Blog 8: TV, The New Satan?

Imagine a family without a single piece of technology, what would it be like? Well, I for one have not seen a family without a single television set in their household, but there are a few ideas in what would it be like before technology hailed the world of families. One is that the family would have more talking time, without those soap operas, wrestling, and music videos, families would have more time to bond and get to understand deeper in who and what their family is all about. Second is that, families would be more worldly in their society, rather than knowing the slangs or the acronyms of a certain word or phrase, parents and their kids would have more talking skills in perfect form and grammatization. Without technology people would be smarter, let us face it TV is not all that when it comes to knowledge, we would read more books and become as said worldly. Finally, people would be more fit, with television people tend to bum around and eventually become couch potatoes, but if there were no TV, we would engage in more activities that are physical.

Blog 6: Our Very Own Dark Age

The effects of Martial Law was so terrible on the Philippine’s behalf, some historians considered this as the Philippines own Dark Age and a sad time for Filipinos. As Marcos signed the infamous Proclamation No. 1081 in 1972, the Philippines as we know it in the grasp of our own dictator, Marcos, and it all started in his thirst for eternal power and control. One effect is that the political system was put into a halt for almost twenty years. As this event occurred, when Marcos took the presidency seat for twenty years, so did the other political figures such as the barangay captains, mayors, etc. Another negative effect was military force was strictly enforced. The military organization was in an all time high when their “dictator” gave them the scepter of power to control society not by humanitarian means, but by force: to the level of killing. Third, human rights were not acknowledged. People were being killed right off the streets, women being raped constantly, and the right of speech was prohibited. All in all, that was a very dark time, I am very grateful that I am not living in a time of turmoil.

Blog 5: Be the Holiest of Holy

Do you want to be a good role model by the little ones to be virtuous and holy and having good behaviour in church? Well, if you do here are a few ways in achieving this “model” or good person at church status. One way is be earlier than usual, go to church one hour before the service, so you could volunteer in helping with the sound checks, conversing with the pastor, and being able to greet the incoming churchgoers. Another way is always bring your Bible! Having your Bible present at all times can give you the ability to quote a verse and have the reference, and it will encourage the little kids to bring theirs as well since a cool kid like you brings it everywhere. The third way is to participate with all attention during service. You do this by singing and waving your hands and respond to what the pastor is saying and putting it in your heart into it. Fourth, is to wear appropriate clothing if you want to be a role model for little kids wear wholesome clothing not like the clothes you see on music videos of the rap artists. Finally, always volunteer, when kids see you are a busy body they will do it as well.

Blog 4: Be the Blacklist King or Queen in the Cinemas

Since 1897, we have been respecting the movie house rules fervently, but after a hundred and twelve, I think it is time to break the rules, and here are some steps in being the “Blacklist King” in the cinemas. The first step is be late! Arrive twenty minutes after the movie begins and start pestering people to move their legs, so they will loose their relaxing mojo and be frustrated in getting it back, and to achieve this with maximum proficiency always keep standing up and go to the restroom. The second step is be inconsiderate in choosing your seat, if you are tall person look for a place where a shorter person is seated and sit right in front him, sit up straight and if you have big hair fluff it up, Afro style! The third step is to NOT put your phone in silent, better yet crank up the ring volume, and when someone call you let it ting for a couple of times until you answer. While you are talking, react profusely for example, when you laugh, laugh hysterically, when you get surprised with your statement gasp like there is no tomorrow, and when you get mad at the caller shout furiously and put a little intensity in the call. There is a bonus step since not everyone had a significant someone, spread the love! Show your affection in a manner where people will think lowly of you. The fourth step is to be a spoiler. When you watch the movie the second time, per say a horror movie when the girl is lost you shout the next scene, I’m sure that people will either throw popcorn at you, throw you out, or if they get really agitated beat you up with pleasure. Finally, the crème de la crème of bad habits or acts, the thing that will put you on the blacklist of movie houses and a high chance at prison, record the movie! It is such a waste of money for some so might as well record the movie so you could watch the movie repeatedly without breaking the bank, and you will be helping tha masses since you can sell it to them for half the cost! So there you go simple steps that will make you a legend in blacklisters or an inmate in a federal prison for piracy.

Blog 3: Peace Talk not Fist Fights

Violence in widespread throughout the youth, and the reason is simple—the source is movie violence. Kids, being the gullible people that we are, have brain like sponges absorbing every action, phrase, and idols that we have, as a result as we watch these violent movies we absorb their actions, and do it real life causing turmoil to our fellow youth. One movie that is related to movie violence is Never Back Down, never back down is a story of a high school boy who got into a fight with the “UFC” champ in their school for flirting with the champs girlfriend, of course her got beat badly. Because of that humiliating defeat, he trains, does a couple more fights with other men, and finally faces and defeats the protagonist. Of course, being a happy ending movie he gets the girl. So what have we seen here? If we fight other people and beat them up, we can steal their girlfriends and hailed the king, while we see the other guy be emasculated? We see this as a guide for us guys, we see something that we want we do it the physical or the “rough” way, and not the peaceful humanitarian way since we might be called a sissy if we did it that way. We should make it a point that a movie is a movie, not all movies are real and their situations.

Blog 2: From Toys to the Rise of the Cobra

Paramount pictures have yet again successfully made a movie out of one of the most popular toys, G.I. Joe. Being one of the most anticipated movies of the third quarter of the year, and being the Joe fan myself I could not help but watch the movie on its opening day even watching it with the old folks. As I watched the first scenes of the movie, I was awed in the fighting scenes, and as for the story line goes they provide twists and flashbacks so we could fully understand why the character ended up in their own way. The visual effects were very believable, not like other movies where they exaggerate the effects making it somewhat naturally and physically impossible for an ordinary human could do. I would also commend the new or “lower-belt” actors such as, Sienna Miller, Channing Tatum, Rachel Nichols, and funny man Marlon Wayans; their acting skills were very praiseworthy since they are not Hollywood’s premiere stars. Sienna Miller, with her as the portrayal as the “Baroness”, really proved that she has the talent not just the face and the connections she has that everybody believes. Overall it was a great movie, and do not think that I am biased since I am an avid fan of the action figures and the series. So if you want complete action, drama, and comedy (thanks to Marlon Wayans), then get up, head on to the cinemas, and watch G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra and you will feel your moneys worth

Blog 1:To Write or Not To Write

Writing for me is an expression of our deepest feelings and emotions toward something an inward pleasure if you may call it. However, not all the times I am so enthusiastic about this activity. I am not fond of writing essays for homework; although it was a requisite, I have no choice to conform. I always see writing as an escape from reality. When I write, in such a way it forms a bubble where I could only hear myself and no one else. Another is that writing gives me an opportunity to create a special world of my own. Writing gives me the power to create different worlds or dimensions, creatures, and structures to my liking to give me that spark of interest in my writings. Most of all, writing for fun lets me express my feelings in what happens during the day. For example, if I end up having the worst day I write a tragic story, or I had the best day I would write the events of the day tweaked version, of course so there would be an interest for those who wish to read.

As said earlier, I never liked writing for academic purposes. When the teacher assigns an essay, my initial reaction, in my head I say, “Grrr! Why must you do this to us and make us suffer?!” It just gives the idea that we have to write based on the teachers liking or her standards. Even though it is for our own good, we still have that mentality. Another is we are checked for our grammar and use of the “rules in writing” not like when we are to write freely we are not that concerned of our mistakes. Time pressure is another reason, in my opinion time pressure is good, but for some their ideas come to a halt and get the ever so popular “writers block”.

Even though I am not fan of essay-type assignments, there are benefits from it. One is we understand the rules for writing. When we are corrected, we learn from our mistakes and get better in writing, and not just writing without any care in the world. Another is we get to learn more about the current events in the country and in the world. If it is a reaction paper on the government we are urged to read about the current governance of the country, therefore we are more briefed in our current events. Finally, it trains us in time management, when we achieve this, we can do more things proficiently and efficiently enabling us to do more tasks.

When an examination comes which involves writing, it always gives me a bad feeling where time pressure is emphasised in my head. However, there are ways to make my head organized, and keep my sanity intact when face in this task. One is to write all my ideas about that specific topic, and pick the best ideas in order to support my topic sentence. The next thing is, I make an outline either on paper or my head. Therefore, my ideas will not look blech on paper, and it makes me more organized to keep me from panicking. The last one is to write, I mean what else is there to do, but I do it carefully not trying to make a mistake in my grammar. Oh, and there is the editing and rewriting so maximum proficiency is achieved.