My canvas

            The Doll Face video has a very powerful message, especially that through the years media has taken over our minds that sometimes it limits us on thinking outside the box. It would be easier for us to believe what the media is telling us rather than opposing to what the majority believes in. Sometimes, opposing others’ beliefs might make you look bad. They won't even listen to you. You don’t know if they really understand what is happening or they're just one of those people who just go with the flow and listen to what the media is feeding them.

             As an effect to what we see and hear daily, we began to imitate the media thinking that if we will be like them we will become better. We we’ll be more accepted by the society as long as we become part of the trend. Media is pushing us to be all the same that sometimes, and when we like a person we forget to be ourselves. We keep on pushing ourselves to do things that are beyond our limit like buying clothes that are too expensive, wearing make-up that itches our skin or even changing our skin color. We forget that not everything we see should be imitated. We forget to establish our own self and identities because we depend on what we see. We were blinded by the beauty we see outside.

            In both of Ibarra’s works, the Ching Chong Asian and Who am I, it showed one of the biggest problems for Filipinos, the colonial mentality. Colonial mentality is a way of thinking that the colonizers are better than us, Filipinos. Colonizers are people who conquered other groups, in the case of Filipinos, it is the Spaniards and Americans. Like what Ibarra mentioned on her work, Ching Chong Asian, “when I was
thirteen and I couldn't accept why didn’t look more like my white friends”.  We look up to the colonizers as "idols" and copy them. Those who don’t fit with the criteria of having the looks and values of an American are looked down upon. Beautiful is defined by how you look and act. If you speak English very well, then you are well educated. If you have white skin and a nose like them, then you are better than anyone.  On the contrary, having the Filipino characteristics means there is less possibility of you achieving your dream. You may even experience discrimination in your own country. Individuals who are closer to the colonizers’ ways (education, language and religion) are viewed as more superior and valued than others (Nadal, 2012). Colonial mentality is an important topic not only for Filipino-Americans, but also for the Filipinos in the Philippines.
It is important because we became used to this kind of thinking without the knowledge that this isn’t right. We become more prone to identity crisis so that we even come to the point that sometimes, we try to deny our own race and we lose our ethnic attachment. We need to know what the colonial mentality is in order to decolonize.

            Have you ever done anything to disguise or hide your race/ethnic identity? If you do, try to think of it again. Being a teenager is the time that we’re most prone to identity crisis. We tend to do things just to hide ourselves or to fit-in with the society where we at. These kinds of things also happen if we feel different or someone/something makes us feel different. For example, the dominant culture in a group is American. Some of us would feel different because there are things that we won’t be able to understand due to the reason that we grew up in a different county, or it would be harder for us to communicate with them, which becomes a barricade for us to feel we belong. Sometimes, we even try to imitate them, thinking that they might accept us more if we become like them.

            Personally, no, I would never want or plan to hide myself, because I don’t see anything wrong with it or anything I should be ashamed of. In fact, I am proud because from this race I believe is where I learned hard-work. It is a good thing that I have the strong support system to guide me, because they will be able to constantly remind me that I should be myself. This question is meaningful to me because if ever I would feel this way, I would be able to know what I should do by hearing their advice or learn from their experiences. I could also share my thoughts/ reasons why we should not be ashamed of our own races. It is also meaningful because I will be able to hear what they feel or their opinions about their race and can also learn from them their own culture and beliefs.

     
             Failure, yes, I experienced it. All of us do except for those who do not try. For me failing is a way of challenging you, making you doubt about whether it is time for you to give up or keep going, but then if that's what you really want, then you'll choose to keep moving and ignore all those failures. 

            Of course, at first, failure is hurtful especially when you know that you've tried so hard. You'll start to think about what you have done wrong, or what you could've done better, but as you go along, you’ll realize that stopping is not an option, because if you do, then you’ll be just wasting your time. You can always stop for a moment or a time, but not for so long, because you’ll never know what you could've been missing. I have you been taught to believe that failure is okay as long as you stand up, and finish what you've started. Failure is the proof that you are trying. Other people give up either because they don't really like what they're doing, or they’re weak enough not to surpass those challenges. Some doesn't give up because they have the strong desire and faith within their selves. Let us be the person who doesn't give up, as we are lucky enough to try again, others don't have another chance. You'll never know, maybe at that chance you'll be able to get what you want.

            Things that are really valuable or important are the ones that you cannot easily get. So don't stop now, because later you might regret it. This fall will also give you an experience and learning that you might use in the future if ever you’ll encounter these problems again. Experience is like a bullet in a war, without it you'll lose. Do not forget that failure is inevitable and is essential especially if you want to succeed, because “if you've never failed you've never tried anything new". Try watching this video and maybe it will inspire you.

                Have you ever read the story written by Vince Gottera entitled Manny’s Climb? This story is mainly about Manny entering the new school, trying to be socially accepted by showing what he can and would do just to fit-in.  There are consequences to the problems that a child can face. This includes depression and identity crisis, doing something bad to fit-in, and easily giving up to the challenges. The main reason for these problems is the lack of attention that should be given at home.

                This story has a lot of lessons or messages that the author wants to send to us. First, Manny’s climb story shows that the attention that is not given at home will be sought at other places, and if not, it can lead to depression and identity crisis. In the story, Manny has always been alone left in the house since his parents are working both for living. Most probably, they spend most of their times at work which gives them less time with their child. Second, we can also see in the story that people results on doing something bad even though they know that it’ll hurt them just to fit-in. On the first day of school, Manny ate the paper in front of other kids just to gain their attention.  On the end his stomach ached because of what he has done. Lastly, the story showed us that if we give up on the challenges that we are facing now, then we won’t be able to solve our problems. Trying to solve it is much better than giving up or running away. As said, he tried to jump off the transmitter because he was too overwhelmed with all the feelings/problems that he has especially at his young age. If only Manny was able to express what he truly feels to his parents or he can share it to someone then, the fire could be subsided while it was still early, not after it has made the damage. It might have been solved while it was still early, and wouldn’t reach to the point of trying to kill his self.