Saturday, November 22, 2008
On Philosophy, Rights and our Current Situation
Gone are the times when philosophy is seen as a field heavily studied only by those belonging to the higher epsilon of our society. Now more than ever, philosophy is projected as a daily affair in which we find ourselves entranced to come up with a sense of meaning. And as Socrates would necessarily argue, the unexamined life is not worth living for. It is a far cry from the elitist and religious conception that philosophy would only have a sense under the banner of religion. Much more would it not connote others’ assertion that philosophy is confined within the four corners of the classroom. Hence, philosophy may be seen as the story of human’s love affair with wisdom.
The aforementioned reality, though really noble in its own, is fettered by the chains of the situation where we find ourselves in to. More often than not, people see the ancient tradition of philosophizing as unnecessary and obsolete for the fast progressing time. Hence, we find schools scrapping Philosophy away from the roster of courses that they are offering. This is in lieu of the fact that fewer students are becoming interested of a discipline, that has become for them, an unprofitable diploma.
Simultaneously, the loss of meaning and identity has become prevalent. This is the time when people take pleasure in making public what Henri Giroux would necessarily assert, a private affair. Same is true otherwise. Now, we should not wonder why Pinoy Big Brother and other reality shows have been primetime favorites while the affairs of the government have been duly unnoticed by the majority of the public. In the course of things in the current social phenomena, it is no-wonder-why people have been becoming so apathetic about the supposedly, a public affair. It is because there has been a shift of priorities.
We see ourselves in an era of hopelessness and a quest for immediate survival is more necessary than thinking about the essentials of a human life. That is why some are not even wondering why political killings, poverty beyond human conditions, and other similar violation of human rights have been becoming more prevalent.
In one way or the other, the current situation has been deducing us and forcing us to be similar to animals that are mechanistically darted by the concurrent instinct for survival. It is true to the extent that even our basic human rights as well as the rights of others around us have been scuttled away for us not to claim for a dignity which is equally endowed for all of us. Deeply sentimental as it may seem but even philosophy, one of the few existing avenues for dialogue concerning the public affairs together with sociology and the political science, are not anymore promoted in schools.
What has happened to our goal to keep what is rightfully for the human person and his claim to dignity through his own rights and proper education? It is in this milieu that UNESCO has decided to keep alive a discipline that has been the mother of all disciplines by declaring the World Philosophy Day which was set on every 20th day of November. And for this year, 2008, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, one of the focal points in philosophical studies, the theme has evolved concerning, “Power and Rights: Reaffirming Human Dignity Through Just Social Institutions.”
Saint Louis University through the students and faculty of Philosophy has been celebrating it for a roster of years now. And it is quite amazing to know that we have pioneered its celebration in the entire Philippines by conducting forums and exhibits concerning Philosophy regarding relevant themes entwined with the goal to bring about ardent human affairs. It was only for this year that the Ateneo de Manila University, the country’s Center for Excellence in Philosophical Studies, started to celebrate the aforementioned event. Without further ado, we are joining hands with the international community in promoting the welfare of humans by bringing back the spirit of rights and philosophy not just for our school or for our local community but for our country and the world. As Dr. Jullius Mendoza of the University of the Philippines would say, Rights are like trumps which are far above any other considerations.
The Silang Lobby exhibit on philosophy which lasted from the 18th to the 22nd of November has been a momentary reminder on the existence of the unwavering connection between philosophy and rights and why both of them shall live on. The point is to carry on and live the message. The occasion is a call for everyone, may you be an advocate of philosophy or not, to be a defender of human rights. Without any pretensions, we must help each other remove all the blindfolds of injustice in our society. We are compelled to act in accordance to the innateness of our capacity to decipher a sense of meaning for our own existence and this meaning will only be completed if our rights are also guarded.
The aforementioned reality, though really noble in its own, is fettered by the chains of the situation where we find ourselves in to. More often than not, people see the ancient tradition of philosophizing as unnecessary and obsolete for the fast progressing time. Hence, we find schools scrapping Philosophy away from the roster of courses that they are offering. This is in lieu of the fact that fewer students are becoming interested of a discipline, that has become for them, an unprofitable diploma.
Simultaneously, the loss of meaning and identity has become prevalent. This is the time when people take pleasure in making public what Henri Giroux would necessarily assert, a private affair. Same is true otherwise. Now, we should not wonder why Pinoy Big Brother and other reality shows have been primetime favorites while the affairs of the government have been duly unnoticed by the majority of the public. In the course of things in the current social phenomena, it is no-wonder-why people have been becoming so apathetic about the supposedly, a public affair. It is because there has been a shift of priorities.
We see ourselves in an era of hopelessness and a quest for immediate survival is more necessary than thinking about the essentials of a human life. That is why some are not even wondering why political killings, poverty beyond human conditions, and other similar violation of human rights have been becoming more prevalent.
In one way or the other, the current situation has been deducing us and forcing us to be similar to animals that are mechanistically darted by the concurrent instinct for survival. It is true to the extent that even our basic human rights as well as the rights of others around us have been scuttled away for us not to claim for a dignity which is equally endowed for all of us. Deeply sentimental as it may seem but even philosophy, one of the few existing avenues for dialogue concerning the public affairs together with sociology and the political science, are not anymore promoted in schools.
What has happened to our goal to keep what is rightfully for the human person and his claim to dignity through his own rights and proper education? It is in this milieu that UNESCO has decided to keep alive a discipline that has been the mother of all disciplines by declaring the World Philosophy Day which was set on every 20th day of November. And for this year, 2008, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, one of the focal points in philosophical studies, the theme has evolved concerning, “Power and Rights: Reaffirming Human Dignity Through Just Social Institutions.”
Saint Louis University through the students and faculty of Philosophy has been celebrating it for a roster of years now. And it is quite amazing to know that we have pioneered its celebration in the entire Philippines by conducting forums and exhibits concerning Philosophy regarding relevant themes entwined with the goal to bring about ardent human affairs. It was only for this year that the Ateneo de Manila University, the country’s Center for Excellence in Philosophical Studies, started to celebrate the aforementioned event. Without further ado, we are joining hands with the international community in promoting the welfare of humans by bringing back the spirit of rights and philosophy not just for our school or for our local community but for our country and the world. As Dr. Jullius Mendoza of the University of the Philippines would say, Rights are like trumps which are far above any other considerations.
The Silang Lobby exhibit on philosophy which lasted from the 18th to the 22nd of November has been a momentary reminder on the existence of the unwavering connection between philosophy and rights and why both of them shall live on. The point is to carry on and live the message. The occasion is a call for everyone, may you be an advocate of philosophy or not, to be a defender of human rights. Without any pretensions, we must help each other remove all the blindfolds of injustice in our society. We are compelled to act in accordance to the innateness of our capacity to decipher a sense of meaning for our own existence and this meaning will only be completed if our rights are also guarded.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thanking God
I know I have never been a good son. Much less could I have been a perfect follower. You know how much I hurt and disobeyed you in a thousand ways possible. You know that I am always on the brink of blaming you whenever problems do come my way but you are still here guiding me. You also know how I have doubted your presence in each and every time possible but you have never taken your eyes away from me... From all of these, Thank You. I don't deserve this but you have loved me in a special way I cannot possibly understand.
My Birthday (October 12, 2008)
I have celebrated my birthday in a considerably simple way... Though I was not with my family because I really have to stay in Baguio for important reasons, I got the chance to have one of my most memorable birthdays.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Read Beyond the Lines
Ever since, restoring the “Glory that was CHS” has been the battle cry of some professors and instructors in the college. It has almost seemed like a blind dream leading another blind into the land of nowhere. With most students thinking that it is better to confine themselves into their pigeon holes, how could the college ever reclaim the excellence, glamour and respectability it has once possessed? With nothing more but a few individuals trying to rekindle the fire of passion within the college, how could it ever make any difference? But indeed, big fires start with small sparks.
Who would have ever known that the sleeping spirit of CHS will be awakened once more during the last SLU Intramurals? Head up high, soaring with ablazed hearts and with all the love for our real identity as the College of Human Sciences, we have proven to the whole of SLU that we indeed exist and we came back to claim what is rightfully ours, a spot where for the past years, the two top-populated colleges dominated. We toppled them not merely by claiming major prizes because we know for a fact that their share will, at the end, be more numerous than ours. But we conquered the odds to be in a place where neither an athlete nor a cheer-dancer experienced defeat all because we have won the best game after all. It is the game of proving to the whole of SLU that we are a team with one dream.
It is quite annoying that after the event, negative declarations from some who might not even really cared about the welfare of the college have surfaced. We hear foul claims on how the dream-crowd supporting the delegates has been formed. We hear allegations of grade-bribery (what a term!) which is heavily disgusting to hear. It is as if we have tried to bake the best cake for weeks only for someone to feed it to the dogs. We have tried to gain the respect of the university in a day but after some time of walking around the university with pride, we have been pulled down to be a point of mockery.
Would it be wrong for an instructor to be creative and resourceful enough to think that instead of asking the students to do projects that would remain enclosed in the confines of the faculty room, he or she have required something that will be useful for the college instead? Would it be wrong to encourage the CHS students to share their time and talent to ensure that our beloved college will not be left behind licking the crumbs? In times like the Intramurals or the Arts Festival, who would support the CHS delegates other than us, the CHS people? Are we supposed to draw support and cheers from other colleges instead? If we will do that, then, it could have been the most pathetic thing that we could have ever done.
Sometimes, we must look beyond the things that we feel like saying at the span of the moment especially if we do not really know if someone will be hurt in the process. Remember, not all the things that we feel like saying is really appropriate to be said. Just to give everyone of us a hint, it is called responsibility. It is the brother of respect and the sister of authentic wisdom. It brought forth the authentic Human Sciences Spirit and moves us out of self-made illusions. It encourages us to be a team bonded by unity and goes away from whatever may destroy our common dream to always be the best that we can be. And as the pages of history of our college unfold we hold our head up high and together we say: SOAR HIGH, HUMAN SCI!
Monday, October 6, 2008
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