"What does it mean when I don't know my own native language?"
I feel like this statement really applies to me right now. I am taking Filipino 1a right now for the sole reason that I want to be able read and write in my native language. Growing I always could understand Filipino but I could never respond back. The older I grow, the more I realize how much of an asset it is to speak another language. I feel like by learning Filipino, I can possible build a bridge to the past and be able to share more with my grandparents. By being able to speak Filipino, I can pass down something to my children that will be more than just an heirloom. It will pass down a culture that my family has been preserving for many years.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Of papaya soaps
"What does it mean for me to see shelves filled with papaya soap?"
This statement brings into light an issue prevalent in some Asian countries, with the Philippines being of no exception. As a person who grew up in the Philippines, I chose this statement because the issue that it brings forth is something that I have been exposed to. I have witnessed its manifestations firsthand.
Papaya soap is said to be a skin whitening agent. The issue revolves around the notion that a lighter complexion proves to be more desirable than a darker complexion. The predominance of Caucasians in global mass media has yielded adverse effects on local Philippine media. Local show business in the Philippines is largely dominated by actors and actresses with light skin or are of mixed Caucasian and Asian ancestry, thereby reinforcing the problematic mentality.
This makes me sad because it conjures a thought that we may not be truly free from the shackles of our colonial past. It breeds immense absurdity that paves the way toward self-hate and internalized racism. Pilipinos should understand that there is beauty in our brown skin. I need not mention the accomplishment of Venus Raj, a Pilipina with a dark complexion.
This statement brings into light an issue prevalent in some Asian countries, with the Philippines being of no exception. As a person who grew up in the Philippines, I chose this statement because the issue that it brings forth is something that I have been exposed to. I have witnessed its manifestations firsthand.
Papaya soap is said to be a skin whitening agent. The issue revolves around the notion that a lighter complexion proves to be more desirable than a darker complexion. The predominance of Caucasians in global mass media has yielded adverse effects on local Philippine media. Local show business in the Philippines is largely dominated by actors and actresses with light skin or are of mixed Caucasian and Asian ancestry, thereby reinforcing the problematic mentality.
This makes me sad because it conjures a thought that we may not be truly free from the shackles of our colonial past. It breeds immense absurdity that paves the way toward self-hate and internalized racism. Pilipinos should understand that there is beauty in our brown skin. I need not mention the accomplishment of Venus Raj, a Pilipina with a dark complexion.
Bakit....?
"What does it mean when around 1 million Pilipinos leave the Philippines every year to work abroad..."
I chose this quote because it exactly what happened to my family. To make a long story short, my dad's business collapsed during the Arroyo presidency. I had always wondered, "Why did we leave the Philippines? Was it not a viable option to stay there and rebuild? Didn't my dad regret leaving majority of his family in the Philippines?" Heaven forbid, I know my parents wholly miss their homeland--my mom tells me at least once a week about how she'd like to go back. So, exactly...why did we leave in the first place?
My dad told me simply: "Because there are more opportunities here in America." And then it brings to light exactly the position of the PI in the global system. If even my own parents view the PI this way, as a place of home but not a place good enough to abide by the standards of how you'd want to raise a family, then how about the other people? If many of us think and complain now about how tumultuous the US political system is, then how more so do we think poorly of the situation in the Philippines?
Why must it take a ratio of a million people every year moving out, disconnecting from their homeland because they can't find jobs or a stable education, to make us and the people there realize that there's something wrong? And given that those who did immigrate out are blessed with having the finance, how about those who cannot and have to stay? What do they think about this? These are just some things that popped out to me.
I chose this quote because it exactly what happened to my family. To make a long story short, my dad's business collapsed during the Arroyo presidency. I had always wondered, "Why did we leave the Philippines? Was it not a viable option to stay there and rebuild? Didn't my dad regret leaving majority of his family in the Philippines?" Heaven forbid, I know my parents wholly miss their homeland--my mom tells me at least once a week about how she'd like to go back. So, exactly...why did we leave in the first place?
My dad told me simply: "Because there are more opportunities here in America." And then it brings to light exactly the position of the PI in the global system. If even my own parents view the PI this way, as a place of home but not a place good enough to abide by the standards of how you'd want to raise a family, then how about the other people? If many of us think and complain now about how tumultuous the US political system is, then how more so do we think poorly of the situation in the Philippines?
Why must it take a ratio of a million people every year moving out, disconnecting from their homeland because they can't find jobs or a stable education, to make us and the people there realize that there's something wrong? And given that those who did immigrate out are blessed with having the finance, how about those who cannot and have to stay? What do they think about this? These are just some things that popped out to me.
Monday, October 22, 2012
What does it mean...
What does it mean when around 1 million Pilipinos leave the Philippines every year?
This was the first question posed in the video and it struck me because it sheds light on some of the most fundamental issues facing the Philippines every year. In addition to rampant poverty, government aide to the least fortunate has often been stymied and blocked. This has led young families to relocate every year in hopes of achieving the life that is beyond their grasp in their homeland. As a Pilipino-American and a beneficiary of parents who sought that same dream, I am often perplexed as to how I can be more effective in alleviating these issues beyond simply being aware of the problems in the first place. Sustainable solutions to these issues are not simply created via political and economic theorists and experts because much of the problems can also be attributed to the cultural and religious perspectives of the Philippines. As a college student, I am constantly bombarded, every day, with the many issues that California and the US face every day and with the globalization of economies, everything seems to be more interconnected then ever. Yet, it also puts into perspective the many privileges that come with living in a developed country. In order to complain about rising tuition and fee hikes, there had to be accessible education in the first place in and order to combat the privatization of our university system, it had to be public first as well. These things are often lost in translation to begin with but it sheds light on the dire situation that exists in the Philippines. To be honest, I don't have much of a solution at the moment - it is difficult to hypothesize one when you live 4,000 miles away - but acknowledging the problem is always the first step. Hopefully we can all figure out a way to make that next step....
This was the first question posed in the video and it struck me because it sheds light on some of the most fundamental issues facing the Philippines every year. In addition to rampant poverty, government aide to the least fortunate has often been stymied and blocked. This has led young families to relocate every year in hopes of achieving the life that is beyond their grasp in their homeland. As a Pilipino-American and a beneficiary of parents who sought that same dream, I am often perplexed as to how I can be more effective in alleviating these issues beyond simply being aware of the problems in the first place. Sustainable solutions to these issues are not simply created via political and economic theorists and experts because much of the problems can also be attributed to the cultural and religious perspectives of the Philippines. As a college student, I am constantly bombarded, every day, with the many issues that California and the US face every day and with the globalization of economies, everything seems to be more interconnected then ever. Yet, it also puts into perspective the many privileges that come with living in a developed country. In order to complain about rising tuition and fee hikes, there had to be accessible education in the first place in and order to combat the privatization of our university system, it had to be public first as well. These things are often lost in translation to begin with but it sheds light on the dire situation that exists in the Philippines. To be honest, I don't have much of a solution at the moment - it is difficult to hypothesize one when you live 4,000 miles away - but acknowledging the problem is always the first step. Hopefully we can all figure out a way to make that next step....
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
My relationship with my roommates has been a roller coaster. First of all, my actual roommate (there are 4 of us, two rooms and I share a room with on eof them) is one of my friends from high school but the thing is, sometimes, we drive each other craycray. I'M DEAD SERIOUS. I'll be sleeping and he'll wake me up... JUST TO FLIP ME OFF. WHO THE EFF DOES THAT? But I mean, at the end of the day, if push comes to shove, he's the only person who can contact my family back home if something were to ever happen to me (God forbid >.<). But overall, we cool.
Secondly, there's the homie Mikey, who be slangin' from the 707 American Canyon, Vallejo. He be a dancer, always doing that P90X stuff. He got lots of posters and stickys up in his room. Plays video games... A LOT. A LOT LOT LOT. And he's majoring in Political Economy... I think, might have to check up on a homie for that one. He a cool dude though, we get a long well. Takes long showers sometimes but hey, the cleaner the better, yanadameeaaannnn...
And then there's mahh babyboii Rivo. He's new, moved in over the summer, hailing form the 619 WHICH IS WHERE I'M FROM, a former MORSE TIGER dooeee. He's a loveable and cuddly fellow who be doin' lots of PAHC rep stuff. He's our community mascot and he's HILARIOUS. He loves me a lot but tends to show it in this weird way where he denies it a lot and acts like he don't currr. but he really do. ya kno. I'm happy to have him around because he's always watching charmed and other cheesy shows but its pretty entertaining so I like having him around.
MARR's
MIKEY
ANTHONY
RIVO
ROEHL.
GET AT US.
whatup.
Secondly, there's the homie Mikey, who be slangin' from the 707 American Canyon, Vallejo. He be a dancer, always doing that P90X stuff. He got lots of posters and stickys up in his room. Plays video games... A LOT. A LOT LOT LOT. And he's majoring in Political Economy... I think, might have to check up on a homie for that one. He a cool dude though, we get a long well. Takes long showers sometimes but hey, the cleaner the better, yanadameeaaannnn...
And then there's mahh babyboii Rivo. He's new, moved in over the summer, hailing form the 619 WHICH IS WHERE I'M FROM, a former MORSE TIGER dooeee. He's a loveable and cuddly fellow who be doin' lots of PAHC rep stuff. He's our community mascot and he's HILARIOUS. He loves me a lot but tends to show it in this weird way where he denies it a lot and acts like he don't currr. but he really do. ya kno. I'm happy to have him around because he's always watching charmed and other cheesy shows but its pretty entertaining so I like having him around.
MARR's
MIKEY
ANTHONY
RIVO
ROEHL.
GET AT US.
whatup.
My Siblings
"Sometimes, being a brother is better than being a superhero."
Found that random quote off the net and spoke true with the relationship I have with my siblings. I am forever grateful that I have the most caring, understanding, and loving siblings. They provide unconditional support and love with no questions asked and asked for nothing in return. They inspire me to be a better person. We have inside jokes, we make and poke fun of ourselves especially our dysfunctional family. I realized that as we get older, our bond is also getting stronger.
My mom
The one person that has had the most impact on me is my mom. She has always been there for me through ups and downs. She has been through so much in life, and she sees to it that she is able to impart her life wisdom on me. She has proven herself to be quite tenacious and I aspire to be as tough as she is. One thing she does that I have really come to appreciate is how she reminds me to try to see the good in people - to refrain from making hasty judgments as much possible.
Lisa
One relationship that I really value a lot is with my girlfriend Lisa. She's my best friend, support system, my tutor and just about everything. I can always go to her for anything I need. Theres a lot of times I've given up on myself and she inspired me to keep going. I believe its really important when you find a significant other that they make you better and bring out qualities you didn't know you had in yourself. So here's to someone who keeps me motivated every day.
Alaina
A relationship that I value a lot is my friendship with someone called 'Alaina.' More than a friend, I often call her my "sister from another mother" because people actually mistake us for siblings many times over. She's helped me through thick and thin and always supported me in school, in my family problems, and just life in general. She was the person I turned to when I couldn't even talk to my own family about certain things. Whenever she heard my problems, she wouldn't judge (ie. "Some people have it worse,"-thing, which is true but...) but always lent her shoulder. I remember where we had a sob-fest in which she started crying 'cause I was crying. LOL. And she'd also be the person I'd go to and spazz with when it comes to K-pop. Heh.~
Anywaaay, we still keep in contact and she still in fact remains my best friend even though she's in SoCal. I admire her lots in her determination and creativity (she makes her own clothes and so crafts.) So seeing her, I can't give up yet ! :C
Anywaaay, we still keep in contact and she still in fact remains my best friend even though she's in SoCal. I admire her lots in her determination and creativity (she makes her own clothes and so crafts.) So seeing her, I can't give up yet ! :C
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