PI Perks & Insights:

My likes of my Philippines experience. :]

• Family oriented
  
• Family comes first
  
• Strangers are cordial & helpful
• No matter where we were, someone was willing to help us out
• Life in PI
  
• Slow & simple
• Traditional
• So it was predictable
  
• Education
• You can practically ask anyone about Filipino history, culture and politics
• Being a doctor is an admirable occupation
  
• All I learned while being there
• All my dislikes about PI
• Experiencing how liberal & out of the norm I can be
  
• How much I clash with the Filipino culture
• How hard it is for me to continue seeing the positives in my culture through the thick clouds of negativity

Oh, how I wish I could have a longer list than my dislikes about PI. But if I do, I'd probably be lying. Midway through my trip, I seriously thought about dropping my position in AB Samahan. But I'm holding on because I have a theory.

In every community, culture, group or organization there will always be that vast majority that make it easy for others to judge them as the whole immediately. As if one or many represents the group's entirety. Even once joining these organized gatherings, we will initially hold on to our prior judgments - if not, be even more convinced to keep holding on. But I have faith. I challenge my judgments and my perception. I believe that in every organized gathering, through the vast majority, if I personally take the effort look deep enough, I will find the kinds of people that give me hope and inspiration. I will find those kinds of people whom I will be able to collaborate with and challenge my well being even more.

I've learned that everything good in life doesn't come easy. And although I've learned about much corruption, deceit and ingenuity of my culture, I have faith that I will find what I'm looking for: authenticity, passion, inspiration, hope and so much more positive things. I will find what I'm looking for and it will motivate me to continue learning more about my culture.

Besides, I have found some of these things already ;]

Dislikes About My PI Trip:

Disclaimer: This is solely a reflection on my experience & observations. Thus, isn't meant to represent Philippines as a whole. More like... an insight for you about my family. In addition, because it is only an outline, it has yet to be judged as a final draft.

• Many people are driven by tradition & superstition
• Levels and expectancies of being the following:
  
• Respectful
• Cordial
• Family oriented
  
• Expectancies of mentalities, mannerisms and actions
• Conservatives disliked the new way my Lolo preferred people donating money for my Lola's funeral expenses (he only wanted people who can afford to donate to do so; apparently it's tradition that everyone pays an even amount of expenses regardless of one's own financial issues)
• The bible is everything
  
• Elders underestimate the youth
• Lack of trust
• Natural tendencies to give orders
• Obedience expectancy
• Rare cases of leveled conversations with elders
  
• Passion & true personalities seem to be kept on the down low
• Society's expectancies of abiding to the norm
  
• Thus seemingly suppressed to the point of passiveness
• Passiveness, which leads to too much forgiveness
  
• Vanity & Pride
  
• Reputation is highly valued
• Complete families are envied
• Everyone likes to play the blame game
• Avoidance of one's own personal problems
  
• Workers at malls & open markets
  
• Too many workers!
• Which means they mustn't get paid a lot
  
• Stare a lot
• Persistence in assistance!
• It was nerve wrecking to constantly have someone over my shoulder
  
• Majority of colleges
• Practically all of the colleges I saw in Manila were medical schools
• As if that is our only choice in PI
  
• Fixed mentalities
• The mentality that one is tied down by their environment, thus not striving for more
  
• Always looking for the cheaper price
• Assuming commands and precautions have good reasons without asking 'why'

I think I'll get into detail later...
But I'll definitely post what I liked about PI later.

It's only fair :]

First Blogspot Blog

Yay for new blogs :]

Hey everyone, I'm Jen Amos & I'm honored to be your next AB Samahan Cultural Affairs Coordinator. :D

I'm a newbie when it comes to knowing anything about my culture. And although I've been learning a lot this summer, I know I've barely passed elementary and that I still have a long way to go. But the journey to learning more about my culture couldn't be any more rewarding :]

I just came back from the Philippines last Wednesday, and I didn't have the time of my life. More like some of the most challenging and painfully enduring experiences of my summer vacations thus far. It was my second time going to the Philippines, but I was more observant this time. And regardless of all the hardships, I learned a lot about my family, my culture, politics & the history. What I've gained is really basic, but it's a good start for me :] I bought books by Filipino authors and took a lot of pictures - especially when I visited Rizal Park :] Other than doing my own research, I have learned a lot more just by talking to my relatives here. Everyone here is so intelligent! And everyone knows about Jose Rizal & Andres Bonifacio.

Filipino Culture has shown me that "family comes first." And although I don't personally feel that in my heart, I've been making the effort to change that feeling. But I don't know...

Friendster?

I'll have to think about making an account for that. ;p