Should Mining be banned in the Philippines?

Mining as one of the livelihood of Filipinos, is very important in collecting resources needed for modern civilization like obtaining minerals, metals, and jewels. Just that even though mining is very important in the daily lives of Filipinos it has already been affecting the environment specifically destroying it. And today, it is the time where Filipinos should decide to still allow or ban it. With this, based on many events happening in our environment, it is better to just ban it because mining deforested mountains, causes catastrophes, and lastly, it kills both humans and the environment.

People need a wide scope of regular assets to make the items present-day progress needs, for example, minerals, metals, gems and other elective types of vitality like coals and flammable gas. Oil is additionally vital for controlling vehicles and different machines. Mining enables individuals to utilize these assets, since mining is the way toward burrowing mines that fills in as the employment to each person. Mining is dangerous to nature, people, and untamed life. As per the article Effects of Mining on the Environment and Wildlife, "Mining can prompt the pulverization of living spaces in encompassing territories. The procedure starts with deforestation. The land over the mine must be cleared of all blocks to enable the excavators to get down to business. Unfortunately, most mining organizations are very eager to decimate whole woods to gain admittance to mineral riches. Deforestation has a few impacts. Winged creatures, Animals, and animals that rely upon trees and plants for nourishment or haven lose their homes or starve to death. Any outstanding survivors are compelled to migrate and locate another residence. The expulsion of trees can likewise essentially influence the plants that depend on them for shade from the cruel sun. "Mining has made numerous creatures leave their haven and go get another. Numerous creatures have additionally got harmed and passed on because of loss of territory. Deforestation isn't just hurting the creatures but on the other hand is impeding to people. Due to deforestation, people begin to have an absence of trees which give people oxygen. The mining organizations are executing a lot of living things for their self-centeredness. They are making an enormous measure of mischief to the general public for minerals and cash. Even though they have no clue that when mining they are additionally murdering themselves.

Furthermore, about killing both human and environment, it talks with how miners destroy themselves while destroying Mother Nature. Because in the article entitled "a canary in a coal mine", it is about an advanced warning of some danger where miners used to carry caged canaries when they go to the mines so that if there is any methane or carbon monoxide, the canary’s death would serve as a signal before this gas reached to humans. According to CDC (2018), it is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, the Carbon monoxide, which is dangerous to humans and animals alike. When miners smell and breathe this gas in, it prevents blood cells to carry oxygen to any organ in which the brain and the heart will greatly be affected. And with this carbon monoxide kills the environment and many lives.

Catastrophes are also present when there is mining and many cases have already been seen with the recent one here in Cebu. The landslide happened because of mining where the soil is not any more solid and there lapses or gaps inside the mountain. In this case, it was also proved because of cracks seen before the landslide. Death toll just in this accident reached 45 and with 34 missing people. On a long haul premise, mining can expand the acridity of water in streams; because expanded residue stacks, some of which might be metal-loaded, in seepage bowls; start dust with windborne pathogens; and cause the arrival of harmful synthetic substances, some contained in uncovered mineral bodies and waste shake heaps and some got from metal preparing responses. Contaminants containing such lethal synthetic compounds as cyanide and lead might be shipped a long way from a mining site by water or wind, contaminating soils, groundwater, streams, and the climate. These harmful synthetic substances can be remobilized discontinuously and in the long run, circulated over huge areas. A portion of this pollution, given its scale or power, may not be agreeable to remediation. Mining may likewise have impacts that can be present moment, contingent upon their seriousness, for example, bending to the encompassing geography or evacuation of vegetation. Much of the time, these impacts might be limited or even forestalled by methods for an extensive mining plan that incorporates a recovery and remediation arrange.

With all of this, mining should be banned because even though it is a great help in the success of humanity, there is nothing more important than the home humans live in which is the planet Earth. And to ban mining is to care for the planet since mining only destroys forest, causes disasters, and massacres the environment and humans as well.

HENERAL LUNA A Psychological Criticism

Heneral Luna is a biographic film focusing on Antonio Luna’s administration of the Philippine Revolutionary Army. The movie started with the transferring of power from the Spanish to American colonizers in which the story will give us more ideas on what truly happened in the American- Philippine war that the history books did not tell us about.  

The entire presidential bureau of the Philippines was debating about the issue of the Americans inside the Philippines. In which, Felipe Buencamino and Pedro Paterno was suggesting in having good relations with the Americans but Antonio Luna and Jose Alejandrino, generals of the Philippine Army, contradicts their decisions by asking them a pre-emptive strike to the American army before their reinforcements come. However Emilio Aguinaldo did not agree with Luna because he believed that we owe something to the Americans, unfortunately the Americans attacked key urban areas in Manila and negotiated with the Spaniards about ownership of the Philippines, demonstrating war with the Filipinos.

They, General José Alejandrino, Colonel Francisco “Paco” Román, Commander Eduardo Rusca, Commander José Bernal and General Antonio Luna, left the room and went to the battlefield. Against the powerful clash of the American troops, Luna asks for reinforcement from the Kawit unit but the commander didn’t follow the order because according to him, Commander Padre Janolino, he will only follow orders directly from the president himself. Luna then went to Janolino’s camp and humiliates him in front of his men. After that, because of lack of men, Luna assembled an armed force of 4000 soldiers by threatening them with the infamous “Article One” to them that whoever declines will be executed without trial in the court.

Concerning the war dragging on, Buencamino and Paterno show their backing to the Americans which made Luna angry and ordered the imprisonment of the two. There is also the gap of Luna’s plan for the war because of General Tomas Mascardo who opposes Luna’s request for reinforcements. This is where the Philippine started to lose the conflict. Luna visits Aguinaldo to submit his resignation just that the request was denied by Aguinaldo but he agreed on making a home office for the Philippine Army in the north.

Luna was then summoned to the President’s home office in Cabanatuan. Bringing only Roman and Rusca with him, they arrived only saw Buencamino in the office, Luna investigates further and was ambushed by Commander Janolino. He was slashed, stabbed, and shot to death, Roman died as well. Rusca surrendered, and Luna’s remaining reliable officers are arrested. As requested by Aguinaldo, Roman was given full military honors by the Kawit unit, the same men who killed them. Surrounded by those mourners, Mabini noticed a bloodied bolo just that he cannot fight and resist because of their present might.

The American daily papers reported that Aguinaldo claimed the life of Luna, after the war an age-old Aguinaldo denies his inclusion on the assassination as he recognizes Antonio Luna. Splendidly, Luna considered as the greatest general, Macarthur also recognize Luna as a deserving adversary, snickering in the reality that those Filipinos murdered the best genuine all they required. Throughout the mid-credits scene, Gregorio del Pilar prepare on Aguinaldo’s retreat to the north. He gathers Luna’s remaining men and requests 60 associate in them.

General Luna is hot-bloodied and easily talks shits however his actions and patriotism is to be commended. In the movie, his brilliant mind and the actions he took are maybe not aligning with each other that is why some people especially those men under Emilio Aguinaldo do hate Luna. Just like in the first part of the movie when he talk about his disapproving the thinking of Buencamino and Paterno on the Americans’ enticement to them. There is also the time when they lack men and he gathered them in just three days, that was very skilful in many ways and in that instance his actions speaks louder than his bad ways of doing things.

There is also the time when Luna led a suicide charge to the Americans. Because of the situation, he was driven to a corner since they are losing the encounter and some men ran away. He was prepared to die that day and this can be seen when he attempted to shot his head because he thought he was shot. This action of his patriotism leads to having his men inspired to fight without fearing death.

The disciplinary actions made by Luna was also harsh which made the men fearing him and also held grudges to him just like when General Mascardo reported the humiliation that happened to Janolino. In this case, there has been a clue of what will going to happen in the end but Mabini was opposed to them in making some decisions because he recognize the benefit of having Luna leading the Philippine Army. Just that there are also the feelings of Emilio, as the president and the head of the Kawit soldiers; he can’t allow this to happen anymore. As the youngest president of the Philippines and the idea of elitism that we got from the Spaniards we can’t just blame all of it on him because some faults can be seen on the people surrounding on him.

Overall, the movie has more psychological things that happened in it especially the political issues, the idea of patriotism, the mentality of Filipinos and about the lesson future generation that they want to convey is also present. The death of Antonio Luna is without a doubt a scene that talks a lot about the situation in the Philippines and with this the movie was successful in giving the mind blowing reality to everyone about the past that should be given justice and should be reflected by each Filipino.

Mobile Phones must be allowed in School

Education that we all know uses ball pens, papers and books for its learning material; however, in this age of technology are all of these still needed? Of course, each and every one of us has their own thoughts and opinions about technological development in education but as a student, mobile phones should be allowed in school. Because just like what Joe Mecca (2019) said that mobile phones’ values and benefits do not have any replacements to the students’ experience as they prepare students for the real world, help them learn how to be responsible, and help promote safety.

            First of all, the so called integration of technology in education does not just mean making use of high technology produced in today’s generation but it is a preparation for the students to adapt in the real world by exposing them early on with gadgets that will be very helpful when they work. It is especially true in the case of mobile phones, because as what the Internetwork Engineering (2016) stated that boost of learning can be observed when students are to use phones which will help them in having a successful future. These lessons that can be learned and be helpful when they apply it to the workforce include critical thinking skills, teamwork, adaptation, and career learning.

            In addition, responsibility is also one of the most important things that mobile phones can give to students. Since having a phone will give the students the responsibility to take good care of it and use it well. There is also the matter of when and where to use it, in which this help students regulate and exercise responsible usage of mobile phones (Steyfer, 2018). For example, employees cannot use phones during a professional meeting just like students should not use phones inside the classroom during class hours unless it is an emergency. Because there is a time and place of which the students can update their Facebook status, take pictures, and play games.

            Furthermore, mobile phones also promote safety in cases of tracking, finding, and emergencies. According to Deign (2013), tracking or finding literally means a way of updating the parents or teachers of where their children or students are. Using the text or call feature of a phone, they can ask directly to the students where they are or to use the GPS phone & locate app to track their phone and locate where they are exactly at the moment. This helps in avoiding disasters to happen and be emergency ready, even if the students are inside the school, they can still contact their family, authorities, and emergency hotlines as the school needs everyone to cooperate in doing the appropriate measures that should be done when unexpected events happen.

            Therefore, Education leaders must implement orders to have schools permit the usage of mobile phones inside the campus. Since, this is not just about technological adaptation in education but it is about the future of the youth, and the future of the country that will help them in being prepared of the challenges in the real world, be responsible, and for them to be safe. That is why it cannot be denied that mobile phones’ advantages are greater than its disadvantages.

Class Size Influences Academic Performance

In the ever increasing population of the Philippines, the government has always been trying to keep up our education system to accommodate the problem. However, it is not that easy to make facilities, learners' materials and implementing systems because it takes time to make all of them happen. This in turn could result in having low quality education, shifting in classes, sharing of rooms, and most especially overpopulation in class. But the question is, does class size really affects students’ performance?

First and foremost, class size is the number of students in a class taught by a teacher (Glossary Reform Education, 2015). With regards to the definition, it could be said that it is difficult to teach each student in a manner that they could easily understand when there is overpopulation happening. But this idea was contradicted by some researchers because there are cases that this will not be a problem when there is a good teacher. Just that this idea is not applicable to all because there are different characteristics and skills each students possess, the same with teachers.

Some students who are advanced when it comes to knowledge and those who are behind in their expected level of competency is difficult to address as a teacher. Because they could not just ignore their individual capabilities and give something that does not align according to their level. That is why according to Bill Jackson (2018), these students with a wide variety of learning capabilities are more likely to excel and benefit in a small population.

In addition, results from different studies like Glass and Smith (1978) shows that to produce positive academic, social and emotional results, class size needs to be of smaller number. They said that to yield this kind of result, 18 students in a class should be implemented unlike what school administrators normally did. Just reducing 35 to 30 or 30 to 25 students per class will not produce their desired benefit; however, 18 kids per class is also difficult to make or even impossible for most countries, since this kind of project needs a huge fund. But if countries really try to implement this education system then there is no such thing as impossible and in the long run, countries will greatly benefit from this.

So does class size really affects academic performance? Of course it does because student-teacher relationship is an important thing in this world to have the future generation learn the old generations' knowledge and make new ones. Without having the chance to make use of the students' full capability would be a waste that is why teachers’ proximity towards their student that can be greatly seen in a small class size is very beneficial to all.

Must Homework Be Totally Banned?

Stress! This would be the first thing that will enter in the minds of the students today. Of course, it would be because of the inconsiderate teachers in every school where they give their students difficult assignments, and sometimes a couple of assignments are given at a time, not thinking that other subjects also gave homework before theirs. With all of these, however, things would not be the same if banning assignments is approved in school such as students getting lazier, important skills are missed, and lastly is the low understanding of the lessons taught that is why opposing this idea is necessary.

First of all, when you say 'totally banning' it means that homework would be erased and its existence removed in the education system. Just that this term, as one who opposes the idea, is wrong because students would get lazier. There are many cases that would provide evidence to this just like when a student only focus on social media or online games every night because there is no homework for them to do and instead of studying or doing the household chores they are assigned to do they only focus on scrolling and tapping their mobile phones or personal computer. According to Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (2015), social media has made people lazy. This is because of the age we live in, the information age where people don't want to miss anything in it.

Besides, students also won't be able to apply or practice more their learnings at school when they don't have assignments. Understanding the lessons taught by teachers is very important to have a good performance in school and this is where assignments are very helpful to the students. According to Cooper (2006), success in academic performance has been shown by 70% of the students when they complete homework. This is because homework reinforces skills, concepts and information learned in class, prepares students for upcoming class topics, and the self-reflection of what is learned in school to children's lives outside of school or in other words, it helps to connect school learning to the real world. Another thing that could be said why students perform better when they do homework is because of the time they spent with their family, friends, and self in which they can interact with each other new or familiar words and terms that they can relate with.

Furthermore, there is also another point of which the students will lose if banning assignments in school is approved which are the life skills that are very important for the future characteristic of the children. Just like being more independent, because students try to find and do what he can to finish his assignment earlier and understand the topic as well. With this, self-discipline is also practiced because you do your assignment first before doing any other things. Time management is also one of the important skills that will be learned since students should find time doing his homework with his busy schedule which will help when they already work. And lastly, homework encourages students to take initiative and be responsible for completing a task given by teachers.  

In all of these cases, the term ‘totally banning' would be better if it is changed to limit. This is because limiting the number of homework a student has will greatly benefit the student in a way that they would not be stressed and can focus, deeply understand and learn more about the assignment given. And stressful student life would soon be over if the teachers will limit, and not totally banning it maintaining the quality education received by each student, because students would not get lazier by the time, they will also acquire the important skills needed to mold their future self and lastly, they will learn more when limitation of homework is implemented. Just like what Jim Rohn said, "nothing is more powerful for your future than being a gatherer of good ideas and information and that is called doing your homework."

Reaction/ Reflection

                      Apo on the wall is a poem written by Bj Patino that talks about the time when the Philippines is under the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. I made this blog in accordance with our activity in 21st Century Literature where I should share my thoughts, opinions, and expressions towards this poem. Inside this reflection, I will share why I like this poem, how it made me feel, the message I got from the poem, and how it affects my appreciation of the past and the present.

                     The poem talks about the experiences of the people in the time of martial law particularly the point-of-view of the child. I like the poem in a way that it provides a glimpse of what martial law was like back then. You could say that the poem is dark because in every line of it there is a hidden meaning. But still, it is really nice. Just like what the father and Apo's relationship, the persona and his father's relationship is like. You could say that violence is not really the thing that is rampant in that time, there are other values as well. Power, respect, loyalty, and bravery are just some of the values that the poem showed us. I also like the poem because of how the author compared Ferdinand Marcos with Jesus. With this comparison, we could say that Marcos is really powerful but the question is why did the author compare Marcos with Jesus? Why not satan or demon? For me, he compared him to Jesus because even though he is powerful, Ferdinand Marcos has mercy. Yeah, mercy because if it's not mercy then why our economy in the time of Marcos is one of the richest? Marcos declaration may be wrong from others' perspective but what about from Marcos's view? Maybe he sees that the only way to have an ongoing success in the Philippines is to have a Martial Law. (Below watch a video about the untold facts about the martial law). Okay, back to why I like this poem. Lastly, I like the poem because of the way the poem is conveyed which is through the child, of what the child sees, heard, and thoughts. A child's perspective is way different from the adult's. The child's perspective of martial law is that people are disciplined. Another one is that, Martial Law is a scary time because of Marcos himself and the people who are in authority. 

History of Martial Law: The Untold Stories

                     The poem made me feel satisfied because the people in that time were disciplined, the people have very high regard with the authorities and shows loyalty and respect to them to the point that they would fear the authorities. These things brought satisfaction to me. Even though the child's perspective is very limited still I'm satisfied. I also felt anger and grief, not with the poem though but with the martial law itself. Because of the way the authorities disciplined the people. Tortures, murders and persecution are the way authorities used toward people and these reasons are what made them scared. From these brutality, I am in sorrow to those people. But here comes my doubt inserts, why? Because I don't think that you won't be punished or murdered by the authorities if you don't have any sin. Another question would be that, how sure are they that the ones who tortured them are the ones under or the subordinates of Marcos? And lastly is that the EDSA people power revolution would not be peaceful, if it's not because of Ferdinand Marcos's order not to attack.

                     There are many lessons I got from the poem, one is that in everything you do, you should love your work. This could be seen with the persona's father and also to be loyal and responsible to the work when the persona's father did his work snappily even though his boss s not there watching him. I also learned to respect and to follow the rules and responsibility given because in life it is very important factor to succeed. I also learned perspective of a child during the martial law is very limited. As what I have searched the child’s perspective is only restricted to those things which are perceived by a mere, innocent child. A child cannot dig deeper or elaborate further what is REALLY happening in the country. Or in other terms, as stated earlier, what is the play behind the deception of the curtain in front. Second, I learned how powerful Marcos was back then when he was still in power. He is even compared to Jesus. It is a basic truth that Jesus is powerful, very powerful. He rules the world. Marcos is compared to a powerful Jesus in the poem, implying that Marcos was very, very powerful.

                       This poem has not affected my appreciation of the past and the present because whatever happened in the past I am grateful to it for it is a lesson needed to be learned in order for the next time we will encounter the same situation, we already know what we will do. Even though we don't really know what is the truth in those years, I hope that we don't blame it entirely to our former president, Ferdinand Marcos, because there are many dark scenes in the politics we don't know of.

                       And with this, I conclude my blog about the poem "Apo on the Wall".

Apo on the Wall by Bj Patino

There’s this man’s photo on the wall

Of my father’s office at home, you

Know, where father brings his work,

Where he doesn’t look strange

Still wearing his green uniform

And colored breast plates, where,

To prove that he works hard, he

Also brought a photo of his boss

Whom he calls Apo, so Apo could

You know, hang around on the wall

Behind him and look over his shoulders

To make sure he’s snappy and all.

Father snapped at me once, caught me

Sneaking around his office at home

Looking at the stuff on his wall- handguns,

Plaques, a sword, medals a rifle-

Told me that was no place for a boy

Only men, when he didn’t really

Have to tell me because, you know,

That photo of Apo on the wall was already

Looking at me around,

His eyes following me like he was

That scary Jesus in the hallway, saying

I know what you’re doing.

About the Poem

                      

              Apo on the wall by Bj Patino is a poem that talks about the narration of a child’s point of view about his rigorous Father and the hanging photo around the wall called “Apo”. The poem tells the reality of life during the reigning of Marcos alongside with the Martial Law. It is a reflection of the scenario of what and how the Filipinos experienced the tragic and traumatic event throughout the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines. “Apo on the wall” shows the real situation concerning with the different perspective between millennial and those who lived through Martial law. This masterpiece of Bj Patino advocates reasonably close to the realization of giving importance on looking back to our past, moving forward through our present and ensuring the success of our future.