Faye Hazel R. Douglass mrs. Cathy Rivera
Epistemology
The enigma that is Cory Aquino
I was born on july 26, 1990, four years after the bloodless people’s power revolt by the Filipino people against a ruthless dictator who was entrenched in power for twenty years who ruled through the barrel of a gun through his infamous Martial Law.
The Filipinos are used to being oppressed and manacled for centuries. That started with the Spanish colonizers who enslaved the country for more that 300 years until the Filipinos started to revolt and had Jose Rizal as the rallying paint. Then, the country was granted it’s independence on july 12, 1890- two years after Rizal’s death.
Shortly after, the country was again colonized by the Americans- from 1911 to 1946 which was shortly after the end of world war II. And then after that, the Japanese came and violated all human rights without question, again, from the barrel of a gun and through the use of technology.
Up until the present day, Filipinos continue to struggle for equality, education and peace- a system cory Aquino aimed for.
Cory was born on January 25, 1933 to a brood of 8. She had always considered herself to be insignificant which propelled her to excel academically. Her family had always been wealthy and politically influenced.
In 1946, the family left for the U.S. and cory studied high school in Ravenhill Academy in Philadelphia then at Notre Dame convent school in New York where she finished high school. She graduated at the college of Mount Saint Vincent in New York- majoring in math and French.
In 1953, she came back to the Philippines and enrolled at Far Eastern University for a Law degree but as fate would have it, met the dashing Ninoy Aquino. They both got married and had 5 children. All her married years, cory stayed in the background, supporting the political career of her husband and taking care of her family until one day, the dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law on sept. 21, 1972 and ordered the arrest of his opponents, including people from the media, closed down all TV and radio stations, suspended all civil liberties of the people including the writ of habeas corpus (human rights).
Ninoy was imprisoned for seven years and seven months. All this time, cory and her children did not waver, did not beg marcos to free her husband. She had to be a strong person, both for her family and the country. She was a person of deep faith and conviction. Somehow, she was strengthened by the furnace of the war- and this is where marcos was mistaken when he dismissed her by saying, “she is just a woman”.
But this woman became the rallying point of the bloodless revolt of Febuary 1986- using not guns but people power that was occupied and emulated by the other nations around the world namely: Haiti, Germany and Russia. Eventually, Thailand followed the same example.
Now that she’s dead, she cannot be forgotten. She left us a legacy of honesty, love, sacrifice and patriotism beyond measure. She gave her all for us to experience the democracy we experience now.
Hannah Arendt explains that violence is only existent for as long as there are implements or instruments. During the Martial Law, the only thing which kept Marcos in his seat were the people around him. He used violence as an instrument to organize the people which for arendt was the entire point of violence. But the abuse of violence became the ultimate striking point of the Filipinos.
The common misconception of the Marcos presidency was not that he was powerful, he was just purely violent. He used everything and everyone to his advantage with clear disregard to those who would suffer the consequence.
Power for Arendt was measured by number, as in the case of the peaceful war which was the People Power or commonly known as EDSA I. people came together from all parts of the country to step out and step up against a corrupt leader. People in the government, again for arendt, are not powerful people, rather, they are empowered people. They are empowered by the people who vote for them, by the law which states their obligations and human rights which remind them of what not to do. And also, the government is made for the people, by the people and is with the people no matter what situation.
However, during the Marcos presidency, good governance was not followed. Confucius’ wise words about the superior man and the right leader were ignored all for two things: greed and vanity.
Cory, the first woman president took into her hands and heart and decided to do something for the people. And the best thing about her was not that she became a symbol of Philippine Feminism, but that she never ever claimed to beat the apathetic leader which was Marcos single handedly. Instead, she pushed everyone to grab what they had always deserved, and that was a just and humane society.
During her presidency, she did nothing but revise the constitution which became the 1987 constitution of the Philippines. She made sure that the constitution was not to any person’s advantage, but that it made equality evident.
Cory’s greatest legacy to the Filipinos was and is that she tried to unite the Philippines when she was still alive, now, we are united in grief and gratefulness. She was the best example of the vision of an Atenean- man and woman for others.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
uninspiring
either i have been just too lazy, or that i have ceased to see anything worth debatable. in the past few days, i could see myself getting less and less caring. i didn't mind at all what happened around me. my excuse was just being grateful. partially; it is true.
although facebook has been a rather addictive website, i maintain to see the flaws of my friends which have been really evident. the reason for this is that they answer quizzes that have results which are either scripted or shallow. they not only answer these quizzes, but they choose top 5 whatever it is they think of. and i'm not going to deny, i've had my fair share of meaningless fun too.
i was very disturbed at what my friend did. she chose top 5 bodyguards. one of them was chace crawford from gossip girl who played the role of a class whore. it was understandable because he does seem a bit tough enough to beat up a flower. but aside from that, i wouldn't mind him being my bodyguard.
but it was the others which she chose that made it seem as though all the years of her book reading has been put to waste. she chose two people: zac efron and professor dumbledore. it was okay but it came to the point that in really made me think. what the hell is zac efron going to do?
she chose a fictional character and a guy who's too gay to be gay and too straight to be straight. although professor dumbledore has been the greatest and most powerful wizard in the harry potter books, but he remains only existent in the minds of his readers. and magic is not real. there's only technology.
it didn't amuse me at all. it was as though she had given up all her sanity and traded it for boys over flowers (a korean telenovela). to my surprise, there are many who have chosen the same choice. it seems to me that they confuse humor with stupidity. i mean... why the hell would you choose zac efron? what is he going to do? sing to her enemies until they die of boredom?
but after all that, she chose another top 5 which made me think twice on putting her on my dumb list. she chose "top 5 things that cheer me up". her choices were very simple, yet one was a choice i have not seen from anyone yet.
her first choice was ice cream. it made me smile because it was and still is one of the things that cheer me up. it's very cold and comforting. it is a wild contrast to the hot and burning sensation of pain and disappointment.
but her second choice made me think either she was out to impress, or that it was a very wise choice. i believe that God would have opened his gates earlier and wider for her when she chose prayer.
i could not fathom what she meant, i just understood what she wanted to say. and it gave me a very new perspective not only towards her, but to the people i like to pick on in my mind. unknown to her, i laugh at her maniacally in my mind. i ridicule her ways while keeping it all safe within the compartments of my imagination. well, i know... that's mean.
when i came to turn the table around, i realized how much i am not like her. of course i would forget about God. but for someone like her to remember that must have took much courage.
the thing with us right now is that we would choose not to think because it is a stress-provider. people avoid each other because some people are deep and wise while some are shallow and materialistic. i don't know whether what started this fad, but it has become rather annoying.
although i am in no position to say whatever it is i am thinking of, but it is really amazing how people forget about things that are really important. and i don't know whether there is something i can do to fix this dilemma. but i'm certain that my friend has began in her little ways.
although facebook has been a rather addictive website, i maintain to see the flaws of my friends which have been really evident. the reason for this is that they answer quizzes that have results which are either scripted or shallow. they not only answer these quizzes, but they choose top 5 whatever it is they think of. and i'm not going to deny, i've had my fair share of meaningless fun too.
i was very disturbed at what my friend did. she chose top 5 bodyguards. one of them was chace crawford from gossip girl who played the role of a class whore. it was understandable because he does seem a bit tough enough to beat up a flower. but aside from that, i wouldn't mind him being my bodyguard.
but it was the others which she chose that made it seem as though all the years of her book reading has been put to waste. she chose two people: zac efron and professor dumbledore. it was okay but it came to the point that in really made me think. what the hell is zac efron going to do?
she chose a fictional character and a guy who's too gay to be gay and too straight to be straight. although professor dumbledore has been the greatest and most powerful wizard in the harry potter books, but he remains only existent in the minds of his readers. and magic is not real. there's only technology.
it didn't amuse me at all. it was as though she had given up all her sanity and traded it for boys over flowers (a korean telenovela). to my surprise, there are many who have chosen the same choice. it seems to me that they confuse humor with stupidity. i mean... why the hell would you choose zac efron? what is he going to do? sing to her enemies until they die of boredom?
but after all that, she chose another top 5 which made me think twice on putting her on my dumb list. she chose "top 5 things that cheer me up". her choices were very simple, yet one was a choice i have not seen from anyone yet.
her first choice was ice cream. it made me smile because it was and still is one of the things that cheer me up. it's very cold and comforting. it is a wild contrast to the hot and burning sensation of pain and disappointment.
but her second choice made me think either she was out to impress, or that it was a very wise choice. i believe that God would have opened his gates earlier and wider for her when she chose prayer.
i could not fathom what she meant, i just understood what she wanted to say. and it gave me a very new perspective not only towards her, but to the people i like to pick on in my mind. unknown to her, i laugh at her maniacally in my mind. i ridicule her ways while keeping it all safe within the compartments of my imagination. well, i know... that's mean.
when i came to turn the table around, i realized how much i am not like her. of course i would forget about God. but for someone like her to remember that must have took much courage.
the thing with us right now is that we would choose not to think because it is a stress-provider. people avoid each other because some people are deep and wise while some are shallow and materialistic. i don't know whether what started this fad, but it has become rather annoying.
although i am in no position to say whatever it is i am thinking of, but it is really amazing how people forget about things that are really important. and i don't know whether there is something i can do to fix this dilemma. but i'm certain that my friend has began in her little ways.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
happy birthday blog
tossing and turning in my bed, i found myself stuck in between wanting to sleep and the inability to do so. it was not because of my excitement because it would be my birthday in just a few hours nor was it because i had a person on my mind. i was just in a point when i didn't know why i was still awake. and the worst part is that, a song just kept ringing incessantly in my ear.
these were the only a few lines i could not stop hearing from the song: not drunk enough by adele:
"'cuz you and me, we're through"
"even when i had too much, i still feel your touch"
"i want to see you, but i don't want you to see me"
during the months of january and february, it couldn't have been anything less than hell. it was a time of great depression, a desperate call for sanity, and it was the first time in my life when i was walking on the line between sanity and irrationality. it was a time my heart was shattered into a billion, miniscule pieces.
but then, when march came and the cause of my dementia did not come back, i decided to move one with whatever little i had left. i had failed in almost all my subjects. i lost all interest in even eating and sleeping. going on the net and surfing was a great torture. the only thing i could feel like doing was drinking. i thought it would help me erase, at least for a moment, the memory he managed to carve inside my mind. but then i realized that nobody was going to help me move on unless i decide to do it myself. he wasn't coming back even if i killed myself. that was a fact i had to face.
upon looking back, i realized that a great deal about me has changed. besides habit-wise, i found myself to be a bit more grateful than the old self. for one, i won't have to deal with any more heart aches from constantly being accused of infidelity. i won't have anything holding me back when i want to read a book or go to the mall. i won't have to be constantly aware of what i have to say in fear that it might disappoint someone. i won't have to beat up my brains just to understand a boy whose vocabulary is only 20 words. i won't have to feel betrayed or insulted when he makes me the laughing stock. and i certainly won't have to throw away my dream of going to the states just because some "boy" will feel hurt.
i've got two words for boys who do that: "damn you"
when a man loves a woman, he won't hold her back from anything she puts her mind to. instead, he steps up and helps her accomplish whatever it is she feels is right for her even if it means to remove himself from the picture. but when a boy loves a woman... that is a whole other scenario.
the reason why i related my ex with my birthday is because he managed to ruin my last birthday and i still forgave him for that. and right now that i'm turning 19, i am truly saying goodbye to his memory.
right now? i don't know whether the relationship i am in is going to work out or not. i'm not even sure if he's "the one" or not. but i'm certain of one thing, as of this moment, he loves me like a man should. and for that, i am forever grateful.
i am grateful because as early as now, i have found my true friends. i came to this realization when i walked down memory lane with a friend. we talked about her best friends and their monotonous lives while she and i dealt with the change in our lives and appreciated the imperfections in life. although i doubt whether she agreed with the thought when i called her friends stupid, i have to say i am grateful for them anyway.
without stupid people, i would never be aware of what i want to achieve in life. i would never be able to know what i want to become and what i don't want to become. i certainly like being adored, but if it means to risk my intellect just to be appreciated well then, no thanks. i'd rather be hated for who i am than being loved for who i am not.
trying to count my blessings is one of the hardest things for me to do. i don't know exactly when i started feeling satisfied when i felt sorry for myself, but i'm pretty sure i've gone past that now. i'm just so tired of being angry all the time. it's like waiting for rain in the middle of a drought: useless and disappointing. from that, i must lift myself and turn away from the draining emotions. i must change.
to change perhaps, like what the great Sartre has repeated in his books, is a choice. to move on or to stay behind, to love or to not love, to be surrounded or to be alone is a matter of perspective ultimately lead by a decision. the grounds for that choice however is also a choice.
everyone knows that there are two places where a woman thinks. half her mind is up in her head where she calculates, meditates and rationalizes everything. the other part is her heart where she keeps love, hurt, passion, lust and curiousity. for boys, it is not exactly the same thing.
half their brain is in their head for the same purpose as women. but the other half of their mind is stuck with their penis. graphic, but true... i declare it to be true. that is the reason why sometimes men and women understand each other while other times they don't. but when a boy knows when to departmentalize his thirst for sexual activity and knows his responsibility, then he becomes a man.
i'm just so grateful for the changes in my life. i'm glad because God took away everything from me so i could realize that he's what i need after all. he stripped everything off of me. he stripped away the love of my life because i was headed for a huge mistake i would regret years later. he stripped away my friends who were not intellectually stimulating because i would not become a better person with them. he stripped away my sanity to make me realize how far i have derailed myself from the actual, correct path. he stripped away my intelligence to help me realize that i cannot do things on my own. i need him.
and for that... i just can't believe i'm turning nineteen in the next hour. i just can't believe that i'm still alive. after how many accidents i've survived, how many sins i have committed, how many times i've hurt others, God still gave me another year. for sure, he gave it to me because he wants me to undo the things i have done. if not that, he wants me to do the things no other person will dare to do.
these were the only a few lines i could not stop hearing from the song: not drunk enough by adele:
"'cuz you and me, we're through"
"even when i had too much, i still feel your touch"
"i want to see you, but i don't want you to see me"
during the months of january and february, it couldn't have been anything less than hell. it was a time of great depression, a desperate call for sanity, and it was the first time in my life when i was walking on the line between sanity and irrationality. it was a time my heart was shattered into a billion, miniscule pieces.
but then, when march came and the cause of my dementia did not come back, i decided to move one with whatever little i had left. i had failed in almost all my subjects. i lost all interest in even eating and sleeping. going on the net and surfing was a great torture. the only thing i could feel like doing was drinking. i thought it would help me erase, at least for a moment, the memory he managed to carve inside my mind. but then i realized that nobody was going to help me move on unless i decide to do it myself. he wasn't coming back even if i killed myself. that was a fact i had to face.
upon looking back, i realized that a great deal about me has changed. besides habit-wise, i found myself to be a bit more grateful than the old self. for one, i won't have to deal with any more heart aches from constantly being accused of infidelity. i won't have anything holding me back when i want to read a book or go to the mall. i won't have to be constantly aware of what i have to say in fear that it might disappoint someone. i won't have to beat up my brains just to understand a boy whose vocabulary is only 20 words. i won't have to feel betrayed or insulted when he makes me the laughing stock. and i certainly won't have to throw away my dream of going to the states just because some "boy" will feel hurt.
i've got two words for boys who do that: "damn you"
when a man loves a woman, he won't hold her back from anything she puts her mind to. instead, he steps up and helps her accomplish whatever it is she feels is right for her even if it means to remove himself from the picture. but when a boy loves a woman... that is a whole other scenario.
the reason why i related my ex with my birthday is because he managed to ruin my last birthday and i still forgave him for that. and right now that i'm turning 19, i am truly saying goodbye to his memory.
right now? i don't know whether the relationship i am in is going to work out or not. i'm not even sure if he's "the one" or not. but i'm certain of one thing, as of this moment, he loves me like a man should. and for that, i am forever grateful.
i am grateful because as early as now, i have found my true friends. i came to this realization when i walked down memory lane with a friend. we talked about her best friends and their monotonous lives while she and i dealt with the change in our lives and appreciated the imperfections in life. although i doubt whether she agreed with the thought when i called her friends stupid, i have to say i am grateful for them anyway.
without stupid people, i would never be aware of what i want to achieve in life. i would never be able to know what i want to become and what i don't want to become. i certainly like being adored, but if it means to risk my intellect just to be appreciated well then, no thanks. i'd rather be hated for who i am than being loved for who i am not.
trying to count my blessings is one of the hardest things for me to do. i don't know exactly when i started feeling satisfied when i felt sorry for myself, but i'm pretty sure i've gone past that now. i'm just so tired of being angry all the time. it's like waiting for rain in the middle of a drought: useless and disappointing. from that, i must lift myself and turn away from the draining emotions. i must change.
to change perhaps, like what the great Sartre has repeated in his books, is a choice. to move on or to stay behind, to love or to not love, to be surrounded or to be alone is a matter of perspective ultimately lead by a decision. the grounds for that choice however is also a choice.
everyone knows that there are two places where a woman thinks. half her mind is up in her head where she calculates, meditates and rationalizes everything. the other part is her heart where she keeps love, hurt, passion, lust and curiousity. for boys, it is not exactly the same thing.
half their brain is in their head for the same purpose as women. but the other half of their mind is stuck with their penis. graphic, but true... i declare it to be true. that is the reason why sometimes men and women understand each other while other times they don't. but when a boy knows when to departmentalize his thirst for sexual activity and knows his responsibility, then he becomes a man.
i'm just so grateful for the changes in my life. i'm glad because God took away everything from me so i could realize that he's what i need after all. he stripped everything off of me. he stripped away the love of my life because i was headed for a huge mistake i would regret years later. he stripped away my friends who were not intellectually stimulating because i would not become a better person with them. he stripped away my sanity to make me realize how far i have derailed myself from the actual, correct path. he stripped away my intelligence to help me realize that i cannot do things on my own. i need him.
and for that... i just can't believe i'm turning nineteen in the next hour. i just can't believe that i'm still alive. after how many accidents i've survived, how many sins i have committed, how many times i've hurt others, God still gave me another year. for sure, he gave it to me because he wants me to undo the things i have done. if not that, he wants me to do the things no other person will dare to do.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
superiority vs. inferiority
Faye Hazel R. Douglass
Chinese Philosophy A
“Confucius and the superior man”
During the time of Confucius, men and women were driven in fear of foreign invasion, poverty and confusion. Confucius and other Chinese philosophers sphere headed the philosophy of the Chinese. They initiated education instead of war.
For Confucius, as well as the Chinese, the superior man was not a question whether he was physically well and popular. For them, the superior man is a gentleman. His outlook on life is not a matter of whether people see how great he is, but that he acts and responds without fear of being left invisible.
“wealth and honor are what every man desires. But if they have been obtained in violation of moral principles, they must not be kept”1 Says Confucius in his analects. The goal of the Chinese was not that they had to get insanely popular. Their goal was to create harmony with nature, with superiors and with themselves. For them, money should never come first. It did not matter for them what man’s work was for as long as he did it with honor, dignity and passion. That would make the superior man.
“the superior man wants to be slow in words but diligent in action”2 says Confucius. In modern English terms, “words without actions are nothing”. Actions are more important especially if they lead to the betterment of others. The superior man is not like a peacock. The peacock has so many beautiful colors on its tail, but barely does anything. Man should not talk more about things; he should work or as Americans say, “walk the walk”.
“the superior man is dignified but not proud; the inferior man is proud but not dignified”3 . Dignified is different from proud. Dignified is an honor given by the people around him while pride is something self-given. Dignity for Confucius meant that the superior man did not need any self-recognition to accomplish anything. But the inferior man is proud because he constantly needs appreciation even if he’s the only one giving it to himself. For Confucius, being proud is not what a great man should do simply because it is only, “all in a day’s work”. A supplementary to this quote is when he said, “the superior man seeks (room for improvement or occasion to blame) in himself; the inferior man seeks it in others.”4
The superior man however is not just himself against the world. He is a respectful man thus gaining respect. In modern European language, there is a saying that says, “respect can never be demanded. It is given only if man deserves it”. The superior man concentrates on not gaining respect for himself only, but he concentrates on respecting others. He diligently examines himself on how to continually help others progress and incessantly tries to make harmony. If the superior man does not have harmony within his situation, he simply bends with it.
The Chinese have the principle also and they call it “the wise bamboo.” One of the reasons is that the bamboo bends whenever there is a great wind or storm but remains intact. It is constantly used for houses and irrigation systems, but it remains strong and elegant. For the Chinese, the superior man must be like the bamboo. It bends so that it won’t break.
In comparison to this, other trees fall down whenever there is a great storm. It tries to remain proud in its roots but becomes ultimately nothing whenever there is pressure or whenever nobody tends it while the bamboo lives on without man cultivating it or planting it. And the superior man is always like a bamboo. He does not need other people constantly reminding him of his greatness, but that he remains humble. In his fortune of earning wisdom, he becomes more and more humble. The inferior man however is like what Americans say, “Empty cans make a lot of noise”. They make all the fuss in the world because there is actually nothing to show.
I have read a few years ago in psychology that the inferior man likes to brag so much because there is something he wants to hide. It is often compared to making a pot. The potter would make the pot so magnificent but often times ignore the holes underneath it. The holes let the water leak through it and eventually become worthless. But the superior man is not like that. Although the superior man has imperfections, he maintains to not let it weaken his purpose for living or he makes it so that his imperfections are to his advantage.
The superior man for many Chinese philosophers is not materialistic or apathetic. He is a gentle man; a man worthy of respect. He goes on living his life and is remembered when he dies. But the superior man is even greater than that. He does his acts not because he wants to be remembered. He is not concerned about being known to many, but he is concerned about knowing a lot of people so he could help them and provide wisdom.
Chinese Philosophy A
“Confucius and the superior man”
During the time of Confucius, men and women were driven in fear of foreign invasion, poverty and confusion. Confucius and other Chinese philosophers sphere headed the philosophy of the Chinese. They initiated education instead of war.
For Confucius, as well as the Chinese, the superior man was not a question whether he was physically well and popular. For them, the superior man is a gentleman. His outlook on life is not a matter of whether people see how great he is, but that he acts and responds without fear of being left invisible.
“wealth and honor are what every man desires. But if they have been obtained in violation of moral principles, they must not be kept”1 Says Confucius in his analects. The goal of the Chinese was not that they had to get insanely popular. Their goal was to create harmony with nature, with superiors and with themselves. For them, money should never come first. It did not matter for them what man’s work was for as long as he did it with honor, dignity and passion. That would make the superior man.
“the superior man wants to be slow in words but diligent in action”2 says Confucius. In modern English terms, “words without actions are nothing”. Actions are more important especially if they lead to the betterment of others. The superior man is not like a peacock. The peacock has so many beautiful colors on its tail, but barely does anything. Man should not talk more about things; he should work or as Americans say, “walk the walk”.
“the superior man is dignified but not proud; the inferior man is proud but not dignified”3 . Dignified is different from proud. Dignified is an honor given by the people around him while pride is something self-given. Dignity for Confucius meant that the superior man did not need any self-recognition to accomplish anything. But the inferior man is proud because he constantly needs appreciation even if he’s the only one giving it to himself. For Confucius, being proud is not what a great man should do simply because it is only, “all in a day’s work”. A supplementary to this quote is when he said, “the superior man seeks (room for improvement or occasion to blame) in himself; the inferior man seeks it in others.”4
The superior man however is not just himself against the world. He is a respectful man thus gaining respect. In modern European language, there is a saying that says, “respect can never be demanded. It is given only if man deserves it”. The superior man concentrates on not gaining respect for himself only, but he concentrates on respecting others. He diligently examines himself on how to continually help others progress and incessantly tries to make harmony. If the superior man does not have harmony within his situation, he simply bends with it.
The Chinese have the principle also and they call it “the wise bamboo.” One of the reasons is that the bamboo bends whenever there is a great wind or storm but remains intact. It is constantly used for houses and irrigation systems, but it remains strong and elegant. For the Chinese, the superior man must be like the bamboo. It bends so that it won’t break.
In comparison to this, other trees fall down whenever there is a great storm. It tries to remain proud in its roots but becomes ultimately nothing whenever there is pressure or whenever nobody tends it while the bamboo lives on without man cultivating it or planting it. And the superior man is always like a bamboo. He does not need other people constantly reminding him of his greatness, but that he remains humble. In his fortune of earning wisdom, he becomes more and more humble. The inferior man however is like what Americans say, “Empty cans make a lot of noise”. They make all the fuss in the world because there is actually nothing to show.
I have read a few years ago in psychology that the inferior man likes to brag so much because there is something he wants to hide. It is often compared to making a pot. The potter would make the pot so magnificent but often times ignore the holes underneath it. The holes let the water leak through it and eventually become worthless. But the superior man is not like that. Although the superior man has imperfections, he maintains to not let it weaken his purpose for living or he makes it so that his imperfections are to his advantage.
The superior man for many Chinese philosophers is not materialistic or apathetic. He is a gentle man; a man worthy of respect. He goes on living his life and is remembered when he dies. But the superior man is even greater than that. He does his acts not because he wants to be remembered. He is not concerned about being known to many, but he is concerned about knowing a lot of people so he could help them and provide wisdom.
Friday, July 10, 2009
why i love wisdom
in the present situation, calculative thinking for Martin Heidegger is mostly used because it gives an almost immediate reward. he writes this in his memorial address where he mentioned the different kinds of thinking and why neither is more important, but rather both are complimentary to each other. for Heidegger, reflective thinking is crucial for man to become a grounded being. without grounds, man-like a plant- will wither within the slightest pressure of circumstance.
for sartre, freedom is not dependable on situation- regardless whether it is bad or good- but rather the latter is a product of freedom. this idea is often reiterated in ethics. because man is free, he has to make a choice. choice is a manifestation of both reason and freedom because an act always has to have an ultimate rational ground. if not, this action is merely a reaction, not a response.
in epistemology, ignorance is defined as "the absence of knowledge from a thing that is capable of possessing it." this term however is different from nescience or, the absence of knowledge from a thing that is not supposed to possess it." man cannot be a nescient being because he has the peculiarity of having reason. man is capable of thinking whether he tries to or not.
but among all these, philosophy explains love, freedom, self-determination, proper acting, proper thinking and reason. whenever a man tries not to think, the thinking about not thinking itself is a thought composed and grounded on a determined action.
but honestly, philosophy is a course that may not be studied as a proper subject. wisdom is not earned by how many degrees on has earned or the amount of awards one has recieved. but the fact is that wisdom is earned by humility and incessant self-deliberation and reflection. without each, one will never achieve wisdom.
i have noticed for some time that there have been many professors who forget that they are symbols of education and hope. some, rub their masters degree in the faces of the students who try to question their authority (or often times their grades). some, smoke right outside the premises of the school where every student can see them and that the school is an environment friendly academy. needless to say, it hasn't been exactly the ideal actions of a teacher.
more events have entered the school without our eyes touching the surface of the matter. the xavier scandal (featuring the engineering comfort room), the katrina-hayden scandal, the secret drinking sessions in stc building, the public display of affection behind the chapel, the seemingly uneducated students screaming inside the chapel are only few of the real atrocities happening daily.
for more than three years, every student has either not cared about these issues or cared a bit or cared too much about it. those who do not care about these incidents focus on their studies because it is what is reasonably important. those who care a bit about it keep the gossip alive. those who care too much about it either create a barrier to prevent students from seeing the reality of the situation or motivate students to be better than the danger that lies within the realm of truth.
to prevent the truth from coming out will only increase its production because of the power of curiosity. man has the capability to find ways around things. as a friend told me, "ang kanding gani na gi hiktan kai makabuhi, kana pa kahang tao na walay hikot". much to my surprise, this still applies to many schools and many young people.
all these are products of undeliberated actions. without thought, or even rethinking of actions, they will all lead to a dark directions. actions should not be grounded on feelings because feelings change. and change is always constant. but with a reason and with reason, there is a consistency and a correct path. there is nothing permanent in this world. anything permanent is a product of deception by the senses. but to think beyond these will lead us to a better, more stable future. without reason, there is no point in living a life at all.
how we should act is a matter of choice. choice is a by-product of freedom. but freedom is not to do whatever it is that is wanted by man. freedom is always accompanied by responsibility and constant reminder that others too are free. others are free to question, to breathe, to choose, to believe, to be silent, to escape, to not be tempted, to be a true person. and others should recognize this and not tempt themselves of not caring about what others will feel. for as long as we are living in a society, other people will forever affect our decisions. our task now is not to ignore their influence, but we must constantly recognize this in order to free ourselves from it.
for sartre, freedom is not dependable on situation- regardless whether it is bad or good- but rather the latter is a product of freedom. this idea is often reiterated in ethics. because man is free, he has to make a choice. choice is a manifestation of both reason and freedom because an act always has to have an ultimate rational ground. if not, this action is merely a reaction, not a response.
in epistemology, ignorance is defined as "the absence of knowledge from a thing that is capable of possessing it." this term however is different from nescience or, the absence of knowledge from a thing that is not supposed to possess it." man cannot be a nescient being because he has the peculiarity of having reason. man is capable of thinking whether he tries to or not.
but among all these, philosophy explains love, freedom, self-determination, proper acting, proper thinking and reason. whenever a man tries not to think, the thinking about not thinking itself is a thought composed and grounded on a determined action.
but honestly, philosophy is a course that may not be studied as a proper subject. wisdom is not earned by how many degrees on has earned or the amount of awards one has recieved. but the fact is that wisdom is earned by humility and incessant self-deliberation and reflection. without each, one will never achieve wisdom.
i have noticed for some time that there have been many professors who forget that they are symbols of education and hope. some, rub their masters degree in the faces of the students who try to question their authority (or often times their grades). some, smoke right outside the premises of the school where every student can see them and that the school is an environment friendly academy. needless to say, it hasn't been exactly the ideal actions of a teacher.
more events have entered the school without our eyes touching the surface of the matter. the xavier scandal (featuring the engineering comfort room), the katrina-hayden scandal, the secret drinking sessions in stc building, the public display of affection behind the chapel, the seemingly uneducated students screaming inside the chapel are only few of the real atrocities happening daily.
for more than three years, every student has either not cared about these issues or cared a bit or cared too much about it. those who do not care about these incidents focus on their studies because it is what is reasonably important. those who care a bit about it keep the gossip alive. those who care too much about it either create a barrier to prevent students from seeing the reality of the situation or motivate students to be better than the danger that lies within the realm of truth.
to prevent the truth from coming out will only increase its production because of the power of curiosity. man has the capability to find ways around things. as a friend told me, "ang kanding gani na gi hiktan kai makabuhi, kana pa kahang tao na walay hikot". much to my surprise, this still applies to many schools and many young people.
all these are products of undeliberated actions. without thought, or even rethinking of actions, they will all lead to a dark directions. actions should not be grounded on feelings because feelings change. and change is always constant. but with a reason and with reason, there is a consistency and a correct path. there is nothing permanent in this world. anything permanent is a product of deception by the senses. but to think beyond these will lead us to a better, more stable future. without reason, there is no point in living a life at all.
how we should act is a matter of choice. choice is a by-product of freedom. but freedom is not to do whatever it is that is wanted by man. freedom is always accompanied by responsibility and constant reminder that others too are free. others are free to question, to breathe, to choose, to believe, to be silent, to escape, to not be tempted, to be a true person. and others should recognize this and not tempt themselves of not caring about what others will feel. for as long as we are living in a society, other people will forever affect our decisions. our task now is not to ignore their influence, but we must constantly recognize this in order to free ourselves from it.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
silence is my sanctuary
just yesterday... and a bit today... i was silent. i only responded to questions which needed words. but to the rest, i just kept quiet and nodded. i sat there on my seat... feeling so sorry for myself.
well. it was really about st. bernard and st. eloise. i was so moved by their story but not so much on the love... but on the sacrifice. on any day... i'd betray God for any risky relationship. even on occassions when i know that it wouldn't work, i left God for men. and honestly, they never made me feel less emptier. but past will always be the past.
but yesterday... right after the story was relayed, i felt quiet and felt a divine presence. it was sort of what thomas aquinas experienced right before his death. the silence was very disturbingly peaceful. i was laughing so hard at my friend's response to the teacher, but after the laughter faded, i felt... silence.
it was simply wierd because i have always been noisy to the point that i annoy people. but yesterday was the first time that words became so useless. i felt a sorrow within my soul. it was as if i was mourning over something i lost. but it was so peaceful. i would speak, but it felt as though what i said became a blur. i spoke nothing... i could think of nothing to say. i just smiled to whoever called me but aside from that, kept myself in an isolated contemplation.
my friends made fun of me because they thought i was going to die just like aquinas did. i just remained smiling and kept myself seated. even when we prayed before the class, my words couldn't be heard. it was as if i became so empty that i became a soul-less person. i felt like a zombie.
everything around me became shallow and inconsistent. everything was insignificant. i wanted to be alone for a few moments. nobody would understand why... and to tell you honestly... neither could i. i just wanted to be quiet and enjoy the silence because that was when i realized... i had no true friends. and that... was my reason why i felt unpassionate with my course.
i walked alone through out the day without anyone asking me, "are you okay?" but even if they did, i wouldn't know what to answer. i just wanted to hear everyone, listen to them talk. i didn't want to talk at all.
although i have repeated several times in this blog about my situation, i feel nothing related to melancholy. in fact, i feel blessed. and honestly... i want to keep being quiet because i learn more. i become better by not trying at all.
i feel so much better now i have learned the art of silence.
well. it was really about st. bernard and st. eloise. i was so moved by their story but not so much on the love... but on the sacrifice. on any day... i'd betray God for any risky relationship. even on occassions when i know that it wouldn't work, i left God for men. and honestly, they never made me feel less emptier. but past will always be the past.
but yesterday... right after the story was relayed, i felt quiet and felt a divine presence. it was sort of what thomas aquinas experienced right before his death. the silence was very disturbingly peaceful. i was laughing so hard at my friend's response to the teacher, but after the laughter faded, i felt... silence.
it was simply wierd because i have always been noisy to the point that i annoy people. but yesterday was the first time that words became so useless. i felt a sorrow within my soul. it was as if i was mourning over something i lost. but it was so peaceful. i would speak, but it felt as though what i said became a blur. i spoke nothing... i could think of nothing to say. i just smiled to whoever called me but aside from that, kept myself in an isolated contemplation.
my friends made fun of me because they thought i was going to die just like aquinas did. i just remained smiling and kept myself seated. even when we prayed before the class, my words couldn't be heard. it was as if i became so empty that i became a soul-less person. i felt like a zombie.
everything around me became shallow and inconsistent. everything was insignificant. i wanted to be alone for a few moments. nobody would understand why... and to tell you honestly... neither could i. i just wanted to be quiet and enjoy the silence because that was when i realized... i had no true friends. and that... was my reason why i felt unpassionate with my course.
i walked alone through out the day without anyone asking me, "are you okay?" but even if they did, i wouldn't know what to answer. i just wanted to hear everyone, listen to them talk. i didn't want to talk at all.
although i have repeated several times in this blog about my situation, i feel nothing related to melancholy. in fact, i feel blessed. and honestly... i want to keep being quiet because i learn more. i become better by not trying at all.
i feel so much better now i have learned the art of silence.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
my new... busy life
i know i haven't been the best of myself lately. i haven't managed to blog until now. at this very moment (perhaps even as you read it), i am studying for my 6 subjects. but among all that i failed to do, i have managed to insult people anyway. so really, i haven't failed at all. much to my demise, it was something i have constantly tried to change about myself.
i was sitting at a kiosk near the chapel. it was the best place to sit at because everyone was studying and they were all very respectful. that was until this idiot came by the kiosk.
"yawa kaayo si gerard! naligo lang kog singot sa wala!" he cussed loudly. i was striken by the sentence not because he mentioned a devil, but because he was in school and he acted like a barbarian. i thought that it would be over. so i read again my book on obligations and contracts so i would be able to pass if ever i would be called for oral recitation.
"yawa!" he screamed repeatedly. i slammed my book down and said, "excuse me"
apparently, he didn't hear me. so i said again, "excuse me!" but he ignored me again. it was his classmate who noticed my slight anger who called his attention. but still he ignored the call.
"kinahanglan jud lugar magsinggit2?" i screamed in reply. his friends stopped laughing and warned him. i swear, if he didn't back down from cursing so much, i would have given him something to really curse about.
but when i rested my head for a while, i saw my classmate before. she was awfully, intellectually challenged. the answer was right in front of her, but still she would not know the answer. in my reaction to her presence, i grunted, "naa napod na xa."
my friend claire and a stranger turned their heads to her direction and asked why. then i had to open my mouth.
"nagtuo najud ko na naay tao na bugok tungod nya. she's so damn stupid. gihatag na nako ang books a month before. i gave her the term paper in advanced, but then she still didn't know the answer! i was so mad because it was the defense of the paper. i had to cut her everytime she spoke just so she could save herself from embarrassment. she's pretty. but really... she didn't do anything for the paper because she couldn't type the paper for the both of us because she couldn't even produce a simple sentence. i did all of the work and all she had to do was read the references and the paper itself."
but then when i was in law, i realized i said the wrong things. i had no right to call her stupid. i had no right to talk about her that badly. and yes, i'm so super sorry when i said those things. she might have been stupid on certain aspects, but not on others which are yet to be discovered. and if i had a moment to change exactly what i said, i would. i never meant to hurt her whether she knew about what i said or not.
as i left law, i saw antoin and asked him whether i was wrong. he said no because she was asking for it. she's pretty, she had to give more. she was stupid because she really didn't do what she needed to do. but that was according to him. i couldn't remember any other time when i felt like, even if the jury agreed that i was innocent, i remained guilty. this is when conscience really bites.
i've been so super confident with myself that i stepped on other people. i've tried incessantly to change. i love some versions of me. but this version of me is not good. it's not what is best for everyone. i can't hurt people anymore. and i have to start now.
alongside that, i have to read mountains of essays and books. and this is my schedule until august.
mondays-wednesdays-fridays
8:30-9:20 philo 63
9:30-10:20 philo 44
10:30-11:30 ph 54
11:30-12:30 LUNCH
12:30-1:00 review
1:00-1:50 philo 30
2:00-2:30 relax
2:30-3:45 review/ homework
4:00-6:00 rehearsal
6:30-7:00 dinner
7:00-7:30 net
7:30-9:00 study
tuesdays-thursdays
6:00 wake up
6:00-6:30 net
6:30-7:00 breakfast
7:00-11:00 study
11:00-12:00 lunch
12:00-1:00 ready
1:00-2:00 review
2:20-2:50 review (school)
2:50-4:00 philo 57
4:00- 5:30 review for law
5:40-7:00 Law 1
7:00-7:30 relax/ go home
8:00-9:00 study
this is how i am to live in the next two months.
i was sitting at a kiosk near the chapel. it was the best place to sit at because everyone was studying and they were all very respectful. that was until this idiot came by the kiosk.
"yawa kaayo si gerard! naligo lang kog singot sa wala!" he cussed loudly. i was striken by the sentence not because he mentioned a devil, but because he was in school and he acted like a barbarian. i thought that it would be over. so i read again my book on obligations and contracts so i would be able to pass if ever i would be called for oral recitation.
"yawa!" he screamed repeatedly. i slammed my book down and said, "excuse me"
apparently, he didn't hear me. so i said again, "excuse me!" but he ignored me again. it was his classmate who noticed my slight anger who called his attention. but still he ignored the call.
"kinahanglan jud lugar magsinggit2?" i screamed in reply. his friends stopped laughing and warned him. i swear, if he didn't back down from cursing so much, i would have given him something to really curse about.
but when i rested my head for a while, i saw my classmate before. she was awfully, intellectually challenged. the answer was right in front of her, but still she would not know the answer. in my reaction to her presence, i grunted, "naa napod na xa."
my friend claire and a stranger turned their heads to her direction and asked why. then i had to open my mouth.
"nagtuo najud ko na naay tao na bugok tungod nya. she's so damn stupid. gihatag na nako ang books a month before. i gave her the term paper in advanced, but then she still didn't know the answer! i was so mad because it was the defense of the paper. i had to cut her everytime she spoke just so she could save herself from embarrassment. she's pretty. but really... she didn't do anything for the paper because she couldn't type the paper for the both of us because she couldn't even produce a simple sentence. i did all of the work and all she had to do was read the references and the paper itself."
but then when i was in law, i realized i said the wrong things. i had no right to call her stupid. i had no right to talk about her that badly. and yes, i'm so super sorry when i said those things. she might have been stupid on certain aspects, but not on others which are yet to be discovered. and if i had a moment to change exactly what i said, i would. i never meant to hurt her whether she knew about what i said or not.
as i left law, i saw antoin and asked him whether i was wrong. he said no because she was asking for it. she's pretty, she had to give more. she was stupid because she really didn't do what she needed to do. but that was according to him. i couldn't remember any other time when i felt like, even if the jury agreed that i was innocent, i remained guilty. this is when conscience really bites.
i've been so super confident with myself that i stepped on other people. i've tried incessantly to change. i love some versions of me. but this version of me is not good. it's not what is best for everyone. i can't hurt people anymore. and i have to start now.
alongside that, i have to read mountains of essays and books. and this is my schedule until august.
mondays-wednesdays-fridays
8:30-9:20 philo 63
9:30-10:20 philo 44
10:30-11:30 ph 54
11:30-12:30 LUNCH
12:30-1:00 review
1:00-1:50 philo 30
2:00-2:30 relax
2:30-3:45 review/ homework
4:00-6:00 rehearsal
6:30-7:00 dinner
7:00-7:30 net
7:30-9:00 study
tuesdays-thursdays
6:00 wake up
6:00-6:30 net
6:30-7:00 breakfast
7:00-11:00 study
11:00-12:00 lunch
12:00-1:00 ready
1:00-2:00 review
2:20-2:50 review (school)
2:50-4:00 philo 57
4:00- 5:30 review for law
5:40-7:00 Law 1
7:00-7:30 relax/ go home
8:00-9:00 study
this is how i am to live in the next two months.
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