I'm Learning Japanese and I'm Excited About It
It's been two weeks since I started learning Japanese. I'm not really that focused too much since I do a lot of household work and I'm taking care of my little brother since I don't have work yet and my mother is working for the family. However, there are a lot of things that I had been gaining ever since I started learning the language.
My passion for learning Japanese started when I started watching a lot of Japanese Horror (J-horror) movies. I find a lot of movies in their culture to be amazing and unpredictable, unlike most western movies I watched. Although I loved a lot of horror movies from the western side since there are times that some writers are really good at writing a good plot and making a good twist, either at the end or at the beginning without actually looking like a twist.
I looked up a lot of teachings and learnings online and most of them suggested starting with the Hiragana alphabet. It was a little bit difficult at first since even though the website I'm currently learning within suggested that beginners should start familiarizing the letters and how to pronounce them first before learning how to write them, I decided to start writing them as well. Since the Asian alphabet is, obviously, totally different from the western side, in the Philippines, we follow the "American" letters so the way we write words is based on the letter "ABC". So learning another language that doesn't use those ABCs, is really hard for me.
Their ABC is not A-E-I-O-U, instead, it's A-I-U-E-O.
One thing that I noticed when I learned Hiragana is that the way they spell words is different from what I knew when it comes to wording. For example, the word "kon'nichiwa", or hello in Japanese, is not spelled as one-by-one letters of k-o-n-'-n-i and so on. Instead, that word is spelled as ko-n-ni-chi-wa, in which each of the separations has a corresponding way of writing it. When I finished learning the Kana which is the first part of the Hiragana, I got really excited about exploring words and how to write them. As of now, I can properly but slowly write Japanese words, only with those that I can write. It means that I can write Moshi Moshi, which means I speak, I speak, since I already learned the letters involved in the words.
I remember when I was in 8th Grade, one of my teachers said that one of the benefits of learning another language is that it reduces the risks of Alzheimer's when you get old. I forgot the scientific process of how that happens but that statement is the one I currently carry every time I learn the language. Even if I wasn't really learning the language, I carry that statement ever since then. I remember, he said that to us during the times when he was teaching us Spanish lessons. It wasn't really his class but since there are free time during his class hours and we were excited to learn Spanish at that time, it was okay for us when he teaches. He taught us just the basic ones and I completely forgot most of them. I think it's because when you learn something, you have to be able to maintain that knowledge, otherwise, it will not get stuck in your mind.
So as I learned Japanese, I always go back to the beginning. For the reason that when I stick with the quizzes on the website in learning the alphabet, when I went back to writing, I completely forgot most of them.
Cheating is NOT a Normal Thing
It's actually tiring when you keep on listening to people saying that cheating is just part of a relationship or it happens every day to the point that people think it's just normal for someone to cheat.
My father left us for another woman. And it isn't just like after years of marriage and having a family, he just goes on to go to another house. Ever since the day I can remember, I already saw my mom crying because he used to cheat. I remember it when we were dressing up for church and my mom just had a conversation with her parents because they caught my father doing a bad thing.
Fast forward to my graduating already in college, and before graduation, I had a conversation with my grandmother one morning.
I actually thought that she was on our side or at least in the neutral area and not be on our father's area, even though he was her son, because she knows that he did a bad thing. However, that's not what happened.
She told me a statement that went on up until now and will live with me forever, developing my trust issues, alongside my daddy issues.
She said that it was not just my father who cheated. She said that there are many people in this world who do that thing. And she also pointed out that if it wasn't for my father, I wouldn't be able to go to the university I am in.
As if I am obligated to look at those things like the person who did that to me isn't my father. I think she missed the point that my father has a responsibility to support me and bring me to a school that will benefit my future. Because of that morning, I regret going to that university and finishing my studies. I regret everything that happened during the course of four years. I honestly thought that I should have just failed so that I can go to another university. My graduation was supposed to be a memorable thing, and it was, but not on a positive note.
Up until now, I carry the burden that will haunt me forever. Maybe this is why I am not excited to be in a relationship because I have that trust issue that people don't really care for me or, at least, respect me.
I hope people will understand that when you cheat on your partner, it isn't just about love itself, there are so many other things.
For example, since my mom has kids, me and my little brother, even though I am not really longing for a father figure, my little brother does. I guess he wants to have a father that will play with him and he gets jealous whenever he sees other kids with their whole families. I also have that feeling at some point, but then I remember that I don't want to be in that situation again because it just keeps getting worse.
The worse part is that even though it's already 2022, we still have people who think that cheating in a relationship is just an obstacle rather than a stopping point to get out of that box.
The Role of Religion in My Life
Honestly, growing up, the religion that I am currently in had its own way of how I should look at life. I am not the kind of girl that usually goes to church every Sunday or pray every night, or at least reads the Bible every day or once a week.
Back when I was still studying in La Salle, there are a lot of things that I knew that I wasn't supposed to at a young age but I was thankful for everything because it helped me gain that composure that I shouldn't rely on my decisions based on my religion.
As they always say, people who are working in the church, especially those who are in the highest power, are also humans. They tend to make mistakes and they will make mistakes every now and then which aren't supposed to be done but it has been done. I know that at some point the decisions people make are based likely on either emotion or constructive thinking. However, I cannot accept the fact that the people I am looking up to before are the ones who aren't actually as good as I thought they are. I know that people make jokes and that is where the bond comes but if I look back at it now, it doesn't suppose to happen.
I watched this video back then by a vlogger who has his own opinion on his religion. I can somehow relate to that video.
First of all, my perspectives in life will not and never depend on what my religion teaches me. There's this ongoing debate about not approving same-sex marriage in the Philippines because the country is a predominantly Catholic country, which makes no total sense to me. I have looked into the history of the Bible and research suggested that the translation of the story from the Bible about homosexuality is wrong or just mistaken because of the fact that we assume what gender is. Like the fact that we see God as a male when no man has ever proved it. I am not going to consider this as a debate because God's gender isn't really the problem but how people translated stories to make people believe in something these writers want them to believe. Because if we are to follow everything in Bible, we must do everything it says. For example, since some people believe that a man cannot sleep with a man or a woman cannot sleep with another woman because that's what the Bible "says", then people must not work on a Sabbath day, otherwise, stone him to death, as said in the New Testament. Men and women cannot do tattoos on their bodies, Leviticus 19:28, because it's also against the Bible, which up to this day is still a debate.
As I grow up, I had watched tons of news and documentaries where people were done horrible things to them, and most of it is done by the people who are supposed to be spreading love and respect. My latest documentary that really questioned me was the Netflix documentary of Emanuela Orlandi which had been missing for over 3 decades now. Although I am not hoping for her to be alive, at least, justice for what happened must be served. I am really sad that her father didn't even know what really happened before he passed away.
Anyways, there are tons of reasons why we should still make an effort to build up that love for one another. However, if we do things because someone or something tells us and not because of humanity, to the point where we are already hurting somebody, then there's something wrong with us.
A Ticket to the World Cup
The world is currently celebrating wins and gaining losses from the World Cup and the amount of excitement is still in the air.
Great Learning Academy is offering a free ticket to the world cup by participating in a contest with regards to football. I know that there are a lot of people watching football games, not just those in the World Cup but in other competitions as well. I started liking football about 8 to 10 years ago, but I can't really consider myself a die-hard fan. I only watch it first because the excitement whenever the ball goes through to score a point is one of the best things. It wasn't like basketball which gets a shot every now and then, but either way, both games are exciting sports.
Going back, so I had an email from the Great Learning Academy with regards to competition. I signed up for the site because they offer classes and back in college, like 7 months ago, I was really learning about technology because it is needed for the internship classes.
If you don't know, Great Learning Academy offers degree and certificate programs suitable for studying at home. Certificates given after the course have been done are certified, obviously, as they are partnered with the top universities around the world, that includes The University of Arizona and Stanford Business. That is why it is a guarantee that the learnings are a better step for those who want to enhance their knowledge and skills.
If you are to go to their website, they are already up with the World Cup. You can see how many free programs they offer so the diversity of lessons is there.
So to participate in the competition, you are to create an account on their website. If I'm not mistaken, you have to be a learner first in there to be able to open the link, either way, you have to open an account.
My link's deadline is December 9, 2022, at 2:29 PM, but I don't know if that's the same for others.
You can start learning in Great Learning Academy, at the same time, bet on your lucky chances to win to be able to watch the games live.
The Importance of Trees
As someone living in the province and then suddenly transitioning to the urban area, I can guarantee that trees are very much more important than we think they are. I think with all the science and stuff of how trees work and how they help us with our everyday lives, the general factor of their existence can be understood by many. However, due to the modernization and urbanization of most places, the lack of understanding is not brought to many people, especially those who don't want to understand it.
During my stay in the province, we really do have a lot of trees. There is not one area where you can roam around without seeing a single tree. At first, I really didn't bother having one or not, maybe because I used to see them most of my life.
When I got into high school, we had to ride a school bus on the way to school because it is really far and the road to get there is not that easy, especially for those who are just new in the area. There are a lot of accidents that kept happening there up until now. Anyways, the journey to school was actually cute because you get a breath of fresh air, which probably happens most of the time because the pollution in the area is not that high. Students are presented in the area where trees are the king of the jungle.
However, I didn't realize the importance of being in an area filled with trees, not until I went to college. Since college is in the city which was like a 4-5 hour ride, I had to stay with my grandparents, the grandfather is the sibling of my grandmother from my so-called father's side. Don't get me wrong, I had been in and out of the city and I saw things that will never make me live in the city for the rest of my life, but the fact that I had to stay there for two years really made me contributed more to why I will never stay in that area. Although there are a lot of opportunities, and people may be immune already to the environment, the confidence of my immune system will never get through there.
I can now understand why people living in the city when they go to provinces, feel relaxed because of the air. It's like heaven for them. I did feel that same approach when I went home during the pandemic. It's like carrying a big load of luggage and then finally putting everything down to at least breathe.
Trees don't only make the environment look beautiful. I know for some, get scared by many trees because you will not know what is behind those giant things or who is hiding there, but, generally speaking, trees makes the picture worth more than a billion dollars.
There is a lot of debate regarding deforestation. There's one scene in the court where a senator was imposing to not make areas, especially farmlands, not be taken over by other people to be converted into subdivisions. It may speak to farms and farmers but the fact that there are areas where trees are being cut down for business purposes is never a good thing. Although I do use things and equipment made from trees, those who are making businesses out of them must ensure that they plant another one rather than leaving them blank.
The results may not be seen as of now, but since trees require years to grow to giants or average, it will not help many people by the time we are waiting for them to grow back.
The Problem with Body Shaming
Society has always been a big mouth to all people, especially with physical features. Standards within the community is an ongoing problem, despite people protesting to at least be respectful to each other.
Actors or actresses or singers, or anyone who works in the entertainment business, are required to follow a standard when it comes to physical features. I barely see Hollywood actors being fat, not the offensive type of thing. Sometime this year, I saw a post regarding Zac Efron who gained weight or changed look, maybe because of a project he's working on, and the response from the media is not good. Although I know that he is known as that "Troy Bolton", so everyone still wants that look within him, I don't think that we all have to require people to be in that society's good shape to pleasure our ego.
I also saw one post regarding Camila Cabello when she was walking around and I think she was still dating that relationship coach named Matthew Hussey. People noticed that she gained a lot which caused disappointment and some people even considered it as a funny thing. I loved her ever since she was in Fifth Harmony and it actually pains me whenever I see someone like her to not be what she wants. It's the same thing with Efron where people think that they are in control in these celebrities body.
Also, I am not a big of a K-Pop fan now, back then I was, I noticed that these idols were brought to a standard in South Korea, or maybe the world, to be in that sexy type of thing to the point that some girls are becoming skinny. I have heard a lot things from those who are really a big fan of that industry because I had friends who are really into K-Pop and they do have a lot to say whenever girls are skinny. There's even this movie about a woman who was fat and had a surgery to become skinny and she became an idol. You probably have heard it, 200 Pounds Beauty. The movie maybe a comedy type of movie but the overall story of it is just how idols, or celebrities in general are wanted by the public.
I experienced body shaming ever since then because I am not that skinny girl in high school. Although at first, I didn't bother to say anything, looking back now, it's not and will never be a good thing for people to throw stones at you, when you know that you have never done anything bad.
The one experience that I will never forget is when I visited one of my mom's friends this year and I had to buy something from the store. I have high respect to the people living in that store, which is just close to their house, because they are close to our family, like blood-relative type so I know that they would never throw punch at me. However, the husband who is supposedly old and I barely see said to me that I should lose weight. Although the woman who I can consider already as my grandmother lighten the mood up by saying that it's okay since in our family, maybe because she saw me changed face when he said that, we are all not skinny-looking people, that piece of sentence broke me and is still breaking me up until now.
I have experienced body shaming people before, back in high school but as I transitioned to college, I realized that we don't have a say to other people's body unless we are doctors and we know that their certain type of body caused a severe illness to them. I am not a doctor so I don't think that I should be putting standards to anyone or anything.
We all have done sinful things but the problem is we didn't learn from them and kept going even if we know we will hurt people.
There's thing rule called 10-Second rule where if you see something from a person that you don't like or just isn't right and it can't be changed within 10 seconds, just don't say it.
Career Advice for a Fresh Graduate
I really like some help from people who can give me some advice or tips to get a job. It's been like four months since I graduated from college and I really want to find work now. I would like to know if it's a good thing that I would prefer a different line of work besides technology and then build experience or take a technology job already.
For now, I would like to share my experience before walking on the stage and receiving the diploma for learning and working hard for four years.
My four years in college were divided into two divisions. The first one was in the city for face-to-face classes and the other one was at home in the province because of the pandemic. At first, the idea of having no classes in school was okay to me because I don't really like interacting with people that much and the sweat of going to school was a challenging part for me. I have no problem with going to school because I know that I am privileged enough to even be at school, but there are a lot of factors contributing to how I went to college.
I went to college because of my father's, biologically speaking, advice. Although back in senior high school, there are a lot of opportunities given to me because I studied in a Lasallian school. They often offer examinations to students that will pursue a degree in college. I wasn't able to get one because I was so sure back then that I would not study in any of those schools because I am going to a different one. If I were to look back then, I would have chosen to get one. I am not that intelligent but I am sure that I am going to pass at least one of them.
Fast forward to college, the first two years were fun because even though I am new, not only to the area but to the field of study that I joined, I had a great time with the environment. The other two years were not.
First, of all, the pandemic really did a lot of damage, not only to health but to the way society runs now. Even now, the fear of getting the virus is still in the area and I don't think that it will ever pass. Second, the way we studied was not really a good thing. It was okay at first because for an introvert like me, interacting with people is always not the best thing to do in life, but you have to because that's part of life. However, the learnings that were given are not enough. Especially since technology is evolving every now and then and even though we are connected to our laptops, it wasn't enough for us to really learn things.
I think the effect is showing now.
However, before I graduated, I was not happy to even finish school. Although I should be the number of disappointing words that came from my father and grandmother made me realize that I should have not been in that school in the first place. Anyways, that personal business so I will take care of it.
Going back, the fact that I was not able to go to a face-to-face on-the-job training made an impact on how I am applying on jobs. Most jobs require an internship with a company in relation to the tasks at work. Some are okay with having no experience but the exams they are given are pretty much of the same difficulty.
I am really desperate for help because I think that even though it hasn't been a year since I graduated, I feel like I'm falling behind with everything. Probably because one of the reasons why is that I see most of my batchmates already having jobs and bringing food to the table and here I am still looking for one.
I hope someone can help me.
The Importance of Choices
We are happy to have choices in life. Life is like an exam. We may not be affected by a wrong choice in the exam, but it will impact the overall score, we won't get a perfect mark. Even though we are always reminded that nobody can be perfect, it isn't an excuse for the wrongdoings we may commit in life.
It may be hard to choose, especially when you don't even know or understand the question, that is why we are given a certain amount of time to think. The clock may tick down, but in the end, it's either we end up having the right or wrong choice or no chosen answer at all.
It's like having a multiple-choice test during exam week. I don't really know about most students but the ones that I came across with, most of them would probably have multiple choices rather than an essay question.
At first, I don't really know why people would think that when there's a multiple choice part in the exam, it will make their scores go higher. As time pass by, I believe that the advantage of having that thing is that we can disseminate things from other things. It's like even if we don't know the question or where it is going when we look at the answers, we can have an idea of what is the answer. I think that the disadvantage of having an essay question is that if you don't know the question, you can't put a sentence to build one paragraph. It can be hard, especially for those students who either didn't really study or had a mental block during the exam.
There are times when we were given challenges that may be hard to choose what to do first and next.
Life can be similar to an obstacle course. We are presented by it and we have to make quick and strategic choices because, with one wrong move, we will fall down.
You may have watched a lot of television shows or movies where there is an obstacle course involved. The TV shows that I have watched where kids to adults battle it out to prove whose the best are usually given the structure or how the obstacle course goes. So before the challenge begins, contestants can plan how they will pass each course to get to the end. Life is not like that, we are not presented with how challenges in life will be, instead, we just go with the flow and make choices in an instant. However, both life and an obstacle course will either have a happy ending or a failed outcome.
Most always want to feel like they have little authority over their life. It is not always the practice of developing judgments that are terrifying; rather, it is the mystery of the outcomes and ramifications of such choices that people worry about more than any other. Whenever we do something on our own, our self-esteem improves. Once we become older, our judgments get more difficult, and the consequences of those actions are becoming more serious.
The Importance of Savings
A lot of the time, we encounter people who are really good with money, and sometimes there are people who just don't know how to handle one. We often look up to those people who really made their way to the top without having the rich kid privilege of wealthy parents. However, we need to understand that it's not always the same boat that we live in.
There are many obstacles and struggles one can face when facing difficulties in handling money.
First and foremost, money isn't always enough for savings. For example, the prices of goods keep going up. Here in the Philippines, ever since the pandemic happened, there are a lot of products where their prices don't even hit the average price. I have been on a lot of online platforms where different kinds of products have been sold. From the way I look at it, even though there are times when it says that it's on sale, it doesn't really fit into the pocket of an individual making a minimum wage. Although most people say that what we want isn't much of a priority, we can't blame people who find happiness in products. There are moments when they want to enjoy buying something for themselves after tons of work and stress.
We often see millionaires and billionaires who say that they have sacrificed a lot before being in that position where they have financial freedom now. It's like that one motivational speaker who keeps saying it's better to work up until midnight and then have some fun afterward rather than work 8 hours a day for the rest of your life. However, there are tons of privileges given to those people, maybe not all of them but most of them. For example, the companies that start in a garage, I already consider it a privilege because not all people have a garage. I think that it all comes down to how they earn money and how they deal with that money.
Financial preparation acts as a buffer against life's uncertainties, allowing you to live a more rewarding life.
Savings can help you reach a number of goals. Requirements are distinct from desires, and as a result, the money you have or generate is frequently allocated to needs. An individual's necessities range from shelter to clothes to electric and water costs. It will always be determined by where you live. I see a lot of videos where they have this tiny apartment in New York that is expensive compared to putting that money elsewhere. The desires, on the other hand, are similar in that there are people who aspire to live in New York City. Some people travel thousands of miles to be in that place because it's a dream for them. If they have savings, they can easily travel and live there as part of those wants.
Considering that you seem to have an amount saved up for emergencies provides you peace of mind. I have seen people who open "plans" in companies just so they are ready whenever an emergency happens. It's not just about being in an accident but also about times when your kid needs to go to school and you suddenly don't have the budget to do so. There are people who plan this type of situation sooner, however, we can't blame other ones, especially if they try to make a living.
In tough moments, your money might function as a protection for your near and dear ones, assisting them in overcoming financial difficulties. There are times when we don't have beautiful moments with our loved ones. But if we provide forgiveness to them, we are open to helping them. Although I don't think that it's a requirement but since love is felt first in the family, whether by blood or by choice, we must always be available for them.
The Power of Confidence in Manipulation
I recently binged watch a lot of scammers or con-artist documentaries, from Anna Sorokin or Anna Delvey to Elizabeth Holmes. There are a lot of people who scammed those who are weak enough into believing something. But what's more fascinating in a negative way is that billionaires are getting scammed as well. I don't know if something is happening behind closed doors but the mentality of putting faith and trust into something or somebody doesn't sit well right to me.
First and foremost, I want to express my appreciation towards Amanda Seyfried as Holmes and Julia Garner as Delvey. Their portrayal was two of the best portrayals I have ever seen since I started liking biopic films. I'm not an actress myself and I have never worked in the entertainment industry, however, the dedication and passion an actor puts on the shoes they have never been in are incredible. Obviously, as the audience, we do have doubts when it comes to casting actors into real-life people knowing that they can either not bring justice to the role or just didn't even try to fit into the character. I think actors have that confidence that can make them or break them as an actor. It's always an amazing thing how an actor does things unbelievably to the point that you are watching another person and not that actor on screen.
Anyways, before I watched The Dropout, I came across a tweet saying that Jennifer Lawrence was offered to portray the role of Holmes in a project but she declined because Seyfried already brought justice to her. After I read that, it was one of the times that I admire an actor who is really passionate about the industry and not just thinking about money and fame.
Before Holmes, I watched Inventing Anna which was about Anna Sorokin or Anna Delvey. Honestly, I already know Sorokin when I saw tons of photos of her being on the court and wearing fashionable clothes. I got intimidated by her because I find it funny that even though she was going to prison anytime soon, she still managed to look good in the spotlight. From that moment, you can see how she wants the eyes to be on her. It's probably one of those times that she wants people to see her as this glamorous teen and not as somebody who came from an unknown place.
It's very disheartening to say that someone like Sorokin should be admired because she scammed people, not just with money but with who she really is. However, the confidence of that woman is something else. She managed to get involved with highly acclaimed people in the business industry to build this foundation that will make more high-profile people join as well. I can't even dare to speak to a relative that I don't talk to a lot, let alone a stranger.
Holmes' story on the other hand is somehow the same as Sorokin's. They both have that confidence of connecting to people with words that will trick you into thinking that they are experts in that field. Holmes was even featured in a magazine that has titled "The Next Steve Jobs".
However, both these women have that attitude that they don't like people who question them even if those questions are important. They don't like people who doubt them. I mean, it is decreasing that passion, however, to prove that these people who constantly doubt are wrong, the only way is to make the project successful and not cut them off.
I think the most unbelievable thing is that these people who are billionaires are the ones who got scammed. From my point of view, you don't really trust someone with a large amount of money just because they have a plan and don't even have formal education in that field. For example, if I wanted to be an intern as a Programmer, I need to have at least basic knowledge of programming. I need to know how to at least power up the IDE that will be used to program. When I was applying as an intern for college, I always came across those types of questions, and even after college, even if you're applying for an entry position, they will test you with programming. I don't know why these billionaires even invested in a project that doesn't really have a successful product yet. I can understand they have a vision that they hold on to, however, you wouldn't pay millions for an app that isn't even scientifically possible to build in the first place.
The Importance of Having a Pet
It's amazing how much help an animal can provide in your life. Owning a pet has several health benefits. Children may learn compassion and responsibility from pets. Animals don't always ask for anything else in life, and most of them only want pleasant, comfortable, and protected accommodation, as well as appropriate food, drink, and exercise. When it comes to sadness and loss, pets may be miracle workers. Having a pet may broaden your horizons.
I have a story to tell.
The first time I had a pet was back in grade school and I didn't have him for so long. I remember the time that it wasn't really that important to me having a dog in the house. Its name is B2 because the other one was B1 which was staying at my cousin's house. The only thing that is still fresh in my memory is the time that I saw him walking outside from the bathroom where he had to stay for the night. The reason why he stayed there was that, apparently, there was this drunk man who just started doing inhuman things that caused my dog to get the left side of the face sliced. Since I was still a little kid back then, I didn't think of it too much.
I had two dogs again when I was in college. Even though the first one was only presented to us, I was ecstatic. I did my best to at least know what to do with it because I hadn't had a dog in a long time. I know that when we have an animal or animals in our homes, we treat them as if they were family. Whether it's a monkey, cat, or donkey, the moment we give it obligations, it becomes a part of our emotional well-being. But there's always that wall that separates them because their natures are so different. They are just like humans some don't have the ability to live in hot temperatures or are allergic to some food.
When the first one died, it was nothing to me, even though I did blame myself for not treating him enough to live. The second one was the most devastating one because when we woke up in the morning, it was already dead. It was a small dog so, obviously, it was not capable of chewing or swallowing a big bone. We already know that but maybe someone doesn't. We had this thinking that maybe because it was loud during the night, someone threw a bone, thinking that it will swallow it and die. I remember my little brother crying after it happened.
The experience ended up hurting me and my little brother. After that incident, I never want to adopt a dog again. It left me disappointed and hurt because I know that I can do better and I should have done better.
I had so many other pets. I consider a successful experience when I had two rabbits. Although both were not able to keep their kids because of hungry cats who thought that the little ones are something to be eaten, I had them for about one or two years. It was a great experience though and I was able to find happiness in both of them.
The thing about having pets is that you don't feel alone in your house, or in your life in general. They gave you that comfort whenever you came home from an exhausting day. Sometimes, I am really glad that pets don't have the same thinking as humans. They have their own mindset that when you treat them right, they will treat you well as well.
There are animals that shouldn't be treated as pets and we know some of them. I think it's because the environment they grew up in isn't revolved around humans so by the time they saw one, they treat it as an enemy or prey.
The Woman Behind "Ang Babae sa Septic Tank"
Many Filipinos, or maybe somehow foreign-movie lovers, know the film "Ang Babae sa Septic Tank". It is an independent film back in 2011 starring Eugene Domingo.
A little background about this film. The story talks about three filmmakers who, along their journey, decide how they want their story to go that is about a mother who sold her child for money. The mother is played by Domingo but was somehow contradicted along the way because of favoring other actresses for the role. For some audiences, the kind of approach the film made in telling a story is not good. I have heard a lot of comments that it's about commentaries rather than the story itself. I have to agree with them but mainly because that is what the film is really about. Since it's about making a film within a film, it should be like that. However, as always, you can't please everyone.
The film is more on the comedy side while telling the struggles of how films were made and how people in the entertainment industry will do anything to either bag an award, just tell a story to the audience, or just make money.
However, there is a story that circulated on the internet back then that is about a woman who was found in a septic tank.
The scene reminded me of the lingering controversy surrounding Elisa Lam. If you're not knowledgeable about her, she's the woman who was discovered in a tank of water on the roof of the Cecil Hotel after concerns were raised about contaminated water. Nobody knows how or why she got in there to this day. Strange things happened previous to her being seen in that tank, adding to the horror of her account. The only distinction is that Lam's tragedy remained unknown, the matter of the lady recovered beneath a septic tank was concluded, and persons were imprisoned for the crime, contrary to popular belief.
The narrative of the woman in the septic tank was created in 2012, more than a decade ago. It is Lea Angeles-tale. Ng's
Ng is a businesswoman of Filipino and Chinese descent who was murdered by three police officers. Her corpse was discovered after she had disappeared after departing a mall in Cavite and was reported missing by her husband. Her corpse was discovered three months later in a septic tank, or more likely a bunker tank, near Laguna.
As she was a businesswoman, the main motive, or said to be one, for the killing was money. Three of the suspects include three police officers, Miranda, Signap, and Santos. One of the suspects was suspected to owe her a lot of money and took the law in his own hands. A confession was made leading to the arrest of another two policemen. One of them had a promising career which is why many people assumed that he might be innocent. Two of the three suspects were good friends with the woman so they keep denying any allegations and said that they will never be any motive for taking her life. Ng's husband made a statement to the investigators saying that if ever something happens to her (Ng), it is the suspect's fault.
Due to the statements made by witnesses, CCTV footage, the statement from the husband, and even reports of collecting debt from one of the suspects, the three, alongside two other people involved, were charged with murder.
If you want to read the whole story, the Department of Justice released a news article regarding this case:
https://doj.gov.ph/news_article.html?newsid=112
I Miss My Grandmother
I miss everything that we had, from the places we had been to the food that we ate to even just the time we spent. To be honest, if I could just go back in time, I would. I probably did something to at least help her during those hard times of her.
I am not pertaining to the grandmother from my father's side. Everyone on my father's side is problematic and I don't even know where to start. Yes, there are times that they are kind but you can't just ignore the bad stuff because of the good stuff unless it's 90% to 10% and doesn't involve any physical or emotional harm.
My grandmother died when I was just 10 years old. I remember that, on her side of the family, I was the first-born grandchild followed by my younger cousin, 4 years apart.
My favorite dish from my grandmother was her Filipino-style spaghetti. My take on spaghetti is the way Filipinos make it. I have tasted some that follow the American or Italian side which was okay for me but to be honest, I am a picky eater. It's because of the reason that I get a food allergy to any type of food that I didn't grow up eating, which is really a disappointing trait of mine. For example, I'm allergic to shrimp and as I observed it throughout the years when I was eating it, I had that itchy throat that hurts most of the time. As I prepare dishes now for the family, for the past months, I didn't get any negative "physical" reaction when I was cleaning the shrimp. However, last week, I did get a lot of rashes on my hand which was a little painful. I remember my grandmother being the superhero whenever I get allergies and it's one of the most memorable moments that I had in my life.
Now, I don't think that most foreigners will get attached easily to the style of spaghetti that Filipinos do because it is much sweeter compared to the traditional one. However, if you grew up in a neighborhood where the style of food is what it is, you probably will enjoy this one. Most kids in our area don't really care about spaghetti but by the time they tasted it, it will be one of the dishes that must be served on the occasion.
People often describe my grandmother as one of the best people they met. And I think it is really obvious because even during the funeral, many people were coming in and out. One of her best traits was she really knows how to deal with people, whether you have done something wrong to her or not. And it's one of the traits that my mother got from her. I noticed that throughout our journey of ups and downs, she never fails to be kind to other people. She can easily forgive and move on but still be a positive person. I probably won't have that trait because of the trauma and every negative stuff I've been through. I easily ignore people, even family members, who have done the simplest to the most unforgettable thing, in a negative way, to me.
The part that I am not still happy about is that she went away too soon, especially since she was given 4 more grandchildren after that. Everyone in the family missed the fact that she would have taught the kids the same way we were taught. My mother always says that she taught me how to sing when I was a kid and I wonder why I don't do that now.
Her love for children will truly be missed.
Does Political Views Matter in a Relationship?
Politics is one of those topics that highly require intense research when it comes to a debate or even just a simple argument. People have different perspectives in life, whether it's about sexuality, equality, or work environment and ethics. However, political views are always at the top of the argument.
Political liberty is a fundamental notion in political thinking. People create opposition parties to reflect particular ideals in democratic development. In politics, a range of approaches is used, including expressing one's personal ideological beliefs.
A political ideology is a collection of recurring ideas, beliefs, and attitudes. Propaganda is prone to philosophical conceptions that are partially diametrically opposed.
Many people say that having a different opinion on politics is like having an argument with yourself or contradicting the things you believe in.
Some people say that it doesn't really matter because we all have opinions and those opinions can be different from one another.
Let us examine the distinction between the two assertions.
Having different opinions matters.
Your partner's different opinion has a lot to say about him or her.
I have seen a lot of my friends on social media sites who continue to ask their friends who have different candidates for the election to unfriend or unfollow them. For an instance, they are right. Most people prefer politicians who have issues from the past who are up until now don't clear the air and say that they don't really know what they are thinking at some point. When we have a partner in life, we obviously want them to talk about their past. We are to evaluate them in life as well as we are making sure that we don't step foot on a rocky road. However, even though we evaluate them based on their own stories coming out of their mouth, we also do our own research. We just don't have to rely on word of mouth like we are running a restaurant. We look into documents that may help us. After that, we assess and build that decision if we want to push through or not.
Politics is like being blind in love when you don't think thoroughly. Most people don't know much about the candidate except for the times they are promoting themselves. People's life at first impressions. They will continue to lie if they succeed in getting your trust. And when you give these people their trust, you will be blinded by everything.
If partners can't agree with a single point of view about the government, it will affect their relationship. Maybe not at all times, but they will be certain times.
Having different opinions DOES NOT matter
Some people believe that it doesn't really matter. Some can be a good partner to someone without bringing up any political views since it's not something to be argued with most of the time.
Politics is really something to be talked about most of the time. The reason is that the government mostly has the final say when it comes to economic things.
However, if both partners are going to have an argument about a politician's wrongdoing, they must look at all the possible concepts that affected the decisions. It's like being in court where you don't really need to protect the criminal but rather look at points that will contribute to the argument. I have seen people who didn't stop being friends or loving someone just because they voted for the opposition side.
What do you think? Do political views matter in a relationship or not?
The Importance of Leadership
A frequent fallacy is that in terms of experience, a person must be chosen by the people for an authoritative position.
Leadership implies many aspects to various individuals dependent on their viewpoints, personalities, beliefs, beliefs, and occupations. The notion of followership is a fundamental component of leadership. To be a successful leader, one should not only grasp what it entails to be an excellent disciple, but one must also be a good team player oneself.
Personally, I think that leadership doesn't come up just because one assigns himself or herself as a leader. There are a lot of boxes to tick and components to pick up for one to become the leader of a tribe or a group.
Leadership is generally valued but difficult to articulate. The concept of a captivating autocratic person having the capability of enlisting adherents has grown accustomed to collaborative conflict. Needs for more efficient and productive management are common nowadays at all levels of many professions. Professionals who shift quickly across leadership and supporting positions now seek company objectives.
I have watched a lot of Hell's Kitchen episodes, ranging from the first season up to the 19th Season. If you don't know Hell's Kitchen, it is a reality show that shows the journey of culinary artists who worked in several or some restaurants to compete for the title of a higher position in the kitchen of the top prize. They are all trained and evaluated by one of the world-renowned chefs in the world, Gordon Ramsay. One of the best challenges is always the dinner service.
If you are to analyze everything in it, you can see how Ramsay always wants a high standard not only for the food of the customers but on how cooks prepare and cook it. I have seen that up to this day, he doesn't let go of that standard and continues to put those standards on the cooks.
Don't get me wrong: Chef Ramsay may not be a suitable role model for certain viewers because of how he reacts to situations or because he isn't always "cool" with the cooks when they make errors. I recognize that for some, it is excessive. That is a feeling I occasionally get. However, even if you haven't worked in the line before or have worked in one, you must understand that in a restaurant with over 200 people dining in, standards can occasionally slip due to the overwhelming experience. That is why cooks are taught to keep up with the demands despite the fact that there are a thousand customers eating at the restaurant.
Also, I'd really like to point out that, because different people consume knowledge in various ways or prefer how they make knowledge move in their brains, I believe that yelling and being arrogant may be okay at times. I believe that most of the candidates on the show are a little short-tempered and dislike receiving criticism, whether positive or negative. I've met a lot of folks that dislike being told what to do. And it is critical for a commander to be capable of interacting with his people.
If a leader will not push the followers who will soon be leaders, they will struggle and be pressured in an environment.
Acknowledging the opposing side's thoughts is more than just important knowledge for resolving a problem. Emotional responses and interpersonal influence are also essential factors in our problem-solving efficacy. Awareness of the needs of others, as well as the capacity to listen and understand the worth of other individuals' accomplishments to the organization's goods and services, are critical components in collaborative learning. It requires effort and focus.
Why Do We Need Cyber Security?
Today's society is increasingly advanced compared to ever before. Given the amount of goodness that technology provides, it might be difficult to comprehend that possible dangers remain hidden underneath every gadget and network.
The internet has its own negative and positive sides.
Numerous computer platforms and software programs just weren't developed with adequate security considerations in mind, which is a significant element of the online world. Currently, the internet is utilized mostly by mobile devices and laptops for interaction. The internet is used in so many of our everyday routines. Thousands of gigabytes of files and confidential material are continuously transferred through the internet.
People, ranging from popular or high-profile ones to regular people, can easily post something on the internet, and in a blink of an eye, many people can easily see and share them. For example, if I post a sensitive video of two people doing something that shouldn't be video graphed since it's not for entertainment purposes, and I post it on my profile page on Facebook, even if I'm not the popular girl in high school, once someone in my friend's list saw it, they will immediately save or download or share the post. There are a lot of videos that have been roaming around the internet that are not "okay" for the younger audience.
Another example is that there are now a lot of messages arriving from unknown cell numbers claiming that if you click the offered link, you will instantly win cash. The fact that your name is contained in the communication is the most alarming aspect. Personal information is critical, and online money holders are in serious difficulty in generating such an effect. More than likely, it is through these applications that crooks learned your name. The first is, of course, cybercriminals.
The scariest part is probably that those who don't know much about the online world will more likely to click those links. I know a relative of my own who participated in one survey online and said that she is now required to purchase a gift box from them. Although the gift wasn't that bad enough, I personally don't think that it's worth $20.
Having little to no knowledge will never benefit good thing to people. That is why we have to have security or just know the basic ones. Even though it is common sense that you just don't click on things that you see on the internet, some people still need to learn especially since this is about something that is new to the older generation.
Cybersecurity is the defense employed by businesses or people to safeguard information tools and services against dangerous online criminal assaults including ransomware, information theft, and advanced persistent threats. Continuous growth in cyber-terrorism exposes weaknesses in the gadgets and utilities we've grown to rely on.
It is a field that deals with ways to protect technologies and applications. While certain aspects of cyber defense are intended to launch an attack initially, several experts today are much more concerned with establishing a suitable approach to safeguard all properties. It includes technology, techniques, and strategies for defending computer servers, content, and connections from cyber assaults.
Day after day, irrespective of whether you're a person, a small business, or a major global corporation, you make use of advanced systems. Authorities all across the world are giving greater attention to cyberattacks. Theft of information is among the most costly and quickest common attack vectors.
Privacy is recognized as a vital right and is constitutionally recognized. It is critical and in anybody's favor to have effective cyber defense plans and systems in place to secure this data. Social media is one of the locations wherever we store the majority of our information and content. Nowadays, having confidentiality entails getting capable of making one's own decisions away from getting swayed.
The Beauty of Motherhood
Motherhood can be the greatest gift given to women. It doesn't just serve as one of the stepping stones in living as a woman but also provides that responsibility of bearing and taking care of a child.
Across many households, the mother is primarily responsible for the favorable consideration. Most of the household chores are done by mothers, although it is expected that all members of the family should know these tasks since they are the most basic ones. There are fathers who keep in touch with their kids and prefer to be at home, which is okay and does not make them "feminine
in a negative manner.
Motherhood affects the majority of women and shapes the character of any and all women, regardless of whether they are not moms. Some women can be moms through charity work or by having siblings or nieces and nephews. Every time we provide love to kids, that is also considered motherhood, and fatherhood as well.
Men can also be part of motherhood. I have seen heterosexual couples who have raised their kids by providing bother girly and manly stuff to them. Although it might be hard for both male figures to know and understand the feminine love a child can or must embrace, it is not that difficult to learn. Especially since at some point in their lives, they have been surrounded by women so it will not be new to them. It's just like a single mother who is willing to dress up in men's outfits so that her son can participate in a Father's day program.
All kids deserve a parent or a guardian. But not all parents deserve a child.
One of the most famous cases of child neglect is the Turpin Family case. Although the parents are already serving their time in jail and the kids are seen doing much better now, their tragic back story still remains. The parents were able to provide various different things but the children are given the little end of the stick. it is one of the most shocking cases I have ever encountered and to this day, I don't understand why they keep having children when they don't even want to take care of them. I'm pretty sure that condoms are much cheaper, considering they have lots of money that they get from both bad and good ways.
There are unwanted pregnancies that occur almost everywhere in the world. Most of it happens to the younger generation, via harm or pleasure. Although most women do not encourage such acts from the younger ones, we cannot control those who are evil-minded or the ones who are already curious without proper knowledge. The result is a child being developed. Some women tend to keep the baby and some tend to abort them.
Do I encourage abortion?
Yes, I do.
I do not care whether the mother had sex via force or not, what matter is if she thinks that she is incapable of having a child whether it is an issue with financial, physical, or emotional attachment. As long as the mother doesn't react with a love of having a child at a certain age, she can do what she wants. Most people do not understand that a woman or, even a young girl, who is not capable of bearing a child doesn't mean that she is taking away the life of her kid. Instead of making women who had unwanted pregnancies due to harm, why not just make the men suffer since they did the harmful decisions first?
With every negative situation, a woman has been to, I respect the braveness they bring to the table. My mother is a single mother after my "father" cheated on us multiple times and had a kid with his other woman. It is difficult for someone to be left alone with the responsibility of two kids, much worse in a bigger family picture. The fact that my mother suffered emotionally and physically from being a two-person parent, I consider her one of my heroes.
I do not support women's empowerment in general. I support women's empowerment to those women who deserve power.
The Importance of Technology
Numerous emerging innovations have had wide-ranging economic consequences. Social mainstream media's cultural influence, as well as its socioeconomic life, has increased over the past decade. Technologies have contributed to a rise in human factors of production. It was viewed as a human body extension that copied or magnified emotional and behavioral capacities.
Since I was a child, I've been a great admirer of technology. By "huge fan," I mean that I enjoy playing computer games and researching the information contained inside. It wasn't really an issue at first since, while computers appear to be a huge deal in our region, they aren't required for everyone.
Many individuals may survive without using a cell phone or watching television up until today. I recall spending months without using social media sites since I had television to acquire information and classmates who were passionate about school issues at the time. It may sound tedious, but looking back, I'm not sure how I managed it.
At its most basic form, technology comprises produced things such as equipment and containers that increase professional resources or genetically manipulate to execute jobs they just can not possibly complete. However, pieces must be created. Not only is understanding or method necessary for the creation of objects, as well as for subsequent usage.
Technology is ever-changing. The fluctuating rate of simultaneous changes is both an exciting and frustrating source of perpetual excitement. The constant replacement of capital assets and technological breakthroughs are the fundamental variables driving technological dynamics. Technology cannot be regarded as a separate, independent event involving a single thing.
What technology taught me was the urge to search for things. Most people don't take advantage of technology and rely on their own knowledge. My opinion is that even if you have the highest IQ in the world, you will always, maybe once in your life, search for something. And that is the beauty of the internet. It's there to help you. However, just like a friend, he may help you but he won't be a reliable source, most of the time.
We have to search with our brains as well. There is this quote, "Think before you click.". It doesn't just apply to what we post or upload on online platforms, but to the things we search for as well. We just don't believe everything that we see online so we have to continue searching for us to find proper evidence and statistics of what is right and proven, as well as those who are just made up by another untrustworthy being. Some people get connected immediately by how films or television shows, or even just videos are uploaded, and they tend to copy most of it.
Just like what happened this Halloween in 2022. Many parents or just those people who are considered to be adults already and very insensitive with what costume they want to wear. Some even dressed up as serial killers. Fictional characters inspired by true events can be good costumes, like the guy from the Chainsaw Massacre movies also known as the Leatherface. Even if his story was inspired by true events, there was no Leatherface in real life, by means of physical structure. However, those characters who are really serial killers in real life are not counted. Even if we say that we are just portraying them, not idolizing them, we are to respect the innocent victims. That is why there is the internet, so we can search. Actually, it wasn't even about going online because it is already purely common sense.
Technology is not just about phones and gadgets. Technology is seen everywhere. From chairs to bedroom tables to cars to candy packaging. If we are to say that we can live without technology, we are to go back to the Stone Age era. That's the era where we have little to no clothing and we make fire with tools that aren't matches or lighters.
We value technology because it helps us with our everyday life.
Social Equity in the Philippines
There is, obviously, a difference between equality and equity. Many people, especially those who are active on social media platforms, have seen that picture of three people watching a baseball game. And it is really amazing how one picture can easily change a person's perspective. It shows what humanity wants when it comes to massaging their egos. It shows how cruel society can be with gender equality. It also shows how society deals with people who consider themselves above the law and are not at their "level".
Within the financial sector, "equity" refers to portfolio investments that might have obligations associated with them. Socioeconomic fairness has both legislative and economic consequences.
One of the difficulties in implementing social equality is that it mirrors ideals of fair treatment and natural justice.
For example, in school, when a teacher explains something, he does it in a way that either he is able to explain or the capacity of the students to understand the topic. Since there are two ways he can do it, either way, there are some students who will not cope with the lesson. Not every student has the same level of intelligence for them to understand everything all at once.
I remember when I was in college since my course back in senior high school has nothing to do with programming, everything was new to me. However, since the teacher only sees the upper class in front and thinks that they are all intelligent, he decided not to push through with the basics but rather jump to the middle part already which made, not only me but also most of us struggle. There is some form of equality in there because I don't think he has favoritism but the fact that he wasn't able to teach the basics to those who are struggling because he just doesn't want to is a form of inequity. I think that as a teacher, whether it's your profession or not, you must not leave someone behind because you just want to move on already. This is why people just want to associate themselves with another aspect, besides the academic area.
The Philippines is a highly complex society. Many people nowadays, especially those who have woken up from the missteps of the past, have recognized that using our voice may change, not a lot, but at least some. There are many fresh graduates who struggle to find a job because of a lack of experience in the field that they are taking. There are many employers who have been talked down to just because they are used to making jobs one of the factors to include if they will be respected or not. There are many people who lack common sense. Also, there are many older generations who don't know how to respect the young ones but want to respect themselves.
There is much news in the Philippines where if a not-so-privileged individual committed an inhuman act, like murder or stealing something, he or she is immediately in jail. But when there is a politician or a wealthy man who committed the same act, the process is way longer than a turtle walking. There is fair treatment since both of them are being interrogated by the police and the mass, however, the process of their being in jail is not fair.
Many still achieve in society by overcoming challenges, however, such accomplishment does not imply that such obstacles do not exist. It is incorrect to suppose that results are unimportant. Social fairness is difficult to achieve since merely understanding it is important is not enough. Justice is a very individualized idea.
The Importance of Reading
Reading has always been a part of our lives. It is one of those habits that doesn't just kill time, but rather brings knowledge to our minds. With thousands of pieces of literature, ranging from books to magazines to newspapers, there are a lot of ideas and topics an individual can read and gain.
I am not really a fan of books now but I have to admit that I was able to collect some, from fiction to non-fiction, during my elementary and high school days. Just like watching American TV shows, reading books helped me to be able to at least learn much more about the English language. Even though English is one of the sorts of, requirements for school, the fact that it continued outside the premises was the exciting part.
Reading stimulates your intellect in a variety of ways. It can reduce cognitive deficits and perhaps even lessen the frequency which of some memory loss. It may physically and metaphorically broaden your horizons to new terms.
Books may serve as a getaway as well as an adventure. You can discover via reading a murder mystery that you exhibit talent and enthusiasm in investigating murders and paying very close attention to hints.
One of the most famous books is Harry Potter. Most fans, both of the movie adaptations and books, consider the stories in them an escape to reality. Most books actually do this. Because of the ongoing rant about depression and being lonely, most people tend to just want to never go out or perhaps, not talk to people. Besides watching the television or videos in the online world, books help them to gain back the happiness they are wanting in the real world. Obviously, finding the books you want can be hard because adjusting to the writer's perspective and your wants in terms of genre do not always come together. However, if you are open to anything, any book will do.
Reading is a sort of enjoyment that may transport people to fictitious realms or historical eras. You surely gain a great deal whenever you read a lot. A varied collection of information will render you a much more interesting storyteller and therefore will enable you to communicate with more people who have different socioeconomic backgrounds.
There are a lot of people who became successful in life because of reading books. There are even billionaires who love to read books every now and then. I have heard books that are about being good at handling money. Like the 1997 famous book entitled Rich Dad, Poor Dad. I always hear this book whenever I go to seminars and because of that, I can consider it one of the best books to be made out there. And it really did help a lot of people to be good at money, whether they have a lot or not. However, reading books alone is not the way to become rich or financially free at least. People who became rich from reading books are not necessarily the full picture. Reading requires at least a lot of understanding, not just from the literal aspect, but in the general sense.
Reading could instill beliefs. There are books that cater to the negative and positive perspectives of a community or organization. And it is not there to be an enemy but rather be neutral in most ways.
Reading possesses the ability to increase one's imagination. Others might study and explain the distinction between good and evil, as well as examine different cultural ideas and ways of living. It has also been demonstrated to reduce stress by promoting calmness.
We can all learn from reading books. We can all find joy in it as well.
Is the Korean Entertainment Industry a Threat to the Philippine Cinema?
Recently, numerous netizens, ranging from teens to adults, have spoken about their negative and positive reactions regarding the supposed ban on Korean dramas in the Philippines. It caused fans to have disappointment in Senator Estrada because of the ban showing how the local Filipino entertainment projects are being forced on the audience.
Personally, the ban isn't the answer to why Filipino movies or television shows are not being appreciated well by the mass.
I prefer Japanese movies more than I look into local movies, specifically the J-horror genre. What I like about the genre of the J-horror classics like Audition, Cure, or Ju-on: The Curse is that it doesn't end there. It isn't the kind of movie that will get you to sleep and make you watch other succeeding films or rather watch it again to understand the whole story. Most Filipinos, especially the adults, don't really like that kind of plot. They prefer movies that will not bother them after they watch them. They want to have that mental peace after watching a film or television series. That is why Fernando Poe, Jr.'s films are all appreciated by then and now because of his films end in a good manner. However, that plot line doesn't want to be seen in horror films. That is why horror films must have an ending that no one will expect, which is happening in most J-horror films.
I cannot speak for the mass because I have a different position when it comes to what most Filipinos like and don't like. However, I am in a neutral state that banning foreign films and TV shows just so Filipinos can appreciate local ones will not address the elephant in the room.
In my opinion and perspective, I do prefer Filipino movies from before. I am not saying that I don't watch the new ones but rather if I were to choose between "Kisapmata" or "Hello, Love, Goodbye", I will choose Kisapmata. But it will not hinder me to watch the other movie because I am optimistic about other genres as well. The thing I like about Kisapmata is that it's a psychological thriller which is my favorite genre of film. And isn't just about killing and stuff, it's that controversial plot line that I like and also because it's inspired by that one crime report before in the 80s.
Now, I'm not saying that Hello, Love, Goodbye is not a good film. I have people tell me that it is a good film because I don't think it's just romance alone but rather sacrifices and struggles as well. It's one of the highest-earning movies in Philippine cinema so it is well-loved by the mass.
As time pass by, we have to look at how people see their favorites, whether it is a movie or TV series, or music.
What I think is the solution to the problem of how local entertainment projects can be well received by the audience is looking into the competition. If the government sees the K-dramas as a threat or a competition, they can research how Koreans do their stories. For example, if the mass is like a plot where two people meet again after decades, and then there's a twist on why they can't be together, the local producers and writers can make a project out of it but not the same thing they have seen before. Most of the k-drama actors and actresses are loved by the audience, and at first, I thought it was because of how good-looking they are but no. It's about the impact they give on the audience.
I have seen reviews of how people dive into a movie or series and the acting performance is one of the boxes to tick. The movie, "The Whole Truth", lacks that acting impact, for me, and for some that have seen the movie. I think films, even now still have flaws that can still be saved. However, the story of the movie, up until the end scene, is what I loved which is why I can consider it a favorite. I haven't seen a movie like that in comparison to the movies I have watched before. The potential of that kind of plot is what everyone will like in the future.
If we are to be appreciated by the public, we have to change or improve ourselves, and not blame other people for what we lack.
The Importance of Mental Health
Mental health, like physical health, is perhaps not readily repaired. Mental, bodily, and interpersonal well-being are inextricably linked. A good mental state is an important commodity since it promotes healthier lifestyles and has significant societal advantages in terms of student outcomes.
Anyone who lives on our earth values their health in general. It is one of the most visually appealing things that people are interested in. Many people are interested in transforming their physical structure into a model-like topic, while others are content with how they seem, whether we think it is sexy or not.
Nevertheless, as we live in a world where everyone is pressured to have a physique that meets their ideals, it's difficult for individuals who are simply enjoying life or who are having difficulty exercising for a diverse range of reasons to fit in.
I am surrounded by a lot of individuals that make fun of my looks and figure simply because I'm not their type. But there are other reasons why I don't want to shape my physique like Naomi Campbell.
And because we have different reasons, people tend to hurt people, not just physically but mentally as well.
A person's mental health is always a big thing because it affects them both physically and mentally. Because people have a different levels of pain endurance, it will be hard to advise something that is not generally fit.
The mental state is a favorable notion that refers to people's and communities social and emotional well-being. Throughout a given situation, their mental well-being fluctuates along this spectrum.
Mental illness is one of the most common threats to public health. Injustice and social isolation both contribute to and cause poor mental health. Growing societal disparity exacerbates tension, sorrow, and stress. Individuals' happiness is greatly influenced by the sociocultural contexts in which they live and work. A large quantity of evidence suggests that some basic human necessities are necessary for sustaining a healthy psychological state.
An example of how the environment outside can easily affect the inside is seen everywhere.
For example, in my case, when my "so-called" father abandoned us, it affected not just the work of my mom and my school stuff but also how we handled the situation. I remember my mother telling me that she often gets a lot of wrong things during work because of how stressed she is and how she keeps thinking about what will happen to us. Luckily for the family, she is a strong and independent woman and that is why she is doing okay now. For me, it wasn't also a walk in the park. I had nights where I will just cry and every time I hear his name or someone just asks where is he, I just immediately felt like I will pass out. It isn't an over-exaggeration thing but I did feel things that I shouldn't feel because I was angry. And instead of having that anger, I just cry in the corner. Maybe it was my way of coping or just releasing any negative energy from the situation.
It is always important for the environment to have a maintenance of being kind to one another. Yes, there are times when there are a lot of people who will just bring negativity to the public but we need to be strong.
However, since I have said that we are all not the same since we have different levels of acceptance or disappointment and forgiveness, we must learn to understand one another.
That is why our mental state must always come first because it will affect not only how we think, but how we behave as well.
The Problem with Teenage Pregnancy
The subject of teenage pregnancies is important for all academic fields since adolescent girls are going through the real methodology of becoming mothers.
Female adolescent pregnancies between the ages of 13 and 19 are referred to as teen pregnancy. It is a worldwide phenomenon with well-established origins including substantial healthcare, societal, and economic repercussions.
Girls are more likely to become pregnant as a result of underage marriage and sexual abuse. Adolescent pregnancy is more common among people with very little school or a lower socioeconomic level.
A variety of elements contribute to the reasons why teenage pregnancy continues to take place.
One factor is forced child marriages. And it isn't the fact that two little kids getting married together, but one is a child being forced to get married to an older person who is more likely two to three decades way older. Most of the time it happens to young girls.
There are a lot of reasons why parents do this to their children and one of which is money. And since those children suffer from unwanted actions from people who were supposed to protect them, they tend to accept situations like getting pregnant at a young age quickly. This kind of "tradition" still happens in some parts of the world and people think that since they refer to it as tradition, they think it is normal.
Sexual violence against children incidents, as well as other societal challenges, are on the rise in today's society. Unwanted pregnancies are increased by child sexual abuse. It has a negative impact on a child's affluence and very well, as well as on society's morality and moral ideals. Day after day, a vast proportion of youngsters are sexually molested within their own homes.
An even more reason is a lack of sexual education. Sex education isn't only about being safe or anything like that. However, it also focuses on the diseases or illnesses that might occur when a person performs a sexual act without sufficient information. And since most teens explore too much in life at such a young age, many of them do things that a young child should not do.
The lack of knowledge affects not only the persons concerned but also the children who will be born into this world, as well as the environment in which they will live. Because children who become parents already lack experience and knowledge of the "real" world, they suffer from poverty and lack of maturity.
Numerous teenagers participate in sexual behavior but will be unaware of the importance of contraception. Even if teenagers are able to access contraception, they may lack the agency or finances to pay for them, as well as awareness of where to utilize them and what to do with them effectively.
Those teenagers who suffer the judgment of society, as well as the ongoing punishment of teenage fun taken from them, need to have a voice. We all have stories to tell, whether we did something out of pleasure or hate.
Charity Begins at Home
It's true that family is the building block of an individual. Having an environment filled with love or hate will technically affect how a person sees and reacts to a situation.
Although there are a lot of factors that may suggest why a person behaves in such a way, affection for his or her family comes first before anything else. I have read a lot of stories about people, who are popular, whether it is in a positive or negative form.
There are a lot of people who experience neglect from their parents, either physically or emotionally. Either way, it affected how they felt and reacted to the world.
Let's take a look at Anna Delvey or Anna Sorokin. Many have probably heard of her because of that Netflix show. I have seen the show. I like the plot and lines and Julia Garner was amazing in terms of the character. Although the accent is a little bit over the top, it was still a spot-on thing. Going back to her story, told by Netflix, she disguised herself as a wealthy German heiress. Ever since then, those people who hear other people inheriting big lumps of money are always amazed and treat them as above average. I do think that money plays a big game since the start of man's discovery of revolution. However, Anna was not anywhere near that. She had parents, obviously, but they were not wealthy. In the show, Anna's relationship with her family was not a good thing. Although all families have ups and downs, Anna did not take that negativity into herself and made her own little world. I think the factor is that her family was not that invested in her because they don't seem to care even at the time she was arrested.
On the other hand, Aileen Wuornos, one of the most infamous serial killers in American history had a troublesome background before committing inhuman acts. If you are to look at her story, you can probably say that at some point, her acts were a little bit justified. Ever since she was born, the world is already against her. She is one of those bad people that I felt sad about because it didn't look like she enjoyed her life because life is always an obstacle to her. Her mom gave birth to her at such a young age and she never met her father because he was in prison. Her mother abandoned her and left her to her grandparents. Her grandfather sexually assaulted her and she became pregnant by a friend of her grandfather. If I'm not mistaken, to this day, those who committed a crime against her were never punished. In general, the type of environment she grew up in was not a good thing for a child. And she experienced things she shouldn't have.
It always starts with the family. If the family is good, the outcome of having a good child will be part of having that good parenting.
I can be one of those witnesses that when children see something from their parents that is either good or bad, they can immediately interpret it as something they should do.
Whatever children observe around them influences their moral standards. Home is where a child's personality is formed.
Whenever we are going to the city, since we live in the countryside, we always came across beggars on the street. And my little brother who is about 12 years younger than me, will always give them money. He would actually be angry at us for just passing by and acting like we didn't see them.
We are not a rich family, however, those acts of my little brother will always be a memory for us. I do put coins for beggars when I went to the city where I studied for college. And I think the reason why my fellow college mates are not doing the same thing is that they are already "used" to it, or maybe they know that some are just faking it.
The Importance of Internet
Countless individuals use the Internet to get news, weather, and sports updates, arrange and prefer to travel, and develop individual hobbies. Users have their own reasons for being on the internet. Whether it be for a job or entertainment. Most people use it for entertainment and that is where many jobs are being developed because the market is on the internet, scrolling up and down. There were a lot of job opportunities that had been developed ever since the internet began.
Job opportunities and locations are more flexible thanks to the Internet. Online sites provide instructional resources that range from elementary to post-doctoral degrees. The Internet is a major facilitator including both official and casual literacy. The Internet enables computer users to effortlessly connect to other workstations and available documents from any location.
The Internet has been my friend since the day I can remember. I had the opportunity to be exposed to the technology side of the world because most of the people I know, during the times the internet is starting to evolve in our place, do not really know to even start a computer or a laptop.
I had times when I didn't use the internet and I wasn't even on social media platforms despite it being a big hit and, at some point, I was even the one to introduce it to my fellow friends. It was not a game changer for me back then but since I experienced that type of situation, I was able to get out of boredom whenever the Wi-Fi is out or the power, in general.
Facebook and other social media platforms have given people new methods to mingle and engage. When it applies to contentious posts that frequently result in an unanticipated and potentially large-scale response on media platforms from many other Internet users, the danger for both people and companies on social networking platforms is great.
The amount of times I used the internet is triple the number of times I was on exercise. We all have different reasons why we think we should be in front of a computer rather than being fit or having those six-pack abs. My reason is that although I want to get fit, I have important things to do. Like the fact that I am on online classes on Udemy and I want to keep up with the programming languages, I want to learn. It really wasn't simple for me because each programming language has a distinct purpose when combined with another programming language. Javascript, for comparison purposes, has a distinct purpose when used on its own, but it has a different use when put into an HTML page, which is a website page, and the way it is written is also slightly different.
I was taught the different programming languages before in college but it wasn't enough. Thankfully, we have internet access and I can still learn and bring the learnings I had before to the ones I know now. It is one of the beauties of the internet because not only do you get to learn things on your own, you can still go to other platforms to learn more and ask questions.
Children are also at risk online. There are numerous predators that disguise themselves as young kids. Children could also provide personal details about themselves publicly because they are inexperienced. Despite the fact that the most widely prominent social networking sites often prohibit members under the age of 13, there were quite a large number of minors on the site. The halt in the mass popularity of all these has not been taken more seriously because the lawsuit is still ongoing. There are various social networking platforms for younger children that promise to give superior degrees of protection to youngsters.
Even though minors are on the internet because of entertainment, as adults, we still need to provide security and protection for them. Especially since most of these kids are not outside and are exploring opportunities, the possibility of giving trust to a stranger online is a lot.
The internet is an important thing to us, but just like food, we need to know the limits.
The Impact of Social Media to Politics
Teenagers are increasingly turning to social networking channels to get political updates and information. The world wide web has established information systems that are critical in the sharing of content. The internet and other digital platforms have aided in the distribution of political discussion.
Social media platforms enable politicians to bypass conventional media channels by directly communicating with the general population. Being a prominent footprint on social networks boosts a candidate's chances of gaining authority.
While counterfeit news has some use for individuals, it also has individual and social consequences. Social media is frequently used to show up and vote either for or against a specific candidate or to express a viewpoint on a specific topic.
The election that happened in May 2022 in the Philippines for the new government was one of the most remembered elections in history. Not only because of the candidates who ran for the highest position in the government but because of how social media made a significant change in the people's minds.
Presidential ads are progressively leveraging social media to affect public impressions of contenders. Even though each platform provides different ways for the community to express themselves, they are all based on the concept of social media sites. Using media platforms, the person creating material is seldom the same person for whom the image appears on the profile.
During the campaign period of the candidates up until the election period, I was active on social media. I was really active on online platforms since it was the final leg of college and there was a lot to do. Online classes were still a thing back then, even some schools up until now use them. And since I was living in the countryside back then, my communication medium with my colleagues was through messaging apps. We were focused on getting our thesis paper done as well as finding internship opportunities. It was a lot of work but it was a lot of fun.
As I scroll through Facebook, I see a lot of my batchmates back in High School who have their own side for the candidates they like. And if you are living in the Philippines, you probably notice the "war" between two presidential candidates, as well as their supporters.
The president position is the highest position to really look over. I had my choice back then but I want to consider fair justice to all candidates so I had my own research on their profiles. It was really thorough research because I don't want to look at the rumors since I know that there will be a lot during a battle for a position.
One thing I noticed is that even though there were a lot of backups for one candidate, their supporters are letting them down. How social media, like Facebook and TikTok, took over the "information gathering" of the voters was a really shocking thing. I do look into those videos or posts but I still do research about them because anyone, from those who just want to have fun to those who want to spread awareness, can post anything they want. And it's a bit sad for me because I know that most of my batchmates are really intelligent and have that punch of critical thinking but it seemed that they were not during those times. I have seen posts that were already posted years ago but were edited to the present date and they still share them on the platform. It's a good thing for them to spread information, but, please, make it valuable. People do not deserve content that was just to bring something for fame.
Societal pressure appears to be related to political engagement.
I have seen people who were "converted" just because they don't seem to "fit in". I have a friend who was scolded by both her parents because she and her sister have different choices of candidates. She was even claimed to putting a negative influence on her little sister, which was not a good thing if I may say because I know her little sister. And she was an intelligent woman so I don't think brainwashing will come through to her.
There were many candidates who doesn't deserve to be elected, but think of the people and the country. Also, you cannot blame the people for voting for someone and say, at the same time, that you are fighting for them.
The Importance of Marriage Equality
Marriage right is a basic human right. Marriage provides rights and responsibilities amongst them, but also between them and future offspring and in-laws. People may consider getting married for a variety of reasons. It may be because of love, the ability to provide food, shelter, and clothing, not just for the partner, but for the kids, or at some point, the negative part is being forced by the family or being sold to unhuman beings.
A government, an institution, a matrilineal society, community members, or colleagues can all acknowledge a marriage. It is frequently seen as a service agreement.
Marriage comes with a big responsibility. It shouldn't happen just because someone thinks in the heat of the moment that they want to be forever. It may happen like that but they must think deeply about every decision they make. I have watched a lot of weddings that have those vows that they will stay together until their last breath but didn't even last a month. And it's aggravating to see that they are using an organization, such as the church, to say the promises they can't keep. Yet, people of the same sex are not allowed just because of a faith belief.
Notwithstanding our challenging background, the adjustment happened far quickly as anybody anticipated. There are a lot of countries who had already legalized the right to marriage equality. I am certainly happy for these countries. However, there are tons of other countries that still don't recognize the viewpoint of other people who just wants to get married and be with each other for the rest of their lives.
The biggest and, probably, only reason why most of these countries don't take it into action is because of their religion. It's confusing why they are putting their religion to government rights because, like in the Philippines, there is a separation between the church and the state.
The separation of opinions regarding human rights and religions is not only applicable to marriage equality but also to other, considered to be, controversial topics. For example, people say that abortion is murder. And they think it is because of their views that are in accordance with their religion. But when other people say that we should tax the churches then, they bring up the act of separating the church from the government. This is why these reasons are not really a reasonable thing if we are to put them to the pros and cons of having marriage equality and legalizing abortion.
Civil partnerships are not entitled to the same privileges, privileges, or responsibilities as civil marriage. Even though the legal provisions of committed relationships and matrimony are nearly equivalent on a local scale, there is a substantial difference in terms of worldwide acknowledgment. Discriminatory laws have a harmful influence on children who are discovering themselves as adolescents. The authorities must not refuse two individuals the right to marry simply due to their being of a similar gender.
Although one can argue the fact that two people can live together without getting married or one can remain single forever, there are many reasons why marriage is an important right for any individual. Everyone is bound to have a partner, even if it's not about love or just pure lust. There are people who just didn't want to get married and it's fine. However, if at some point, one wants to consider another individual as the other right, there are a lot of benefits in terms of having a healthy mind and life.
I am not saying that remaining single doesn't bring happiness but since everyone has their own viewpoints and emotional stability, we have our own ways to cope with struggles. Some can remain single and some cannot. Some had father or mother issues so having a relationship may help them in rebuilding a sort of good nature in terms of intrapersonal relationships. Emotional struggles are always a battle.
The civil partnership provides financial and cultural public backing to married people in marriage or cohabitation, which could also lead to significant therapeutic properties.
The Amomongo aka "Bigfoot of the Philippines"
Just like every other country in the world, the Philippines is full of mysterious things. Located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, it is made up of approximately 7,100 islands. With this amount of places to hop in, there is no doubt that there will be tons of stories that are either made up or believed to be true.
The world is full of mystery already, however, it is a different thing when people start talking about certain creatures that don't belong to the animal kingdom or in any other kingdom humans know.
Despite the absence of conclusive proof concerning any of these entities, there is absolutely no lack of individuals in rural areas of the country who genuinely think in their presence. Philippine mythology is a collection of myths and epics that represent hugely diverse beliefs. Philippine myths continue to play a prominent role in indigenous Filipinos' lives.
Part of the Philippine folklore creatures is a creature called Amomongo. He is known as the localized version of the Bigfoot.
Bigfoot tales date all the way back past written history and span the globe. Bigfoot is recognized by far too many distinct names in many civilizations. Several cultures talk about a giant monster that appears to be a man but has particular abilities and features. Throughout most of the 18th and 19th centuries, North American residents began reporting encounters. Nevertheless, Bigfoot definitely exist in one extremely genuine way.
The Amomongo is a monster portrayed in Philippine mythology as a hairy, man-sized monkey possessing long fingernails.
The said monster was seen in Western Visayas where its name originated. From the word, *amó,* which means ape or monkey, the local residents gave it the name because of the looks of the creature.
Unlike Bigfoot, the Amomongo is "known" to be slightly skinnier. Although it is hairy, some people believed that it is not that fat because the picture suggests seeing already its bones. Take a look at the picture below, in comparison to the Bigfoot.
It was in the year 2008 when people started talking more about the said Amomongo. In the town of La Castellanan in Negros Occidental, the creature was said to be seen during an attack. June 9, 2008, when the creature attacked residents named Elias Galvez and Salvador Aguilar. The two men reported to the police and showed pieces of evidence such as scratches on the creature.
Besides the two men, there were other animals that were said to be attacked by the creature.
There were many theories suggesting that it may not be a creature but rather an animal. Since the description of the supposed attacker is similar to an ape or a gorilla, some believed that it may be an animal on the run. However, there is no ape or gorilla in the Philippines. Maybe there are in a zoo but a creature that big is a no for the locals to be seen wandering around.
What is your take on the Amomongo?
The Importance of Animal Rights
Animal rights are ethical concepts based on the notion that animals should always be allowed to live free of selfish demands.
Unlike humans who have the ability to speak out their emotions and desires through "word" language, it is difficult for animals to do the same. Since people, over the course of time, have made significant changes in languages to be easily understood by other people, animals are not taught like them. Because life is a game of survival, humans made their way on them to easily control other living things, either other humans or animals or trees.
Animal rights are directly opposed to cruelty to animals, including involving animals exploited by people for a broad range of purposes, including food, unconventional items, and sometimes even pets.
Nowadays everyone advocates for animal protection in some form or another. Many individuals believe that the concept of animal welfare is unrealistic. Maybe because most people live as if they are the ones above because of money and such. People who are controlled by money can easily give an opinion and make decisions based on what will benefit them the most.
For example, the restaurant you usually or like to go to, obviously, has its own "warehouse" for meats. Well, I know some restaurants that just go to grocery stores every now and then but those are just the start-up ones. The warehouse where different animals are in is taken care of and bred for maintenance and production. Now, logically thinking there is nothing wrong with that. I actually think that it is good. For the reason that we all have needs and people go to restaurants to eat and not all of them only eat vegetables. The concept is like if you plan to cut a tree, then you must plant another one.
I think the only problem when it comes to animal rights activists is they see that kind of procedure as torture. Humans maintain animals in deplorable circumstances before exploiting them as sustenance. Chickens are housed in extremely tiny cages or battery boxes. Farm animals are confined in cages so tiny that they are unable to stretch or turn everywhere and increase muscle mass. Most individuals defend this method by citing the nutritional worth of meat, including the nutrients and proteins it contains. It's like raising a person just to be killed for "production".
However, there is an argument to that statement because we can't fall to that level of being an animal. Animals don't have the ability to logically thinking and understand. For most of them, the concept of living is just eating, sleeping, and surviving. Humans not only do those three things but they are also built to protect wildlife and other people.
When we define "liberties" as legal protection from violence, numerous animals already have constitutional protections, and the concept of animal rights isn't very contentious. The majority of people reject such a comparison.
The problem why animal rights should always be a concern is because of animal experimentation. It refers to techniques conducted on animals for fundamental biology and health data analysis. Irrespective of the ethical concerns they raise, animals end up with physical pain, emotional conflict, and misery in enormous quantities of rational creatures.
Most methods have the capacity to inflict physical and psychological anguish and misery on the animals. Animal treatments that are commonly used include genetic modification, coercive exposure to toxins, and development techniques.
The specific number is unknown since only a tiny percentage of nations collect and publish statistics on animal research and exploration.
Animals deserve to experience a pain-free existence. Within such a framework, all living creatures form a harmonious ecology. Even though we are at the top of the so-referred food chain, humans should not constantly care for themselves. It is our job as occupants of this earth to safeguard all sentient organisms, especially animals. We ought to have fairness within ourselves and throughout the environment in which we live.
Is Democracy the Best Form of Government?
Democracy is a form of government wherein everyone's power is used to benefit everyone's personal interests.
Human rights advancement and expansion are only possible in a democratic society. Civil rights are much more than a basis of democratic governance. A pretty evident balance of power is essential in any democracy in order for the court to act freely and independently.
In straightforward terms, a democratic democracy allows citizens to be unrestricted in their speech and expression. In the grand scheme of things, it is the kind of state that allows everyone to be pleased and satisfied. Easily envision not being told if you have to perform this or that, even for the most basic tasks. Thus according to my study, the North Korean government has jurisdiction over things like haircuts and clothes. If you were raised in a democratic nation, you may be wondering why these things should be restricted in that country. Almost all of the time, you're simply glad you weren't brought into the world there.
However, if you will look at the deeper picture of North Korea and another democratic countries, there is so much more to it. If North Korea will just provide a fair justice system and not just been driven by power and authority, it would have been a great country. There are rules there that might have been erased for the better but some are understandable. Like the fact that they banned the Bible in their country. I am not against the Bible, of course, but their reason is that it can and will change the mind or way of understanding a person, which I consider to be true. Most of the people I know who say that they "read" the Bible are always looking for excuses that don't even fit in the box. Also, I like the fact of not just banning but making Marijuana illegal in their place. It has a lot of things to say for a conservative country.
I'm stressing the fact that North Korean people are experiencing such overprotective things from their leaders because the other democratic countries are taking their freedom to the extreme.
The bad side of having such freedom is the fact that people think they can do whatever they want, without being responsible citizens. If you are the only one living in the world, then you can probably do everything but since you are living with many people, there should be equality and equity in everything.
The Philippines is a democratic country. And people have the say during elections, and even after elections. They are allowed to own their desired clothing, cars that are required to register, licenses, and go to rallies if most do not agree with a particular thing. My problem with rallies is that since we have the law, we must do what it says unless the law doesn't sound right. Like if some people are going to do a rally, there should be a permit. I see nothing wrong with this because I think most of the time, the government will give them the permit because most of them, especially the appointed one with the documents, obviously, doesn't have a bad record so it will be easy for people to get the proper documents before doing anything.
According to Larry Davis, "Majority rule only works if you're also considering individual rights."
That statement should define each and every other statement and movement the people make. A lot of the time, they are only thinking of a certain group and not the other ones. For example, in the Philippines, many people are not okay with what happened during the Martial Law because they said that the government took the law into their hands by killing innocent people. However, if you are certain and concerned about these victims, why be particular in one subject? Why not also consider those who are victims of the alleged extrajudicial killings, the Mendiola Massacre, the Marawi siege, the Mamasapano massacre, as well as other victims of human rights?
We should always look at other people and not be driven with opinions that are not based on facts.
@stellaluna