One Goal: Education for All

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

THE WINNING OF BRUCE QUEBRAL

Last night (June 26, 2007) was the eleventh eviction night of Pinoy Big Brother. Prior to this event I was contemplating to write about one of their contestants named Bruce Quebral who happened to be so proud of being a UPan (a student or alumni from the University of the Philippines). I believe this is an opportune time for me to write about Bruce because the writing will not be packaged as a propaganda against him, since he is already evicted, but rather an analysis of his joining and winning and its possible implications into the psyche of many lives that are witnesses of Pinoy Big Brother.
I must admit that I did not have the luck of viewing all the episodes of Pinoy Big Brother so as early as now I claim for all the correction as long as the misconceptions of this article. My only purpose is to have an intellectual grasp of the vivid happenings inside the house.
I don't exactly know the purpose(s) of Bruce Quebral upon his entry inside Big Brother's house. I also don't know much about the objectives of Pinoy Big Brother competition. One thing is clear in my mind, contestants represent the Filipinos, whatever value they bring inside the "house". Knowing that many people are watching them not only in the Philippines but all over the world makes their roles very sensitive. In this instance, I want to discuss two very revealing insights of mine.
During the feud between the three remaining girls inside the "house", I saw how Bruce made Wendy feel so special. He's always there to serve as Wendy's comfort and should I say protection. However, due to Bruce's deep affection for Wendy he seemed to forget the idea of objectivity. I saw him becoming powerless, being subdued by his emotions for Wendy. I commend the program for reminding Bruce about this instance.
Last night, upon Bruce's exit from Big Brother's house Toni Gonzaga asked him if his purpose(s) upon entry inside Kuya's "house" were served. (Forgive me if I wasn't able to deliver the exact words). Bruce proudly answered yes to Toni and the manifestation of the achievement was the meeting with Wendy. Though I am not familiar with Pinoy Big Brothers program objectives I don't believe that that is the only reason of each and every individual who auditions for this competition. I trust that there is a deeper reason apart from meeting someone "special" to your eyes that motivates joining in the Pinoy Big Brother Contest.
I was saddened by these observations. Again, I have nothing about this person that I am writing about but I have something with his acts.
How do these observations may affect the psyche of the viewers, especially those young minds who are so indwelt in this television program?

The view on the dynamics, both of development and progress, of intimate relationship will be affected. People will keep on believeing on love at first sight which brings false hopes to people. At the same time, there is a subtle approval on two-timing, since Bruce has a girlfriend outside the house and yet he is deeply engaged with Wendy. This puts fidelity among Filipinos in question. Finally, power relation was very revealing. Bruce being allowed to be overpowered by Wendy in the name of "love". But the real dynamism is there exist a power domination that subdued Bruce Quebral.
More so, the creation and conception of philosophy is also in trouble. For more than one hundred days of stay inside the "house", Bruce simply accomplished one thing, that is to meet Wendy, no more, no less. After all the hardships, the efforts, the tears that you have given up for the competition you will end up telling "I met her"; when in the first place during the audition the psyche was not that. Pinoy Big Brother is an opportunity to learn in life, to achieve personal improvement. What a pity to hear a statement such as that!
The winning of Bruce Quebral would be very controversial not only among the viewers but also to others who will analyze the event.

Friday, June 22, 2007

INSIGHTS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

My memories are still vivid upon my first encounter with the concepts such as global warming and greenhouse effect. I was just in elementary then, being raised in a public school, the concepts are really vague in my appreciation. I do not seem to fantasize and spend my imagination about these environmental issues.
Nowadays, we notice several changes in the environment like weather, temperature, humidity and other natural occurrences. Since the start of the new millennium we have been inundated with all the latest forecast about the atmospheric changes.
These atmospheric highlights exposed me once again to the concepts of global warming and greenhouse effect. Alliances between countries is observed to combat this alarming situation of our environment. Write ups after write ups comprised most journals, magazines and newspapers to call attention in saving the environment. National leaders, environmental advocates and other concerned social figures could be seen on national television lecturing on how to protect the environment. This prevailing scenario express urgency and alarm to each and every thinking creature on this earth.
I am not writing for us to find out the major culprit in this environmental concerns that we are facing. I am writing for us to reflect on thoughts that are not new to us but neglected maybe because we have so much baggages. I also want to remind us about one thing that I believe most of us overlooked because we are so presumptuous.
I consider my self a social animal. I love places surrounded by people like jeepneys, cafeteria, market place, malls and other places where I could have the freedom to listen to people's expression of their ideas.
During the alarming "emergence" of the global warming and its consequences I was given the privilege to observe a number of reactions from listeners, viewers and readers. Fortunately, I was able to converse with a handful of them. Here are some of their possible reactions:
  • caught their attention at first then immediately went back to their lives;
  • gave an inquisitive look;
  • if the media is not on their language they don't seem to care;
  • gives a comment like "iba na talaga ang panahon"; or
  • does not care at all
I don't want to be conclusive to the point of saying that the "common" people do not care with what is going on in the environment. Going back to my previous encounter with the words global warming, there is ambiguity. I believe media is not enough to educate people on the regarding the danger that the environment is going through which will eventually affect humankind. But this is not just the case there is a greater panic that should greatly alarm us.
One of the ways proposed as a combative measure is Proper Waste Management. Campaigns on waste segregation is all around. Many of us are familiar with the words reduce, re-use, recycle and composting. As an evidence, some places, for instance here in Baguio City, the government installed trash cans with corresponding label to manage the waste. Surprisingly, I seem to notice that people, I hope not everybody, cannot manage the trash at all. Every time I walk along Session Road I really look through the trash cans and to my amazement you will never observe the difference among and between the trash cans with respective labels.
These I cannot confine in my thoughts. Sometimes, I see that the case is really fathomless. The trash cans alone conveys a message and the user of this vessel is supposedly a thinking creature. How do advocates expect results in alleviating the environmental condition if "simple" task are overlooked by many? Lucky are we in Baguio because we are in a mountainous area but this does not mean we are spared from the consequences of the global warming. All of us, not even one will be spared, will be victims of these massive atmospheric alteration.

THE SOCIAL CATALYST


In the book of Ecclesiates it is written.. "Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body." ( 12:12b)


Man is in a continuum in its search for knowledge. Researchers and scientist never retires in digging for knowledge. As they pass away, their endeavors will be kept by their survivors and again the search continues. Books, journals, newspapers and magazines...almost everything has been exposed; nevertheless the thirst for knowledge is unceasing.
But why is this tenacity? After all the researches to come are simply verifications to existing theories; nothing new just affirmation to the folks undertakings. And yet the passion never losses it value.
Some of the objectives of researches are (1.) achieve social order; (2) experience social justice; and (3.) sustain equality, all these may eventually lead to development.
Lucky are we in this generation for much of the explanations that we might need are available to our disposal; just a few minutes of browsing a book, internet or any form of technological advancement that will provide us with the needed data. We are exposed extensively to our rights and people are actually fighting for these rights maybe for preservation purposes.
After all the researches and exposition of results, why are the objectives not achieved? Why society is still experiencing distress?
Going back to what i quoted, indeed, the writing of book is endless; the intellectual discourse is limitless, only the physical bodies will hinder us to press on. But observations will lead us to conclude that all the efforts are in vain. The knowledge are going nowhere simply because goals are not attained.
So why SOCIAL CATALYST? it is an effort to utilize the publication to induced change in the society. Living in a fast paced society we tend to look at published papers simply as commodities; exist to profit us monetarily but not intellectually. Knowing that the acquisition of published articles requires our resources we should respond to them with great relevance resulting into personal and social improvement.
In economics, mismanagement of resources is a failure. We have all the needed resources as far as technology is concerned the problem lies in the utility of these resources. Hence, attainment of research purposes could be touched.