night my Facebook account would be flooded by notifications from our group, as there would always be lots of topics. It is as if we would never run out of things to say even in our message thread.  Topics would range from our academic requirements to the topics about sex.

It is really amusing how Sir Caslib brought a bunch of strangers with different personalities together. It might probably because it is a summer class and we see each other everyday. It might also be because of the field trip that we became close. But I think one of the main reasons why we became friends is because of Sir Caslib. If not because of the course design of his class, we might not be who we are now. He is more than just our teacher.