The Last Waltz of the Blackrose

Not What I Wanted But More Than What I Expected

2009-05-03T21:42:00.000-07:00

I've tried my best
Gave it my best shot
And reached for it!
And then it disappeared.

I opened my eyes,
Saw the haze in the mirror
And realized
HERE I AM
THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANTED
BUT--
It's more than I've ever expected.

friendship

2009-04-29T03:02:00.000-07:00

Of course I'll tell you I hate you.
And you'll say you hate me more.
And then, we laugh.

Grow Up

2009-04-28T06:06:00.000-07:00

You can still cry.
But remember that,
When you look at the mirror,
You're shoulders weigh more than then.

Equality

2009-04-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

Cherish me if you will,
But don't you smother me.

Care for me then,
But don't cloak me with your vanity.

I will love you.
But I won't control you.

So cherish me as I will,
But let me stand on my feet.

When that time comes...

2009-04-28T05:53:00.000-07:00

Someday, when I marry, I therefore say that I won't settle only for the marriage of the hearts and of the bodies, but furthermore, I would want my marriage to also be of the souls, as well as the minds.

Waiting for Summer (The Poems)

2009-03-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

Chapter 1.

There are things that we choose
To forget as the leaves
Fall from the tainted bough.
But seasons die,
And then are reborn.

Chapter 2.

Young love, oh, young love
So sweet when it starts,
So lovely to hold inside an innocent heart.
Yet poison when it cracks
And turns black.

Chapter 3.

Never the reality hits
More prominently, than when spiced up
With the bitter truth that what once was there
Is now not yours to have, but for others to hold
With you out in the cold--the price of dreaming.

Chapter 4.

Trying to get hold of the anchor
Yet again. And still, there are things that
Are better left unsaid.
Returning to the abandoned shore
Of the broken ship. Of broken hearts.

Chapter 5.

It is always a fear
Of the unknown
That changes the heart—and the soul.
But a ghost from the past,
Can imitate the terror.

Chapter 6.

When the sail is failing
One must trust and have faith
For the boat is still rowing
Even though the storm is showing
Its gray beginnings.

Chapter 7.

Waves, taken by the wind.
The ship sailing, and yet sailing briefly.
Moving by the sea,
Wanted—and then unwanted.
The bough broken. The dream, shattered.

Chapter 8.

As the shore comes to sight
The short-lived fantasy
Forever put-aside
Until there comes another wind
To lift up the shattered glass
Wanting to sail—under another sky.

Chapter 9.

It must be the dream
But wishes do come true,
Even if it breaks, and
Breaks again.
It grows back, but when?

Chapter 10.

Summer has come,
Though the waves raged
And the dreams flew,
The ship saunters back
Even against the teardrops of the blue.

Noblesse Oblige

2009-02-03T10:05:00.000-08:00

NOBLESSE OBLIGE

--literally means "nobility obligates".

--According to the French Wiktionary, the Dictionnaire de l’Académie française defines it thus:
1. Whoever claims to be noble must conduct himself nobly.
2. (Figuratively) One must act in a fashion that conforms with one's position, and with the reputation that one has earned.

--The Oxford English Dictionary says that the term "suggests noble ancestry constrains to honourable behavior; privilege entails to responsibility." Being a noble meant that you had responsibilities to lead, manage, etc. You were not to simply spend your time in idle pursuits.

--generally used to imply that with wealth, power and prestige come responsibilities.

--In ethical discussion, it is sometimes used to summarize a moral economy wherein privilege must be balanced by duty towards those who lack such privilege or who cannot perform such duty.

--Finally, it has been used recently primarily to refer to public responsibilities of the rich, famous and powerful, notably to provide good examples of behaviour or to exceed minimal standards of decency.

source: wikipedia.com

The Rape of a Confused Mind

2009-01-22T08:28:00.000-08:00

It should have
Never
Happened.

And yet here
I am
Thinking and cherishing
The best.
The worst.
Everything.

Whirling inside
My head, today,
Aching and wanting.
Never ending falls.

I forget and
Forget and forget.
Yet,
I remember
Remember
Remember
Again.

It should hve
Never
Happened again.

Again, endless falls
Of water
From within.
From wanting,
Aching, wretching
From within.

For never should have
Happened again.
Again.
Remember.

15 January 2009
RMPSD

2008-10-31T20:25:00.000-07:00

A love story is not about those who lose their hearts but about those who find that sullen inhabitant who, when it is stumbled upon, means the body can fool no one, can fool nothing—not the wisdom of sleep or the habit of social graces. It is a consuming of oneself and the past.

~The English Patient

Knowing What I Didn’t Know

2008-10-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

Chapter 3: Examining Sensation and Perception
Film: (Smell and Taste Documentary) Human Senses

Knowing What I Didn’t Know

My friends always say that I’m a sucker for useless information—a walking encyclopedia at worst; but then, compared to the body of knowledge out there that I still cannot grasp fully, I’m hardly a trivia-trashcan.

This idea hit me fully in the gut as I watch the documentary Human Senses. I realized, “I’m hardly a knowledgeable person…I don’t know that!”

For starters, I know sharks are supposed to be the “garbage can” of the sea, and that they can’t swim back (except for the computer-generated-very-agitated sharks of the film Deep Blue Sea) and that they have commensalism relationships with small fishes. Plus, I’m also very well aware of how much they like their meat as well as how they can smell from afar a single drop of blood in the water. But never—repeat never—was I made to be aware that sharks don’t like my favorite meat—the chicken.

Watching the documentary, I also realized that humans have very different taste preference than that of animals; such that of the shark not having a taste for chicken.

Furthermore, another example of this explicit but easily disregarded fact is that of the koala. Koalas, for me, are one of the cutest animals I’ve ever laid my eyes on since I was a child and deeply in love with stuffed bears and dogs. And because I love them, I made it a point to know what they love—the eucalyptus. This fact, a lot of people know since it’s a common one, but then, the new thing for me about this is that I didn’t know that they would rather starve themselves than eat anything else aside from eucalyptus. Not unlike to human introverts, they are less likely to be bored with the same stimuli ONLY THAT unlike introverts, they’ve taken it to a higher level! Moreover, because of their euca-addiction, they don’t need water anymore. Amazing!

Another bit of knowledge that previously has not been stored in my memory bank is that of the hummingbirds. I won’t pretend that I know a lot about these avian except that they’re small, and can fly and can sing a different song from that of Miss Regine Velasquez. But with this documentary, I was able to know that their taste buds are like that of a woman—addicted to sweets. Maybe even more. I wouldn’t have ever guessed that they can consume sugar water half of their total weight. Furthermore, I didn’t know that their taste for sweets would take them to an extent that they will fall prey to an artificial sugar-holder like that shown in the documentary where the man put the little flower in his mouth with the open bud just outside his pursed lips and the hummingbird flew to it without any qualms. Talk about sweet tooth!
When it comes to the human tastes, a lot of what we eat, we actually perceived by our sense of smell. And this fact, though not entirely new to me, is still a little surprising since preceding the film-showing, I only know this idea as an abstract concept.

As I watched how the experimenter in the documentary proved her hypothesis that we only know what we eat by associating it to its smell, the previously abstract concept unfolded in my brain. How the subjects only recognized that the “thing” they put into their mouth was a little grainy and somehow spicy and so on, not realizing that it was actually cinnamon without their sense of smell intrigued me to the best, especially when afterwards when they were allowed to released their pinched noses and they exclaimed that it was cinnamon. Surprised at how they were not able to name it beforehand. It only gave more credence to the common idea that the nose and the mouth are intertwined at almost every process they are involved with.

I also learned a lot about the secrets of the sense of smell.

One of these is the appropriateness of the idea that it is REALLY HARD to develop the smelliest odor which can invoke great nausea (same reaction) to almost anyone who may have the luck to smell it. This is because according to the documentary, people react to the same bad smell differently. How strong we react to the smell depends on our past experiences, since like that of the taste associated with the smell of the food, the reaction to the smell of a bad odor depends on the picture we associate with it. This is made possible by the fact that sensory nerves for the sense of smell goes straight to the frontal lobe AND the limbic system where we store intense feelings. Thus, how strong our reaction depends on our intense feelings against it.

That is why some people react to the smell of vomit differently. Some can tolerate it, while others can hardly imagine smelling it. And from what I’ve gathered from the film, the same phenomena may occur when it comes to food.

Just imagine, if I happened to be traumatized (by food poisoning or just an upset stomach) by the taste of okra when I was a child, it may be the cause of why I can hardly be near it. But then, according to the documentary, sensitiveness to taste of food may change over time as we grow. Since when we are still children, we tend to reject bitter and sour foods because such stimuli forge in our brain that it is poison or just plain bad for ourselves. But over time, we get over it for we are already more receptive to the things we can and cannot eat. Moreover, as I’ve learned early on, we humans eventually adapt to different taste even if we hate it at first.

Seeing all these in the film, it makes me want to know more and more even if some may think that they are not relevant at all. Well, I’m the one storing them anyway.

For the secrets of the human senses, I hardly knew at all.

Sto. Domingo, Rosalyn Mae P.
2006-11360 BA CommRes
10 July 2008
Psychology 101 *Asst. Prof. J. Lagdameo

The Underside of the Malolos Republic: A Reaction Paper

2008-10-05T22:39:00.000-07:00

Reaction Paper

The Underside of the Malolos Republic

By Dr. Milagros C. Guerrero

Isang kamangmangan ang mamulat sa mga bagay na ang tanging nilalaman ay ang isang mukha lamang ng katotohanan. At lalong isang kamangmangan na tanggapin ang katotohanan ng iilan lamang. Ito ang pinakanais maipabatid ni Dr. Guerrero sa kanyang artilulo patunggkol sa mga “tunay na nangyari” noong itinatag ang Republika ng malolos.

Bilang isang mag-aaral, namulat ako sa mga bagay patungkol sa unang republika ng Pilipinas sa lebel na ang tanging nababangngit lamang ay ang mga “common facts.” Tulad ng kung kailan nagkaroon ng Kongreso ng Malolos, ang Tejeros Convention, kung kailan idineklarang “tunay na Malaya ng Pilipinas”… mga ganoong bagay. Kapakababaw lang ika nga. Sa katotohanan, kahit na ganoon lamang ang alam ko, kahit kailan ay hindi ko ninais na malaman pa ang mga bagay na mas malilim pa roon. Bakit pa? Eh, alam ko naman kung sino ang nagpapatay kay Andres Bonifacio at alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi karapdapat maging national hero si Jose (Mercado) Rizal kahit na sinulat pa niya ang Noli Me Tangere at El Filibusterismo dahil tanging ang mga mayayaman lamang na may kakayahang makabili ng mga kakaunting nakapasok na kopya ng kanyang mga nobela lamang ang nakabasa noon. Bukod pa sa hindi marunong magbasa ng Espanyol ang mga katipunero.

Ngunit ayon sa nabasa ko dati, tanging sa karansan lamang sa nakalipas matututo ang tao sa kung ano ang kanyang dapat gawin para sa kanyang kinabukasan. Iyon ang lalong nagpasidhi ng aking loob na basahin ang isinulat ni Dr. Guerrero, bukod pa sa kailangan talaga.

Ayon sa kanyang sinulat, ano ang kabuluhan ng pagiging unang republika na naitatag sa timog silangang Asya ng Republika ng Malolos kung ang tanging nakapagkamal ng karangyaan at kasayahan sa panahong iyon ay ang mga kayayamang uri ng tao sa bansa, o ang mga alta de cuidad? Lalo ng noong mga panahong naisulat ang artikulo na malapit na ipagdiwang ang ika-isangdaang taon ng pekeng Republika ng Malolos. Para kanino ito ipagdiriwang?

Karapat dapat bang ipaghanda at ipagsaya ito, nang isang daang taon na ang nakalilipas ng paasahin ang mga Pilipino, na nagpakahirap na naangkin ang kalayaan na ipinagkait ng mga espanyol ng tatlong daang taon, ng mga opisyal na nangakong paglilingkuran ang mga taong bayan na sa bandang huli ay inabuso lamang sila at tinapaktapakan?

Nabubuhay tayo sa kahibangan kung iniisip natin na may kabuluhan ang ganoong uri ng pagdiriwang. Ayon sa sinabi ni Salvador H. Laurel, chairman ng National Centennial Commisson noong panahong iyon na ipinagdiwang ang ika-isangdaang “kahangalan” ng gobyerno,

“We want our people to be proud of their past…It is a feeling of being one, of belonging under one flag—with one heart and one soul—and one republic that engender country.”

Kung ganoon nga ang ninais nilang mangyari, bakit hinayaan nilang manatili sa dilim sa mga tunay na nangyari noong mga panahong iyon ang mga Pilipino? Papaano ka magiging mapagmayabang tungkol sa kasaysayan ng iyong bansa kung tanging mga mito na lamang tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay ang iyong alam?

Iginagalang magpahanggang ngayon si Emilio Aguinaldo bilang unang presidente ng Pilipinas kahit na ibinenta niya ang mga Pilipino sa mga Amerikano. Kahit na hinayaan niyang maghirap sa ilalim ng kanyang mga ilinuklok na opisyal ang mga mamamayan. Kahit na inamin niyang may mga opisyal siya na hindi talaga karapat dapat sa posisyon dahil sila’y may favoritism at sila’y mga kurako, ngunit hindi niya inamin na siya mismo ay nakapabor sa mga cacique-ilustrado-principalia kahit pa na siya’y galing lamang sa mas mababang klase ng mamamayan at dapat sana ay mas makamasa. Ito ba ang gusto nilang ipagmalaki natin sa ibang lahi ganun na rin sa mga susunod pang henerasyon?

Ang Malolos Constitution, isang halos tunay na photocopy lamang ng 1895 JImaguayu Constitution of Cuba. Unang uri ng imitasyon. Ito ba ang maipagmamalaki? Na ang mga Pilipino ay magaling at creative sa pagkopya sa mga produkto ng iba?

Kung sanang noong una pa lang ay ipinakita na nila ang tunay na kulay ng Republika ng Malolos, disin sana’y hindi na natin pa kailangang isipin ngayon kung papaano nagsimula ang pagiging mahina ng ating bansa, ang kawalan natin ng sense of national identity. Ang kawalan ng nationality.

Bukod pa rito, maraming nagbuwis, naibuwis at ibinuwis na buhayy para lamang sa kasakiman ng mga nagtatag ng Republika ng Malolos. Ang konstitusiyon na ito ay ang isa sa mga naging dahilan kung bakit naging madali ang pagpapailalim natin sa mga Amerikano na hanggang ngayon ay ramdam pa rin ng Pilipinas. Ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino.

Ngayong naging malinaw na kung ano talaga ang mga pinagdaanan o mga nangyari noon, kung paano ginustong bitawan ni Aguinaldo ang pagiging presidente ng isang bansa na nasa kalagitnaan ng krisis na kung tutuusin ay isa siya sa mga gumawa—ang kanyang kaduwagan—at ang kakulangan ng kanyang mga tagapagpayo dahil sana’y tinuruan na lamang siya kung paano unti-unting bitawan ang kapangayarihan ng hindi mabigla ang mga mamamayan at maghirap ang bansa at mailagay sa mga more capable hands ang dapat sana ay kinabukasan ng bansa.

Nakakalungkot dahil noong nabasa ko ang artikulo ni Dr. Guerrero, masyadong maraming mga “sana ganito” at “sana ganyan” ang pumasok sa aking isip. Mga bagay na maari sanang nagawa upang iligtas ang ating bansa mula sa mga nararanasan niya ngayon.

Hindi sa sinasabi kong lahat ng nangyayari ngayon ay resulta ng mga nangyari dati, ngunit, sa paikot na paraan ay parang ganoon na rin. Lahat ng bagay ay may pinag-ugatan, depende lang kung gaano ka kalalim hahanap ang magiging kasagutan. Halimbawa na rito ang pagiging kurakot ng mga opisyales, unang republika pa lamang ng Pilipinas, meron na. Mas harapan pa ang pangungurakot noon. Isang asenso ngayon, mas magaling magtago ng paraan ng pangungurakot ang mga opisyal—kahit na alam na naman ng mga tao. *evil laugh*

Ang paggunita sa Republika ng Malolos ay katulad rin ng dapat sana ay paggunita sa Edsa Dos. Ang argumento nga noon, kung ipagdiriwang ang Edsa II, para kanino? Eh ayaw na ng mga mamamayan kay Gloria. Kung ipagdiriwang pa rin siya, parang ipinagdiwang na rin na naging pangulo si PGMA. O kaya naman, parang ipinagdiwang na rin na natanggal sa pagkapangulo si Estrada o ipinagluluksa na nadaya siya mula sa kanyang posisyon ni Arroyo.

Mga ganitong panig ang ipinakikita ng sinulat ni Dr. Guerrero. May kalayaan tayo. Ngunit ang tunay na kalayaan ay may basehan. Hindi kailangan isang magarbong kasinungalingan ang ipakalat ng mga may nais na magkaroon ng “maipagmamalaking kasaysayan.”

Kung ano ka, ipakita mo. ‘Yun ang totoong pagmamalaki.

Sto. Domingo, Rosalyn Mae P.
2006-11360 BA Communication Research
Kas1 Sir Jely A. Galang
MTh 1-2:30 pm
11 February 2008

Mulan on a Cultural Spotlight

2008-09-22T02:31:00.000-07:00

Mulan on a Cultural Spotlight

I am an avid Walt Disney fan. And one of my favorite movies is their Mulan.

Mulan is about the Chinese girl living in a world full of restrictions where everything she does reflects the name of her family. Set in an era where dynasties are still the ruling class, and where everyone must serve the emperor, “a man by bearing arms, a girl by bearing sons,” Mulan tries to break the norm by trying to uphold her family honor in a very unconventional way.

In this study, I will try to dissect and look between the lines of this story to uncover the cultural aspects underneath all the adventures and the trials of our heroine, making her seat under the cultural spotlight.

Theories at Work

In this application, three theories will be put into perspective as I delve into the cultural ideas scattered around the movie. These are the following: (1) Standpoint Theory, (2) Face Negotiation Theory, and (3) Feminism or Feminist Scholarship under the Modern Tradition.

Standpoint Theory

This theory is about how social groups within which we are located powerfully shape what we experience and know as well as how we understand and communicate with ourselves, others, and the world. In short, it talks about how society “gets into individuals”, or what they usually say “gets under our skin”, so that members of a culture share common understandings, patterns, and values.

Also, it relates the relationship on how individuals come to understand and participate in that of a common (social) world. (Wood, 1997)

Standpoint Theory will be used to analyze how Mulan tried to fit into the social world that she was born into and how she reacted to the social norms that her family instilled in her. Brief examples are like that of she, as the only child of Fa Zhou and Fa Li, as well as being a daughter, can only uphold her family’s honor by marrying good.

Face Negotiation Theory

A theory by Stella Ting-Toomey and her colleagues, Face Negotiation Theory provides a basis for predicting how people will accomplish facework in different cultures. Facework being the communication behaviors people use to build and protect their own face, build, or threaten the face of another person. (Littlejohn & Foss, 2005)

There are two primary variables that affect facework. The first is the individualism-collectivism culture which may be summarize into a “I-Identity” versus “We-Identity” relationship. Most people have feelings of both but within a given culture; one of these will usually predominate.

This will be applicable in setting up the basis on how Mulan tried to escape the stereotyping of the value of a woman within a cultural community. How she tried to save the face of his family after she failed to impress the matchmaker who was supposed to be their key to a brighter future by joining the imperial army in place of his father after disguising herself as a man under the name “Ping.”

Definition of Terms

Face- one’s self image in the presence of others. Feelings of respect, honor, status, connection, loyalty, and other similar values; Means feeling good about yourself in whatever ways your culture prescribes.

Facework- as described above, this is the communication behaviors people use to build their own, or other person’s face.

Locus of framework- whether it is directed at self of others.

Face valence- whether a person’s actions are positive (defending, maintaining, or honoring one’s face) or negative (attacking).

Temporality- whether the communication is designed to prevent loss of face in the future or restore loss of face that has already happened.

Preventive facework- involves communication designed to protect a person from feelings of threat to personal or group face. (e.g. “I know you are very busy, and I’m sorry to intrude, but…”

Restorative facework- designed to rebuild one’s face after an insulting to a friend in a moment of anger. (e.g. Fa Zhou talking about delayed blooms being more beautiful. “My, my, what beautiful blooms we have this year. But look, this one’s late. I bet when it blooms, it will be the most beautiful of all.”)

Self-construal- one’s sense of independence or interdependence. (This variable is simply how you see yourself in relation to others.)

Feminism (Feminist Scholarship in the Modern Tradition)

This theory centers around two lines of inquiry. First is that feminism that primarily work for the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes—that seek for women to gain equal status with men within existing power structures. Second, feminisms that seek to dismantle restructure the social system to make it more emancipatory for men and women. (Littlejohn & Foss, 2005)

In short, these can be seen as liberal and radical feminism.

But as I analyze Mulan, I will focus more in the first line of inquiry since the story is set in a time where men are valued significantly more than women. And Mulan being our unconventional heroine, her strive for equality is dominant.

Definition of Terms

Liberal feminism- the idea that justice involves the assurance of equal rights for all individuals.
Radical feminism- the oppression of women runs far deeper than political rights; the problem goes to the heart of our social structure, which is patriarchal.

Feminist inquiry- seeks to transform society rather than simply incorporate women’s voices within it.

Mulan on Spotlight

In the first part of the movie, Mulan is seen as a girl who was given man chores but is expected to act modestly to attract a handsome man into marriage with the help of the “scarier than the undertaker” town’s matchmaker. Here, echoes of the Face Negotiation Theory and the Feminism under the Modern tradition are heard.

Fa Zhou: “Honorable Ancestors…please help Mulan impress the Matchmaker today. Please, please help her.”

In this dialogue, it can be seen that Fa Zhou, the father of Mulan and head of the Fa family, expects Mulan to strike a good match since she’s the only child they have, hence, she’s an only daughter, marrying is the only thing she can do for her family. Heard in this context, it can be seen that under the Feminism Theory, girls are regarded as of lower value than of boys shifting the status quo that the feminist scholarship is aiming for. Also, under the ideas of the Face Negotiating Theory, this passage highlights the need to build a collectivist type of face. In a collectivist type, the group face is given more acknowledgements. With respect to the movie, group face pertains to the honor of the Fa family.

Fa Zhou: Mulan. You should already be in town. We’re counting on you to…

Mulan: Uphold the family honor. Don’t worry, Father. I won’t let you down. Wish me luck!

The same can be said of the passage above. But in this one, Standpoint Theory also applies since based on what Mulan said, it can be deduce that she knows what she ought to do. Being raised under the culture where women are only good for marriage, our heroine already has certain knowledge on what she needs to do and tries to fulfill it by going on the usual “ceremonies”. It is the personification of what the phrase “gets into individuals” means.

Woman #2: Wait and see, when we’re through
Woman #3: Boys will gladly go to war for you
Woman #2: With good fortune
Woman #3: And a great hairdo
Both: You’ll bring honor to us all.
A girl can bring her family
Great Honor in one way
By striking a good match
And this might be the day
Woman #4: Men want girls with good taste
Woman #5: Calm
Fa Li: Obedient
Woman #5: Who works fast-paced
Fa Li: With good breeding
Woman #5: And a tiny waist
All: You’ll bring honor to us all.

Again, the voices of unequal regards for men and women. In this part, men are seen as great people who need to be pampered so their wives should be submissive and industrious when it comes to family matters. Plus, with the aid of the Face Negotiating Theory, the need for group face is always there.

But in the part after Mulan was rejected and insulted by the Matchmaker and she was “self-meditating” in the form of the song “Reflection”, it can be said that Mulan is somewhat trying to break free from the holds their culture have in her. Since they are under a collectivist culture, she is trying to redeem her face in an individualistic way of self-construal but is still conscious of the collective implications of her actions. This is what was addressed in the first part where it said that most people may feel both individualism and collectivism. But in the end, one still predominates.

And it is true. Even though Mulan wanted to do things her own way, she still thought of how her family’s honor may be endangered by her not marrying.

But then, when the imperial proclamations about China needing more soldiers with her father willing to sacrifice his life for his country (again a version of collectivist facework, as well as a point in the Standpoint Theory where people act with respect to how their culture cultivated them), Mulan’s collectivist side was forgotten making her go in place of Fa Zhou in disguised of a man. But when she was already in the Moo-Shung Camp and was engaged in havoc with other soldiers-to-be, she was faced with the dilemma that centers on how she will act equally with “disgusting” men. Under the feminist context, this is an idea that needs a lot of effort to be attained. So, started her not-so-good days at the camp where her vulnerability was highlighted until such time that she was able to do what the other men weren’t able to; making her, as Ping, a “star” of the group and thus restoring her individual face as well as her family’s (since she was pretending to be the son of Fa Zhou, whom Chi Fu, the royal “overseer” deemed as a “lunatic”).
Moving on, when they were supposed to be going to the Pass where the General was supposed to be staying guard against the Huns, the song that the soldiers were singing also depicts inequality, and how the culture views a man and wife relationship.

For a long time we've been marching off to battle.In our thundering herd, we feel a lot like cattle.Like the pounding beat, our aching feet aren't easy to ignore.Hey! Think of instead, a girl worth fighting for!Huh?

That's what I said! A girl worth fighting for!
I want her paler than the moon, with eyes that shine like stars.My girl will marvel at my strength, adore my battle scars!I couldn't care less what she'll wear, or what she looks like!It all depends on what she cooks like!

Beef, pork, chicken, mmm ...
Bet the local girls thought you were quite the charmer!And I bet the ladies love a man in armor!You can guess what we have missed the mostSince we went off to war!

What do we want?A girl worth fighting for!
My girl will think I have no flawsThat I'm a major findHow 'bout a girl who's got a brain, who always speaks her mind?Nah!My manly ways and turn of phrase and sure to thrill her!He thinks he's such a lady-killer!

I've a girl back home who's unlike any other!Yeah, the only girl who'd love him is his mother!But when we come home, in victoryThey'll line up at the door!
What do we want?A girl worth fighting for!Wish that I hadA girl worth fighting for!A girl worth fighting--

In the passage above, the ones highlighted in blue are the cultural norms that are being established in the setting of the story that Mulan is trying to shatter. The ones highlighted in pink are actually the lines Mulan contributed to the song, which are, as it is seen, rejected by her comrades because that their way of thinking is boxed into what their culture dictated on them eversince. Feministic views are also touched in these areas.

After the encounter with the Huns, where Mulan, as Ping, saved the day with her suave strategies as well as Shang, but was wounded in the course, and our heroine’s identity is revealed, instantly, the lost of face was obvious as well as the cultural perceptions (that she needs to be killed because of her treachery) and the inequality (women cannot fight). All three theories combined in a way that everything seems to matter in such a way that affects both the Fa family’s honor as well as Mulan.

Left in the mountains, Mulan decided to just go home and restore her face that is damaged by the insults Shang, Chi Fu, and the other soldiers inflicted in her (face valence: attacking) but then she accidentally learned that the Huns are still alive and are headed to the palace. Mulan being Mulan—removed from the context of her collective culture—thought that it would be a better plan to head to the Imperial City first and divulge what she has learned to protect the emperor. But when she was already there, no one wanted to believe her.

Mulan: The Huns are here!
Man: eh!
Mulan: (to Mushu) No one will listen!
Mushu: huh? Oh, I’m sorry, did you say something?
Mulan: Mushu…
Mushu: Hey, you’re a girl again, remember?

The passage above demonstrates how women are regarded in that particular setting. But then again, because of the real friends Mulan has made during the camp training, someone finally believed her and thus they were able to save the emperor. And by doing so, the feminist idealism that Mulan went so hard to achieved is given permission in a way that the emperor bowed to her and asked her to be a part of his council.

In the end, not only was her family’s honor redeemed, she also brought honor in a way that defies the culture in which she was shaped and broke the perceptions about the issue of equality between men and women.

Sto. Domingo, Rosalyn Mae P.

06-11360 2nd year BA CommRes

Comm 140 _ Dr. Paz Diaz

Application 3

REFERENCES:
Littlejohn, Stephen and Karen Foss. Human Communication, 8th ed., 2005.
Wood, Julia. Communication Theories in Action: An Introduction, 1997.
Mulan Script. Retrieved: September 16, 2007.
URL: http://www.fpx.de/fp/Disney/Scripts/Mulan.html

Vampires: Fiends of the Humanity

2008-09-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

Vampires: Fiends of the Humanity
An Analysis on How Media Presents Vampires to the World
With Anne Rice’s The Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat

by Sto. Domingo, Rosalyn Mae P.
06-11360 BA CommRes
Submitted to Comm 140 1st sem 07-08 Dr. Paz Diaz

Vampires are immortal creatures dubbed to be “undead” that sustains their immortality by drinking human blood. This is how the world views these “children of the night.”

But then again, that is only the most general concept often integrated with the word vampire. From Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula to Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles and New Tales of the Vampires, these blood-sucking creatures have been described in a lot of different ways that often creates puzzles for the humanity.

In this simple analysis, I will be delving in the different ways these vampires are embedded to the mind of humans with respect to their culture. And to do this, I’ll be focusing more with Anne Rice’s vampires versus the “common vampires” with the help of Social Action Media Studies.

Social Action Media Studies

A theory by Gerard Schoening and James Anderson, this talks about how media content is interpreted within the community according to meanings that worked out socially within the group, and individuals are influenced more by their peers than media. (Littlejohn, 2005: page 282) A community –based approach, this theory is outlined into six premises: (1) meaning is not the message itself but is produced by an interpretative process in the audience, (2) meaning of media messages and programs is not determined passively, but produced actively by audiences, (3) meanings of media shift constantly as the members approach the media in different ways, (4) meaning of a program or message is never individually established, but communal, (5) actions that determines a group’s meaning’s for media content are done in interaction among members of the group, and lastly, (6) researchers join the communities they study, if only temporarily, and therefore have an ethical obligation to be open about what they are studying and share what they learn with those studied.

Comes with these ideas is the “increasingly popular way of approaching media which is to think of the audience as numerous interpretative communities, each with its own meanings for what is read, viewed, or heard.” (Littlejohn and Foss, 2005: page 282)

An interpretative community when a group of people starts to develop their own meaning of things viewed, seen, or heard. They have common understanding of contents that sets a common outcome of ideas. Thus, if one is to know or understand how a community views things, you have to know their cultural background. Any person may be a member of any interpretative communities

Thomas Lindlof presents three dimensions of an interpretative community. The first is content, which says that a community must share the same meanings of the media messages or programs they consume and also share some common meanings of the content. The second is interpretation, where members of the community must share similar ways of interpreting messages but do not necessarily share the same meaning. And finally, the third, is social action, where members of the community share common sets of behaviors towards the media in question and how the media affects them.

With this theory, I’ll analyze how different people view vampires according to how the media presents them. There will be two media used, one is print (The Vampire Lestat) and the second is from the big-screen, the movie Interview with the Vampire compared with the general perceptions and the ancient presentation of Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula.

The Interviews

Before I set out to collect different sources about how media presents vampires, I conducted some ambush interviews about how my peers view vampires and why. Following are some excerpts.

Q: So what comes to your mind when you hear the word vampire?
A: Hindi ba yung sumisipsip ng dugo? Yung katulad nung Dracula…
(Aren’t those the blood suckers? Like that of Dracula…)
Q: Ahmm... So how do you think they survive? I mean in the sense of population.
A: Kapag kinagat ka nila. ‘Di ba vampire ka na nun.
(When they already bit you. You’re already a vampire then, aren’t you.)
Q: How can you say so?
A: Wala. Sa tv tsaka sa books ‘di ba. Ganun.
(Nothing. In the television, or books. That’s how.)

In this particular interview, the interviewee was not really exposed to vampiric talks or media. Her only basis was the general perception of people to this specific topic and thus she was considered an audience from the community who bears no care for the topic at hand. The meaning then of the word vampire to her, is as simple as the phrase blood-suckers.
In the second one, another one who was not as versed with the topic as the first was interviewed. Same questions were issued and the following were her answers.

(Q1) A: Ahmm… Yung parang kay Mary Tudor ‘yun ‘di ba? Yung tinawag na Bloody Mary kasi nagpapapatay ng mga protestants. If I’m not mistaken, impaler ata tawag dun.. Siyempre pati na rin yung kay Dracula.
(Q2) A: I think pwede naman silang manganak…I mean, sa Dracula, they can have sex, so maybe they can also procreate.
(Q3) A: Wala, yung Dracula nga. Tsaka when I read kasi history books, especially that of Europe, medyo lumalabas yung word na vampire. Yun lang talaga yung alam ko since I don’t read anything about vampires.

Using the first premise, I can then conclude that the audience in the first interview interprets the message in a simple way different from that of the second one who was also lacking in education about the topic of vampires who integrates the word vampire to that of impaler and of course, Dracula. The most striking difference is that the second one seems to have more logical explanation about the word by connecting it to the violence in history.

Count Dracula

Count Dracula, a character given life by Bram Stoker, is supposed to have been from 15th century Transylvania; a tyrant noble with the name of Vlad III Dracula.

He is known to be the Prince of Darkness, the very first vampire. He can transform into a bat or a clouds of bat, a rat or a swarm of rats, a wolf, or mist. He can control the minds of his victims by putting then into a trance so they bide his will. He will either kill you by sucking your blood or make you into a vampire yourself in the same way. He is supposed to be a thousand years old for he is immortal, although there are some ways in which he can be stopped or even killed. These are (1) he cannot cross over running water, (2) he cannot abide the smell of garlic, (3) he cannot touch holy water or bear the sight of the cross, (4) he cannot enter a house unless invited, (5) he cannot leave his lair at daytime because sunlight (or even a big blaze) may burn him, (6) you can find him in his coffin and while he is sleeping, drive a wooden stake through his heart and cut of his head.

These are the characteristics known to people today. The basics about a vampire. And this is generally how interpretative communities view vampires. Under the first dimension of interpretative communities, this is the content—meaning—people share about the concept of vampire.

The Vampire Lestat

The Vampire Lestat, the Brat Prince of the Vampires, a character from the book of Anne Rice, is an 18th century French noble who was turned into a vampire by force. A fledgling (vampire child) of Magnus, a 300 year-old vampire, who after creating him jumped into a big blaze and ended his immortal life, Lestat de Lioncourt described himself as “almost human” in a way that he still looks the same as he did when he died as a mortal and joined the realm of the undead only that, he never changed physically after that, but instead just grew more white in complexion, almost translucent. The only thing that usually signals that he is a vampire is that his fingernails are like carved from glass that they shine inhumanly. And this description works for all of their kinds.

Like Count Dracula though, they are immortals and really feed on human blood and sleep in coffins, if they like. Out of all the descriptions connected with the mythological Count those were their only distinct similarity.

They don’t turn into bats or the likes. They do not have familiars. They can go inside the church, touch the cross, and even pray the prayers of the devotees, and still they wouldn’t burn. They cannot die just because of a stake through the heart and a head cutoff. And Dracula, in this novel, is not their eldest vampire.

Anne Rice, creating her own legendary vampires created a new definition of the occult word vampire in her novel, specifically this. This is how her media described our human fiends. And her readers used these meanings/descriptions when asked about vampires. Under the first premise, they are the interpretative community who has their own shared interest as well as common meanings. In this case, their common meaning is Anne Rice’s novel.

And their social action media studies premise falls under the fourth one since the tradition the group has is that they are all fans of Anne Rice as well as vampire enthusiast, and therefore, they are already removed from the Dracula Days and now under the interpretations of Anne Rice.

Interview With The Vampire

Interview with the vampire is a novel by Anne rice that was adapted into a movie. In this paper, we’ll focus more on the movie, rather than the novel.

The movie talks about vampires the same way The Vampire Lestat did since it was based on another Anne Rice novel, but, in respect to the media message, it was taken in different ways by different people.

The first one I interviewed is a boy of seven who has seen the film. He said that he knows vampires are only shaped from the imagination and thus he doesn’t believe they exist but he believes the ways on how these creatures were presented in the movie. I asked him if he knows how a vampire is made, believing he would explain the “Dracula way,” but then he explained it to me in this way: “Una, sisipsipin muna yung dugo mo tapos pag konti na lang yung dugo mo, kakagatin nila yung kamay nila tapos ipapainom sa’yo yung dugo nila. Tapos nun, vampire ka na.”

That was exactly how it was shown in the film and that was how he presented the information to me. When I asked him how come he knows such things, he said it was because his sister is a vampire. Fancy that.
This particular interview, the premise at work is the fifth one, where a group’s meaning for media content are done in interaction among members of the community. In this particular part, the community is the family.

The second interview was of the sister of the first interviewee, (she’s not a vampire, just a fan) she answered the same way her brother answered the questions I poured at them but in the last part of the interview, she said that actually, she is quite confused in a way that, in Anne Rice’s series’ says that vampires cannot reproduce the way human do because they are already dead. But in other books, general resources, they speak another different thing. And these things confuse her view of the vampires.

After talking to her, I realized that she was already making an active acceptance to the media messages she received. Thus, her reaction proved premise one and two where meaning is not in the message itself but produced through an interpretative process in the audience and that meaning of media messages and programs are not determined passively, but rather, actively by the audience—that audience actually do something with what they view or read.

Vampires Questionable

After conducting these series of analysis, I’ve come to the conclusion that vampires are viewed in different ways by humans. It depends on how they react to the messages being given to them and to how their already composed meanings of these topics affect their interpretation. But even though a lot of factors turns this vampiric topics into a subjective ones, it ends with what the audience choose to do with the facts they are given.

REFERENCES

Littlejohn, Stephen and Karen Foss, Theories on Human Communication, 8th ed. 2005
Rice, Anne. The Vampire Lestat. 1984
(movie) Interview With the Vampire
K-Zone October 2003, Vol. 2 No.2: pp. 38-41

Kilusang Kababaihan

2008-09-18T01:53:00.001-07:00

Introduksyon

“Kasumpa-sumpa
ang maging babae sa panahong ito.”
-Ruth Elynia S. Mabanglo

Ayon sa tula ni Ruth Mabanglo, kusumpa-sumpa ang maging babae dahil hanggang ngayon, nakukulong pa rin ang mga babae sa nakaraang depenisyon na ito ay mahina. Isang babasaging kristal na sa kakaunting pagpapabaya ay maaaring mabasag o masira. At dahil rito, ayon sa matandang paniniwala, bilang isang dalaga, ang isang babae ay nasa pangangalaga ng kanyang ama at mga kapatid na lalaki hanggang sa ito’y mag-asawa at ang pangangalaga ay malilipat sa esposo.

Ito ang matandang paniniwala patungkol sa babae sa Pilipinas.

Ngunit hindi ganito mula sa simula.

Pahanong Pre-hispaniko

Bago pa dumating ang mga Espanyol sa Pilipinas, may parting ginagampanan ang mga babae sa lipunan. Sa mga panahong ito, ang babae ay kapantay ng lalake. Sa isang pamilya, ang karapatan ng anak na babae ay kapantay ng sa anak na lalake—kasama na rito ang partihan sa mana. Bukod pa riyan, ang babae ay may karapatang magkamit ng karangalan at posisyon sa lipunan. At kung siya ay solong anak, may karapatan siyang magmana at mamuno bilang tagapagmana ng pamilya. (Subido, 1989: pahina 1)

Ang pagmamay-ari ng bahay, karapatang ipasawalang-bisa ang kanyang kasal, at magboses ng opinion ay parte rin ng kakayahan ng isang babae bago pa man dumating ang mga Espanyol sa ating bansa. Maging sa kanyang pananamit, walang limitasyon.

Panahon ng Espanyol

Ngunit nang dumating ang mga mananakop, ang Pilipinas ay napuno ng mga batas ng kodigong Sibil at kodigo ng Komersyo kung saan bumaba ang estado ng babae dahil pinag-ibayo ng mga bagong batas na ito ang pagtingin sa babae. Mas mababa na ang estado nito sa ngayon. Nawala na ang mga dating karapatan na naglalagay sa babae sa parehong pwesto tulad ng kanyang kapatid na lalaki.

Hindi na rin siya pwedeng magsuot ng mga damit na ayon sa mga Espanyol ay “malaswa” at “mula sa demonyo.” Nawala na rin ang kakayahan nitong makapag-aral, makapagbigay ng opinyon sa mga usaping pambayan, maging ang kanyang kakayahang mamuno ay wala na.
Sa isang iglap, ang babae ay naging isang nilalang na hindi nakikita sa lipunan. Isang nilalang na nasa bahay lang mula pagkabata. At kapag nag-asawa, kailangan nitong sundin ang lahat ng luho ng kanyang esposo kung hindi ay isa iyong malaking kasalanan.

Maging ang Katoliko Romano, mas lalong pinagtibay ang kawalang ng bokasyon ng isang babae sa panahon na iyon. Malimit lamang ang mga babaeng talagang lumalaban sa sistema tulad nina Melchora Aquino o Tandang Sora, Gabriella Silang at iba pang mga anak ng katipunan.
Ngunit lahat ng mga kalayaang tinatamasa nila ay naabot lamang nila kapalit ng kanilang pagiging kalaban ng lipunan.

Panahon ng mga Amerikano

Nang dumating ang mga Amerikano sa Pilipinas, muli ay nabigyang laya ang mga kababaihan. Dahil sa libreng edukasyon noon ng mga Amerikano, maging ang mga kababaihan na noong panahon ng mga Espanyol ay mga dasal at kasulatan lamang na pang-simbahan ang alam ay nakapag-aral. Nagkaroon din sila ng karapatan makaboto at ilabas ang kanilang saloobin sa lipunan at mga bulok na sistema. Muli ay nakamit nila ang kalayaan na ipinagkait sa kanila ng lagpas tatlong siglo.

Lahat ng mga kalayaan na ibinigay sa ng mga Amerikano ay kanilang ginamit na lubusan upang mabawi ang kanilang karapatang pampolitikal, pangsibil, pang-ekonomiko, at pang-sosyal na parehong kalagayan nila sa mga kalalakihan.

Ngunit ang kalayaan na ito ay panlabas na anyo lamang ng mga kababaihan dahil kahit na bukas na ulit para sa kanila ang lipunan, ang mga maliliit na institusyon ay hindi pa. Tulad na lang sa loob ng pamilya, maraming babae pa rin ang ikinukulong sa bahay pagkat ang kinikilala nilang depinisyon ng pagiging babae ay ang panganganak, pag-aalaga ng anak at paglilingkod sa asawa. Sa bandang huli, ang karapatan nilang magaral ay napupunta lamang sa pagiging isang may-bahay.

Panahon ng Hapon

Nang salakaying ng mga hapon ang Pilipinas, muli ay nawala ang kalayan ng mga kababaihan at sa halip ay lalo silang natapon sa kamay ng mga kalalakihan. Nagkaroon ng mga comfort women na ang naging papel ay maging taga-aliw ng mga sundalong hapon. Kahit na gipit noong panahon na iyon ang lahat ng mga Pilipino, mas matindi ang sinapit ng mga babae dahil sapilitian silang ginagawang laruan ng mga hapon. Hindi lamang upang tugunan ang kanilang makamundong sidhi ngunit para na rin yurakan ang dignidad ng mga Pilipino.

“Kaya nila ginawa ‘yon dahil alam nila na mas masasaktan ang mga Pilipino dahil hindi lamang ang mga babae ang dinudungisan kundi pati na rin ang buong sambayanang Pilipino dahil ang babae ang nanganganak,” sabi ng isang mag-aaral ng Hum1 nang pinag-uusapan ang dahilan kung bakit nagkaroon ng mga comfort women matapos basahin ang autobiography ni Rosa Henson, dating naging comfort woman noong panahon ng Hapon sa lalawigan ng Pampanga.

Isa lamang ito sa mga naging kasakitan ng mga kababaihan noong panahon na iyon. Marami pang iba.

Babae sa kanyang paglaya sa tanikala

Dahil sa mga sinapit na ito ng mga kababaihan, mas lalong naging masidhi ang pagnanais na makawala sa tanikala na tila nakatali sa kanilang pagkatao. Dito nag-ugat ang Kilusang Kababaihan.

Ngunit kung tutuusin, matagal ng nagsimula ito noon pang panahon ng mga Espanyol, ngunit nabigyan lamang sila ng boses, noong 1905.

Kilusang Kababaihan

Depinisyon at Kasaysayan

Ang kilusang kababaihan ay ang mga political, social, and cultural movements na nababatay sa mga teorya at pilosopiyang moral na may kinalaman sa mga usapin patungkol sa hindi pagkakapantay ng lalaki at babae, at mga diskriminasyon sa babae.

Ayon sa ilang kasulatan, ang pangkalahatang kilusang kababaihan ay may tatlong yugto. Ang una ay noong ikalabing-siyam na siglo hanggang sa mga unang bahagi ng ikadalawampung siglo, ang ikalawa naman ay noong 1960s hanggang 1970s, at ang huli ay mula 1990s magpasahanggang ngayon.

Ang unang yugto ay nag-ugat sa United Kingdom at United States patungkol sa mga isyu ng equal rights sa mga kontrata at mga pag-aari ng isang babae at ang pag-ayaw nito sa isang pilit na kasal, gayun na rin ng pag-aari ng asawang lalaki sa asawang babae. Ngunit sa bangdang katapusan ng ikalabing-siyam na siglo, natuon sa mga karapatang political ang kilusang kababaihan.

Ang ikalawang yugto naman, tulad ng nauna ng nasabi ay nagsimula noong mga unang bahagi ng 1960s at nagtapos mga huling bahagi ng 1980s. Tungkol ito sa mga kultural at political na pag-aalsa ng mga kababaihan. Kung ang unang yugto ay tumutukoy sa mga paghihirap ng mga kababaihan, ang pinatutungkulan naman nito ay ang hindi pagkakapantay-pantay ng babae at lalaki at ang katapusan ng diskrminasyon.

Ang ikatlong yugto naman ay nagsimula mga unang taon ng 1990s bilang isang tugon sa mga hindi nagtagumpay nalayon ng ikalawang yugto ng kilusang kababaihan. Naghahangad ito na talunin ang dating depinisyon ng feminismo o femininity na ayon sa mga advocate ng ikatlong yugto ng kilusan ay sobrang istrikto at ideyal.

Feminismo sa Pilipinas

Ang kilusang kababaihan ay isang kilusang nananawagan hindi lamang sa pagpapalaya ng kasarian mula sa pagsasamantala at pang-aapi sa lipunan kundi pati na rin sa pambansang pagpapalaya. (Kalagin ang ating tanikala: batayan kurso sa kalagayan at pakikibaka ng kababaihang Pilipino: pahina 3)

Sa pamamagitan ng kilusang ito, nasisigurong mayroong behikulo para sa pakikipaglaban para sa mga isyung kinasasangkutan ng mga babae sa lipunan.

Upang maisulong ang paglaya, partikular na ginagawa ng kilusan ang paglaban sa mga institusyon ng lipunan na nagsusulong sa sistema na patriarka—mula sa estado, negosyo, simbahan, paaralan, masmidya hanggang sa pamilya. Ang mga istitusong ito kasi ang higit na nagsasadlak sa mga babae sa mababang posisyon sa lipunan.

Sa ating bansa, mayroong iba’t ibang klasae ng kilusang kababaihan. Ayon sa nabanggit na libro, mayroong tatlong katangian na dapat taglayin ang mga ito upang ganap na makilalang kilusang kababaihan. Ito ay ang mga sumusunod:

Isa dapat itong kilusang nakapaloob sa kabubuang kilusan para sa pagpapalaya ng bayan.

Sabi nga, ang usapin ng paglaya ng mga kababaihan, kailanman ay hindi maaaring ihiwalay sa usapin ng paglaya ng bansa mismo. Kasi naman, hangga’t hindi pa napapalaya ang bayan mula sa kuko ng imperyalismo, pyudalismo, at burukrata kapitalismo, hinding-hindi rin lalaya at magkakaroon ng pantay na katayuan sa mga kalalakihan ang mga kababaihan. Ang mga salot na ito sa lipunan ay pawang mga nagiging daan sa pagpapaigting ng pang-aaping ating nararanasan.

Ikalawa, isa dapat itong kilusang masa.

Kapag sinabing masa, kadalasan sila ang mga nakararaming api sa lipuan. Mainam na sila ang mamuno sa kilusan upang matiyak higit na pagpupursigi upang makamit ang pangunahing layunin ng paglaya. Kumpara kasi sa mga nabibilang sa nakatataas na antas ng kabuhayan, mas nararamdaman ng masa ang pagsasamantala at pang-aalipusta. Kaya naman masasabi na sila ang pinaka-naghahangad ng pagkalag mula sa tanikalang ng pang-aapi at pagsasamantala ng naghaharing uri.

Ikatlo, isa dapat itong militanteng kilusan.

Upang makamit ang inaasam na pagbabago sa lipunan, kinakailangan na isantabi ang pagiging pasibo at kimi; sa halip, dapat ay maging matapang at mapangahas na makibaka para sa mga karaingan at karapatan. Walang mangyayari sa kasalukuyan kalagayan kung hindi magbubuklod ng lakas at sama-samang sa aktibong paglaban.

Nakasaad din sa libro ang mga tungkuling dapat gampanan ng isang kilusang kababaihan.

1. Maramihang palahukin ang mga kababaihan sa mga pakikibaka ng sambayanan at ng iba’t ibang sektoral na kilusan.

Dahil sa mga isinasagawang pagkilos ng mga kababaihan, dalawa sa kanilang mga isinusulong ang kaagad-agad na natatamo: ang pagpapalakas sa kanilang pakikibaka sa bayan, at ang pagsulong ng kanilang kalayaan.

2. Itaguyod ang mga karapatan at kagalingan ng kababaihan, sa larangan ng ekonomiya, pulitika, at kultura.

Sa larangan ng ekonomiya, nararapat lamang na isulong ang mga karapatan ng mga kababaihan tulad ng karapatan para sa mahusay at makataong empleyo, karampatang bayad na pantay sa kalalakihan para sa parehon trabaho., pantay na access sa mga resources, at pantay na oportunidad. Dapat na tutulan ang gender-strereotyping.

Sa pulitika, karapatan ng mga kababaihang magkaroon gn wastong representasyon sa iba’t ibang institusyon sa lipunan. Ang mga ito ang magsisilbing boses ng nakararami.

Sa kultura, kinakailangang suportahan ng estado ang demokratisasyon sa pamilya upang mapagaan na ang pasanin ng mga kababaihan pagdating sa bahay, at nang mabago na rin ang naging tradisyunal na palakad sa pamilyang Pilipino.

3. Pangalagaan ang kagalingan ng mga bata.

Hindi dapat na maging solong responsibilidad ng mga babae ang pagtataguyod sa kanilang mga anak. Tuwing nangyayari kasi ito, patuloy silang natatali sa bahay at nalilimitahan ang kanilang partisipasyon sa lipunan.

4. Makipagkaisa sa mga kababaihan sa iba’t ibang panig ng daigdig para labanan ang pang-aapi sa kababaihan.

Kung mayroong pagkakaisa, mas mapapadali ang pagtamo sa layuning paglaya. Basta ba unahin lamang ang pagkakaisa nila laban sa pangunahing salot—ang imperyalismo. Ito kasi ang pinakanagsasadlak sa mga kababaihan sa ibayong kahirapan at karahasan.

Nabanggit din sa Kalagin ang ating tanikala: batayang kurso sa kalagayan at pakikibaka ng kababaihang Pilipino ang mga pangunahing gawain ng kilusang kababaihan. Napakarami ng mga gampanin ng mga kilusang kababaihan tungo sa pagsusulong ng pakikibaka at paglaya ng kababaihan. Bawat gawain ay mahalaga at nagbubukas ng iba’t ibang mga kasanayan para sa mga kababaihan.

1. Edukasyon

Mahalaga na mamulat ang mga kababaihan sa tunay na kalagayan nila sa buhay. Dapat nilang mabatid ito nang sa gayon ang kaalamang ito na ang magsilbing daan tungo sa kanilang paglaya. Sa oras na malaman na nila ang ganitong katotohanan, mag-uumpisa na ang unti-unting proseso ng pagbabago sa kanilang mga buhay. Magkakaroon na rin sa wakas ng panimulang pagkilos.

2. Pag-oorganisa

Ito ang nagsisilbing sandigang lakas ng kilusang kababaihan. Nakabatay ito sa uri. Mahalaga na tutukan o bigyang-pansin ang ang pag-oorganisa sa kababaihang anakpawis. Bagaman hindi ipinagbabawal na bumuo ng mga organisasyon na kinabibilangan ng mga kababaihan mula sa iba’t ibang uri ng pwersa sa lipunan.

Iba-iba ang anyo ng organisasyon ng mga kababaihan batay sa kani-kanilang mga pangangailangan o kalagayan.

3. Kampanya at Pakikibakang Masa

Makikita ang lakas ng mga kababaihan base sa kanilang mga ginagawang aktibong pagkilos.
Kampanya—serye ng mga pagkilos na isinasagawa ng masa upang ipaglaban ang isyu o kahilingan.

Pakikibakang masa—aktwal na pakikitunggali o paghamon ng masa sa mga kaaway sa uri upang maipagwagi ang ilang mga kahilingan o koneksyon.

4. Propaganda

Ito ay pagsasagawa ng malawakang pagbibigay-edukasyon sa publiko kaugnay ng mga usaping nakakaapekto sa mga kababaihan. Naipapalaganay ang impormasyon sa pamamagitan ng mas midya tulad ng radyo, pahayagan, sine, at telebisyon. Ngunit hindi maaaring lubusang umasa sa midya lalo na’t maraming impormasyon ang pinaghihigpit dito.

Kasabay ng pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon sa ganitong mga paraan, nararapat pa ring i-maintain ng organisasyon ang mga sarili niton daluyan ng impormasyon tulad ng kanilang pahayagan, manipesto, iskit, kulturang pagtatanghal at iba pa.

5. Networking at Pakikipag-alyansa

Networking—pagbubukas ng pagkikipag-ugnayan sa mga organisasyon, institusyon, indibidwal para sa mga kadahilanan tulad na lamang ng pagpapalitan ng impormasyon o kaya naman ay pagpapadalo sa mga kumperensya.

Pakikipag-alyansa—pakikipagkaisa sa mga organisasyon, institusyon, o indibidwal batay sa iisang pagtingin o pagposisyon sa mga isyung kababaihan o pambayan. Ito ay dapat lamang na nakabatay sa prinsipyo at hindi lang sa mga personal na dahilan o kahiyaan.
Ang mga gawaing ito ang magsisilbing daan tungo sa paglawak ng hanay ng kilusang kababaihan.

Ang Pakikibaka ng mga Kababaihan sa Malapyudal at Mala-kolonyal na Sistema
Iba’t ibang kilusan ang naitatag upang matamo ng mga kababaihan ang kalayaan mula sa pang-aaping nararanasan. Nag-umpisang lumahok ang mga kababaihan sa pakikibaka ng masang Pilipino. Ilan lamang ang mga sumusunod sa mga kilusang ito:

Makabayang kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan o MAKIBAKA

Itinayo ang militante at rebolusyunaryog organisasyn na ito noong 1970. Ito ang kauna-unahang samahan ng mga kababaihan sa Pilipinas na malinaw na nagtataguyod hindi lamang ang pambansang kalayaan at demokrasya kundi pati na rin para sa naaaping uri. Bumuo rin ito ng mga programa para sa paglaya ng mga kababaihan. Ang mga miyembro nito ay pawang mga babaeng aktibista mula sa hanay ng kabataan.

Nililinaw nito ang isyu na bukod sa pagsasamantala ng mga dayuhan at ng naghaharing uri, dumaranas din ang masang kababaihan ng pagsasamantala dahil na rin sa kanilang kasarian.

Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan o KMK

Binuo ang pambansang organisasyon na ito ng mga kababaihang manggagawa noong 1980. Isinusulong nila ang pagtatanggol sa kinasasadlakang pang-aapi ng mga babae sa larangan ng ekonomiya.

SAMAKANA

Nabuo noong 1983, isa itong mulitsektoral na organisasyon ng mga kababaihan. Kalaunan, ito’y naging organisasyon ng mga kababaihan sa mga maralitang komunidad.

Women for the Ouster of Marcos and Boycott o WOMB

Ito’y bunga ng pag-oorganisa ng mga babae mula sa hanay ng mga petiburgesya. Hayagan nilang ipinapakita ang kanilang oposisyon sa diktadura noong panahon ni Marcos.

General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership and Action o mas kilala sa pangalang GABRIELA

Naitatag ito noong 1984. Isa itong pambansang koalisyon ng kababaihan mula sa iba’t ibang uri na lumalaban sa diktadurang Marcos. Noong 1986 naman, ang organisasyong ito ay naging sentrong pampulitika ng militanteng pagkilos ng kababaihang Pilipino para sa pambansang kalayaan, demokrasya at pagkakapantay-pantay ng babae at lalake.

AMIHAN
Ito’y isang pambansang pederasyon ng kababaihang magbubukid sa Pilipinas. Naitayo ito sa tulong na rin ng GABRIELA.

Konklusyon

Lipunan talaga ang nagtatakda ng magiging papel ng babae o lalaki. Ito ang pangunahing nagtatakda ng mga ikikilos nila.

Noong simula, bago pa man tayo sakupin ng mga Kastila, ay mataas pa ang katayuan ng mga kababaihan sa lipunan. Kapantay pa sila ng mga kalalakihan. Ito ay dahil wala pang masyadong paghahati sa mga komunidad o basehan ng mga teritoryo sa kalakhan sa bansa. Nang dumating ang mga Espanyol ay naitatag ang lipunang kolonyal at piyudal na siyang nagpabago ng mga kasanayan o sistema sa ating bansa. Ito ay isa sa mga naging dahilan ng pagkakaroon ng pag-uuri –uri. Bunga nito, ang pagpapalaganap nila ng pagkakaroon ng mababa at sekundaryang posisyon ng mga kababaihan sa lipunan. Nabuo ang konsepto ng sistemang patriarka sa ating bansa. Patriarka ang sistemang hanggang sa ngayon ay nagbibigay pa rin ng lamat sa kakayahan o pagkakakilanlan ng mga kababaihiang Pilipino. Sa pagsakop naman sa atin ng mga Amerikano, higit nila tayong nakontrol dahil sa paghahari ng imperyalismo. Ito ang higit na nagpasidhi sa pang-aapi sa mga kababaihang Pilipino kahit na nabigyan tayo ng laya na makapag-aral at magpartisipa sa mga gawaing panlipunan. Nagbigay ang kanilang mga direksyon ng huwad na kalayaan na hindi matutumbasan. Nang dahil sa sistemang kolonyal at malapyudal na kanilang ipinalaganap, lalong nagkaroon ng klarong hatian sa mga uri sa Pilipinas. Ang mahirap ay sadlak lalo sa kahirapan; ang mayaman ay ubod ng yaman; ang babae ay naging isang edukadang alipin ng kanyang asawa. Isang matinding pinsala naman ang idinulot ng pagsakop sa atin ng mga Hapones. Naging laganap ang panggagahasa at sekswal na pang-aabuso sa kababaihang Pilipino na hindi lamang sumira sa kanilang pagtingin sa sarili, kundi pati na sa harap ng ibang tao ay naging madungis ang anyo ng mga kababaihan. At hanggang sa kasalukuyan, patuloy pa rin ang paghahari ng sistemang patriarkal sa bansa na kahalo na ang iba pang pang-aapi ng iba pang mga nagdaang panahon.

At upang ibawi ang dangal ng kababaihan, maraming mga kilusan ang umusbong upang tugunan ang mga hinaing na hindi napapansin at hindi pinapansin ng lipunan. Ito ang mga kilusang kababaihan na siyang nagbibigay ng suporta at naglulunsad ng mga gawain upang matulungan ang mga Filipina na magpahanggang sa ngayon ay alipin pa rin ng huwad na kalayaan, pang-aapi, at diskriminasyon.

“Kahit masugat –sugatan ang sarili,
Upag ang dugong
Sa kabahagi lamang dumadaloy,
Maglandas din sa isip at guni-guni.”
Ang Maging Babae
Ruth Elynia S. Mabanglo

Kilusang Kababaihan
A Term Paper for Fil 40

Dizon, Lea Mae Patricia L.
2006-13839
Sto. Domingo, Rosalyn Mae P.
2006- 11360

Professor Melania Abad
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City

BIBLIYOGRAPIYA

______________ ., Kalagin ang ating tanikala: batayang kurso sa kalagayan at pakikibaka ng kababaihang Pilipino Quezon City : Center for Women's Resources, 1994

Azarcon, Pennie S., ed. Kamalayan: Feminist Writings in the Philippines. Quezon City : Pilipina, 1987.

Camacho, Leonarda. 100 Centennial Celebration: Feminist Movement in the Philippines. [S.l.] : Printed by Vibal Pub. House, c2005.

Fernandez, Albina Peczon at Rosalinda Ofreneo. Kababaihan. Kalinangan. Kaunlaran: essays on women and culture. Quezon City : Forward Looking Women, 1990.

Tarrosa-Subido, Trinidad. The Feminist Movement in the Philippines. [Manila] : National Federation of Women's Clubs, [c1955]

ANG MAGING BABAE
Ruth E. S. Mabanglo

Kasumpa-sumpa
Ang maging babae sa panahong ito:

Depinisyong pamana
Ng nakaraa’t kasalukuyan

Anong hinulma
Ng pag-asam at pangangailangan

Ibukod pa ang basal na kalikasan
Ang tungkulin at kapaligiran

Isaalang-alang bilang halimbawa,
Ang maiambil sa babasaging kristals

Mulang pagsilang,
Nagumon ang isip sa karupukan
Guwardiya ang bawat ama
Ng pagkabirhe’t kahihiyan

Bawat kapatid na lalaki’y espiya,
Asawa naman ang kandadong ikinakawit sa pinto.

Tunguhin ka’t dahilan
Ng di mabilang na bagay.

Kanin at pamulat
Ng hangari’t paglingap.

Anong pag-ibig o pagpapakasakit?
Anong paglilingkod o pagtitiis?

Ikaw ang pundiya ng karsonsilyo,
Ang kurbata, maging ang burda sa panyo’t kamiseta.

Susukatin ang ganda mo sa kama,
Ang talino’y sa pagkita ng pera.

Kumikita ang beer at sine,
Nagdidildil ka ng pills.

Tunay, ang maging babae sa panahong ito’y
Magiging kasumpa-sumpa lalo

Kung di babalikwas ang lahat,
Matiim na magmumuni’t magsusuri

Kahit masugat-sugatan ang sarili,
Upang ang dugong
Sa kabahagi lamang dumadaloy,
Maglandas din sa isip at guni-guni.

Never Again

2008-02-28T10:26:00.000-08:00

As I think of you now
I know you’ll never
Think of me again.

As I murmur your name
With my loving care
I know you’ll never
Say my name again.

And as I break my heart
By remembering you,
My witnesses are the morning dew
For I know you’ll never
Break your heart again.

Never Again
26 February 2008
R.M. Sto. Domingo

On A Boat

2008-02-28T10:24:00.000-08:00

Sinking
Sinking
Sinking

Infinite sadness
Infinite despair
Loneliness—
Beyond repair.

A stone
Thrown on the
Water
Slowly—desperate
--sinking.

The oblivion
Waiting,
Darkness from
Within.

On A Boat
29 November 2007
R.M.Sto. Domingo

Pain in Innocence

2008-02-28T10:22:00.000-08:00

Pain etched
In my soul
On my soul
I suffer this
Ill-disposed.

Pain radiated
In the whole of me
Unwanted
Unnecessary
But in there—

Not a scalpel
Nor a laser
Can destroy it.
No, indestructible.

Someone
Wretch my heart
Away and save
Me from reality.

Inside, a melody
A chorus floating
Indecisively—
Unpatterend.

Sing it
This composition
And set me free.

The angel wings
Beneath the
Casket door.

Pain in Innocence
29 November 2007

R.M. Sto. Domingo

We Are Us, Not You And Me

2008-02-28T10:20:00.000-08:00

You think I am now yours,
I cannot be myself again.
That I’m all for you.
And yourself for yourself.

How can you be so arrogant?
So sure of yourself?
I am me.
And you are just a part of me. Not me.

I gave you a piece of my heart.
A place just for you.
But not my heart.
No. just a part of it.

Now come to me and hear.
You are mine. A part of me.
I am yours. A part of you.
But I’m not you. You, not me.

We Are Us, Not You And Me
13 August 2007
R.M. Sto. Domingo

Immortal

2008-02-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

You are my immortal image
My life-long dream.
When I’m with you,
I’m afraid, yet I’m secured.
So embrace me now and
Don’t let go.

Immortal
13 August 2007
R.M. Sto. Domingo

Words of Honor

2008-02-28T10:13:00.000-08:00

Stand firm
On your words
For me.

I was hurt once.
Too much.
Too hard.

I cannot succumb
For now.
I was hurt.

It’s still there.
Cutting me.
Making me doubt.

You know that.
I told you.
Wait for me.

Words of Honor
04 July 2007
R.M. Sto. Domingo

Waiting in Vain

2008-02-28T10:10:00.000-08:00

The whish-whoosh of the wind
Dominating the sound in my head.
As I lay here picking the
Dry grass where I lay.

With my back aching and my but damp
Silently praying the moment would
Come when I’ll be able to stretch,
And remove the clinging leaves on my pants.

The wind is blowing harder now,
With the blue sky now tinted with red.
My neck stiff and my nose becoming runny.
Little flying pests clinging above me.

An electric current is running down
My legs, so I shifted my position.
But still, stubbornly holding my post,
Red tint now turning into bluish gray.

As the sky finally turned into a fine dark blue
With the winged-pests feasting on my red juice.
I was forced to realize that it has been long due
For me to have known what I ought to do.

Yet, here I am, firm on my stand,
Lying under the million diamonds
Peeking through the tree’s toothy gap.
My body aching; mosquitoes sucking my blood.

R.M. Sto. Domingo
19 July 2007

What We Were

2008-02-26T09:11:00.000-08:00

We never fought,
And yet we said goodbye.

We always talk,
And yet we never understand.

We always smile at each other,
And yet we never were happy.

We always give,
And yet we never share.

So now that we're suddenly apart,
I realized we never really were
What we thought we are.

R.M. Sto. Domingo
18 June 2007

Sick, Fool and Stuttering

2008-02-26T08:28:00.000-08:00

I c-could ne-e-ever be-e t-the oa-ne

Wh-whoo wi-will oh-always b-ee da-there ah-around

You-u, la-like s-she d-does

Fo-for ah-I am-m b-busy eh-and

Bo-born-n t-to th-think-k o-of ah-d-ther t-things

Mo-mowre al-alluri-ring eh-and d-decep-p-tive-e

D-than you-u ah-re; eh-and s-she

Ah-I no-know, ee-s t-the oa-ne you-u'v-ve oh-always

Lo-looked-ed fo-for ee-n ah-a w-woman

P-perfect fo-for da-the a-eyes ah-an ee-imperfect-th

Ki-creature la-like m-me c-could ne-ev-er

Gee-gain co-comp-parison t-to.

B-but the-then, whe-when ah-I th-think t-twice

Ah-bout c-came t-to t-the con-conclusion

Whi-which me-made me-ee ah-ask t-the

Que-question th-that me-ey fo-forever n-nag h-her

Eh-and y-yet s-she wo-won't no-know t-the ahh-nswer.

"C-can h-her ah-eyes t-talk w-when

you-u ah-re n-not li-listening-g?"

R.M. Sto. Domingo
12 November 2006

sights for sore!

2008-02-11T04:02:00.000-08:00

blood aksed

2008-02-11T01:40:00.000-08:00

Where does one draws the line between love and hate?
Is it when one stumbles upon the heart and it gets broken?

When does love becomes hate?
Is it when you love too much and forget about yourself
while, he, too, loves too much and forgets about you?

Is it when you smile while your heart is bleeding
because he smiles and his heart is not for you?

When does hate becomes love?

Is it when anger is too much to bear
that the heart just can’t contain it
and it bursts and turns into something not worth losing?

Or is it when you nourish too much doubt in your heart
that it suddenly breaks and eventually turns into ash and then is reborn?

Is the cycle of love and hate worth crying over?
Or does it make you sick and let you disintegrate into nothingness?

~blackrose

Nature Destroyed

2007-12-06T08:46:00.000-08:00

(04 October 2006)
* a poem I made as a favor for Quicel B. Santos for her NSTP subject in UA(Pampanga)

I slept
while it's still bright outside.
I dreamt
of a nice house
in a well -known village
in a prosperous town.
When i woke up,
It was already dark.

RM STO. DOMINGO
blackrose_kaito
L kenshin 'o7

DAWN

2007-12-06T08:43:00.000-08:00

(04 October 2006)
* a poem I wrote as a blog entry for CW10

I heard the song of the rooster.
It was still dark outside.
But I needed to get up.

RM STO. DOMINGO
blackrose_kaito
L kenshin 'o7

BLACKROSE

2007-12-06T08:34:00.000-08:00

(02 October 2006)
* a poem I wrote as a blog entry for CW10 (J. Duque) <1st>

A rose
was once perched on a
lively bush without care
of the world for
the wind is always fresh
that it doesn't damage her
petals.
But then,
a storm came,
with the howling wind
and furious shower
that forever broken the
lovely rose stalk.
It died,
and became black.

RM STO. DOMINGO
blackrose_kaito
L kenshin 'o7

Sa Pagsilay ng Umaga

2007-12-06T08:23:00.000-08:00

(18 September 2006)
* tulang ipinasa para sa 2nd workshop sa UPWC
2nd revision of "Bukang Liwayway"

Sa pagnulat ng aking mga mata
nakita ko ang araw na
Puno ng laya
Na unti-unting gumugising sa
kanyang higaang humahati
Sa langit at lupa.

Napapikit ako at muling naalala
Ang malakas na ulan kahapon na
Nagdulot ng baha na nanalanta
Sa aking bakuran at
Halos sirain ang hardin ko ng
Rosas na kinagigiliwan ng lahat.

Binuksan kong muli ang aking mga mata
Hindi pa rin ganap ang liwanag
Kung tutuusin ay nababalot pa ng
Dilim ang aking kapaligiran.
Hindi pa maaaninag ng aking paningin
Ang orasan sa may dingding.

Magpagayon pa man, sinimulan ko
Nang itupi ang aking pinaghigaan
Ngunit sa kalagitnaan ng aking ginagawa,
Umihip ang malamig na hangin na naghatid
Ng kilabot sa aking katawan, kasabay ng mabangong
Amoy ng inosente na mabilis ring lumisan.

Muntik na kong mahiga ulit dahil sa lamig,
Ngunit nang mapadako sa labas ang aking paningin,
nakita 'kong halos kalat na ang liwanag
Oras na upang umpisahan ang araw.
Gustuhin ko mang bumalik sa paghimbing,
Lumipas na ang oras na 'yon ayon sa orasan sa dingding.

RM STO. DOMINGO
blackrose_kaito
L kenshin 'o7

FIDELITY

2007-12-06T08:08:00.000-08:00

(18 September 2006)
* tulang ipinasa para sa MPs10

Kalaro ko siya mula pagkabata.
Ang mga laro namin: tumbang preso,
patintero, lutu-lutuan,
Bahay-bahayan.

Sa bawat larong sinasalihan namin
Noon, palagi kaming magkasangga.
Sumpaan namin: "Walang iwanan!"
At buong puso naming sinusunod 'yon.

Kapag tumbang-preso ang laro
Gusto namin, partners ang taya.
kaya kapag taya siya, taya rin ako.
Kung 'di naman, tulungan kami sa pagapapataob ng lata.

Sa patintero, magkasama kami sa
Isang grupo, magkaagapay sa pang-a-out kapag taya
Kami. Tuwing tumitira naman,
Tulungan sa panlalanse upang makaraan.

Sabay kami sa paghahandang mga kailangan
Naming sangkap kapag lutu-lutuan ang laro.
Tapos ay ako ang magluluto, siya ang maghahain.
At 'pag kakain na, walang lamangan sa paghahati.

Ang pinakamasaya ay ang bahay-bahayan kung saan
Ako ang ina, at siya naman ang ama.
Si Helen, ang aking manyika at si Olsen, ang kanyang robot
Ang aming mga anak. Ako ang sa bahay, siya sa trabaho.

Hanggang ngayon ay kalaro ko pa rin siya.
At nananatili pa rin ang aming sumpaan.
Ngunit ngayon, bahay-bahayan na lamang ang laro.
Ako ang sa bahay, siya sa trabaho--may ibang kalaro.

RM STO.DOMINGO
blackrose_kaito
L kenshin 'o7

CONO

2007-12-06T07:55:00.000-08:00

(14 September 2006)
* tulang ipinasa para sa MPs10 (1st yr/1st sem o6-o7)

isang araw
when i passed by the lobby
one woman caught my pansin.
at bakit hindi,
mula sa malayo, i could already see
her nagniningning na beauty
na in the midst of the crowd
ay namumukudtangi.
lalo pa't sinabayan pa niya ng sandals
na pink; whose heels are three inches ang taas
ang kanya namang mapuputing mga binti
hindi na halos matakpan ng kanyang
faded maong skirt
na mini.
if you look naman at her belly
kitang-kita
ang kanyang pusod na may singsing
na litaw sa kanyang sleeveless shirt
na hanging
at hapit na hapit.
and with prints pa, saying,
"i'm hot. and i'm single."
in large block letters na
kulay red
na talagang striking!
gayong sa kanyang tabi
isang pang-close up na lalaki
and grabe kung
makatsansing!

RM STO. DOMINGO
blackrose_kaito
L kenshin 'o7

Sa Puso ng Kahirapan

2007-12-06T07:45:00.000-08:00

(27 February 2006)
* hango sa "Tundo may ay May Langit Din" ni Andrew Cristobal Cruz
(kabanata VIII)

Katahimika'y pilit na inaaninag
Sa gitna ng kasukalan, karimlang 'di natitinag
Nangangarap na sa bawat hakbang ay mautag
Mga salita ng tagumpay; nais maihayag---

Bawat hakbang ay puno ng pag-aalinlangan
'Di mawari kung lahat ay may kahihinatnan
lalo pa't napalilibutan ng mga karangyaan
Na hindi maabot; mga abang kamay nahihirapan.

Problema'y parang isang anino na mapilit
Hindi ka iiwan hanggat inaabot ang nakakaakit
Na tropeyo ng tagumpay na walang makapalit
Sapagkat nag-iisa lamang na pangarap mula ng maliit.

At ngayo'y unti-unti nang tumutupad
Sa mga pangako sa sarili; ang tangkang paglipag
Ngunit sa pagkampay ng mga pakapak; nais ilunsad
Maging mga bagwis ng ibang kasing palad.

RM STO. DOMINGO
blackrose_kaito
L kenshin 'o7

LAGUSAN

2007-12-06T07:37:00.000-08:00

(27 February 2006)
* Introduksiyon: Portfolio sa Filipino IV*

Sa pintuang nagbubukas sa walang hanggan
Matatagpuan ang kayamanan ng nakaraan
Liwanag na sisilay mula sa karimlan
Patungo sa kaibuturan ng inyong kaisipan

Sining na nahango mula sa imahinasyon
Ng mga manunulat na namulat sa kahapon
Layuning maiparating sa kabataan ng panahon
Iba't ibang istorya, iba't ibang leksiyon.

Nagsisimula na ng inyong ekspidisyon sa mundo
Kung saan ang mga kwento't tula'y hango
Sa mga pangyayaring tunay at totoo.
Sa lugar na walang oras dadalhin kayo...

RM STO. DOMINGO
blackrose_kaito
L kenshin 'o7

Bukang Liwayway

2007-12-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

Sa pagsilaw ng liwanag sa'king mata
ay muling dumalaw ang mga gunita.
Masaya. Masakit. Ngunit puno ng laya
hamog ay pumatak sa dahong aplaya.

Sumalubong ingay ng bagong umaga;
Ngunit ang himig sa'king puso'y lipas na.
nais mahabol kahit magka-ugaga
pero sadyang kayhirap abutin na--

Puno'y nagkakatanhan, nagkukwentuhan,
Gusto kong tumakas at sadyang lumisan.
Puntahan siayang inosente at walang muwang.
Siyang nagbigay ligayang walang katuwang.

Ngunit sa pagmulat ng mga talukap,
Aking nabatid at pilit na tinanggap
siya'y parte na lang ng kahapong namatay
nagpaalam sabay ng bukang liwayway.

RM STO. DOMINGO
blckrose_kaito
L kenshin 'o7

The Make Believe You

2007-12-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

When I saw you through the crowd
You were standing so smart and proud
Smiling sweetly as the breeze caressed you softly
Greetings flowing from your lips so swiftly.

But when I looked through your eyes,
i saw a different story that cleared all dyes.
You're heart was breaking, and I couldn't do a thing.
A rope of sorrow was wounded over you, and I couldn't pull a string.

i suddenly felt that your easy smiles were forced
Your cheerful greetings gnawing you with remorse
shadowed though your eyes were,
They were crying--filling the seashore.

then i suddenly came to a thought;
How easy people could be blinded like a goat,
Succumbing to an act without knowing they did so.
Leaving you abandoned and careful not to let them know
What I saw.

RM STO. DOMINGO
blackrose_kaito
L kenshin 'o7

GASERA

2007-12-06T07:01:00.000-08:00

Nang ako'y magmulat ng mata,
Mula sa aking pagkakahimbing
Wala akong matanaw o maaninag man lang
Balot ng kadiliman, wala akong magawa--

Sa aking isipan, alam kong umaga na
ngunit bakit ni munting ilaw walang lumitaw?
natatakot ako--nanghihina--ngunit walang magawa
O muniting ilaw--kailangan ko ng iyong irog--

Kailangan ko ng ilaw ng kahapong 'di ko na mahawakan sa aking isipan--
Ibig ko'y kaliwanagang 'di ko maabot
Kaliwanagang tulad ng gasera na kailangan ko ngayon--
Kahit isang munting tilamsik ng ilaw.

Mula sa gasera ng aking kaliwanagan
Mula sa kahapong ipinagdamot sa akin ng kapalaran
Kapalarang walang kasing saklap.

Halika o halika huwag mong ipagkait
Gasera na aking tanging tanaw sa hinaharap.
Ang tanging bagay na magbubukas ng pinto
Gasera na nagsisilbing alaala ko sa kahapon.

RM STO. DOMINGO
blackrose_kaito
L kenshin 'o7

Nobody is in Love

2007-12-06T06:53:00.000-08:00

(22 August 2004)

Haply I wonder how impressive you are.

You amazed me like no other can do.

Bewitched by your charms that I can only see from afar

No one can wonder how much of my heart I gave to you.

Loving you is like killing myself softly time by time

Everytime I look at you, my feet dig deeper into the ground

I don't know how, but benignly I enjoy the chime

Whose mellow music I hear when I see you from the crowd.

Never have I hope that you'll ever care to know me

But maybe I dream of it once or twice every night.

It's hard to wake when you know it will hurt thee

'Cause you gave your heart to a man whose away from sight.

Painfully I remind myself everyday,

A nobody can never play a part on a star's heart.

You can dream maybe, it's free anyway

But a dream is just a dream as well as truth really do hurt.

RM STO. DOMINGO

blackrose_kaito

L kenshin 'o7

The Soul of a Battered Heart

2007-12-06T06:44:00.000-08:00

(04 August 2004)

Once, I dreamed of being as powerful as an eagle;
As brave and persistent as a lion
But now, all of it was shattered
Embedded in the darkest part of my life
Battering my willow heart with every piece.

I can't stop my damsel heart from shivering
Crying all its pain and suffering
Reflecting every gloomy part of my heart
Revealing the loneliness stocked inside
I tried to hide it, but I just can't stop.

Now I know that I can never be strong enough
'Cause I know my soul is just too ashamed
To show in front of everyone.
Afraid that I might be hurt one more time
That will lead to the death of my time.

RM STO. DOMINGO
blackrose_kaito
L kenshin 'o7

chains

2007-10-21T22:57:00.000-07:00

Don't make me fall in love with you

more than I am now...

There is darkness inside my heart

that might break it;

then it will never lasts

the way you meant it..

Let me cry with blood

for the chains you're loving me

with is fighting my heart...

_R.M. P. Sto. Domingo_
--Lestat de Lioncourt--

Heartless and Unfortunate

2007-07-15T07:38:00.000-07:00

Heartless and Unfortunate
By: R.M. Sto. Domingo
11 July ‘o7

Why is it that we have
To fall in love?
Is love a hole,
That unfortunately,
Everybody falls into?

Why is it that we
Fall out of love?
Is love a stage
Where unfortunately
We stumble off?

Why is it that we
Love and get hurt?
Is love a deficiency
Which unfortunately,
Makes us disintegrate?

Why is it that we
Love and then hate?
Is love a curse,
Which unfortunately
Darkens our hearts?

Why is it that we love?
Is it an unfortunate
Hole on the stage
Which is a deficiency
That we curse?

Why then do we feel
This unfortunate
And heartless feeling
In our heartless and
Unfortunate hearts?

When You and I Don’t Complete

2007-07-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

When You and I Don’t Complete
By: R.M. Sto. Domingo
18 June ‘o7

I am a free soul,
An independent mind.
A complete being
Who’s looking for nothing.
So how can I let you
In it?
A troubled soul,
With a dominating urge.
A half looking for its other.
Dependent, and yet a rebel.
I’m afraid we won’t complete
On another.
You’ll want to control me,
To make me depend on you.
And I greatly won’t like it.
Instead, I’ll want to crush you
For making me something I don’t
Want to be.
We’ll never surrender,
Until we’ve hurt each other.
Then, we will both be free…
And unhappy.

_kenshin 'o7_

The Last Dew of Spring

2007-07-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

The Last Dew of Spring
(Third revision)
By: R. M. Sto. Domingo
15 July ‘o7

We met last spring not knowing what destiny will bring.
Your mind met mine; so did our hearts become combined.
We felt a mélange of emotions that can almost sing.
A single dew tapped our lonely hearts—uninvited.

Our lives turned into a mystical labyrinth; twisting.
Spring brought levity to our souls that were battered.
And we vanquished; conquering all the pains and crying.
Another dew fell on our tamed hearts—unexpected.

Flowers came to full bloom, so did our hearts come knowing.
Brown became green; in our hearts, we felt love embedded.
Savoring the strange emotion was just like dreaming.
Spring dew came rushing down to our hearts—unabashed.

Now, the lovely cherry blossoms are slowly drifting,
By and by, you’ll be leaving me, and my heart: shattered.
And as you bid your goodbye, I will be left shivering.
The dew which once warmed you and me, now all cold—chilled.

Now, the last leaf on the tree, once jaunty, now struggling.
My willow heart, once mighty, now scattered.
Once sheltered with your love, now so alone and hurting.
The last dew of spring glided, burned my heart—unwanted.

_kEnsHiN 'o7_

spark

2007-07-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in thehopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, thenot-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonelyfrustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able toreach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world youdesired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it isyours. (I wish I had said this, but it was actually Ayn Rand)

From: Ma'am Paz Diaz
(Comm 14o)

facets of love

2007-07-12T00:39:00.000-07:00

i love you. ( i love you but you don't reciprocate my feelings.)
i love.
you.

you love. (we think we are in love with each other, but in truth, we're just in love
i love. with love)
love.

love i. (we are friends. but you love me more than that. for i am still waiting for
you and i. my love for you to grow)
love.

love you. (you want me to love you but i'm in love with myself.)
i love.
i.

you love i. (you love me. and i love you. but we both know that your love is greater
and i. than mine.)
you love.

i love. (i love someone. and it could be you. but nevertheless, whoever might that
you. be, i still love him dearly.)
love.

i and you. (we both love each other. but i was already in love with you when you fell
love. in love with me.)
i love you.

@'-blackrose-"--
11 July 'o7

without you..

2007-07-05T06:37:00.000-07:00

Does being free also means being lonely? I don't think so, I've lived my life for so long without you that it won't matter that you're out of it now. All you can do now is remember, because we'll never make another memory. I'm happy now. Without you.

Do not take me... For granted.

2007-07-03T01:20:00.000-07:00

Do not take me

For granted.

I am not yours

Yet.

You're breaking my heart

Without holding it.

Does making me cry

Makes you happy?

Does hurting me

Also hurt you,

Or does it make you smile?

You say you love me,

But does it runs dry

After some time?

Do not take me

For granted.

I'm strong but I'm weak.

Do not

Take me for granted.

Please.

what to do?

2007-06-11T22:19:00.000-07:00

After a year after my disastrous relationship with jack, here I am again standing between the cliff and the dangerous waters of the intangible chain called love. Haha. And now, after all the pain that I was forced to endure then, I can't actually think straight. What to do? I'm still in shock. I never expected that something like this would happen to me.. Now of all times, when I'm already starting anew and trying to break free from the nightmarish past I have.

But what am I saying? I guess I should tell you.. It started, maybe a week or two ago when I unexpectedly renewed contact with a longtime friend. At first, it was kind of fun. Of course, we've not talk for almost two or three years.. But then, things started to get pretty complicated when he begun to say things I did not--never--expected him to say. Like, for years, he's always been besotted withme and all that. Frankly, I thought it was all a big joke. But what shock I received I cannot explain when talked to my sister, then my mom, about the things he feels for me. And my mom is quite taken with him. So now, in my shoulder lies the decision whether to have him or not. The only problem is, I don't know what I feel.. I guess, I'm still scared to know..

redemption

2007-05-07T22:01:00.000-07:00

I can never be a princess but I will forever be me. You said you love me as I am, but it was a statement you didin't mean at all. how then do you think i can forgive you? or more importantly, love you? Once, my love for you was worth all the risks and the deceptions, but then, it all had come to naught. You betrayed me in the worst possible way. It will do you more good if you'll stop waltzing with me right now, or you'll eventually feel the way I did all those times I made a foolish blind woman out of myself just for you. Or worst, more.

Je ne peux jamais être princesse mais je me serai à jamais. Vous avez dit que vous m'aimez comme je suis, mais c'était une déclaration vous didin › les moyens de t à tout. comment alors pensez-vous que je peux vous pardonner ? ou d'une manière importante, vous aimez plus ? une fois, mon amour pour vous valiez tous les risques et les tromperies, mais alors, il tout était venu rien. vous m'avez trahi dans la pire façon possible. Il vous fera plus bon si vous arrêterez de danser la valse avec moi maintenant, ou vous sentirez finalement la façon j'ai fait tous ces temps j'ai fait une aveugle sotte de me juste pour vous. Ou pire, plus.

when forever is just a word..

2007-04-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

"I guess that's all forever is. Just one long trail of nows. And I guess all you can do is try and live one now at a time without getting too worked up about the last now or the next now."
--- Daniel Booker, The Horse Whisperer.

Isn't just that right? When I stumbled upon this certain passage, I knew that all along, I've been thinking with the same line of thought. Maybe that's why I never considered the phrase "now and forever" a valid one. Because, I'd rather prefer the phrase "forever and beyond".

And what is it they usually say? "Tomorrow never comes." So most likely, we'll NEVER find forever tomorrow, or even in the next tomorrows of tomorrow. Why? Because we can only take one day at a time. One "now"-- one "forever" -- each day.

someone will, but you will be you.

2007-04-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

Someone will always be prettier.

Someone will always be smarter.

Someone's house will be bigger.

Someone's car will be better.

Someone's husband will fix more thingsaround the house.

JUST LET IT GO!

&& Love your circumstances..

JUST THINK..

The prettiest woman in the world canhave hell in her heart.

The most highly favored woman in yourjob may be unable to have children.

And the richest woman you know [[whohas the biggest house, nicest car, &&expensive clothes]] may be very lonely.

And the word says...

"If I have not Loved, I am nothing."

So Love who you are!In the morning, look in the mirror,smile & say..

"I am too blessed to be stressed & tooanointed to be disappointed!"

"BE "BLESSED" LADIES!!

= something they told me.. ('^.x)

learning from Caravaggio

2007-04-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

"Tell me, is it possible to love someone who is not as smart as you are?...I mean, she may not be smarter than you. But isn't it important for you to think she is smarter than you in order to fall inlove? Think now. She can be obssessed by the Englishman because he knows more. You see, it is easier to fall in love with him than with you. Why is that? Because we want to know things, how the pieces fit. Talkers seduce, words direct us into corners. We want more than anything to grow and change..."

Isn't that just true? Indeed, for me, it is. For humans are curious creatures. We love to have answers and so we are always drawn to the keys that we think will lead us out of ignorance. And so they do. But often, we arejust too much excited that we forget to think about consequences. And so begins another whirlwind-chase for answers that eventually turns out to be carrier of a bigger luggage of curiosities than the one we're already holding.

I don't actually know how it is with other people. All that I know is that, we people will always be ignorant--one way or another. And that, we will always try not to be one and again and again, fail. A never-ending cycle of foolishness and knowing.

the horse whisperer

2007-03-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

When I read this book, at first I thought it was just a common best-seller book with a common twisted plot. Given the fact that I'm a bookworm, I was really critical.

But then, as I continued to read, I realized that, yeah, again, my instincts led me to a captivating book. Let me explain...

I've always wanted to buy this (The Horse Whisperer) book the moment I stumbled upon it at a shelf in a bookstore near us. Even though I've never heard of it before , nor the movie created based on it, I knew in my gut that I want it. Well, that's how I always pick my books. But then, I never had the chance to buy it because by that time, I was really being careful in spending my money. Besides, I'm a real micer and I couldn't bear the idea of paying 180php just for a secondhand novel, so I turned my back on it. So, to make the long boring story short, I bought it when its price was lowered to 45php and was really excited about it.

Don't get me wrong, I was real excited about it, BUT, I was also--always--critical. And then, blah blah blah, I fell in love with it. Really. Just like when I fell in love with the "Possession" of A.S. Byatt, "100years of Solitude" of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and "The English Patient" of Michael Ondaatje, and "Harry Potter" (series) of J.K. Rowling. You see, for me, it is always easier to fall in love with a book than with a man because books can make us see reflections about life that never did seem to enter our minds when we interact with people we thought [or intend to] we have special feelings for. They bring forth emotions that we always deny ourselves simply because we are too scared it will show and then it will shatter our faith--our belief--about ourselves that we are strong and nothing--absolutely nothing--can make us breakdown. But then, with people, they only make us doubt more that we tend to see ourselves to be always in the dark as we see them in it. Mirrors of delusioned beings.

Going back, when finally I reached the last pages of the book, I was deeply moved. Because I saw there what I always denied myself from understanding. Love is always knowing when to let go and sacrifice even if it will hurt you so. Like what Tom Booker did, because he loved both mother and child, he made the choice of dying than breaking more lives because of his love for Annie (the mother). Totally wicked story. Wicked in a good way.