Answers to DQs

1. Using your knowledge about the 19th Century Philippines, how should a student like you act and respond to this EDCA? Do we really need this "10-year security accord"? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of entering into this kind of treaty with the United States?

Ang Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) ay nabuo dahil sa isyu tungkol sa West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Sa ilalim ng EDCA, tutulungan ng United States ang Pilipinas na mapalakas ang pangdepensa nito kapalit ng pagpapagamit sa pwersa ng US ng ilang bahagi ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas (Mangosing, 2014). Nang pumunta ang pangulo ng US na si Barack Obama sa Pilipinas sa presscon sa Malacañang at tanungin ng dalawang reporter kung tutulungan ng US ang Pilipinas sakaling magkaroon ng gyera sa pagitan nito at ng Tsina, ito ang isinagot niya: “ There is enormous trade; enormous business that is done between the United States and China; a whole range of issues on the international stage in which cooperation between the US and China are balanced.“ (Tordesillas, 2014)

Ang EDCA ay resulta ng kawalan ng pagtitiwala ng pangulo ng Pilipinas sa kanyang mga nasasakupan; kaduwagan na baka hindi natin makayanang ipagtanggol ang ating bansa sakaling giyerahin tayo ng Tsina sapagkat sadyang hindi pa nga naman tayo handa sakaling magkagayon. Makatutulong ng malaki sa atin ang EDCA kung matutupad nga ang napagkasunduan. Ang kaso, sa sagot pa lang ni Obama sa tanong ng dalawang reporter, makikita na hindi naman ganun kaimportante ang Pilipinas para sa US. Gagamitin na naman nila ang ating bansa para sa pansariling kapakinabangan. Kapag nagkaproblema na ay iiwan lang naman tayo sa ere. Muli ay nalinlang na naman tayo ng kapangyarihan ng dayuhan.

Bilang isang estudyante, hindi ako magpapalinlang na muli sa paraan ng pananakop ng mga dayuhan. Kailangang manatili ang nasyonalismo sa aking isipan. Paghahandaan ko ang tamang panahon na kung saan ay magagamit ko ang aking mga natututunan upang paunlarin ang aking bayan at gawing TUNAY na malaya ang ating bansa.

2. Rizal says in his essay "The Indolence of the Filipinos" that "a man in the Philippines is only an individual, he is not a member of a nation". Since the ultimate goal of PI 10 is to build/form/strengthen our nationalism as a Filipino, how can you show/prove that we constitute a nation? Are you proud of being a Filipino? give some ways to show that you really love our country...

A nation often consists of an ethnic or cultural community. It has a common origin and early socialization. As what I have learned in our classes, the Philippines already has a cultural community even before the Spanish colonization. However, our indigenous culture was not totally preserved because of colonizers’ influences, though it was still practiced at some parts of the country, especially in Mindanao. But generally, at present, we are living a composite culture. Even if it’s not original anymore, it’s still a culture that we developed for years. I can prove that we are a nation because we practice the same culture such as being hospitable and family-oriented. In fact, Filipinos are always proud of their culture. They happily share it to non-Filipinos, and they do not let others criticize their nationality.

Filipinos have great minds. They are fast learners. That is why I’m very proud of being a Filipino. I love my nationality and my country, and I will show it in the best ways that I can. I will finish my studies and serve the country afterwards. I’ll always be proud of our culture. Most of all, I will share this calling (national consciousness) to my countrymen.

3. Read the article of Renato Constantino entitled "Veneration without Understanding". Do you think that the we are "venerating" Rizal without a deeper knowledge about his heroism? Give 3 Strengths and 3 Weaknesses of the essay.

Para sa akin, sapat na ang aking mga natutunan sa klase upang kilalanin si Rizal bilang isa sa mga bayani ng ating bansa.

Para sa akin, ito ang mga kalakasan ng sinulat na ito ni Renato Constantino:

1. Totoong pantay-pantay dapat ang pagtingin sa mga bayani ng ating bansa. Walang pinakabayani kumabaga sapagkat bawat isa sa kanila ay nagkaroon ng kontribusyon upang makamit natin ang minimiti nating kalayaan (sa mga Kastila).
2. Ang pagkabayani ni Rizal ay mukhang isipang Amerikano nga kaya masasabi na sa pagkilala kay Rizal bilang pinakapambansang bayani ay nagpapauto na naman tayo sa nananakop sa atin.
3. Totoong pinagdidiinan ni Rizal ang magkaroon ng reporma. (Ngunit hindi ibig sabihin ay iyon lamang ang dapat na ipilit. Kagaya nga ng pagbibigay niya ng babala sa Espanya sa The Philippines a Century Hence, kapag di pinagkaloob ang reporma ay magkakaroon ng rebolusyon. Ibig sabihin, bukas din si Rizal sa ideya na magkaroon ng rebolusyon. Ngunit ang sa kanya, kung madadaan naman sa reporma ay mas mabuti. Kaya dapat iyon muna ang unahin nating gawing plano kaysa rebolusyon agad kung saan marami ang mamamatay.)

Ito naman ang mga kahinaan:

1. Hindi totoo na kaya niya tinanggihan ang Katipunan ay dahil minaliit niya ang kakayahan ng kanyang mga kababayan. Alam niyang malakas tayo. Sa katunayan nga, mataas ang pagtingin niya maging sa mga kababaihan sapagkat sa liham niya sa mga kadalagahan sa Malolos ay malalaman natin na hinihikayat niya ang mga Pilipino na linangin ang kanilang talento dahil alam niyang malayo ang mararating ng ating bansa kapag lilinangin natin ang matalino nating pag-iisip.
2. Sinabi niya na si Rizal at ang propaganda ay may nasyonalismo ngunit walang ginagawa. Hindi totoo iyon sapagkat ang pagsusulat ng mga sulatin na makaiimpluwensya sa masa ay isang pagkilos.
3. Hindi totoong ang lahat ng ginawa ni Rizal ay pansarili lamang at hindi dahil sa pagmamahal niya sa bayan dahil kung hindi niya mahal ang bayan, hindi na siya babalik sa Pilipinas lalo na’t alam niyang ikamamatay niya ito.

4. After studying the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, who is Rizal for you now??? Did our discussions and activities change your perception towards him??? or this only added to your confusion??? How can you use the knowledge you gained in the present situation of our country???

When I was in high school, my teacher in social studies told us that for her, Andres Bonifacio must be the national hero and not Dr. Jose Rizal because she believed that our independence was achieved because Bonifacio initiated the revolution and she sees Rizal as a reformist who wanted Philippines to be a province of Spain. She barely talked about the Calamba Hacienda incident and I did not really care about history during that time because our subject was actually Economics. Our teacher was a UP graduate and maybe she just adored Bonifacio that much that even after studying PI100, she did not like Rizal. I easily agreed to what she said and shared it to people when Rizal was the topic of discussion.

However, after studying the life and works of Rizal, I found him really fascinating. For me, he is the best model of the students because of his greatness in academics. Also, he is a model of nationalism and somehow, he deserves being remembered the way he is at present time. He influenced me as much as he influenced the people of his time. Because of him, the nationalism in me is burning. Also, he made me feel that dramas are not always a nuisance because expressing our feelings can inspire some people.

I came to like Rizal and I’m with him in his belief that education and nationalism is the key for the Philippines to be really independent. That is why I will do well in my studies and serve the nation after I graduate.

For me, the course is well taught because it changed my view about Rizal and I also enjoyed it.