Death by Chivalry

Chivalry is dead. Chivalry has passed away. Chivalry should not be revived. Most of all, chivalry is the peak of inequality. It is a fact, more of a fiction now, that men should prioritize women because they are considered part of the marginalized sector. However, women are advocating for equality in terms of opportunities. Take note of the word “opportunity.” Previously, it is not tolerable for women to vote, to work, to be bosses, to wear trousers and everything else that you can think of. Now, certainly these privileges or pleasures are being savored by women in most part of the world; thanks to what we call feminism.

What is feminism by the way? In a nutshell, it is a movement which aims to provide and establish greater protection of women. I am not an expert in this kind of subject, but I think there is loophole in what they want to advocate. Women desire the opportunity that men receive; they covet so much from men and forget to accept the complete package that comes with opportunities. As examples, in the context of queuing in lines, women demand some special care like being prioritized in the queue because they are marginalized. Another case in point, in riding the train women expect that men give up their seats. This is some crooked mentality that I have observed considering that they are advocating for equality. If men suffer standing then women should suffer as well.

In terms of being marginalized, they are oppressing they own self. They are the ones labeling themselves as helpless and vulnerable. In addition, they are reaffirming their self-declared vulnerability by asking gallantry from men. With these incidences, their mind is configured to a certain thought that they are the weaker sex because they expect special treatment at the same time asking permission to exercise power. I think being marginalized is more of a state of thought rather than an actual tangible occurrence.

If women demand for chivalry then they should not demand for equality. If women demand for equality then they should never demand for chivalry. Nevertheless, women should never expect, never ask, and never demand because by limiting themselves through these actions they have marginalized their kind in enormous proportions. As for men, stop giving them what they want because they can get it by themselves.

Reading Between and Beyond the Lines

In current times, some individuals claim that literature is a useless discipline. Moreover, if you were taking such studies in discipline some would say that it is a waste of time and effort. In addition, some would emphasize that there this is an inferior discipline as compared to the sciences. Due to the age of information, literature is pushed aside by the sciences. On the contrary, the sciences owe much to literature in terms of humanizing the advances in their field. If it is not for literature, humans would be creating sciences that would be uncontrollable on the latter end. In another light, talking about literature and its state of being irrelevant to human life is a fallacy. Literature is under the discipline of humanities, and the root word of humanities is human thus literature is man-made. If humans are intellectual beings, they would not create something that has no intellectual value.

Accentuating the significance of literature to human life, Carlsen (1974) insists that throughout human history, we have unconsciously positioned a sense of significance on literature as to some extent above the worth of other things. Literature is, more often than not, highly valued as compared to the games of chance, more valued than landscape gardening, more valued than interior decoration and most of all it is more valued as compared to urban planning. In the lengthy duration of human history, literature goes beyond military victories, political institutions, and even economic accomplishment. The power of literature to an individual is still undiscovered for the reason that readers have always bear witness to the extraordinary fulfillment in reading and appreciating a well-crafted piece of literature but no one has been able to spell out precisely what it is.

The perception that literature is bourgeois in current times is a misleading notion. Formerly, yes, one might consider it bourgeois because there was no concept of “free education for all.” Education back then was only reserved for the middle or upper classes and part of that education is the study of literature and the classics. Hence, we can deduce that the control of literature is limited to the middle and upper classes. Now, education is not reserved for the middle or upper classes; and for this reason, everyone can be involved in the production and the consumption of literature. To give evidence to this phenomenon, we currently have writings or literature for the marginalized sectors like the leftist groups, Filipino migrant workers and empowered women.

Post Interview Trauma

FROM THE HR: Thank you for applying for the (insert position) at (insert company name). We enjoyed talking with you and appreciate the time you took to come in and talk with us. We carefully evaluated your resume& the information you shared during the interview the screening. However, there were other candidates whose experience & qualifications appear more suited to our requirements. Thank you and we wish you success in your career pursuits.


FROM ME: Ok, I'm bitter.

Interview and Illness 101

And the interview keeps rolling in from here, there and everywhere. Earlier, I had my second interview from this company that I really want to work into but I sense that the interviewer is not going to choose me (But Looooowwwwrddd, c'mon spare some mercy and let him choose me please?). Sadly, I wasn't a hundred percent earlier because of this stupid cold; my mind went liquid at some question such as: can you mop the floor? can you clean the bathroom, can you wash plates? Ok, not exactly my type of work but I am aiming for the experience. Ok, I'm too sick to function. I'm ending this blog prematurely *cough* *cough*

Career Roller Coaster Ride

Really now, I'm trying to find a job. But in reality, I'm torn between studying and working. What should I prioritize, having a so so income through an official teaching job (which I am really avoiding but my dad wants me to have) or being a full time student again (by full time I mean no work whatsoever)? If I go with the former, I would be a simple cheap ass teacher who assists students how to put their head up before drowning in their own blood owing to the English language. If I pursue the latter, I won't have the income that I was thinking of before graduating.

On a lighter note, I applied for a job that is not of my specialization which means its really on the other side of the career spectrum. I wouldn't want to divulge it since I know that I will get a lot of criticisms such as "Ha? bakit ka nagapply diyan eh nagtapos ka with latin honors?" But just a clue, its in the food and beverage industry.Well, I want to prove something that even though I am not in the given track as dictated by the degree that I have; I am capable of crossing other careers that is maybe unthinkable for some. Simply put, I'm taking a career roller coaster ride; won't you ride it with me?

PhD Anyone?

So now, I would just like to share my sentiments regarding people who obtained their PhD. I would like to reiterate that I am not generalizing but this is just based on my experience.

Indeed, to advance one's career it is but a must to take further studies. Perhaps take a master's degree, a doctorate degree, post-baccalaureate, post-graduate, diploma or whatever; such ensures that one is being a step ahead. However, I have some observation regarding individuals who pursued this kind of endeavor. Although their career is flourishing; their attitude stinks gradually. Then again, I repeat that I am not generalizing.

There's a saying in Filipino, "Ang taas ng ihi mo." Definitely, this idiom best describes some people who attained such a high degree. Of course, they have the right to act such and be haughty, but there's always a limit. They are starting to have the conception that by virtue of their degree, it makes them superior to those who have a degree less than what they have. Well, this is partially true but I would to like remind them that before becoming a PhD holder they were first a person. When you strip them out of their degree, their ego shrinks to the molecular level.

I can still remember one instance that made me develop this thought. That person said, "mahiya naman kayo mga doctor tao dito" (pertaining to PhD holders) and "Kung inaakala nyong mataas ang sweldo namin dito, nagkakamali kayo." When I recall these lines, my ire brews to high heavens. It makes me want to pour ice cold water on that person's head to wash the blistering pride away. Ok, I'll stop because I may blurt out something that is highly inappropriate. But my point is: (1) Before you gained your PhD you were a regular person like me, like anyone of us. (2) There are some people who have such a degree but they made me admire them more because the place a premium on being humble despite their achievements, kudos to them! (3) Having a Phd makes you a better academician or an invaluable asset to the company; However it does not necessarily make you a better person.

This is my subtle answer to what the person said although I did not say it directly out of respect. If you don't like the compensation then by all means go to another institution, no one is forcing you to work here. I am not begging for your service, well I would say this in Filipino because the impact is much greater. Hindi kami nanlilimos ng serbisyo mo dahil nagbayad kami para sa serbisyo na 'yan; kaya huwag mong ipamukha na nanlilimos kami ng serbisyo mo. Binabayaran ka para gawin yan.

The shine that you have now will dull later on. By that time, you can count your real achievements by the people around you and not by what you have done.

Those are a few of my favorite things.

My birthday was just yesterday and I am really happy for what I got.

1. A book entitled Marrying Buddha by Wei hui given by someone who very dear to me - I read the prequel of this installation entitled Shanghai Baby and I got amazed by how a writer can mix naughty and spicy ideologies with the most tamed and censored culture.

2. An SMS from (insert company name) stating that I am scheduled for an interview. Sadly, I wasn't able to attend my first day of class at Instituto Cervantes for Accesso 2. Boo! But definitely, attending the interview was worth it. It's my dream company!

3. I was endorsed for a second interview and I am pretty much looking forward to it.

With all of these, I realized that the most intangible entities are the items that can bring the most amusement and gratification.