Uncomfortable comfort women

Ah. Yet another presentation from a fellow SWCC Professor, Professor Duril. Today's discussion was on "comfort women". Well, the word "comfort" is connoted negatively in this case. It acts as a euphemism--an indirect word to replace one that is too harsh or blunt. 

Enough of somewhat background information! So during World War ll, there were multiple women--Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Malaysian--whom were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese. It is, in fact, a rather disturbing topic for the reason that it's quite hard to believe, but as Professor Duril was saying, it should be heard. Honestly, I'm surprised that when typing "comfort women" in the search engine for Google, that related topics came up. Especially after learning that the Japanese were trying to deny it for so long, still are as a matter of fact. This case has been ignored and taken out of multiple history books and contexts. People such as Ikuhiko Hatu, a Japanese historian, are denying such a tragic event.

Okay, now I will explore this intense topic. I think I should start by letting you know that these women were not aware that they were going to be enslaved. Due to the Japanese who were light on volunteers, the women thought they were going to be factory workers or nurses. Boy did they think wrong. Instead, these women were being forced into sex labor. Another way how these women were "collected" was simply being abducted from their homes. Other women were just lured. The Japanese army basically recruited women by force. These women would constantly get raped. No warning. No secluded area. The filthy Japanese men would rape them whenever they had the chance; whenever they felt like it. Against barbed wire fences. Pulled aside for a quick fix. Just wherever. It didn't matter to these men pigs, whether it was public or not. 

Above, you see a young Chinese (comfort) woman being interviewed by an Allied officer. She looks awfully weak and skinny. Luckily, the topic is becoming louder as women who were silent for about half a century are speaking up.

Thank you for your time everyone! :)

Discoveries. Battles. Legends.

During Professor Aronson's English class today, we had Professor Tuyay, a fellow SWCC member who teaches a class about Asian-American Sociology, give us a presentation. Tuyay focused on the Filipino background information, and I found it to be really intriguing. In one part of his lecture, he spoke of three people: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and Lapu-Lapu. Since the presentation happened in a matter of 50 minutes, information was limited. So I took the liberty of doing some research of my own as well because I really wanted to learn more about these individuals. I'd like to mention in advance, this is quite a lengthy post, so I apologize. :)

The date is not when he "discovered America", it
was the year this day was established by Roosevelt.

I have a few images that evoke sarcasm in regards to Christopher Columbus' "discovery" of America, which I seem to agree with as a matter of fact. To summarize my answer to this question of whether he founded America or not is simple, no. That is all. Thank you. Just kidding! :) Anyway. People had lived here long, long, long before his existence. He is known for is death and destruction. Columbus is also seen as a symbol of slavery, and the celebration of his arrival likened to a celebration of Hitler and the Holocaust.

Many people are surprised to learn that Christopher Columbus and his men enslaved native inhabitants of the West Indies. They forced the natives to convert to Catholicism, and were violent in order to gain riches. Before his first voyage to the Americas, he had a contract with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain that explained how profit was important to him and he wanted some of the riches if he found any--10% to be exact. So he enslaved native people in order to be his servants. On his second voyage, he even began exporting slaves in order to receive profit since he wasn't gaining any money. Columbus ignored the plead of not being able to send slaves anymore in order to keep getting Ferdinand and Isabella's support.

It is said that the origin of syphilis--a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Trepomena pallidum--was due to Columbus. (Or, one out of two hypotheses as to how syphilis emanated.) Now, I'd rather not post a picture of what syphilis because it is disgusting--no offense to anyone who has it; search images up if you dare though. It was proposed that him and his crewmen carried it to Europe after their voyage to the Americas. 

Now who is this handsome fellow to the left, you ask? That is Ferdinand Magellan. In 1519, he sailed around South America in order to reach the Spice Islands where the Spice Girls once lived. Only joking people. :) He sailed across Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean.  He was the first to circumnavigate the earth. But he was unable to finish the voyage as he was killed during the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines. On the voyage of circumnavigation, the Spanish realized that America was not connected to Asia. 

How did the death of Magellan go, you ask? Well let me tell you! There's so much to say. About a month after reaching the equator, Magellan and his crew reached the island of Homonhon in the Philippines. 

This image depicts the Battle of Mactan

He then was guided to Cebu by Rajah Siaiu, someone whom he traded with as well.  A man named Rajah Humabon of Cuba was kind to Magellan and his crew. Humabon had an ally named Datu Zalu, and they convinced Magellan to kill their enemy, Lapu-Lapu. (Ah, see where this all begins to tie in? *Light bulb flashes on*) In my opinion though, Humabon and Zalu were just trying to get Magellan to do their dirty work. But hey, it worked. So Magellan tried to convert Lapu-Lapu to Christianity, but he didn't give in. A few weeks later, Magllan attacked Mactan. But Lapu-Lapu led 1,500 Mactan warriors armed with native weapons in battle against Magellan, his crew, and their guns. Ultimately, Lapu-Lapu and his people tore him up, and the ocean stole away the remainder of his body. Because after this little attack, Magellan's body was missing for good.

Okay, now this is my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great (how many "great"'s should I include?) uncle, Lapu-Lapu. Totally kidding! Although that'd be awesome. Who knows though? We could be related by the tiniest sliver. Or not.. :) He is, in fact, Lapu-Lapu. Very indigenous looking indeed. This great man was the ruler of Mactan. From all the information that I just mentioned, I believe it's very credible in calling him a "great man".. Wouldn't you agree? His real name was Datu Kalipulaku. He was known as the first native to resist Spanish colonization. He is also recognized for bringing Christianity to the Philippines. In the province of Cebu, they even dedicated a shrine, AND a city named after Lapu-Lapu. 

Interesting legends: 

1.) "Some natives believe that in his final years, Lapu-Lapu did not die, but turned into a stone, and is forever guarding the seas of Mactan. Fishermen in the island city throw coins at a stone shaped like a man as a way of asking for permission to fish in the chieftain’s territory."

2. ) "Another story passed on by the natives of the land says Lapu-Lapu became the statue placed on a pedestal at the center of the plaza. The statue faces the old city hall building where the mayors used to hold office and once held a crossbow in the immortal stance of someone about to shoot an arrow at an enemy. The people of the city decided to change this crossbow with a bolo after a succession of three mayors died due to a heart attack."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME! I'D APPRECIATE FEEDBACK, FOR THIS TOOK ME ABOUT TWO HOURS TO DO. THANKS EVERYONE. :)

How times have changed... Or have they?

As I've mentioned before, Maria Clara is the "ideal woman" for Filipinos. Appearance-wise, her hair is pulled back, in a sleek sort of bun with a floral/pin/etc. in her hair. She wears a large dress that symbolizes virtue. Personality-wise, she is respectful in all ways. She believes in being chaste and she follows all the rules. The black and white image depict this "Maria Clara" female. 

Although times have changed in the Philippines with what they wear, this whole concept is still believed. In Miss Philippines pageants and different events, they still wear these dresses with shoulder padding and a conservative look. Now, it's 2011. Times really have changed. I have been one hell of an Americanized Filipino my whole life. Never quite following the rules--the rebellious type. My parents would question my actions at moments, but I didn't mind them. As you could see, I do not dress like Maria Clara. Not like any of us would really nowadays... But my point is--although I am a Filipino female, speaking for all Filipino females (even females in general), not all of us are going to abide by this archetypal image of society. I'm not proper. In my picture, I'm laughing. I'm not going to be boring and stand like I have a stick up my ass, with a bland face. 

Bringing up another point--society. How they want us to look. I will talk about the Philippines since this is a blog dedicated to just that. What's the difference between someone who is a size 2 as opposed to a size 10? The Filipino channels (GMA, TFC, etc.) have females hosts/backup dancers who are all thin-looking. Maybe they fit a modern version of "Maria Clara"... ? Maybe it's just popularity and viewers? How about the males of the shows? Is there no ideal image for males? Hmmm... On a second note, have times changed? 


Questions? Comments? Agree? Disagree? Come on in and tell me, I don't bite. :)

What is Filipino?

Above a "prezi" presentation that different members of my bayan and myself composed.  To view it, press play. It is on chapter 2 of the book our class has been reading, Filipino American Psychology by Kevin Nadal. I spoke about it as well as included a picture of it in my very first post!

The presentation consists of:

1. Influences of Spanish Culture

• Ruled by Spain for 400 years 
• Catholicism was their religion
• Males were dominant; abusive as well
• Women catered to men
• Major pride
• Very close with one another--especially if you were in the P.I.

2. Influences of American Culture

• Before being colonized by the U.S., the P.I. didn't have a set curriculum 
• Filipinos with thick accents would be discriminated--thought as uneducated
• Filipinos were taught "American Dream"--making them believe they could achieve anything; more opportunities
• American Dream would lead to gossip
• The gossip would cause competition between opportunities

3. Filipino Values

• How Filipinos react/act/feel with one another

4. Fading Away from Filipino Roots

• Either dismissing the Filipino culture all together
• Being influenced by other cultures
• Confused on which culture to stick to--leading to acculturative stress

For any questions, feel free to ask! Thanks for your time. :)

Socrates & Maria Clara

Hello everyone! :) I'm taking a Philosophy 101 class, as well, and we just finished learning about Socrates. (Although I really wouldn't like to call it "learning" because, no offense--although it would still be taken offensively--this professor does not do Socrates justice. Or any other topic, as a matter of fact. But this is beside the point...) In English class with Mr. Aronson, we have been discussing several poems on a woman/concept named Maria Clara. I would like to take some time to jot down some similarities between these two people. 

To those who do not know, Maria Clara is a character created by Jose Rizal, in a novel called Noli Me Tangere. She was a Filipina who was known as the "ideal woman" in the Philippines. She was portrayed as chaste, the epitome of virtue, a faithful sweetheart, a good friend, and an obedient daughter. Maria Clara was highly appraised and everyone idolized her. But her "masochistic", and "easily fainting" character was also criticized as the "greatest misfortune that has befallen the Filipina in the last one hundred years". This is because this whole concept was forcing Filipino women into molding into a Maria Clara.

As a young girl, she would practice religion. When she grew up, she convinced a man named Padro Damaso (who so happened to be her biological father as well) to send her to a nunnery. I think of this nunnery as a prison, for although she chose it, she was alone and trapped. Padre Salvi, the convent's spiritual director, ended up raping her. Unfortunately, through the years of pain, she died in the convent. 

So no thanks to my Phil professor, I will inform you on what I kinda-sorta read about Socrates.  He was a Greek Athenian Philosopher, credited as one of the founders of Western Philosophy. Socrates has become renowned for his contribution to the field of ethics. His students, especially the ones who stuck with him throughout everything: Plato and Xenophon, adored Socrates. They really enjoyed his teachings--slightly talking about religion also, and he was looked up to. But plenty of people thought of him as corrupting the youth--one of the many charges ghat put him to trial.

He was guilty and put into prison, and willingly chose the hemlock for his punishment. Socrates drank the hemlock, a highly poisonous plant, and was instructed to walk around until his legs felt numb. Then after a short while, he quietly died. 

This  picture  depicts  Socrates  (in
white) taking his hemlock to drink.

An animated portrayal of Maria Clara at the nunnery. She is wearing--a now popular amongst Filipinas"--Maria Clara" dress that symbolizes the virtues and nobility of a Filipino woman.

The similarities I see: 

• Her virtue vs. His ethics
• Idolized
• But had negative influences
• Religious practice
• Maria Clara's nunnery vs. Socrates' prison room
• Died within these "prisons"

Agree? Disagree? It's all good! I'm not the Philosopher type. But thanks for reading, everyone! Ta-ta for now. :)