Just a Common, Typical and Simple Class? Well, Think Again!

HUM014 - Philippine Literature in English. Isn't it so boring just from the title of the course itself? Literature? Doesn't it suggest too many reading materials and activities, boring classes, hard-to-understand professors, and always sleepy classmates? Well, think again.

Unknown to many, this course has always been a fun and enjoying class for us despite of the number of activities we always have to accomplish (such as this.. hehehe.. =P). Although there are tons of activities assigned to us (just exaggerating.. hehe..), we find these activities fulfilling after we have accomplished it. At first, we think of how boring the given activity is, but after some time, we get to enjoy it and we become so proud of what we have done.

Each meeting we have has always been like a break from the entire day's sufferings from our Calculus and Physics. It is not because I could sleep during class hours but because I always enjoy the class sessions. We have interesting topics to talk about and we always have the chance to participate in class.

The reasons for having an enjoying class does not end from these. Classmates has always been a factor in determining how fun the class is. In our class, we almost have all kinds of great people anyone could encounter in their entire lives. It can't be denied that our class is filled with the most gorgeous girls and guys in the class (of course, including me.. joke! It is for you to decide.. hahaha..). Well, our blessings from God does not end there for beauty is not the only asset we have. Of course, beauty and brains are not suppossed to be separated. As we lift our own chairs high up, let's bring it some where back down. It is unavoidable to have these people who are always shy, quiet, loud, funny and can be considered as class clowns. But despite of these, we put these in to good use at may pagmamalaki naman eh - our brains. =P

But all of these are nothing without our very knowledgeable professor, Ma'am Eduarte. And of course, just like us, she doesn't only have the intelligence but she also have the gorgeousness (naks! Smile si Ma'am! Haha..). She is not the typical professor that is so boring to listen to because she can always make us laugh (sometimes due to her actions and facial reactions. haahah.. =P saka the way she laugh is also funny that we also laugh even if we haven't understood the reason she laughed. Haha.. Peace tau ma'am.. =P). Over all, the transfer of knowledge from the professor to the students has always been appealing for us due to her approach. I can say that she is one of the limited number of professors that I really admire. (Naks! Uno n ako. hehe.. joke.. =P)

So do you still think this is just a typical boring class? If you still do, never stop thinking about it until you already understand how fun it is to be in this class.


To Ma'am Eduarte and my classmates:
Thank you very much! =)

Al1

Al1

A lone boat on orange sea,
left with its own reflection
to appreciate and see.
Day ends; still, no companion.

Servant Girl

The story “Servant Girl” shows what a typical servant experiences. Rosa, in the story, was able to experience those ups and downs of being a servant – from being maltreated to being happily in love.

She has been always looked down upon by the others – silly jokes are thrown to her; names are called on to her; and she gets beaten by her mistress. Due to this much sufferings, she already treasures even the simplest affection shown to her. This affection she feels is the only reason she still stands and stays with her mistress. Even with these experiences she encounters, she still does her work with great effort and repays the affection she gets from her mistress twice more.

The story can really move the heart of anyone who reads it. The readers will get to see how much love their servants put on their work. The author, Estrella Alfon, was able to have the readers feel what life servants have.

The story teaches us great lessons. We should not only pay them with money for their great work but also we should also show them love and compassion. We should also give them a break – to have fun with the people they serve or even just a rest for a great week’s work.

The face behind the mask

Nick Joaquin

Carlos Bulosan

Both Nick Joaquin and Carlos Bulosan had great contributions not only in literature but also in our country, the Philippines. These two people got their skills in literature involved in the solutions of some of our societal problems. Some examples are as follows:

1. Joaquin had an invocation about the importance of freedom and the artist during a ceremony on Mount Makiling. This could cost his life since this occurred during Marcos' regime.
2. Joaquin was also able to use his talent to have a fellow writer released from imprisonment.
3. In the case of Bulosan, his aim with his works is for others to know about labor struggles.

We can then conclude that literature serves other purposes other than to entertain. We got enlightened by them that literature is truly important for us.

(Source:Wikipedia.2009.Web.24 June 2009..)

(Source:Wikipedia.2009.Web.24 June 2009..)

Photos are from:

http://www.literaryhistory.com/20thC/Groups/Joaquin.htm
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/viola150406.html

Simple yet inspirational

(picture taken from http://outdoors.webshots.com)

The picture shows the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo written by our famous National Hero Jose Rizal. This photo I have chosen is the first to came up in my mind when I think of literature and it also complies as a symbol on how I perceive literature. These books have always been a symbol of our freedom and unity that shows us that literature is not just simply for entertainment. It can help us express words that can't be expressed verbally. The same goes with the readers. They may be able to digest the message of the author better than by just hearing it. That is why Jose Rizal was successful, and I think still successful, in unifying us. We were able to make our way to freedom because of the inspiration he had given us. In this simple example, I think we can already conclude how much literature is important in our lives.