ale

ALE was overall a great experience, although quite tiring I still learned a lot. We visited the Sierra Madre Resort and trekked to see the waterfall and afterwards we went to Camp Capinpin and we witnessed our nations very own soldiers, and needless to say I couldn't have been any prouder than I am now to be a Filipino and hats off to all those soldiers out there who fight for our nation and protect us every single day, I have the utmost respect for them. Although waking up at 4am wasn't the greatest part of it all I still learned the extremities soldiers go to just to make us all feel safe and comfortable, we experienced a "boodle fight" which is basically eating side by side with soldiers, with your hands (which I've never done before so it was a new experience for me) On the way home we stopped by a local gas station in antipolo because due to the fact that our bladders were bound to explode, afterwards we went back to school and arrived at nearly 9pm.....which makes ale a total of 16 hours with my class but I wouldn't have had it any other way because I do love my classmates endlessly.

Ho Ho Holidays

I spent my holidays with my family on my mothers' side, we had dinner at my Mamita's House for Christmas Eve and on New Years Eve as well (that's my mom's side of the family in the photo) then the following day we had a Christmas dinner at my great grandparents' house, both dinners were quite lovely, I got to see my close relatives and I had the opportunity to get to know them more, it is slightly a shame that I only see my extended family during the holidays but it's always nice to see them. I believe that the holidays are a great time to spread cheer and spend some quality time with your family, the holidays are also a good time to give thanks for all that we have and the people we have in our lives. 

2016 Elections

If I were 18 I would vote for Duterte because he is the least corrupt candidate there and the most outstanding one as well, he has outstanding leadership qualities such as being committed in serving our country and being humble. He has done so much already for davao (which is one of the safest cities in the world) and I believe he could do so much more for our country. I proudly support his campaign and everything he stands for.

DLSZ Library

In my opinion the best feature of the library is the Filipiñiana section, it indicates stories about our culture and the history of our nation. I value this reading section the most because it shows how we've overcome the worst and how we became the best. It promotes culture and diversity. I believe this is the most underrated section of the library and I believe that needs to change because we should be proud and invested in our culture 

Body Shaming

Recently I saw a video about a woman called "Nicole Arbour" shaming 'fat' people for their weight, body shaming is never okay because every one is different and every body is beautiful in its own unique way. Insecurity kills and shaming people for their weight is just another thing you're adding to their list of insecurities, nobody should have to feel ugly in their own skin just because someone told them to look a certain way. Thick is beautiful, skinny is beautiful, curvy is beautiful and every single other body type is beautiful so don't you dare tell someone otherwise. Every women is taught that the girl from the magazine is the ideal beauty type, she has the ideal body but guess what the girl from the magazine doesn't even look like the girl from the magazine, people are payed to photoshop her 'imperfections' which is yet another disgusting thing about body shaming, you can be very comfortable in your own skin and love your body but the minute someone says no you're not skinny enough or this and that, you start to feel insecure. So please I urge you whoever you remind  an insecure  man or a woman that they have nothing to be ashamed of because they are beautiful. 

Gender Inequality

To quote Thomas Frank "Massive inequality, we have learned,isn't the best way to run an economy after all. And when you think about it, it's also profoundly ugly." Gender Inequality is a serious problem and we need to change that if we truly want equality. For years women have fought for their rights and for what? To get paid less than men? To be shamed for what we wear? Because that is the world in which we live in today, disgusting isn't it? We're all after the same thing, equality. Yet decades and decades have passed and we're still forced to live within the stereotypes: women belong in the kitchen, women should wear this, women should wear that and I believe that needs to change. Although I've been talking about gender inequality in women,men do suffer from inequality as well and I'll be get to that later but despite having inequality present in men as well women still have it worse. Women should not have to live in fear of not having enough money to support their children because they get paid less than a man, How does one expect a single mother to support her entire family if she gets paid 35% less than a man, can you believe that? 35%?! it's disgusting and unbelievable. Women shouldn't have to live in constant struggle of finding a conservative outfit to wear because otherwise a man might harass her and women shouldn't have to wear clothes to please a man, if a man finds a woman's shirt distracting then he should stop looking. Women don't have to change just because a man said so. For years women are taught to dress a certain way because if they don't a man might get too distracted, yes, God forbid a woman shows her shoulders or her arms because a man will feel a certain way.