The Great Poet of American Literature

Walt Whitman, born in 1819 to a family in Long Island, lived a very humble life before becoming a well known writer. He grew up in a community full of Quakers ( The Religious Society of Friends) and followed religion very strictly as a child. Whitman loved reading the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist, philosopher and poet, best remembered for leading the Transcendentalist movement of the early 19th century, because he thought he related to Emerson’s ideas and theologies which closely corresponded to his own.


At the age of 35, Whitman published his first book, Leaves of Grass, which was so successful that it appealed to other known poets worldwide. His talent was a great surprise to many. Whitman's abilities as a poet were unknown because his previous job was working for a local newspaper from which he got fired for being an abolitionist. It is believed, however, that Whitman's inspiration came from his trip to New Orleans and New York. Whether it was a love affair or the great scenery from the countryside that truly inspired him is unknown; nevertheless this first book was the beginning to an exciting career. Whitman viewed himself as the first real American poet. His poetry was symbolic of freedom and democracy, as well as emotions and beliefs. Later editions of Leaves of Grass were published in 1856 and 1860. These editions were full of new poems as well as revised earlier ones. At this time, Whitman was the editor of a local newspaper, the Brooklyn Daily Times, in addition to helping his father in carpentry. It was in 1862 when he found out his brother was injured in the war and he traveled South to serve as a volunteer nurse to the military until 1867. During his time as a nurse, Whitman composed several war poems which were published in the 1867 edition of Leaves of Grass. Before his death in 1892, Whitman noted in “A Backward Glance O’er Traveled Roads” that although he was not as successful as he had wished, he hoped that future generations would appreciate his poetry more. His wish came true, and now Walt Whitman is viewed as one of the best poets of all time.

Below is his magnificent poem entitled "I hear America Sing"

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,

Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand
singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as
he stands,
The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning,
or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work,
or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day--at night the party of young
fellows, robust, friendly,

Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Waldo_Emerson
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas/poet/whitman.html
http://www.blackcatpoems.com/w/i_hear_america_singing.html

Music Icon of the Philippines

Lea Salonga (born on Feb. 22, 1971)is an actress and singer from the Philippines and the first ever-Filipino who has achieved international recognition.

She began her professional music career at the age of ten when she recorded her first album, Small Voice, which received a gold record. She had also hosted her own musical television show, Love, Lea, and opened for Stevie Wonder during his concerts in Manila. At age 13, she won three Aliw Awards in the Philippines for Best Child Entertainer from 1981 to 1893.

Her biggest breakthrough came when she was selected to play the leading role of Kim in the new musical Miss Saigon in 1989. The play, set during the final days of the Vietnam War, tells the story of Kim, a poor Vietnamese girl, and Chris, an American soldier who fall in love. For this performance, Lea Salonga was given the Laurience Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Entertainment for the year 1989/1990. From its original London home, Miss Saigon moved to Broadway. Lea Salonga subsequently garnered Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards.




In 1993, Lea Salonga played the role of street waif Eponine in the Broadway production of Les Misérables, then flew to Los Angeles to perform the song A Whole New World (of Disney's Aladdin) at the 65th Annual Academy Awards, where the song won an Oscar. In the same year she released her self-titled international debut album with Atlantic Records, which has gone platinum and gold in parts of Southeast Asia.



Lea also was the singing voice of Jasmine for Aladdin (1992) and Fa Mulan for Mulan (1998), films by Disney.



Lea said in a Philippine news interview that through whatever she had done, the image of the Filipino was made a little more positive, and that somehow, the Filipino was given the chance to smile and be proud.



Indeed, she is the greatest music icon of the Filipinos; a symbol of success of the Philippines. She is an inspiration, which makes Filipinos realize that dreams are attainable. Lea becomes the epitome of the world-class Filipino as she goes out there and represents the rich cultures and heritage of the Philippines and shows to the world the hidden yet incredible talents of the Filipinos in the the music arena. She gives hope and Filipino pride a new face. She has opened the doors for other singers in the country to also be discovered in the world music scene. She has proved to other people that Philippines is not just a country of islands and islets but also a haven of musical talents.




















http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lea_Salonga
http://leasalonga.net/
http://www.filmreference.com/film/69/Lea-Salonga.html

MUSICAL DANCE SYMBOL OF MY ETHNICITY

Temple of dance is the meaning of the PANGALAY—the dance of the people of the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines, where I specifically came from, for centuries, long before the Christians came and long even before the Muslims did.

The ancient dance has survived because the people have, through the centuries, refused to be colonized in any form or by any means, by east or west.

In the pangalay, the nature of our people can be felt or seen : dignified, serene, gentle, peaceful, graceful, loving.

It is a spiritual dance. It begins from within the soul and moves with the breath of the dancer, and thus performs in unison with other dancers. The individual is always aware of and acts in harmony with those around him or her.

Thus, the pangalay is danced spontaneously on any occasion (wedding, birthday, arrival and departure), anywhere (beach, boat, porch, etc.), and by anyone (young, old, male, female).

There is unity among dancers, that is, among community members.Such oneness is the heart of a community.

LITERARY SYMBOL OF MY ETHNIC CULTURE: PARANG SABIL KISSA

Rich cultures and unique traditions uphold Philippine literature. They reflect the diversity that separates our country from any other in the world. But was it ever a priority to pay notice of them? Grabbing a book on Philippine literature and browsing along its pages was never my interest. Perhaps that is why I failed to notice this particular literary work that my own community in my country was able to contribute. The Parang Sabil, a significant epic of the Tausog (my ethnic tribe), has marked its place in Philippine literature. This truth gives me a sense of pride for my Tausug community. But it's a shame how I've never learned anything about it, until now. Even if it is striving at the brink of survival, I feel fortunate that it found its way and landed onto my palms for me to read and discover. So much is to be learned and understood about the Tausug community. Some may find our ways barbaric or even foolish but by averting from this closed-mindedness, much of it will surely be appreciated. But it is also important to realize that not all of our traditions can be linked to the Islamic religion. This distinction is often very hard for people to set up. Also, our ancestors have established routine customs that most of us, even until now, continues to preserve. Such customs were presented in the Parang Sabil Kissa. The parang sabil kissa, interchangeably referred to as ballads as well as epics, depending on their seriousness and length, are quite familiar to the Tausugs, the natives of the Sulu province in the Philippines. They are sung in order to perform a twofold function – to entertain and instruct. The singers of this oral tradition may be male or female, and most of them can be found in mainland Jolo. As literary materials, the parang sabil kissa are in verse whose lines rhyme, and the language used, which is Tausug or Bahasa Sug, has special intensity. These kissa are usually composed of several stanzas. When they are sung, the singer, usually a female, also plays the Tausug gabbang or native bamboo xylophone, accompanied with the biyula or native violin played by a male companion. As cultural materials, the parang sabil kissa reflect the life ways of us Tausogs ,especially our values. Since they are handed down from one generation to the next, they can be considered as carriers of the our cultural heritage, which is our source of ethnic or cultural identity. Moreover, they do not only mirror the our customs across generations; they also preserve these in the process. As historical materials, the parang sabil kissa narrate the our historical experience and circumstances, especially the our repulsive reaction to the incursion of foreign invaders and our subsequent retaliatory actions and decisions in order to defend our freedom, homeland, and way of life. In contemporary history, some parang sabil kissa narrate the fate of the revolutionary movements and our leaders. The individual characters in the epic have reminded me of the limits and extent of the human spirit. I sometimes find it difficult to believe how people can manage to risk their lives and endure unimaginable situations. When provoked, these circumstances can become reality. Perhaps this can be associated to the Tausug people who are known for their strong personalities and intimidating characters. This facade is often portrayed that people tend to create unintended impressions towards the Tausug. I believe that it is my responsibility, as well as the rest of my fellow Tausugs, to erase this negative notion about us. We have to prove that we are important additions to society and that we can be productive. Perhaps the most divisive issue that Parang Sabil has injected into its content is that of jihad. Different perspectives have been taken by various Muslim radicals about this. Whatever it may be, being a believer of Allah myself, I'm sure it has nothing to do with killing innocent people. Islam has never taught anything about murder and oppression. I still believe that it is an obligation to protect one's religion but I would never have the courage to take another life, whatever the reasons may be. Indeed, Parang Sabil, just like any literary work, serves its purpose as it travels along time. During the time of the Spaniards, it might have been a call to end an existing despised regime. However, in this generation, it serves as an avenue to reveal the richness and prominence of an overlooked culture.

Man and Culture: Complex Beyond Comprehension

"Never judge a culture by one man and never judge a man by popular culture."

-Anonymous-

I am strongly in favor of the above statement. I believe that culture is superabundantly rich and it is never confined in one person. To define it according to what we observe in only one individual is absurdity. It is vain. We are falling flat. Do you think if I am not good in cooking, the rest of my fellow countrymen are also not good in cooking? If I hate rabbits, does it mean that all Filipinos also hate rabbits? If I sleep a lot during day time and always procrastinate my studies, does it mean that they also do the same thing? If I am not friendly to anybody, does it mean that they are also not? If I speak English with a lax and slow accent, do you think they also speak the same way? Do you also think that if I talk back to my teachers, they also do likewise? Come to think of these.

On the other hand, a man can never be judged according to his popular culture. He is unpredictable, complicated and mysterious in nature. To define him completely is next to impossible. Even a man himself is sometimes confused about who really he is. So, who are we to judge and define him? Human person is indeed complex beyond comprehension.If his culture is wholesome and conservative, it does not necessarily mean that he likes and appreciates it or conforms to it. If it is okay in his culture to marry more than one wife at the same time, it does not mean that he will follow that same-old tradition. If his culture dictates him to adhere to the dogma of business-mindedness, it does not always mean that he will heed it and act accordingly. If most of the people in his country love sports, it does not mean that he belongs to that majority.

Indeed, culture can never be defined through the behavior of only one person, nor can a person be defined through the popular culture.Every person has individuality and peculiarity. Nobody has the same personality. Everybody has his/her way of lifestyle and way of thinking. We all have different likes and dislikes, personal dreams and ambitions.

As an exchange student, I may be a cultural ambassador for my country, but it does not mean that whatever I do and say is always related to my culture. I also have behaviors that characterize my personality as a unique individual. And this is what I want to emphasize to the Americans and to all other people that I am interacting with. I am a human...limited...liable to commit mistakes...imperfect. It is possible that I may misrepresent or exaggerate my culture. It is also possible that I may not practice my culture. I want them to be aware of that. But I guess, as long as I maintain my communication and socialization with them, they will be able to deepen their understanding of my background, be it personal or cultural, as I also deepen my understanding of their personal and cultural background. As we learn more about each other, stereotypes and misconceptions that we have lessen. For example, before, I used to perceive all American people as arrogant, superior, liberal, obese, wealthy, so on and so forth, but now, I have realized that I was being judgmental and stereotypical. As I integrate myself to this society that I am currently in, I have found out that American life also has a wide-range of diversity. I have now come into my senses that not all Americans are arrogant, superior, liberal, obese , wealthy and all that. Americans that I met before are not the Americans that I am meeting now. Americans that I saw on television are not the Americans that I am seeing now. They don't act the same way. They may be all Americans, but they also have distinct and unique human qualities and personalities. I should never judge their culture according to my first individual encounter. It is absurdity to do so. As an exchange student, I am broad and open-minded. I am aware and I understand what's going on around me. I know when and how to be sensitive.

Verily, to integrate one's self in the host community and institution is the best way to understand , not define nor judge the culture. Culture is indescribable and unexplainable. It is dynamic and inexhaustible. It changes over time. Like man, it is complex beyond comprehension.







Assalamu alaykum! (Peace be upon you!)

FILIPINO ROYAL DANCE

I have actually been interacting with my fellow exchange students about a lot of things, from politics to economics, from academics to social life, from language to culture, so on and so forth, since I arrived here at Ole Miss. We tackled pretty much everything under the sun. But I guess I haven't told them yet about a certain cultural tradition of ours that we Filipinos consider as a pride. I said "pride" because it is purely Filipino, unlike the other cultural traditions in the Philippines that still carry the influence of our colonizers in the past. I consider it as a world-class dance because of its elegance in costumes, gracefulness in choreography and meaningfulness in background story. I may sound exaggerating but to tell you frankly, when I first watched it, I was dumbfounded. This cultural tradition that I am talking about is the only Filipino Royal Dance called SINGKIL.

Coming from the Lake Lanao region in the Philippines, the Singkil is a popular dance performed during celebrations and other festive entertainment. Performed as a female only dance, the Singkil serves as either a conscious or unconscious advertisement to would-be suitors for her future marriage. The ladies graciously step in and out of clashing bamboo poles arranged in either a parallel, rectangular, or criss-cross fashion while manipulating either apir (fans), mosala (scarves), or even just their bare hands. Singkil means to entangle the feet with disturbing objects such as vines or anything in your path. It takes its name from the epic tale that the Meranaw people (one of the Filipino Muslim tribes) trace the origin of their culture. It goes as follows:



In the land of Bembaran lived a brave and handsome hero prince named Paramata Bantogen. He would often leave Bembaran in search of beautiful princesses from far off lands, thus leaving Bembaran vulnerable with its most bravest warrior absent. This would make the diwatas, the guardian spirits of Bembaran, very angry. In an attempt to get Bantogen to stay, the diwatas kidnapped Princess Gandingan, a local princess with bewitching beauty whom Prince Bantogen had not yet seen. The diwatas then placed the princess in an isolated forest where Bantogen would pass on his way to the lands of his favorite ladies. As he passed through this forest, the diwatas caused in earthquake. In her freight, Princess Gandingan began to run for safety. Despite the fierce earthquake causing boulders to fall and all of nature to shake, Princess Gandingan gracefully stepped, hopped, jumped, and hurdled the little rocks and swiftly passed through the trembling trees. The valiant prince saw the frightened princess, chased her, and led her to safety. Soon after, the earthquake stopped, leaving Prince Bantogen to admire the charming and beautiful princess and forget the beauties of other lands. Thus, Singkil mimics the trials and gracefulness of the legendary Princess Gandingan as she avoided entangling her feet in the cursed forest.




There you have it! I chose this cultural dance because I would like my fellow exchange students and others to see the colorful side of the Philippines, that it is not just about natives , islands and islets. I know that others don't have much yet idea about what Philippines really is; some may already have some sort of stereotypes even before they actually met me. By telling them about this cultural dance that I am proud of, I think I am giving them the impression that I love my country and I am proud to be a Filipino. And that's what I want them to feel about me. I am here to be an effective ambassador of and for my country.

LANGUAGE AND BEYOND (In response to Zolo's fourth blog)

" The language that we use everyday is the tool of our communication. I can't imagine interactions of people without a language."


This is the part of Zolo's fourth blog that strikes me the most. I do believe and agree with him that language is the tool of our everyday communication. Yes, exactly it is! However, as I keep on reading his blog, I realize that it is beyond just communication with people. It also portrays culture and a communication with The Almighty as far as my reflection is concerned.



People interact in a variety of ways and communication is just about the most common and among the most important. Whatever is meaningful to a group, from their everyday life to their traditions, constitutes their very own culture and is generally accepted by every members of the group. Language is only one of such items. For ethnic minorities who may have a language of their own, a language is a cornerstone in their culture, and it also serves as a representation of their customs and lifestyles, values and beliefs.

Furthermore, language is not just a tool of conversation with men but with the Creator as well. The development of language reflects the past history of human race. For example, Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek are forms of language that require exactness in meaning of human aspects about the divinity of the Creator. Failure to meet these requirements will mean turmoil in the near future, for this is considered as a form of transgression. The same is true with our contemporary world, language is used to propagate truth, be it in spiritual aspect, intellectual or emotional. Misguided civilization in any aspect will mean great consequences in most error committed. This simply means that perpetuity of human race will be based on how the language is utilized by the people.le.