Jonalyn R.

Bustamante

BSOA 4-1P

1. Find out and present the biographies of the authors of the readings provided. Cite
proper references (4 overall)

Bonifacio P. Sibayan “My American Teacher”

Bonifacio Padilla Sibayan was born on February 1st, 1916 in Bangar, La Union,
in the Philippine Islands. the offspring of Antonio Millano Sibayan and Petra Monis
(Padilla). He graduated from Baguio College with a Bachelor of Science in Education in
1950 and from N. E. He earned his second Masters of Arts in Education from the
University of Michigan after leaving Missouri State College in 1955. He finally received
his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Michigan in 1961. The main focus of
his professional life is education. He worked as a primary and secondary school teacher
in Baguio from 1933 to 1949. He then served as a Baguio school's principal from 1949 to
1951. He was employed in 1962 as a linguistics and education professor at the Philippine
Normal College in Manila. From 1972 to 1981, he served as the organization's president.
From 1964 to 1971, he oversaw the Philippine Normal College's language study center
before becoming a consultant. The American Teacher is a chapter from Kasaysayan: The
Story of the Filipino People, Vol. 1, is one of his well-known works. 6: American
instructors are the main focus of Under Stars and Stripes. Bonifacio P. Sibayan is
regarded as one of the foremost sociolinguistics researchers in the world. He was given
the National Research Council of the Philippines’ Social Science Achievement Award in
Sociolinguistics in 1986 and the Philippine Social Science Council’s National Social
Scientist Award in 1990. He is widely regarded as the nation’s dean of applied and
sociolinguistics. University. Since joining the SIL Advisor Council in 1994, he has been a
steadfast advocate for SIL’s Wo. Bonifacio Sibayan lost his brave struggle with stomach
cancer on January 28, 2005, at the age of 88. After his death, he leaves behind the
reputation of being a highly respected linguist in our country.
Lourdes Reyes Montinola “A Sorrowful Survival”

The executive chairman of FERN Realty Corp. at the moment is a

businesswoman from the Philippines by the name of Lourdes R. Montinola. Desrey,
Inc.'s president. , as well as the CEO of Seyrel Investment and Realty Corp. She has
previously held the position of CEO at nine other companies. At Far Eastern College
Silang, Chairman, she is also Non-Executive Chairman. , Chairman of Memorare Manila,
Governor of Nicanor Reyes Memorial Foundation, Member of Heritage Conservation
Society, The Philippine Textile Society, Member of Oriental Ceramic Society of the
Philippines, Member of Museum Foundation of the Philippines, and Member of Asia
Society Philippine Foundation, Inc. as well as six additional companies' boards.
Marymount College granted a bachelor's degree to Lourdes R. Montinola, who also
received a PhD from the University of the Philippines.

J.V. Cruz “The Death of President Magsaysay”

The executive chairman of FERN Realty Corp. at the moment is a

businesswoman from the Philippines by the name of Lourdes R. Montinola. who is the
CEO of Desrey, Inc. along with serving as the organization's president. Nine different
organizations have previously had her as their CEO. Additionally, she holds the position
of Non-Executive Chairman at Far Eastern College Silang. Chairman of Memorare
Manila, Governor of the Nicanor Reyes Memorial Foundation, Member of Heritage
Conservation Society, The Philippine Textile Society, Oriental Ceramic Society of the
Philippines, Museum Foundation of the Philippines, and Asia Society Philippine
Foundation, Inc., as well as six other company boards. Marymount College granted a
bachelor's degree to Lourdes R. Montinola, who also received a PhD from the University
of the Philippines.

Jessica Zafra “Generation Voltes V”

Jessica Zafra, a 1965-born author of fiction, journalist, editor, and publisher, has
hosted radio and television programs in the past. She is renowned for her sharp and witty
writing. Her best-selling works include the Twisted series, a collection of articles she
wrote while working as the editor and publisher of the magazine Flip and as a writer for
 Today (previously Manila Standard Today). Currently, her Emotional Weather Report
article appears once weekly in The Philippine Star. She is currently working on the first
draft of her book while residing in Metro Manila, the Philippines. She managed the
Eraserheads in the 1990s. Her writing frequently touches on current issues like tennis,
television, movies, music, cats, books, and technology (both domestic and international).
On her work, academic research has been done. Sarcasm and playful cynicism are two of
the main ingredients in her writing.

2. Identify a. style used and b. genre of history these readings possess. Reason your
answers.

My American Teacher
a) In this reading, Bonifacio Sibayan wrote in a narrative style. He shares with the
reader his personal experience with an American teacher from his youth as well as the
method used by American superintendents to assess each student individually in order
to gauge the efficacy of Filipino teachers' instructional strategies.
b) Given that this reading deals with social issues, communities, human activities, and
everyday people, it can be classified as economic and social literature. Additionally,
educators contribute to our society and economy.

A Sorrowful Survival

a) Lourdes Montinola's reading is written in a narrative format. She describes her

encounter with Japanese colonialism and the loss of her loved ones.

b) Because it addresses the problems and consequences of a country's decolonization,

this reading belongs to the political genre. The Japanese occupation of the Philippines is
discussed, as well as how the Filipino people responded to it.

The Death of President Magsaysay

a) J. V. Cruz employs both narrative and descriptive writing techniques. He describes

how he told his family the truth about President Magsaysay. He also describes how
learning of President Magsaysay's passing caused the family to experience strong
 emotions. He also discusses President Magsyasay's leadership abilities and
accomplishments.
b) Because it is about the passing of the president of the Philippines, "The Death of
President Magsaysay" falls under the category of political historical fiction. It focuses
on a well-known person who many Filipinos adore and his accomplishments as a
national leader.

Generation Voltes V

a) Jessica Zafra used both the narrative and descriptive writing styles. She described
how Voltes V appeared in this reading, as well as how children all over the country
yelled, "Let's...volt...innn!" and pleaded with their mothers to buy them hotdogs so
they could get Voltes V's merchant from that particular brand. The author also
describes how the anime series Voltes V successfully won over the hearts of young
people in the 1970s, ushering in a time when Filipino kids adored shows about robots
battling evil forces, such as Daimos and Mazinger Z.
b) This story illustrates a sociopolitical and economic historical genre because it shows
how Marcos became the Voltes V killer when he signed a decree ending the well-
liked television program. It is alleged that it is done to divert Filipinos' attention from
the numerous heinous crimes the Marcos family has committed. Additionally, it
shows how many businesses use well-known television shows to advertise their
goods.

3. Point out the 2 most striking parts that get your attention the most in these
readings (8 overall). Properly quote and explain why.

My American Teacher

a) The American superintendent's assessment of the Philippine educational system was

what first caught my attention. In my opinion, evaluating the students was a great way
to observe the educational practices and teaching methods of the teachers because, at
the time, I thought that students' learnings were a reflection of how effective the
teachers' practices and methods were.
 b) The second section that grabbed my attention was when the teachers found out that
Babcock was visiting their classes to observe the students and the teachers. Babcock
had a reputation for being a terror supervisor, so teachers often practiced their lessons
back then. It was familiar to me because I recalled that every time our school
principal visited our class, our teacher used to let us know what would happen and
how we should react. In my opinion, it was ineffective for a school principal to
evaluate the instructional strategies and delivery methods of the teachers because
doing so might produce unreliable results and have no positive impact on our
educational system.
A Sorrowful Survival
a) I was particularly interested in what she said when she said, "At first the war
appeared an exciting novelty to us children, a welcome interruption to exams,"
because this is how I felt during the Covid-19 pandemic. Initially, I'm ecstatic that
school is out, especially since our exam has been postponed, but after the pandemic
has been going on for a month and many people have already died, I've come to the
realization that this is not something you should be happy about. Children must have
learned that war is serious business and that more than 100,000 people have died in it
during the Montinola era.
b) When Montinola said, "Only I had survived," I was especially moved by her agony
over being the only survivor in her family. She only made a single, brief comment
about the disaster. It is awful that you are the only survivor despite years of conflict
with your family. If it were me, I wouldn't be motivated to live a life because we can
only rely on our families in difficult times, but what will happen when they pass
away?

The Death of President Magsaysay

a) In his story, J. V. Cruz said that RM "reinvented the government's focus and thrust by
rechanneling the bulk of its resources and efforts towards enhancing the well-being of
the rural population, and battered the monster of graft and corruption to a pulp. This
makes me think of Ramon Magsaysay, who became well-known among Filipinos for
 his focus on those living in poverty and for bringing criminal officials to justice. a
feat achieved by Ramon Magsaysay. What extra advantages might Magsaysay give
the Filipinos if he survives to the end of his term? That's why I was drawn to these
words.
b) This also caught my attention, and it got me to wondering whether, should he serve
out his entire term, he would serve as an example for the succeeding president to
achieve feats at least on par with President Magsaysay. He transformed the corrupt
and ineffective Armed Forces of the Philippines into a fighting force that "won the
hearts and minds" of the populace and put an end to the Communist insurgency
through both open combat and "dirty war" skirmishes. "According to J. V. by winning
Luis Taruc's submission, he "finished off the Communists as president. Cruz showed
what a strong leader Ramon Magsaysay is.

Generation Voltes V

a) Despite not having been born in the 1970s, I frequently heard the Voltes V. When we
saw on television that Voltes V would be making a comeback soon in GMA under the
title "Voltes V: Legacy," my mom and other family members used to talk about that a
lot. In my own experience, I wasn't the type of kid who grew to love anime the way
kids in the 1970s grew to love Voltes V, but I do enjoy watching cartoons like
Doraemon, SpongeBob, Mr. Bean, and others. Given my own experience with
enjoying cartoons and my family's opinions of Voltes V, I can certainly relate to the
nostalgia felt by children of the 1970s for this show. For this reason, the statement
that Voltes V "connected right away with its youthful audience" really struck a chord
with me. Let's volt in! was screamed by children across the nation, and it quickly rose
to the top of the ratings, causing you to scream your tonsils out.

I was drawn to the second statement, "Marcos killed Voltes V," because Jessica Zafra
makes a compelling case for the importance and admiration of Voltes V among
Filipinos. This assertion is supported by the fact that Marcos is in charge of Voltes V,
which is about to come to an end and I'm wondering how the kids must have felt. You
 didn't even finish the story before they lost their favorite and most watched program.
Since many of them look like me, they must be angry or depressed.

4. Compare and constrast the socio-economic-cultural practices the readings

provide to today’s situation. Provide 3-5 examples with brief explanations in
each reading (6-10 overall).

My American Teacher
Sibayan provided a wealth of information about the educational system in his time
period, which was still run by Americans. He mentioned a number of practices still in use
today, one of which is for superiors to observe both students and teachers in action by
visiting teachers' classrooms. Even though it might not be possible to ask every student
individually as in his experience, the objective is still the same. The school must evaluate
both the students and the teachers in order to make adjustments that will actually help the
children learn more.

He continued by saying that another outdated custom that has managed to survive into the
modern era is the insistence that only English be spoken on school grounds. Today's
schools do not all require it, but some English-speaking ones still make it mandatory for
students unless they are enrolled in Filipino language classes. With mother tongue classes
being added to elementary school curricula so that students can start learning in their
mother tongue at a young age, our original language is being given a lot of attention in
today's educational system.

During the Sibayan era, teachers used to assign English poems, plays, and books to their
students, such as "Sohrab and Rustum" and "Merchant of Venice.". However, we also
teach our own native poems and books, like Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo,
which are essential for Filipino children to study. These literary classics are still
occasionally taught to kids today. These works by Jose Rizal, which are essential to our
history, were written
A Sorrowful Survival

Because Lourdes Reyes Montinola's experiences were so tragic, it is challenging to relate

them to the current situation. They might have to decide between the decline of our
country and a bloody war between Americans and Japanese. We could compare it to the
present Covid-19 conflict. It is the biggest and most recent problem facing our planet, and
it has already claimed millions of lives. Similar to going to work or school, it has an
effect on people's lives. Currently, things are slowly improving; many tourist attractions
are reopening, some businesses are back in operation, and some schools are offering
blended learning opportunities that combine in-person instruction with online instruction.

Montinola also added, "That year we had no Christmas tree, Santa Claus, midnight mass,
or Noche Buena," indicating how these kinds of traditions have since ingrained
themselves in our culture. Even though this is still going on today, last Christmas may not
have been like others due to the current state of affairs in our family. What matters is that
under certain circumstances, certain practices never go away, despite the many
difficulties.

She continued that students had to learn Nihonggo or Niponggo in school while the
Japanese were in charge. Numerous schools still offer Nihongo as a foreign language
elective, despite the fact that the situation is not the same as theirs. Only a specific school
is required to teach this due to a lack of instructors.

The Death of President Magsaysay

As stated by J. V. Get rid of the corrupt individuals is one of the many accomplishments
made by President Magsaysay. Nevertheless, there are still many dishonest public
servants in our country who are more than happy to steal from the Treasury. Think of
PhilHealth as an example, where 15 billion are still needed. Even if a president is
successful in removing dishonest leaders, they will return once their term is over.
By forcing the terrorists to submit, President Magsaysay has also defeated them. There
are still many terrorists in our country who are constantly fighting for what they feel is
right, even after HUKBALAHAP. The CPP-NPA is currently of greatest concern to the
terrorist community. President Duterte is working to dismantle this terrorist group with
the aid of arrests and demands for their surrender.

Another reason why people adore President Magsaysay is because he places such a
strong emphasis on helping those in need. Because living in poverty only makes you
poorer in our country, many people who are below the poverty line embraced President
Duterte's campaign slogan, "Change is Coming.". The fact that President Duterte is well-
liked by many people, particularly the poor, makes him similar to Ramon Magsaysay.
Nothing has changed, so they really felt it when they heard that something was about to
happen. The fact that President Duterte exhibits behaviors that appear to be consistent
with a man who was raised on the streets is another reason why they admire him.

Generation Voltes V

Zafra illustrated how the popularity of Voltes V among Filipino children ushered in a
period when kids adored robots fighting evil. As a result, Japanese anime and animated
television series are particularly beloved among Filipinos. Similar to young people in the
1990s who watched Slam Dunk and Ghost Fighter, kids today tend to enjoy anime. Many
Filipinos still enjoy and watch well-known anime series like Naruto, One pc\., and Bleach
today. It has influenced their lives because many children may watch it in Tagalized form
on networks like GMA and ABS-CBN.

She also showed how various businesses advertise their products using Voltes V's fame.
In today's society, a lot of toy manufacturers and other businesses that target children or
older still employ this marketing strategy. Products bearing the designs of well-known
animated series like "Peppa Pig" and "Despicable Me" will always be crowded in the
mall. There were lots of people selling t-shirts with the artwork from the anime "Demon
Slayer" when it first gained popularity. It is common practice to advertise products on
popular television shows.
The suspension of ABSCBN by the Duterte Administration prior to Marcos' cancellation
of Voltes V can be linked. Numerous people's lives are impacted by both of these events.
Since they won't longer be able to watch their favorite shows, many people will be
disappointed. These two actions may be perceived by others as propaganda intended to
cover up more serious problems.

5. Identify core biases you can spot on on these readings (8 overall). Elaborate.

My American Teacher

a) It is claimed that American teachers and school systems have had a significant
influence on educational abilities and teaching strategies, which reflect Americans. By
exerting this influence, the Americans were able to influence Filipinos' thoughts.

b) The author's bias against people who prefer to learn English over their native tongue is
probably a result of the author's conviction that Filipinos should be proud of their
language and culture.

A Sorrowful Survival

a) The author's animosity toward Japanese people is likely a result of the fact that
Japanese soldiers killed a lot of people during World War II. The author might have
thought that the Japanese used excessive brutality on civilians during the war. Citizens
are all that exist during that time. During the Japanese occupation, it was impossible to
stay safe, not even as a citizen. The Japanese soldiers think the worst of you even if you
don't do anything wrong.

b) The author is biased in favor of those who endure tragic events, likely as a result of
personal experience with tragedy. It's possible that the author holds that those who
experience catastrophic events are more resilient than those who do not.

The Death of President Magsaysay

a) J. V. Cruz made it crystal clear that he has a preference for President Magsaysay.
Because of his action, he holds President Magsaysay in high regard.
b) When their friend compared Ramon Magsaysay to John F. Kennedy, he demonstrated
bias in favor of the outgoing president. Using JFK as an example, he contends that
President Magsaysay's accomplishments and actions cannot be compared to those of JFK.
He showed how comparable they were, but President Magsaysay is better.

Generation Voltes V

a) With the help of the television show Voltes V, Zafra shows how negatively it affects
the lives of many Filipinos, especially young people. She painted it as being a crucial part
of the lives of the generation born in the 1970s.

b) It is also obvious that she has a bias against Marcos because her discussion of Voltes V
only serves to hint at her true motivation. By postponing Voltes V, she hopes to show that
Marcos has previously covered up treason by employing dishonest methods.

6. Read Renato Constantino’s “Miseducation of the Filipinos”. Compare that with

Sibayan’s reading. Who do you agree the most? Defend.

Every person's education is essential to how they live their lives. Because of this, their
lives will be more satisfying. The nation gains from education by having better citizens.
Education is primarily how we protect ourselves from those who oppress us. One of the
best examples is Jose Rizal, who used the knowledge he gained from his studies to fight
the Spaniards and motivate Filipinos to fight.

Renato Constantino asserts that education about Filipino history is a tool used in
colonialization. In his book "Miseducation of the Filipinos," he claimed that the
Americans hid their desire to colonize us by giving us an education. "The miseducation
of the Filipinos also started when they started educating them.

In "My American Teachers," written by Sibayan, Americans are said to oversee the
Philippine educational system and help us learn more while educating and forming
Filipino children in discipline and literacy. Although they do provide us with new
knowledge and help us improve our literacy in English, Constantino claimed that they
have actually taught us to think more like Americans than like Filipinos. This includes
the rule that only English may be spoken on school property. Through education,
Americans have given us a better understanding of their own culture and the fact that
they are not only our allies but also our saviors, defending us from the Spanish.

The Constantino case is the one in which I most firmly concur because it is still obvious
in some regards that they are attempting to get us ready for life as an American colony.
Even today, many Filipinos still consider English to be their second language, and some
even prefer it to Filipino as a means of communication. One way to demonstrate this is
by looking at the percentage of Filipinos who think that Western culture is superior to our
own. As Constantino once said, colonialism has achieved a great and enduring success
using education as a tool. Education was used by Americans in place of our nationalism.

7. Research why our view on Japan is different from pre-war, Second World War
and postwar Japan. Cite 2-3 factors or events, with proper citations.
Since only Western countries were acknowledged for colonization, many people did not
view Japan as a military powerhouse. Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Japan was only a
small kingdom living in isolation for 80 years before the Tokugawa Shogunate was
overthrown by Emperor Meiji, according to David Powers of the BBC. Under Emperor
Meiji, they experience what is known as the Honorable Restoration or Meiji Restoration.
Unexpectedly, Japan quickly modernized, incorporating Western industrial practices.
Japan was beginning to overtake the world's superpowers by the turn of the 20th century,
which fueled the country's desire for power and caused it to colonize the small islands
that surrounded the world's superpowers. The way the world perceives Japan has changed
completely in just under 40 years.

During World War II, many people believed that Japan was a very strong nation that was
linked to fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. This now poses a threat to other nations like
America, which is going through a recession, while Japan, which is on the rise, keeps
getting stronger. They stopped doing business with Japan because of this, and Japan
retaliated by bombing Pearl Harbor. This demonstrates Japan as a powerful adversary
that you should avoid tampering with. Japan turned into a dangerous place because it was
still under American control at the time, especially in relation to the Philippines.
Destroying American bases, they started occupying the Philippines. Numerous women
were raped by them, and they also killed many people and set a lot of houses on fire. This
cemented Japan's reputation as a terrible nation, which was despised by many people,
especially Filipinos who saw their wrongdoings.

The San Francisco Peace Treaty, which was signed in 1951 after the war, started Japan's
reconstruction after it had lost the majority of its territorial positions. They started
exchanging cultures with other nations after this, especially western nations, which
helped Japan gain international recognition. In the 1980s, Japan was leading the way in
economic and technological development, producing a large portion of the high-end
electronics and other goods used around the globe. The idea that Japan is a bad country is
changed as a result. They gain acceptance. As a highly developed technological nation,
Japan's culture is well known worldwide, from karaoke as a pastime to sushi as a
signature dish.

8. Give two (2) insights regarding Magsaysay’s death and the cancellation of Voltes
V by Marcos (4 overall). What lessons can we learn from these moments?

Ramon Magsaysay's passing was a great loss to many Filipinos at the time because so
many of his activities were pro-Filipino and he wished to assist many people in need.
There are many rumors that it was not an accident and that the Americans put it up
because they can no longer handle Magsaysay. They are relinquishing control over the
Philippines. This is nothing new in politics, so I think it's doable. Many of them are killed
when they oppose powerful people for the good of many others. He could be murdered
by Americans or other Filipinos who disapprove of the outcomes of his actions. In my
opinion, President Magsaysay would implement a significant change if he were to
survive. Many people think he lacks the necessary abilities, but in my opinion he has
already shown that he is capable of enacting change that will benefit the general public.

President Marcos canceled Voltes V, in my opinion, to deflect attention from his other
initiatives. Due to Voltes V's fame, which will garner a lot of attention, they can hide
their true intentions in this situation. This has made me believe that everything is a ruse
because there have been instances of child abuse. He didn't want children to be motivated
by the idea of revolution or to rebel against oppressive authorities, in my opinion. We are
all aware of how much of an influence television has on children, and that when children
watch a lot of cartoons featuring brave characters, they develop the ability to resist
oppressive rulers rather than submit to them. Many people developed strong attachments
to Voltes V, and I don't blame them—perhaps some of them found happiness in watching
Voltes V. From these instances, we can conclude that the president doesn't need to take
any action because the problem was small-scale and private, just like any other family
issue. Since they are the ones who are with their children, the family should advise them
on how to handle situations like this. Additionally, people—especially children—should
learn to recognize their limitations, avoid becoming overly reliant on what they see on
television, and be skeptical of what they see.
References:

Abenes, R. (2020, December 12). Renato Constantino’s Miseducation of the Filipinos.

Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gcCUeS0wd_g

Brillantes, G. C. (1970). J.V. Cruz. Retrieved February 19, 2021, from

https://philippinesfreepress.wordpress.com/tag/j-v-cruz/

Constantino, R. (n.d.). The Miseducation of the Filipino. Retrieved February 19, 2021,
from https://nonlinearhistorynut.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/miseducation-of-a-
filipino.pdf

Editors, A. (n.d.). A teacher's Resource: Focusing on Imperial Japan: Japan Society.

Retrieved February 19, 2021, from
https://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/content.cfm/focusing_on_imperial_japan

Goodreads. (n.d.). Jessica Zafra (author of twisted). Goodreads. Retrieved July 9, 2022,
from https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/346558.Jessica_Zafra

Hays, J. (n.d.). JAPAN before world WAR Ii: The rise of Japanese militarism and
nationalism. Retrieved February 19, 2021, from
http://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat16/sub108/item2767.html
Japan’s quest for power and World War II in Asia: Asia for Educators: Columbia
University. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2021, from
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/japan_1900_power.htm

Jose, F. S. (2014, March 30). Lourdes Reyes Montinola breaks her silence. Philstar.com.
Retrieved July 9, 2022, from
https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/sunday-life/2014/03/30/1306561/lourdesreyes-
montinola-breaks-her-silence

MarketScreener. (n.d.). Lourdes R. Montinola – Biography. MarketScreener.com | stock

exchange quotes| Company News. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from
https://www.marketscreener.com/businessleaders/Lourdes-R-Montinola-05T6WB-E/
biography/

Silvestre, J. (2020, September 15). Jami on his grandfather, Ambassador JV CRUZ.

Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/09/16/jami-on-
his-grandfatherambassador-jv-cruz

University of Pittsburgh. (n.d.). Postwar period (1945 – PRESENT). Retrieved February

19, 2021, From https://www.japanpitt.pitt.edu/timeline/postwar-period-1945-
present#:~:text=After%20the%20Allied%20occupation%20was,from%20the
%20devastation%2 0of%20war.

World Biographical Encyclopedia. (2020). Bonifacio Sibayan. Retrieved February 19,

2021, from https://prabook.com/web/bonifacio.sibayan/3334624