William Shakespeare was the greatest playwright the world has ever known. He wrote several stories like Romeo and Juliet and Merchant of Venice. But why do students need to study about him? What’s in a name? He is simply a man who lived in olden times, wrote long poetic dialogues, spoke a strange kind of English, but is still famous even in our times. Sorry if I had to admit this but I seriously do not understand why other people liked him when in fact I find his stories boring.

Honestly, I was not really that excited about watching “William”. I thought that the actors were just going to act on Shakespeare’s works and it would be boring for some time. I myself was clueless. I do not know what was going to happen. Students were all murmuring and doing other stuff since the play has not started yet and I am pretty sure that they were not also anticipating that much for the play.

On the stage was a portrait of William Shakespeare and stacked-up chairs that provided some depth and leveling. But, I got really surprised as the play started. It was a musical play! They used rap and hip-hop songs, which are popular among the generation today. Actually, it was my first time watching that kind of play so I became excited about what was going to happen next. So I would have to be ready for another ‘Glee’ or ‘High School Musical’ genre. 

The set of characters in William is very rich. William’s characters represent usual high school stereotypes. There is a heartthrob jock, a histrionic new-rich, a calm go-with-the-flow guy, a charismatic leader, and a brainy one. They all tried to understand Shakespeare and his works but some find his poetry hard to understand, others just grabbed their research and reports on the Internet, and others were simply bored with the subject and have not researched anything about Shakespeare that is why Ms. Martinez became annoyed with them. Consequently, Ms. Martinez required her students to present a scene in one of Shakespeare’s plays, which made them discover that Shakespeare’s characters and stories are similar to their own lives.

Richard Austria, the batch leader, never admitted publicly that he was gay. He was intelligent and a kind person who always strives for the best and won't settle for less. But after TJ Domingo, the bully knew about his secret, disclosed it to everyone by writing it on the bathroom wall. Also, he chose to sign up Erwin Castro, the timid guy, as a candidate for batch representative without telling it to him. While Sophia Reyes is forced by her father to be friends with her rich classmates after they had been chosen as the lotto winners, Estella, on the other hand, was a simple gal and an overachiever. She was left by her mother and married someone else in London.

After deciding which Shakespearean play to present in front of the class, each tries to relate to the emotions in Shakespeare’s piece. Richard chose to recite Shylock’s monologue from Merchant of Venice about revenge. He was able to face the discrimination that was thrown at him. Erwin was able to come out of his shell through the famous and often-quoted speech by Mark Antony in the play Julius Caesar. Estella chose to present Portia’s speech about mercy in Merchant of Venice and was able to forgive her mother and herself. TJ, on the other hand, resolved his problems with Richard and Erwin after reciting the To-be-or-not-to-be famous soliloquy in Hamlet. Lastly, Sophia learns about true beauty through Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. 

Of course, comedy is also present here. I applaud the actor who plays the father of the students. He was able to change easily to a new persona each time he wears a different colored shirt and talks to a different child. He was a loving and caring father to Estella. He was an aggressive father to TJ while he was a rich daddy to Sophia. Funny isn't it? Also, the trio composed of Strawberry Shortcake, Bugoy, and Buchoy acts as bullies and at the same time, as back-ups whenever someone sings or dances. Ms. Martinez also made the audience laugh especially during the time when she sings and the spotlight was becoming small that she really tries to get into the light.

I could not help but fall in love with the set of the play, the wooden chairs piled one on top of the other, and were made as parts that would form another set for the play’s every scene. Also, the lights and sounds were both perfect. You can clearly see those characters who were talking and their conversations were clear enough to hear in the whole theater. Well, in fact, all the audiences were paying attention to every scene in the play. They clapped and reacted at almost every scene. The applause, in the end, shows that the audience enjoyed a lot in the play, even those who rarely read Shakespeare’s works because every second in the theater was worth it. It was funny, heartwarming, emotional, and real.

William makes me feel like one of the characters in the story. Actually, I was able to relate with Erwin so I must say that he’s my favorite character in the play. I think we have lots of similarities that I can see myself in him. He has friends but he prefers being alone most of the time. He is an introvert and he is really strange I think. But he was able to speak out what is on his mind and was able to redeem his friend Richard from the bullies with the help of Shakespeare.

What I liked about this play is that they chose famous monologues from famous plays appropriated in unique ways to reflect issues from the Filipino teenage life which is great. Who would have expected that Shakespeare’s famous stories be able to help solving issues from the Filipino teenage life? I salute those people behind this awesome play that they have come up with this kind of play that all students were able to relate to. I hope that PETA still makes this kind of play so that the younger generation will be able to understand why we study Shakespeare; that Shakespeare should not be feared of, instead he should become our friend. 

If I were to come up with a play identical to Shakespeare, I would execute it with the same format, characters, and others as was presented. Shakespeare was such a great playwright that his dramas remained to be read and acknowledged by almost all people around the world who loved poetry at its best. But some things have to change, adopting them as generation changes too. Shakespeare’s plays need to adapt themselves to the present in order that they can be understood easily without jeopardizing the real intent of the author.

     

The use of physical force to inflict pain on children, also known as corporal punishment, is implemented in schools in different countries in the world including South Korea.  Children are being hit by their teacher or anyone who is in a position of authority to discipline them.  Korean students are usually hit by sticks or rods in their buttocks or thighs until it swells. Others punish their students by making them stand in the back of the room and hold their hands in the air. If you misbehaved, you’re going to be punished.  That is how Korean teachers discipline their students. 

This implies on Yi Munyeol’s “Our Twisted Hero”. Here, when Han Pyeongtae moves to a province from Seoul, he expects that everyone will be impressed with him. However, he observed that his classmates are too obedient to Eom Sokdae, the appointed class monitor. Sokdae uses complete control over the class, wielding more power than the teacher. Since he has the power over his classmates, they answer his assignments and tests and even give him their food. Despite the fact that Sokdae was more popular, Han tries his best to gain popularity among his classmates. So, Han treated some of his classmates, but Sokdae found it out immediately. Although Sokdae forces his friends into bullying Han, the two of them seldom engage in direct confrontation. Han completely gives in to Sokdae’s rule and even admires Sokdae’s abilities. But Sokdae has his weakness. Han discovered it but chooses not to abuse it but all of Sokdae’s wrongdoings such as his fondness for cheating on exams are soon uncovered in the story.

Yes, discipline is essential so that children learn from their mistakes, change their attitudes, and do what is right. It is necessary to make them grow into healthy, strong, and respectful individuals. However, I believe that corporal punishment is not a legal way to discipline students. This would develop trauma in children.  Such trauma can lead to stress, depression, and suicide. In addition, corporal punishment can lead to physical injury or the worst thing, death. Children who have been punished are more likely to become violent in life; for example, becoming abusive to their spouses and may even use corporal punishment on disciplining their children. In conclusion, children need the same protection as adults.  Counseling or discussing the issue with the child is a more acceptable and a more encouraging form of discipline. This would help children understand where they have done wrong and make them realize the consequences of their actions and their decisions and to be more careful to avoid doing the same mistake in the future.  

Reference: http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/korea/yimunyol1.htm

To crumble or not to crumble- that is the question

Should I bear this pain or let my breath banish?

My bones are strong enough but my mind speaks of weakness

How can I open my eyes and face the harsh light of life

When I know for sure that death is waiting and will take my spirit somewhere; where then should I go?

I used to say to myself that life was so good to me, what can go wrong?

Bags of fortune and overflowing richness, what more can I ask for?

In a bed of roses I sleep and eyes open in the sky of sweet dreams

But when I woke one day, these roses drowns me and sky turns to gray

And in a wink of an eye, my world turns upside down

Should I end my life now? My life for despair has blinded me

Tell me now but not tomorrow for it will just be the same as today

I turned around and asks so many questions, I hear no answer

My dying heart speaks to my mind: “Go, go and leave.”

Oh now I see a blurred vision of the cliff where I want my life to rest forever.

The rain is falling close to my window

With cold winds blowing on a summer night

And here I weep with my head on my pillow

Thinking what I have done wrong to make things right

I thought for a while that it will be fruitless

To bend my knees and beg

Oh my love I cry for forgiveness

Don’t shut your heart I plead

No bitterness will remain in my heart

But shameless thought of a thousand misgivings

When the sun will shine I will now depart

To a new day where my life begins

It’s got to end all the bitterness

It’s got to end, for everything is just hopeless.

     

The Pardoner’s Tale is a story that portrays the reality of life as you see them today. It’s a tale where you can easily grasp how the characters react for you have seen them or have experienced being part of that plot. The author seemed to present his intent to bring out a moral lesson for his readers to learn by introducing ‘shocking’ characters and situations. The story provides quite a parallelism on what was happening nowadays, especially in the area of religion, where the Pardoner is the present-day preacher and the pilgrims or his listeners the members of the church. Out of the fear of death and the promises of salvation, people blindly tend to “donate” some of what they have in exchange for it. People give out contributions despite knowing that the relics are fake and the Pardoner (preacher) is acceptably corrupt.

     

To cover up for his greediness, the Pardoner told tales to his listeners with stories that sound to be ironic and comical at times. And that what makes the story interesting. The presentation of the Pardoner about the story of the three drunkard, gambler, and greedy Flemish youngsters is the best part of the story, where life’s realities are exposed and moral values provided for readers to learn. “Greediness is the root of all evil” is what Pardoner’s sermon is almost always is all about and can be broken down into several other sinful nature of man like the love of oneself, materialism, idolatry, hatred, and the like. The tale might sound to be comical at times as the Pardoner was able to convince the pilgrims to donate despite knowing his corrupt intention but the moral lesson he had conveyed is what matters most.

    

What is a hero? Some would say that a hero is somebody in the likes of Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, or Ninoy Aquino who gave their lives for the country because of their love for freedom. Others would define it as someone who risks his life to save the lives of others, especially in times where life or death is at stake. Sports have their own heroes too, who lift their teams from the edge of losing to winning precious games. I myself have my own hero. But he’s not what you imagine he is as I have described above. He doesn’t write a book like Noli Me Tangere, got no bolo, and is not even a politician. Don’t go with him on a boat because he doesn’t know how to swim. But I know somebody who plays a lot of sports and won medals and trophies though not serious enough to be a great athlete. Yet, he is always beside me, not your hero who comes with bright and shining armor. He is no superman. He is my Papa.

I always admire people who are very eager to work hard on things they want to achieve, especially for their families. My Papa is one of them. My father works as a Mechanical Engineer in a company at Calamba, Laguna. Though his place of work seems quite far, he is determined to work hard for his family even though it appears to be difficult for him. My Papa puts a lot of effort into everything he does and doesn’t give up until the work is done. Oftentimes, he needs to work overtime just to attend meetings or finish some paper works. However, I believe he always obtains a great amount of satisfaction from all his works. I have been impressed by his eagerness for his work and his commitment to what he does, even if homesickness comes to him once in a while.

My Papa raised me and takes care of me. I don’t know what I’m going to be without him. He has never been that shy to tell us that he cares for us and demonstrates this love through his actions. When I was a baby, he always treated me like the only girl in his life. Even if he knew that a baby will only make him tired every time it cried, he still does his responsibility as a caring father. There are times when I make him upset and sad because of my tantrums, yet the day will not end without his forgiving embrace. I usually do everything I want to do and I don’t listen and obey what he’s telling me, but I know that he’s doing these just for my own good. I have done so many things that fail him and every time I realized those mistakes, my tears can’t stop falling down from my eyes for I really felt bad for him.

After all, things had been said and done, at the end of the day when the world sleeps, I will say my little prayer and thank the Lord for giving me Papa, my unwilling hero.