Establishing the Spirit of "Kapwa"

Here’s to another semester– same school, similar classes.

And, of course, new people.

The comfort level drops again as we must bring ourselves together to familiarize with new scholars and new faces.

However, being in the BAYAN Learning Community again, I believe that bonding was easier and stronger, especially with the major focus at the beginning of the semester was kapwa.

Kapwa is the Filipino psychological term of the idea of togetherness, to make sure that you can connect with others and be close to them. Throughout the beginning, meeting new people and making them feel welcomed was probably considered our task as “veterans” of the learning community.

It was possibly a challenge for many of us scholars to apply this concept– we’ve already been exposed to this idea in the previous semester. It was only a matter of the application and being able to break out of our comfort zone and talk to new people; there was half of the classroom who knew each other, and then the other half who were brand new to the class. We veterans needed to take a greater step: come up to a person and introduce ourselves, take a moment to initiate a conversation and learn a little bit about the newer ones.

It seems difficult at first; we're already used to our cliques who know us deeply whom we can joke around with and be ourselves. Few are afraid of what people may think of us, others is because it's hard to go back and bring ourselves to others, as that could be our personalities. "Will they accept us?" "Will we accept them?" Just to name a few thoughts, as it's hard to come together on the spot.

However, I believe a lot of us did pretty well in becoming one with others. Some of us already became quick friends with the newer students as we tried to expand our friend list, others we at least make sure that nobody is left behind in class, and that is very important.

Overall, I believe that the spirit of kapwa has definitely sparked within our environment; we’ve been able to help others and become closer with one another. It is only a matter of time before we grow and be able to come together.

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Let's Observe

You see this particular human in her environment. 

She’s observant, yet quiet the whole time. It seems like she doesn’t want to interact with those of her species. It’s been going on like this for months; she seems accustomed to everyone, but she looks like she doesn’t want to mingle with other–


... What’s this?

She... she’s starting to walk up to the others?? 

She’s smiling? 

Amazing! We haven’t seen this in a very long time! She rarely ever brings herself to confront others and being happy! How cute!

This was practically the reaction others had on Saturday while rehearsing with the SDKFM. One of the few times I actually started to feel like I became part of the group.

I was slowly coming out of my shell.

Since August, I always had kept my distance with the group. Besides the times that we were practicing together, it was during the small breaks in between that I would stay at a corner and watch everyone socialize with each other and have fun. I could never bring myself to actually come up to them, or them actually come up to me and talk to me. Everyone knew each other, and my friend was with his friends, so I like to sit and watch everyone be a family together.

However, on Saturday October 27th, our group decided to have little “houses” so that we can mingle with others that they normally talk to.

A chance for me to actually be more out there.

My first step in becoming part of the group, I was smiling more than ever, people coming up to me, and I was able to respond happily, having fun with them. Coming up with group names, poses, teaching each other dancing individually: that was what I needed.

Because of that day, I started being more comfortable with the group.

I’m coming out of my shell slowly.

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Procrastination is a Bitch

One of the reasons why most students are falling behind classes.

Sadly, even I have become a victim to this too.

A lot of students start off strongly in school, not wanting to fall behind and attempting to give a first good impression on professors, as well as hopes that the students themselves will continue the habit of doing things on time, as well as getting decent grades. However, as the semester progresses, we start knowing our classmates and start socializing more, or we start doing things that take up most of our time that we forget what we started.

Of course we know it’s bad, who wouldn't?  But we become distracted by various obstacles that in the end, when the day is done, we remembered what was missed, and thus giving the assumption that we can finish all in an hour or less.

Don’t. Just don’t.

If you ever feel like procrastinating and do absolutely nothing: recall why you’re in college. Recall your future and how this will impact it. Once it’s a habit, it’ll be hard to stop, and college life will be five times as difficult than it is.

Do things the moment you get home; various forms of gratification are to appear right before you: more time for friends, better grades, and a better future.

If not, all of this will backfire in the end.

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We Gotta Keep our Heads Up

Nobody can really predict the future.

Unless you have that ability. But disregard that for now.

The future is something we worry about constantly. Although we don’t exactly know what will happen, we always have a slight idea based on anything that’s happening in the present. Our actions influence what will come, and also society and how it pushes and pulls us at times.

If anything bad happens in the present that seems like it will turn out to be a negative outcome, we give up hope, and everything else that’s pessimistic will flow through our minds faster. The images we bring upon ourselves are worthlessness and failure.

I applaud those who are optimistic about their future; no matter what brings them down, there’s still a will and a way to fix all of that. For the pessimistic people, that takes a lot of time to believe it. It’s still possible, but it’s not as convincing.

Sometimes you don’t realize how you think until you see someone else in that given situation, thinking very similarly to how you do. To realize that you can sympathize with that and understand how they feel about their future because the present looks like it brings them nothing.

You know what I say?

Although the present seems dark and unpromising, there’s always a bit of hope down the future. Nobody really knows what the outcome is; all you have to do is live positively and continue forward. There are times like these that will happen along the way, but even so, obstacles are everywhere. If a desperate decision is made right now, do you know how many people you’ll affect?

I don’t blame anyone if they still think negatively at times, but don’t let it get to your head. Let yourself know that there’s still a way for the future to be better. 

If there’s a will, there’s a way.

I’d know.

It's not advice. Just personal experience.

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My Real Self, You Idiot!

You Idiot! Say what your true self 
Wants to say! 
It's being forced out, and you're getting closer to you're dreams. 
You idiot! Bring out 
Your true self, don't hide it. 

Oh yeah! 

Right now.

A few years ago I came across this anime (Japanese animation/cartoon) called Shugo Chara! (In which the song above is also the ending theme to the anime as well).

The heroine of the story Amu Hinamori, is a student at Seiyo Elementary. At first glance, her classmates refer to her as "cool and spicy" and rumors speculate about her personal life. However, her real personality is that of a very shy girl who has trouble showing her true personality. One night, Amu wishes for the courage to show her "would-be" self, and the next morning finds three brightly colored eggs — red, blue, and green — in her bed. These eggs hatch into three Guardian Characters: Ran, Miki, and Su. The Guardian Characters aid Amu in discovering who she truly is and help fulfill Amu's dreams. Amu's life becomes much more complex as she struggles to deal with her "would-be" selves and the Seiyo Elementary's Guardians, who each have a Guardian Character of their own. Later on, they recruit Amu as the "Joker" to search for X Eggs and X Characters, the corrupted forms of people's dreams, so the Guardians can purify their dreams.

Yes, it is more-or-less a childish show. 

However, although it seems that way, the theme was deep: express your true personality; try not to hide your true self; as well as follow your dreams and future goals, and accomplish them. 

It does seem like a lot for just a childish show, right? It's very similar to what we're learning right now in college: our future, our personality, our identity, and our dreams being our choice because we want to and not because of anything else for the most part.

I wanted to make a point that since recently my posts have been focusing on personality and my future, I felt like this would be a perfect connection between it.

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We’re Made of... What?

Sugar, spice, and everything nice. With a touch of chemical X. That’s what created the Powerpuff Girls.

If that’s what they’re made of, what about you?

Our Bayan community had an art project based on identity– Mirror Me Art Project. The objective was to add on to the mirror frame things that represent you. What are our interests? What is our background? What is our future?

Who are we?

Considering our main focus within these past few weeks have been identity, and mostly discussion about it, it was time to show it visually by having this mini art project; a relaxing day where all the bayanis get together and just be creative. It seems that everyone had an idea of how to create their piece.

What about me?
... I found it a bit more difficult than I expected.

Besides the artistic factor, however, I was asking myself, “What actually makes me?”
It’s a question I constantly ask myself.

I always found myself as a boring person, I don’t see anything interesting about me. Even if I did, I always think that I’m bragging if I say any “decent qualities” about me. Is it really? Most likely not, but it’s just how I am. Whenever I think about who I am, I always think the same things over and over again: a young girl who is most likely a year younger than everyone because she got promoted, yet that doesn't make too much of a difference because you’re on their same level; a daughter with a Chinese and Mexican background; someone who likes math; not the typical “average girl” and actually like “boy-ish” things like Yu-Gi-Oh!; and someone who likes to go on the computer daily. There’s nothing much about my future as of now, and my only good hobbies are probably drawing, dancing, and figure skating.

... It’s not really a lot, compared to other people. I shouldn't compare, but... it’s true.

Even as of now, I still have issues with what to add to the picture, but I don’t know. I’d love to put a lot on this project but... during times like these, I really don’t know who I am.

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We're SDKFM!

And when people look at us at a first glance, they wonder "What the hell are those people doing...?"
It's not until a few seconds later, when the play button is pressed, people start having a general idea of who we are.

All of us have a hobby, whether it's sports, gaming, arts, etc. Whatever the reason is, we enjoy it, don't we? All of us like a certain genre of music, right? Whether it's R&B, rap, hip-hop, pop, or anything else, we can't help but listen to it all day.

As for me, my personal hobby is to dance; I love dancing do music.

I love dancing to Asian-Pop, specifically K-pop (Korean pop).

The San Diego K-Pop Flashmob (SDKFM) is a group where people who love K-pop can come together and dance out in public after learning a mix for the season. The group always welcomes new members; after all, the more who love K-pop, the more we'll be able to spread the love of Korean pop culture in a fun manner.

I joined the group a week before college started, invited by a friend at a dance meet up. Just days before my first day attendance at the practice session, I was already thinking about wanting to join a flashmob thanks to this video:

My wish came true just a week later-- I was overly ecstatic to become part of something fun! Ever since I joined, I practiced every Saturday with the rest of the group from 2-7 p.m. for a six minute mix. 

On October 6th, our flashmob went public out at Balboa Park. 

I was incredibly nervous right before! My heart was pounding and I was really worried that I might forgot the dances, even though I practiced everyday. I just get nervous too easily.

However, the moment I joined in the mob, I was at ease. What I thought was going to happen was the opposite; my mind was set to just dance and have fun, and the feeling of nervousness went away. I was having fun and just doing my part. Finally, our hard work has been paid off. However, this isn't the end: we still have more to do! At least for this season, we're planning to perform a few more times before we take a break.

Overall, I'm very proud to be part of this community, and I really do look forward to continue dancing alongside everyone. Fighting! SDKFM!

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