NAME: SHEENA DELOSO BSA 2-B

Midterm Exam- GE 9

THOUGHT PAPER

Topic I: Do you think Filipinos still need a hero such as Dr. Jose Rizal? He was extraordinary and ordinary
at the same time. He had many inspiring qualities we should try to emulate. We need role models
that we can relate to. I can't think of a better one for all Filipinos.

Dr. Jose Rizal is one of a kind hero, no one can beat his courage and firm stand for
nationalism, but everyone can be like him, each one of us can be a hero not just for our
country but also to ourselves, for our own little battles in life. By agreeing that we still need a
hero such as Rizal, it does not mean that we need to find another and replace Rizal, as it only
try to remind us that we still need individuals that possess same qualities as Rizal’s. We need
someone who'd mirror Rizal's qualities and principles - not just in the Philippines, but in all
nations as well because most people around the globe tend to forget the essence of moral
values. We need someone like him to keep us reminded that Rizal wanted us to respect and
listen to elders, to persevere in our studies, to stand firm to our beliefs, to voice out our
sensible thoughts just as he did. He spent his life learning, travelling, loving, creating, and that
is what we should be imitating. We need a hero like him for us to look up and relate to, not
just in terms of saving the country, but in embracing values towards self, family, and society as
well. Just like before, most of the Filipinos nowadays are still blinded by the reality of
discrimination, cruelty, and discouragements that the country is still surrounded of. We may
not be being colonized by other nations today, but our freedom is still in a “question mark”
state as Filipinos are still questioning if this is really the freedom that they have imagined
because of various social problems that our country is currently facing. As for my perspective,
once I see someone who's brave, kind, and a contributor of ideals and principles that can mold
me, I become better version of myself. During the time of Rizal, his leadership brought the
Filipinos to unite, embody their identity and claim their rights. Nowadays, leaders ought to be
giving contributions for the betterment of the society but already been stained with mixed
political greed and name-bragging that's why different opinions arise because of this issue.
We need a hero that will not only just speak using his mouth but a hero who uses his intellect
and goodness of his heart that will represent his people. The Filipinos need new heroes to face
the new and next decades’ major challenges, way different from the kind of battle that Rizal
has to face during his time.
Jose Rizal’s two known novels tell us that we should reflect on our actions and beliefs
for our country. The theme of the novels is to promote nationalism and to accept change in
ourselves, which still applies to us today. We must patronize our country by respecting the
law, promoting Philippine culture, and realizing the true goal of the country by helping each
other towards the improvement of the country. It teaches us the values of wisdom, fighting
what is right, and loving our country. Hence, if the Filipinos can encourage themselves to
emulate these ideals and characteristics, we are just able to find one hero, but a whole country
of heroes. Referring to a “hero” does not mean a man who’s ready to hold a sword or guns to
fight, but a person who would hold hands and unite his fellowmen by being a “good influence”
to others through his own will. Nowadays, celebrities are often called heroes because they’re
often seen conducting charities, considered as influencers when actually not all of them really
possessed moral values, as some of them are just forced to do such things for fame, personal
interest, or contract obligations. Also, some Filipinos tend to believe and recognize things
when they only see them or currently experiencing it. Hence, as Rizal is already out of this
world and his ideals are slowly fading in the minds of his modernized fellowmen, we must
find individuals who possess the same perspective in life as Rizal’s because, we may not see it,
our country’s battle is not yet conquered and we need living heroes to constantly remind
Filipinos to keep on fighting for our rights, we are still in great need of good influencers, best
leaders to guide us in every fight. Rizal showed us how to be human by seeing life not only
through the exclusive world of one Ibarra but through the eyes of a Simoun, an Elias, a Sisa,
Basilio, and Isagani. Unfortunately for us, we never saw what Rizal would have been had he
lived longer, but, his fight isn’t over yet. Heroes like Rizal remain to be the light which we use
to see the road. It is us, new generation Filipinos, who must continue travelling this road,
bringing with us their ideals, legacies, and wisdoms along the way.
 THOUGHT PAPER
Topic II: How do you think documentaries can shape the way Filipinos perceive their nation?

Documentaries are made to change the world and they have special powers that can
easily influence people’s perspective about it by showing reality. Documentaries are non-
fiction films that strive towards society’s betterment. Documentary filmmakers want us to be
inform, attack a perspective, to persuade, educate, entertain, defend a perspective, to critique,
and to observe real life. As Mr. Howie Severino, a well-known Filipino documentary
filmmaker, said, “Stories can have powerful effects and impacts on one’s life. National
narratives are basis for national culture and identities.” In the context of our country,
Philippines, documentaries made by local filmmakers are continuously making huge
contributions in keeping the Filipinos active and be more rational in perceiving every
situations or events that have been happening in our country, not just events in the past
(history) but also with the current ones. For instance, the two known novels of Rizal, Noli Mi
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, though they are not a documentary films and mainly fictional,
they still able to influence the Filipino’s way of perceiving their country. Noli Mi Tangere was
considered to be one of the instruments that initiated Filipino nationalism leading to the 1896
Philippine Revolution and it doesn’t only awaken sleeping Filipino awareness, but also
established the grounds for aspiring to independence. The same perspective as the novel,
documentaries, through showing the reality within the society, gather Filipinos together while
enabling them to create dialogue and discuss each one’s opinions to every issue being focused.
We know that we can only appreciate our country through looking at every situation it has to
go through. By hearing and seeing these real experiences through the works of documentary
filmmakers help us put ourselves in the shoes of others, building bridges of empathy in our
country that desperately needs our engagement and recognition.
Documentaries have an inspirational value in which they inspire people on various
steps. These kind of films change people lives whenever people watch them. For instance,
their lives can be changed when they watch the generous serving of humanity. When Filipinos
watch brave deeds by others, they would be inspired and strive to emulate them. For instance,
when we watch documentaries about Jose Rizal, his story of becoming our national hero while
featuring the challenges he had to face and how he sacrificed himself for humanity and for his
country’s freedom from the Spaniards. With this, Filipinos will realize that even just in their
own simple ways, they are able to help the country-both for keeping its sovereignty and
development. When Filipinos watch documentaries about cultures such as featuring life in a
tribe, fading away of traditions or about culture development, we become more interested in
such cultures and the stories featured would instill motivation to every Filipino to promote,
protect, value our country’s traditions, cultures, and building our own trademarks. By making
films, Filipinos will appreciate more the uniqueness of our country. Thus, documentaries can
also help us deepen Filipino nationalism and patriotism. Also, as documentaries expose the
evil within the society, the films act as a warning to the citizen, giving signals for awareness
from deprivation, inequality and discrimination from the cruelty of most powerful individuals
in the country. They reveal hidden injustices, expose us to causes we may not otherwise know
about and turning us into advocates for the social issues. They can empower the most
vulnerable people in the society. Real change was brought about directly because of this kind
of narrative film and people exercising their democratic rights in response to it as through
documentaries, we see real people and real situations, secrets are exposed and unpleasant
truths are brought into the light so that we can no longer ignore them. Truth is vital
to democracy and while we entrust filmmakers to present a balanced view, it is more
important than ever that ordinary people are allowed to share their perspectives about
certain issues being featured, especially if it is the only way Filipinos can protect the country
and recognize its national identity. Just like Rizal’s novels and other notable writings,
documentaries can also be considered as revolutionary acts in an entertaining way,
considering the advantage of creating high-quality films brought by modern technologies.
Documentaries brought so many benefits on society which are far, wide and should not
be understated. This kind of film is not just known to play a large role in shaping the lives of
every Filipinos but also with how they take responsibility on the situations of their current
society in several ways and the way they perceive their nation- from protecting it to exploring
and appreciating every good thing the nation has shown.