16 - 15 Harsh Criticism

I received a great excuse to criticize 15 of my block mates.
Here they are:

1.Andrey Buzon
2.Vincent Huliganga

3.Samantha Munar

4.Martha Angela Salamat

5.Katelyn Calma

6.Justin Parado

7.Julius Claveria

8.Brian Olores

9.Antonio Miguel Lu

10.Eugene Delfin

11.Dartegnian Velarde
12.Jade Ericson Adriano

13.Fevy Espinas

14.John Ryan Pasaoa

15.Nicole Angelyn Lopez

15 - A Modern Filipino

We all take things for granted, some are family, some are knowledge. But what we take for granted most is probably our nationalism. We believe that if we forget our roots, we won’t be left behind by our advancing world. But what does it mean to be a Filipino? Is it supporting your local products? Fighting for peace within our country? Or even something as simple as cheering your country for the Olympics? 

          In the past, a Filipino is someone who fights for their country, by any means possible. Some chose to shed blood for our sacred shores. Others woke our citizens from the Spaniards advances by writing a newspaper. In one way or another they made their efforts in defying a foreign oppressor who deny us our freedom, who endanger our culture, and those who dare lay their hands on our mother land.

          But these were the Filipino’s of old, these were our heroes, who have shed blood and sweat all for the sweet taste of freedom. They understood their duty as a Filipino to not only defend, but to repel any foreign invaders from enslaving our fellow countrymen and our nation. They were the ones who didn’t back-out because the enemy was stronger, they were the ones who doubled their efforts because they knew that deep down in their hearts they were the righteous.

But that’s not the case for today. Now people are starting to reject the old-fashioned Filipino culture, they actually want more foreign influences. We rarely support our heritage. When do we start seeing people who are actually proud to sing our national anthem? During a school program or an international boxing match? Do we only embrace our culture only when we are faced by someone else’s?

Being a Filipino doesn’t start with the country, or the government or anyone who’s in-charge. No, being a Filipino starts from each and every one of us. They are the responsibilities of the country-men. We’ve already been given a glorious past, one of which was born in blood. We already have a righteous reputation given to us by our heroes, our heroes who gave their blood and sweat for our country so that our alien foes would know that we stand in defiance.

          But those are only remnants of the past. We now face our uncertain future. It may not all be blood shedding or the purging of an oppressor. But, I believe that we don’t have to be ultra-nationalistic to become proper Filipinos. We don’t need to follow the footsteps of our heroes but rather make an example of them; that we will not tolerate injustice.

         

If what it takes to be a true Filipino is to die for your country without question or hesitation, then I’m sorry I am not. If being a Filipino means to protect our culture and leave it untouched, then I’m sorry I can not. If what it takes, is a blood compact that, this land, our mother land shall be protected, from a foreign foe, or driving-out anyone who wishes her harm, then I’m sorry, I can’t and would not.

Our modern heroes showed us that, even by just working; your country will benefit from it greatly. By simply honoring your parents by following their orders, we show that we acquired the trait of respect and gratitude.

          Everyone has what it takes to be a Filipino, it’s a matter of doing it. By simply putting your country before another is one of the greatest things that I have done as a Filipino. As our great hero Jose Rizal once said “the youth is our hope.” We don’t need to cling to the past, but rather, we create the future. It doesn’t have to be ultra-nationalistic, you just have to embrace the culture.

From everything that I have just said, How would you judge me, am I a Filipino or did I just inherit the title mindlessly? Most of us would consider ourselves as Filipino’s because we are of its blood.

          Most people wouldn’t realize that being a Filipino isn’t about heritage or blood. It’s also not about bringing up the past as a means of reason to act reckless. No being a Filipino means that you are able to act out what we have learned from it. Being a Filipino isn’t a matter of what you do to them, it’s what you do with us. What it means to be a Filipino is in the heart, not the name.

          I am a Filipino, a product of a glorious past, a hindrance to any foreign oppressor. We are Filipinos, in our hearts courses the same blood of generations of heroes. I am Filipino, awoken at last, freedom from the past. I will inherit this country, and so shall my children’s children.

14 - Internet Censorship

Who here uses the internet? Everyone right? It’s a very essential part of our lives now. Nowadays if the internet were to disappear we can compare that to losing a hand or a leg. You’d have a hard time with your everyday life. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to do anything anymore. It’ll only be an inconvenience. Let’s say that you’re eating, would you have trouble doing it with one hand? No, right? It’s not like you’ve been completely disabled and rendered useless. But then again you would rather have the convenience of eating with both hands. It’s easier, and more efficient. That’s what the internet is like, it’s not a vital part of you, but rather an extension of yourself. Let’s say that you’re eating an ice cream.  You would eat it as is because it’s already good, but if you were given a choice to add sprinkles on it you would choose the one with sprinkles every time.

Some governments around the world today are issuing internet censorships, for example: S.O.P.A. They limit a user’s ability to access certain websites  or withhold certain sensitive information that might lead to compromise. It’s supposed to make the internet a more pleasurable and friendly experience. And yet, why does it feel like they’re violating your freedom. It’s the users choice whether they want to go to a malicious website or just simply flaming with other people in a blog. You shouldn’t stop someone from doing what they want, unless they’re hurting anybody. But who could you possibly hurt on the net, physically atleast.

 They take away the one thing that the internet offers: freedom. You came to the internet to express yourself, and yet why should they stop you. The real reason behind internet censoring is that the government wanted to have control over the internet. I mean what could you possibly gain from hiding information? it’s probably to make their political face more acceptable. But that’s just it, they’re hiding the truth about them and they want to control what you say about them. They’re only sugar coating it with “safety reasons” but the truth is they just want control. You can’t hide a secret by issuing censorships, you only provoke the public about it. If you want your dirty secrets hidden then you shouldn’t trample over someone else’s freedom for it.

13 - Why Gamers Are A Better Problem Solver

Video gaming has been here for more than a decade now. They tend to cause addiction to children which is badly viewed by their parents. Gaming has been treated as a disease because of all the negative effects. But gaming isn’t all that bad, in fact it’s actually quite beneficial.  Here are some of the perks you may obtain from being a gamer; it improves your perception and reaction skills: meaning that with every game you play you’re actually sharpening your memory and improving your perception. It improves visual attention; you can’t put on your “A game” if you’re not 100 focused. With these skills gamers are already considered to be a higher caliber than the average person.

In 2011 there was a game called “fold it”,

 it was an online puzzle game about protein folding. It was created so that regular people with little to no scientific knowledge can also help tackle a scientific problem. Fold it was used to resolved the structure of an enzyme that causes an aids-like disease in monkeys. Researchers had been working on the problem for 13 years. The gamers solved it in 3 weeks. Notice the difference? A year later people were playing an astronomy game called “Planet Hunters” and they found about 40 planets that could potentially support life, all of which had been previously missed by the professional astronomers.

You see our brains are wired up to recognize patterns and gaming helps develop that ability. This is why scientists are now turning to gamers for help. Now next time you see someone playing, think twice before you call what they’re doing useless/waste of time

12 - THAT'S WHAT MY MOM SAID

My mom wrote a letter for me for my graduation. I thought I should share it to you.

My dearest son Nathan,

Your high school graduation is coming near…

You are growing up so fast, I still remember your first day in school, you were so cute then, so excited and full of enthusiasm, you were so “bibo”. Years passed and you finish your elementary school.

After that, we looked for a school for your high school education, and by God’s grace you were accepted in Taguig Science High School. I was so proud of you.

Now, your high school graduation is coming, time passed by unnoticed … You are about to finish another chapter of you’re life and is about to begin a new journey … your college education. 

As a parent, we will do our best to send you to college. In return, I hope that you will study hard; this is for your future, not ours, don’t let things around you distract you.

 You are a grown up kid now, and there were times that I got so worried on how to guide you, but I believe that you grew up in a right manner. 

Anak, I wish that you will grow in a way that is pleasing to God… I always pray that our Lord will always protect you from any harm, and that He will always guide you to the right path.

We may not able to guide you at all times, but please in everything you do, always think if it is good and pleasing to God. In everything you do, always pray. Keep yourself pure, retain your moral standard.

Don’t rush anak, there is always time for everything.

I love you, Nathan… your family will always love you.

With Love,

Mama

11 - Concept of Magic

Do you believe in magic, do you feel like you can shoot fire with your hands or control the wind with the flick of a finger, most people believed that it was real back then in ancient times. Others would think that this ability was lost in time. Some of us would make a fool out of ourselves if we were to try it out. That is true, in fact it’s quite frustrating when nothing happens at all. Well, most of the time atleast.     So we resolved into other methods, such as tricks and illusions. These are now most widely known as magic. They are nothing more than deceptions something that we encounter everyday, when you look at a magic trick you focus on what is being held by the magician, that is when you are looking closely. but what you do not see is the bigger picture. when you look closely you fail to see the sleight of hand the magician used because you were to busy paying attention to the distraction, classic misdirection.

Another example would be, the presentation of the magician. Some big-shot performers use the advantage of a grand entrance. Some people are amazed, others well not so much. But the point was none of them realized that they were being tricked already. I mean sure they used it for flare, but do they really know why? Now if you are asking me what magic really is, it’s about broadening your vision to see the bigger picture, to makes sense of it all. Now I’ll ask you again, do you believe in magic?

10 - Smokey Mountains of ash

People think its cool to smoke. I mean sure you'd look like a dragon from your perspective. I mean I would do it if it meant I would be breathing fire, but smoke is the closest thing we'll get.

Banning smoking at APC, not cool because about 25% of them are smokers. Banning smokers inside the APC building; it's a good way to keep the air clean, and keep their rights fair. But, alot of parents complain that: there are alot of smokers outside the APC building. why would you complain about that? Those are a mixture of students and outsiders, they can't intervene on something that they aren't responsible for anymore.

Parents worry that their child might get influenced to smoke because of the wrong crowd outside.
Well first of all if you don't trust your child that they will not stray from the path you thought them then, you already failed your duty as a parent. You can't let anyone take responsibility for your own child and their mistakes.

If you think that using an electric cigarette make you an exemption then think again. Electric cigarettes only eliminates the smoke but still delivers the same amount of nicotine, the deadly nicotine that you were supposed to avoid in the first place.

9 - YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!!!

I was always a fan of the star wars trilogy, but not so much as a hardcore fan, just your regular healthy fanatic.

It started out like any other day except, everyone was awaiting the famous 30 seconds of Fame or Shame.
The task was simple; Create an act/ show of anything you want, and the judges will rate you with either: Fame or Shame. Get famed and you get a shot at winning the grand prize which is cash. However, get shamed and all of your timid breaking and ego altering efforts will be reduced into nothing more than a single cup of defeat(that you'll have to drink in front of everybody). This is how ours started. We got called out second, but it was okay since we we're ready and we wanted to just get it over with. Anakin(justin) and Obi Wan(me) enters the stage, light sabers drawn, I called out to him. He responds, filled with rage he lunges forward. I blocked, my hand charged with the forced, I skillfully repelled his advance. He used the force to take me down then, he leaps. I dodged at the last moment and managed to cut off one of his arms. Filled with anger he uttered 3 words to end my scene: " I HATE YOU!!! " As I exit the stage a distant laugh was heard. It was Palpathine(ryan) he saved anakin. He's gonna turn him into vader. Another hysterical laugh and it marks the end of our play. All in good time.

We claimed 4 Fames. Surprised? no, expected. With a weeks worth of practice, I dared not think what would happen if we were to be shamed. Dishonor was the only thing that would be appropriate if we were to lose. I thought that our early victory was enough to secure as a spot on the top 3. Clearly I was wrong. Nothing hurted more than being defeated by someone who invented their dance for about a minute on-stage. But, I took it as a lesson in arrogance. Those who think nothing but victory without securing it will certainly face an inevitable defeat.

8- What it takes to be a hero

When you ask kids what a hero is, most of them would answer:
someone wearing a cape or a super suit with flashy logos

well if kids consider these heroes, I don't think they get what makes up a real hero. A hero is someone willing to sacrifice something, all for the greater good of the others. They are the ones who know what is the price needed to be paid in order for righteous justice be served.
But that's wrong too. if a hero means you would have to go through extra ordinary lengths just to be recognize as one then, only a special selected few would be called heroes. We all have what it takes  to be a hero. Our OFW's are infact considered heroes. We also have the Police, Firemen, Nurses, and Doctors. they are our average ordinary everyday heroes. They help our world bit by bit in their own special way. They are the ones who protect and serve for our peace.

Few people have passed the trial by fire when the spaniards were here. And fewer still were the ones who have shown their unrelenting desire to turn to the tides of war just to give us back the country that we so undeservingly inherited. They fought for freedom, and if we were asked to do the same now we would simply refuse. So is this what a hero is? to sacrifice without hesitation.

I believe that what a hero is is what the purpose of his deeds were, rather than what deed he performed. If you simply died for the country for a useless and unethical cause, then you would be considered as a heretic. Rather than an actual hero you would be confirmed as a rebel.

A hero as the stories have said:
A hero is kind
A hero is understanding
A hero will punish those who have wronged others
A hero will always prevail( those who do not are called martyrs)
A hero is someone willing to sacrifice anything for the good of the many

If we were to follow these standards as heroes then non of us are worthy to be entitled a true hero.