Cultural Space Analysis

In our society we can experience different kind of power relations everywhere, in our school perhaps, malls, offices, with barkadas, and even in sports. Everyone experiences it from different places and scenarios but we all have one thing in common regarding the subject matter, experiencing it in our very own home. A house is completely different from a home. A home is composed of people that we are close with, our families. It is where we were nurtured to become our very own person and it is where we can only feel real and abundant love and security. Unlike a house where it is mostly a black space for shelter, a basic necessity as our shelter but empty. A house is never a home without our family.

For this entry, I choose the basic unit of our society where we experience power relation from the very beginning of our life, our family. Of course I’m talking about our family in our home, parents who continually guide us as we grow older. Speaking from personal experience, home is where we get to learn the basic knowledge of how to survive the reality, and our parents is the ultimate figure that teaches us all the things we need to know like values, morals, initiatives, instincts. Of course being the self-proclaimed “professors” of our life, as long as we live under their roof, we are obliged to follow their rules.

Every home has their own laws laid out by parents. It is the responsibility of every child to obey these house rules (curfew, chores, etc) as it is the parents’ responsibility to provide for their children. I am no different from this culture, whereas the parents must be obeyed. It is in our home with our family we engage in power. However every parent’s power is different. My parents for example are not practicing the power of coercion but the power of influence. I got this concept from an article used in my PHILOPE class about the general notion of process philosophy in God’s power towards human beings by Jimmy A. Belita. The article made me realize on what kind of power my parents possess. They are not coercive parents however reamains influential. Even though with silent authority, I still am able to feel the gravity of their power over me as my parents. Whenever they would tell me the do's and don'ts, I respect it and very hesitant to disobey it.

I consider my parents to be strict in terms of going out at night, weekend getaways with friends, and other typical worrisome to parents. Most of the time they rarely allow me to do these things and being matured enough to understand it from their point of view, I understand why they do so. Though rejection does not happen always, there is sometimes a slim chance that they would allow me, and this I think balances my attitude towards my parents authority. It doesn't evoke anger whenever they would reject something I would want, which happens mostly to other children, because I know that they have good reason for it, and mostly making up for it by hanging out and eating out to our favorite restaurants (Of course it would not be cheap, at least we can get something good from it :D).

My point from my example is that even though my parents exercise their power by making decisions for what I want, it never evoke hatred because they use their power on me gently but the gravity of being coercive. I guess this type of power they possess (influential) is much more powerful because they and I know that i would not dissuade them because we created a relationship with respect towards each other, not only because they are "THE PARENTS" but because they are my parents, who loves me and cares for me. Love never lacks in our home.

The type of power relationship I experienced at home with my parents is not hardcore authority/power but influential. By being rational and loving parents that they are, they exert greater influence on me. I believe being love by your own parents would make positive changes in your becoming, philosophically speaking. With their love, guidance and power they enforce on me, I would be forever grateful and promises to return their love and care for the rest of my life.

In closing, my home with my parents is the strong foundation of my becoming. With their love and guidance I would grow for the better. Their love for me makes me not question their authority on me, and everyday I live my respect for them intensifies. Indeed, our home with our family is where the first and basic place we experience power, where we are shaped to fit the reality, a cultural place that starts it all.

Critical Commentary No. 3: Hybridity Defines Filipinos

Filipinos today are far from the "True Filipino" books and scholars would describe. Filipino culture is so mixed-up that make late Filipinos forget their origins. Philippines as to be described today is a damaged culture.

Looking back from the country's history, numerous countries had colonized the Philippines and demanded their culture to be the dominant one. Ever since the colonization of the country from different colonizers, the Philippines had lost many of its originality, however some Filipino traits and characters are passed on until today's generation.

Although most of the Filipinos today are practicing western culture and they're even studying their culture more than their historical origins, some "True Filipino" unique character are still noticeable.

What I mean by "True Filipino" character? Well basing it from my observations, Filipinos have distinct characters and mannerisms. For example, even though dressed in american fashion, Filipinos have this distinct type of communication that only another Filipino can understand. For example, when in strange place, calling for an attention would be a simple "psst" and that intended person would stop and would speak to you if necessary. Also the concept of "kwan" is like part of every Filipinos unique conversation.

Other example is being family-oriented people. In some foreign culture, families were not as connected as Filipino families. Young people when they reached 18 are free from the responsibility of parents. They can do whatever they like independently. Also the most common practice is when their parents are now very old and that children cannot take care of them because they also have their own family to take care of, old people are confined in a home for the aged. Such practice may be seen as an abomination in the Philippines.

Another is the trait of being melodramatic. Filipino people really do love soap operas that would evoke overwhelming emotions, either anger or sadness. Looking at the Filipino soap operas from the time that I remember, from Mula Sa Puso until Mara Clara today, those films always have a protagonist that is always a victim of pain and humiliation from the antagonist, mostly females. This type of story is what attracts Filipino and thus become addictive to the show. They love the sense of anger they would feel for the antagonists and sadness/pain for the protagonist.

There are many unique character and traits that can be named on Filipinos today. Despite living in a hybrid culture, that affected the Filipino self identity, real Filipinos do exist. At this time, I would say that hybridity is what defines Filipino. They may have learned different kind of cultures or loves different type of arts, the real filipino uniqueness remain on them. The sense of hardworking, the trait of being family-oriented, and the way of communicating with fellow Filipino are still in tact.

Indeed it is hard to trace the orginality of Filipinos however what we can see in todays Filipinos are what defines todays Filipino. A multicultural race that can fit any part of the world. I think this is one advantage for Filipinos to adapt more easily to other parts of the country. From this perspective, I would say that being a damaged culture is not something to be looked at as negative but as something positive. Hybridity is what defines Filipinos today.

Cultural Analysis: Deconstruction

This entry would discuss how the Filipino feminist writers penetrated the patriarchal society of the country in promoting gender equality through the use of comics and television/films. In this entry, the creation of Darna comics on 1950s by Mars Ravelo and the succeeding films and TV series of the same character is the center of analysis.

Women, for a long time, lived in a culture that put female gender in the bottom of the Philippine hierarchal structure, where their only focus on the community centers with the family and nothing more. In fact even Jose Rizal had described the ideal image of women in the society as a demure, self-effacing beauty whose place was for the male'

s honor. In his novel Noli Me Tnangere, his exact words describing women were: "an Oriental decoration," "her eyes. . . always downcast," "a pure soul," using Maria Clara as his image of the "ideal" woman of the society.

Because of this image, promoted by some writers, Filipino women had been struggling to gain respect and equality in living in a society were men dominated the race even in the arts, literature, and films. Mars Ravelo is one of the writers who promoted female gender in the world of comics. He started with superheroine Varga from original 1947's Bulaklak Magazine. Later on after some falling out with the editor, Mars Ravelo leaved Bulaklak Magazine and renamed his original superheroine Darna in 1950's. A superheroine who holds superhuman powers

to battle criminals and other supernatural villains (mostly female). After some more years, Mars Ravelo's comic superheroine, Darna, becomes an inspiration for filmakers, to give life to the original Filipino heroine.

Comics, films and television per se are the most sought out pleasure of Filipinos of all time. In fact, is it proven by numerous studies that these are the most influential in every Filipino's life. Television/films and comics have offered manyopportunities for expressing new ideas about social structures. It had become a window for every feminist writers to defy and challenge the norms of the society and suggest new standards of how the majority shall view gender. Mars Ravelo's Darna is the perfect picture of women's capacity and strength: gutsy, helpful, compassionate, lovable and fearless. A complete destruction of stereotypical portrayals of women in comics, whereas they are the damsel-in-distress, a girl that are to be save by the male superheroes and only supporting characters for the males.

As mentioned earlier, Darna is the picture of strength. However it also important to notice that most of Darna's enemies are women. Female villains according to my research is another way of portrayal women's strength. Darna highlights the physical and mental strength of women and the pureness and goodness of their heart. Female villains like Valentina, Braguda, and Demonica, however, highlights the different side of women, their dark side. A different manifestation of strength of women both in comics and films/televisions vis-a-vis Filipino women.

In this work, female villains are responsible for creating havoc, for physically and mentally harming victims (both male and female) instead of the other way around, whereas women are usually the only victims in every story. Female villains of Comic TV series Darna defies the social norm of women being inferior to male, someone who always receive unjust and pain in the society. While the female villains are responsible for the pain of their victims, her unwillingness or inability to conform to the demands of the society made another meaning for her villainess. Whereas in comic teleseries Darna's female villains symbolizes it through the desire to inflict pain and the desire to own the world. Female villains had successfully transcends the women's societal norm of being oppressed or subdued status by refusing to act as one and their continuos display of strength. Of course, Darna's villains also possess power or superhuman strength to equalize Darna's symbol of strength. These characters are not the typical woman who are categorically inferior to men in therms of strength and ability. Female villains are the symbolic figures that threatens the man's status and security.

In closing, Darna ever since it was created in 1950s continuously rejects the notion of women's inferiority to men in Philippine society. Having it on comics, where mostly male readers are involved is one effective strategy to promote women's own "superiority" in the world. Also in movies and television, especially at prime time, people will be more aware of the silent penetration of the idea of women equality in our society. Comics, television/films are indeed the important vehicles for feminist to promote the idea of worlds free of sexism, worlds where women's rights and contributions in one nation is recognized.

Critical Commentary No. 2: Objectification of Black People

For many days I contemplated on what topic I shall discuss for my 2nd critical commentary. One day, when I was waiting for my mom from her appointment, I stumbled to an article from Glamour magazine entitled "Rodney King's Daughter: The World Watched As Their Father Was Beaten" by Gretchen Voss. Its a story of a black guy being brutalized by cops, way back 1991. The case had sparked some of the worst riots in the US history.

Rodney's daughters' and the rest of the world had seen his brutal humiliation live in a television from a cellphone camera of a person few feet away from the scene. The family felt so devastated and helpless, since they can't do anything about it. Their father was admitted to the hospital in fatal condition. Soon enough he was released from the hospital and filing no charges against his assailants his daughter, Lora, a gradeschooler back then had asked him why he was beaten and he answered "sometimes people won’t like you because of your skin color ," and that scared her off. Her fear was again proven when she was in school, the school had received many death threats call for the girl and she was constantly hear her classmates tell her that her dad "had it coming". Candice was also harassed at that time. By the time they were in highschool, they remember that the four police officers were on trial (for assault and other charges), they walked out as a freemen and that had sparked tremendous anger from the people who are in support of Rodney King, destroying the town for Rodney king they said.

The article had struck me because of the serious cruelty of racism. This case is an perfect example of one point of post-colonial theory on the damaging effect of colonialism to self-identity. On how the white people showed their dominance and superiority to the "minority", which are the black people. These people were considered as someone who are beneath the whites, and that their culture, languages and beliefs must be universal. I hate to think that such brutality really exist in our world and labeling of "minority" to some races.

For many years, black people has suffered serious alienation and humiliation all because of their skin color. There were no justice served regarding these people. Many film in the history would show how these people had lived their life where no equality among the races. The movies had perfectly depicted reality of objectifying black people, becoming slaves, tortured and humiliated, oppression in the community, getting unequal accesses to resources (income, insurance, etc). A picture of clear inequality vis-a-vis one's skin color.

Today, one could say that racism was minimized in some areas of the world, however it was not completely eradicated. I guess this type of social discrimination of history is hard to erase in some parts of the world. Black people would always be victims of social inequality, a race that is beneath the whites. The question now would be, how would the black people recover their very own "self-identity"? To practice their own culture without the interferences of the white cultures. Remembering their true self-identity according to history and live confidently and comfortably in a community that white people shares with them.

I believe that the only way to gradually eradicate this oppression is by standing up to themselves and not let the white people control on how they would live. Black should stick with their own style, languages, accents, culture, and such. Yes it may aggravate the white people but it may be effective in planting to the minds of these narrow minded people that they are their own person. Black people also have the concept of self-identity and that the whites cannot change the way they are. That they are also human beings that deserve to live normally like them, and to receive equality in all aspects of living.

Skin color must not be the basis of inequality and objectification. Everyone deserves to have a normal life no matter what race he or she belongs. Today, we live in 21 century and it must come to everyone's common senses that we all have different histories and different cultures. Each one of us deserves to be respected and accepted and that this would be the only way that may keep the peace among different races. Lets not dwell on the past and focus only to our present. Where people shall be more accepting and understanding especially on the black people.

Graphic Interpretation of Rape

For this entry I would like to relate this particular french movie starred by Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel.

Last Thursday session with Dr. lourdes Veneracion-Rallona, she passionately explained the word rape and the violence attached to it. I agree with her that rape is not encouraged because of the way a woman would dress or the way she would act sluttily. Even though in some circumstances it may be the woman who will encourage the act but when she said no or to stop whatever they were doing for whatever reason, it must be respected. The partner shall not force the woman to do or continue the act, when he will force himself on the woman it is rape.

Plenty of times we hear rape on the news, or read it on newspapers but it really doesn't register on the on our minds on how violent it is. Hearing a faceless person who got raped doesn't bring out sincere sympathy because we don't have clear idea on what is being done, and just hearing the word rape does not evoke the sheer terror or realization of how horrible it really is. Sometimes we got a glimpse from movies but it was really short because mostly it is not well received by the viewers, probably in my opinion a denial in accepting the horrors of it or they would rather not get the visuals of the violence of the act and choosing to be blind about the issue. Because of these, we didn't get to see the whole thing, to witness the horrors of it for it to evoke rightful emotions and realizations from us. In this film, Irreversible, however, we get to see the whole thing.

The movie was considered by many critics as one of the most brutal film in the history. Irreversible was told backwards starting from two guys, Marcus and Pierre (Vincent Cassel & Albert Dupontel) looking for a bar named "Rectum", because it where they could find Alex's (Monica Bellucci) assailant. Irreversible had realistically showed the horrors and violence of revenge and RAPE. Focusing on the rape scene, it was showed for at least 10 minutes, giving the viewers the exact picture of rape. Yes it was hard to watch but if the movie shortened the rape scene it would lose its power and its impact to the audience. We need to see this kind of scenes, yes it would would make us turn away from too much violence, but it is the only way to witness the horrors of rape, a chance that only this film can provide us, a chance to wake up and connect emotionally with all rape victims. It is the most loud and clear wake-up call we could ever get about the true violence behind rape.

I would not have the movie in any other way. In my opinion it was well written, including the most graphic illustration of rape and the capacity of one man, even a very peaceful one, to violence. The backward plot is I think another way to hold the viewers attention and focus to get to know the characters more and why the need of violence in the first scene, to hold their attention in the gruesome rape scene depicted in this film. I believe if the story would be said straight forward, it would not have the same strong impact than having it in reversed. The story ended with a scene of a happy normal couple, Alex and Marcus, as if life is actually perfect to them. This last scene (supposedly the first one) is trying to say that rape or any kind of dangers can happen to anyone, anytime and anywhere. Horrors like this does not pick a person, horrors like this is part of our sick reality. And because of this film, the said horrors were witnessed by everybody. And lastly because of this film, people are now exposed to the real horror of rape, and could now then sincerely understand rape victims on what they had been through.

Critical Commentary No.1: Communistic Revolution as Reality

Existence of capitalism separates the society into two conflicted classes, the rich and the poor. Bourgeoisies has played the most revolutionary part in the history. With the Proletarians as the laborers, lots of production of products happened during their epoch. They were in their glory where they have their own private properties and paying their inputs cheap. As the member of proletarians increases, unknowingly they have had the power to overthrow the class that binds them. Proletarians are the ones that give all the profit to the Bourgeoisies and that the other class is greatly dependent on them that gives the Proletarians the upper hand. They rebelled against the Bourgeois and therefore vanquishing the capitalism that leads to a classless society. As Marx had said, “What the bourgeoisie therefore produces, above all, are its own grave-diggers”.

This history showed us that this world is always been divided into two different “species”. Inequality and the immense difference of ways of life are our reality. It seems that classes in a society will always exist because clearly most people in this world values capitalism too much. In effect, a class of laborers will automatically generate and then again inequality will be an issue. Binding these “lower” class too much can lead into a violent revolution. As Hegel, one author I had encounter during my first year had said in the master-slave dialectic, there will be a time where the bondsman will be conscious of his power, his awareness of his freedom and that the Lord is actually living through him. If there were no class hostilities, there will be no longer a need for all the class warfare such as money and governments.

Communism was also brought out. Communism is a political theory from Karl Marx that promotes class war and leading to a society in which all property is owned by everyone and each person will be paid according to their abilities and needs. However, one of his criticisms on communism is that by wishing to abolish private property, the communist is destroying the "ground work of all personal freedom, activity, and independence". Communist will make sure that all ruling classes will be eradicated in the society and prioritize the needs of the working class. As Marx powerfully exclaimed, "Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Working men of all countries, unite!”

Despite all the conflicts that were raised by Marx, we still owe him the hope that there might still be a different and better alternative in our society. Class warfare may not always be present in our time. Until then, capitalism will always be a part of our life and that separation of classes is still our reality.

Korean Invasion

Every now and then, I can't help but notice the increasing number of Korean population in our country. They had slowly penetrated our Filipino culture by bringing with them their unique and over kill fashion, their music and even their television drama series. It was like our country is the extension of South Korea wherein the Koreans are enjoying cheaper but joyful life.

I have nothing against Korean people but I can't help but felt a bit pissed-off because most of them are all over the country. Cebu for example is completely "koreanized" as I would like to call it. Everywhere you look you see group of Koreans chatting loudly as if they were mad at each other, sometimes little children crossing the street with their mothers in their kiddie shorty shorts. Also we would see different Korean restaurants around and even Korean convenience store! Their very own 7/11 is built up all over Cebu City. Of course their life wouldn't be very much Korea without their very own entertainment. Karaoke bars, big and small, were also starting to increase in number. As I observed, Koreans like Filipinos loves to bond over music and some drinks, hence the numerous karaoke bars. It doesn't end with this, most resorts in Cebu were also bombarded by...Koreans! Even to other beach resorts far far away from the city proper, such as in Madredejos, a small isolated island, five hours away from Mactan Cebu, were still occupied by Koreans. I don't even know how they know such places exist. I guess, business enterprises in Cebu targets Koreans as their very own customers, and that many Filipinos lives off more on these Koreans money.

What's the point of my ramblings then? I'm merely stating a fact on why our country, the Philippines, is a damaged culture. Skipping the explanation that the Philippines is colonized by many countries, I guess in this post modern world, one reason would be that the Philippines is actually tolerating it. The country completely embraces something that is foreign and that the government is desperate enough to consider these "Korean invasion" as a good investment of our country.

I may not stated my arguments strongly but this writing is simply an expression, my own opinion on the things that I see through my own eyes. I have nothing against Koreans but I believe that Filipinos must wake up and be aware of their surroundings. Look beyond our damaged culture and at least remember the true Filipinos of this country.