another story about poverty and unequality, also the strong mistreats the poor and the weak. the setting of the story would probably be in the 1950s, where the law was still handled greatly by the landed and their henchmen can do whatever they want.
on the side of the family, how can kids grow up in such a violent environment. practically not knowing how to get by the next day. hidden truths and lies of deceit, covering the real view of how hard it was to live in those situations.
the author is basically trying to show how hard life was before and how it has not changed after 30-40 years have passed. on a personal stand point, it is very heroic of the author to write such novel. but if people are too poor to even know how to read then this story's goals of trying to let the people know about poverty are futile.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
magnifico and ampalaya
magnifico was a great movie it knew how to capture the audience watching it. the story hits so close to home that you could imagine people here in the country (well it being the setting and everything) are going through it on a daily basis. how life can be so difficult for people who were not so lucky when they were brought into this world. it only made me realize that I'm so lucky and that I should not be bitching about the smallest stuff (i.e. traffic, expensive gas, fights with my girlfriend, and a lot more) for these people can survive without all the luxuries I have and still cansmile at the end of the day. it also made me appreciate all the stuff I have and made me think for the future so that I would not fuck up and be in that situation.
ampalaya was my report, funny thing about it is that it was the most irritating story I read this entire term. well besides it being in full and deep Filipino(which made my nose bleed while reading it) th reality of the story was so twisted and unreal that ou would get so pissed of about it. how can a person sentenced to death for keeping his family healthy and making money for their daily expenses. could not give Juan dela Cruz the benefit of the doubt that he is infact a farmer and does not have the capability to have any means of acquiring information from the fast-growing cities. it was just so irritating ahh!!!!
ampalaya was my report, funny thing about it is that it was the most irritating story I read this entire term. well besides it being in full and deep Filipino(which made my nose bleed while reading it) th reality of the story was so twisted and unreal that ou would get so pissed of about it. how can a person sentenced to death for keeping his family healthy and making money for their daily expenses. could not give Juan dela Cruz the benefit of the doubt that he is infact a farmer and does not have the capability to have any means of acquiring information from the fast-growing cities. it was just so irritating ahh!!!!
the getting better and circles
the two extremely long novels but very interesting.
getting better was story that focused on a normal woman's life with al the complexities the go along with it. funny but very real, real to the point that the details of the story were so intricate that you could imagine that you were in the same as the characters in the story. although the story had a very feminist approach to it, it made guys look so complicated and difficult to understand. when in reality women are almost the same in context, basically everyone is complicated to some extent. the story was very entertaining and very colourful and it got me to really be hoked into reading the story.
smaller circles was a bit dull and cliche' ish.. what i mean is the story feels like it was copied for one of tom clancy's novels. although the setting of the story was plausible to be in the Philippines and the way people are in the story are very Filipino-ish. the twists and problems were just prolonged to the extent that you knew what was about to happen but it was prolonged to the extent that it got boring.
but hey, to each of his own right...
getting better was story that focused on a normal woman's life with al the complexities the go along with it. funny but very real, real to the point that the details of the story were so intricate that you could imagine that you were in the same as the characters in the story. although the story had a very feminist approach to it, it made guys look so complicated and difficult to understand. when in reality women are almost the same in context, basically everyone is complicated to some extent. the story was very entertaining and very colourful and it got me to really be hoked into reading the story.
smaller circles was a bit dull and cliche' ish.. what i mean is the story feels like it was copied for one of tom clancy's novels. although the setting of the story was plausible to be in the Philippines and the way people are in the story are very Filipino-ish. the twists and problems were just prolonged to the extent that you knew what was about to happen but it was prolonged to the extent that it got boring.
but hey, to each of his own right...
to neberland
the peter pan story struck at first to be another chessy love story, after reading the cornhusk and the corral. but then again I was wrong.
it was a story of a some woman who was just to careful about life and did not know how to take risks. she would exactly be the opposite of who I am, I love taking risks although, they are the un-calculated types. in life you should know how to take risks to learn the untold story of life. the ones you don't read in self-help books and coffee table novels. the real deal, the real score as some would call it, it's the type of info that you can't buy and only you could find out for yourself. although don't assume that all risks are ok, it can be a double edged sword, meaning the outcome could be good or bad. that's when the calculated and uncalculated risks come in. you can go into a risky situation but knowing the outcome would let you determine if the risk will be good for you or not.
enough about risks and how to calculate them to suit your life.
the woman in the story was (i guess) too scared because of past events that she could not get over or she was just too scared to venture to the unknown only for the reason that it could not be safe. her experience with the rock star who disrespected her only aggravated the two "could-be" reasons.
if I were her I could just shrugg it off to leave opportunities for people who not as rude as the rock star. (on a side note: not all rock stars act like the bastard in the story) people these days are too uptight, that others are just too scared or hesitant to start a conversation just because all these pretenses we start in ourselves in the first place. if everyone can just chill for a sec and admire the simplicity of life with out the rules and complication we set out ourselves to complicate our lives.
guys, go out, be merry, have fun, for life is too short to be scared of all the uncalculated risks that could hit you in the face or put you on the pedestal. but if you just too scared, sorry go back to the nutshell you call life.
it was a story of a some woman who was just to careful about life and did not know how to take risks. she would exactly be the opposite of who I am, I love taking risks although, they are the un-calculated types. in life you should know how to take risks to learn the untold story of life. the ones you don't read in self-help books and coffee table novels. the real deal, the real score as some would call it, it's the type of info that you can't buy and only you could find out for yourself. although don't assume that all risks are ok, it can be a double edged sword, meaning the outcome could be good or bad. that's when the calculated and uncalculated risks come in. you can go into a risky situation but knowing the outcome would let you determine if the risk will be good for you or not.
enough about risks and how to calculate them to suit your life.
the woman in the story was (i guess) too scared because of past events that she could not get over or she was just too scared to venture to the unknown only for the reason that it could not be safe. her experience with the rock star who disrespected her only aggravated the two "could-be" reasons.
if I were her I could just shrugg it off to leave opportunities for people who not as rude as the rock star. (on a side note: not all rock stars act like the bastard in the story) people these days are too uptight, that others are just too scared or hesitant to start a conversation just because all these pretenses we start in ourselves in the first place. if everyone can just chill for a sec and admire the simplicity of life with out the rules and complication we set out ourselves to complicate our lives.
guys, go out, be merry, have fun, for life is too short to be scared of all the uncalculated risks that could hit you in the face or put you on the pedestal. but if you just too scared, sorry go back to the nutshell you call life.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
ahhhh.. women...
Women before were more subdued and laid back, during the 50's to the 70's women would stay at home and men would go to work. Men are the heads of their respective households and women would just follow. But women these days are more aggressive and cunning to use the smarts over men.
The Corral and Love in the Cornhusks shows that women were not that empowered just yet. They were made to choose lives they did not want because of the trend during their times. In "the Corral" Pilar had two men to choose from, the man she really loves but she mistreated and Mr. Perfecto, the school principal which shows stability and security for her life even though she is stable on her own. Love in the Cornhusks is a story about a love lost or a love she could have taken but she already has a husband, a kid, a another kid coming. A story of regret for a decision she could have just made before.
Some choices in life may be so difficult to make, and sometimes those choices are what we don't really like. Although through these choices may it be right or wrong we just have to make do with what we have a enrich it to the fullest extent.
The Corral and Love in the Cornhusks shows that women were not that empowered just yet. They were made to choose lives they did not want because of the trend during their times. In "the Corral" Pilar had two men to choose from, the man she really loves but she mistreated and Mr. Perfecto, the school principal which shows stability and security for her life even though she is stable on her own. Love in the Cornhusks is a story about a love lost or a love she could have taken but she already has a husband, a kid, a another kid coming. A story of regret for a decision she could have just made before.
Some choices in life may be so difficult to make, and sometimes those choices are what we don't really like. Although through these choices may it be right or wrong we just have to make do with what we have a enrich it to the fullest extent.
going to court and bringing home a wife
It's weird how Filipinos can be so positive amidst their problems and trials with life.
And any event in your life the entire family has to be there to witness it.
"My Father goes to court" show the undying positive spirit of a Filipino. The story embodies the positive spirit of the Filipinos, even if they have lots of problems they still smile about it and go on with life. No matter how grave the situation they are in, from having no food on the table to being under Martial Law, Filipinos will still smile.
"How my brother Leon brought home a wife" show the old tradition of Filipinos called "pamanhikan" it is when the grooms parents accompany him to the bride's home to ask the bride's parents for her hand in marriage. A tradition still followed up to today, but not as much as before due to western influences, but still being followed by old school families.
Some traits of Filipinos may be so weird but encouraging because amidst crisis they could still persevere with what they have. And total respect of for family is such a good trait because who can you rely on when times get rough but your family.
And any event in your life the entire family has to be there to witness it.
"My Father goes to court" show the undying positive spirit of a Filipino. The story embodies the positive spirit of the Filipinos, even if they have lots of problems they still smile about it and go on with life. No matter how grave the situation they are in, from having no food on the table to being under Martial Law, Filipinos will still smile.
"How my brother Leon brought home a wife" show the old tradition of Filipinos called "pamanhikan" it is when the grooms parents accompany him to the bride's home to ask the bride's parents for her hand in marriage. A tradition still followed up to today, but not as much as before due to western influences, but still being followed by old school families.
Some traits of Filipinos may be so weird but encouraging because amidst crisis they could still persevere with what they have. And total respect of for family is such a good trait because who can you rely on when times get rough but your family.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
pandesal and summer solstice
the theme of the week was courtship and love.
Guys, i guess in some way you have tried going for a girl you really like. As you go through the process of courtship. And girls to make the guy's life a tee bit miserable just to show if the guy is really serious about her. Sometimes don't you want to have a compromise between guys and girls about dating so everyone gets a chance. Not just those who have the guts because they are so full of themselves (guys) and those who think they should be put on a pedestal and treated like a queen(girls).
Anyway to the stories, Bread of Salt focuses on courtship of Filipinos. Had the guy been just a tee bit careful in creating a scene i'm pretty sure he would still be going after the girl. In summer solstice, it shows the dominant energy the men exude on a daily basis, and the women showed follow what ever they want. But as showed in the story, men would go home to their wives and worship them.
Guys, i guess in some way you have tried going for a girl you really like. As you go through the process of courtship. And girls to make the guy's life a tee bit miserable just to show if the guy is really serious about her. Sometimes don't you want to have a compromise between guys and girls about dating so everyone gets a chance. Not just those who have the guts because they are so full of themselves (guys) and those who think they should be put on a pedestal and treated like a queen(girls).
Anyway to the stories, Bread of Salt focuses on courtship of Filipinos. Had the guy been just a tee bit careful in creating a scene i'm pretty sure he would still be going after the girl. In summer solstice, it shows the dominant energy the men exude on a daily basis, and the women showed follow what ever they want. But as showed in the story, men would go home to their wives and worship them.
the Mats and Divided by Two
Between the two stories, I would pick "The Mats" over "Divided by Two" because it hits closer to home and it really shows that core essentials of a Filipino family. The main idea of the "pasalubong"
really struck me, every time my dad or mom would come home they'd bring me and my brother something, from donuts to toys. But the other emotion of Mr. Angeles showed at the end of the story, weirded me out for a while. Not unless it's a big thing for them not to talk about the dead or missing people in their family. In my family we respect the dead but we don't hesitate to talk about them because we like talking about the past. "Divided by Two" is basically a story about gossip, qualms between people and their relationships. Insecurities people have within themselves and how people want to prove themselves to others in such great lengths.
really struck me, every time my dad or mom would come home they'd bring me and my brother something, from donuts to toys. But the other emotion of Mr. Angeles showed at the end of the story, weirded me out for a while. Not unless it's a big thing for them not to talk about the dead or missing people in their family. In my family we respect the dead but we don't hesitate to talk about them because we like talking about the past. "Divided by Two" is basically a story about gossip, qualms between people and their relationships. Insecurities people have within themselves and how people want to prove themselves to others in such great lengths.
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