If I was to compare anything my family has that are like the mats in the story, I'd say it would be the jewelry. My mom inherited a lot of them from my grandmother, and she already passed down a couple to me, including the gold mini hoops I usually wear to class. These include earrings, necklaces, bracelets and brooches (goodness knows what they used these for back in the day; not very practical....).
I think the women in my immediate family inherited some. It's actually kinda weird wearing them since I know how old they are and how much my mom values them, but they're so timeless! Most have like a plant pattern? Gems designed around the central stone patterned like leaves or petals. The ones I got were mostly blue- sapphire is my birthstone, see. The annoying thing is that my old favorite ring doesn't fit anymore except around my pinky... I guess I'm going to give it to my daughter or gay son someday.. :))
My personal favorites from mom's treasured collection would definitely be the ones with pearls in it. I think they pretty much go with anything you wear, plus they are real classy. My grandmother had them made specially like that so it's kinda doubtful there would be another design like it. I just don't want to borrow any because the last time I did, I lost one earring.. :(
As for the dudes in my family, I have no idea what they got. My first cousins got a bunch of nice designer watches from their dad, but that's about it I suppose... Maybe a closet-full of old ass polos?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
if things were the other way around...
Leon had been staying in Ermita, Manila for some time now, and this is in fact where he met his new bride, Maria. Now Leon and Maria, no matter how in love they were, grew up in radically different conditions. Leon grew up in Nagrebcan, a small farming town up north. Maria is a Manilena since birth. Both come from respectable families (definitions and social symbols vary in their respective hometowns, but yes).
They had been married for some time now and had been talking about meeting each other's families. The day finally came when it was time for Leon to meet Maria's folks. They lived in a different part of the city, and their daughter rarely came to visit since she was 'busy'. But now, the moment of truth arrived.
The journey was relatively uneventful. There was an air of nervousness in the carriage they were riding in. They had discussed this so many times before; doing things properly and all. But the situation was different now, and highly complicated. They would occasionally talk about some things they saw along the road: beggars all along the roads, the state of this well-known rich man's property, a scandalous argument between two women who happened to be serial adulterers, and the construction of new roads (for easier and safer passage). After about an hour or so, they arrived at the house Maria grew up in.
The newly-weds got off the carriage in front of a large house situated on the main road. It had all the trendy designs of the time: big oaken doors, wide windows, and a large staircase greeting them at the entrance. The door was wide open, but nobody came to greet them and take their belongings from the carriage (probably because or dear woman forgot to write in advance of her visit; must have slipped her mind?).
"Hello?", Maria called into the house.
Upon saying these, loud footsteps could be heard laboring down the wide stairs. A middle aged man, who, leaning heavily on a walking stick, still looked intimidating and smart in his attire and stature. He was closely followed by a beautiful woman who could only be the mother and lady of the house. Maria gracefully loped up the stairs to hug her parents. Pulling away, she said "Mother, Father, I'd like you to meet my husband. This is Leon." And she pointed down to him, who tried to bow with as much grace as he could muster considering he was burdened with heavy suitcases.
Leon had imagined being welcomed graciously into his wife's family considering the circumstances. He could not have imagined more wrongly. Maria's mother shrieked and fainted on the spot (thank goodness she didn't fall down the stairs for a servant ran forward to catch her). The father on the other hand started shaking his fists at the poor husband and yelling obscenities and threats, then after composing himself, he settled with looking at Maria with a disappointed look and shaking his head while muttering under his breath.
They were finally welcomed to rest on the sala while waiting for the mother to regain consciousness, and when she did, muttered something like "How could you?", then fell back in her seat in a faint again.
The following day, Leon and Maria went home to Ermita, thinking that they should give her parents more time to accept that fact that she was already married. They also hoped to come up with a decent enough apology and a peace offering to get back on her parents' good graces.
They had been married for some time now and had been talking about meeting each other's families. The day finally came when it was time for Leon to meet Maria's folks. They lived in a different part of the city, and their daughter rarely came to visit since she was 'busy'. But now, the moment of truth arrived.
The journey was relatively uneventful. There was an air of nervousness in the carriage they were riding in. They had discussed this so many times before; doing things properly and all. But the situation was different now, and highly complicated. They would occasionally talk about some things they saw along the road: beggars all along the roads, the state of this well-known rich man's property, a scandalous argument between two women who happened to be serial adulterers, and the construction of new roads (for easier and safer passage). After about an hour or so, they arrived at the house Maria grew up in.
The newly-weds got off the carriage in front of a large house situated on the main road. It had all the trendy designs of the time: big oaken doors, wide windows, and a large staircase greeting them at the entrance. The door was wide open, but nobody came to greet them and take their belongings from the carriage (probably because or dear woman forgot to write in advance of her visit; must have slipped her mind?).
"Hello?", Maria called into the house.
Upon saying these, loud footsteps could be heard laboring down the wide stairs. A middle aged man, who, leaning heavily on a walking stick, still looked intimidating and smart in his attire and stature. He was closely followed by a beautiful woman who could only be the mother and lady of the house. Maria gracefully loped up the stairs to hug her parents. Pulling away, she said "Mother, Father, I'd like you to meet my husband. This is Leon." And she pointed down to him, who tried to bow with as much grace as he could muster considering he was burdened with heavy suitcases.
Leon had imagined being welcomed graciously into his wife's family considering the circumstances. He could not have imagined more wrongly. Maria's mother shrieked and fainted on the spot (thank goodness she didn't fall down the stairs for a servant ran forward to catch her). The father on the other hand started shaking his fists at the poor husband and yelling obscenities and threats, then after composing himself, he settled with looking at Maria with a disappointed look and shaking his head while muttering under his breath.
They were finally welcomed to rest on the sala while waiting for the mother to regain consciousness, and when she did, muttered something like "How could you?", then fell back in her seat in a faint again.
The following day, Leon and Maria went home to Ermita, thinking that they should give her parents more time to accept that fact that she was already married. They also hoped to come up with a decent enough apology and a peace offering to get back on her parents' good graces.
Monday, January 24, 2011
MY FATHER GOES TO COURT: The Filipino Experience
Was the author writing literature that reflects protest literature or wish fulfillment?
I think that Carlos Bulosan meant this as a bit of both. He is both protesting how badly Filipinos are treated abroad and thinking of a sort of alternate reality where justice abounds. When we think back to the prehistoric times, you have to admit that being rich or 'above' others poses several advantages. The advantaged are looked up to and have more social and judicial perks. Some even have ties in places far up. Whether Bulosan is bitter about how Filipinos are treated in America or here in the Philippines, it's the same story. It just makes it worse here, because we are persecuted by our countrymen; there, it's a bunch of white dudes who have always thought themselves awesome since they discovered fire. I think it's his subtle way of saying that the less privileged are blamed for almost everything that goes wrong, but at the same time it's wish fulfillment in him giving the judge a fair view in things and hearing out the parties (no matter how crazy the complaints and compensations are). I mean, come on. Everybody's sort of hoping for equality for all, unity, peace, love, and laughter, right?
Economic conditions VS intrinsic values and virtues
Filipinos are poor but happy?
The Philippines is a predominantly poor country. More than half the population is near or very much under the poverty line. But for some reason, these conditions can't wipe the smile off the people's faces.A majority also still value family and education above all else. Look in the story. The working class/poor family are forever laughing and going out, playing with the children/siblings. The wealthy family just stay put. We know nothing of their dynamics behind closed doors though, but they seem like real sour people. In real life, take for example those people we see on TV who live on the streets or in dingy makeshift houses made of 'yero' and plywood. They still have the energy to chase after the camera men and smile at the camera (unless they're extremely shy). Not just poverty, but in calamities. Entire houses are flooded through, but the families living there are still able to smile and wave/flail at the camera (and all these from the roofs of their houses). Also in the story, the poor family doesn't 'shoot' the kids for being such pains in the ass (given that the time is a more conservative one than today's times). They stick together, and still have time to mess around when things are tough. I suppose it's a Filipino thing. We have a tendency of laughing things off, no matter how big a problem. The ending of the story where the accused pays the sickly family with the 'spirit of coins' was quite witty, another annoyingly Filipino characteristic. Some would say it's called being 'pilosopo', but there is a point in what the father did (I mean, how in the heck can you steal the spirit of food?! Dumbass.). But the fact that a man can still think of something as wiity and funny, then laugh about it (with everybody present) just goes to show how irritatingly happy people we are.
I think that Carlos Bulosan meant this as a bit of both. He is both protesting how badly Filipinos are treated abroad and thinking of a sort of alternate reality where justice abounds. When we think back to the prehistoric times, you have to admit that being rich or 'above' others poses several advantages. The advantaged are looked up to and have more social and judicial perks. Some even have ties in places far up. Whether Bulosan is bitter about how Filipinos are treated in America or here in the Philippines, it's the same story. It just makes it worse here, because we are persecuted by our countrymen; there, it's a bunch of white dudes who have always thought themselves awesome since they discovered fire. I think it's his subtle way of saying that the less privileged are blamed for almost everything that goes wrong, but at the same time it's wish fulfillment in him giving the judge a fair view in things and hearing out the parties (no matter how crazy the complaints and compensations are). I mean, come on. Everybody's sort of hoping for equality for all, unity, peace, love, and laughter, right?
Economic conditions VS intrinsic values and virtues
Filipinos are poor but happy?
The Philippines is a predominantly poor country. More than half the population is near or very much under the poverty line. But for some reason, these conditions can't wipe the smile off the people's faces.A majority also still value family and education above all else. Look in the story. The working class/poor family are forever laughing and going out, playing with the children/siblings. The wealthy family just stay put. We know nothing of their dynamics behind closed doors though, but they seem like real sour people. In real life, take for example those people we see on TV who live on the streets or in dingy makeshift houses made of 'yero' and plywood. They still have the energy to chase after the camera men and smile at the camera (unless they're extremely shy). Not just poverty, but in calamities. Entire houses are flooded through, but the families living there are still able to smile and wave/flail at the camera (and all these from the roofs of their houses). Also in the story, the poor family doesn't 'shoot' the kids for being such pains in the ass (given that the time is a more conservative one than today's times). They stick together, and still have time to mess around when things are tough. I suppose it's a Filipino thing. We have a tendency of laughing things off, no matter how big a problem. The ending of the story where the accused pays the sickly family with the 'spirit of coins' was quite witty, another annoyingly Filipino characteristic. Some would say it's called being 'pilosopo', but there is a point in what the father did (I mean, how in the heck can you steal the spirit of food?! Dumbass.). But the fact that a man can still think of something as wiity and funny, then laugh about it (with everybody present) just goes to show how irritatingly happy people we are.
Monday, January 10, 2011
first thing's first...
okay.. here it goes..
here i am, currently figuring out how this thing works for my LITFILI class, so i just decided to post something as a baptism for my new blogspot account.. and, yes, i have finally remembered my password! so yeah..
today's pretty much the first day of school, and a crap-load of nothing happened! :)) but i'm glad i went to school... there are still a lot of things that i need to straighten out.. stressful, but necessary..
the day is almost done, and i am feeling extremely accomplished at the mo' 'coz i have done the first requirements of the term! 12 units sort of does that to you.. :)) anyway, i'm ending the ramblings here.. i'm still testing it out after all..!
here i am, currently figuring out how this thing works for my LITFILI class, so i just decided to post something as a baptism for my new blogspot account.. and, yes, i have finally remembered my password! so yeah..
today's pretty much the first day of school, and a crap-load of nothing happened! :)) but i'm glad i went to school... there are still a lot of things that i need to straighten out.. stressful, but necessary..
the day is almost done, and i am feeling extremely accomplished at the mo' 'coz i have done the first requirements of the term! 12 units sort of does that to you.. :)) anyway, i'm ending the ramblings here.. i'm still testing it out after all..!
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