Why They Went There Francisco?

One time I happen to hear two people in the market choosing what shampoothey are buying. The two had to select fromthe variety of kinds and brands but it was solved when they finally chose the shampoo the other said Kim Chui is using.Filipinos love beautiful things. They love the thing because it is beautiful and it is beautiful because they associate beautyto good thus, beauty is equal to good for Filipinos. We always have the bias to things that is also being used by the handsome and beautiful actors and actresses of the entertainment industry. Even to politics, Filipinos vote actors and actresses during election not so much of their capacity but because of the good which is being associated with beauty. That’s why the two had chosen the shampoo because it is being indorsed by Kim Chui on the television. Or they may bought the shampoo because everybody uses the kind. They have that kind of shampoo which doesn’t make them different from others, which makes them belong with the group. Social Acceptability.  One of the traits of Filipinos is the need to be in the ring where everybody is because what others say matters. There is a need to comply with what others expect and to satisfy which is believed to be their standard in order to be accepted.

During January 18^th, amidst millions of crowds gathered to witness one of the rarest events happening in Philippine history,a thought crossed my mind and I began pondering about the reason why these people from all ages, from all regions, from all genders and races would come and sacrifice their time waiting and hoping for a chance to have a glimpse of the passing father of the whole Roman Catholic Church. They could have just waited on the television and avoid the dangers of sinking into the crowd being pushed side by side, being drenched into the rain, hungry, cold and exhausted, stolen, or hurt but be their motivation to wait 13-20 hours just to have a place for the mass? I also asked myself, what would be mine?

The Pope’s visit a great honor for the Filipinos because seeing the situation of the Philippines and the risk for resistant, the pope proceeded of visiting here in the country. His coming is an inspiration and a blessing he brought tears and smiles to many. He uplifted hearts and changed people. He encourages and animates souls. He is no ordinary man. Many had come but still many cannot but wanted to and perhaps one reason is that, people wanted to see and experience something beautiful and that they see the pope as beautiful a beauty which pleases the heart, which softens and enflames the heart. They came to be inspired of his beauty, to fall in love by his words and to change by his example. And all they wanted is the hope to find goodness. On the other hand, one may take the advantage of being part of the six million people who went to attend the mass because everyone is going to attend the mass. Social acceptability pressures them and behind the mind of others their experience is something to be told. They wanted to be heard and to feed their egos with their story during their experience and making their selves the pope of their own. They are doing this for the sake that they will be socially accepted, to feel important to others.

DID YOU KNOW THAT…? (Observations during the Papal Visit 2015)

Did you know that Filipinos are hospitable? We give way to visitors even if we sacrifice what we are protecting for like our utensils, clothes and others. This is already common to almost all tourists and even to fellow Filipinos. We are very proud of that. However, what can say about our acceptance of the coming of our pope? All those people who had been present in the event have something to say. It is not just stories to be talked upon but an experience to be cherish and worth spending time for. The coming of the pope is, indeed, a great blessing to our country most especially for the poor. Although he spent few days here in the Philippines, yet, people are inspired. His presence is a wake-up call to all Filipinos especially to our government leaders who were there and joined him during his pastoral visit.
I have observed that Filipinos are very hungry of the presence of the pope. It counted from 6 million to 7 million Filipinos who attended the mass at Quirino grandstand. This is a manifestation that Filipinos are united at the coming of the pope. There were those who cried even though they are just watching in the television, how much more with those who have seen him in person? Luckily, we were there and we were also inspired to see the pope. He is a blessing for us. Having this experience made me inspired to struggle and persevere in the vocation, which I am still ascertaining.
Another observation I have had is that we could stepped out others for the sake of our interest. All people in the event want to see the pope in person, however, there were some who can afford to push other people just to have what we want. We pushed them despite the possibility that they can be of hurt. Sometimes we just ignore this real happening in everyday life. We forgot to consider them, as we would treat ourselves. I don’t know if this is an effect of the “me, myself, and I” world. This is not a funny thing to laugh at. Although all were saying and talking about “mercy and compassion,” the reality is different. It is as if our values are shallow. We show it because there are audience who are watching but if not, the monsters in us come out.
I also observed that we do not observe the basic things that we already learned from our elementary years. For example, our garbage, we don’t know where to throw it that’s why number of trucks were full of them. Is this what we are? Can you believe it? This is a manifestation that we have shallow understanding of the good. We are concerned of what is beautiful and, yet, we are also the ones who make things ugly. I don’t if this is true that we are forgetful. It is like the issues that surround us. They are being scrutinized today but tomorrow not. We lack the discipline that supposed to be we have to. Maybe this is time for us to revisit what basic things we need to relearn.
Despite all negative things I have observed during the papal visit that we availed, I am still proud to be a Filipino who is hospitable and people who learn from mistakes only if we review our past. The papal visit is a great experience for me because I have seen the pope in person and it is my first times to ride an airplane just as the pope experience many things here in the Philippines like having mass at the airport etc. I cherished this papal visit and hoping that what I have observed I can identify which is which that needs to be lived and to be avoided. I hope that Pope Francis enjoyed his stay here in the Philippines. I am looking forward for his safety as he continues to visit and inspire a lot countries by his presence with which people can experience God. Above all, I am hoping that all will live his theme “mercy and compassion” the way he inspired us during his visit. “Mabuhay, Papa Francisco, we say unto you!” Did you know that?

-Jeryme T. Cordero

WHO KNOWS?

And there was the Pope asking Cardinal Tagle; “How many, how many?” The Pope, the whole world, and even the Philippines itself were all stunned at the sight of almost 7 million people gathering at one place. It is said that almost 7 million people were there at Pope Francis’ mass at Quirino Grandstand, now that’s another thing to write down in history.

Behind this astonishing fact, one of the questions that many people are asking about is; “why?” How come they’ve reached almost 7 million? What motivated them to come? What’s the reason behind this? Why 7 million?
One reason could be that “the Filipino people are hungry for this kind of leader.” This is the kind of example the Filipinos have been looking for all the while. The Filipinos have been through a lot of corrupt or so to say “bad” leaders already and now here comes a man of mercy and compassion. A man who’s a man of his words. A man who’s down to earth. A man who can connect with any kind of individual may it be rich or poor. A man whose charism is unlike any other leader we have known. He’s just too good to be true, but here he is in our midst. These maybe the reasons why. Filipinos cannot just let go of the chance to witness this man personally. “Right there in front of them.” It is not every day that a man like this comes our way; “So why not grab the chance?” This could have been what just motivated most of these 7 million people.

But another reason to consider is this “inner ring.” People want to be in this inner ring. The circle of the elite, the unique, the exclusive, the one of a kind. Some people may have been there just for the sake of “I was there,” “I am one of those 7 million.” Some just want to be counted in. “I saw the Pope” (but you did not, not all did, so I’m unique, I’m different). And there, at the end of the day, it is not the experience they enjoyed the most. It is the fact, the news that they could post on their walls on FB, the news that they can brag about.

This fact “of seeing the Pope” is something unique and honorable, beautiful in a sense. This “beauty” is that which makes it socially acceptable especially in the Filipino mindset. Beauty for us Filipinos is socially acceptable, very acceptable. This inner ring, this social acceptability is what might have motivated some.
Frankly speaking, one of the things that motivated me to really do my best not to be left out by my companions among the crowd on the way to Quirino Grandstand (other than my sincere intentions of seeing the Pope up-close and personal) is that I don’t want to be “not included with those who saw the Pope.” You know that feeling of “You don’t belong?” That was what I was avoiding, and that pushed me to continue struggle to reach a better spot at Quirino Grandstand. That really bothered me and motivated me to be one of those who really got close to where the Pope would pass by. Now this is a concrete example of the hunger for the “inner ring.”

I’m not being pessimistic here and more importantly, this is not to say that the 7 million people there were not sincere with their intentions. Who knows? Nobody can tell and who am I to judge. This is just a reflection on how the inner ring works. It makes people do extra ordinary things. Well, this is most prevalent among us Filipinos since what’s beautiful, especially in the eyes of others is socially acceptable for us – and this is what most of us strive for.

– Raymond B. Pasco

Making sense: Gottlob Frege’s Sinn und Bedeutung (Sense and Reference) and the movie “God’s Not Dead”

by Mark Rexie John Sornito

 

 

“God’s Not Dead” is a movie about the lives of Christian believers who were tested by their faith in God in different ways and how far can they go to hold on to it. But the movie focuses more on a college student named Josh who was caught in between choosing his faith or his studies for in order to pass his philosophy subject, he must first deny the existence of God and write that ‘God is dead’. To make the long story short, he did not do as what his professor wants him to do. He had to defend his God even though it might ruin his future. For him this makes sense- to protect his faith no matter what happens to him because he loves his God, although, this is also the same God which his professor blamed for the bad circumstances that happened to him (the reason why he believed God to be dead).

 

Sense is the expression about something and reference is the thing in which one refers the sense he or she expressed. It’s like saying ” we refer to the same horse but our experience with that horse is different. Reference is the a priori knowledge or the innate idea of a thing and sense is the a posteroiri or the knowledge we acquire after experiencing it. That’s what makes the differences in this world. We may have common natural perceiving of things but the way we experience and interpret them are different.

The movie portrays perfectly the Sense-Reference relationship on the lives of people. They have the same God on whom they associate their daily lives with. Some have bitter experiences with it while others are better having God on their side; others hold on while others just let go. The sentiments that they give towards these situations are the ones that give big impact. It’s what made or break who they presently are. It’s not their God who gave them conflict, it’s the experiences they had with God.

Sense is a subjective idea. It’s likely to be selfish because we base the sense of things to our own meaning of them. It can create conflicts because our senses will, most likely, be different with other people. But it’s the sense that makes the difference. It’s what makes us unique in this world. I’ts our own personal views that can open the minds of others also. If all will be just open for others, there can be an objectively-opinionated world. It may be an impossible thing to do if we really look at it based on our reality but if we just let go of our selfishness and doubts, we can achieve this kind of understanding.

Sense is may be our own bias against our common references in this world but it’s what makes more sense in this world. Like the characters in the movie, it’s what worth keeping the faith for.

“We’re meant to be”

By: Jose Julian Meneses

I asked “What is the meaning of life?” A teacher answered: “life is about studying well, until you fulfill your dreams, study not for school but for life.” A rich man answered: “life is about much money for the satisfying of our needs and to be comfortable.” A sweet couple answered: “life is about love, wait until true love comes.” A priest answered: “life is all about struggles and difficulties, until you rest in peace with God.” How about you? What is life for you? Lastly, a baby answered: “gugu gaga.” What happened to that baby? Is he out of his mind? What kind of answer is that? Let me first recall to those four persons; the teacher, rich man, sweet couple and the priest. These persons were enabled to answer my questions differently. Why is that so? Is it because they different with one another. if that so, then even myself, as a seminarian, could have a different meaning of life too. Different answers, for I am a seminarian, and he is a teacher. He is a teacher and another one is a rich man, including the baby too. How would be everyone were so different? I would think of it, that it does because of experience. Yes, because of our experiences. That would be my final answer. That’s why a priest said: “rest in peace with God”, for his life was with God. I say, experiences are very significant to us because we are to be of our experiences. And for we are different, moreover, we are unique. Why? Because not all that I have experienced is your experiences too. Originally, I have mine you have yours. However, with these different experiences, actually, we need to share it with one another. Why? Because did you ever think that it’s a bad thing if you rely only in your experiences? And, if that so, you become alone. You don’t need others, rather, yourself and your own experiences only. So, how good it is isn’t? We both need each other. You cannot avoid everyone. You will always walk with them. Now, let me go back to that baby. He answered; “gugu gaga”. Maybe you notice it too. He did not answer my question correctly. In line with that, he is very different in person and in answering. Well, he is just a baby. What can I expect from him? Wait, am I really expecting anyway the correct answer to my question? Or just an answer that is “whatever it is”? By the way, if something bothers to you right now, if you don’t mind pleas still bear with me and you will see the ”sense” of what I’m saying. That baby could be different for he is just a baby but the whole thing would be this. I’m gave a question and need to be answered. All of them answered my question. And so, even the baby answered it incorrectly, the thing is, he answered it anyway. There is the “difference” because all were different with themselves, different because of their experiences, which is their “reference”. The reference, that is, they have their own life, own experiences. Just became different because of their personal answers. But through my question there is the sense, that is, all of them answered my question correctly or not. In the truest sense, they were just the same. All of them were human. It shows then that the “reference” and the ‘sense” connects each other. The reference is nothing without the sense and vice-versa. Not just the experience but the whole thing. Without one of them, thus, one of them has no purpose.

If you don’t mind let’s talk about God’s existence. Before anything else, I would just want to ask, what or who is God for you? Is he good? Is he great? Or is he bad? Well, whatever your answer is, you have yours and I have mine. We have different explanations of God, perhaps, because of our different experiences. I just want to ask then if you’ve ever watched the film “God is not dead”. The film was about between a student and an atheist. They were debating about God’s existence, either true or not. Later on, that student proved God’s existence. Atheist denies the existence of God. However, I just think of, you cannot deny something without assuming first its existence. So, is it self-contradictory? Moreover, therefore, atheist believes in God’s existence. I can say then, that there are no people that do not really believe in God. Atheist then would be just a term for the sake of discussions. How come then, that there were people that does not believe in God. How atheism started? I say those who believe and those who not could be different because of different understandings. Perhaps, these different understandings were from the intellect or experience. Knowingly, it was there ‘reference”. As what I have said, these experiences, which are the reference, made us to be different. However, even there are the differences. Again, there are still the connections of it. How? Believing or not, it still the same. That the student “believes” that there is God and the atheist “believes” that there is no God. The “sense” would be about “the believing”. They were different for student believes and the atheist does not. This is the sense then, that during their debate they talk about God. Thus, the sense is God. In another way, either you believe or not, if you believe then prove it, if not prove it also. Well, how challenging, you still need to prove that God does not exist. To finish, just what I have meant; the “sense” and the “reference” is one. The one has no purpose without the other one. They we’re meant to be.

“Sinn und Bedeutung”: In Relation to God is not Dead

With an innovative mind, a German philosopher and mathematician, Gottlob Frege, gave distinction between “Sinn” and “Bedeutung”. He gave distinction between “Sinn” and “Bedeutung” in his paper “Uber Sinn und Bedeutung” in 1892. “Sinn” and “Bedeutung” or sense and reference, according to Frege “are two different aspects of the meaning of at least some kinds of terms.” “…reference is the object it refers to and its sense is the way in which it refers to.

            It is very true that the sense of things came from experience. We can only have the same of experience because we are the same human person, but if we have different experience it is because we have different history. If we have the same history, then we will have the same understanding of things. On the other hand according to Frege, we can have sense of things even without direct experience of it. That is because experience is not the sole source of sense of things. Saying that sense can be acquired without experience means, it could be you experience it and you overcome your experience; or it could be that you have arrived at the point that you have sense without directly experiencing it.

            In the movie God is not Dead, we can see somehow why the professor and one of his students have different sense of one reference, who is God. For the professor, God is dead because he has a different history with God. He wasn’t able to recognize God because of trials and hardships he experienced. His student, on the other hand, believes that God is not dead based on history and experience of God in his life. Therefore it is true, base on Frege’s theory that we will have different sense of things because we have different history and experience; but because we are the same human being, we can have the same reference like in that in the movie God is not Dead.

-Dave Raymond Clarito

Sense And Reference: In Relation To God’s Not Dead

– Alan Christian Tabaosares

Currently, we are very much in crisis to the identity that we have and the identity of who we are. And since we have our individual selves, each of us has his/her own fields of expertise that can contribute to others like intelligence, talent, skills and wealth. However, what’s more notable is that sense exists and made us united to each other as one. Thus, with the movie “God’s not dead”, we can really grasp that despite of our differences, in the end, we will still live as one.

The movie “God’s not dead” is a pretty amazing movie depicting scenes of a student defending the argument of the true and authentic existence of God no matter what may happen in his life. And what I have realized is that if we know God in our life and we continue to believe in His existence and listen on His words, we can really say that God truly exist and no matter what may happen as long as I carry deep within me that I a faithful to the existence of God. As well as in the ending, all of his classmates had been convinced that God truly exists and people came together to celebrate that God truly exists and He loves us so much whoever we are and whatever we have. If we try to relate the movie to the topic on Sense and Reference, I can somewhat say that the words theism and atheism are the paired words that can be connected that essentially since the student, who is the one defending,  is a theist while the professor, who unfairly and severely challenged the defending student, is an atheist. I chose these words to pattern in sense and reference for these words are opposite from each other but both have the same source. Well in fact, this is the main argument of the movie. Thus, their terms are so to say the referent. Each can give great differences because a theist believes in the existence of God while on the other hand, an atheist does the opposite. However, what made such a sense to their argument is that they talk more about God, who is the pivotal idea why the two are against each other. However, there is still the distinction between the two for each of them has different conflicting dogmas. And their topic revolves only on the existence of God. The professor and the defending student are really tough and brave enough to defend that very firmly on what they believe for. However, time comes that the defending student asked the professor in front of the class: “Why is it that in the very first place that you deny the existence of God?” The professor felt guilty and tell the very reason which made him finally realized that his reason being an atheist is not that valid enough for a lifetime existence. All of his life was to blame God in everything that had been wasted from his life. Then, until he realized that he has mistaken. Thus in sense and reference, there can be a possibility that the one overlaps the other. Thus, this can be possibly occurring if competition endures. Thus, reference can give distinctions to each of us yet through sense, it is a hope for us that despite of the differences of each other, we are equally human beings and it is really a hope of treasure for us that we must be united in this world.

References are just there to put distinctions to each of us; however, sense is still the major point why we are united despite of our individuality. Sense and reference are really connected to each other and without the reference, there is nothing to discuss that can reach to the idea of the sense, which will build us as one. And along the way, I finally realized that there are things that are needed to be discussed thoroughly in order to arrive to what is the most stable one. Hence, it is really our desire to build as one in order to fulfill what’s truly the good for the world before we die.                      

MICROPHONE

At a very young age, I was already acquainted enough and pretty well with the stage. I got used to so many things done or performed on stage. I was not a shy kid. I was all out in my performances. When I reached high school, more and more, that I was given a lot of things to do on stage –  not to mention the many things I did backstage. Aside from speaking contests of various sorts, I had student council roles that pushed me to speak for myself or on behalf of the council. When I reached college, I enrolled in Broadcasting. After a year I shifted to Education and majored in English. Yes, I was happy about the choose and I was contented with my skills and abilities in terms of speaking. All these experiences did a great impact to my ministry in the church as I was tasked to facilitate the implementation of the third synod of Jaro in our parish. I needed to unlearn, learn and relearn certain things about the pastoral life of the church. What I read and learn, I needed to transmit to people through oral communications. Trainings were here and there; seminars and different skills programs were around all corners, I just needed to use my abilities and talents.

 

            I really do not know how and why I have gone this far. Some say that I can influence a lot of people by the way I speak. Well, I have practiced much how to articulate and perhaps, I have good voice modulation too. But above all, it is that old dictum that which I believe in most of my speaking engagements … “it is not with what you say but how you say it.” True enough that sometimes I run out of ideas but since I have the facility of the language I may bluff or make some side comments. Having used to so many of these experiences, each time I speak I do not feel any nervousness unless what I will be talking about is nerve-wrecking or something. The microphone has been a very good friend. In fact, people could hear me very last Sunday of the month over Bombo Radyo as I anchor in Kabuhi Isa ka Bokasyon. Unfortunately, lately, Msgr. Andy called my attention and said that I must limit my exposures in the seminary. He particularly pointed out my emceeing. I am being silenced as in the previous paper, is terribly a horrible context I am in right now. But, in order to be truly formed, I needed to follow what was said by the rector. It is the same thing as others may have followed what I was saying.

 –Johnmer Poblador Villanueva, Special Philosophy

MUSIC – MY LIFE, MY WORLD

As far as I am existing in this world, I know that there are certain factors that affect my being as a person than can then influence also to other beings, to certain situations, and to the world. Consequently, these factors that I am pointing about are some things that I possess, things which are unusual innate ability in some field or activity. For short, these things are my talents.

During my High School life, I had passed already a lot of activities and performances that I had executed, practiced, trained, and achieved about extracurricular activities and those are folkdance, dance sport, song writing workshop, organ and keyboard playing, modelling, painting and landscape workshop, seminars and trainings, Journalism, Drama Fest and news casting. Thus, I am so very delighted to be blessed with these talents that I have. Subsequently, I am now in college and I thus put my focus more on my academics and what I have something to be called good quality of talent which is something I can contribute to the community is my talent in music, song composition, choral teaching & singing, and vocal solo training. I can say that I am good in this field for I have background in music which I had studied many years ago in Yamaha School of Music and I further have an experience of good quality singing for I had undergone a well-trained vocalization and guidance on singing coached by one of special and professional musician priest. I don’t know why for a certain that I have this kind of talent.

When I was in my grade 2 or 3, it was just in a sudden that my mother inquired me to study in a school of music for me to discover this kind of field. Well, since I was just wondering if what it would be and what can this contribute to my existence, I tried to study in that school and I had encountered a lot of experiences with my teacher. I studied there for almost years of two and a half and I had undergone two recitals. I stopped studying in there maybe because all I thought the more that in my elementary education, I found myself somewhat weird and unusual whenever there is discussion in music for I had a lot of knowledge already in that subject and accordingly in those times, I don’t want to feel somewhat like weird like this. Later, I stopped my schooling in Yamaha School of Music. Time passed and I entered seminary. In my Pre-College Formation years, I was persuaded to play the organ for our spiritual activities and other musical events. Furthermore, I was coached for my contest in Vocal Solo Pop by a certain professional. And as time goes by, I have noticed that I have discovered that I am utilizing my forte in music and as a result, I have taught various choirs in the archdiocese including the seminary, became instrumentalist in several choir and band, taught vocalists, composed songs proper, responsorial psalm, and some religious songs, taught somebody to play keyboard, and educated the young about music.  

I found music is somewhat significant in my life and I have realized a lot about liturgical music and the musicianship of the various parish choirs of the archdiocese. Thus, music really builds my being on how to share what I have as a gift for other people and as a gift for me. Presently, I am now a MusicCom in our community and I have such resolution for myself and for the community that I must sincerely respond very actively to this field by putting my passion, talent, and time to the extent of my potential.

– By Alan Christian T. Tabaosares