I’m a Culture Curious, who likes Politics

I was supposed to be studying, but I got distracted by a tweet, which led me to a survey by the New York Times. I think the survey is intended to get the demographics of NY Times readers, but I, who does not read NY Times, decided to see “what type of personality I have” and took the test. After clicking here and there …

Voila! NY Times says …

People often comment on your sense of calm and refined nature. Your love of all things arty often shines through in your bright, intelligent conversation and your traditionalist nature is often reflected in your tastes and style. You are an emotional spirit and you make really strong connections. Good friends and lots of laughs are the recipe for really happy days. And nights!

You’re sophisticated and inquisitive with a real passion for art and culture. You pride yourself on being an early adopter of the latest music and films and always like to have a good book on the go. Your ability to bring together very diverse and even dissenting opinions is rooted in your appreciation for all points of view. You believe in immersing yourself in interesting experiences that make you look at people, places and opportunities from new angles. Being sensitive and creative you want to feel connected to the world around you and actively seek out opportunities to explore it. It’s all about broadening your horizons and living life to the full. Anything else would not fulfill your curious nature. You’ll love the list of The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made, the Critics’ Picks and Arts Beat.

Brainstorming for the First Project

Hola! It’s me Aessie. Last night, I’ve been thinking of my first project under this project. (So should I call it subproject?) After thinking about it a thousand times (yes, a thousand times!), I decided to take you somewhere close where I am living right now.

It is a very significant place for our history not only because of the one hero executed there. In fact, other martyrs and heroes met their fate there. In 1995, a record gathering of 5 million people happened there. Ten years later, it became the venue for the opening ceremony of a very, very popular biennial multi-sport event involving participants from this region of the world. BUT not only good things occured here; just last year, a tragic event took place in this place that almost damaged our relationship with a global superpower.

According to an internet site, the place is currrently undergoing, erm, beautification (i.e. renovations) in order to restore the elements of the place. But still, I think it’s the best place for my first post because of the following points of interest:

• two East Asian gardens
• monuments (yes, more than one) of Filipino heroes
• diorama of a hero’s execution
• “an oasis for those looking for a serene, quiet spot that’s close to nature” (Sorry, I got this last description from a wedding coordinator’s website. )

So, where will I take you? Keep guessing. I know you can deduce from all the clues (those in bold), the location of my first, erm, subproject.

So, there, the location is settled. The remaining problem now is that I really don’t have a camera here in Manila. Thus, I really have to postpone it until: (a) I can borrow a camera, or (b) I can buy my own. But, do not worry peeps, Aessie will  find a way! 

‘Til then,

Aessie

Live, Love, Laugh: Cordillera Day 2011

There are only three rules in order to be contented in life: to live (and exist), to love, and to laugh. Live. Love. Laugh.

Cordillera Day 2011

We went to Buneg, Lacub, Abra, to witness the celebration of Cordillera Day, a day to remember the courage of Macliing Dulag and to affirm the unity of the people of Cordillera in their struggle for the recognition of their rights.

Woes of the Crying Earth

“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children” – so goes the Native American saying. The crying earth has no more tears to shed because the people dried them all up!

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon to you all.

Have you ever been to Cagayan, Palawan, or Mindoro? They are great with splendid places that are rich in minerals and natural resources. With those blessings comes a risk, for these havens are precious targets of mining companies. Some groups of people from these places are doing all they can to prevent such from happening. Why do they shy away from opportunities that could make our lives better when poverty is eating the hearts out of our society?  What in sense of logic does a thing like this prove?

Oneness in Dance

A Reaction to the forum Kalooban sa Sayaw (The Filipino Soul in Dance)

February 14, 2011

Little Theater, University of the Philippines Manila

“The Filipino soul in Dance”, upon hearing this one can easily infer what the topic of the forum would be – the identity of the Filipino as seen in the Filipino dances.

The speaker, Mr. Ed Lapiz, is said to be the right person to speak about the topic because of his knowledge regarding the topic and since he had received awards and recognition on the said field. Mr. Lapiz is the organizer and artistic director of Kaloob Philippine Music and Dance Ministry, “a worship team of artists and scholars committed to the research, redemption and promotion of indigenous culture for use in contemporary Christian worship.”

A Letter to Heaven

If you can write a letter to heaven, what would you say? To whom will you send that letter?

I am a grieving granddaughter. I just lost my grandmother who I love so much. So if only I can send a letter to heaven, it would be for my nanay, so I can tell her the things that were left unsaid, assuring her that I would never forget, and hoping that she will always remember me, her one and only ineng.

And this would be my letter …

Innocent

I have always been fond of children. Why wouldn’t I, when all that I see when I look at them is the innocence in their eyes, all I hear is the sincerity of their words and the fun that resonates from their laughter? You might say that I must be talking about my sisters when they were young, or it may be about my cousins, but no. I am talking about children in general.

When I was in high school, I volunteered for different outreach programs. This includes coastal clean up, street clean up, feeding program, and the like. I enjoyed all of those but what really had a great impact on me was the feeding program in a sitio in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro. It was a month before Christmas and the poor community did not really care. Who would blame them if it is their everyday problem to put food on the table?

Analyzing the Sangguniang Kabataan

Philosophers and thinkers have acknowledged the vital role of the youth in the development of a society. One of the most quoted lines of Jose Rizal in fact delivers this message; the youth is the hope of the nation. The Philippine Constitution also recognizes this. In Article II, Section 13, it is stated that “The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.”

Youth participation, indeed, plays a key role in determining the future of a nation. But there must first be a venue wherein they are given the chance to be involved in shaping their society. This is where the responsibility of the State comes in. As the promoter and keeper of the law, it has the duty to provide the respective venues wherein the youth can actively participate (in accordance to Article II, Section 13 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution). It also has the duty to encourage the youth in nation building and ensure that they would be a responsive collective.

Just For a Day

our trip (c) Z. Aeson Dantis

People say that one can learn more outside the classroom; that is, experience can tell more than what the book says. So our class (PS197: Special Topics in Political Science: Indigenous Peoples), decided to have an exposure trip in a community of Dumagat in Rizal.

The goal of the exposure trip is to better understand the situation of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines through the case of Dumagats. This involves learning if they are able to preserve their culture, understanding their political processes, and knowing the problems that they encounter as members of a vulnerable group, which we know as the indigenous peoples. Living with them even just for a day is better than a whole year studying about them in the classroom.

He’s My Dad

Engr. ALFRED A. DANTIS – He is my dad.

Whenever people ask me about my dad, I picture him on their bed trying to catch some sleep after doing things for his office, or for me and my sisters. You see, my dad is good at almost everything – name it, he’s good at it. All those who know him would agree with this. And all of them respected him because of his pakikisama despite being the “boss”.