my old philo paper

This is a paper i found when i was fixing my room... it got a b+.

The Pains of Reality

We often graze life looking for love. We look for that certain someone to spend our life with to drown in the blissful state of love. Some find them as early as their childhood; some find their love in their late years. Regardless of age or gender, love is something complex. It is so hard to grasp that even Philippe Nemo and Levinas in their discussion of Love and Filiation could only but describe the idea of Love. Even in the theological aspect, love, mostly the relationship that concerns love should be aware of the other person’s otherness. Levinas mentions that “The pathos of the erotic relationship is the fact of being two, and that the other is absolutely other”. Quite often, as human as we are, we err in this and tend to feel that we are one with the other person. In this oneness, we invest ourselves wholly. It is this oneness that brings us to our knees when the reality of otherness is vindicated.

In the three French films: Blue, White, Red, the main theme is the realization of otherness. In Blue, she did not know that her husband had a mistress who also happened to be pregnant with his child. They had a happy marriage, or maybe a “normal marriage” would be appropriate. They were both good in composing music and they loved each other. She loved him too much she had to move to another place from their house when he died. She was broken because she lost the love of her life, her other half. And so she strives to move on amidst the tears each night, living a new life ahead without her husband beside her. However, things turn when she finds out that her husband had a mistress while watching television. This contradicts her perception of who he was, whom she knew him to be—a loving and faithful husband. Them being married together, being joined as one in the eyes of God meant for her, an infinite tie, a connection that they knew each other well, that she was so sure that he wouldn’t do anything like that to their marriage. Any woman, or any person in this matter, would be devastated no matter how strong one is. Questions would then run through your mind like the “How’s” and “Why’s”. You would keep on hearing from yourself that this is not the man I knew and loved. One becomes confused. The feeling of shock and amazement will be overwhelming. These could have gone through her head in those moments of blackness. She was angry, a normal response, but she realizes what she never bothered to know before, that her husband though joined to her in marriage was still another person apart from her. He still had his own choices, his own decisions to make with or without her knowing of it. This type of story is familiar to me as it is close to home, almost cliché really. She realized first, that physically, her husband was not connected to her because he died and she hasn’t. Secondly, that her husband had a mistress and a child, something she wasn’t aware of― not even a hint. She was let down with these realizations confirmed by her series of actions in the film. Her tears, of running away, of sleeping with her husband’s bestfriend, they were all her way of coping with this reality. People try to always revert their pain or maybe at least numb it even for just a few moments. However she realizes; and deals with it.

Maybe this realization was the reason behind why she was so nice to the mistress and the baby. Offering one’s house for your husband’s mistress and child and securing their future is not something you hear everyday let alone actually doing it.

Acceptance of the realization of otherness is important in life, though it might not seem fair it is something we have to live with. There will never be a time when two people can actually connect entirely, much more knowing what they’re thinking about all the time. Yes, there will be times where in you can finish each other’s sentences or have so much in common it might be a wonder where one ends and where one begins. But however lovely it would seem to be one with the person it is just simply something impossible. As Levinas puts it, “the idea of a love that would be a confusion between two beings is a false romantic idea.” Maybe this is why trust should always be hand in hand with love. For the realization of otherness in a relationship is the existence of two separate entities who love each other and relies on fidelity and trust to one another.


Shalimar Salomon
III BS-MCT
Ph102 AAA

- Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like it's your last.

I Am

Which tarot card are you?
Human love, the spiritual union of sex. Opposites as aspects of the One.
An angel holds out her hands in blessing upon a man and a woman, Adam and Eve, the primal couple, the original mother and father. Behind Eve is the serpent in the tree of knowledge and behind Adam is the tree of life. Between the lovers are the clouds of unknowing, holding further fertility and mystery. At their feet runs the path of life, ascending to the mountain of knowledge. All is illumined by the great sun of Oneness. This is above all the card of Human Love

critique on Feng Shui

I just finished watching Feng Shui with my mom. Not only was it worth money but it was worth the time as well. Me and my mom had a date. Nothing like going out with your mom, they always pay.. hehe (im only kidding, i pay for our meals sometimes). This film with Kris Aquino, though that was what made me think twice of watching it, was a sure sign that filipino films CAN be more than bomba. Not only was the trailer enticing with it's haunting "may uwi si mommy" song, but the movie itself proved to be a great suspense film.

It practiced what i call the "jaws effect". I took it from the movie "Jaws". Here, the villain (the shark for those who dont know) wasn't shown immediately in the film. Mostly, shots were taken in the shark's point of view, seeing the fear in it's prey's eyes. This gave it a deeper level of fear with the audience-- knowing who was going to get killed next but you couldn't do anything about it. In a way, you feel more connected with whats happening. Same applies to the film Feng Shui. You have a feeling of anticipation, of worry, fear, excitement all wrapped up into one. In an instant you'll be scared and actually not know what's going to happen, or if you do, you'd be wishing it won't happen at all. Then you scream. Along with the others beside you. I would admit there are some parts of the story that felt a bit exagerrated... the fengshui expert for one... they could have gotten another guy...that actor has been stereotyped as an old wise man for such a long time (iniba lang yung nationality). The mistress. Please, she got boracay written on her skin! They could have scrubbed her well first before shooting her. Her skin was peeling off and you can see patches of uneven skin tone. and she was ugly. Well thats beside the point. Make-up was... well, mediocre. It wasn't the "pulbos effect" but it still could merit some enhancements, like maintaining its quality 'til the end of the movie.

Technically, from starting credits, i was already impressed. The lenses they used in the start added a nice touch, and the quality and tone of the film made me think that this was surely edited elsewhere. The shots taken were great, it wasn't cluttered that it looked annoying and would make you nauseous but it gave that "busy feel" of what i percieved to be filipinos inclination to mysticism even though they believe that they are true to their being Christians. Lightings were good, sudden shift of camera angles enhanced scenes. Plainly put, it was orchestrated well.

Whoever wrote this film was good. It was twist upon twist, a good confirmation of what you were expecting... and at the same time what you didn't expect.

I'm no professional, but this among other local films like Muro Ami is what gives hope to our current film industry. More and more younger directors share their fresh talents to this industry, and we must thank God for them.

You gotta watch this film, preferrably with your friends or your moms... but at least i know what ill be getting my friends for christmas... hehehe

- Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like it's your last.

reading...

You are the Moon card. Entering the Moon we enter
the intuitive and psychic realms. This is the
stuff dreams are made on. And like dreams the
imagery we find here may inspire us or torment
us. Understanding the moon requires looking
within. Our own bodily rhythms are echoed in
this luminary that circles the earth every
month and reflects the sun in its progress.
Listening to those rhythms may produce visions
and lead you towards insight. The Moon is a
force that has legends attached to it. It
carries with it both romance and insanity.
Moonlight reveals itself as an illusion and it
is only those willing to work with the force of
dreams that are able to withstand this
reflective light. Image from: Stevee Postman.
http://www.stevee.com/

Which Tarot Card Are You?
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My happy drug no more

I passed by his house today... For some reason i had to. Things aren't thesame anymore. I've been stressed both from the org and school. Wait, does that constitute as one thing? So anyway, I just passed by a friends house. She was packing her stuff and giving me some of her books. It reminded me of when he was about to leave too. The big balikbayan box we bought in national bookstore was in the middle of his room... opened, ready to take everything away--including him. I wanted to runaway again. So i took my car and drove off. Didn't go so far,just around the village. I passed by my old school. Memories. Such sweet memories. I drove on, going further at the end of the village. then a familiar street. I had to take a turn. My foot suddenly became heavy and i sped faster like someone in a hurry to go somewhere important. His street came up and i took another turn, towards his house.

I didnt know what to feel. Pathetic was one thing,but longing and familiarity had a strong drive in me. (pun intended) I then slowed down. It was his house. Dark, and alone. I sympathized with it because like an empty house without it's residents, he was not with me. I stared at the house,and his car parked outside while i drove slowly, trying to take in as much as i can. I'm not sure but i think i actually looked at the house to get a glimpse of him. It's silly. He's not there. But i wanted him to be there. To go outside and meet me. To invite me into his house again. To hold me and make me laugh. And make sure that everything will be fine. He was my good distraction. For those times that i was stressed or tired. Going out on a school night didnt matter because he was my pill, my happy drug that kept me sane and going to finish my work. And now he's not here. I'm left with all my harsh realities with nothing to compensate for it. The world was bright when he was here. Now, not even a flicker can be seen.

I passed by his house.

- Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like it's your last.