Project Paradox: Ideas Inside and Out

Why Filipinos are Lazy?

2009-12-07T05:10:00.004+08:00

One of the subjects that I've taken up, came back to me when I've seen a show in the television portraying a typical Filipino attitude. What else would it be but none other than being lazy. Our professor gave us a task of further elaborating the essay of Rizal "Indolence of the Filipinos". Back then, I was wondering why we have to spare time about Rizal's writing and whatever good would it give in my career. Well, sorry for being a slow learner and all, but after I've seen a show before I went out to take a stroll, and saw the casts'(these are mainly just extras as would be called in our typical Filipino term) attitude, I was really embarrassed as I too am very lazy. But as far as I'm concerned, the people there was relying on a miracle to have a good life or perhaps let's exaggerate it since it was really their motive, a rich and comfortable life while I believe in the old saying "Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa" (Translation: couldn't translate it well but here it goes. "God gives the blessings, man works for them"). And for some reason it struck me again why studying history is that much of an importance (As I've watched shows that portrayed why studying history was that important).

Okay, the topic was all about laziness right? I just gave my insights above. Here's the real deal. If you were the one who saw the scene where in the people are relying on the miracle of a young child, well I don't about you but for me I was very pissed of. They are able people, without any health conditions, and yet they want child to pray for them that they might win in the lottery? What a bummer. However, Rizal has an explanation on such culture. The very one that struck me the most was the lack of education as Rizal had mentioned in his writings. Here's a summary of his writings courtesy of WikiAnswers.

CHAPTER 1: ADMITTING THE EXISTENCE OF INDOLENCE

SUMMARY: Rizal admits that indolence does exist among the Filipinos, but it cannot be attributed to the troubles and backwardness of the country; rather it is the effect of the backwardness and troubles experienced by the country. Past writings on indolence revolve only on either denying or affirming, and never studying its causes in depth. One must study the causes of indolence, Rizal says, before curing it. He therefore enumerates the causes of indolence and elaborates on the circumstances that have led to it. The hot climate, he points out, is a reasonable predisposition for indolence. Filipinos cannot be compared to Europeans, who live in cold countries and who must exert much more effort at work. An hour ' s work under the Philippine sun, he says, is equivalent to a day ' s work in temperate regions.

CHAPTER 2 INDOLENCE OF CHRONIC ILLNESS

SUMMARY: Rizal says that an illness will worsen if the wrong treatment is given. The same applies to indolence. People, however, should not lose hope in fighting indolence. Even before the Spaniards arrived, Rizal argues, the early Filipinos were already carrying out trade within provinces and with other neighboring countries; they were also engaged in agriculture and mining; some natives even spoke Spanish. All this disproves the notion that Filipinos are by nature indolent. Rizal ends by asking what then would have caused Filipinos to forget their past.

CHAPTER 3: WARS, INSURRECTIONS, EXPEDITIONS AND INVASION

SUMMARY: Rizal enumerates several reasons that may have caused the Filipinos ' cultural and economic decadence. The frequent wars, insurrections, and invasions have brought disorder to the communities. Chaos has been widespread, and destruction rampant. Many Filipinos have also been sent abroad to fight wars for Spain or for expeditions. As a result, the population has decreased in number. As forced labor, many men have been sent to shipyards to construct vessels. Meanwhile, natives who have had enough of abuse have gone to the mountains. As a result, the farms have been neglected. The so-called indolence of Filipinos definitely has deeply rooted causes.

CHAPTER 4: DEATH OF TRADE IN THE PHILIPPINES

SUMMARY: Filipinos, according to Rizal, are not responsible for their misfortunes, as they are not their own masters. The Spanish government has not encouraged labor and trade, which ceased after the government treated the country ' s neighboring trade partners with great suspicion. Trade has declined, furthermore, because of pirate attacks and the many restrictions imposed by the government, which gives no aid for crops and farmers. This and the abuse suffered under encomenderos have caused many to abandon the fields. Businesses are monopolized by many government officials, red tape and bribery operate on a wide scale, rampant gambling is tolerated by the government. This situation is compounded by the Church ' s wrong doctrine which holds that the rich will not go to heaven, thus engendering a wrong attitude toward work. There has also been discrimination in education against natives. These are some of the main reasons that Rizal cites as causing the deterioration of values among the Filipinos.

CHAPTER 5: LIMITED TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SUMMARY: According to Rizal, all the causes of indolence can be reduced to two factors. The first factor is the limited training and education Filipino natives receive. Segregated from Spaniards, Filipinos do not receive the same opportunities that are available to the foreigners. They are taught to be inferior. The second factor is the lack of a national sentiment of unity among them. Because Filipinos think they are inferior, they submit to the foreign culture and do everything to imitate it. The solution, according to Rizal, would be education and liberty.
WikiAnswers: Summary of "The Indolence of the Filipinos"

Finished reading the summary? Well, it would seem that Rizal did really accepted the fact that indolence is in every one. However, even though it exists, it should have it's source, right?

And lastly, this writing of Rizal, (and even this one that I've put in my blog) is not to degrade, but to let you see what you should act out.

* Still not conviced? Try searching for the video in the youtube. I can't find it yet but I'll update as soon as I can find it. Search "May Bukas Pa" and the episode aired around the last week of November to December.

The answers are within you

2009-11-20T03:22:00.001+08:00

On this day, God wants you to know...
... that the answers are within you. You're chasing in the wrong field. What you are looking for is inside of you, not 'out there'. Take a few days off to become quiet and look within, and you will find it.

Source: God wants You to Know (Facebook)

Work begins when you don't like what you are doing

2009-11-20T03:21:00.000+08:00

On this day, God wants you to know...
... that work begins when you don't like what you are doing. Little children can do the most amazing things with such joy and fun. You were little once too, and knew how to turn everything into a game. So, turn your work into a game, and you will find joy and satisfaction in it. What are some ways you can start being playful with work?

Source: God wants You to Know (Facebook)

Humans learn only by trial and error

2009-11-18T04:15:00.002+08:00

On this day, God wants you to know...
... that humans learn only by trial and error, and that includes you. You've got to live life, not think about it. Step into the midst of things, try and fail and learn and stand up again. The question is not whether you will or will not make mistakes - you will. The question is do you want to learn and grow, or do you... want to shrink back and be stuck? Take that step you've been avoiding. You can succeed, or you can get feedback that it didn't work, but in either case you are sure to feel alive.

Source: God wants You to Know (Facebook)

Decision is only wishful thinking

2009-11-18T04:14:00.001+08:00

On this day, God wants you to know...
... that decision is only wishful thinking until you take that first irreversible step. You can tell yourself that you have already decided, that nothing now can stop you, but if that step backwards is so much safer than step forwards, what will hold you true to your path when the going gets tough? Sometimes, the right... thing to do is to take that first irreversible step, the one after which you cannot go back. And now, for you, is one of those times.

Source: God wants You to Know (Facebook)

You are only as free as you imagine yourself to be

2009-11-18T04:13:00.000+08:00

On this day, God wants you to know...
... that you are only as free as you imagine yourself to be. There is nothing ''out there'' that's holding you down, - you are limiting yourself only with your own imagination. And your greatest limits are not even the ''cannot'' and the ''should not'', but the places where your imagination hasn't yet gone at all. There has never been a better time for you to open your eyes, let the imagination soar and see what more is possible.

Source: God wants You to Know (Facebook)

Tonight you can turn your worries to God

2009-11-18T04:11:00.000+08:00

On this day, God wants you to know...
... that tonight you can turn your worries to God, and have a good night's sleep. You've been worrying too much about the future lately. So tonight, go ahead, put your faith in God, and just have a peaceful evening and a restful sleep.

Source: God wants You to Know (Facebook)

Paradox: Talented or Not, Belief or Pity

2009-11-12T04:14:00.000+08:00

A certain individual lives with hopes of achieving high dreams. Alas, for him, thinks that he has no talent. "Is that so?" I said. But it was said that we were born with talents and unique gifts. God was the one who gave it. But how come he thinks that he has no talents? Maybe his talents and gift just rests in an eternal slumber deep within him. "If so, how to awaken it?" he thought. Maybe an event will trigger it. Maybe a special someone will awaken it. No one may ever know. "But how come I can't tap it?". Maybe because of dramatic or tragical events that had happen to you. Maybe, just maybe, if you'll be able to know how to, you might not be who you are today.

However, whether you're talented or not, what is important is your dreams. People around you believe in your dreams as well as theirs. "Is that so, or are they just pitying me because of my demise and tragedy?". Maybe it is also a reason. But it may all come to one thing, it will bring a change. "Will they help because they think I can make a change, or they just really pity me?". Maybe or maybe not. In either way both are changes". But some changes are hard to embrace.

The Innocence

2009-11-11T06:37:00.000+08:00

The innocence of a baby and a child, such envious trait that a baby possess. Doesn't have to think about the reality of life and the problems it comes. Always just thinking about playing. Why can't we live like them? Come to think of it, the reason lies on how comfortable our lives has become because of technological breakthroughs that a child would not be able to comprehend at once. Because a baby and a child so innocent and doesn't have experience yet of the world has more to explore and discover. But still, compared to a child, they lived much simpler and contented as long as they can play. Well, haven't think about it much but even though adults have to work hard to live comfortably, at least they are happy to do it. And for some, it is for survival yet they don't forget to have fun. Now that I've mentioned it, it may seem that we still have the traits of a child, who lives life comfortably.

Can't comprehend with what I've stated? Well, it's a random thought after all.

Change is the very nature of life

2009-11-11T06:14:00.000+08:00

On this day, God wants you to know...
... that change is the very nature of life, - welcome it. No glass ever became sand again; No bread ever became wheat; No ripened fruit ever became a flower. Welcome change, and choose what kind of glass you create, what kind of bread you bake, what kind of fruit you harvest.

Source: God wants You to Know (Facebook)

It's your heart that knows who loves you

2009-11-11T06:04:00.000+08:00

On this day, God wants you to know...
... that it's your heart that knows who loves you, not your ears or eyes. Listen to the words, and you can be fooled. Look at the actions, and you can be fooled. Feel deeply into your heart, and then you will know the truth. Who makes your heart soar now? Well, what are you waiting for?

Source: God wants You to Know (Facebook)

Random Paradox

2009-11-11T04:41:00.000+08:00

Darkness seeps in the very core of the heart and soul. Light hardly enters. The person in darkness, seeks the light. Envious of those with experiencing such a good time while he sits in the darkness just watching. He wonders whatever will be the feeling of being in the light. Although a person in the dark, he seeks the light. But will he ever get into the light? In the dark, all stuffs no one would want to experience, he experiences. Failure, rejection, whatever will it be, you name it, it is there. Far worst, there is this self-pity, which is considered as not good for one's self, can be a sin as well.

But what can he do? Trying to climb, yet falls down. And falls down the hardest. Trying to catch up with the persons in front, yet he always sees just the back of them. Now to think of it, it's easy to just give up. But this person has a dream. And still tries to move on. But still the cycle of failure clings to him. When will he be able to experience the light? Still hope resides in him. "When pandora's box was opened, out came the miseries of the world, which was sealed but accidentally unsealed by someone. However, with the miseries, also came out was Hope." But will "Hope" stand by on its own? Why wasn't courage and self-esteem included? Or maybe it was already in the individual, just waiting to be harnessed. But how come it's so hard? Maybe because of the situation and reality? Will there a chance he gets to see the light and experience it? Or it will just be in his dreams. Dreams that will forever hunt him. Should he try again or not? His instincts tells him to do so, but his mind is already weary and his feelings numb because of just failures and failures. How? How will he experience light? Trapped in the icy cave of darkness, bound and chained, is there Hope at all?