How can HUMALIT help me irl?

I have two younger brothers, a seven-year-old and a ten-year-old. Both of them are very visual learners. One situation wherein I can apply my learnings in HUMALIT is when my mom tasks me to tutor my brothers. I can use story cards to help them grasp their lessons better.

Hey punk,

It’s 2015 back there, right? Well then, advanced happy birthday, airhead. You’re turning seventeen in two weeks, and you’re only in your first term of university. Meanwhile, some sixteen-year-old graduated summa cum laude at the age of sixteen. What the hell are you doing with your life. You’re growing old; you need to start deciding exactly what to do with your life (read: quit pining over people you can’t have). It’s going to be tough, really. It’s a long road ahead, but you’ll make it through, barely. So listen up and buckle your seatbelt (practice road safety always unless you want to die), because I’m going to school you on how to live your life for the next few years in this hellhole called university.

Spend time with your family. Oh my god, quit being ungrateful all the time. Yeah the hour-long trips to and from uni are draining as hell. But, hello, dorms and condos around your uni exist? Hold your horses, though. Before you go whining to mom about how you NEED to start living in Taft, show her you’re capable of handling yourself first. If that doesn’t work, then I don’t know what will, honestly. Good luck with that. Nah, I’m playing with you. She’ll allow you to live in Taft once you cry to her about how difficult university life is for you. You’re welcome. As for the boys, deal with them properly. You’re the eldest; be nice for Christ’s sake.

Choose your friends well; this isn’t high school anymore. Not everyone has good intentions. You’re going to make and lose friends, some new, some old. Yeah, you needed to cut off that guy throwing you mixed signals. He’ll come around with a proper apology soon; quit overthinking what you said. He’s not for you. You’ll stay friends, not as close as before, but you’ll be fine. I swear. As for that ‘emotionally unstable’ blockmate? Well, cut her off immediately. She’s anything but nice. She’ll pull her mental illness card on you to force you to do things for her. Yep, not so cute, right? Cut. All. Ties. Immediately.

Take care of yourself. Yes, it’s confusing and stressful right now; you’re failing a course in your first term in uni, you can’t get along with your blockmates as well as you wished, you’re missing your high school friends, and you don’t know what you want to do with  your life in the long run. Well, I have news for you: you’re not the only one. You’re not special; quit being dramatic. The world doesn’t revolve around you. Don’t cry, weakling. Everything will fall into place eventually, but for now, quit sleeping less than 8 hours, quit procrastinating, get off your butt and start running twice a week, stop eating instant noodles at two in the morning, and quit overwhelming yourself by being a whole sloth. Oh, and cut off the toxic people in your life for the love of God. The next few years will be tough, but what doesn’t kill you gives you dark humor and a weakened will to live.

Trust me. Oh, and don’t even think about killing yourself. It’s all in your head. I mean, screw mental health, right?

P.S. You’ll fall into an all-black wardrobe soon. Keep it. You’ll look nice and dissociative.

Dear 16-year-old self,

Advanced happy birthday. You’re turning seventeen in two weeks, and you’re already in your first term of university. It’s going to be tough, really. It’s a long road ahead, but you’ll make it through. Allow me to offer you some advice. 

Spend time with your family. You’ll lose the time for that luxury soon. Talk with your parents more. Bring up how your day went, ask how they are, show them a funny video you saw earlier that day, anything really. Just show them that you enjoy their company. Be more patient with your little brothers and play with them more. They’re only young once. Appreciate the time you spend with your family and make it a point to always communicate with them.

Choose your friends well; this isn’t high school anymore. Not everyone has good intentions. You’re going to make and lose friends, some new, some old. It’s going to be for the best though. But that one old friend you’re going to lose will come back to you. They’ll realize their fault a little later and try to apologize, but not in the way you want. Don’t accept it yet; they’ll apologize properly eventually.

Take care of yourself. I know it’s confusing and stressful right now, adjusting to a new environment with new people, trying to find new confidants since your closest friends are no longer with you five days a week, and figuring out whether this degree program really is for you. Everything will fall into place eventually, but for now, get enough sleep, do your work smart and well, exercise regularly, eat proper food at the right times, and give yourself frequent breaks. The next few years will be tough, but what doesn’t kill you will make you much more stronger than you already are. You’ll make it through. Trust me.

Lots of love, 18-year-old self

Synthesis on Folk Literature & The Mythical Imagination

Philippine folk literature is very fantastical yet realistic. The protagonists are described to be impeccable, strong, beautiful, and wise, yet their weaknesses show that they are far from perfect. Tungkung Langit and Alunsina were gods, but their tempers proved them more feeble than they both thought. Humadapnon may have been a dignified and honorable man, but this did not prevent him from falling into the hands of the hundreds of thousands of maidens of the Tarangban Cave. Datu Paiburong’s impatience caused him great consequences despite his high position in society. Amburukay, however, is the lone exception in this context. She may have been old, ugly, hermit woman, but she proved that despite her undesirable physical appearance, she was a kind, considerate, and honorable person.

I found it comforting knowing our folk beliefs include the equality of man and woman, which was evident in all the folk literature discussed. I also enjoyed how women were portrayed as headstrong and independent. Alunsina was lazy, jealous, and vain, but she stuck to her word and never returned when she left. Nagmalitong Yawa went thru greats lengths to save her beloved Humadapnon. The fact that this is how women are portrayed in Philippine folk literature is very empowering. It was a great relief learning that our own folk literature did not contribute to the sexist culture in Philippine society today.

Mapping Exercise: The World, As I Know It

My place of birth and place of sorrow is one; it is marked in pink. I may have been born there, but I have a handful of unnerving memories from the area. My place of identity and one of my places of growing up is marked in green. This where i spent most of my life before we moved to my second place of growing up, which is marked in purple. My current residence is marked in blue. I have been studying here for the past 8 years, and started living here a year ago.

My place of refuge is marked in yellow. This is where the maternal side of my family lives. Every time I visit, I find that things are put into perspective for me. My place of dream is marked in orange. This place is so near, yet so far. It’s at the top of my bucket list. I’d love to go when I could finally afford it. 

Legend:

• Pink – Quezon City • Green – Makati • Blue – Manila • Purple – Las Piñas • Yellow - Iligan City • Orange - Palawan