A Blog About Blogging

ideas on the blog assignment:

It isn't that I dislike blogging or anything. I just think that it isn't in my character to regularly post blogs. I don't have anything against sharing my thoughts with the public, or making them known to others, or even just writing. It's just that I don't see myself sharing my thoughts on just any little thing that comes to mind.

Blogging just never stirred that much of an interest for me. Had this not been turned into an assignment, I don't think I would have ever created a blog to begin with, honestly speaking, but I do think it's a good thing to let others experience something that they might turn out to like. I appreciate the effort for trying but I'm not really sure that I could continue doing this. It does take time to post a blog and I have tried documenting events in my life and the thoughts I come up with but to fail to do so every so often. Thanks anyway, Sir.

Another Perception of Literature

This composition was an assignment from my English 11 teacher, asking us to answer "What is literature?" Of course, to make things more interesting, the answer should come from our own ideas of literature. This is what I came up with but I didn't really expect it to turn out this way; it just happened anyway. Maybe it'd be better ust think of it as food for thought.


Literature is an art. It is the expression of one’s inner thoughts brought to life by words put together through careful consideration in the hope of reaching out to other people. The forms in which these words are presented vary depending on the purpose the author has for expressing such words. The purpose is determined by the message the author wants to convey and the people whom the message is intended to reach because I consider literature to involve not just the author but also the audience or readers, as well as the people that interact with those that have become familiar with the words of the author.

I perceive literature as food for the mind and soul and it is something meant to be or should be enjoyed by just about anyone. The contents of such pieces are meant to satisfy various tastes hence the existence of different genres. In this sense, they can reach out to people because people, in turn, seek out literary pieces for inspiration, enlightenment, stress-relief, entertainment, knowledge, awareness, and understanding.

Literature has multiple genres, forms, and kinds. It is very broad and I believe it should not be constrained to be defined as just one of the many things it is or could be. It is too large in scope and too great in depth that I cannot see why many say they hate books or reading. There is a large scale of literary pieces. Surely, there must be at least one piece that a person would enjoy. Those that say they dislike or are not fond of reading just might not have found a piece or the kind of pieces that have stirred their interest yet.

I used to tell others that I’m not fond of books but I have gradually learned to appreciate reading. I think this started when I found a book that just stirred my curiosity because at the time I wondered what my classmates find so addictive in reading a book of the Harry Potter series. Back then, it was just to satisfy plain curiosity. Eventually, I found the creativity of Rowling’s imagination interesting, although I have yet to finish the entire series. Later on, I wanted to know about how other people would think – how else the human mind can conjure up seemingly similar plots but come out with quite different twists that are just enough to make you want to know more.

I find it fascinating how people think and express different views on just about any topic. In this light, I realize that my taste varies ranging from informational to recreational literary pieces. However, one kind of literary piece I never seem to tire of, because of just how diverse these pieces are capable of being, is manga, also known as Japanese short novels.

I consider manga to be a kind of literary piece because it satisfies all the things that I have stated above, which are my views on literature, with the additional pleasure attained from the provision of visual aesthetics. I somewhat have a bias when it comes to how artistry is expressed and not just in the verbal sense because most of the time, I prefer it when what I see pleases me, just like how well people may be able to project themselves or how well one may project their imagination and thought in sketches, paintings, and the like.

Literature is many things for me but, all in all, it is an art to be enjoyed not just by the person expressing their thoughts but also those whose lives they have touched however subtle that may be.

Gising!

Honestly picked this up from one of few posts I made in high school in my multiply account. Outdated and probably inappropriate but I think the point is still applicable especially for our country's current state under a very disappointing government rule:

"Gising!", a composition that I believe to be worthy of being preserved, written by yours truly for the Filipino 4 3rd Quarter Exam. We were asked to come up with a 3-stanza poem encouraging Filipinos to revolt against the Spaniards. Although it focuses on the time when the Philippines was under the Spanish rule, it may serve as a reminder to people that they should not tolerate unjust actions or treatment. [just realized this as I started this blog (XD)] I hope you find it pleasing to read. [As you read through the piece, one cannot help but imagine the performance of an elocution piece.]


Araw-araw nagsisilbing utusan,
Minamaliit ang kakayahan,
Binabastos at sinasaktan;
Tama bang ganito na lang?

Niloloko at dinadaya
Halatang-halata
'Di niyo ba nakikita?
Ito ang pamumuhay na may Kastila.

Binubugbog, inaapi
Narinig ko ang mga daing.
Ayoko nang manloko ng sarili.
Sabay nating ilabas ang lahat ng galit.
Humanda na kayo sa ating paggising!
[12.11.2007]

For those that actually took time to read the whole thing, thank you and please feel free to comment on the topic or poem.