The Secret

by Kat Balonan

13 September 2012

Discussed Text: Rene Descartes, Meditations on the First Philosophy

“People are like stained- glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within”

- Elizabeth Kübler- Ross

Over the years I have heard a lot of tragic stories and tabloids of celebrities who started out showing exceptional skills and talents in line with their careers but gradually slipping down the path where they begin to depend on some of the vices as their only means of attaining happiness. In the discussion of the article by Descartes, one of the few lines that stood out the most, for me, is when he said: “It is not enough to have a good mind, rather the main thing is to apply it well. The greatest souls are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtue:.  In a lot of ways this can be connected especially in our society today.

In the fast- paced society today, a lot of people tend to forget the importance of simplicity and compassion especially towards others. Many of us are so busy in trying to concentrate in attaining our needs or our goals in life that we actually forget to LIVE our life. The saying: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever” by Mahatma Gandhi seems to gradually fade in the midst of our work, our school work and other “seemingly important priorities” Perhaps a lot of us still continues to search for the meaning of life and how to attain happiness in this chaotic world that we try to search these things in the various aspects of our lives. There are times where we search in the wrong places that we actually end up living only in temporary happiness through these vices. Others who search in the right places began to develop a sense of awareness not only in him but towards the people that surrounds him.

So then, where can we find the answer to the idea of life? I believe the secret is found in the “classics”, such as poetry, mathematics, writing, etc., that Descartes had described in his article. It is through these things that we begin to slowly understand and appreciate the beauty of the thought that is rooted deep in our society. It is by indulging in these things that we learn not only about ourselves but also our society. This is not to say that what we read or what we learn in these classic is the only way to live our life but it is more on the idea or the essence that we gain from these things. It’s kind of like traveling. It will be boring if we are given an instruction manual on where to travel first or what to do. It defeats its primary purpose. Traveling is more on self- discovery just like when reading these classics. It is more effective if we apply what we learn or what we experience in the way we lived. Try to recall a favorite book that you have read recently or a long time ago. Usually, you would remember this book because you were able to identify with the character or maybe the situation is somehow familiar. Most of all, it made an impact in your life no matter how small or big it is. It somehow made us think more about life and changes us in the inside. For me, the book that I can say influences me the most is perhaps Paolo Coelho's The Alchemist because it was the very first book that made me think about the meaning of life. It somehow changes my perspective that life is all about being what society wants you to be.

To end my entry I would like to share one of the poems that I learned in my Lit class that really help me think about the importance of finding ourselves and our happiness.

Richard Cory

Edwin Arlington Robinson

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,

We people on the pavement looked at him:

He was a gentleman from sole to crown,

Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,

And he was always human when he talked; 

But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

'Good-morning,' and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich - yes, richer than a king -

And admirably schooled in every grace:

In fine, we thought that he was everything

To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; 

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,

Went home and put a bullet through his head

How Far Can Charity Go?

by Thomas Manalac

The trailer blurb says:

"In a time when America's economy and sense of community were crumbling, one guy left everything behind--to see if he could survive solely on the support of the 21st century's new town square: Craigslist. It was in this climate that 29-year-old Joseph Garner cut himself off from everyone he knew and everything he owned, to embark on a bold adventure. Armed with only a laptop, cell phone, toothbrush, and the clothes on his back--alongside the hope that community was not gone but just had shifted--Joseph began his journey. For 31 December days and nights, everything in his life would come from the Craigslist website. From transportation to food, from shelter to companionship, Joe would depend on the generosity of people who had never seen him and whose sole connection to him was a giant virtual swap meet. Would America help Joe? Could he survive with nothing, apart from the goodwill of others?"

The class might find it interesting and relevant as it tackles the disappearing sense of community in society due to isolation caused by technology and media.

Three-Minute Philosophy: Rene Descartes

Here's a simplistic yet amusing video about Descartes, made by the Three Minute Philosophy group of filmmakers:

And here's another related video that might be familiar to you:

In this world, what is certain? What is real? Precisely (if you get what I mean).

The Paradox of Our Age

by Bella Nepomuceno

Pico Ayer's article reminded me very much of the poem by the Dalai Lama, "The Paradox of Our Age." I think it really encapsulates how much we've taken for granted and how things have become "backward" in a sense.

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers

Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints

We spend more, but we have less

We have bigger houses, but smaller families

More conveniences, but less time

We have more degrees, but less sense

More knowledge, but less judgment

More experts, but more problems

More medicines, but less wellness

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often

We have learnt how to make a living, but not a life

We have added years to life, but not life to years

We’ve been all the way to the moon and back

But have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour

We have conquered outer space, but not inner space

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted our soul

We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice

We’ve higher incomes, but lower morals

We’ve become long on quantity but short on quality

These are the times of tall men, and short character

Steep profits, and shallow relationships

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare

More leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorces

Of fancier houses, but broken homes

It is a time when there is much in the show window

And nothing in the stockroom

A time when technology can bring this letter to you

And a time when you can choose

Either to make a difference.... or just hit, delete.

Mirrors and Mulan

by Patricia Avila

30 August 2012

Discussed Text: Gabriel Marcel, "Primary and Secondary Reflection," The Mystery of Being


Today, I thought about mirrors.

Actually, I really didn’t, but this was the best analogy I could come up with in my head.

As in, “who is that girl I see / staring straight back at me / why is my reflection / someone I don’t know” and all that jazz about Mulan being the perfect daughter and bride of the famous Disney Chinese family which gave birth to one of the best feminist figures in human history, both in the folklore and in the 1998 Disney movie.

Basically, in the song, Mulan goes on about how she doesn’t see herself in her reflection, and I thought that it fit the quiz perfectly for me, about how others see me and how I see myself. It’s pretty interesting—the lists I came up with are polar opposites of each other; how others see me is almost always the opposite of how I see myself.

So it leads to questions about who I am, really. And when am I really myself. Can I even be myself? I think I can.

And maybe, I’ll be like Mulan, who sings about looking reflections and knowing that what she sees is or isn’t her.

The "Garaponated" Self

by Richard Dy

30 August 2012

Discussed Text: Gabriel Marcel, "Primary and Secondary Reflection," The Mystery of Being


During the August 30th lecture, we tackled the final chapter in the Gabriel Marcel series of our handouts. I think it is the pinnacle of what we are trying to struggle with for all these weeks. As the midterms draws near, many of us have no choice but to wilfully reflect on what we have learned so far. The last lecture struggled with what defines the self? Who am I, really? When am I? and How am I? Frankly, the topic raised more question than it answered but I'm grateful that it did.

About myself

The sub-header above is the bane of all the social networking website. Don't you love it when you sign up for a social networking site and it asked you to describe yourself? But how can I really describe myself in 600 characters of less? This is where the "garaponation" happens. Of course a normal person would not turn philosophical in a snap and really think "deep". Most likely, people will answer what they think they are. I, on the other hand, sometimes find it hard to munster up words to put in the little box on the website for everyone to see. I really had to second guess myself if those adjectives really fits who I really am and how it'll be "agreeable" for others who view my profile.

The problem with personally describing yourself is that you don't really know yourself that much. I remember during my INTACT class, we were asked to write adjectives describing ourselves and then made required to pass around the paper and ask others to describe the person on the paper. Most of us were shocked that some adjectives are very far off from what we think of ourselves and how we present ourselves to others. It is really weird and wonderful at the same time that we are blocked off from our subconscious and that the opacity is enough to make us rethink entirely of ourselves.

With this in mind, are we ourselves if not because of others?

The Society

I believe that one of the important factor for our being is that we have others. We are a social being, we simply cannot be without others. May it be your mother who raised and loved you to a special someone who makes you feel whole inside. It is a crucial part of who we are. I remember my Sociology and Anthropology professor  talking about how we are just a reflection of the society and how our upbringing is totally a product of consequences over the years. It is indeed a superficial statement but its not less true if you really think about it. On the other hand, blessed with philosophical insight, aren't we unique anyway because of how we've become?

We may be different on how we are when we're alone and how we convey ourselves when with other people but aren't we practically, still us? We experience two aspects of our lives that WE choose to live. When still in doubt about our true selves, we appeal to another part of our existential being, something greater.

Something Greater

We have already tackled with a greater force that operates the universe around us but now we're finding ourselves asking if are we are part of this greater force's inner workings. Are we just here because we are here or our purpose is ingrained in the fundamental workings of the society. Heck, even I think that I am writing this blog post because I was chosen by this greater force (not Sir Earl btw!) We find it interesting how we're not the center of the world but merely a part of it. Sometimes we feel that merely experiencing a great loss should compel everything in the world to just stop. The Sun shouldn't shine, the birds shouldn't chirp and people should stop what they're doing. But we quickly realize it is never the case.

Our being is based on experience. We transcend because of experience and we oftentimes let go and participate in this source greater than ourselves.

Moving Forward

I particularly find myself in an existential crossroad in this point in the class lecture. Many thoughts have crossed my mind, we exist because we are. Are we then nonexistent when we cease to be, or do we live through others we have influenced in our life? It is quite an interesting thing to reflect upon being's eccentricities at least now, we can move forward always being aware that we are aware of ourselves.

With that, I leave a quote which I can't get out of my head for the past few days. It really contrasts the question "What experience then does the true self emerge?" may it be personal or societal.

"It's not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you."

- Rachel Dawes, Batman Begins

The Crossroads

by Trunks Atienza

30 August 2012

Discussed Text: Gabriel Marcel, "Primary and Secondary Reflection," The Mystery of Being

One of the “first world problems” of today is starting a paper in a profoundly strong way. You never know what to talk about or what topic to attack first because of the vast variety of topics that our minds present to us. More often than not, man is vulnerable to the downfall of trying to cope up with all these beliefs, concerns, prejudices, and whatnots in our lives that we lose sight of the things that are truly significant. And this, my fellow Garcians, is where reflection comes in.

I presume most of you reading this blog entry are at the crossroads in life called college. Here, our “leashes” are loosened. We are given a broader sense of freedom: late nights with the barkada, wearing absolutely anything we want to school (even if we look ridiculous), sitting-in on your crush’s class, cramming for a long test on philosophy etc. A lot of us may see college as a venue for adventure, buffoonery, and enjoyment. I am quite sure most, if not all, of us characterize college this way. As Mike Ross and Harvey Specter would put it, we would all be committing an act of perjury if we denied this fact. But what college is, more importantly, is that it is a turning point in our lives where our broadened freedom will have to co-exist with a mature discernment for self-realization. Here, we are given the opportunity to bank on what we desire to become for the duration of our lives. There are no limits to the possibility of decisions we can make throughout our college lives. We may decide to cut class, resent professors, or forego studying for an exam. But we must reflect on how these decisions could affect us in the long run. We may have cut class now but what if we miss a bonus quiz by doing so? We may resent a professor or two but what if they could have turned out to be quite a likeable person? We may pass on a chance to study for an exam but what if we fail the course and eventually get dismissed from Ateneo just because of that exam?

Reflection calls for us to pay attention to significant moments in our lives, to internalize these moments and self-examine our feelings and thoughts, and embrace these moments and convert toward how these moments affect our lives. The decisions we make in our lives lead us down certain paths which comprise of the fruits that our decisions bear. For us, the young, wild, and free generation, reflection is a way for us to ask the question: “What do my decisions lead me to become as a person?”