Color your life with thoughts…

    Yesterday morning when I was walking upstairs to 4^th floor in school, the Philippine National anthem was played and I stopped between the flights of the stepping stages. I just noticed other students kept on going and chatting so loudly with a free thunderous laugh and even continued texting and studying. I felt very disappointed with that kind of attitude because they already forgot to give honor to the Philippine flag. Almost all Filipinos are being taught to practice the right manner when “Lupang Hinirang” (Philippine National Anthem) will be played. Even if you are in between of important works, or walking in the street, or eating or playing or whatever things you are doing, you should at least show respect through standing straightly and kept out on moving just for at least 4 minutes. Much better if you will sing it and when you see the flag, put your right hand unto your left chest. Is it really that hard to do such simple thing? Maybe one reason for that is being apathetic on important things and disregarding such honor to usual practices and culture in the country. Some people are so busy with irrelevant things. Having this kind of character leads us to insolence. How sad it is, as our country persist modernization, we change a lot. Change is not bad at all; we are the ones who make mess on it. I just wish that we keep respect in our hearts in just simple ways. Despite of the country’s economic and social problems at least we offer reverence to the good things in the nation that symbolizes of being a Filipino.

(Note: I’m not nationalistic but I love my country’s common practices especially showing respect to the Philippine Flag.)

    Xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism which means a group of people prefers the ideas, practices, styles, and things from other cultures over ideas and things from their own culture.  The fundamental thing in xenocentrism is that other cultures are superior to your own. For example, in watching television shows, movies or series, I and my friends prefer to watch English shows, Korean, Taiwanese or Chinese series than Bisaya shows. It is somewhat awkward to hear Visayan dialect in TV and sometimes we make fun of it although we are Davaoeños. It is better to hear English conversation and movies because it is not funny at all. Another example is at home I used to eat with chopsticks because I was influenced by Korean tradition of eating. But when the first time I use it, I find it quite uneasy because I grew up using spoon and fork in eating. But now I love using chopsticks even more and it’s convenient to use. In Philippine setting, using chopsticks is not unusual anymore although mostly Filipinos prefer to eat with bare hands or spoons and forks but because of the restaurants by Filipino-Chinese, Japanese and Korean communities, Filipinos were able to adjust and learn to accept this kind of practice. Moreover, I and my friends use to love Korean pop music, Taiwanese and Japanese music and even their shows. Sometimes we are desperate enough in trying to learn their language. I myself love to learn Korean and luckily I know how to read and write Korean but I have difficulty in understanding the conversations because I’m just learning it on my own through the websites in the internet. But I know several basic Korean phrases and few Chinese and Japanese. I even notice that my family is somewhat adjusting to these kind of music I played at home although they don’t like it at first because they can’t understand the songs and videos I’m playing and the more usual I played these, the more my family would accept it although it is not their preference at all time.

            Ethnocentrism is the predisposition to view the world mainly from the perspective of one’s own culture. It often involves the belief that one’s own ethnic group or race is the most vital and that several or all features of its culture are superior to those of other groups. Each person will judge the other races in relation to their own particular ethnic group or culture especially with regards to behavior, language, custom, norms and religion. For example, non-Asian countries think that using chopsticks in every meal is strange, ridiculous or stupid way of eating because for them it’s more practical to eat with spoon and fork. Another example is kissing in public like the Americans do is unusual in the Philippines especially for the elders in the country. If you do it on public, people would watch and talk about you and their impression would be bad. Unlike in western society, it is just normal and casual and not bad at all because it is their practice. But here in the country, being liberated is not the preference of the majority and some people believe that it is virtuous to be conservative and aware of other people’s impression. That’s why here in the country mostly people kiss in private places not in malls, parks and places with crowd because the image will be awful. On the other hand, ethnocentrism is sometimes bad because it leads us to make false assumptions of cultural differences. Because of the beliefs that one’s own culture is greater that the other causes misjudgment of other people and it is where racial discrimination occurs. It also distorts the relationship and communication among between human beings. It is opposite to Xenocentrism.

                     The documentary film shows me how Jose Rizal lived his life with his own ideas and principles. Although he existed with a better life and belongs to a middle class family, it was clear for him how Filipino people suffered from the hands of the Spaniards who ruled the country in his time. He expressed his feelings and opinions in the situation with regards to the political status of the country through writing poems, novels and books. Those writings are really powerful in such a way that it criticized several politician and most especially the abusive Spaniards. His works emphasized how the Church treated the people, the experiences of the Filipino people and the law implemented by the Spaniards and those in power really don’t like how Rizal described them. I just realized how ironic it was when Rizal was thrown away from his own country because of rebellion. Betrayal also was a highlight at that time, in which Rizal thought that those he considered as friends would help him out in fulfilling his plans just like what happened in Spain in which he lost the election. I thought Rizal can easily get over with that experience and I just knew in the film that he is that kind of person who can’t simply forget terrible experiences in his life. It was good that he still has very good and loyal friends in some countries in Europe that helped him out in publishing his book. I can’t imagine how he feels about the horrifying things happened to him as well as his family. Many of them suffered due to that rebellion against the Spaniards. But in spite of the consequences, Rizal really fights for it but unfortunately it was not that easy. He was thrown away with nothing only his writing, far from the family and experienced discouragement in pursuing his plans and he tried to move on, live his life and forget Philippines. But in the end his love for the country is really important for him although he was able to move on in other countries, he went out in his comfort zones and went back in his own country and started everything all over again. Unfortunately, the government really treated him as criminal and rebel, and given no privileges in staying in his own country. Despite the fact that he was considered as criminal, he started his mission little by little like building a small school, teaching people, building a small clinic, continue his writing, etc. But as he tried to fulfill his goals, every thing gets complicated and dangerous. But it was really amazing that he didn’t give up on what he believes in and even offered his life for the freedom of his people. He is not selfish, he wanted to live his life with justice and exterminate monopoly and abuse of ordinary people. All he wants is freedom. He gave up his life as a fulfillment of his goal to free the Filipino people from the Spaniards. Moreover, his works are really significant and given credits because those writings described the important events in his time and gave inspiration to the people to pursue justice and independence under the unlawful and tyrant invaders. His life and principles are worthwhile and that’s an example of an authentic ‘Bayani’, a passion of looking forward for the sake of the country despite all horrible consequences and worst is death.