Name: Maria Mickaella Allessandra C.

Maliksi
Course & Section: BSY11
Subject: Mga Babasahin Hinggil sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas
Professor: Sir Jumel G. Estrañero

The Power of History by Xiao Chua: Bringing History Closer to People and our
Connection Through the Years

Nowadays, a lot of people have been ignoring the importance of history and its
relevance, including what is happening, or the current events. What does our history
really have to do with current situations that we are experiencing now? Or do these
affect how we see things go the way it seems. The Webinar event, Sir Xiao Chua
tackled about our history and how it contributes to us now. He also talked about the
things that inspired him to be a historian, the influences of social media, and our actions
that we can show to other people.

Sir Xiao Chua started his talk by letting the listener know the way we can reach people
just by presenting information with facts, and how we can receive interest from them.
Talking about that, he immediately grabs the listeners attention as he speaks every
word with formality. Another thing he explained is how we can adjust to the “new
normal” with the technologies—we should be humble enough when it comes to adapting
to it. In regards with his interest in history, he explained that the part of things that are
happening now will be a way that we can learn and use in the future. I have taken here
the importance of the connections of our past, present, and future because what we do
now will reflect to what can happen through the years coming. “Certain people believe
what they believe because of certain contexts in their lives and historical experience.”
He mentioned as I clearly remembered it. It is very timely since elections are coming
and inserting what he has said about social media, we should respect other’s opinion
and where are they coming from because if we want to convince people, we don’t have
to throw some hateful words and belittle them. It also teaches that by being open to
social media, we must accept what others can say and talk about us. It just tells us how
we can deal with people. As Sir Chua stated, “Always think of human development—
your personal development.”

There are a lot of things that we can learn from the past—a way it can inspire us, it
shows how history can be closer to people. There is nothing wrong in knowing our
history more, it just gives a way that will let us see where everything came from. I
believe that the lessons of history can be an inspiration to us younger generations, we
must give and find meaning in what we do and let all people that know that our history is
relevant and important.