My Name is Khan

The tag line that will make me not to forget the movie is: "My name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist".


My name is Khan is a movie that speaks for a person's capacity to achieve his goal in life even if the world and his personal frailness hinders him to do so. It is a movie that vehemently pushes us to understand that people with disabilities are like with the ordinary people that has their own dreams to attain, but; has different will power to overcome situations that may arise.


That's how exceptional Rizwan is, he was never holding back despite the circumstances that have arrived. He never slowed down and never stopped even the world tells him to. His will and his belief upon conquering his fears are too loud and huge. His confidence towards the brighter side of the world is coloring his difference.


He was exceptionally extraordinary compared to other who could in a hundred percent do things like he does.


It is a heart-moving story about a person who has an Asperger's Syndrome that is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported. Where he was discriminated because he was different and more so because he is a Muslim in a Hindi world. However, he has instilled many great values and moral lessons from his mother that never surrendered in taking care of him. His mother that has become his inspiration with his struggles in life, also the one that eventually believed that he is an intelligent person despite his mental retardation. Sad fate have come over, because he lost his mother and he has nowhere to go but to his brother is San Francisco, where he met his Hindu wife Mandira and her son. It was so sudden that a person like him will meet a person of which he will call his wife. A tragedy happened that tested and measured the capacity of the couple to understand their differences when Mandira's son was being killed due to his husband's (Rizwan) nationality which is a Muslim. He was brutally bullied and was being hit until he was dead because Muslims are discriminated due to the attacks happened in the World Trade Organization. The rage of anger and fear of Mandira came up to the point of letting Rizwan go and be separated to her until he will meet the President of the united States and tell him that He was not a terrorist. That was when Rizwan started his journey in meeting the President, he met new people and have helped them during the unwanted calamity that hit the village. He was sent to prison and in trial because during the state visit of the President he was screaming and talking the he was not a terrorist, upon hearing this so, the police arrested him mistakenly, because they only heard the he was a terrorist. He was the talk of the town, because there was a  particular news reporter that have recorder his scream that he was not a terrorist, Until such then that people were moved by his unwavering will to to tell the president that he was not a terrorist in order just to come back to Mandira. He was an inspiration to all the Muslims that was being discriminated and abused, he was a light for those who have lost hope in their village and a great father for his foster son that have died for giving him the courage to face the world just to tell everyone his pure intention and legality as a citizen in that country.


Rizwan Khan started with a simple dream, yet; he was extraordinary. Because he has no evil in him, he have come across the situations that tested his courage. He was undoubtedly a person that this world needs.


I as a christian never believed that all Muslims are terrorists nor barbarians. I do know that because I have come acquainted with Muslims and eventually have made a short documentary on them, learning their culture and beliefs. And just like with us, they are humans with rich culture that enables them to propagate, not because they are mean people. One concrete example is the heroism shown by Rizwan, he was a great example of a Muslim because he was not only reading their bible Koran, but have integrated it with his heart, he was doing the good things that his mother had taught him and make out something good.


Muslims are good people if they are being respected. Like people, when being provoked insanity is welcomed, that is why we should always respect each others beliefs in order to create a better place. We have the same God but different name, so in the Supreme Being's name, we should be in harmony.


I was really moved about his belief that usually a christian like me thinks that Muslims could be cruel sometimes. It was like a slap on my face judging them yet, accommodating the lesson that the movie has given me. I was so amazed to know that when a person loves his own religion, no matter what the circumstances are, he will kneel and praise the Lord. That there is no conditional  situations that may hinder a person to praise his God. Another thing that inspires me on the movie was his ability to help other people despite his inability to socialize due to his disability. Because he was taught to help others, he did so, because it was the right thing to do, not because he wanted to be famous. He has a choice to leave the people while he was in a good place, but he did was to help because he loved the people from that place and because he could do it on his own. Another point of inspiration that I pondered upon was his eagerness and his undoubted impression to the people he loves or meets, because even that person turns his/her back on him,he will never despise or be angry with that person, he will understand and let that person do what it is ought to do. But to him, he will do to comfort and make valuable things to make that person at ease.


My name is Khan, is a movie that is worth to be shared and talked about. It does not only portrays each of the opposite religions are but it delivers us greater value of respect and understanding. Let us all learn from the movie that everything will have its own disposition only that we people should be rational enough to understand and respect each other's differences and capacity.


"My name is Ryan, and I am not a terrosist"  

Comment on my Demonstration on the AB 1

The things that had happened to me during my demonstration last December 5, 2011, was quiet typical and ordinary. There were no signs and situations were I was about to faint or be amazed with the participation of the students. It was just a plain experience for me, however; it was a demo that I could say that i have grown up from the "demonstration blues", like being afraid of the missing pieces about the topic, the questions that may be thrown to you which you have not prepared for it and many things that may happen in that four-cornered room that will make you like in a pit waiting to be thrown don and fall.

The AB first year students where very silent during my discussion and were at ease during the reading of the literature piece that I have given them. I as fore-seeing the moment that they would raise their hand sand ask for some questions, but; they did nothing but stare at me or at my mouth perhaps. I am quiet sure that they do understand the piece of literature that I have shown them but they are afraid to open the details and be outspoken with regards to the lesson. I know in myself that it was a kind of literature that may bore them but I know that it will be interesting one if they would just understand the piece. That is why, I was wondering at what point did I miss that have made them a glued to their chairs.

I was satisfied with the way they respond to my questions, they answer it the best that they could provide. I am happy that even if in a short time of reading and understanding the piece, they were able to give me the answers that I want, the answers that should be reflected to the story and have to be inculcated in their minds.

Over-all, it was quiet good.

Literature of My Life

For the past eighteen years of my life, I have been drowned, hailed-up, being put into the heaviest jurisdiction, being frightened, being put to shame, and every emotion an ordinary person could have in his life.

            My life has been a bliss for my family, my relatives, my friends, my acquaintances and all those people who may know me, for I am endowed with God- given talent and intelligence as they say. However, I can’t face and tell them that every mighty graces God have been given is the mighty insecurity I felt for them. I am thankful yes, and that is true. But, in the course of my life where I struggled and felt happiness I felt along the journey that I am very much different with others. I am struggling to be a person they want me to be and I am struggling as a person of how I am really be. It’s a killing choice as I could describe it. They say that I am a gay, a person who has a identity crisis, a person with no sex at all. Good Heavens! They even say that I am not a creature of God! It is a ridiculous conclusion. I am born with high regards to our Lord yet, in the sharp retaliation of their tongues I dare not question God why he had made me such. I would admit that I am gay, bayot, bakla, homosexual, bisexual or any other term they would like to address me. But I am not as dirty as others may be. And now, in this short literature of myself, the first very time that I was not ashamed to be called as such. The first time that I never reacted so furiously for I admit I am who they called as such. This is the first time because when I lived my life up in the earlier part of my development I was teased sometimes and I just heaved a sigh and let them be, and I’ll be angry on myself why I acted like those bisexuals and I would cry without the knowledge of my parents, obviously I just kept it on my own placing and piling it up to my mountainous burdens in life. But now, I feel lighter for I think I have unlocked the doors and let myself breathe a fresh air. This is a true manifestation about the saying, “The Truth Will Set You Free,” indeed it is true.

            I wonder how I would start telling my sob-type, filled with joyous crusting of journey in life. Maybe it would be better to start with my parent’s small tale of romance.

            Once upon a time there were one young lady who have been staying with her cousin in Mawab, Compostela Valley. She came originally at Malabuyoc, Cebu where she grew with her grandmother as her guardian. Then after some meditation, she went off to a small town in Mawab where she met Julio Jancinal who at that time was finding a girl to marry. Then, they became lovers and had been  married for more than 30 years now. They were graced with 4 children, the eldest one is Arnel, who has now settled with his wife and his 3 children in the same town, my elder sisiter who is a public school teacher and is now married with 1 daughter, and my another sister is now happy with her husband and her children. I, myself left with some studies to finish to, since I am obliged to take care with my parents when they will be getting older.

            As a young child, I’ve been in a time when I went home full of dirt and smelling like the sun, playing with those little kids who have been my playmates even to the day I knew the word “playmates”. I was born with no luxuries at all, well, who can complain? My father was a farmer tilling the farm with a little to earn and my mother was a dressmaker with no certain income to hold. In short, we are really struggling so hard to make our life comfortable with our own meaning of comfortable. For, 18 years, I’ve been witness to my mother’s cries and my father’s silent sighs, and as a child I pitied with them for they could not raise a family as they have dreamt they could be. Fortunately, God has been so gracious for all of us were being raised with full of integrity and respect, but as what they have said, in the family there will always be one who will be considered as “black sheep”, and luckily we have one. She is my elder sister before me (the 3^rd one whose name is Jubilyn), she is now having her own family and they were living in our home in Mawab together with my father. Well, my elder sister (2^nd one whose name is Josephine) envied her for she was a favorite child among of us, she was granted with things in which she desired and some of us when we asked we are not granted and there were so many question as to why such need of those things and many more. However, we my sister never complained and I admired her for being so silent and very discreet towards everything. Back to my sister, yes, she was being favored, she was sent in a private school and she had been given enough for her own, she grew up dominated the will of my parents and us, that is why my elder sister dislikes her when she went home drunk, when she go over to her classmates house to spend the night and to buy things which is just considered as caprices and many things. Fortunate that my elder sister never turn her back to her, she always find peace with her, no matter how cruel she may be sometimes. There were once a time when my elder sister vacated out in our house because of my other sister, I don't know the reason why she had decided to move out for according to her I was sounding so sleep at that time that I barely notice the shout, the screams made by my two sisters, it was the time when my sister Jub was just recently back from Manila where she spent her vacation, but we later found out that she was pregnant, she went home and we were so happy that she was okay, she conceived her child and eventually had bore her first baby. I named my cute little niece, and Ate Jub and her family resided with us. One thing that time that we wish is that her husband would make some move and find some job to feed his family for my father had been feeding them (until now). I myself would like to say that her husband was so irresponsible and so to her for she tolerates him. And so, Ate Jo, vacated and went to our cousin's home to rent, she brought me with her and I'm glad that I've been with her. My mother was in abroad at that time, when I was in Grade V she decided to leave her work in Mawab and to transfer to another country with the same work which is in Saudi Arabia. From that on, we were not guided with a mother who used to guide us when she was still in our hometown. Then, we lived a life away from my father and my sister Jub, but it is much better than they will always fight each other and make my father shaken with nervousness. I was in 3rd year high school at that time, my both sisters were both in good terms at that time, Ate Jo, would still support my niece despite the fact that Ate Jub hurt her, my Ate Jo, was already a teacher and is teaching in a public school, she sustains my everyday allowance and my father for my tuition fee.

     I am very much thankful that Ate Jub now changed a lot, she is responsible as well as her husband and I am so happy for the great transition they has been. They are now dependent for they were able to stand with the circumstances and are able to trust in their own strengths to raise a family. 

     My family is my sole supporter with everything that I have been through, I know that they love me that much, for I could still remember my Ate Jub making my projects during my elementary days, and she will really want that my project will stand among of all, then for always she will prepare my things in school, always reprimanding me about my crumpled notebooks, to take care of things, to be neat and organized and to always make a neat impression that a person is seen inside from its outlooks. And I believed her until now, when she will always told me about cleaning my nails and my knees when it is full of dirt. She always has been a sister that admires my things so much and a sister that will always keep my unruly flaws ironed. A sister which will always be my guide and a sister that despite every person in the society discriminates me will always make a stand and believe that I am a person to be respected not being talked. My Ate Jo, is my sister who will be a sister that will surely be a mentor, a guide, a financial supporter, who will bring me always wherever she will go, my alleged sibling and everything. I could remember her as a sister that is always training me in oratory, in debate, in poem reciting contest, in journalism, in my dance and song competitions and my math and science quiz bee. She was all there, even in my talent shows as a kid, she was present and making me feel like she was a mother to me despite of my mother's absence. I could not forget when I bade her good bye in Davao International Airport, when we were heading for the National Investigatory Project, she was smiling and I know that she was sad for it is her first time to be without my competitions. A night before we went off to sleep, when she was helping me arranging all my things, she has been muttering about my absent-mindedness, that I should always be cautious with my money for it might be snatched up and I may be left behind Manila. Then she told me not to stubborn in our coach's instruction and always be guided by asking questions, and most  the most important was she told me not to waste money for some unnecessary things. Haay! My sister was my number 1 fan until I've got in High School in Assumption Academy of Mawab, a private school run by the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary, where also she taught there in elementary for 3 years and when I was in 2nd year she moved into a public school. And lastly, my brother, our eldest sibling who has been a very silent type of person who meddles life in a silent manner. I would not say that he was not a brother to me or a good sibling to us for he as a son, performed his duty as a son, as my parents would describe my manong, "when he was still a child, we can't tell when he desired a toy or not, for when he will be in my company in the market, he will just stare at the toys and just walk pass through them, your manong, is a child with no whines at all, when we will ask him to fetch water, immediately, he'll fetch, even how busy he may be for doing some projects, he is an independent child with just a simple dream, a child which do not long for such toys sold in the markets but a child who makes his own toys with some small resources he could probably find around," my mother said. Until now, my manong lives in simplicity even if he has now something he could brag about, as always he is still silent and will just talk when being asked, when I will usually come at his shop (he has an electrical shop and internet cafe), he will just stare at me like I am just a common visitor in their house, and when I ask for some meager amount of money he'll just directly give it to me with out questions. He really is a self-disciplined man, a man with big hopes for his children.

      During my high school days, it was then another chapter of my life has evolved. I have met some new friends and some enemies to make me inspired everyday. During my high school I was known in school even to the kindergartens, known for being a leader in the school, an official, known for my cleverness, my prowess in handling the class when the teacher is out, my big voice, my dedication when it comes to school's stuff, my holy concentration during everyday's gospel (in our school, we pray the rosary and give 15 minutes to read and discern the message of the day, it is usually at 7:00 in the morning and it is so good hearing God's word like a gush forth and a morning dew), also I am known for being a BIG GUY in the school with a CLUMSY heart (how about a laugh, Haha!), I am known for I am close with all the teachers and I am close with the school principal, and lastly I am known for I have been so true with myself together with my friends. I really miss my friends who have been so talented, so wise and so illogical. I miss the way they address me as "DADUDZ", the times when they call upon my name when our classmates are unruly again, the times when I threaten them of not signing their clearance when they will be causing trouble again, and their persistence to hid their trouble-situations against me. It is really a memory that will be a lifetime glimpse of how I become now.

    College came and everything was storming me with new things, like: new people to meet, new teachers to learn from, new administration to follow, new environment, in short another new things to explore! I was hopeful to study in Davao for a four-year degree course but my hope fell and had broke into small pieces for I was told to enroll in St. Mary's College, with a course that is only my second choice, at first I was hesitant to accept it, but who am I to choose, where I one lucky one who will be going to a  private and a nice school. I accepted the course and had learnt to love it by now. First sem in school was a disaster, for I enrolled in BEED where naturally I really wanted BSED, but according to my sister that I still got one sem to transfer to BSED so, I just let myself continue it, and it was the time when I face failure itself, when I was not able to get 85 in my math. My heart was bleeding at that time and I just can't face reality at that time. However, I just presumed that it was God's providence and work that will somehow tell me, that above all the rewards and recognitions that I have garnered there lies a realm of failure that a man shall come to face not to be scorned down of discouragement but a challenge to stand up and fight again. Yes, I must admit that it was really hard to be in a room where light has been taken out, but I tried to grasp something that will eventually make me move. Honestly, I ease out the pain by making my grades as high as possible, for I said at myself that, that would be the last time that I fall down and that I will be stronger again. I took it as a challenge now, not only now, but for always as I grow up, like a scar that will remind me my frailness as a person.
     Life for me as of this moment is a like a food, for we need to chew its richness or its bitterness just to contain nutrients, the satisfaction is there at the time of chewing and enjoy it for when you churn it up, it will be digested and may produce you nutrients and may dump such wastes into feces.
  Ma'am Gi, I am so thankful for being one of the best and intelligent teachers I know. You are so kind and humble and frank, I like everything you taught us for it enriches us so much to live life MORALLY. I just hope and pray that you will be a light into the path of those who have been ridiculed and abandoned, just like Jesus. I have always believed you will be a nun someday, I hope that the path you have chosen may be your guide to fully accomplish your mission. We will miss you Ma'am Gi, and May God Bless You!

             

The Great Debaters (Elements of the Story)

1. PLOT

       The Great Debaters of which it portrays the inequitable view of the people to them in the American race. Yes, they are Americans, but they're black. Because of the color, they have been neglected out by the white people. The black Americans were living in life full of prejudiced and judgments by the whites.
       The story was starred by the black American students of Wiley College who were trying to fight their right as a person or as one of the race that was being desolated for how many years. They have been fighting their rights and their views with the debates that they had indulged in. There was Melvin Tolson who have been a mentor, a professor an opener for the young debaters to be aware and keep their views as plausible in the field of combating their speeches. He was a teacher and a moderator in Wiley College, a black American. At the time of great superiority of the whites ( at around 1935) were highly been abused by them, he was one of the blacks who have opposed the misdeeds and the unfairness shown by the whites. By this, he has created a team to be known, to tackle about some social issues that will eventually elevate their pedestal as a person in the race of Americans. From then , he created the school's first debating team by selecting Hamilton Burgess, Henry Lowe, Samantha Booke and James Farmer Jr. as a team. from then on, they have competed the schools which was a school for the black people, and fortunately they won. Until then that they were bound to take the risk in trying to reign as winners in the debate in the boundaries of the whites. It was not an easy challenge for the team, the interracial debating in the United States was so popular at that time when eventually the team from Wiley College have garnered the trophy in the American South as winning team against the whites, it had been the time that were able to have a handful of appraisals from their fellow blacks and hopefully have been able to send an invitation to the Harvard University, to compete with them in a debate. Fortunately, the debaters from the Harvard have responded positively to the invitation done by the Wiley College. It was the time when a great tension emerged between the team, where Henry Lowe, the witty and versatile speaker of the team had declined to be the speaker in the said competition. Hence he will just assist and guide them in the preparation of the arguments. It was this time also that they were able to experience luxurious opportunities in the hotel and also this was the time when they were about to give up for they were given a false proposition and had given the exact one at the time when they were in the Boston. it was a moment to really feel the tension surging inside themselves, and it was the time that they were blaming each other. It added to their tensions the absence of their mentor where he opted to stay behind the competition to solve some of his problems regarding the equity of rights between black and whites. They have competed with no exact point of direction, the speakers were Samantha Booke and James Farmer Jr. with Henry Lowe as their researcher ( you might as well wonder the absence of Hamilton Burgess in the Debating team, he stopped as a debater when they were about to invade the boundaries of the whites at the American South). The debate was a tough one, the two speakers from the Harvard University was pretty confident that they will win against their opponents, however the two black one were really nervous in delivering their speeches. It was then the time of James Farmer Jr. to speak, that he told the people about a Black American being lynched to death and by that he quoted the saying of Augustine of Hippo, saying. "An unjust law is no law at all," where in he had said their struggles and stated their fears as human when they were chased like a criminal ones. But in fact, they are only Blacks, they said that it is not a sin to be black and as a person we should look beyond the color not the color itself. Then on, they have been announced as the winners in the said competition and had garnered respect from the society that blacks are indeed a great part in the American Fabric.Melvin Tolson, had witnessed their victory stealthily unlike the band and the students of the Wiley College who have been there visibly and vividly shared the success against racism. From then on, the debaters as well as their mentor have been living as aperson that inspires others, by some noble works of emancipating their race or even in the works of God, they were highly regarded as the great diplomats and as really the Great Debaters in the American history.

2. CONFICT
      
       The conflict was when they were in the midst of competing the debating team of Harvard University, where everything seem to fall out of its proper places, when their mentor or moderator was arrested because of the movement towards the equity of the blacks from the whites, when they were able to witness and has been chased by the whites from the lynching of a black american, it was a shocking and traumatic experience for them and the breaking of the group as a team to cover- up their race as an important and significant kind of the Americans, where they were so tensed and has been provoked, and have been blaming each other for the mistakes during the preparation of the contest.

3. CHARACTERS

       The protagonist in the story were the Black Americans and the antagonist were the white ones. The round/ flexible characters were, Henry Lowe, James Farmer Sr. and Hamilton Burgess, and the static ones were, Samantha Booke, James Farmer Jr., Melvin Tolson and Sheriff Dozier.
       The main or the Principal Characters were, James Farmer Jr., Samantha Booke, Henry Lowe and Melvin Tolson. And the Minor pr Supporting Characters were, Hamilton Burgess, James Farmer Sr., Pearl Farmer, Ruth Tolson, and Sheriff Dozier.

4. THEME
      
        The theme of the story was centralized on the liberation of the African- American people on the United States of America from the Racial Discrimination, that at the time was being the center of great tension betwen the race in the late 1930's.

5. SETTING

       The setting was centered in Wiley College in west Marshall, Texas and also in Southern California and eventually also in Boston where they have been competing with debaters from Harvard.

6. POINT OF VIEW

      The source of the story was from the 1st person.

Reaction ( Karma)

       The story Karma portrays the importance of loving and accepting one's own race, nationality and kind. Wherein, to be able to identify and empower one's self-identity with humility and a great openness to one's heart.

       I believe in Karma, I always do. I do believe that we could possibly reap the fruits of our own labor until the reaping time comes. For I believe that God will do in His power to teach us a lesson where we could probably learn and do better after. I also believe that God punishes and rewards those people who have done wrong or right, for always, there is a great deal of lesson after wards. Even though that i was born to become a Roman Catholic and the belief of the Karma is in the beliefs of an Hindu, I too believes it.

       In the story that we had, I wasn't able to understand the flow at first, for the story was full of terminologies of an Hindu wherein, I could not really comprehend at all. So, I ha to read it on the second time, and luck was in my hand, for I was able to get what the author wants to say. The story itself is very funny, in fact a story that folds the truth to those persons who have been like the main characters in the story. The main characters of the story were Sir Mohan, who is an Hindu by blood and had been acculturated himself to become an Englishman, who strongly disgusts his own race and finds it dirty and inefficient, he seldom speaks Hindustani, but when he spoke with his own mother tongue it surely like an accent of an Englishman's but not the typical accent of an Hindu speaking Hindustani but for him, it was Anglicized. While, Lady Lai who is  just a typical Hindu, who is a wearing the sari, who is very much a typical traveler who is not really minding the people around and is very much unlikely to Sir Mohan.

      Sir Mohan is very fine man, he is very much knowledgeable in all terms: politics, sports, economy and even to some issues regarding the country. Undoubtedly, he was like an Englishman. But, the truth is he was not. he had leaned his lessons when he was being disposed by the guards outside. Where his literacy in the language and the etiquette of  a true Englishman was not given a great deal of notice from the guards where they have just do not trust their inebriated ears, and throw Sir Mohan outside the train.

      The lesson that Sir Mohan had received shocked his systems and made him realize that it is not really good to feign or pretend someone who is really not existing. Sir Mohan has been really adopting the culture and the language up to the point in time that he was being too ambitious in making himself like the Englishmen, where in fact he was a pure Hindu and he should first acculturate himself to their own customs and traditions before jumping or learning the other culture.

      It shows how he hated his country, where is a good reminder for all of us to be cautious with the way we adopt something we barely know and without loving the way we live biologically. For it seems like we are foreign in our own home, and it is not good. There should be an appreciation to whatever changes of development or progressiveness to our own nationality and another appreciation for the ways our nation is facing a scarce of resources or in poverty, ways of making out of the muddy slump that they are into. Instead of putting it down, it is much better to lift it up and be PROUD to whatever sacrifices that you have made.

      Love the country that holds you, for it will always pay respect to you even what pedestal are you standing  at. Keeping the patriotism at heart is an edifice of a good future for the future children of the land.

Reaction of Karma