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Manobo

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND CUSTOMS (summarized)

The traditional social structure consists of four classes: the bagani, the baylan, commoner, and slave. The bagani class, now gone, defended the community and went to battle. The baylan, who can still be found, is a male or female priest and healer. The commoners were farmers; and the slaves, who had been seized in raids, belonged to the ruler and were usually given away as part of the bridewealth. Village members could also become enslaved if they could not pay the penalty for a crime they had committed, such as thievery, destruction of property, adultery, or verbal offense. Slaves however could win their freedom through diligence in the fulfillment of their duties, faithfulness to their master, or payment of their debt through servitude. Slaves who were treated like members of the family although still in servitude are bilew, and it was considered an insult if they were referred to as slaves. One who did so was committing tempela, ridiculing someone for their low status physical handicap.

Intervillage relationship is based on upakat or reciprocity. Village members, usually belonging to kinship group or groups allied by marriage, expect assistance from each other in matters of subsistent labor, defense, and support in crises.

Marriage is traditionally by parental arrangement, which begins when each of two families chooses a spokesperson, preferably a datu or bai, who is known for eloquence and knowledge of custom law. Marriage is an alliance system in which reciprocity and mutual obligation between the groom’s and bride’s kinship groups are expected. It is, therefore, a means of maintaining peace and order, for the Manobo’s practice of retaliation does not extend to one’s kindred or allies. Incest taboo is strictly followed up to a common great-great-great grandparent on both the mother’s and father’s side.

Polygamy, although rarely practiced, was allowed. A datu might resort to it, usually for economic and political reasons. Several wives allowed for more fields that could be cultivated, since the Manobo women did all the work in the fields. Polygyny also multiplied one’s alliances and expanded them to several communities. However, the man could take another wife only if the first wife and her parents consented. The first wife remained the head wife.

Illness may be caused by the person’s gimukod (soul) wandering away from the body. Or, the gimukod of the sick person has been captured by the gimukod of the dead person and carried away to the latter’s new home.

Trivia: I made this just this morning as instructed by our mentor in Sociology =)

Reaction:

The Manobo culture has prominent differences compared to the Christians. Though they also have the concept of having classes in the society, we don’t have the slavery system. I was just wondering why their healers and priests are women and not men. It was also sad to say that they have lost the class of defenders, making them more vulnerable for attacks and invasions of foreign groups. Their slaves I think sometimes receive special treatments because they can become part of the family and get defended from mockeries. Their way of punishment for those who committed crimes is unusual for me because keeping them as slaves might give them a chance to murder you to their hearts content. Social relationship existing in their society is remarkable because they go hand in hand on their obligations and protect each other. That relationship could be established through arranged marriage which is also evident on the Maranao Muslims. They also have small scope when it comes to enemy and never avenge to those on the allies. Practicing polygamy as their culture for me is considered a practical way of civilization and industrialization. They also believe in superstitions which I found bizarre.

National Treasures 2: Book Of Secrets

Yesterday, I’ve finished downloading this movie from isohunt and of course I watched it right away. As you know, the movie features Nicolas cage, a man of great level of logic, analysis, and transcript skills. The movie was based on the story of the assassination of President Lincoln, by which Gates, the great great grandfather of Nicolas was accused as the one who plotted the murderous intent. Nicolas’ aim was to prove the innocence and heroicness of his grandfather and to clean their names, so to say. Their reputation was smudged because of the issue and the truth was veiled. Along with Nicolas is a computer geek and a hot archeologist chick I think (I’m not really sure). They teamed up to and undergone marvelous and exciting adventures. Translating different figures, traveling fro place to place guided with deciphered codes, spying, running away from the villain, kissing and deceiving somebody, kidnapping the President, car chase, and many more. The highlight of the events was when they had their way to the absolute desk, a desk of a queen and a president where they find a tablet and a seal which guided them to the city of gold. As they go to their way to the deadly city of gold, the villain caught up with them and found themselves in a conspiracy, for proving, the credits of discovering the gold, and of course the gold itself. Along their ways are lethal traps that put their lives in jeopardy. They were trapped inside and they had to find their way out through translating ancient scripts. There was a sudden twist in the movie when Nicolas was supposed to die because of forced sacrifice but all of a sudden, the villain became their hero!

Well the movie was really great and it gave me the suspense and comedy I was longing. It was so darn awesome! I suggest you watch it coz you’ll really enjoy it!

Trivia: I wrote this last January on my First Blog. Unfortunately, I supposed that somebody (who envies me) must have hacked on it and totally deleted my account including all the original posts (including movie reviews of Blockbuster hit movies).

An alarming issue on rapid growth of juvenile delinquency is now striking our society. Youths of today are much influenced by the mass media. Cases of premarital case, unwanted pregnancy, & abortion are just some evidences. God has given us the power to fight any kind of temptation, the intellect. Through this, we can discern right and wrong. But because Satan is wise, he tempts us to do a thing by introducing it to us in very interesting, satisfying & hypnotizing. And as a result, we face grave consequences, physical, mental & spiritual prices to pay often for a lifetime, like heavy responsibilities, humiliation, diseases, bad memories, & unwanted pregnancies. Thus after committing those acts, we realize that having premarital sex or fornication, as what the dictionary says, is a sin, mocking God’s plan for a secure marriage, that we should not be easily tempted by what we see, what we hear, & what we feel.

Is Christian sex education the answer to these? Well, according to the columnist, “We believe that a good Christian sex education should be bible-based and Qu’ran-based for the Muslims.” I agree w/ him. The dep-ed should give emphasis on the proper execution of this operation because a wrong information or misunderstanding may result into confusion which may lead into a grave problem, particularly sexual immorality.

I do believe that a person’s future is handed at him in his teens, during the times that he has the knowledge & wisdom that comes from experience to guide him in his choices and decisions. A youth is entrusted w/ care, not just physically but also with development of his character and personality. And as he goes on, he will seek the counsel of parents, friends, and especially the teachings that a teacher can give. And to fulfill the goal(to fight this struggle), like anyone else, we must have the stamina to stay with the battle we are facing and wrestle with the tides of life. Through the department of education, this can be attained. I suggest that they should consider the way the teenagers would respond and make a remedy for it in order to stay in the guide & avoid them to put their minds in the uncertain way. It should be planned, well-organized, and properly prepared so that everything would go on smoothly, harmoniously, and effectively. They should bring with them the bible and the moral teaching about sex, of what God meant on “sex as his given gift,” the law of chastity, and the fruit that they will bear whatever prohibited acts made so that they will have a deeper & better understanding about this issue, to surpass & overcome satanic attacks or whatever act that may bring them into patterns of destroying health & character.

The issue also tackles about committing adultery. In the commandments of

God. It is clearly stated that “Thou shall not commit adultery(6th),” and

“Thou shall not covet your neighbor’s wife(9th).” Monogamy or having married only once is endorsed by god. It is therefore a sin to commit adultery & covet a neighbor’s wife. During the holy matrimony also, the words “for better & worse, ‘till death do us part & etc…” are faithfully spoken inside the church & in front the altar. By then, where is the essence of marriage there if you disobey the said commandments? Most of the results of those said acts are divorce/ marriage annulment, breaking of families, troubles & etc… Therefore, this case is graver than juvenile delinquency in the way that it is more complex and many aspects can be affected. Thus Christian sex education, marriage & it’s responsibilities should be thought more vividly & firmly to the couples.

And lastly, to do those plans well & successful, the department of education should be accompanied by the church for such purpose that it could fulfill the role they play as mentors of mental & spiritual dimensions.

Trivia: I made this essay as a term paper on my Theology Class in the University of the Immaculate Conception.

Love for one’s country is indeed a very much requirement that every single Filipino, as young as a child, even from different races should have. But the thing is, can we still find nationalistic Filipinos today? Yes but rarely and that’s a big deal! Being nationalistic seems a very crucial act today especially to the youth. Even I, myself, can say that I do many things that oppose and contradict on what we call “nationalism.” Take for example are the things that we bought from the market. It’s no wonder and it can’t be denied that we Filipinos yearn for imported products and even reject our very own. We even shout “Wow! Imported… Let’s prioritize this!” the worse is when we say “Made in Philippines? I demand for an imported, branded one!” What an undeniable truth…

We are just making an impediment and barrier to the progress, industrialization and countryside development. One more thing is that we no longer lend free service for our nation, it must have payment. We enjoy life neglecting our responsibilities in our environment. Throwing garbage anywhere is common. It is an aggravation to our present situation, isn’t it? Where are the realizations that our past heroes who endured pain and fought till death taught us? Do their accomplishments and sacrifices still have worth & essence? Maybe yes but is deteriorating in no time. We seldom participate in the programs raised by the government for national purposes. On and on we go, destroying the government, demanding the president to step down instead supporting hand in hand for economic growth and development. We want a better Philippines and a better life, but think about it, we are the ones who ruined and messed it.

But beside the dark side of ours, lies the brilliant one. Nationalism is shown in many ways. The OFWs work hard not just for their families but also for their beloved Philippines. They are the ambassadors of a real Filipino with real hearts for their country. They represent and uphold Filipinos as hardworking, hospitable, and trustworthy. They also strengthen the peso value and boost economic progress. In fact they can be treated as heroes of our age. There are also youths of today that are very aggressive to unfold, nurture, and make use of their talents they posses and compete with other countries, with excellence in different fields garnering awards and pride to our country. We also have the patriotic, the armed forces, ready to defend the nation at all cost, wrestling with bullets and missiles, risking their lives. There are many things about nationalism and it’s splendid to say that they illuminate our dark sides.

But the question is, “do we really love and care for Philippines?” well, ours is the answer. All we need to do is make wise decisions and hope for a better country!

Trivia: This was an essay I made on my History 1 Class at the University of the Immaculate Conception

True friends are like precious books. We will never know what’s inside in it unless we open and read it, and there we find wondrous and magnificent stories that would remind and teach us of something very relevant. The same is true with our real friends. They are like books that have to be read to appreciate its beauty, know the chapters of their lives to accept them of who they really are, understanding why they did those things or why they act in such a way that people may misinterpret. Just like a book, they have odd experiences that require deep understanding to bring out its message. They have their own plots of their lives, which give us lessons in this world. From a book we get our guidelines and likewise, through our true friends we are equipped with reliable advices and testimonies that would help us in facing life. Taking a glimpse on a book everyday is like knowing our friends deeper. As such, true friends are the finest books ever written. How we wish they could be reprinted…! =)

Trivia: This was an essay I wrote for my English Class at the University of the Immaculate Conception. This essay is an example of a Paragraph by analogy.

The different kinds of conscience

Over the years, moral theologians have distinguished several types of conscience.

A true or correct Catholic conscience is one that has made a sincere effort to discover the truth and one that acts in accordance with the Word of God and the teachings of the church.

An erroneous conscience is one that is contrary to God’s Word and the teachings of the church. One may have an erroneous conscience and not know it. For example, a couple may think that their marriage is recognized by the church when in fact it is not. A couple may think that “living together” prior to marriage is morally correct when in fact it is contrary to the teaching of the church.

A bad conscience is one that hasn’t even inquired about what is right or wrong. It is a conscience that has no regard for objective truth.

A weak conscience is one that may know what is right but hasn’t the courage or spiritual power to do what is right. Or it may know what is wrong and sinful and yet it does it; e.g., a woman may know abortion is wrong but she does not have the psychological or moral strength needed to carry the baby to full term. A weak conscience is also one that is easily swayed by the opinions of other people.

A scrupulous conscience is one that frequently thinks that it is sinning when in fact it is not. For example, because of deformative and perfectionistic training in a particular area like sexuality, one may think that one is constantly sinning against the virtue of chastity. It has been said that a scrupulous person thinks that God is a tyrant. His God has an all seeing eye that watches his every move and is ready to pounce on him for every wrong act. A person with a scrupulous conscience needs to place himself under the guidance of a competent and compassionate confessor who will help to introduce him to the love and mercy of God.

A lax conscience is one that is insensitive to the good that ought to be done and the evil that ought to be shunned. For example one may be a racist or one may have little or no social conscience or be very permissive in sexuality issues.

An informed conscience is one that has sought to inform and educate itself about a particular moral issue. For Catholics informing one’s conscience will always involve a prayerful reflection on what scripture and the official teaching of the church has to say on a particular issue.

I am not 100% sure that this is the answer guys… I’ll still be looking for another set of answers…cIchope this is correct…

WordCamp Davao(Click to enlarge into a new window)

The sunlight has departed and the night has come. The wind was cold and the weather seemed to tell that it was going to rain cats and dogs. I was with my classmates who were about to participate the event and we were on our way to the venue. A little bit apprehensive that we might reach our destination late, we were kind of hasty to avoid a dramatic entrance. Amidst our feeling of excitement and enthusiasm there lies anxiety. Since the venue was changed to another place we have never been, we were like adventurers finding a chest of treasures. Minutes have passed and the search was over. We finally got ourselves into the rendezvous. Just after we got in the gate, a Smartbro agent immediately greeted us while handing over their brochure (which we did not accept). We listed our names on the attendance sheet after which we find a table where we wanted to stay. While I was sitting on my chair, I was taking a good look on the place. I find it a nice place, it’s not that wonderful but it was simple and elegant. By the way the place was Arthuru’s Grill located on Palm Village, Obrero Davao City. They have this pool that Kieth wanted to jump on so badly. We were a bit worried because just steps away from the table is the pool full of water, we were thinking what would happen if somebody accidentally slipped there and fall. While we had small talks on our tables, an American guy arrived and we thought it was Matt. It wasn’t him but he was Matt’s colleague. Bloggie, one of the organizer, he calls himself the “dictator” of their group, buzzes us up that Matt would be a little late because he was still on his hotel fixing everything up and that he will arrive shortly.

While waiting for Matt, we had our dinner. Kieth was so very aggressive and excited to eat so he had his way to the table where the foods are leaving me and Joseph. When we saw the food, damn they look so exotic. I suppose the dishes where of American origin and intended for vegans, not to mention all those green leafy dishes. The respective dishes also have their own name and the one I was really intrigued was the “Deviled Egg” unusual isn’t it? Oh I was trying to figure out why they name the egg after a devil…hehehe! So after picking up some food, we got back to our tables and started munching those delicious foods. Minutes have passed and Matt has finally arrived. We continued eating until the program started.

There was really no formal program; it was just a mere gathering of bloggers in Mindanao together with the sponsors, facilitators and Matt, one of the creators of Wordpress. Matt made a brief introduction of himself and it was followed by games. Bloggie made raised some questions and challenges for us to answer and each one who can get the right answer or show him what he wanted to see gets a WordPress T-shirt and other accessories. It was so sad that we arrived a bit late because the first twenty were rewarded with free WordCamp Bags, regret was all over us because we arrived starting from the 23^rd. It was then followed by a dialogue wherein attendees had their chance of asking Matt regarding of Wordpress, his personal life and others which were politely entertained and answered. Then we proceeded with the presentation of blogs where each of the attendees who had the courage to stand up and show their blogs gets a wordCamp T-shrit. I was really set to present mine (char!) but I was timid as I’ve always been (hahaah!).

After those activities ended, Madam April initiated and proposed that we should get a picture together with Matt and so we did (the one you can see above). We were the first to approach Matt and stroked poses to get captured with the camera. Many others followed what we have started so the position we were standing was getting crowded. We decided to head to the food table again and grabbed some, while Feetlow the latecomer finally had the moment he missed. We got back to our table, surf the internet (of coursse I seized the moment of downloading movies) though high speed wifi connectivity and chatted with the others. We had a short talk with Jopal’s about blogging and also about jopal. Madam April was so star struck with Matt that she badly wanted to search for Matt’s pictures over the internet until my Laptop’s battery ran out. We also took glimpse of DavaoAngels website and viewed some of the angels there.

Attendees started departing so we decided not to stay for long and eventually get home too. The Davao version of WordCamp ended and then we left. So, we headed our way on our respective homes bringing the memories on the WordCamp.

Our fellow bloggers/classmates should have been there because the food was great and FREE and it would have been merrier with your presence. UICians present there aside from me, Kieth, Joseph, Feetlow and Madam April were Alma and other fourth year students.

Blogging has become part of my life since last year when it was introduced to me by my insane classmates. I formally became a blogger when I had my very precious, superb hyper fastest ever Internet Service Provider — “Ang Dakilang SmartBROKEN.”

I have been into many tribulations and making original posts and utilizing the renowned “Copy-paste Technology.” I was a blog freak with great obsession of expressing my insanity to the world through penmanship, and I think I’ll still am. I have created my first free blog a year and a half now and enjoyed the glory it has brought. It was succeeded w/ more free blogs from different hosts. It was like seventh heaven back then but a tragic downfall hit me with almost nothing left(char!..hahaha). Let me share to the dreadful nightmares I’ve been. One of my free blogs that I have been dying for got deleted. In my assumption, it must have been hacked and somebody took advantage and executed his/her insane thought. Just imagine if you have made vast number of original posts and your unparalleled effort to bring it into fame, drive traffic and online opportunities vanishing in just a wink of the eye. There are lots of things that are so valuable to me that the bastard stole which I’m afraid I cannot mention it here so I’ll leave the mystery behind you. When that tragedy tremendously knocked me, I was really mad that I could go berserk and beat the hell out of whoever “the one” responsible. I wanna kick his/her sorry ass, cut his stomach pull out his/her intestines and feed it to my dogs(kangilngig!waahaha! Satanic nani).

I was able to move on, leaving those bad memories in the past. Albeit the happening was aggravating, my resentment brought me into a realization that it was an incident manifesting the inconveniences of having a free blog. A strange thought popped out from my mind saying “why don’t I get my very own domain and start a self-hosted blog? Hell yeah!“ And so I planned to make a plan of doing so(nakakalibog ba?hehe). It was during a kind of busy time, lots of errands to get done so the idea just faded away .

I continued signing up for more free blogs and maintained them, the very reason why it almost cost me my most of my time and my studies putted into jeopardy. I was so thrilled and pleased with the $_$ I earned so I was blinded and forgot everything for a while. My friends and classmates kept telling and insisting to get my own domain and web host but I didn’t mind them, not until series of events made up my mind and did what they wanted me to.

Through the collaboration with my classmate Joseph, I was able to learn the basics & will continue to be taught the complex (I hope so…). In line with that, two thumbs up for Joseph The Rock for lending me his help and helping me evade having a hard time setting this blog up.

I am not supposed to write a welcome address of this length but I am just delightful to share to you my insanity. I formally welcome you to my first ever own-domain self-hosted blog! Weeeh! I’ll be publishing interesting topics here that you’ll surely love so you better watch out! That’s all about it and happy viewing! -xoxo-

TRIVIA:

- I wrote this on DMSF Hospital while I was watching over my brother

- I wrote this on a sheet of paper which I don’t usually do

- I was so sleepy making this

- made this post last Sunday and published today, Wednesday