thespartansensei

[thespartansensei]

Reblogging this awesome piece of reflection paper from my history class

Philippine History Reflection Paper

Well, I started this subject thinking, “Why should I even bother to study this? It’s freaking in the past! Past is past and never to be discussed! It’s not going to change if we talked about it. Why don’t we just move on and focus on our bright future ahead of us? We studied it way back in elementary and high school anyway, so why should I even care? It’s not like going to help me when I find work or something. I guess, I just have to study and pass it, so that I can advance in college and get over it.” That is my initial thought coming in as a freshman college student. I’m such a brat about it. I can’t blame myself because I’m still naive and foolish back then. I didn’t consider taking a look at it first and finding out if that’s what I really think of it. I guess a big part of it was because, based on my personal experience was boring. During high school, it was so boring that you can fall asleep within the first five minutes. Match that with the very quiet and calm voice of the teacher. I can recall that mostly our activities and assignments include outlining a topic for us to memorize later on, memorizing every country with its capital, memorizing time periods, memorizing a lot of people, memorizing their birth dates and death dates, memorizing events with their dates, and more pointless memorizing. At least it gets interesting when we get into fourth year where we studied about economics and stuff.

I really question this particular subject ever since. It is known for its severe and critical need for memorization. You need to memorize a lot. This is not an easy subject at all, but some people consider this as an easy subject. All they had to do is to memorize and then they can pass easily with flying colors. Just memorize and you are good to go. But is it even worth it? Did they actually learn something? I am guessing not. It’s like losing the point of learning. You are supposed to actually learn not to memorize, and forget it later when the examination is over. The thing is, I hate memorization. Not only my brain can’t cooperate with me during memorization, I also think that you can do a lot more productive things rather than memorizing something. I sort of wish they did a more interactive way of teaching. We are bored to death and because of that we only learned a few lessons. If they did that, we are probably going to be more educated when it comes to history, especially Philippine history. But they didn’t and because of that, I had a bad impression for history/social studies.

Then here comes college. I thought it’s going to be the same as high school, but no. My impression of history subject has drastically changed since then. Going into the first few weeks, I was like “This is so different from high school.” We also get to watch a video about different Philippine provinces and it is a song, sung by Yoyoy Villame. It is really fun and the opposite of boring. At least we get to enjoy while memorizing something. And when we changed sections, it changed a whole lot more. I remember during the first meeting with our new history professor and she said something like “We make realization not memorization.”  Or somewhere along those lines and I was like “Hell yeah!” And it’s the beginning of something good for me in the history department.

My point of view and perception of Philippine history has drastically changed throughout this first semester as a freshmen college student. I found out that not everything is as it seems and media can be deceiving. I give the one when I found out all about Ferdinand Marcos as an example. When we did our own little research about his overall run as a president, I learned all about him and all his dirty tricks as well as some of his crimes during his regime. I was badly devastated but I also felt triumphant at the same time. I feel triumphant simply because I found out about the truth and that is all that matters to me. It’s like an eye opener and it feels like you just escaped from hypnotism or something. I thought that Ferdinand Marcos was the best president of the Philippines ever had. Apparently, he was not, not even close. He was not even that great of a president if you ask my opinion right now. It’s a classic misdirection. It’s on you if you get fooled for not knowing history. You need to do your own research and do not depend on what others were saying or what the media were saying. History is so important because if you don’t know it well enough, it may just repeat itself, and you might screw yourself in the process.

We had a lot of lessons for this semester. It varies from the geography of the Philippines, natives that arrived in the Philippines, to the invasion of the Spanish, to the Americans taking over, to the World War II, and lastly to the Philippine presidents. That’s a lot of topics to be discussed. One significant lesson that I had learned would probably be the past is never dead and gone, because it is the past that has created the present, and it is the past that conditions the possibilities of the future. We look to history to define our own times, and to see what is possible in the future.  I also learned that with history, is that you can use it as a guide so that you will not make the same mistake twice. I mean, like, who would want to be burned by the same flame twice? However, we can still learn from those mistakes and use those mistakes to mature and grow as a person. Speaking of person, we people can also make history! As an individual, we have the power to create history. That power is great because everyone can do it and it is just depends on the person whether they want to or not. With all that being said, the change begins in us, the people. If we work together as a functional nation we could make history and make it better than ever. If the people back then did make history that we are studying now, why don’t we?

When I first met our professor, Miss Kat, I thought she is going to be your typical strict teacher. Like the one that terrorizes students and they don’t learn anything at all. But as we journey to the semester, she was not like that at all! She’s far from that, in fact. I could still say she disciplines students harder than any of my professor but I actually think she is going easy on us. I actually think that her strict nature helped me study more on her difficult subject. She requires us to read a whole lot more than any of my professors and I actually don’t have that much of an interest to study but because of her I did. I don’t want to make myself a fool, you know. I think she is just the perfect professor for this particular subject. With her being around, I grew more as a student and I thank her for that. I may be not her best student at least I tried my best. To Miss Kat, I want to thank you for being awesome. For my fellow classmates, I just want to congratulate us! We somehow survived this first semester alive! I may be exaggerating but I really considered to suicide once when all of the professors of all our subjects decided to give us paperwork, a lot of paperwork. I’ve never been that busy in my life. I’m the kind of student who is always laid back but still pass and this is the first time when I actually had to sleep 3am in the morning just to finish something. I just want to congratulate us and good luck to us as we advance to second semester! To the future students of history, I really recommend to read, like, a lot. You will need all these information and it is crucial for you to pass. I also suggest that do not depend on what you’ve heard. It’s better if you conduct your own research. History is so complicated and some may not be accurate, that’s why it’s better to validate first before you believe in something. I can say that history is fun in its own right. It depends in the person if his or her heart is on it. I personally don’t have that much interest in history but with all the events that happened like the Heneral Luna movie got me into history. I suggest that you just enjoy your time while studying and have fun with it even if you don’t.

I conclude that Philippine history is difficult. It is so difficult. But nothing is difficult if you work hard enough. Like it or not, you have to deal with it. It’s about our country anyway. It is fun knowing things that you don’t know and it is so satisfying. Like the saying goes “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” So you better learn from it and not run from it. Our country’s past may be bad but we have to accept it. It is our freaking country so we, as its citizen, better know all about it.

The past cannot be changed, forgotten, edited, or erased. It can only be accepted.

[thespartansensei]

Gliceria Legaspi Marella de Villavicencio was born on May 13, 1852 in Taal, Batangas. She was the daughter of Vicente Marella and Gertudis Legaspi. She came from a wealthy family. When she reached the age of 12, she went to Intramuros and studied in Santa Catalina College. She have 6 siblings. Gliceria took the responsibility over her family’s properties when her eldest sister died.

Gliceria, at the age of 19, married Eulalio Villavicencio in October 1871. He was an owner of a ship which signifies that he also came from a rich family. A wedding gift to her wife is a house named as Casa Villavicencio.

Eulalio and Gliceria contributed a huge help in aiming the country’s freedom from Spain during the Philippine Revolution through giving their assets wholeheartedly. They also supported the Propaganda Movement, an organization lead by Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal, by contributing P18, 000. Among all the benefaction they had given, the most remarkable is the ship (SS Bulusan) of Gliceria that was used in sending the Filipino troops to Bicol and Visayas region. The ship was also used to carry the foods that will supply the people in order to maintain the revolutionary forces.

Unfortunately, the Spaniards discovered the revolutionary activities of the couple. Eulalio was arrested for rebellion and was imprisoned to Old Bilibid Prison in Manila. Afterwards, they offered Gliceria to reveal the organization’s secrets in exchange of her husband’s discharge. But because of her loyalty to the Katipunan, she refused to the offer in spite of her love for her husband. In 1898, Eulalio was finally freed, but died 3 months later due to health reason. Gliceria’s husband’s death brought fire in her heart to support more in the revolution. And because of her undying passion to help the country in obtaining its freedom, General Emilio Aguinaldo named her “Madrina-General de las Fuerzas Revolucionarios” (Matriarch-General of the Revolutionary Forces) during the proclamation of the Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898.

After the colonization of Spain, Gliceria remain active in fighting against the new conquerors, the Americans. She helped Genereal Miguel Malvar in continuing the war upon the Americans.

Gliceria died in September 28, 1929.

As a Filipino, I now understand that we should find out and appreciate what the unsung Filipino heroes and heroines had done for our country. Like what Gliceria Villavicencio and her husband did, I agree to this message: “Full commitment is needed to attain independence.” It is true. If she didn’t commit everything she have and became impatient, it might be impossible for us to obtain our freedom. May be, not everyone cared for our country, but because of few people like them that decided to commit and sacrifice everything they can, it changed our country. Gliceria is not that famous heroine, but she surely did something great not only for herself but also for the country. Not everybody could do the same thing.

From her experiences, I’ve seriously learned that it takes full commitment and courage in order to obtain something I want. Dreams are not like magic that when you say “Abracadabra!” it will suddenly appear. I have to be patient. If struggles come along my journey, take courage and never give up. I should learn how to make sacrifices no matter how hard and important the thing is. She had shown me that we should always fight for something that is worth of fighting for.

This another message sums up what Gliceria and her husband did, “Concern for others is like love for one’s self and love of God.” We are living not just for ourselves. God placed people in our lives to be a blessing. This is what Gliceria Villavicencio did.

  REFERENCES:

·         http://www.orosa.org/GLICERIA%20MARELLA-VILLAVICENCIO.htm

·         http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Gliceria_Marella_Villavicencio

·         http://villavicencio-marella.blogspot.com/2011/01/gliceria-marella-de-villavicencio.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliceria_Marella_Villavicencio

[thespartansensei]

A good spy story from the World War 2.

THE LION INSIDE THE GOOD GIRL’S HEART

We all know some stories during world war two but there’s a woman who shows bravery during those times but not everybody recognize her. She is Magdalena Estoista Leones who also called the “Lioness of Filipina Agents.” She called like that not only because she was a great spy but also because of her willingness to give up her life for the Philippine’s freedom during the world war two. Magdalena was caught thrice by the enemy and thrice she escaped, and also thrice she was chased by death.

Magdalena was born on August 19, 1920 in Lubuagan, Kalinga. Her father was a Filipino missionary to the Cordilleras named Juan A. Leones. And her mother, Lucia Estoista was raised by Mrs. Kutch of the United Brethren Missionaries of the Philippines. Magdalena was a teacher first. Then later, she decided to study to become a nun. By December 1941, Magdalena is performing well religious duties, but the Japanese soldiers landed on Northern Luzon and began to take over the Philippines. The unstoppable march of the Japanese into the Baguio, forced Camp John Hay’s commander Colonel John Horan to leave the city. The Fil-American forces chose Magdalena’s town to hide. Magdalena became their interpreter between English and Iloko/Kalinga and she also gave them first-aid. On May 6, 1942, Horan and his men gave themselves up at Camp Holmes in La Trinidad. While Magdalena didn’t surrender, she joined the other officers who chose not to give up. It was August 13, 1942, when Magdalena confined in jail.  There, Magdalena learned how to speak in Japanese language. After a months in prison, Magdalena set free because of the help of the Baguio-based missionary of her church. Magdalena went to Agoo, La Union to meet her mother and younger siblings. There, Magdalena witnessed the execution of twenty or more teenagers by the Japanese. The execution made Magdalena realized that they need to fight. A few weeks after the killing, Madalena made a story to the Japanese who believed her because of her skill to speak in Nihongo and in English and this story made her fellow Filipinos saved in the hands of the Japanese. That just proved that her months in jail could be a blessing.

Magdalena travelled to Manila and she met her American missionary friends who are members of the guerrilla Fil-American Irregular Troops (FAIT) headed by Colonels Claude Thorpe and Hugh Straughn, Magdalena joined them. She helped provide financial, medical, and moral help to freedom fighters in Manila.

In January 1944, there was an agent called “AZ-48” who ordered Magdalena to collect rosters of guerrilla forces in Northern Luzon. The agent, had contacted Magdalena’s group and established his identity as SWPA operative from General MacArthur’s headquarters. Magdalena as she was collecting information and asking for guerrilla unit rosters in February 1944, Volckmann interviewed her and then send off an agent to Manila to check out her story. After two weeks of investigation, the truth came. A Filipino, named Franco Vera Reyes who so called AZ-48 gained the trust of Magdalena’s American missionary friends in Manila. Reyes turned out that he is a double agent of the Japanese that’s why Magdalena’s American missionary friends, were executed. The colonel, now convinced of the Filipina’s innocence, offered her a new opportunity and because of her murdered friends, Magdalena accepted the invitation. She was now a special agent of the USAFIP, NL. Magdalena was now called Maggie, she quickly earned her commander’s trust. From February 27 to March 1944, Maggie went to Pampanga to exchange information with the leaders there. She then proceeded to Manila to secure needed medical supplies. Along the way, Maggie obtained information on enemy dispositions and connections in the whole Pampanga along the national highway from Manila to San Fernando. She even travelled to search radio technicians and radio parts, as well as to buy medical supplies and distribute funds to fellow guerrilla agents. Maggie was also credited for blowing up Japanese planes in Tuguegarao airstrip. These and many more actions she accomplished.

Before Maggie become 25 year old, she had already been confronted by the Japanese three times. She used her quick intellect and persuasive tongue to escape. September 26, 1944. While on her way to Cagayan, Captain Oshino captured many Filipino spies. Maggie freed herself from an appointment with the gallows with the persuasive power of words and riches. Soon, she was free because of a bribe to her Filipino guard. Maggie was eventually into the Philippine Army and into the USAFIP, NL. As the US 6th Army landed between Lingayen in Pangasinan and Damortis in La Union. On D-Day, the resistance movement burst into full action. Maggie was serving her country with her intelligence and other services .On July 18, 1945, as the Filipino guerrillas were delivering the last blows to General Yamashita’s forces, Colonel Volckmann recommended that Maggie be awarded the U.S. Silver Star, the third-highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces. Later, less than a month, the leader of the Emperor of Japan, Hirohito announced their surrender.

And on October 22, 1945, Lt. General C.W. Griswold of the United States Army signed the “Citation to Accompany the Award of the Silver Star” to Magdalena Leones. Maggie entered the history books as the fifth female and the only Asian woman to be awarded the Silver Star. Four honors were also given to Magdalena – the Philippine Liberation Medal, the Resistance Movement Medal, the World War II Medal, and the Philippine Independence Ribbon, that’s why there is no doubt that Magdalena Leones is one of the great agents in the history of the Philippines, and definitely a hero. And Magdalena also proved that she is really the “Lioness of the Filipina Agents.”

Magdalena Leones is such a brave woman, a loving daughter and sister for her family, and she is also a good friend who got the guts to fight and give her life for her beloved country. Maggie taught us that no matter what your gender is, you can always show your courageousness in every way possible. She also made us all realized that there is always bravery inside the good girl’s heart – a heart that can help to freed her country from the enemies.

[thespartansensei]

TS Soudelor is freaking huge! Forecasted to become a category 5 super typhoon with a possible wind speed of 324kph. Now I am wondering what is the diameter of this monster in order to see its potential influence in our weather in PHL

[thespartansensei]

Pluto in a Minute: What Is New Horizons Going to Do After Pluto?

New Horizons spent nine years getting to Pluto only to leave the system after a few hours. So what’s next? This is Pluto in a Minute.

The New Horizons mission was born from a 2003 decadal survey, that is, a survey of what should be done in planetary science for the coming ten years. In that decadal survey the National Academy of Sciences ranked exploring Pluto and another Kuiper Belt Objects as a top priority because the Kuiper Belt and the bodies that lie within that region are thought to be the most primitive and untouched material in our solar system. Exploring the Kuiper Belt is the best way to address the question of whether objects in that region brought volatiles and water into the inner solar system to planets like Earth.

Given its current trajectory, there are two possible Kuiper Belt objects New Horizons can visit. In the fall of 2015, the team will pick one of them and then burn the engines to set it on a course for that object. The goal is to just do another flyby sometime around 2018-2019.

But exploring a second Kuiper Belt Object is contingent on getting a mission extension. In 2016, the New Horizons team will prepare a proposal for this extended mission for NASA, and if it is accepted, that mission will begin in 2017.

But for the moment Pluto is still taking centre stage with a lot more data coming down in the weeks and months ahead. So to learn more about Pluto check out the New Horizons websites, join the conversation online with the hashtag #PlutoFlyby, and be sure to come back here for more Pluto in a Minute.

By: NASA New Horizons.

[thespartansensei]

[thespartansensei]

Series of images for TS Falcon (Chang-Hom) as of July 9, 2015, 7PM

1. Snapshot from the Himawari 8 satellite as of 5PM. You can see the three systems  rotating towards the northwest.

2.Total precipitable water map from earth.nullschool.net

3. MTSAT image from NOAA SSD as of 2:32 PM

4. Doppler image from the Tagaytay station as of 6PM

5. Wind map from the earth.nullschool.net with labels for  (1) TS Egay, (2) TS Falcon and (3) TS Nangka

Sources:

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/imagery/twpac.html

earth.nullschool.net

http://himawari8.nict.go.jp/

Climatex.ph

[thespartansensei]

Series of images for TS Chan-Hom / Falcon (compiled 2PM)

1. Himawari MT-SAT imagery from JMA, captured 10:30 this morning

2. MTSAT imagery from NOAA-SSD captured 9:30 this morning

3. Image captured from earth.nullschool.net, showing the total precipitable water as of 2pm. Look at the amounts of water in those circulations.

4. Doppler radar images from Baler, Subic and Tagaytay stations with latest timestamp of 1:16PM. It shows more rain moving in to our area.

Conclusion: Rainy afternoon and evening is a possibility.

Sources:

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/mtsat/twpac/rb-l.jpg

http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/isobaric/850hPa/overlay=total_precipitable_water/orthographic=-234.99,12.94,1379

http://www.jma.go.jp/en/gms/large.html?area=1&element=0&time=201507080530&mode=UTC

Project Noah

[thespartansensei]

Series of images for TS Chan-Hom/ Falcon:

1. MTSAT image from NOAA showing the position of Chan-Hom as of 21:32 UTC (2:32 local tme) I suspect that the image is not updated yet.

2. Captured image from earth.nullschool.net, showing the TPC (total precitable water) for the 3 systems for TS Egay/Linfa, TS Chan-Hom and TS Nangka, labeled as 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

3. Same image from earth.nullschool.net, showing the winds. You can see  Chan-Hom (labeled as 2) has a massive wind circulation affecting the rest

4. Composite doppler image from three stations: Baler, Subic and Tagaytay to show you the amount of rain coming in for the Metro and Southern Luzon. Latest time stamp was 6:47 AM.

Sources:

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/mtsat/twpac/rb-l.jpg

earth.nullschool.net

http://noah.dost.gov.ph/

[thespartansensei]

I use Canvas for online assignments in my classes. Tonight, this is the best insight that I have encountered so far, in their submissions in sociology. Keep up the good work. :)

[thespartansensei]

Recent satellite images from:

Top: JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency), Himawari Geostationary Satellite. Image captured last 10:00 UTC (3PM local time)

Middle: NOAA MTSAT image from 8:32 UTC (1:32 local time)

Bottom: from earth.nullschool.net showing the current  positions of (1) TS Egay/ Linfa, (2) TS Chang-Hom and (3) TS Nangka

Keep safe folks!

Sources:

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/imagery/twpac.html

http://www.jma.go.jp/en/gms/index.html?area=6&element=0&mode=UTC

http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/isobaric/850hPa/orthographic=-221.94,9.79,850

[thespartansensei]

100 Years

When the classes get suspended, you sit in your workstation and hear this song… its gets nostalgic when you look back to the years that you have lived. And be reminded how painfully short life is and you have got so much to do.  Lyrics below the video. Artist: Five for Fighting. (more…)

[thespartansensei]

#EgayPH MTSAT image below as of 5:32 PM and an image captured from earth.nullschool.net showing (1) TS Linfa, (2) TS Chan-Hom, and (3) TS Nangka. Lots of precitable water for the  Philippines, meaning a lot more rain ahead. Dont forget your umbrellas and coats! :)

Photo sources:

NOAA and earth.nullschool.net

[thespartansensei]

PHILOSOPHY - Soren Kierkegaard

Soren Kierkegaard is useful to us because of the intensity of his despair at the compromises and cruelties of daily life. He is a companion for our darkest moments.

Produced in collaboration with Mad Adam Films

By: The School of Life.

[thespartansensei]

A comeback

Here I go again, making a comeback to this old tumblr account. Things were not the way it is used to be. Schedules got more hectic than usual and the stuff I have been doing have become more nerdier.

Okay enough of the excuses, I should resume my blogging soon. :)

[thespartansensei]

Immanuel Kant

—> "Considered to be the Most Important Modern Philosopher”

A German Philosopher

-Kant is often considered to be the "Most Important Modern Philosopher". This is because he built a bridge between Rationalism and Empiricism. He believed that all knowledge comes...

[thespartansensei]

“Kabataan ang pagasa ng bayan”

-Dr.Jose P. Rizal

Marahil ay ilang beses na natin narinig o nabasa ang mga katagang ito. Maaring sa libro, nakapinta sa isang establisyimento, o sa isang paskil sa kalye. Marahil may ideya na din tayo sa ibig ipahiwatig ng mga salitang ito....