What are these? Ang makakuha may price sakin.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
SC
A trip to AS is never a treat for us who come from the College of Music. Not only in our GE subjects are we experiencing recurrent marginalization but also in almost all aspects we try to involve ourselves in. To be deemed apathetic is already a gratifying understatement as compared to what is being prejudiced upon us, and that is us being ignorant of our social relevance. For one, we are admittedly apathetic and apathetic to the point of letting ourselves be represented by the leaders appointed who are not so well thought of.
Our apathy lets in the surging waves of consummersim, art commercialism and lack of cultural diversity and preservation blow after blow. This is manifested by some of our student leaders who are products of crush voting, good to look at and nothing more. We have been marred by consummerism to the point of infusing lookism in our politics. The financially capable and physically alluring win the race without question of their being capable of effectively advocating the welfare of the people, instigating change for the betterment of the system, upholding the credibility of educated musicians and representing them as purposeful, functional individuals of society. Some of these student leaders only seem to care how big of a feather it is on their caps to be a leader, without even considering to act upon their responsibilities. And us, being apathetic, lack crucial judgement to see past these atrocious motives. It has become their reason, or excuse rather, for social neutrality to be propagators of art for art's sake, as if we all are.
Art for art's sake has been the scapegoat for the socially ignorant. Art is as functional as it is powerful. It is rightful to impose that from Plato and Aristotle and their Doctrine of Ethos, we have deduced that aural art consummately influence persons' principles, actions and emotions. Majority of the people in our college, including the leaders, seem to function lacking ulterior motives which makes us less utilitarian, less purposeful in the system of existing peoples. We appear as propagators of elitist art, which depletes the power of influence imposed upon us which in turn makes our existence quite a laugh for some who have more purposeful motives than self-gratification. In truth we are not socially neutral, we are socially indifferent.
As musicians, our lack of political involvement and social awareness is an insult to our distinctive inborn abilities. We have been impassive to the probable altruistic, nationalistic, patriotic nature of our influence and instead have been consumed by the Westernized educational system we are being enslaved to. Our cultural distinction became more of a cultural compromise to accomodate ideologies we find more appropriate in a globally changing world. We are embracing art commercialism because of our impassivity as if it were an ally to our war with acceptance in society, luring us into a place of fast money-making. We are socially marginalized because we appear to contribute not much to society. And it is in mediocrity we find ourselves a place. Mediocrity is the ultimate manifestation of futility, in our endeavors, in our education, in our individualistic existence. It is high time to abhor our being apathetic and gain ourselves respect for our true purpose to bring social change. Let us care not to be falsely represented at the very least.
*Random musings with Val. SC for Social Concern. Emphasis on SOME. Come on.
Our apathy lets in the surging waves of consummersim, art commercialism and lack of cultural diversity and preservation blow after blow. This is manifested by some of our student leaders who are products of crush voting, good to look at and nothing more. We have been marred by consummerism to the point of infusing lookism in our politics. The financially capable and physically alluring win the race without question of their being capable of effectively advocating the welfare of the people, instigating change for the betterment of the system, upholding the credibility of educated musicians and representing them as purposeful, functional individuals of society. Some of these student leaders only seem to care how big of a feather it is on their caps to be a leader, without even considering to act upon their responsibilities. And us, being apathetic, lack crucial judgement to see past these atrocious motives. It has become their reason, or excuse rather, for social neutrality to be propagators of art for art's sake, as if we all are.
Art for art's sake has been the scapegoat for the socially ignorant. Art is as functional as it is powerful. It is rightful to impose that from Plato and Aristotle and their Doctrine of Ethos, we have deduced that aural art consummately influence persons' principles, actions and emotions. Majority of the people in our college, including the leaders, seem to function lacking ulterior motives which makes us less utilitarian, less purposeful in the system of existing peoples. We appear as propagators of elitist art, which depletes the power of influence imposed upon us which in turn makes our existence quite a laugh for some who have more purposeful motives than self-gratification. In truth we are not socially neutral, we are socially indifferent.
As musicians, our lack of political involvement and social awareness is an insult to our distinctive inborn abilities. We have been impassive to the probable altruistic, nationalistic, patriotic nature of our influence and instead have been consumed by the Westernized educational system we are being enslaved to. Our cultural distinction became more of a cultural compromise to accomodate ideologies we find more appropriate in a globally changing world. We are embracing art commercialism because of our impassivity as if it were an ally to our war with acceptance in society, luring us into a place of fast money-making. We are socially marginalized because we appear to contribute not much to society. And it is in mediocrity we find ourselves a place. Mediocrity is the ultimate manifestation of futility, in our endeavors, in our education, in our individualistic existence. It is high time to abhor our being apathetic and gain ourselves respect for our true purpose to bring social change. Let us care not to be falsely represented at the very least.
*Random musings with Val. SC for Social Concern. Emphasis on SOME. Come on.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Sana Philippine Eagle ka Nalang
Birds are better off than most people I know.
Monogamy is not simply a spiritual or personal imperative which humans can opt or cease to fulfill, on the account of it being a matter of moral obligations. Human affectivity, the union of the body and the soul, or any transcendental principle very well romanticize monogamy, which makes it appear as if monogamy is a conscentious human effort involving the chastity of the union of souls (soul being a distinctive human possession). Monogamy may also be considered as a socialized institution based loosely on sexual values. But animals, believed to be without reasoning, conscience or souls even, do engage in monogamous relationships. Monogamy is basically an animal sexual behavior that does not revolve around transcendental principles, considering avian species are even more capable of being faithful than humans.
Most avian species, especially eagles from Asia, are known to be faithful to their mating spouses. Asian eagles, like the Eastern Imperial Eagles, are sociogenetically monogamous (meaning they are paired in a social context and DNA analyses confirm their exclusive reproduction). Monogamy is the natural mating system for these animals who are devoid of all guilt or shame if they are unable to fulfill their being monogamous, considering it is never a matter of choice in the first place. Monogamy is non-patriarchal and does not favor bigger sizes when in comes to sexual dimorphism and testis size. Territoriality and mate-guarding are results of the exclusiveness of monogamy, and is therefore healthy in fostering offsprings. Human monogamy may be favorable to women, who are honestly doubly marginalized because of their inability to initiate orgasm in a sexual relationship and determine the sex of an offspring. Without notion of transcendental principles, moral obligations, and love, non-human species are more able to consistently engage in monogamous relationships with high degree of fidelity as compared to humans. With the privilege of love as a binding force, why are humans constantly struggling to be monogamous?
Sana Philippine Eagle ka nalang.
*Credit to Patti for the double marginalization
Monogamy is not simply a spiritual or personal imperative which humans can opt or cease to fulfill, on the account of it being a matter of moral obligations. Human affectivity, the union of the body and the soul, or any transcendental principle very well romanticize monogamy, which makes it appear as if monogamy is a conscentious human effort involving the chastity of the union of souls (soul being a distinctive human possession). Monogamy may also be considered as a socialized institution based loosely on sexual values. But animals, believed to be without reasoning, conscience or souls even, do engage in monogamous relationships. Monogamy is basically an animal sexual behavior that does not revolve around transcendental principles, considering avian species are even more capable of being faithful than humans.
Most avian species, especially eagles from Asia, are known to be faithful to their mating spouses. Asian eagles, like the Eastern Imperial Eagles, are sociogenetically monogamous (meaning they are paired in a social context and DNA analyses confirm their exclusive reproduction). Monogamy is the natural mating system for these animals who are devoid of all guilt or shame if they are unable to fulfill their being monogamous, considering it is never a matter of choice in the first place. Monogamy is non-patriarchal and does not favor bigger sizes when in comes to sexual dimorphism and testis size. Territoriality and mate-guarding are results of the exclusiveness of monogamy, and is therefore healthy in fostering offsprings. Human monogamy may be favorable to women, who are honestly doubly marginalized because of their inability to initiate orgasm in a sexual relationship and determine the sex of an offspring. Without notion of transcendental principles, moral obligations, and love, non-human species are more able to consistently engage in monogamous relationships with high degree of fidelity as compared to humans. With the privilege of love as a binding force, why are humans constantly struggling to be monogamous?
Sana Philippine Eagle ka nalang.
*Credit to Patti for the double marginalization
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Quick Letter 2
Super hirap ng buhay dito, dami pang malaria mosquito, mukang nakagat na nga ako. Tapos puro oily chinese food pa kami breakfast, lunch at dinner - araw araw pareho kinakain namin, hindi man lang baguhin. Nagreklamo nga ako sa hotel sabi nila ganon daw talaga dahil wala namang mabibiling iba sa Juba kaya puro ganon pagkain namin.
Tapos ang bilis magbago ng temperature dito. Kapag umulan medyo ok tapos biglang iinit - super at puro alikabok dahil gravel/earth road lang, walang pavement.
Kanina, nag-inspect kami ni Yama ng bridges - super dumi at baho siguro 3 times ng mga bridges dyan ang dumi - puro pa bomba... yakkksss... nakatapak yata ako.
Pagdating ng 3pm sabi ko kay Yama, uwi na kami dahil masakit na ulo ko - baka ma high blood ako at hika sa dumi at alikabok dito.
Yung kwarto pala namin, may kulambo pa kami kung matulog dahil sa dami ng lamok at insekto. Tapos $150 per day kami pero 1 star lang yung hotel, ang pangit...
*Something to think about regarding living, especially in Juba
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Inabilities
What can serve as salvation from our negative dispositions may be our faith on the unlimited human capacity: the positivism and the endless ability to rectify the predicaments we find ourselves in. It may be high time to consider such purposeful way of existence, but we must also be wary that vis-a-vis hightened capabilities are increasing levels of inability. It cannot be considered that what was conquered before are still part of present accomplishments, or what was basic undergoing metamorphisis can still sustain its basic identity. This is very much similar to our inability to be primitive in a modern world. Similar to how fashion can be intermittent, present ability can be an inability in the future and vice versa, and therefore cannot be sustainable. Change is constant. If increase in ability is also increase in inability, then most likely it is only replacing capabilities in the hierarchy of capabilities and not really conquering a series of progressive abilities from top to bottom. Let's face it, we cannot try and do everything, account for ourselves, and more so for everyone. Let us be more forgiving or we'll kill ourselves into living.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Proud Bulakenya
August 15, 1578 - Bulacan was established. August 15, 2008 marked the 430th founding anniversary of Bulacan.
430 years of existence, of being the cradle of noble heroes and of great men and women.
Quick Letter
Hi everybody,
Kumusta na kayo? OK naman ako dito sa Juba pero Juba is a town in which anything can happen. The people are nice and kind - you will not feel hostile, unlike Manila. The town is very much like the Philippines maybe 35-40 years ago. There is only one paved road but many donors are coming in doing construction.
I was very much surprised here - marami palang negro dito sa Sudan. And Juba people (the originals) have very long legs (maybe suited for walking long distances) - this makes them very tall. Mukha akong pandak pag katabi ko mga taga-Juba. However, the original people are not so many kaya marami ding taga Kenya, Uganda at Ethiopia dito sa Juba. Super alikabok pala mga kalsada dito kaya mukang hihikain na naman ako dito.
We are staying in Summer Palace Hotel (Chinese hotel) with basically Chinese food from morning to evening - kaya lang five days na kami dito sa hotel e parepareho pa rin ang pag-kain namin - chicken, beef, may local vegetable, pineapple at watermelon. Wala yatang mabiling ibang pag-kain dito.
Medyo mabagal ang internet dito sa hotel kaya mahirap mag-email. Bukas punta kami sa magiging office namin sa Ministry of Roads and Transport - sana mabilis internet doon. Time difference here is 5hrs late, kaya 2pm ngayon at 7pm dyan.
I will send some pictures of Juba when I get faster internet connection.
Babuuuu...
Popsy
*Yep, my father works in Juba, Sudan (GMT+3)
Kumusta na kayo? OK naman ako dito sa Juba pero Juba is a town in which anything can happen. The people are nice and kind - you will not feel hostile, unlike Manila. The town is very much like the Philippines maybe 35-40 years ago. There is only one paved road but many donors are coming in doing construction.
I was very much surprised here - marami palang negro dito sa Sudan. And Juba people (the originals) have very long legs (maybe suited for walking long distances) - this makes them very tall. Mukha akong pandak pag katabi ko mga taga-Juba. However, the original people are not so many kaya marami ding taga Kenya, Uganda at Ethiopia dito sa Juba. Super alikabok pala mga kalsada dito kaya mukang hihikain na naman ako dito.
We are staying in Summer Palace Hotel (Chinese hotel) with basically Chinese food from morning to evening - kaya lang five days na kami dito sa hotel e parepareho pa rin ang pag-kain namin - chicken, beef, may local vegetable, pineapple at watermelon. Wala yatang mabiling ibang pag-kain dito.
Medyo mabagal ang internet dito sa hotel kaya mahirap mag-email. Bukas punta kami sa magiging office namin sa Ministry of Roads and Transport - sana mabilis internet doon. Time difference here is 5hrs late, kaya 2pm ngayon at 7pm dyan.
I will send some pictures of Juba when I get faster internet connection.
Babuuuu...
Popsy
*Yep, my father works in Juba, Sudan (GMT+3)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Disaster Management
My Saturdays being involved with ELSAROC activities (as part of ROTC) generated uncalled for paranoia and then some. CMaj Ramos was quick to note that the Philippines is one of the most naturally hazardous countries in the world. Though nature in itself is known to be capricious, there are mitigation processes to lessen the harmful effects of an upcoming disaster (which in my opinion includes all forms of divine intervention). The difference between mitigation and preparedness is that mitigation dwells on preventive measures in the hopes of the disaster not actually occuring or occuring but with lesser impact, while preparedness firstly requires acceptance of the 99% chance that such disaster, without any more preventive measures to supress it, will occur.
Once we find ourselves in such terrible terrible plight as natural disaster, the state of action should simply be responsive (thus the Saturday practicals). It can be considered both a privilege and a responsibility to be informed of search and rescue procedures (not minding tying up people trying to be unconscious and repeatedly hearing ready to lift? on almost all given circumstances). But as CMaj Ramos said, these are all theoretics. How can we be certain that in the occurence of such a disaster, the response is as ideal as what is being taught to us? (when in fact my practicals aren't even prime considering I am still dealing with perfectly healthy people) With the government and their controvertial budgets, there can never stand a chance for ideal response. If you find yourself, God forbid, a victim of a disaster, I am sorry to announce that rescue will arrive 24-48 hours after. I guess it is more of a conscientious effort of ridding dead bodies in a situation, and may even be contributing to the Philippines being one of the most hazardous. We should therefore never cease to rely on the instinctive capabilities of humans and, really at some point, supernatural or divine interventions, with the word disaster in itself having astrological implications (that is according to the discussion of disaster etymology- the italian disastro).
Once we find ourselves in such terrible terrible plight as natural disaster, the state of action should simply be responsive (thus the Saturday practicals). It can be considered both a privilege and a responsibility to be informed of search and rescue procedures (not minding tying up people trying to be unconscious and repeatedly hearing ready to lift? on almost all given circumstances). But as CMaj Ramos said, these are all theoretics. How can we be certain that in the occurence of such a disaster, the response is as ideal as what is being taught to us? (when in fact my practicals aren't even prime considering I am still dealing with perfectly healthy people) With the government and their controvertial budgets, there can never stand a chance for ideal response. If you find yourself, God forbid, a victim of a disaster, I am sorry to announce that rescue will arrive 24-48 hours after. I guess it is more of a conscientious effort of ridding dead bodies in a situation, and may even be contributing to the Philippines being one of the most hazardous. We should therefore never cease to rely on the instinctive capabilities of humans and, really at some point, supernatural or divine interventions, with the word disaster in itself having astrological implications (that is according to the discussion of disaster etymology- the italian disastro).
Friday, August 15, 2008
30-mins in 206
For a short blessed time of about 30 mins, I was able to listen to an insightful take on jazz improvisation by Joey Valenciano. He said that we, people of the college, are deeply rooted in western classical music orientation which has the dichotomy of performer and composer (thus the composition majors). But jazz improvisation is the convergence of performer and composer in one persona towards music that is as diverse and individualistic as chance music itself, or even more, as chance music is limited to a certain probability.
So in jazz, there is performer differentiation which is not as subjective as one's preference to a personal interpretation of another's work. Improvisation, being so individualistic, expands performer differentiation beyond the criteria of technique and sincerity towards expression that is unique per performer and even more per performer's performance. The performer, being the composer, does music which is solely his own and is unlikely to be duplicated by any other. Funny, maybe lack of ability to improvise reflects a person's weak sense of individuality or lack thereof.
Originally, jazz is a black man's music. A fusion of African and European musical traditions, it comes as naturally as African speech patterns. Void of all harmonic concept (or any scholarly ideas for that matter), jazz of the African-Americans became free music in a sense that it does not conform to any given theoretics which victimize many overanalytical educated musicians (goes to show that knowledge can, too, be limiting). It became more of a sensitive type of music-making, more of body music and what is instinctively pleasant, and is therefore more self-satisfying, more self-gratifying just because and not because it has to be.
*Kudos to Val for patronizing jazz and trying to drag me into it!
So in jazz, there is performer differentiation which is not as subjective as one's preference to a personal interpretation of another's work. Improvisation, being so individualistic, expands performer differentiation beyond the criteria of technique and sincerity towards expression that is unique per performer and even more per performer's performance. The performer, being the composer, does music which is solely his own and is unlikely to be duplicated by any other. Funny, maybe lack of ability to improvise reflects a person's weak sense of individuality or lack thereof.
Originally, jazz is a black man's music. A fusion of African and European musical traditions, it comes as naturally as African speech patterns. Void of all harmonic concept (or any scholarly ideas for that matter), jazz of the African-Americans became free music in a sense that it does not conform to any given theoretics which victimize many overanalytical educated musicians (goes to show that knowledge can, too, be limiting). It became more of a sensitive type of music-making, more of body music and what is instinctively pleasant, and is therefore more self-satisfying, more self-gratifying just because and not because it has to be.
*Kudos to Val for patronizing jazz and trying to drag me into it!
Monday, August 11, 2008
ano ang dapat gawin?
"Magtiis...gumawa!" ulit ng maysakit nang buong kapaitan. "Aaa! Madaling sabihin ito kapag hindi nagdurusa...kapag ginagantimpalaan ang gawain. Humihingi ang inyong Diyos ng napakalaking pagtitiis sa tao na halos hindi makaasa sa kasalukuyan at nag-aalinlangan sa hinaharap. Kung nakita sana ninyo ang mga nakita ko, mga kawawa, mga sawimpalad na nagtitiis ng di-mailarawang pahirap dahil sa mga krimeng hindi nila ginawa, mga pagpatay upang pagtakpan ang isang pagkukulang at kawalan ng kakayahan, mga kawawang ama ng pamilya, inagaw mula sa kanilang tahana upang gumawa nang walang-kabuluhan sa mga lansangang nasisira tuwing umaga at waring pinananatili lamang upang wasakin ang mga pamilya. Aaa! Magtiis...gumawa. Ito ba ang kalooban ng Diyos? Kumbinsihin ninyo silang mga sawimpalad na kaligtasan nila ang pagpatay sa kanila,na kaunlaran ng tahanan nila ang ginagawa nila! Magtiis...gumawa. Ano bang Diyos iyan?"
"Isang Diyos na lubhang makatarungan, Ginoo,"
sagot ng saserdote.
El Filibusterismo (V. Almario)
"Isang Diyos na lubhang makatarungan, Ginoo,"
sagot ng saserdote.
El Filibusterismo (V. Almario)
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