Pagpapasok sa High School Musical

Sa aking buhay bilang isang estudyante sa elementarya, isa sa aking mga paboritong pelikula ang High School Musical. Naaalala ko pa na nasa ikalimang baitang ako noong paglabas ng pelikula. Naging napakasikat ng HSM na itinanghal namin ang ilang mga kanta para sa aming araw ng mga guro. Mula sa pasukan sa Hunyo, hanggang sa pagkatapos ng klase sa Marso, hindi nawawala ang paggamit ng HSM sa aming mga gawain. Sa paglipas ng panahon, lalong lumapit sa puso ko ang pelikulang ito, at ang mga sumusunod na pelikula. Isa siyang bahagi ng aking pagkabata at paglaki dahil ang mga pelikula ng High School Musical ay nagbigay ng isang tanaw sa mataas na paaralan.

Tinataglay ng pelikulang ito ang kamalayan ng lipunan noong pagkabata ko dahil nakikita ang paraan ng pag-iisip ng kabataan ng panahong iyon. Sa simula ng pelikula, nakilala ni Troy si Gabriella sa isang handaan para sa Bagong Taon. Nagkataon din na napili silang dalawa na kumanta ng karaoke ng “Start of Something New.” Hindi nila maaakala na pagbalik nila sa paaralan, magiging kaklase sila dahil lumipat ng bahay si Gabriella. Ipinapakita ng eksenang ito ang paniniwala ng konseptong ‘love at first sight,’ o pagmamahal sa unang tanaw. Kung babalik tayo sa mga napag-aralang mga nobela, ang kwento ni Romeo at Juliet ay nagsasalaysay mismo sa pagmamahal mula sa unang tanaw. Sa unang eksena ng HSM, nakikita rin ang konsepto ng kapalaran — ang kapalaran ni Gabriella ay makilala si Troy sa handaan, at lumipat sa kanyang eskwela. Kung ikukumpara ang dalawang teksto, maitutulad din ang paraan ng pakikipagkilala nina Romeo at Juliet at nina Troy at Gabriella, dahil pareho silang nagkita sa isang handaan! Matagal nang natatagpuan sa panitikan ang konsepto ng kapalaran, at ang paggamit nito sa pelikula ay nagpapakita sa kapaniwalaan nito ng mga tao.

Pagmamahal mula sa unang tanaw. (Romeo and Juliet, 1968)

Ikinakatawan ng lahat ng mga tauhan ang kaisipan ng lipunan na dapat mahiya ka kung may mayroon kang ‘di karaniwang talento, kagaya ng kumakantang atleta. Higit na makikita ito sa tauhan ni Troy Bolton, dahil inaasahan sa kanya ang maglaro ng basketbol nang mabuti. Nang malaman ng iba ang talento ni Troy sa pagkanta, may mga taong sumunod sa kanya at ipinakita ang kani-kanilang mga talentong lihim. Nakikita rin dito ang paghusga ng mga taong hindi sumusunod sa ‘status quo.’ Ito ay ang tawag sa katangian ng lipunan na dinidiin ang kahalagahan ng pananatili sa sariling lugar ng lipunan. Sa karaniwang konteksto, nakikita ito sa pang-aapi, o bullying, ng mga estudyante. Minsan, naaapi ang mga estudyanteng dumadaig sa kanilang karunungan, dahil hindi ito normal ayon sa ‘status quo‘ ng mga ‘karaniwang estudyante.’ Ang kabaliktaran nito ay nakikita rin sa sitwasyon ng mga mang-aapi: dahil hindi sila itinuturing mabuting mag-aaral, inilalabas nila ang galit nila sa mga estudyanteng magaling mag-aral.

Dinaranas ni Gabriella ang problemang pagpipili ng kanyang dalawang gawain: maglahok sa kanyang ‘quiz bee‘ o kumanta kasama ni Troy. Nakikita rito ang pagiging laya ng mga estudyante para pumili sa kanilang mga gawain sa labas ng klase. Hindi lamang puro aral ang maging estudyante. Sa ating panahon, mas maraming pagkakataon ang mga estudyante para mag-aral ng mga bagay kung saan interesado sila. Nabibilang rin ito sa ating uri ng pagbubukas ng kaalaman, at naitutulong din ito sa pagbuo ng katauhan. Nasasama rin dito ang konsepto ng pagiging laya mula sa direksyon ng mga magulang tungkol sa mga gawain ng klase. Itinutukoy ng dalawang konseptong ito ang pagiging nagsasarili ng estudyante, para makahanda siya sa pagtanda.

Sa paglabas ng pelikulang High School Musical, naipakita niya ang kalagayan ng ating lipunan sa panahong iyon. Hindi lang sa pasukan inaaral natin ang kasaysayan, makapapasok rin tayo sa kasaysayan mula sa mga iba’t ibang uri ng teksto. Sa HSM, makikita natin ang pagpapaniwala sa kapalaran ng tao mula sa pagkakilala nina Troy at Gabriella. Maiintindihin natin ang problema ng mga bata para maging katulad ng ibang tao sa kantang “Stick to the Status Quo.” Malalaman natin ang pagiging laya ng mga estudyante sa pagpipili ng anumang gusto nilang gawin para mas maitutulong nila ang sarili nila para mag-aral. Kahit walang pasok ang mga estudyante, hindi iyon ibig sabihin na walang mapapasukang kasaysayan sila sa panonood ng sine o telebisyon. Ang ating mga teksto ay nagsisilbing pinto para malaman natin ang mga pinagdaanan natin, at dito lang tayo makaaral nang totoong kasaysayan.

 

Review on Global Frequency

The Global Frequency is a 12-issue comic book series written by Warren Ellis. Each issue brings a new perspective into the series, as each of the 12 issues is drawn by a different person. It was made into a television series, but production was stopped after the pilot episode.

The series focuses on the Global Frequency, a special organization created by Miranda Zero (it’s the only name you’re getting). The guy, or should I say gal, behind the computers is Aleph. She was invited by Miranda Zero for her superior knowledge with computers. The Global Frequency composes of 1,001 members. Each member possesses a special phone and is identified by a number from 1 to 1001.

The different styles of illustrations gave the comic a certain feeling. Each issue also has a different story, giving it a more personal feeling. However, some of the styles weren’t as great as some of the other styles. There were also issues that incorporated the style of drawing very well.

It’s plot is okay, more on the spy-stalker kind of plot, but it was well executed. Some issues had illustrations that were frustrating, because some styles did not work for me. I liked how there was a different story every issue, because that gives us a whole new look into the Global Frequency (especially the issue focused on Aleph). That is why I give it a 9/10.

This is 103, and you’re on the Global Frequency.

Reflection on Global Frequency

Choosing between “Global Frequency” or “Demo” was not really hard. I didn’t feel that a comic series with a title that means ‘giving a free sample’ in the video game realm very capturing. I also thought that the title “Global Frequency” was well thought of. At first, I thought that it would be something about outer space, but I was mistaken. “Global Frequency” still sounds epic, though. It’s also fun to say it -quote, unquote- because it brings some sort of mysterious omnipresence with it.

I liked how each issue was a separate story, so there wasn’t a need for remembering the plot from the previous issues. I also liked how each issue changed its illustrator, so that we can see the artists’ perspectives on the characters. However, there were issues where I did not like the style of drawing. The illustrations were gross and gory most of the time.

I liked the first issue because it introduced me to the idea of a worldwide organization called “The Global Frequency”. I also liked the introduction sentence of “You’re on the Global Frequency.” It was kinda freaky, at first, because of the super spy-esque supercomputer.

I also liked the eleventh issue. This issue focused on Aleph. It shows how she was hired by Miranda Zero, and an instance of her getting some action. I particularly like this issue because I like it when a character is the main subject for the first time. An example is the episode “Wilson” in the medical drama House M.D. The episode follows James Wilson (who is usually not the main subject) the way a normal episode would follow Gregory House.

While researching on the series, I was able to find an unaired pilot episode of “Global Frequency”. The show never made it because the unaired pilot was leaked. ‘Tis sad. The special effects were not too great, but it brought some sort of effect to it. It was based on the first issue, with a Russian guy who has telekinetic powers enhanced by a chip which has been implanted in his brain for 30 years. It was a nice adaptation.

Reflection on WE3

I scanned through “Pride of Baghdad” and the first issue of “WE3”, and I thought that both comics were gory and disturbing in their own way, but I chose to read “WE3” because I found the story of 3 government-trained animals escaping into the wild intriguing. Another thing that drew me into choosing “WE3″was because I do not like to see such graphic images, like the panel of the giraffe’s head exploding.

I liked the comic because it showed how animals are now fighting for their freedom and to fight for their homes – the environment. “WE3” was about 3 animals that were abducted by the government and were transformed into biorgs (biological cyborgs) of destruction. The animals, a dog, a cat, and a bunny, were about to be decommissioned when they escaped into the wild to search for a new home.

The fact that the animals had to fight against the government made me care about the protagonists of the story. They had to fend off the projectiles being launched at them and, at the same time, try to escape from ‘the man’. They also had to search for a new home where they wouldn’t be attacked by the government. When 3 died, I was sad because they weren’t WE3 anymore. They were WE2. I could relate to the story in a way that I myself am searching for something that wold help me carry on with life’s problems. In a way, I am looking for a place where I can live. I am looking for my future.

Freedom in “WE3” was about being free from the government and being able to live freely as a dog, cat, or bunny. In the end of the third issue, the dog and cat were able to remove their armor and be ‘safe’. They were then taken care of by a homeless man who called the animals ‘lucky’ for him. Though he was homeless, he chose to take care of them, and they were lucky indeed. He was given a large sum of money by a person who was involved with the biorgs in the first place, but still gave the homeless man money to help raise and feed the animals.

Reflection on Ares

As discussed in English class, comics are usually related to stereotypical superheroes. When I learned that Astro City was technically a ‘rip-off’ of the superhero universe, I lost interest in it. If it was about a world full of all the real superheroes, and not some characters with similar abilities to the superhero it was based on, then I might have chosen that comic book. At first, I read the name “Ares” as ‘arse’, as if it was a plural to the linking verb ‘are’, or something related to the censored version of the word synonymous to butt, often preceding hole. Another thing that drew me into choosing Ares, besides the title, is the cover page of the first issue. I was intrigued by the person, or rather, god, who was standing amidst the bodies of the fallen.

I liked the comic, in whole, because of many reasons, like the intricate detail in the illustrations. Another reason why I liked the comic was because of the ending. I thought that Alexander would kill Ares, because I particularly do not like happy endings without any plot twists that would make me jump up and down on my bed. It did have an amazing plot twist, with Zeus sacrificing his life to save Ares’ and Alexander’s entire being.

Alexander, in the end of the series, was stronger and wiser than in the beginning. He is like Percy Jackson in the first book of his series, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” which also features gods and their demigod sons (and Ares and his sons, lol). Alexander, like Percy Jackson, discovers in the end that he is a god, or demigod in the case of Percy Jackson. Ares was stronger because of his training with Mikaboshi. Under the influence of Mikaboshi, Alexander was able to gather up rage and anger against his father, who was his idol and hero. He wanted to follow the so-called ‘tradition’ of killing his father as his grandfather, Zeus, killed his father, Kronos, and his father doing the same. He was to be the new and better “God of War” by killing his very own father and following his legacy. He wanted to be stronger than his own father. After seeing through the eyes of Mikaboshi, he strayed away from his father and went against Ares, training to be stronger while preparing to kill him.

The concept of “legacy” is in this story. The legacy of Ares would be passed down to Alexander, making him the next God of War in the end of the series, without having to killing Ares. Alexander was a normal kid who was as carefree as any kid would be. He was the son of Aaron. Now, he is the son of Ares, god of war. Now, he has a future bigger than he could imagine.

Rose Herbarium

For the past month and a half, the Science Advanced class had to preserve a rose. It was a very very long and hard task. I felt frustrated when all 7 of my roses lost all their petals. I had to cram the last one. I just flattened it for 2 weeks. I restrained myself from checking on the rose everyday and just make it go all the way through. I felt accomplished when I found out that my rose petals didn’t fall. It was perfect. We then had to make a short profile of the rose, in general. Here’s the profile I made:

Description:

Roses are red, violets are blue

This was preserved, between books of two

The rose is a symbol of immortal love and affection. It is the most common flower to give to the significant other, perhaps even clichéd. The common rose is vibrantly red and stunningly beautiful. Bouquets of roses are seen every Valentine’s Day. Roses are considered emblems of perfection. They are beautiful in full color, fragrant in odor, smooth to the touch, and ageless in the bind of books. The stems of roses have developed thorns because they protect the plant from herbivorous animals.  Roses are also used as decorations because of their sheer beauty and astonishing color.

TRIVIA:

Did you know that roses already existed around forty million years ago? The world’s oldest living rose is found in Germany and is believed to be 1000 years old. June is the month of the rose. The rose is one of the most symbolic things in the world. The different colors of the roses represent different things. The red rose represents love and respect, the pink rose for gratitude, sympathy, admiration and appreciation, the white rose for reverence and humility, and the orange rose for enthusiasm and desire. The rose does not bear fruit, but a section of it gives more Vitamin C than most fruits and vegetables.

Biological Classification:

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Magnoliaphyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Rosales

Family: Rosaceae

Genus: Rosa

Species: Rosa sp.

Sources:

http://www.astrostar.com/articles/Roses_ColorSymbolism.htm

http://www.800florals.com/care/rose_trivia.asp

Sir Alexander Fleming

Sir Alexander Fleming (6 August 1881 – 11 March 1955) was a Scottish biologist famous for his discovery of the enzyme lysozyme and the penicillin. The enzyme lysozyme helps form a natural barrier against pathogens like salmonella, escherchia coli, and pseudomonas. Penicillin, on the other hand, changed the face of modern medicine. The penicillin was able to suppress previously serious diseases like syphilis, and the like. He received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1945, alongside Howard Florey and Ernst Chain.

Early Life

Family

Alexander Fleming was born in Lochfield, East Ayrshire, Scotland He is the third child of four children to his mother, Grace Stirling Morton, the second wife of his father, Hugh Fleming. His father died when Alexander, known as Alec, was only 7 years old.

Education

He studied in Louden Moor School and Darvel School. He also studied in Kilmarnock Academy, where he earned a two year scholarship before moving to London and studying in Royal Polytechnic Institution.

Work

He initially worked in a shipping office, but then his older brother suggested him to be a physician like him. He then enrolled at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. While in St. Mary’s, he joined the research department and became the assistant bacteriologist to Sir Almroth Wright, a famous bacteriologist and immunologist who is a pioneer in vaccine therapy. He also served in World War I in the Army Medical Corps.

Personal Life

Alexander Fleming was knighted on 1944, alongside Howard Florey. In 1949, Fleming’s wife, Sara, passed away. Years later, in 1953, he married Dr. Amalia Koutsouri-Voureka, who is from Greece, working in London a colleague of Fleming’s.

Before the Penicillin

Septicemia

While serving for the Army Medical Corps, he witnessed many soldiers die from septicemia, or blood poisoning, resulting from infected wounds. Antiseptics killed the immune system better than the antiseptics killing the bacteria itself. He was able to explain this in an article he wrote. Antiseptics would have worked well, had it been wounds that were not serious, but deep wounds would have a shelter from the antiseptic. The antiseptics worked well in both killing the immune system and the bacteria, but were not able to kill the bacteria that were out of reach.

Lysozyme

A significant discovery Fleming made before he discovered the penicillin was the discovery of the enzyme Lysozyme. This enzyme aids the innate, or natural immune system, especially in infants. Lysozyme is also a natural barrier against pathogens like Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas. Lysozymes are found in baby formulae milk, so a lack of formulae would cause an increased possibility of diseases.

Penicillin

The Penicillin is a common medication that can cure previously fatal and infectious diseases, like syphilis, gangrene, and tuberculosis.

Discovery of Penicillin

He didn’t plan on discovering penicillin. He was already known for his previous work and already had a reputation, but had an untidy lab. After returning from vacation with his family, he discovered that one of his staphylococci cultures had a fungus contamination. It was mold, in the shape of a ring. It had killed the staphylococci bacteria around the ring, by some substance that was from the mold. The fungus was from the Penicillum genus. The penicillin was discovered. Fleming, however, was not able to isolate the penicillin substance in the mold, but Howard Florey and Ernst Chain were able to do it. Penicillin is one of those things that seriously changed history. Penicillin antibiotics are the first ever drugs to be able to combat against diseases that were fatal and infectious, like syphilis and staph (staphylococcus) infections. The discovery of penicillin marked the start of modern antibiotics. However, with lack of support from the medical community, the research had to stop.

Others Involved

In 1941, Dr. Charles Fletcher had heard of the penicillin. Dr. Fletcher had a patient nearing death as a result of bacteria entering the patient through a wound. By that time, Fleming had moved on from the Penicillum fungus. Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, who works in Oxford, just like Dr. Fletcher, was able to isolate the bacteria killing substance: penicillin. Fletcher contacted Florey and Chain and the wound of the patient was able to make a spectacular recovery. However, the penicillin was not enough, and the patient eventually died a few weeks later. This, however was not an obstacle, but a breakthrough, as the penicillin worked, just that it was inadequate.

Death

Fleming died of a heart attack in 1955 at his home in London, England.

Awards, Recognitions, and Achievements

Fleming received many awards and recognitions. The most famous award he received was the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1945, along with the aforementioned Howard Florey and Ernst Chain. He was also a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in England in 1944. He has gained many awards. The awards he received are as follows, Hunterian Professor in 1919, Arris and Gale Lecturer in 1929 and Honorary Gold Medal in 1946 of the Royal College of Surgeons, Williams Julius Mickle Fellowship in 1942, Charles Mickle Fellowship in 1944, John Scott Medal in 1944; Cameron Prize in 1945, Moxon Medal, Royal College of Physicians in 1945, Cutter Lecturer in 1945, Albert Gold Medal in Royal Society of Arts in 1946, Royal Society of Medicine in 1947, Medal for Merit in 1947, and the Grand Cross of Alphonse X the Wise in 1948. In 1999, he was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Persons Of The Century, alongside the likes of Albert Einstein, Philo Farnsworth, Sigmund Freud, Robert Goddard, Edwin Hubble, Wilbur & Orville Wright, James Watson, Francis Crick, and many names in different categories, like entertainment, leaders, and titans.

Entry from http://wiki.xs.edu.ph/wiki/Alexander_Fleming

5W’s of Evaluation

1st Site– URL: DLSU Manila Library on poverty in the Philippines, DLSU Manila Library

The De La Salle University Library primarily supports the institution’s instructional, curricular, research, and extension programs through organized, relevant, and fast delivery of information services.

Academic libraries, as the resource centers of excellence in information, should aim at assisting the nation in producing professional, skilled and trained manpower by providing timely and instant access to various formats of information in any part of the country and of the world.

Who– Who wrote the pages, is he/she an expert? Probably learned people, because it states that it is an excellent source of info.

What– What makes the site easy to use? It is aesthetically pleasing. The color does not explode on the screen.

When– When was the site last updated? The home page was updated very recently, about 5 days ago. (July 6)

Where– Where does the information come from? From people who have gathered information to be able to serve as an online library.

Why– Why is this page better than another? It is better because the source is from a very well-known university in the Philippines, DLSU. It is an online library.

Validity– Yes, this is a valid source of info because a library is the best place to find information, and better yet, an online library.

2nd Site– URL: Australian Government Overseas Aid Program

The Australian Government’s overseas aid program is improving the lives of millions of people in developing countries. Australia is working with the governments and people of developing countries to deliver aid where it is most needed and most effective.

Who-How can I find more about the author? There is a Contact us page.

What-What does the author say is the purpose of the site?  It’s purpose is to aid in improving the lives of millions.

When– When was the site last updated? Very recently. The home page was last updated probably around July 9, 3 days ago.

Where– Where does the information come from? It is uncertain, but they do provide a list of “Useful Websites”

Why– Why should I use this information? I should use this information because it is reliable. It is from the Australian Government. It also gave a background information on the topic.

Validity– Yes, it is a valid source of information because it is from a government that has articles about countries they have helped.

From ‘Kulambo’ Vendor, To Mayor, and Back To ‘Kulambo’ Vendor

Poverty strikes majority of Pinoys, and this does not exclude politicians. As we recently had our very first automated elections, we had changes in the government. The mayor of Ibaan, Batangas, Remegio “Reming” Hernandez, was formerly a kulambo (mosquito net) vendor, since he acquired the skill of weaving kulambo in his childhood. Now that he lost in the reelection for the mayoral position of Ibaan, he accepted his defeat, congratulated the newly elected mayor, and thanked Almighty God. This shows us that poverty is a very strong problem that is dealt with by more than half of the entire population.

NAME	Jamiessonn Carlo C. Lao H2D17
TOPIC	Poverty in the Philippines
PRINT TYPE(BOOK, JOURNAL, etc)	Newspaper Article
TITLE	The Philippine Daily Inquirer
ARTICLE TITLE	‘Kulambo’ vendor loses bid for new term as mayor, accepts fate, returns to trade
PUBLICATION DATA	July 2, 2010, Friday
REFERENCE DESCRIPTOR(volume, issue, edition)	Volume 25, No. 204, Section A21

DIMENSION	Grade	Comments
Author	3	Author was stated, but is unclear on whether she has written topics on this.
Publisher (books)	n/a	n/a
Date                Edition/revision	5	The date is stated. It is recent, because it is a newspaper article.
Title of journal/newspaper  (if applicable)	5	The Philippine Daily Inquirer is one of the biggest and most famous newspapers. It is in broadsheet.
Intended audience	5	It is good for us, because poverty is an underlying problem, and this shows us anyone get can affected by it.
Content/coverage	5	The article delves into the past of the politician. It gives us his personal background info, and how he got into politics.
Evaluative reviews	5	The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a very famous newspaper, so it has garnered many evaluative reviews, and they have an email explicitly for feedback found in their website. It is known to be the most respectable newspaper in the country.