Baler

There are so many untold stories about the war times in the Philippines and even to the other countries. True events are not being told. Being biased and too technical about what was really happening then. Powerful men sits around and wait for the result of their plans while soldiers fight for their life, family and country and the peasants get scared for their lives. The true history is from the memories of the people who lived in the dark times. Who had lived through the demon days of the Philippines. I got interested in history because of the actual stories I've heard from the journals, memories and story telling of the survivors of the war. To the movies i had seen that was based on true events, it really made me feel what was really like in the past. 

Baler, one of the movies i have seen. It's actually great, it made me cry. It made me feel all kinds of emotions of the war. 

The movie, Baler is a love story between a daughter of a rebellion, Feliza and a Spanish-Filipino soldier, Celso in the year 1989 setting when the Siege of Baler took place. Filipino rebels fought hard so that they can wipe out all the remaining Spanish soldiers who are stationed in the town of Baler and finally have freedom. The rebel father couldn't accept the Spanish-Filipino soldier who chose to fight for the enemies instead of Filipinos. For that the love story of Feliza and Celso are forbidden.

While being drawn to the classic love story (mala Romeo and Juliet story) that knows no time, place and race, we are also glided into the historic past to take a peek on what transpired inside the walls of the church of Baler where the last Spanish contingent (who are not aware that the war had actually ended), heroically defended Baler against the Filipino forces for 337 long and grueling days. 

In the end, freedom is in the air, the rebels have won but the love of Feliza had died along with her lover Celso. A very sad and tragic story for me. It's like in the "Wilderness of Sweets" but in this story it is the lover not the brother who died. The one's who had lost everything in the victory of war is still a painful ending to remember. 

This story is all about conflict, anger, betrayal, suffering, self-preservation, selfishness,
obstinacy, and self-interest, it is also a story of heroism, courage, love of freedom, patriotism,endurance, chivalry, humanity and above all, it also tells about a noble story of love in time of war— the story of Feliza and Celso.

The movie is somewhat accurate, all the dates and the major elements, including the places. I think this is a really great Filipino film. A level up in the Film industry here in the Philippines. :) I enjoyed watching this movie.

The value that was found here was the value of Family in the war because of the father and the daughter even the son relationships. The father wanting his son to follow his footsteps but not really paying attention to what his son wanted. And the value of religion the beliefs of having a God, believing a holy man who is also your enemy can really twist your mind. And of course the value of true love what was really like to fall in love with a man at war. In the midst of the war, it's hard to trust someone, it is all about the instincts but sometimes it's the love of who you really are. If you are going to embrace two countries that are at war, what will you do? The value of Patriotism and trust. 

 

The Filipino Lifestyle

                 In the past, Filipinos way of living are very limited because of so many reasons. One is the invasion of the Spanish colony, Filipinos are being stereotyped/being classified as either slaves or lower classes and for that every actions are being monitored and simply limited to any access in their own country. 

            Two is the Entertainment are limited, only to those who can afford, there are no other forms of communication other than letters and physical contacts. It is simply work, eat, rest and other activities such as occasional gatherings and going to church. Reading is something dull but only to those who have and can afford. 

                You see, its plain old boring. Children can play outside, but only to those who have friends but then again back then they need to work or study for some. 

              These are all my thoughts and imaginations about the life in the past maybe because I was born in the time where technology is on a rise. I actually remember my younger days where I am too young to understand or even use a computer in the early 90's. I have no friends in the neighborhood so all I did was to play by myself and annoy my yaya and the maids. I think that's about it. People are creative enough to figure out what they can do in their dull hours. Unlike today, Filipino people are free to roam around and do whatever.

            Technology has everything to do with our business. Before there were no Televisions so they watch people on the street and just day dreaming, now you can see T.Vs everywhere. Radios are so affordable and can also be free (just listen to your neighbor's radio), laptops are now cheap because of credit cards and other promos, the internet are FREE in all kinds of tamabayan especially in the mall. 

           Nowadays there are so many things to do to the point where you have to decide what to do. In the past you have no options at all. HOW GREAT IS THAT?!?!?!

             HOWEVER, there are also the things that are not so great about now than before. Before Filipinos are so skillful, very "masipag", patient and very obedient because they had nothing else to do but to work and just do what the elders told them to do. Now, there are a lot of whiners! Complaints! Complaints! Complaints! "Ang bagal ng Net!" "Isusulat pa, pwede naman net lang!" "Di gumagana laptop ko" "Bwisit wala akong makita sa net na ganito!" "Anu ba yan! Walang wifi cellphone ko!" and so much more. I think you get the idea. The fact that we have everything already, we still complain, unlike before, there is nothing to complain about. The only bad thing I can see in the past is that we are held hostage by invaders/colonies. Sometimes I wonder if today in the present, things can be all plain and simple even if there is technology. "Eh sakit sa ulo naman yang mga gadgets na yan eh!" As my dad always say. :)

              "Galing talaga ng cellphone, biro mo nakakausap ko na mga kapatid mo sa ibang bansa anytime i want, text man o tawag" Ironically, my dad says this all the time! It's true though, the huge contribution of technology is communication. War times, radio was the big hit! Today, emailing friends, pm, twit, chat, tag, so much more! Your friend who lives in the farthest side of the earth you can finally say "hi" and "how are you?" anytime and in any way. It's a MIRACLE! It is such a huge role in our life. Long distance relationship are now possible without the fear of suicide because he/she didn't send me a letter because of that long travel and way of sending a letter and have a 50 - 50 chance of getting lost. Dad/mom who works abroad can still get to know their children no matter how much/how long they can be apart. There are negatives and positives about it, like having the temptation to go online and have virtual sex with random strangers without knowing that it is already a form of cheating to your girlfriend or boyfriend and or other things like as young as 12 who can access porn sites uncensored, things like pictures being uploaded and giving a wrong message that can break relationships (family or love or whatever there is), private messages that are being hacked and being used against you. Like I said before, people are creative and with all these easy access people can sometimes be over the board aggressive and abusive. 

               There are people who cannot wrap their minds around if there's no technology. I can hear some people say "I cannot live without my Ipod/Ipad etc." "I can't live without my phone, t.v, laptop, internet, etc" How crazy is that? Its me and my generations. It's us and how we influence younger generations. It's a big deal, what we think and what we value and what we give importance to. It can be our whole lives. 

                  Secondlife.com. This is a virtual social networking site. You can have an avatar and just create it and do whatever image you want. You can have a home inside the game, you can have a job and actually earn real money. I got a lot of stories about people who just sits in their room and just live their lives using this site. How insane is that?!?!?!?! You can even make a relationship inside that game. Its your second life. 

                    Anyway, my point is technology has been a huge huge huge part of our lives and I doubt that in the future, we can never live without them. 

                     In my own experiences now, I do my school works using my laptop, and I know when I work I'm going to need my laptop to do some actual work. I have my phone for emergencies, and I have my ipod to listen to music and be inspired. I have the internet to learn new things and to know what is happening, what's going to happen in the world of tomorrow. Scary, but it's the way we have embraced it. 

Collective Filipinos

At that time War has made everyone forced to change in how they live because of everything around them but there is one thing that never changes, even if it is forced it is never removed, Filipinos are naturally close to their family. Family oriented as what they say. Even until now, families are still intact. Even after the marriage of their children, their children would still come home and live with their mom and dad. On every occassions, especially Christmas, the family will be together including grandparents are a part of how they celebrate holidays. Even from abroad, they would come home and and have a celebration. No matter how rich or how poor the family is, Filipinos will most likely have the traditional customs with their family altogether. Like my brother who lives in Australia, even though he's married and have 3 sons, he would still get homesick. He lived in Australia for 11 years now and he's 35 yrs old. Every 2 years he would always make sure that he would come home here with us in the Philippines. He wanted to celebrate Christmas here and wanted to eat mom's cooking. If he somehow can't make it home, he'll celebrate it there in Australia but in a Filipino way. Same goes to my other brother who lives in the US. I guess, no matter how old you get, you'll never forget the place where you grew up where you got used to in living your life.

http://www.crownrelo.com/relo/ph/article01.html

Mandala and Me...

every symbol represents something in my life. symbols of power are the strengths in my life, the symbols of life are the blessings that i have. the eyes symbolizes the watchful and protective eyes that i have with my dad and brothers. indalo, the luck that gives me good posterity and the sign of peace that shows how peaceful i am. i'm in a circle it protects me from the fire that can harm me in so many ways.

Plato

1)     Plato's definition of art and good life is not what i had in mind. He thinks that art is something that can be distracted to people
it is not a very good thing to see for the educated mind. But the thing about it is that he is somehow right about it, he is only thinking
the bad stuff that can stumulate the mind of people. although we know for the fact that it is just for entertainment or for the pleasure
of the eyes, plato's thoughts about it is the darkness and the bad influence that can get the idea of being bad of evil.
    He's view about a good life however for me i agree with him. Although I still think that a person's view of a good life is his
view of living. It has no standard meaning, it's for one's own idea of a life. I don't really critique much.

2)     Plato is right about one thing, art can somehow influence the minds of others. It can poison the minds by the songs nowadays
about sex, drugs and all the bad things that they sing about. The dirty magazine that people read, it can definitely give a huge impact
to people especially to minors. That's a really bad thing and this is the time which somehow i agree to Plato's view of art.