On "MY DRESS HANGS THERE" by Frida Kahlo

Painting: My Dress Hangs There by Frida Kahlo (Google Images)

A triangle that symbolizes the society

That gives us the view of a losing dignity

Featuring the gap between the rich and the poor

Questioning ourselves "Why we ask for more?"

It gives us the choice where we can join

Earning everything to turn around from a toss coin

Hoping to finish as the top seed,

But almost all of us failed to do a good deed

On "Norebang"

    "Norebang" is about the story of the lives of the Filipino wives, of the Koreans, who were racially abused because of their race, colors, and status in the Korean society. The speaker of the story is also a wife of a Korea, who experiences the same way as her fellow friends, Filipino wives. The story opened with a line, "She arrived as a guest and departed as an accompliance to a crime." The guest pertains to her, attending to a small gathering of Filipino wives in a Norebang, a videokehous. The crime stated symbolizes to the things they did during their time in the Norebang, which are showing their love for their country and to themselves as women not just "only" a woman of someone. They cried all out to express their feelings they have been storing since they came in the country. The characters in the story are majority Filipino wives, it shows in the story that racism is prevalent until the present.

    Norebang is a videokehouse however, it is not the case for the Filipino wives. For them, it is also a place where they could release all their negative feelings as well as place for them to forget their problems for a while, and enjoy and seize the moment and freedom that they have. The story ended with them hanging and comforting each other to reduce the sorrows and loneliness they were experiencing. This ending is a fair one because it shows that celebrating who you are is just and is a good way for you to move on and get stronger knowing that you have the people that will be there for you, no mater what.

   The story helps us to be aware of this negative issues about racism. This gives us the time to understand the sorrows other Filipinos abroad experiencing.

ANO ITO?

BRILLIANT CONTEMPORARY BUGTONG

BUHAY O PATAY

LAGING NAKASAMPAY

NAGPAPALIT NG ISIP

SAYO'Y NAPAPASILIP

SAGOT: STOPLIGHT

PI7O-PI7O-PI7O-PI7O

TANAGA - HINDI NAKASISIRA SA BAGA

I.          Ika’y isang tahanan

            Nang higit sa ‘sandaan

            Ika’y aking sandalan

            Iisa kang halaman

II.         Tunay kitang katoto

             Kasing tigas ng bato

             ‘Kay tagapamagitan

             Sa mundong ‘lang atrasan

THE WHO?

WALT WHITMAN: 

  THE LIFE OF WALTER!

Walt Whitman (http://www.biography.com/people/
walt-whitman-9530126#synopsis)

       Walter "Walt" Whitman was born on May 31, 1819 in West Hills, New York. He is the second child of his parents eight children. He grew up with a well-being family owning a large portion of a farmland which in the end was sold when he was still young. Their family is a fan of United States' democracy that time. The great Walt Whitman died on March 26, 1892.

       INTERESTING!

        

        Walt Whitman is known to be the "Bard of Democracy." Since his family is a supporter of democracy, almost all his poem composed are usually about it. Second, Whitman's poetry collection entitled, "The Leaves of Grass," was thought to be genius; however, a poet named, Ralph Waldo Emerson, told him to remove some parts of the latter editions of the collection because they were too sexy for the children to read. Next, Whitman's "Franklin Evans" was characterized by himself as the worst work he have done but in contrary to what he said, the book sold more copies than any of his other works during his lifetime. Fourth interesting fact about him is that in his collection of poetry, the word grass was used since he thought that things are getting slower in his works. Lastly, most biographers continue to debate on Whitman's sexuality categorizing him as a homosexual or a bisexual basing it from his works. Furthermore, he is also known as the "Poet of America."

O Captain! My Captain! (Google Images)

     O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!

  I chose Walt Whitman's famous poem, "O Captain! My Captain!" because it has been one of my most favorite poems. Moreover, this poem was created by Whitman in 1865 concerning the death of Abraham Lincoln. Know this, it made me pick this because his love for the president and the love for his country is being shown here especially his love to have a unified United States. 

   In addition, each stanzas have its own story. The first stanza started with Lincoln being the captain of the ship - the United States - winning the civil war. However, it finished on the line expressing the assassination of the President Lincoln. The second stanza is about his invitation to the president to join his fellow American in celebrating their victory. And in the last stanza is where he accepted the death of the president knowing that everything is impossible now.

  Lastly, this poem helped me realized that I should be more proud of my country and love it fully because this is where I belong. I need to save my country together with other Filipinos to give life to the nation for us to enjoy our own country and keep it for the future Filipinos to come.

"Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente" Review: The Unexpected

     "Pahimakas sa Isang Ahente" is a new way of telling a story showing the past and present of the life of the main character making the message and the ideas of the story much clearer to the viewer. The play also gives way to the viewers to widen their minds and think deeper in certain situations.

The ticket of the play. Photo from the blogger (c)

    The narrative of the play amazed me because from the title of it, I expected it to be in the setting of the early 80s or 90s. The content of the play is such a powerful one for me, it makes me, as a viewer, realize that we should learn how to forgive and forget, and we should stop comparing other people to another since we have different strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, the venue is different compared to the common way of presenting a play. 

    Making the stage at the located at the center of the venue was a great idea because it made the audiences to also feel the emotions and be part of the play as well. I think, the lights and music were also "in-time" meaning, the people behind really rehearsed well so they know when they need to on-off the lights or put a background music in certain parts of the story --- it actually made the play more REALISTIC! Again, as a viewer, the actors deserve a rating of 10; because I think, the attitude of their roles or the characters that they are portraying is different from who really they are. They are always in character even after the play during the photo session outside the venue. 

Picture with the character in the bar scene after the play.
Photo from the blogger. (c)

    

    Overall, I DID enjoy the play! Actually, it gave me an idea to try being a stage actor, but I guess it is not the right time. The title of the story may seemed obvious of what would happen to the main character, but as the saying goes "do not judge the book by its cover," same with the play, you cannot judge the play by its title because you will not know what might happen since not all the titles usually feature of what is the story all about. Because of these things, it made the play THE UNEXPECTED!

DEAD STARS

RISING FROM MY "DEAD STAR" MOMENT

           Everything started around academic year 2010-2011, when I was in second year high school. During that time, football was still not that popular in the Philippines; until our national football team, commonly known as the Azkals, defeated the defending champions of the tournament, the AFF Suzuki Cup, Vietnam. After the win by the nationals, lots of news exploded regarding their historical win as tournament’s underdog. This moment made me change my mind to try football. I left badminton and did everything to be fit for that game.

            Football in my school, Claret, is one of the major sports that all the students are good with, aside from basketball and volleyball. The feeling was great; I got the chance to train with the school’s varsity team every other day. I am always pumped up when the topic is about football because it made me dream to be a professional football player someday.

            However, giving more of my time to football led me to forget about my academics. I became lazy with school works except, when it comes to the sport I love. With my priorities being juggled, I decided to follow my parents’ advice to focus first on my studies since I knew that they know what is best for me. I stopped attending the training sessions and then I realized that I am not for football. I discovered that, the sport that I loved has been upgraded from a dream of being a professional football player to a dream of being a professional or lawyer someday.

            Furthermore, until now, I can still see the dream of becoming a famous player from a far but in reality, I knew in myself that I cannot achieve it anymore since my heart goes for another that I think is the best for me. Even though I experienced this, I will never stop dreaming high!

THE LOST GODDESS

ANG PAGHIHIGANTI: what happened to Alunsina?

               

      Pinaalis ni Tungkung Langit sa palasyo si Alunsina. Linisan ng diyosa ang kanilang lugar na mabigat ang damdamin dahil sa nangyari, at bagsak ang katawan dahil sa pagiging emosyonal nang sila ay nagtalo.

  

      Habang lumalayo si Alunsina sa kanilang palasyo, at patuloy na nag-iisip kung paano mawawala ang sakit na kanyang nararanasan, may narinig siyang matining at maliit na boses na bumulong sa kanya at sinabing, “Gumawa ang diyos ng isang magandang mundo para sa’yo.” Ang magandang mundong tinutukoy ay pinamamahayan ng mga malalking punong nagbubunga ng mga prutas na masustansya, magaganda, at masasayahing mga kayop. Napatigil at napatulala ang diyosa at biglang sumulpot, sa harap ng kanyang mga mata, ang isang kumikinang at lumilipad na diwata.

        Ipinakita ng diwata ang paraisong ginawa ng diyos para kay Alunsina, sa pamamagitan ng usok, at napagdesisyonan niyang hindi na siya muling babalik. Patuloy na kinulit ng diwata ang diyosa at nang napuno na dahil sa inis at sakit ng ulo, naitulok niya ang diwata at naglaho ang makapal na usok. “Ang paraisong ‘yan ay makararanas ng mga sakuna!” Pasigaw na sinabi ni Alunsina. Mula noon, nakranans na ng mga bagyo at lindol ang magandang mundo at si Alunsina ay naging kalamidad na sumisimbolo sa kanyang galit.

TRACE MY BOOKS

BOOKS LET ME TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD

Tungkung Langit and Alunsina

Ang Bugtong ng Manok at Agila ni Alvin Yapan

Araby by James Joyce 

Dead Stars by Paz Marques-Benitez

Norebang ni Genevieve Asenjo

Ang Felicidad Project ni Genevieve Asenjo

Photo from the blogger (c)